Falling reserve balances and the federal funds rate

The growth of "sweeps"--a banking practice in which depository institutions shift funds out of customer accounts subject to reserve requirements--has reduced the required balances held by banks in their accounts at the Federal Reserve. This development could lead to greater volatility in the federal funds rate as banks try to manage their accounts with very low balances. An analysis of the evidence suggests that the volatility of the funds rate is rising slightly, but not enough to disrupt the federal funds market or affect the implementation of monetary policy.Bank reserves ; Federal funds market (United States)

The growth and characterisation of zinc telluride for use as a nuclear radiation detector

As grown ZnTe is a highly conductive p-type semiconductor. In an attempt to produce highly resistive material suitable for fabrication into nuclear radiation detectors various dopants have been added during the Bridgman growth process to try to compenate the shallow acceptor defects that are responsible for the as grown electrical conductivity. Van der Pauw resistivity measurements an samples from each boule have showed that indium and aluminiun doping offers a consistant way of producing the high resistivity material. In total 12 devices were fabricated from the indium, aluminium and the one boule of high resistivity lead doped material but it was found that only one device, from an aluminium doped boule, was able to detect nuclear radiation. Further studies on this device showed that it was capable of detecting alpha-particles but not gamma-rays and also that it exhibited the normaI polarisation efect. In an attempt to correlate device performance (or lack of it) with the presence of point defects in the material all of the material was subject to studies using electrical, optical and magnetic resonance techniques. The information gathered in these ways has proven, to a great extent, to be inconclusive.TSC studies on indium doped material revealed the presence of two hole trapping levels. One defect with an activation energy of Ev +0.0geV was found to be present in all samples whereas the activation energy of the deeper defect was found to vary from sample to sample. Only one defect, with an activation energy of Ev +0. 13eV, was observed in the aluminium doped material and was suggested as being the (VznAlzn)' A centre. The concentrations of the defects found using this method give an indication why indium doped material did not act as a detector.The presence of the deep Fe+ centre has been observed using EPR. The observation of this signal has been correlated with with near infra-red luminescence common to ZnTe and observed in these samples suggesting the involvement of the Fe+ centre in the luminescence process.The signs of the shallow donor g-factors in CdS in ZnS in ZnSe and in the mixed crystal ZnS₀.₆Se₀.₄ have, for the first time, been measured directly through ODMR experiments which employ circularly polarised microwaves. In all cases the sign was measured to be positive and provides unequivical experimental conformation of the theoretical calculations carried out by Cardonna. ODMR studies on the 695 run bound exciton emission in CdS₀.₉₈Te₀.₂ indicate that this emission does indeed involve the Te pair bound exciton and is the first reported observation of such ODMR signals. These measurements serve to confirm the Te₂ bound exciton assignment to this emission by Goede et al

Evaluation of a postgraduate examination for primary care: perceptions and performance of general practitioner trainers in the multiple choice paper of the Membership Examination of the Royal College of General Practitioners

This study aimed to investigate the performance of a sample of general practitioner (GP) trainers in the multiple choice paper (MCP) of the Membership Examination of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and to obtain their views of the content of the paper and its relevance to general practice using a written knowledge test and self-administered questionnaire. The participants were volunteer GP trainers in the Northern, Wessex, Kent, Education for Primary Care (2007) 18: 165–72 # 2007 Radcliffe Publishing Limited WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN IN THIS AREA . Feedback from GP registrar candidates sitting the multiple choice paper (MCP) suggests that the paper has good face and content validity, although pressure of time is a problem. . Candidates find the questions in the paper challenging but most believe they assess common or important problems in general practice. WHAT THIS WORK ADDS . Most trainers in this study believed that the paper assessed knowledge of common or important topics relevant to general practice, that the majority of questions were appropriate, clear and unambiguous and that time pressure was not a problem. . Trainers in this study performed significantly better overall compared to registrars and did so without making prior preparation. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH . Repeating the study with non-trainer GPs could provide further information on the validity of the MCP as an applied knowledge test appropriate for established GPs taking the MRCGP as well as those nearing completion of training Keywords: attitudes, examination, general practice trainers, MRCGP, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and Northwest deaneries of the UK. The trainers completed a shortened version of an MRCGP MCP paper under examination conditions and provided feedback immediately afterwards. Of 191 trainers invited to participate, 86 (45%) sat the paper and of these, 81 completed the questionnaire. Most trainers believed that the paper assessed knowledge of common or important topics relevant to general practice, that the majority of questions were appropriate, clear and unambiguous and that time pressure was not a problem. Trainers performed significantly better compared to registrars overall, and in questions on medicine related to general practice and practice administration but not research methodology or critical appraisal. They did so without making prior preparation. The findings from this group of trainers lend support to the face validity and content validity of the MRCGP MCP examination as an assessment of applied knowledge of general practice

How men and women learn about sex: multi-generational perspectives on insufficient preparedness and prevailing gender norms in Scotland

Attitudes towards sexual health and relationships are learned from a young age, and there is an ongoing need for innovative and comprehensive approaches to sex education that keep pace with rapidly changing contexts of people’s lives. We used thematic analysis of data from two qualitative studies in Scotland to explore learning contexts from a multi-generational perspective, as well as the influence of different socio-cultural factors on provision, access to and experience of sex education. The importance, but inadequacy, of school as a source of learning, was a persistent theme over time. Participants’ strategies to address perceived gaps in knowledge included experience, conversations, vicarious and online learning. Gender and age differences emerged, with younger participants more likely to go online for information, and prevailing gender norms shaping attitudes and behaviours across both study groups. Participants who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual described feeling particularly unprepared for sex and relationships due to the narrow, heteronormative content received. Although schools continue to be a common source of information, it appears that they fail to equip young people for their post-school sexual life-course. We recommend the mandatory provision of comprehensive, positive, inclusive and skills-based learning to improve people’s chances of forming and building healthy, positive relationships across the lifespan

Urogenital Fistula :studies on epidemiology and treatment outcomes in high-income and low-and middle-income countries

DsC ThesisIt has long been recognised that urogenital fistulas in low- and middle-income countries are predominantly of obstetric aetiology, whereas those in high-income countries usually follow pelvic surgery. This disparity was confirmed in systematic review (included as paper 1) and in large cohort studies undertaken in Nigeria (paper 2) and the UK (paper 3). Whilst there is no standardisation of outcome measures, the same studies report treatment ‘success’ in approximately 80-90% of cases in low- and middle-income countries (papers 1 & 2) and 95% in high-income countries (papers 1 & 3). It is recognised that obstetric fistula patients commonly suffer debilitating stress urinary incontinence even after successful closure of their fistula (paper 1). Urodynamic investigation in a cohort of fistula patients in UK also showed a high incidence of functional abnormalities (paper 4). Many of these resolved after repair, and most women reported minimal impact on quality of life in the long-term (paper 5). Success rates were found to be lower following second operations than first in cohort studies from Nigeria (paper 2) and UK (paper 3), and in a UK national cohort study (paper 8). This latter study also found idiosyncratic patterns of care, with re-operation rates related to workload, varying between 0% and 50% (paper 8). Evidence is presented to support an increase in risk of iatrogenic (post-hysterectomy) fistulas in high-income countries (papers 6 & 7). There also is a growing perception by colleagues in low- and middle-income countries of an increase in urogenital fistulas that may be, in part, iatrogenic in nature. These trends may reflect supervision and surgical experience accrued in training and workload maintained in independent practice. In both situations, it behoves those responsible for training and workforce planning in healthcare to ensure an appropriately trained and supervised workforce is maintained in the correct working environment

Assuring the quality of an applied knowledge assessment for licensing purposes (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners, MRCGP) in UK general practice

Background The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) forms part of the tripos of the MRCGP exam. It is a computer-delivered licensing assessment of applied knowledge. This presentation demonstrates how the test quality is reviewed. Summary of work From the RCGP curriculum blueprint, the construction of test items is referenced to high quality evidence, peer reviewed and critically appraised before addition to the question bank. A standard process for question selection, proof reading and feedback to candidates supports its validity. New question formats include free text answers which enhance discrimination. Standard setting follows the modified Angoff process. Summary of results The test shows a high Cronbach’s alpha (0.88-0.92). Pre-trialling of questions, common to many postgraduate medical examinations, is deemed unnecessary with an alpha-coefficient for new questions in the most recent test > 0.8 (0.91 when adjusted for the test length). Computer delivered testing enables detailed analysis of patterns of timing and omission of items by candidates. Conclusions Systematic processes in test construction and computer delivery has enhanced continuous quality assurance of the AKT. Take-home messages Test performance relies on meticulous attention to detail in item writing and test construction. Use of un-trialled new questions enables reliable testing of emerging and changing knowledge