45 research outputs found
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The effect of preloading on the strength of jacketed R/C columns
The influence of core preloading on the strength of jacketed reinforced concrete (R/C) columns is analytically investigated. A recently proposed method for arbitrary composite section analysis in biaxial bending and axial load is extended to include preloading actions. A parametric evaluation of the preloading effect using quantitative indices is performed, considering the variability of several parameters such as section geometry, amount of reinforcement, and various axial and moment preloading levels. Results are presented in the form of 3D failure surfaces and moment-curvature curves. Specific cases where the preloading effect is more pronounced are finally highlighted
Combination Forecasts of Bond and Stock Returns: An Asset Allocation Perspective
We investigate the out-of-sample forecasting ability of the HML, SMB, momentum, short-term and long-term reversal factors along with their size and value decompositions on U.S. bond and stock returns for a variety of horizons ranging from the short run (1 month) to the long run (2 years). Our findings suggest that these factors contain significantly more information for future bond and stock market returns than the typically employed financial variables. Combination of forecasts of the empirical factors turns out to be particularly successful, especially from an an asset allocation perspective. Similar findings pertain to the European and Japanese markets
Re-Inventing Public Education:The New Role of Knowledge in Education Policy-Making
This article focuses on the changing role of knowledge in education policy making within the knowledge society. Through an examination of key policy texts, the Scottish case of Integrated Children Services provision is used to exemplify this new trend. We discuss the ways in which knowledge is being used in order to re-configure education as part of a range of public services designed to meet individuals' needs. This, we argue, has led to a 'scientization' of education governance where it is only knowledge, closely intertwined with action (expressed as 'measures') that can reveal problems and shape solutions. The article concludes by highlighting the key role of knowledge policy and governance in orienting education policy making through a re-invention of the public role of education
A panchromatic view of infrared quasars: excess star formation and radio emission in the most heavily obscured systems
To understand the active galactic nuclei (AGNs) phenomenon and their impact on the evolution of galaxies, a complete AGN
census is required; however, finding heavily obscured AGNs is observationally challenging. Here we use the deep and extensive
multiwavelength data in the COSMOS field to select a complete sample of 578 infrared (IR) quasars (LAGN,IR > 1045 erg sâ1)
at z < 3, with minimal obscuration bias, using detailed UV-to-far-IR spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. We complement
our SED constraints with X-ray and radio observations to further investigate the properties of the sample. Overall, 322 of the
IR quasars are detected by Chandra and have individual X-ray spectral constraints. From a combination of X-ray stacking
and L2â10 kev â L6 ÎŒm analyses, we show that the majority of the X-ray faint and undetected quasars are heavily obscured
(many are likely Compton thick), highlighting the effectiveness of the mid-IR band to find obscured AGNs. We find that
355 (â61 per cent) IR quasars are obscured (NH > 1022 cmâ2) and identify differences in the average properties between the
obscured and unobscured quasars: (1) obscured quasars have star formation rates â3 times higher than unobscured systems
for no significant difference in stellar mass and (2) obscured quasars have stronger radio emission than unobscured systems,
with a radio-loudness parameter â 0.2 dex higher. These results are inconsistent with a simple orientation model but in general
agreement with either extreme host-galaxy obscuration towards the obscured quasars or a scenario where obscured quasars are
an early phase in the evolution of quasars
Ophthalmic Artery Chemosurgery for Less Advanced Intraocular Retinoblastoma: Five Year Review
BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC) for retinoblastoma was introduced by us 5 years ago for advanced intraocular retinoblastoma. Because the success was higher than with existing alternatives and systemic side effects limited we have now treated less advanced intraocular retinoblastoma (Reese-Ellsworth (RE) I-III and International Classification Retinoblastoma (ICRB) B and C). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Retrospective review of 5 year experience in eyes with Reese Ellsworth (Table 1) I (7 eyes), II (6 eyes) or III (6 eyes) and/or International Classification (Table 2) B (19 eyes) and C (11 eyes) treated with OAC (melphalan with or without topotecan) introduced directly into the ophthalmic artery. Patient survival was 100%. Ocular event-free survival was 100% for Reese-Ellsworth Groups I, II and III (and 96% for ICRB B and C) at a median of 16 months follow-up. One ICRB Group C (Reese-Ellsworth Vb) eye could not be treated on the second attempt for technical reasons and was therefore enucleated. No patient required a port and only one patient required transfusion of blood products. The electroretinogram (ERG) was unchanged or improved in 14/19 eyes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Ophthalmic artery chemosurgery for retinoblastoma that was Reese-Ellsworth I, II and III (or International Classification B or C) was associated with high success (100% of treatable eyes were retained) and limited toxicity with results that equal or exceed conventional therapy with less toxicity
The Astropy Problem
The Astropy Project (http://astropy.org) is, in its own words, "a community
effort to develop a single core package for Astronomy in Python and foster
interoperability between Python astronomy packages." For five years this
project has been managed, written, and operated as a grassroots,
self-organized, almost entirely volunteer effort while the software is used by
the majority of the astronomical community. Despite this, the project has
always been and remains to this day effectively unfunded. Further, contributors
receive little or no formal recognition for creating and supporting what is now
critical software. This paper explores the problem in detail, outlines possible
solutions to correct this, and presents a few suggestions on how to address the
sustainability of general purpose astronomical software
Development and assessment of a questionnaire for a descriptive cross â sectional study concerning parents' knowledge, attitudes and practises in antibiotic use in Greece
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs) are common in children. The cause is usually viral, but parents' attitude often contributes to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, promoting antibiotic resistance. The objective is to describe the process of developing a questionnaire to assess parents' Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) concerning the role of antibiotics when children suffer from URIs, as well as to evaluate the response rates, the completeness and the reliability (Cronbach) of the questionnaires. Finally, to note any limitations of the study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Literature review, along with pre â testing yielded a questionnaire designed to assess the parents' KAP â level. A postal survey was set, in a national sample of 200 schools stratified by geographical region. The participants consist of a multistage geographical cluster sample of 8000 parents. The influence of demographic characteristics (i.e. sex, age, education) was analyzed. Cronbach index test and factor analysis were used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate of the parents was 69%. Islands presented the lowest response rate while in Northern Greece the response rate was the highest. Sixty â eight point nine percent of the sample returned questionnaires fully completed, while 91.5% completed 95% of the questions. Three questions out of 70 were answered in a very low rate which was associated mostly with immigrant respondents. The section describing parents' attitude toward antibiotic use was not completed as much as the sections of knowledge or practices. The questions were factor analyzed and 10 out of the 21 extracted factors were finally evaluated, reducing the number of independent variables to 46. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.55. However, only items that increased the Cronbach when added were eventually included in the final scales raising the internal consistency to 0.68. Limitations of the study, such as the vocabulary and form of the questionnaire and the idiocycrancy of the respondents, emerged during the analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The response rate and the completeness of the questionnaires were higher than expected, probably attributed to the involvement of the teachers. The study findings were satisfactory regarding the development of a reliable instrument capable to measure parents' KAP characteristics.</p
Pharmacogenetic allele nomenclature: International workgroup recommendations for test result reporting
This manuscript provides nomenclature recommendations developed by an international workgroup to increase transparency and standardization of pharmacogenetic (PGx) result reporting. Presently, sequence variants identified by PGx tests are described using different nomenclature systems. In addition, PGx analysis may detect different sets of variants for each gene, which can affect interpretation of results. This practice has caused confusion and may thereby impede the adoption of clinical PGx testing. Standardization is critical to move PGx forward
Retreat into scientism, paradoxes of transparency, and corruption in education
Um dos sintomas da razĂŁo indolente (SANTOS, 2006) Ă© o recuo ao cientificismo, o qual tem sido, particularmente, acentuado nas polĂticas, cada vez mais hegemĂŽnicas, de avaliação, de prestação de contas e de responsabilização. Por isso, um dos objetivos deste texto Ă© o de colocar em causa este aparente consenso
cientificista (ou este consenso supostamente transideolĂłgico) e fazer uma breve incursĂŁo exploratĂłria ao que aqui se designa de paradoxos da transparĂȘncia. Considera-se que esses paradoxos traduzem a existĂȘncia de tensĂ”es e contradiçÔes relativas a uma dimensĂŁo central dos discursos polĂticos e educacionais contemporĂąneos. Com isso, o artigo pretende dar continuidade a uma linha de pesquisa que tem procurado sublinhar a relevĂąncia da necessidade de complexificar e dar maior rigor teĂłrico-conceptual Ă accountability em educação. Finalmente, tentando abrir caminho para o desenvolvimento de novas articulaçÔes e anĂĄlises, chama-se a atenção para a corrupção na educação cuja complexidade ainda Ă© insuficientemente
conhecida e pesquisada, nomeadamente, nas suas relaçÔes com as problemĂĄticas da transparĂȘncia e da accountability. Admite-se que as prĂĄticas de corrupção em educação, em muitas situaçÔes, sĂŁo (paradoxalmente) induzidas pela necessidade de dar resposta Ă governação baseada nos nĂșmeros, nos rankings e nas (supostas) evidĂȘncias, anulando completamente as expectativas legĂtimas em torno da transparĂȘncia dos processos educacionais e das decisĂ”es polĂticas.One symptom of âindolent reasonâ (SANTOS, 2006) is the retreat into scientism, which is especially marked in the increasingly hegemonic policies surrounding assessment, reporting and accountability. As such, one of the aims of this paper is to call into question this apparent consensus on scientism (a supposedly trans-ideological
consensus), and briefly explore what we define as the paradoxes of transparency. These paradoxes are found to reveal the existence of tensions and contradictions concerning a central aspect of current political and educational discourse. In doing so, the article seeks to continue a line of study which has aimed to emphasize the significance of the need for a more complex, and theoretically and conceptually rigorous understanding of accountability in education. Finally, in an attempt to pave the way for further discussion and analysis, attention is drawn to corruption in education, the complex nature of which remains insufficiently understood and studied,
notably in terms of its relationship with the problems of transparency and accountability. It is acknowledged that practices of corruption within education are, in many situations, (paradoxically) caused by the need to answer to a system of governance based on numbers, league tables, and (supposed) truths, completely nullifying legitimate expectations about the transparency of educational processes and policy decisions.Trabalho financiado por Fundos Nacionais atravĂ©s da FCT â Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e a Tecnologia â no Ăąmbito do Projeto PEst-OE/CED/UI1661/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio