4,846 research outputs found
EVALUATING THE ABILITY OF BIM TO ENHANCE VALUE IN FACILITIES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
The concern towards information management in construction industry has been changed over the past decade with the introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM). With this influence the Government Soft Landing Policy focuses on early end user engagement to enhance the in-use performance of buildings. Literature reveals number of advantages that BIM promises on enhancing the efficient management of buildings. However, many of these findings explain what BIM can do and only limited effort has been taken to reveal the mechanism to exploit those good practices. This knowledge gap has slowed down the adoption of BIM beyond government projects. The success of BIM is based on information it holds. Hence this paper attempts to investigate the value of construction information to the facilities management to understand optimum level of information to be handed over through BIM. Also, it further attempts to explain how BIM can be used as a vehicle to improve such value. 14 interviews were conducted among construction professionals to gather the value perception of information. The qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis based on grounded theory. The information value matrix was developed to assist facilities managers on understanding information requirement and value of information
H19 and IGF-2 allele-specific expression in hepatoblastoma
Patterns of allele-specific expression of H19 and insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) were examined in tissue obtained from 30 children diagnosed with hepatoblastoma. All informative tumours demonstrated monoallelic expression of H19. In contrast, variable patterns of allele-specific expression of IGF-2 were seen in tumours from children of different ages.© 2000 Cancer Research Campaig
Sucrolytic Enzyme Activities in Cotyledons of the Faba Bean (Developmental Changes and Purification of Alkaline Invertase)
Demographic characteristics of exploited tropical lutjanids: a comparative analysis
Demographic parameters from seven exploited coral reef lutjanid species were compared as a case study of the implications of intrafamily variation in life histories for
multispecies harvest management. Modal lengths varied by 4 cm among four species (Lutjanus fulviflamma, L. vitta, L. carponotatus, L. adetii), which were at least 6 cm smaller than the modal lengths of the largest species (L. gibbus, Symphorus nematophorus, Aprion virescens). Modal ages, indicating ages of full selection to fishing gear, were 10 years or less for all species, but maximum ages ranged from
12 (L. gibbus) to 36 years (S. nematophorus). Each species had a unique growth pattern, with differences in length-at-age and mean asymptotic fork length (L∞), but smaller species generally grew fast during the first 1–2 years of life and larger species grew more slowly over a longer period. Total mortality rates varied among species; L. gibbus had the highest mortality and L. fulviflamma, the
lowest mortality. The variability in life history strategies of these tropical lutjanids makes generalizations about lutjanid life histories difficult, but the fact that all seven had characteristics that would make them particularly vulnerable to fishing indicates that
harvest of tropical lutjanids should be managed with caution
Interacting compact binaries: modeling mass transfer in eccentric systems
We discuss mass transfer in eccentric binaries containing a white dwarf and a
neutron star (WD--NS binaries). We show that such binaries are produced from
field binaries following a series of mass transfer episodes that allow the
white dwarf to form before the neutron star. We predict the orbital properties
of binaries similar to the observed WD--NS binary J1141+6545, and show that
they will undergo episodic mass transfer from the white dwarf to the neutron
star. Furthermore, we describe oil-on-water, a two-phase SPH formalism that we
have developed in order to model mass transfer in such binaries.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the ASP conference series
proceedings of "Advances in Computational Astrophysics: methods, tools, and
outcomes" in Cefalu', Italy, June 13-17, 201
Survival of patients undergoing surgery for metastatic spinal tumours and the impact of surgical site 2 infection
Summary
Background
Patients with metastatic spinal tumours have a limited prognosis. Surgical complications that may result in prolonged hospitalization or readmission are highly undesirable. Surgical site infection (SSI) is one such complication, which can, in extreme cases, lead to death.
Aim
To assess the impact of SSI on patient survival after surgery for spinal metastases.
Methods
Demographic, operative, and survival data were collected on 152 patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastasis at a large UK tertiary referral centre. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade and the Revised Tokuhashi Score (RTS) were determined as measures of health status and prognosis, respectively, at baseline. A semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards survival analysis was used to assess the relationships between covariates and survival.
Findings
Seventeen patients (11.2%) experienced SSI. Overall, median survival time from operation was 262 days (95% confidence interval: 190–334 days) and 12-month survival was 42.1%. RTS (hazard ratio: 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.89; P < 0.001) and ASA grade (1.37; 1.03–1.82; P = 0.028) were significantly associated with survival, with better survival found in patients with higher RTS and lower ASA scores. Infection status was of substantive importance, with better survival in those without SSI (P = 0.075).
Conclusion
Twelve-month survival in patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastasis is ∼42%. RTS and ASA scores may be used as indicators of patient survival either in combination or individually. Whereas SSI has some negative impact on survival, a larger study sample would be needed to confirm whether this is statistically significan
Mass transfer in eccentric binaries: the new Oil-on-Water SPH technique
To measure the onset of mass transfer in eccentric binaries we have developed
a two-phase SPH technique. Mass transfer is important in the evolution of close
binaries, and a key issue is to determine the separation at which mass transfer
begins. The circular case is well understood and can be treated through the use
of the Roche formalism. To treat the eccentric case we use a newly-developed
two phase system. The body of the donor star is made up from high-mass "water"
particles, whilst the atmosphere is modelled with low-mass "oil" particles.
Both sets of particles take part fully in SPH interactions. To test the
technique we model circular mass-transfer binaries containing a 0.6 Msun donor
star and a 1 Msun white dwarf; such binaries are thought to form cataclysmic
variable (CV) systems. We find that we can reproduce a reasonable CV
mass-transfer rate, and that our extended atmosphere gives a separation that is
too large by aproximately 16%, although its pressure scale height is
considerably exaggerated. We use the technique to measure the semi-major axis
required for the onset of mass transfer in binaries with a mass ratio of q=0.6
and a range of eccentricities. Comparing to the value obtained by considering
the instantaneous Roche lobe at pericentre we find that the radius of the star
required for mass transfer to begin decreases systematically with increasing
eccentricity.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted by MNRA
On the enigmatic X-ray Source V1408 Aql (=4U 1957+11)
Models for the characteristically soft X-ray spectrum of the compact X-ray
source V1498 Aql (=4U 1957+11) have ranged from optically thick Comptonization
to multicolor accretion disk models. We critically examine the X-ray spectrum
of V1408 Aql via archival Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics
(ASCA) data, archival Roentgensatellit (ROSAT) data, and recent Rossi X-Ray
Timing Explorer (RXTE) data. Although we are able to fit a variety of X-ray
spectral models to these data, we favor an interpretation of the X-ray spectrum
as being due to an accretion disk viewed at large inclination angles. Evidence
for this hypothesis includes long term (117 day, 235 day, 352 day)
periodicities seen by the RXTE All Sky Monitor (ASM), which we interpret as
being due to a warped precessing disk, and a 1 keV feature in the ASCA data,
which we interpret as being the blend of L fluorescence features from a disk
atmosphere or wind. We also present timing analysis of the RXTE data and find
upper limits of 4% for the root mean square (rms) variability between
f=0.001-16 Hz. The situation of whether the compact object is a black hole or
neutron star is still ambiguous; however, it now seems more likely that an
X-ray emitting, warped accretion disk is an important component of this system.Comment: High Frequency Power Spectrum corrected for unflagged `data dropouts'
(described in Appendix) and correct upper limits for variability presented.
All energy spectra and long term variability sections unchanged. Additional
references and acknowledgements added. 13 pages in emulateapj.st
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