1,289 research outputs found
What Transformative Leaders Can Do to Initiate and Institute Effective Federal Change
Many Americans have the expectation that their government through the mix of public policies and pragmatism will respond to its citizensâ core needs, and when this requires change, that progress will be straightforward. However, in reality, achieving successful transformation and change in government can be exceptionally challenging. Sometimes political or economic conditions have changed, sometimes methods for achieving progress are outdated or obsolete, and sometimes the publicâs expectations have changed.The Federal government can be trusted to reliably do much good for its citizens. Year in and year out the government provides essential services without a hitch: retirees receive their Social Security checks on time, medical support is provided for the poor, and our nationâs security apparatus provides globally-deployed defense forces across all time zones. Despite these benefits, some citizens have grown to expect instantaneous results from a system that was not designed for speed. This could be anticipated if oneâs expectations are influenced by the experience of using modern apps on an iPhone or Android to instantly contact a ride, buy a new suit, or find a restaurant. To people unfamiliar with the inner workings of government political change seems to be stymied by complexity and confounded by process. But our government was designed to be careful and deliberative, with the legislative process being sometimes contentious. Within this context, government leaders need to discern how to manage achieving the art of what is possible
A Human Dignity Approach to Business Ethics for Executives
This chapter introduces an approach to business ethics for executives that centers on the concept of human dignity.The ideas discussed in this chapter are drawn largely from Catholic social doctrine as applied to the economic sphere.Catholic social doctrine, however, is not primarily the product of theological speculation.It instead finds a foundational source in philosophical ethics and the natural law, subjects that antedate Christianity by many centuries.As a result, people of other faith traditions or of no religion can profitably access both its wisdom and the many practical applications found therein.They are part of âreal lifeâ as actually experienced by business executives.Rightly ordered, ethical business leadersâ guiding decisions shape a positive corporate environment, one in which creativity is fostered and workers serve both the community and each other.Affirming each individualâs dignity in the business enterprise does not lead to lack of control or strategic focus.It contributes on the contrary to the success of a viable business model from which long-term profit can flow.(Foley, 2015).It also helps the enterprise play a role as a responsible contributor to the surrounding society
An unusual interplay among disorder, Kondo-effect and spin-glass behavior in the Kondo lattices, CeAuCoSi
We report the results of magnetic measurements for the solid solution
CeAuCoSi. The results reveal that this solid solution is
characterized by a magnetic phase diagram (plot of magnetic transition
temperature versus ) unusual for Kondo lattices. In particular, the
spin-glass freezing induced by disorder is observed only for the compositions
at the weak coupling limit; as one approaches the quantum critical point by a
gradual replacement of Au by Co, this disorder effect is surprisingly
suppressed in favor of long range antiferro-magnetic ordering in contrast to
expectations. This unusual interplay between disorder, spin-glass freezing and
the Kondo-effect calls for further refinement of theories on competition
between magnetism and the Kondo effect.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Effet antihypertensif d\'un extrait aqueux d\'écorce de tronc de Parkia biglobosa (mimosaceae) sur la pression artérielle de lapin.
Un extrait aqueux des écorces de tronc de Parkia biglobosa (EAPB), à des concentrations comprises entre 1,18 et 18, 93 mg/kg de poids corporel, induit une hypotension dose dépendante sur la pression artérielle de lapin. L'interaction Adrénaline - EAPB a révélé une réduction significative (
Effects of telmisartan and ramipril on adiponectin and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes
<b>Background:</b>
Adiponectin is secreted by adipose tissue and may play a role in cardiovascular disease. We examined adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Telmisartan vs. Ramipril in Renal Endothelial Dysfunction (TRENDY) study.
<b>Methods</b>
A total of 87 patients were assessed at baseline and following 9 weeks treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan (final dose, 80 mg; n = 45) or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (final dose, 10 mg; n = 42). Adiponectin levels were measured in plasma by radioimmunoassay.
<b>Results:</b>
Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with systolic (SBP; r = -0.240, P < 0.05) and diastolic (DBP; r = -0.227, P < 0.05) blood pressure at baseline and following treatment with telmisartan or ramipril (SBP: r = -0.228, P < 0.05; DBP: r = -0.286, P < 0.05). Changes in adiponectin levels were related to changes in SBP (r = -0.357, P < 0.01) and DBP (r = -0.286, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in adiponectin levels in the telmisartan (0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27 to 1.10) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P < 0.01) but not in the ramipril group (0.17 (95% CI, -0.56 to 0.90) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P = 0.67). Blood pressure reduction in the telmisartan group (DeltaSBP: -13.5 (95% CI, -17.0 to -10.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -7.6 (95% CI, -9.8 to -5.3) mm Hg, each P < 0.001) was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01 for SBP and P < 0.01 for DBP) greater than in the ramipril group (ΔSBP: -6.1 (95% CI, -6.2 to -2.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -2.7 (95% CI, -5.0 to -0.5) mm Hg; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively).
<b>Conclusion:</b>
Adiponectin is correlated with blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether increased adiponectin contributes to the blood pressureâlowering effect of telmisartan needs further study
Itinerant electron metamagnetism in LaCoSi
The strongly exchange enhanced Pauli paramagnet LaCoSi is found to
exhibit an itinerant metamagnetic phase transition with indications for
metamagnetic quantum criticality. Our investigation comprises magnetic,
specific heat, and NMR measurements as well as ab-initio electronic structure
calculations. The critical field is about 3.5 T for and 6 T for , which is the lowest value ever found for rare earth intermetallic
compounds. In the ferromagnetic state there appears a moment of about 0.2
/Co at the Co-sites, but sigificantly smaller moments at the 4d
and Co-sites.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, PRB Rapid Communication, in prin
Aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition of conformal ZnO compact layers for efficient electron transport in perovskite solar cells
Ultrathin and compact ZnO films were firstly deposited on textured fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes via aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). Planar CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated under ambient conditions and a best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.75% was achieved
Implementation of an electronic monitoring and evaluation system for the antiretroviral treatment programme in the Cape Winelands district, South Africa: a qualitative evaluation
BACKGROUND: A pragmatic three-tiered approach to monitor the world's largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme was adopted by the South African National Department of Health in 2010. With the rapid expansion of the programme, the limitations of the paper-based register (tier 1) were the catalyst for implementation of the stand-alone electronic register (tier 2), which offers simple digitisation of the paper-based register. This article engages with theory on implementation to identify and contextualise enabling and constraining factors for implementation of the electronic register, to describe experiences and use of the register, and to make recommendations for implementation in similar settings where standardisation of ART monitoring and evaluation has not been achieved. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the roll-out of the register. This comprised twenty in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of stakeholders at facility, sub-district, and district levels of the health system. Facility-level participants were selected across five sub-districts, including one facility per sub-district. Responses were coded and analysed using a thematic approach. An implementation science framework guided interpretation of the data. Results & DISCUSSION: We identified the following seven themes: 1) ease of implementation, 2) perceived value of an electronic M&E system, 3) importance of stakeholder engagement, 4) influence of a data champion, 5) operational and logistical factors, 6) workload and role clarity, and 7) importance of integrating the electronic register with routine facility monitoring and evaluation. Interpreting our findings through an implementation theory enabled us to construct the scaffolding for implementation across the five facility-settings. This approach illustrated that implementation was not a linear process but occurred at two nodes: at the adoption of the register for roll-out, and at implementation at facility-level. CONCLUSION: In this study we found that relative advantage of an intervention and stakeholder engagement are critical to implementation. We suggest that without these aspects of implementation, formative and summative outcomes of implementation at both the adoption and coalface stages of implementation would be negatively affected
Estimating offsets for avian displacement effects of anthropogenic impacts
Biodiversity offsetting, or compensatory mitigation, is increasingly being used in temperate grassland ecosystems to compensate for unavoidable environmental damage from anthropogenic developments such as transportation infrastructure, urbanization, and energy development. Pursuit of energy independence in the United States will expand domestic energy production. Concurrent with this increased growth is increased disruption to wildlife habitats, including avian displacement from suitable breeding habitat. Recent studies at energy-extraction and energy-generation facilities have provided evidence for behavioral avoidance and thus reduced use of habitat by breeding waterfowl and grassland birds in the vicinity of energy infrastructure. To quantify and compensate for this loss in value of avian breeding habitat, it is necessary to determine a biologically based currency so that the sufficiency of offsets in terms of biological equivalent value can be obtained. We describe a method for quantifying the amount of habitat needed to provide equivalent biological value for avifauna displaced by energy and transportation infrastructure, based on the ability to define five metrics: impact distance, impact area, pre-impact density, percent displacement, and offset density. We calculate percent displacement values for breeding waterfowl and grassland birds and demonstrate the applicability of our avian-impact offset method using examples for wind and oil infrastructure. We also apply our method to an example in which the biological value of the offset habitat is similar to the impacted habitat, based on similarity in habitat type (e.g., native prairie), geographical location, land use, and landscape composition, as well as to an example in which the biological value of the offset habitat is dissimilar to the impacted habitat. We provide a worksheet that informs potential users how to apply our method to their specific developments and a framework for developing decision-support tools aimed at achieving landscape-level conservation goals
Linking Whole-Slide Microscope Images with DICOM by Using JPEG2000 Interactive Protocol
The use of digitized histopathologic specimens (also known as whole-slide images (WSIs)) in clinical medicine requires compatibility with the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard. Unfortunately, WSIs usually exceed DICOM image object size limit, making it impossible to store and exchange them in a straightforward way. Moreover, transmitting the entire DICOM image for viewing is ineffective for WSIs. With the JPEG2000 Interactive Protocol (JPIP), WSIs can be linked with DICOM by transmitting image data over an auxiliary connection, apart from patient data. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using JPIP to link JPEG2000 WSIs with a DICOM-based Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS). We first modified an open-source DICOM library by adding support for JPIP as described in the existing DICOM Supplement 106. Second, the modified library was used as a basis for a software package (JVSdicom), which provides a proof-of-concept for a DICOM clientâserver system that can transmit patient data, conventional DICOM imagery (e.g., radiological), and JPIP-linked JPEG2000 WSIs. The software package consists of a compression application (JVSdicom Compressor) for producing DICOM-compatible JPEG2000 WSIs, a DICOM PACS server application (JVSdicom Server), and a DICOM PACS client application (JVSdicom Workstation). JVSdicom is available for free from our Web site (http://jvsmicroscope.uta.fi/), which also features a public JVSdicom Server, containing example X-ray images and histopathology WSIs of breast cancer cases. The software developed indicates that JPEG2000 and JPIP provide a well-working solution for linking WSIs with DICOM, requiring only minor modifications to current DICOM standard specification
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