The influence of magnetised electron transport on thermal self-focusing and channelling of nanosecond laser beams

The propagation of a nanosecond IR laser pulse through an under-dense (0.01 — 0.1ncr) magnetised laser-plasma is considered. The interplay between magnetised transport, B-field evolution and plasma hydrodynamics in the presence of a dynamically evolving beam are investigated by means of a paraxial wave solving module coupled to CTC, a 2D MHD code including Braginskii electron transport and IMPACT, a 2D implicit Vlasov-Fokker-Planck (VFP) code with magnetic fields. Magnetic fields have previously been shown to improve density channel formation for plasma waveguides however fluid simulations presented here indicate that Nernst advection can result in the rapid cavitation of magnetic field in the laser-heated region resulting in beam defocusing. Kinetic simulations indicate that strong non-local transport is present leading to the fluid code overestimating heat-flow and magnetic field advection and resulting in the recovery of beam channelling for the conditions considered

The impact of the graduated driver licence scheme on road traffic accident youth mortality in New Zealand

This paper examines the impact of the introduction of New Zealand’s Graduated Driving Licence System (GDLS) on patterns of road traffic accident mortality amongst the young driving population from 1980 to 2001. Results show that the mortality rate has declined, but that rates in New Zealand are three times greater than in England and Wales and twice those of Scotland. When the data is adjusted to take account of differences in the minimum driving age, rates remain consistently higher in New Zealand and the proportional reduction in road traffic accident youth mortality is not significantly better than that experienced in Great Britain

Integration of the Internet into the Curriculum: A Model Application Exploring the Iditarod

This manuscript is intended to serve as a model and resource for elementary teachers seeking to incorporate use of the Internet into their curriculum. A central premise of the document is that the Internet can serve as a valuable learning tool when it is part of an integrated, project based instructional program. A discussion of the rationale supporting this position is provided, as well as a review of related literature and research. Issues and considerations for those developing Internet based curricula are addressed. A sample Internet based curriculum for primary students, The Spirit of Adventure, is offered as an illustration of exemplary classroom practice. Student roles, activities, and assessment methods are described, along with their connections to core curriculum content, Washington State\u27s Essential Academic Learning Requirements, and the National Educational Technology Standards

One By One

Fiction by karel Kingha

An adaptive hierarchical fuzzy logic system for modelling and prediction of financial systems

In this thesis, an intelligent fuzzy logic system using genetic algorithms for the prediction and modelling of interest rates is developed. The proposed system uses a Hierarchical Fuzzy Logic system in which a genetic algorithm is used as a training method for learning the fuzzy rules knowledge bases. A fuzzy logic system is developed to model and predict three month quarterly interest rate fluctuations. The system is further trained to model and predict interest rates for six month and one year periods. The proposed system is developed with first two, three, then four and finally five hierarchical knowledge bases to model and predict interest rates. A Feed Forward Fuzzy Logic system using fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms is developed to predict interest rates for three months periods. A back-propagation Hierarchical Neural Network system is further developed to predict interest rates for three months, six months and one year periods. These two systems are then compared with the Hierarchical Fuzzy Logic system results and conclusions on their accuracy of prediction are compared

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing for offence-related trauma in a mentally disordered sexual offender

Research demonstrates a high incidence of offence-related trauma in mentally disordered offenders convicted of violent and sexual offences. The adaptive information processing (AIP) model offers a theoretical framework for understanding the hypothesised relationship between offence-related trauma and reoffending. Evidence suggests that for a sub-population of offenders presenting with offence-related trauma: (1) therapy may retraumatise them, and (2) unresolved trauma severely blocks the positive benefits of talking therapies. Thus, it is postulated that traumatised violent and sexual offenders may be released into the community when they are still at risk of reoffending. A single case study is presented, which describes the application of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) for a sexual offender presenting with offence-related trauma, whose offences occurred in the context of serious mental disorder. The identification of offence-related trauma and subsequent resolution of trauma symptomatology are discussed in regard to effective offender rehabilitation. Furthermore, the idiosyncratic nature of offence-related trauma and the application of the standard EMDR protocol for a single traumatic event are considered

Gesamtkunstwerk as an aesthetic pre-occupation in the novels of Virginia Woolf.

PhDThis thesis aims to show that Wagner's theories of Gesamtkunstwerk were a pre-occupation in Woolf's work throughout her career. The introduction explores Gesamtkunstwerk theory, tracing its development in theories concerning the combination of art forms, I go on to show how Woolf uses the Voyage Out to explore what the modern novel can learn from musical arts, while Jacob's Room adds painting to music as a significant field of interest for Woolf Mrs Dalloway adds to the complexity of combination, for I will demonstrate that in this novel a Nietzschean interpretation of Wagner's ideas found in The Birth of Tragedy is detectable, allowing Woolf to compare the motivation of more extreme avant-garde groups. The chapter on To the Lighthouse will consider Woolf's evaluation of her parents' cultural background and the influence of Roger Fry on her developing aesthetic theory of combination. I shall argue that understanding of these areas allows Woolf to begin to experiment with her own form of Gesamtkunstwerk. It is in The Waves that the connection with Wagner is most obvious. Here, I believe Woolf shifts the focus of attention from Wagnerian theories of Gesamtkunstwerk to the Modernists' development of such ideas, demonstrating her knowledge of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Looking closely at the 1915 Raid Scene in The Years, I intend to show that Woolf's thinking on the concept of combination is equally radical in this novel which is often considered to be more conventional. I will go on to suggest that Between the Acts, widely acknowledged to indicate a crisis in Woolf's confidence in Modernism, marks a turning point in her thinking about the possibilities of combining the arts to achieve Gesamtkunstwerk. I will argue that in this piece Woolf provides us with all the elements used to create unity in the previous works and yet they are never wholly united. Woolf, however, is not suggesting that Gesamtkunstwerk is an impossibility, she is rather indicating that the audience lacks the ability to provide the stage for such a piece to exist

Monitoring treatment table hygience in a chiropractic training clinic

Abstract: OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to monitor the bacterial and fungal loads on the Chiropractic treatment tables used within the DFC Chiropractic Training Clinic at the University of Johannesburg, as well as to develop a hygiene protocol guideline. METHODOLOGY Surface samples were taken from the head piece and thoraco-abdominal sections of the chiropractic treatment tables at University of Johannesburg chiropractic-training clinic. Samples were taken using the RODAC (Replicate Organism Detection and Counting) agar contact plates with Tryptone Soya Agar (growth nutrients for bacteria and fungi) and two commonly used disinfectant neutralisers; Polysorbate 80 (inactivates phenols, hexachlorophene, and formalin) and Lecithin (neutralises quaternary ammonium compounds). Two of the chiropractic treatment tables were selected as control room tables, the surfaces of these tables were sampled before disinfection, and then sampled after disinfection to monitor the effectiveness of the disinfectant. The samples were collected over an 8 week period, on Mondays before the clinic opened and on Thursdays after the clinics’ normal hours of operation, in order to ensure none of the patients, students, or clinicians were aware of the study and thus change their normal habits. Samples were then counted to determine the bacterial and fungal counts on each plate and some organisms were isolated and identified via the VITEK® 2 instrument. All data from the samples collected on the chiropractic treatment tables were sent to STATKON and entered into an IBM SPSS 23.0 database. VI Before statistical analysis, the data set was reviewed and aligned by Ms. Juliana Van Staden, the project biostatistician, for ease of interpretation. RESULTS During the eight weeks of monitoring surface hygiene of experimental chiropractic treatment tables, the results demonstrated that the treatment tables are not adequately disinfected when compared to the control beds. Surface sampling results before and after disinfection of the control rooms (G13 and G35) chiropractic treatment tables demonstrated a 96% (1.4 log reduction) and 92% (1.1 log reduction) reduction was achievable, resulting in results comparable to proposed Levels of Hygiene (Adequate, Inadequate and Inadequate) as described by Wirtanen, Nurmi, Kalliohaka, Mattila, Heinonen, Enbom, Salo, and Salmela, (2012). Based on the control data these levels were adapted for the chiropractic clinic environment. Only 33% of the samples taken of the experimental chiropractic treatment tables had microbial loads below 10 CFU/25cm2 (which is below the Adequate level of hygiene (0 – 10 CFU/25cm2) as proposed in this research). 67% of the samples had Fair (11 - 25 CFU/25cm2) to Inadequate (>25 CFU/25cm2) Levels of Hygiene. When comparing the treatment table surfaces there were significant statistical differences (p-value = 0.025) in bacterial microbial loads (CFU/25cm2) on these surfaces. Bacterial microbial loads were greater on the head piece (Md = 16, IQR = 33) than on the thoraco-abdominal section (Md = 14, IQR = 26). Another significant statistical difference is noted on microbial loads (CFU/25cm2) between bacteria and fungi on the thoracoabdominal section of the treatment table (p-value = 0.005), there seems to be higher counts of fungi (Md = 20, IQR = 23) than bacteria (Md = 14, IQR = 26) on this surface. When comparing outside (peripheral) – (Md = 20, IQR = 23) – and inside (central) – (Md = 17.5, IQR = 19) – treatment rooms, a significant difference VII (p-value = 0.041) between the total fungal counts on the chiropractic treatment table surfaces was demonstrated. Another observation identified when studying the data between fungi and bacteria is the significant statistical difference (p-value = 0.000) in fungal counts from samples that were taken on Mondays (Md = 24, IQR = 20) and Thursdays (Md = 15, IQR = 21). DISCUSSION The results from the control rooms demonstrate that the disinfectant and disinfection procedure used by the researcher was effective enough to make a considerable reduction in bacterial and fungal contamination on the chiropractic treatment table surfaces. Results from the experimental treatment rooms demonstrated that there was poor hygiene practices amongst the chiropractic interns because of the high microbial counts. This may also be due to a number of other variables such as environmental factors, number of patients treated and the presence of resistant strains of bacteria or fungi microorganisms. The results did demonstrate that environmental factors do play a role in the growth and survival of the microorganisms and thus, should be considered as a variable when monitoring surface hygiene. CONCLUSION Overall, the information gathered in this study both supports and emphasizes the need for an effective disinfection protocol for the prevention of bacterial and fungal build-up on the chiropractic treatment tables at the UJ chiropractic-training clinic. This disinfection protocol was developed and is recommended for implementation within the clinic. It is important to also implement hygiene monitoring systems to monitor both the hygiene practices of the clinic staff and also identify possible pathogenic microorganisms on the treatment table surfaces or within the clinic environment.M.Tech. (Chiropractic