374 research outputs found
Social Policy in the EU â Reform Barometer 2016. Bertelsmann Stiftung Social Inclusion Monitor Europe
The Social Inclusion Monitor Europe (SIM Europe) project invited social policy
experts from across Europe to participate in the Reform Barometer 2016 survey
and assess the reform need, activity and quality with respect to 55 policy
objectives in the 28 member states of the European Union between July 2014
and January 2016. This report presents the analysis of the replies from over
1,000 survey participants in five dimensions: Poverty Prevention, Equitable
Education, Labour Market Access, Social Cohesion and Non-discrimination,
and Health.1 For each member state, the expertsâ quantitative assessments
have been aggregated to different levels of analysis, yielding a reform need
score, an activity rate and a quality score at the levels of policy objectives and
of dimensions as well as at the overall level. In addition, the reform performance
score is a composite measure that captures each member stateâs reform
activity and quality using a single number. In what follows, we present
a summary of the key findings
Behavior of FRP confined ultra-high strength concrete columns under compression: An experimental study
Ultra High-Strength Concrete (UHSC) have become increasingly popular within the civil engineering community. While many studies exist on structural members made using UHSC, research works on the behavior of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) confined UHSC columns are scarce. Existing theoretical models for predicting the behavior of FRP-confined normal strength and high strength concrete found to be inadequate for FRP-confined UHSC with silica fume. Due to inconstancies of existing limited experimental results on FRP-confined UHSC columns, effect of silica fume cannot be clearly identified. This paper presents an experimental study on the compressive performance of twelve FRP-confined UHSC columns under axial compression. The variables investigated include unconfined concrete strength (two different mix designs with different silica fume content) and number of GFRP plies. While GFRP confinement significantly enhance both compressive strength and ultimate strain, effectiveness of GFRP confinement was found to be largely effected by the concrete mix design
The mechanical properties of natural fibre composite laminates: a statistical study
The use of long natural fibres (LNF) as reinforcement in composite systems for structural applications has been steadily growing in the automotive and construction industries as these materials offer sustainability benefits combined with high specific strength and stiffness. However, the performance of natural fibres has been questioned by a high variability in their mechanical properties and design data for structural reliability analysis of LNF composites are not yet available. Here, we present a statistical study of the elastic modulus, strength and failure strain of a comprehensive set of LNF composite systems. We have found that the variability of LNF laminate properties is similar to that of carbon fibre laminates. We provide recommendations to apply the statistical parameters determined here to the design of natural fibre composite structures. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of LNF composites reliability and are important for the further acceptance of these materials by the industry
DI Diesel Engine Combustion Visualized by Combined Laser Techniques
In this work we demonstrate that the progress of the combustionccycle in a four-cylinder (in-line) 1.9 1 direct injection Diesel engine can be studied effectively using different laser visualization techniques. Direct optical access to the piston bowl was facilitated by inserting quartz windows in one of the pistons. The flow field at the time of injection was characterized by seeding the flow and illuminating the piston bowl with a laser light sheet. Fuel spray development, auto-ignition and flame propagation in a Diesel cycle were followed by laser shadowgraphy and high speed cinematography while simultaneous laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and Mie scattering images were taken to distinguish the fuel distribution in the liquid and vapor phase. In addition, two dimensional distributions of OH and NO, formed during n-heptane/air combustion in the same engine, were recorded in the pressure range 5 to 50 bar by LIF following narrowband excitation using tunable excimer lasers. Finally, further work, designed to obtain quantitative images and hence data for comparison with model calculations, is outlined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86790/1/Sick50.pd
Spacers to improve performance and porosity of graphene based polymer electrolyte fuel cells
Graphene has been suggested as a potential support material to replace commercial carbon black due to its carbon corrosion resistance. However, graphene-based electrodes typically perform poorly in MEA testing due to restacking of the graphitic sheets. In this study we investigate the introduction of carbon black and their effects on the porosity and current density of graphene-based supports
Representations and concepts of professional ethos among Swiss religious education teacher trainers
Over the past two decades, the organisation of religious education classes in Switzerland has undergone profound reforms. Amid the increasing secularisation and pluralisation of the religious landscape, many cantons have introduced a compulsory course that falls under the responsibility of the state and is aimed at teaching basic knowledge about a variety of religions. These reforms have enabled a harmonisation of the syllabi for religious education across the country and have prompted the adaptation of teacher training programmes. Because of the many diverse social expectations surrounding these new courses and the diverse academic tra- ditions in the field of religious education, however, a unified conception of these courses is still absent. In this article, we discuss the ongoing construction of religious education teachersâ professional ethos within this fluid context. In particular, we discuss the perspective of teacher trainers on pragmatic questions concerning religious plurality and the place of teachersâ and pupilsâ personal (religious) experiences in the classroom, and pay attention to different representations of âreligionâ and distinct ideas regarding the purpose of these courses as they have a major impact on the professional attitudes expected from teachers.
Keywords: professional ethos; teacher trainers; Switzerland; concepts of religion; impartialit
Phase II study of capecitabine and oxaliplatin given prior to and concurrently with preoperative pelvic radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer
This multicentre phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of preoperative capecitabine plus oxaliplatin and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3/T4 rectal adenocarcinoma with or without nodal involvement). Treatment consisted of one cycle of XELOX (capecitabine 1000âmgâmâ2 bid on days 1â14 and oxaliplatin 130âmgâmâ2 on day 1), followed by RT (1.8âGy fractions 5 days per week for 5 weeks) plus CAPOX (capecitabine 825âmgâmâ2 bid on days 22â35 and 43â56, and oxaliplatin 50âmgâmâ2 on days 22, 29, 43 and 50). Surgery was recommended 5 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy. The primary end point was pathological complete tumour response (pCR). Sixty patients were enrolled. In the intent-to-treat population, the pCR rate was 23% (95% CI: 13â36%). 58 patients underwent surgery; R0 resection was achieved in 57 (98%) patients, including all 5 patients with T4 tumours. Sphincter preservation was achieved in 49 (84%) patients. Tumour and/or nodal downstaging was observed in 39 (65%) patients. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were diarrhoea (20%) and lymphocytopaenia (43%). Preoperative capecitabine, oxaliplatin and RT achieved encouraging rates of pCR, R0 resection, sphincter preservation and tumour downstaging in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer
The K+ Channel Opener 1-EBIO Potentiates Residual Function of Mutant CFTR in Rectal Biopsies from Cystic Fibrosis Patients
BACKGROUND: The identification of strategies to improve mutant CFTR function remains a key priority in the development of new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). Previous studies demonstrated that the Kâș channel opener 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolone (1-EBIO) potentiates CFTR-mediated Clâ» secretion in cultured cells and mouse colon. However, the effects of 1-EBIO on wild-type and mutant CFTR function in native human colonic tissues remain unknown. METHODS: We studied the effects of 1-EBIO on CFTR-mediated Clâ» secretion in rectal biopsies from 47 CF patients carrying a wide spectrum of CFTR mutations and 57 age-matched controls. Rectal tissues were mounted in perfused micro-Ussing chambers and the effects of 1-EBIO were compared in control tissues, CF tissues expressing residual CFTR function and CF tissues with no detectable Clâ» secretion. RESULTS: Studies in control tissues demonstrate that 1-EBIO activated CFTR-mediated Clâ» secretion in the absence of cAMP-mediated stimulation and potentiated cAMP-induced Clâ» secretion by 39.2±6.7% (P<0.001) via activation of basolateral CaÂČâș-activated and clotrimazole-sensitive KCNN4 Kâș channels. In CF specimens, 1-EBIO potentiated cAMP-induced Clâ» secretion in tissues with residual CFTR function by 44.4±11.5% (P<0.001), but had no effect on tissues lacking CFTR-mediated Clâ» conductance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 1-EBIO potentiates Clâ»secretion in native CF tissues expressing CFTR mutants with residual Clâ» channel function by activation of basolateral KCNN4 Kâș channels that increase the driving force for luminal Clâ» exit. This mechanism may augment effects of CFTR correctors and potentiators that increase the number and/or activity of mutant CFTR channels at the cell surface and suggests KCNN4 as a therapeutic target for CF
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