Endoscopic optical coherence tomography with a flexible fiber bundle

We demonstrate in vivo endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in the forward direction using a flexible fiber bundle. In comparison to current conventional forward looking probe schemes, our approach simplifies the endoscope design by avoiding the integration of any beam steering components in the distal probe end due to 2D scanning of a focused light beam over the proximal fiber bundle surface. We describe the challenges that arise when OCT imaging with a fiber bundle is performed, such as multimoding or cross-coupling. The performance of different fiber bundles with varying parameters such as numerical aperture, core size and core structure was consequently compared and artifacts that degrade the image quality were described in detail. Based on our findings, we propose an optimal fiber bundle design for endoscopic OCT imaging

Histologischer Vergleich von Gewebeproben langjähriger Weichteil-Knochen-Feuchtpräparate sowie deren Trockenpräparate zur Überprüfung des Erhalts feingeweblicher Strukturen

Zweck dieser Studie sollte der lichtmikroskopische Vergleich zwischen der feingeweblichen Qualität des ursprünglichen Präparates mit den Resultaten des neuen Verfahrens sein. Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung sollten abklären, in wieweit ein Erhalt oder eine Schädigung der museal interessanten Gewebe des jeweiligen Präparates eintritt. Das Bestreben liegt darin bereits angegriffene Weichteil-Knochen-Feuchtpräparate auf eine wissenschaftlich verwertbare Weise zu retten, um diese für spätere wissenschaftliche Arbeitsverfahren sicher zu stellen. Es wurden Weichteil-Knochen-Feuchtpräparate des pathologisch-anatomischen Bundesmuseums, welche bereits makroskopisch sichtbare Erweichungserscheinungen aufwiesen, für diese experimentelle Studie herangezogen. Von diesen ausgewählten Präparaten wurden Proben aus dem Weichteilanteil entnommen, und zur weiteren Verarbeitung in Acryl eingelegt, wobei eine genaue Dokumentation der Entnahmestelle vorgenommen wurde. Die Exponate wurden anschließend zur Herstellung von Trockenpräparaten einer neu entwickelten Gerbungs- bzw. Mazerationsmethode unterworfen. Danach wurden Weichteil-Proben entnommen und nach einer erfolgten Quellung des getrockneten Materials einem entsprechend abgeänderten Verfahren zur Einbettung in Kunstharz unterzogen. In weiterer Folge wurden übliche histologische Standard-Färbeverfahren angewandt. Anschließend erfolgte die Auswertung der gefärbten Präparate unter dem Lichtmikroskop hinsichtlich der Qualität vor bzw. nach Umwandlung in das Trockenpräparat. Histotechnologisch sind die Ergebnisse der Feuchtpräparate durchgehend hervorragend, was die Frage aufwirft, ob es überhaupt notwendig ist, die durch beginnende Mazeration angegriffenen naß konservierten Präparate dem neuen Trocknungsverfahren zu unterziehen. Insbesondere da sich herausstellte, daß es z.T. zu gravierenden Qualitätsverlusten bei sehr zellreichen Geweben nach der Trocknung kommt. In wieweit die vorausgehende Quellung des ausgedörrten Materials in Bezug auf das Erscheinungsbild des Gewebes Einfluß hat, sollten weiterführende Studien abklären. Allerdings zeigt die histologische Untersuchung auch, daß bei jenen Exponaten mit hohem Anteil an spongiösem Knochengewebe die Qualität als gleichbleibend einzustufen ist. Der Vorteil des überprüften Trocknungsverfahrens liegt im Gegensatz zur Plastinationshistologie darin, daß man keine aufwendige Apparatur für die Trocknung benötigt. Zwar sintert das zellreiche Gewebe zusammen und die Zellen werden komprimiert und verformt, doch es kommt dabei zu keiner weiteren Zerstörung von Zellen. Weiters kann man die in Kunstharz eingelegten Präparate dünner schleifen, es ist eine höhere Auflösung möglich. Allerdings ist bei der Dünnschliff-Technik die Anwendung von Färbungen eingeschränkt.The aim of this study was a comparison by light microscopy of the quality of fine tissue of the original preparation and with a new conservation treatment. The interest was whether this new treatment could preserve or destroy tissue of a preparation and what extend. The ambition was to preserve already decomposing soft tissue-bone-wet preparations and secure them for further scientific research. For this study soft tissue-bone-wet preparations, with signs of deterioration, from the „Pathologisch-Anatomisches Bundesmuseum“ were used. Samples were taken from the soft tissue of the exhibits with exact documentation of the sampling location and put into acryl for further handling. Also the exhibits were used to make dry-preparations with the new method of maceration. Samples from soft tissue were taken, the dried material soaked and put into synthetic-resin according to modified protocols. Subsequently common histological and histopathological standard staining methods were used. The stained samples were analyzed under light microscope in reference to tissue-preservation before and after the conversion to dry-preparation. The results showed that exhibits with a high percentage of spongy bone tissue have consistent quality in histological analysis. The results of wet-preparations are consistently positive in histotechnological analysis. Therefore the question if putting wet-conserved exhibits, already damaged by starting maceration, through the new dry-treatment is necessary. Especially, since it was noticed that tissues with high cell-density show severe loss of tissue quality after the drying. To what extent the soaking of the dried-up samples has an influence on the appearance of the tissue is a subject for further research. The advantage of the new method in comparison to plastination histology is that no expensive equipment is necessary for the drying. Although cell-rich tissues sinter together there is no destruction of cells. Further the synthetic-resin preserved samples can be cut way thinner and a higher resolution can be achieved. A limitation of this thin-section method is that not all stainings can be used

"Comportamiento tributario y la evasión de impuestos en MYPES del régimen especial de renta del distrito de Breña"

La investigación permitió analizar el comportamiento tributario de las MYPES en el distrito de Breña, tomando en cuenta eÍ constante crecimiento comercial que se ha venido experimentando en los últimos años. A través de esta investigación se identificado la relación que existe entre el comportamiento tributario de los Contribuyentes y la evasión de impuestos, por lo que se presentó como objetivo general: Identificar los factores que inciden en el comportamiento tributario de los empresarios en la evasión de impuestos de las MYPES del Régimen Especial de Renta del distrito de Breña. Las dimensiones del Comportamiento Tributario fueron los factores administrativos y los factores personales que fueron evaluados con su relación con la Evasión de Impuestos que tuvo como indicadores: conocimientos de los tributos, valoración de los tributos, cumplimiento de la obligación tributaria, capacitación permanente, evasión en el pago del impuesto. El instrumento de medición empleado fue el cuestionario aplicado a una muestra de 64 empresarios el que permitió probar las hipótesis y alcanzar los objetivos planteados. En la conclusión principal se ha evidenciado que existe un alto porcentaje de los empresarios MYPE del régimen especial de la Renta del distrito de Breña que carecen de un adecuado comportamiento .tributario, no tienen interés en mostrar su capacidad contributiva cuando declaran sus impuestos y se sugiere, mejorar la aplicación de nuevas estrategias tributarias a través de la educación a los empresarios MYPE, para evitar que se transgredan fácilmente las normas del Impuesto a la Renta.Tesi

Diseño de estrategias de manejo silvicultural para la población arbórea urbana del municipio de Saravena departamento de Arauca.

En la actualidad Saravena, municipio del Departamento de Arauca, localizado al noroccidente de la Orinoquía Colombiana, cuenta con la información detallada sobre la población arbórea en área públicas urbanas de su jurisdicción, producto de la ejecución del catastro arbóreo y zonas verdes urbanas, como instrumento de apoyo en el proceso de actualización del Plan de Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos -PGIRS. A través del análisis de esta información se plantea el diseño de estrategias de manejo silvicultural para la población arbórea urbana del espacio público como un instrumento útil para la gestión y fomento del manejo sostenible de las especies arbóreas y los residuos sólidos producto de las podas. Surgiendo como una necesidad de fomentar acciones preventivas, de cuidado y conservación del medio ambiente, a través de socializaciones a la comunidad de las estrategias generadas en todo el proceso de la implementación de la silvicultura urbana. El documento aborda temas relacionados a los corredores biológicos como alternativa sostenible para la disminución de contaminantes, al proceso de presión urbana que enfrenta el arbolado debido al crecimiento demográfico, a la necesidad de preservar cada especie adaptada a los medios hostiles dominados por infraestructuras, drenajes, tránsito peatonal y vehicular. De este modo, se presenta la propuesta de un protocolo para el establecimiento y mantenimiento de las especies arbóreas registradas en el espacio urbano del municipio, de acuerdo a los condicionantes ecológicos de la zona y su ubicación, en coordinación con las políticas públicas del Plan Básico de Ordenamiento Territorial y la Planeación forestal.Nowadays, Saravena, municipality of the Department of Arauca, located to the northwest of the Colombian Orinoquía, has detailed information on the arboreal population in urban public areas of its jurisdiction, product of the execution of the arboreal cadastre and urban green areas, as an instrument of support in the process of updating the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan -PGIRS. Through the analysis of this information, the design of silvicultural management strategies for the urban arboreal population of the public space is proposed as a useful instrument for the management and promotion of sustainable management of tree species and solid waste resulting from pruning. Emerging as a need to promote preventive actions, care and conservation of the environment, through socializations to the community of strategies generated throughout the process of implementing urban forestry. The document addresses issues related to biological corridors as a sustainable alternative for reducing pollutants, the process of urban pressure facing trees due to population growth, the need to preserve each species adapted to hostile environments dominated by infrastructure, drainage, pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In this way, the proposal of a protocol for the establishment and maintenance of the tree species registered in the urban space is presented, according to the ecological conditions of the area and its location, in coordination with the public policies. Basic Plan of Territorial Organization and forest planning

What matters to whom and why? Understanding the importance of coastal ecosystem services in developing coastal communities

Coastal ecosystems support the livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of people worldwide. However, the marine and terrestrial ecosystem services that coastal ecosystems provide are particularly vulnerable to global environmental change, as are the coastal communities who directly depend on them. To navigate these changes and ensure the wellbeing of coastal communities, policy-makers must know which coastal ecosystem services matter to whom, and why. Yet, in developing coastal settings, capturing people's perceptions of the importance of ecosystem services is challenging for several reasons. Firstly, coastal ecosystem services encompass both terrestrial and marine services across multiple categories (i.e. provisioning, supporting, and cultural) that are difficult to value together. Secondly, widely used monetary valuation techniques are often inappropriate because of culturally specific attributions of value, and the intangible nature of key cultural ecosystem services. Thirdly, people within communities may hold different ecosystem services values. In this paper, we examine how people ascribe and explain the importance of a range of marine and terrestrial ecosystem services in three coastal communities in Papua New Guinea. We use a mixed-methods approach that combines a non-monetary ranking and rating assessment of multiple ecosystem services, with a socio-economic survey (N = 139) and qualitative explanations of why ecosystem services matter. We find that people uniformly ascribe the most importance to marine and terrestrial provisioning services that directly support their livelihoods and material wellbeing. However, within communities, gender, wealth, and years of formal schooling do shape some differences in how people rate ecosystem services. In addition, although cultural ecosystem services were often rated lower, people emphasized that they ranked provisioning services highly, in part, because of their contribution to cultural values like bequest. People also expressed concern about extractive ecosystem services, like fuelwood, that were perceived to be destructive, and were rated low. We contend that comprehensive ecosystem services assessments that include narratives can capture the broad importance of a range of ecosystem services, alongside relational values and normative judgements. This exploratory approach is a useful step towards understanding the complexities of ecosystem services in developing coastal settings

Exploring Swedish preschool teachers' perspectives on applying a self-reflection tool for improving inclusion in early childhood education and care

IntroductionIn order to provide opportunities for high-quality early childhood education and care for each child, inclusive settings need to develop and sustain their potential to enable participation in terms of attendance and involvement for diverse groups of children. In 2015–2017, the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education completed a project on inclusive early childhood education, focusing on structures, processes, and outcomes that ensure a systemic approach to high-quality inclusive early childhood education. Within the project, a self-reflection tool for improving inclusion, the Inclusive Early Childhood Education Environment Self-Reflection Tool (ISRT), was developed. For purposes of future implementation of the ISRT, the present study focused on the teachers' perspective regarding the ISRT's potential to contribute to enabling all children's participation, defined as attending and being actively engaged in the activities in early childhood education and care. The specific aim was to explore Swedish preschool teachers' perceptions of the ISRT based on their experiences of applying the tool.MethodsTwelve preschool teachers participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of applying the tool. The interviews were analyzed with a thematic analysis.ResultsThe thematic analysis resulted in three main themes concerning the teachers' perception of (1) the construction of the ISRT, (2) the time required for using the tool, and (3) the tool's immediate relevance for practice. Each of these themes contained both negative and positive perceptions of the tool.DiscussionBased on the negative and positive perceptions identified in the three main themes, future research and development of the ISRT in Swedish preschools are discussed. On a general level, the results are discussed in relation to the implementation of the ISRT in terms of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Technology Education - A World Wide Concern - reviewed by Dr Thomas GinnerLiving Materials - Practical Activities in Science and Technology - reviewed by David FosterSTEP Design and Technology: Resistant Materials - reviewed by Les PorterSTEP Design and Technology: Food - reviewed by Jenny JupeTERU Diagnostic Tests in Design and Technology - reviewed by Bill GoddardUnderstanding Practice in Design and Technology - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoTeaching Design and Technology - reviewed by John HillD&T Alive at Alton Towers Key Stage 3 - reviewed by John DurrellSucceeding with Autocad - reviewed by P WhittakerTIckle the Senses! - reviewed by Ali FarrellThe Fast Food Diner - reviewed by Margaret Jepso