1,572 research outputs found
Asymptotic Charges Cannot Be Measured in Finite Time
To study quantum gravity in asymptotically flat spacetimes, one would like to
understand the algebra of observables at null infinity. Here we show that the
Bondi mass cannot be observed in finite retarded time, and so is not contained
in the algebra on any finite portion of . This follows
immediately from recently discovered asymptotic entropy bounds. We verify this
explicitly, and we find that attempts to measure a conserved charge at
arbitrarily large radius in fixed retarded time are thwarted by quantum
fluctuations. We comment on the implications of our results to flat space
holography and the BMS charges at .Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. v2 typos fixed and minor addition
Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in marine prawns and environments
Qualitative studies on the microflora of slime and guts of prawns and of sea water off Nagapattinam showed the presence of Vibrio in the slime and sea water. They were further tested for Vibrio parahaemolyticus types and related bio-types. Evidence of its occurrence is given. This points to the need for further studies on the distribution of this organism in terms of public health significance
Capturing the Benefits of Worker Specialization: Effectsof Managerial and Organizational Task Experience
Learning by doing is a fundamental driver of productivity among knowledge workers. As workers accumulate experience working on certain types of tasks (i.e., they become specialized), they also develop proficiency in executing these
tasks. However, previous research suggests that organizations may struggle to leverage the knowledge workers accrue
through specialization because specialized workers tend to lose interest and reduce effort during task execution. This
study investigates how organizations can improve specialized workers’ performance by mitigating the dysfunctional
effects of specialization. In particular, we study how other sources of task experiences from the worker’s immediate manager as well as the organization itself help manage the relationship between worker specialization and performance. We
do so by analyzing a proprietary dataset that comprises of 39,162 software service tasks that 310 employees in a Fortune
100 organization executed under the supervision of 92 managers. Results suggest that the manager role experience (i.e.,
the manager’s experience supervising workers) is instrumental in mitigating the potential negative effect of worker specialization on performance, measured as task execution time. Such influence, however, is contingent on cases in which
organizational task experience (i.e., the organization’s experience in executing tasks of the same substantive content as the
focal task) is limited. Taken together, our research contributes to multiple streams of research and unearths important
insights on how multiple sources of experience beyond the workers themselves can help capture the elusive benefits of
worker specialization
Effects of Automated Interventions in Programming Assignments: Evidence from a Field Experiment
A typical problem in MOOCs is the missing opportunity for course conductors
to individually support students in overcoming their problems and
misconceptions. This paper presents the results of automatically intervening on
struggling students during programming exercises and offering peer feedback and
tailored bonus exercises. To improve learning success, we do not want to
abolish instructionally desired trial and error but reduce extensive struggle
and demotivation. Therefore, we developed adaptive automatic just-in-time
interventions to encourage students to ask for help if they require
considerably more than average working time to solve an exercise. Additionally,
we offered students bonus exercises tailored for their individual weaknesses.
The approach was evaluated within a live course with over 5,000 active students
via a survey and metrics gathered alongside. Results show that we can increase
the call outs for help by up to 66% and lower the dwelling time until issuing
action. Learnings from the experiments can further be used to pinpoint course
material to be improved and tailor content to be audience specific.Comment: 10 page
Capturing the Benefits of Worker Specialization: Effects of Managerial and Organizational Task Experience
Learning by doing is a fundamental driver of productivity among knowledge workers. As workers accumulate experience working on certain types of tasks (i.e., they become specialized), they also develop proficiency in executing these tasks. However, previous research suggests that organizations may struggle to leverage the knowledge workers accrue through specialization because specialized workers tend to lose interest and reduce effort during task execution. This study investigates how organizations can improve specialized workers’ performance by mitigating the dysfunctional effects of specialization. In particular, we study how other sources of task experiences from the worker's immediate manager as well as the organization itself help manage the relationship between worker specialization and performance. We do so by analyzing a proprietary dataset that comprises of 39,162 software service tasks that 310 employees in a Fortune 100 organization executed under the supervision of 92 managers. Results suggest that the manager role experience (i.e., the manager's experience supervising workers) is instrumental in mitigating the potential negative effect of worker specialization on performance, measured as task execution time. Such influence, however, is contingent on cases in which organizational task experience (i.e., the organization's experience in executing tasks of the same substantive content as the focal task) is limited. Taken together, our research contributes to multiple streams of research and unearths important insights on how multiple sources of experience beyond the workers themselves can help capture the elusive benefits of worker specialization
Free-standing graphene films embedded in epoxy resin with enhanced thermal properties
The poor thermal conductivity of polymer composites has long been a deterrent to their increased use in high-end aerospace or defence applications. This study describes a new approach for the incorporation of graphene in an epoxy resin, through the addition of graphene as free-standing film in the polymeric matrix. The electrical and thermal conductivity of composites embedding two different free-standing graphene films was compared to composites with embedded carbon nanotube buckypapers (CNT-BP). Considerably higher thermal conductivity values than those achieved with conventional dispersing methods of graphene or CNTs in epoxy resins were obtained. The characterisation was complemented with a study of the structure at the microscale by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The films are preconditioned in order to incorporate them into the composites, and the complete manufacturing process proposed allows the production and processing of these materials in large batches. The high thermal conductivity obtained for the composites opens the way for their use in demanding thermal management applications, such as electronic enclosures or platforms facing critical temperature loads.European Defence Agency tender No 17.ESI.OP.066. Study on the Impact of Graphene on Defence Application
A study of patients 'lost' from short course chemotherapy under district tuberculosis programme
A study was undertaken in North Arcot and Raichur districts in South India to find out the reasons
for patients getting ‘lost’ from short course chemotherapy. There were 545 (40%) patients ‘lost’ from
treatment in North Arcot during 14 months and 219 (46%) in Raichur during 72 months. Approximately
half of the ‘lost’ patients from both the districts discontinued treatment within two months from the start
of treatment.
Due to inadequate or incorrect address, 84 (15%) and 26 (13%) patients could not be traced at North
Arcot and Raichur, respectively. Reasons could not be elicited from 39 (7%) and 16 (7%) patients,
respectively, as they had migrated. Eighty-two (15%) from North Arcot and 33 (15%) from Raichur had
died. For 55 (10%) patients from North Arcot and 15 (7%) from Raichur treatment had been changed.
Twenty -three (4%) from North Arcot had actually completed their treatment at a different Peripheral
Health Institution. Reasons for stopping treatment were obtained from 262 (48%) and 127 (58%) patients,
respectively, from the two districts. Abatement of symptoms (19%, 35%), adverse reactions (22%, 13%),
outstation trips (22%, 2%), lack of faith in diagnosis and treatment (10%, 27%) and taking private
treatment (9%, 32%) were some of the reasons given by the patients Interviewed respectively from these
two districts . Some of the patients gave more than one reason
Surveillance of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the state of Gujarat, India
BACKGROUND: Limited information about the prevalence
of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) has been reported
from India, the country with the world’s highest burden
of TB. We conducted a representative state-wide survey
in the state of Gujarat (2005 population: 56 million).
METHODS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from
a representative sample of new and previously treated
smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) cases were subjected
to drug susceptibility testing (DST) against fi rst-line drugs
at a World Health Organization supranational reference
laboratory. Isolates found to have at least both isoniazid
(INH) and rifampicin (RMP) resistance (i.e., multidrugresistant
TB [MDR-TB]) were subjected to second-line
DST.
RESULTS: Of 1571 isolates from new patients, 1236
(78.7%) were susceptible to all fi rst-line drugs, 173 (11%)
had any INH resistance and MDR-TB was found in 37
(2.4%, 95%CI 1.6–3.1). Of 1047 isolates from previously
treated patients, 564 (54%) were susceptible to all
fi rst-line drugs, 387 (37%) had any INH resistance and
MDR-TB was found in 182 (17.4%, 95%CI 15.0–19.7%).
Among 216 MDR-TB isolates, 52 (24%) were ofl oxacin
(OFX) resistant; seven cases of extensively drug-resistant
TB (XDR-TB) were found, all of whom were previously
treated cases.
CONCLUSION: MDR-TB prevalence remains low among
new TB patients in Gujarat, but is more common among
previously treated patients. Among MDR-TB isolates,
the alarmingly high prevalence of OFX resistance may
threaten the success of the expanding efforts to treat
and control MDR-TB
Towards cleaner degreasing method in industries: ultrasound-assisted aqueous degreasing process in leather making
Studies on ultrasound-assisted processes are gaining importance due to its effectiveness and facilitating
green method in processing. Degreasing of skin/hide prior to tanning process is an important unit
operation. Presence of large amounts of natural fat at the interior of skin/hide matrix makes degreasing
process a challenging one. Conventionally, organic solvent and/or detergent based degreasing process are
employed leading to environmental problems. In the present paper, the use of power ultrasound in
aqueous degreasing process has been studied and compared with different degreasing systems.
Glutaraldehyde pre-tanning has also been employed for carrying out the degreasing process at ultrasonic
bath temperature. The results indicate that there is a significant increase in the degreasing efficiency due
to the application of ultrasound. About 2-fold increase in fat removal has been observed due to the use of
ultrasound as compared to control under the given process conditions. Comparing the degreasing
efficiencies of the solvent with aqueous based ultrasonic processes, about 80% of the solvent degreasing
efficiency could be obtained for aqueous degreasing process. This novel ultrasonic process helps in
making aqueous degreasing process a viable option, which is eco-friendly even dispensing with
temperature control measures
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