Communication planning for development: an operational framework

This thesis is concerned with communication planning for national development: specifically with the problem of utilising a developing country's communication resources to support an integrated programme of social, political and economic mobilisation. The research which it describes sets out to construct, and test, an operational planning framework, to include among its parameters decision-making processes and political factors as well as planning strategies for communication. Following a literature search, a number of guiding principles in support of communication planning are hypothesized. These principles are then evaluated, modified and categorised, through comparison with selected communication projects and surveys, at levels ranging from the local to the national and regional. Subsequently, on the basis of this analysis, an experimental planning framework is devised, which is constructed around two basic axes: the first defining planning participants (including both planners and decision-makers), and the second defining the sequence of planning. A particular emphasis in elaborating this framework is on the relationship between communication and development planning, and on interactions between the various sectors concerned with national development. An account is then given of a field test of the experimental framework in a developing country (Afghanistan); during which independent evaluations of both the framework and of its application were carried out. Following an analysis of these evaluations, the framework is modified and a revised version proposed. Finally, an attempt is made to relate the planning framework to current concerns with popular access to communication resources, and participation in communication planning and management, as a guide to future application and evaluation

True Belief: An Analysis of the Definition of Knowledge in the Washington Criminal Code

In State v. Allen, the Washington State Supreme Court reaffirmed State v. Shipp, holding that in order for a defendant to have “knowledge” for purposes of the Washington Criminal Code, the defendant must have actual, subjective knowledge of the fact in issue. However, glaring problems still remain with the statutory definition of the term “knowledge.

Classroom assistants in primary schools: Employment and deployment

The study investigates the ways in which classroom assistants in primary schools are deployed in classrooms, and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. The number of classroom assistants in primary schools has grown considerably in recent years, but very little is known about their work. Despite this, government policy is paying increasing attention to their potential to contribute to raising standards of achievement. The study aimed to understand the range of practices which govern the employment of classroom assistants, and the range of ways in which they are deployed in classrooms. The study sought to understand the factors that determine employment practices and patterns of deployment, and the way in which these are interrelated. The study contributes to the growing debate on professional and para-professional roles in primary schools. The study uses a combination of large sample survey and small scale case study methodology. In the first phase, policy and practice in three LEAs were explored through semi-structured interviews with key informants among LEA staff and representatives of trade unions and professional associations. In the second phase, questionnaires were sent to a large sample of schools in these three LEAs for completion by the head teacher, a classroom assistant and a teacher. The returns from LEA 3 were very low and therefore not included in this phase. Finally, three schools in LEA 1 and two schools in LEA 2 were chosen for in-depth case studies, drawing data from non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews with school staff

Flat Bunches with a Hollow Distribution for Space Charge Mitigation

Longitudinally hollow bunches provide one means to mitigate the impact of transverse space charge. The hollow distributions are created via dipolar parametric excitation during acceleration in CERN's Proton Synchrotron Booster. We present simulation work and beam measurements. Particular emphasis is given to the alleviation of space charge effects on the long injection plateau of the downstream Proton Synchrotron machine, which is the main goal of this study.Comment: Proceedings of International Particle Accelerator Conference 201

Workplace interventions to improve sitting posture: a systematic review.

Evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions to improve sitting posture of workers that spend long periods of time seated at a visual display terminal. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials and single-group intervention trials featuring workplace interventions with pre- and follow-up measurements of sitting posture was conducted (registered in PROSPERO, CRD#42015027648). Nine databases were searched for studies available between January 2005 and February 2016. 2519 articles were screened with 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The included studies featured various ergonomic workplace interventions and comprised 4 randomised controlled trial (n = 457), 2 non-randomised controlled trials (n = 416) and 6 single-group intervention trials (n = 328). Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, pooling of data was not completed and a narrative summary of findings was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. The evidence for four review outcomes was assessed with medium to large positive improvements obtained for the majority of studies investigating changes to gross sitting posture, whereas mixed findings were obtained for more specific local segment assessments of sitting posture. The overall evidence quality for all review outcomes were identified as either 'low' or 'very low'. There is evidence which is limited in quality to indicate that ergonomic workplace interventions can improve gross sitting posture. More high quality research across a range of intervention types is required with longer follow-up durations and more advanced methods to assess sitting posture with greater frequency and less bias

Self-estimation of Body Fat is More Accurate in College-age Males Compared to Females

Objective: To determine the effect of gender on the ability to accurately estimate one’s own body fat percentage. Participants: Fifty-five college-age males and 99 college-age females Methods: Participants estimated their own body fat percent before having their body composition measured using a BOD POD. Participants also completed a modified Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS). Results: Estimated body fat was significantly lower compared to measured body fat percent in females (26.8±5.6% vs. 30.2±7.0%, p\u3c0.001) but not in males (16.8±6.8% vs. 18.1±8.3%, p=0.09). The mean difference between estimated and measured body fat was significantly higher for females compared to males (p\u3c0.001). There was a moderate, significant correlation found between measured body fat percent and SPAS score for males (r=0.331, p=0.014) and females (r=.427, p\u3c0.001). Conclusions: Males estimated their body fat percent more accurately than females. Despite these findings, 62% of males and 76% of females underestimated their body fat

Carboxylic Acids Accelerate Acidic Environment-Mediated Nanoceria Dissolution

Ligands that accelerate nanoceria dissolution may greatly affect its fate and effects. This project assessed the carboxylic acid contribution to nanoceria dissolution in aqueous, acidic environments. Nanoceria has commercial and potential therapeutic and energy storage applications. It biotransforms in vivo. Citric acid stabilizes nanoceria during synthesis and in aqueous dispersions. In this study, citrate-stabilized nanoceria dispersions (∼4 nm average primary particle size) were loaded into dialysis cassettes whose membranes passed cerium salts but not nanoceria particles. The cassettes were immersed in iso-osmotic baths containing carboxylic acids at pH 4.5 and 37 °C, or other select agents. Cerium atom material balances were conducted for the cassette and bath by sampling of each chamber and cerium quantitation by ICP-MS. Samples were collected from the cassette for high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation of nanoceria size. In carboxylic acid solutions, nanoceria dissolution increased bath cerium concentration to \u3e96% of the cerium introduced as nanoceria into the cassette and decreased nanoceria primary particle size in the cassette. In solutions of citric, malic, and lactic acids and the ammonium ion ∼15 nm, ceria agglomerates persisted. In solutions of other carboxylic acids, some select nanoceria agglomerates grew to ∼1 micron. In carboxylic acid solutions, dissolution half-lives were 800–4000 h; in water and horseradish peroxidase they were ≥55,000 h. Extending these findings to in vivo and environmental systems, one expects acidic environments containing carboxylic acids to degrade nanoceria by dissolution; two examples would be phagolysosomes and in the plant rhizosphere

Delivering Heparin-Binding Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 with Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels

Heparin-binding insulin-like growth factor 1 (HB-IGF-1) is a fusion protein of IGF-1 with the HB domain of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor. A single dose of HB-IGF-1 has been shown to bind specifically to cartilage and to promote sustained upregulation of proteoglycan synthesis in cartilage explants. Achieving strong integration between native cartilage and tissue-engineered cartilage remains challenging. We hypothesize that if a growth factor delivered by the tissue engineering scaffold could stimulate enhanced matrix synthesis by both the cells within the scaffold and the adjacent native cartilage, integration could be enhanced. In this work, we investigated methods for adsorbing HB-IGF-1 to self-assembling peptide hydrogels to deliver the growth factor to encapsulated chondrocytes and cartilage explants cultured with growth factor-loaded hydrogels. We tested multiple methods for adsorbing HB-IGF-1 in self-assembling peptide hydrogels, including adsorption prior to peptide assembly, following peptide assembly, and with/without heparan sulfate (HS, a potential linker between peptide molecules and HB-IGF-1). We found that HB-IGF-1 and HS were retained in the peptide for all tested conditions. A subset of these conditions was then studied for their ability to stimulate increased matrix production by gel-encapsulated chondrocytes and by chondrocytes within adjacent native cartilage. Adsorbing HB-IGF-1 or IGF-1 prior to peptide assembly was found to stimulate increased sulfated glycosaminoglycan per DNA and hydroxyproline content of chondrocyte-seeded hydrogels compared with basal controls at day 10. Cartilage explants cultured adjacent to functionalized hydrogels had increased proteoglycan synthesis at day 10 when HB-IGF-1 was adsorbed, but not IGF-1. We conclude that delivery of HB-IGF-1 to focal defects in cartilage using self-assembling peptide hydrogels is a promising technique that could aid cartilage repair via enhanced matrix production and integration with native tissue.National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship ProgramNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB003805)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant AR060331)Whitaker Health Sciences Fund FellowshipMassachusetts Life Sciences CenterBiomeasure, Inc

Evaporation, seepage and water quality management in storage dams: a review of research methods

One of the most significant sources of water wastage in Australia is loss from small storage dams, either by seepage or evaporation. Over much of Australia, evaporative demand routinely exceeds precipitation. This paper outlines first, methodologies and measurement techniques to quantify the rate of evaporative loss from fresh water storages. These encompass high-accuracy water balance monitoring; determination of the validity of alternative estimation equations, in particular the FAO56 Penman- Monteith ETo methodology; and the commencement of CFD modeling to determine a 'dam factor' in relation to practical atmospheric measurement techniques. Second, because the application of chemical monolayers is the only feasible alternative to the high cost of physically covering the storages to retard evaporation, the use of cetyl alcohol-based monolayers is reviewed, and preliminary research on their degradation by photolytic action, by wind break-up and by microbial degradation reported. Similarly, preliminary research on monolayer visualisation techniques for field application is reported; and potential enhancement of monolayers by other chemicals and attendant water quality issues are considered

Sustainable Energy at Coastal Facilities

NPS NRP Project PosterThis research effort examined the paths to further adoption of sustainable energy at coastal facilities. It examined current technical, financial, legal, and policy challenges that have hindered past efforts to incorporate more renewable energy and that are priorities to be considered for future renewable energy projects. The research team gathered data and information through an examination of literature and interviews with subject matter experts familiar with coastal facilities and with experts in the renewable energy sector. The team conducted two case studies of US Coast Guard Station Monterey (CA) and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (TX) to provide additional context for the adoption of sustainable renewable energy at coastal facilities. Additionally, research was conducted on mechanisms for microgrid financing to demonstrate how a facility may finance microgrid installation and further adoption of renewable energy and microgrids. Researchers found that there are some common core challenges for installing and using microgrids. These challenges include zoning issues, environmental considerations, infrastructure barriers, financing issues, conflicting safety standards, technical obstacles, and administrative hurdles. Researchers found that some challenges can be lessened, avoided, or accounted for with advance preparation and awareness ahead of time. Further analysis of region-specific challenges would provide more context for consideration of sustainable energy and implementation of microgrids. Further study is also required to understand the details of an appropriate financial acquisition agreement with a quantification of the benefits and costs of microgrids over time. Finally, the processes for contracting out microgrid design and construction and identifying suitable contractors is recommended.NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare CenterN4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.