8,641 research outputs found
Low energy neutron propagation in MCNPX and GEANT4
Simulations of neutron background from rock for underground experiments are
presented. Neutron propagation through two types of rock, lead and hydrocarbon
material is discussed. The results show a reasonably good agreement between
GEANT4, MCNPX and GEANT3 in transporting low-energy neutrons.Comment: 9 Figure
Cultivating a Global Identity
Increasing economic globalization creates conflicts that can only be constructively managed if individuals and groups realize they now belong to a single people. The required sense of such a community does not involve a social group identity—as though being human consisted of being categorized as a member of a superordinate group. Rather, it involves the realization that personal identity depends on the socio-emotional relations involved in community and that the current situation requires a community that is global rather than local or national. The nature of this personal global identity and the sort of global community that is needed is explored in this article. Developing a sense of unity amongst people has always required ritual celebration, and achieving the consciousness that persons worldwide now form a global community will require a particular type of ritual whose nature is described. The authors report on some pilot studies which demonstrate that it is possible to present the idea of global identity in a way that emphasizes personal active relationships rather than group belonging, that this may increase a sense of global identification, and that one can create a celebration that may enhance the sense of personal identity in a global community. We conclude by exploring the ways in which conceiving personal identity in communal terms has implications for research on global identity and conflict. And, finally, we report on present day initiatives that may develop a global communal consciousness, and identify and describe celebrations of community that may advance a sense of global community
Inclusion Of The Spatial Dimension Of Population Data In Developing Policies For The Management Of AnGR –The Case Of The Heritage Sheep Breeds
The sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources is connected with the recognition of their contribution to the society and the environment and the assessment of the threats they are facing. The category of the heritage breeds, which are genetically distinct, geographically concentrated, adapted to their environment, commercially farmed to contribute to the local economy were considered in the frame of the HERITAGESHEEP project. The aim of this project was to deliver the potential of the heritage sheep breeds for a sustainable future for medium to low input production systems, which support local rural communities throughout Europe. This was achieved by addressing the conservation of these breeds, defining the current and future threats and developing new uses and markets for products
Prevalence of non-aureus Staphylococcus species causing intramammary infections in Canadian dairy herds
Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), the microorganisms most frequently isolated from bovine milk worldwide, are a heterogeneous group of numerous species. To establish their importance as a group, the distribution of individual species needs to be determined. In the present study, NAS intramammary infection (IMI) was defined as a milk sample containing ≥1,000 cfu/mL in pure or mixed culture that was obtained from a cohort of cows assembled by the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network. Overall, 6,213 (6.3%) of 98,233 quarter-milk samples from 5,149 cows and 20,305 udder quarters were associated with an NAS IMI. Of the 6,213 phenotypically identified NAS isolates, 5,509 (89%) were stored by the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network Mastitis Pathogen Collection and characterized using partial sequencing of the rpoB housekeeping gene, confirming 5,434 isolates as NAS. Prevalence of each NAS species IMI was estimated using Bayesian models, with presence of a specific NAS species as the outcome. Overall quarter-level NAS IMI prevalence was 26%. The most prevalent species causing IMI were Staphylococcus chromogenes (13%), Staphylococcus simulans (4%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3%), Staphylococcus xylosus (2%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (1%). The prevalence of NAS IMI as a group was highest in first-parity heifers and was evenly distributed throughout cows in parities ≥2. The IMI prevalence of some species such as S. chromogenes, S. simulans, and S. epidermidis differed among parities. Overall prevalence of NAS IMI was 35% at calving, decreased over the next 10 d, and then gradually increased until the end of lactation. The prevalence of S. chromogenes, Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus cohnii, and Staphylococcus capitis was highest at calving, whereas the prevalence of S. chromogenes, S. haemolyticus, S. xylosus, and S. cohnii increased during lactation. Although the overall prevalence of NAS IMI was similar across barn types, the prevalence of S. simulans, S. xylosus, S. cohnii, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, S. capitis, and Staphylococcus arlettae IMI was higher in tie-stall barns; the prevalence of S. epidermidis IMI was lowest; and the prevalence of S. chromogenes and Staphylococcus sciuri IMI was highest in bedded-pack barns. Staphylococcus simulans, S. epidermidis, S. xylosus, and S. cohnii IMI were more prevalent in herds with intermediate to high bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) and S. haemolyticus IMI was more prevalent in herds with high BMSCC, whereas other common NAS species IMI were equally prevalent in all 3 BMSCC categories. Distribution of NAS species IMI differed among the 4 regions of Canada. In conclusion, distribution differed considerably among NAS species IMI; therefore, accurate identification (species level) is essential for studying NAS epidemiology
Evaluation of the 2012 family violence amendments: synthesis report
This report sets out the overall findings of the evaluation of the 2012 family violence amendments. The evaluation examined the effects of amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) that were intended to improve the family law system’s responses to matters involving family violence and safety concerns.
Key messages
Most separated parents don’t use family dispute resolution, lawyers or courts to resolve parenting matters after they separate
Those parents who do use family law systems tend to be those affected by complex issues including family violence, mental ill-health, substance abuse and safety concerns for themselves and/or their children
There has been an increased emphasis on identifying families with concerns about family violence and child abuse, however 29% of parents using family law system services reported never being asked about family violence or safety concerns
Family law professionals indicated that better screening tools and approaches are required
The reforms have supported sorting out parenting arrangements by agreement. This is likely to be due to a change in 2012 that means advisors tell parents that parenting arrangements should be in a child’s best interests
Subtle changes in parenting arrangements are evident such as more parents with safety concerns reporting a shift away from overnight stays with fathers
The proportion of children with court orders for shared care, where allegations of both family violence or child safety had been raised, fell after the reforms (from 19% to 11%)
The proportion of court orders for shared care where neither family violence nor child safety was raised remained stable (22%): no significant change showed where only one issue was raised (17% pre-reform, 15% post-reform).
Overall the main findings of the evaluation indicate that the 2012 family violence amendments are a step in the right direction in a reform agenda intended to improve the system’s response to family violence and child abuse concerns in post-separation parenting arrangements.
See related content for seperate reports.
 
Calculation of Heat-Kernel Coefficients and Usage of Computer Algebra
The calculation of heat-kernel coefficients with the classical DeWitt
algorithm has been discussed. We present the explicit form of the coefficients
up to in the general case and up to for the minimal parts.
The results are compared with the expressions in other papers. A method to
optimize the usage of memory for working with large expressions on universal
computer algebra systems has been proposed.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, no figures. Extended version of contribution to
AIHENP'95, Pisa, April 3-8, 199
Normalization of the chiral condensate in the massive Schwinger model
Within mass perturbation theory, already the first order contribution to the
chiral condensate of the massive Schwinger model is UV divergent. We discuss
the problem of choosing a proper normalization and, by making use of some
bosonization results, we are able to choose a normalization so that the
resulting chiral condensate may be compared, e.g., with lattice data.Comment: Latex file, 8 pages, 1 figure, needed macro: psbox.te
The Higher Derivative Expansion of the Effective Action by the String Inspired Method. Part II
We apply the string inspired worldline formalism to the calculation of the
higher derivative expansion of one-loop effective actions in non-Abelian gauge
theory. For this purpose, we have completely computerized the method, using the
symbolic manipulation programs FORM, PERL and M. Explicit results are given to
sixth order in the inverse mass expansion, reduced to a minimal basis of
invariants specifically adapted to the method. Detailed comparisons are made
with other gauge-invariant algorithms for calculating the same expansion. This
includes an explicit check of all coefficients up to fifth order.Comment: 37 pages, LaTeX, 3 figures, typos corrected, to appear in Ann. Phys.
(N.Y.
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