The Modified Node Voltage Method as Tool for Calculation of Network Functions and Sensitivities

The paper deals with the well-known modified node voltage method that is generally used for formulation of system equations in universal network simulation programs. It shows very efficient ways if utilizing this type of equation formulation for evaluation of network transfer functions and their sensitivities to variations of element parameters. The described procedures can be used very effectively namely in connection with some matrix oriented mathematical program like for instance MATLAB. Several illustrative examples support the explanation of the methods described in the paper

Simulation of "Tsunami Waves" Propagating along Non-Linear Transmission Lines

The paper compares three methods for computer simulation of transients on transmission lines with losses and nonlinear behavior, namely distributed LC model, FDTD (Finite-Difference Time-Domain) method, and a new and very effective Method of Slices. The losses are responsible for attenuation and shape changes of the waves as function of time and distance from the source. Special behavior of the line due to voltage-dependent capacitance of the line is considered in detail. The non-linear nature of the line causes that the higher is the voltage the higher is the velocity of propagation. Then, the waves tend to tilt over so that their top moves faster than their base. As a result "tsunami waves" are created on the line. Fundamental algorithms are presented in Matlab language. Several typical situations are solved as an illustration of individual methods

Study of prevalence and factors associated with Maternal Near Miss (MNM) cases and maternal death at Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital, Pondicherry, India

Background: Maternal mortality is a critical event to assess the quality of a health care system. Analysing the maternal near miss provides a good opportunity for assessing the factors responsible for maternal mortality in that area. The objective of this study was to study the clinic-etiological profile of severe maternal morbidity/near miss case in a tertiary public maternity hospital using criteria from maternal near miss review operational guidelines Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2014).Methods: A prospective observational study included patients admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital, Pondicherry between August 2016 and July 2017. The patients who met Near Miss Criteria (a set of Clinical, Laboratory and Management based criteria) given by MoH and FW, Government of India (2014) were enrolled; their clinical and investigation parameters were recorded.Results: Out of 9583 live births, 27 (0.281%) were near-miss cases. The maternal near miss incidence ratio was low 2.81 /1000 live births, because of strict criterion of labelling near-miss cases. Maternal near miss to mortality ratio was 13.5:1, and mortality index was 6.89%, lower the index, indicates better quality of care. The mean age of the near-miss patients was 27.75 years. Most of the patients of near-miss were of multipara n = 17 (62.96%). Majority n = 16 (59.25%) of patients were at term gestation. The major causes of near miss were severe haemorrhage n = 11 (42%), Hypertension n = 9 (35%) and rupture uterus n = 4 (15%). Major intervention peripartum hysterectomy was needed in n = 7 (27%) and stepwise devascularisation only in another n = 5 (19 %) of near miss cases.Conclusions: Haemorrhage was the leading cause of near miss events. The study of maternal near miss provides an insight into the causes of maternal mortality in this region. The maternal morbidity and mortality can be reduced by providing proper antenatal care at primary and community health centre level and good intensive care and using maternal early warning system (MEWS) at tertiary level. Maternal near miss ratio is worth presenting in national indices

Network Model of the CPE

Analysis of fractal systems (i.e. systems described by fractional differential equations) necessitates to create an electrical analog model of a crucial subsystem called Constant Phase Element (CPE). The paper describes a possible realization of such a model, that is quite simple and in spite of its simplicity makes it possible to simulate the properties of ideal CPEs. The paper also deals with the effect of component tolerances on the resultant responses of the model and describes several typical model applications

Nurturing the young shoots of talent: Using action research for exploration and theory building

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 19(4), 433-450, 2011, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1350293X.2011.623515.This paper reports the outcomes of a set of action research projects carried out by teacher researchers in 14 local education authorities in England, working collaboratively with university tutors, over a period of three years. The common aim of all the projects was to explore practical ways of nurturing the gifts and talents of children aged four–seven years. The project was funded by the Department of Education and Skills in England as part of the government's gifted and talented programme. The project teachers felt that their understanding of issues relating to nurturing the gifts and talents of younger children was enhanced through their engagement in the project. It was possible to map the findings of the projects to the English government's National Quality Standards for gifted and talented education which include: (1) identification; (2) effective provision in the classroom; (3) enabling curriculum entitlement and choice; (4) assessment for learning; (5) engaging with community, families and beyond. The findings are also analysed within the framework of good practice in educating children in the first years of schooling. Participating practitioners felt that action research offered them a suitable methodology to explore the complexity of the topic of giftedness through cycles of planning, action and reflection and personal theory building

The landscape of gifted and talented education in England and Wales: How are teachers implementing policy?

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Research Papers in Education, 27(2), 167-186, 2012, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/02671522.2010.509514.This paper explores the evidence relating to how primary schools are responding to the ‘gifted and talented’ initiative in England and Wales. A questionnaire survey which invited both closed and open-ended responses was carried out with a national sample of primary schools. The survey indicated an increasing proportion of coordinators, compared with a survey carried out in 1996, were identifying their gifted and talented children as well as having associated school policies. However, the survey also highlighted a number of issues which need addressing if the initiative is to achieve its objective of providing the best possible educational opportunities for children. For example, it was found that a significant number of practitioners were not aware of the existence of the National Quality Standards for gifted and talented education, provided by the UK government in 2007, and the subject-specific criteria provided by the UK’s Curriculum Authority for identification and provision have been largely ignored. The process of identifying children to be placed on the ‘gifted and talented’ register seems haphazard and based on pragmatic reasons. Analysis of teachers’ responses also revealed a range of views and theoretical positioning held by them, which have implications for classroom practice. As the ‘gifted and talented’ initiative in the UK is entering a second decade, and yet more significant changes in policy are introduced, pertinent questions need to be raised and given consideration

Mathematically gifted and talented learners: Theory and practice

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 40(2), 213-228, 2009, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00207390802566907.There is growing recognition of the special needs of mathematically gifted learners. This article reviews policy developments and current research and theory on giftedness in mathematics. It includes a discussion of the nature of mathematical ability as well as the factors that make up giftedness in mathematics. The article is set in the context of current developments in Mathematics Education and Gifted Education in the UK and their implications for Science and Technology. It argues that early identification and appropriate provision for younger mathematically promising pupils capitalizes on an intellectual resource which could provide future mathematicans as well as specialists in Science or Technology. Drawing on a Vygotskian framework, it is suggested that the mathematically gifted require appropriate cognitive challenges as well as attitudinally and motivationally enhancing experiences. In the second half of this article we report on an initiative in which we worked with teachers to identify mathematically gifted pupils and to provide effective enrichment support for them, in a number of London Local Authorities. A number of significant issues are raised relating to the identification of mathematical talent, enrichment provision for students and teachers’ professional development

Interplay between phosphorylation and palmitoylation mediates plasma membrane targeting and sorting of GAP43.

Phosphorylation and lipidation provide posttranslational mechanisms that contribute to the distribution of cytosolic proteins in growing nerve cells. The growth-associated protein GAP43 is susceptible to both phosphorylation and S-palmitoylation and is enriched in the tips of extending neurites. However, how phosphorylation and lipidation interplay to mediate sorting of GAP43 is unclear. Using a combination of biochemical, genetic, and imaging approaches, we show that palmitoylation is required for membrane association and that phosphorylation at Ser-41 directs palmitoylated GAP43 to the plasma membrane. Plasma membrane association decreased the diffusion constant fourfold in neuritic shafts. Sorting to the neuritic tip required palmitoylation and active transport and was increased by phosphorylation-mediated plasma membrane interaction. Vesicle tracking revealed transient association of a fraction of GAP43 with exocytic vesicles and motion at a fast axonal transport rate. Simulations confirmed that a combination of diffusion, dynamic plasma membrane interaction and active transport of a small fraction of GAP43 suffices for efficient sorting to growth cones. Our data demonstrate a complex interplay between phosphorylation and lipidation in mediating the localization of GAP43 in neuronal cells. Palmitoylation tags GAP43 for global sorting by piggybacking on exocytic vesicles, whereas phosphorylation locally regulates protein mobility and plasma membrane targeting of palmitoylated GAP43