Icosahedron designs

It is known from the work of Adams and Bryant that icosahedron designs of order v exist for v ≡ 1 (mod 60) as well as for v = 16. Here we prove that icosahedron designs exist if and only if v ≡ 1, 16, 21 or 36 (mod 60), wit

Designs for graphs with six vertices and nine edges

The design spectrum has been determined for eleven of the 21 graphs with six vertices and nine edges. In this paper we completely solve the design spectrum problem for the remaining ten graphs

Completing the design spectra for graphs with six vertices and eight edges

Apart from two possible exceptions, the design spectrum has been determined for every graph with six vertices and at most eight edges. The purpose of this note is to establish the existence of the two missing designs, both of order 32

Diamond-free Families

Given a finite poset P, we consider the largest size La(n,P) of a family of subsets of $[n]:=\{1,...,n\}$ that contains no subposet P. This problem has been studied intensively in recent years, and it is conjectured that $\pi(P):= \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} La(n,P)/{n choose n/2}$ exists for general posets P, and, moreover, it is an integer. For $k\ge2$ let \D_k denote the $k$-diamond poset $\{A< B_1,...,B_k < C\}$. We study the average number of times a random full chain meets a $P$-free family, called the Lubell function, and use it for P=\D_k to determine \pi(\D_k) for infinitely many values $k$. A stubborn open problem is to show that \pi(\D_2)=2; here we make progress by proving \pi(\D_2)\le 2 3/11 (if it exists).Comment: 16 page

Invisible Ink: An Analysis of Meaning Contained in Gender, Race, Performance, and Power Discourses

The number of females in senior level leadership positions in higher education is substantially fewer than males. Yet female students in these same institutions represent over half the population (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2010). The leadership gender gap is a phenomenon that has undergone numerous studies in search of reasons and solutions. Yet the gap remains. One cause of the underrepresentation of women in higher education leadership is ideological views regarding gender and leadership that result in stereotypes regarding who qualifies for leadership, what leadership behaviors are deemed best, who exhibits those behaviors, and what happens when those stereotypes are disrupted (Eagly & Karau, 2002). In higher education leadership classrooms, students read and discuss texts on leadership theory. The leadership texts used in leadership courses in higher education programs produce discourses that influence the way students view women in leadership and the way women view themselves as leaders (Basow, 2004). Additionally, the discourses create relationships of power which serves to maintain the status quo and support male dominance (Wodak, 2001). These forces contribute to the leadership gender gap by creating relationships between the discursive message and the students, reinforcing the social issue of female under-representation. This study uses a feminist discourse analysis method to analyze four discourses in a commonly used leadership course text. By examining the discourses of gender, race, performance, and power, I locate the messages that work to sustain the power, control, and male dominance in senior level leadership positions in higher education and within the leadership classroom

Factors Affecting Accuracy and Precision in Measuring Material Surfaces

The fractal dimensions of material surfaces are of interest because they can be related to material performance. Such surfaces include the fracture surfaces of broken specimens, surfaces abraded by airborne particles, and surfaces upon which coatings of another material have been applied. Scientists who study the fracture surfaces of failed medical implants stand to benefit greatly from fractal analysis. The origin of failure is often damaged or lost during retrieval of a failed implant, and evaluation of the undamaged portions of the fracture surface by relying on the self-similarity property of fractals may allow one to deduce the conditions that were present at the failure origin at the moment of failure. If the analysis of material surfaces will be used as an engineering tool, then it is important to identify the analysis methods that yield the most precise and accurate estimates of surface dimension. Eleven algorithms for calculating the surface dimension are compared. A method for correcting the bias of dimension estimates is presented. The sources of error involved in atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, mechanical sectioning, and fabrication of specimen replicas are discussed

Quality of Care Provided to HIV-Infected Clients by Nurse Practitioners at a Specialized Nursing Center

This study evaluates the quality of care provided by nurse practitioners HIVinfected clients in a specialized nursing center in Georgia. Quality of care is evaluated using Donabedians\u27 Structure-Process-Outcome domains as presented in the Unifying Model of Quality Health Care. Structure is evaluated as the nurse practitioners in this clinic providing health care. The interpersonal aspect ofthe process of quality health care is measured by the researcher developed Outpatient Client Satisfaction Survey. The technical aspect ofthe process ofquality health care is measured by the researcher developed Provider Adherence Measurement Tool which measures adherence to current clinical practice guidelines. Reliability and validity information is provided on both tools. The outcome ofthe health care provided is measured by the rate ofpneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). A literature review is included which describes related studies. The data analysis includes a description ofthe demographics ofthe clients in this clinic, and compares the data to national statistics. The adherence ofthe nurse practitioners care to the current clinical practice guidelines is analyzed against the client characteristics of age, CD4 cell count, education completed, gender, race, income, risk factor and insurance coverage. A favorable statistically significant difference is found: as the clients CD4 cell count decreases, the providers\u27 adherence increases. The outcome of care is determined by active cases of PCP, of which there are none in this sample. Client satisfaction is measured against the client characteristics of age, CD4 cell count, education completed, gender, income, wait time, race, risk factor, and insurance coverage. A statistically significant difference is found in the satisfaction of the nonwhite clients. The study is summarized with the conclusion that the nurse practitioners in this clinic are providing quality health care to these HTV-infected clients. The limitations ofthe study are described as well as recommendations for future research. A reference list and the actual data collection tools are also included

The impact of healthcare on global warming and human health: connecting the dots

The aim of this paper is to explore climate change and the impact that this is having on human health. The paper takes the reader through a brief history of climate change, making links between raising global temperatures and the environmental effects that are being seen across the globe. The environmental effects are then explored in relation to human health and the impact that climate change is having on physical and mental health. The paper concludes by illuminating the carbon footprint of health and care in the UK and the role of the healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner in making a positive contribution to sustainable healthcare

Nursing and the barriers to sustainable healthcare: an international review of the literature

Objectives: global warming poses a serious threat to human health yet healthcare organisations and staff have been relatively slow to engage with sustainable healthcare practises. This review of the literature seeks to frame what is already known about nurses and their views on global warming and sustainable healthcare. Design: eleven primary research papers were sources from a search of five mainstream databases. These papers were subject to a basic thematic analysis. Results: six themes were identified: Sustainability; Endemic Blindness to Global Issues; Environmental Numbness; Social Norms; Priority Assigned to Sustainability, and; Psychology of Responsibility and Blame. Conclusion: from the literature reviewed it is clear there are a number of social, cultural and psychological barriers which have led to widespread inaction. This article recommends further research to understand the psychological barriers in more depth as this is a poorly understood area