629 research outputs found
Gong and fa in Chinese martial arts
The distinction between gong (skill) and fa (technique) is ubiquitous in Chinese martial arts. Utilizing Maurice Merleau- Pontyâs notion of âembodied intentionalityâ, I examine this distinction. I draw specific examples of the kinds of skills under discussion from a particular style of taijiquan â Hong Chuan Chen Shi taijiquan (Master Hong Junshengâs transmission of Chen taiji boxing) â and I argue that understanding taijiquan in terms of embodied intentionality allows us to understand important taijiquan concepts such as chansijin, yin, and yang. Although in this article I focus on one specific style of martial art, I argue that the general analysis of the gong-fa distinction based on embodied intentionality is widely applicable
A study of solid-propellant vaporization and diffusion processes Final technical report
Vaporization rate and diffusion coefficient determined for organic additives to polyurethane solid propellants - dioctyl adipate and ferrocen
The experiences and needs of HIV/AIDS counsellors at a South African hospital
To increase the availability of HIV/AIDS counselling in South Africa, nurses have been trained to serve as counsellors within hospital services. The aim of the study was to document the experiences and needs of nurse HIV/AIDS counsellors at a small South African hospital (with 279 beds and 10 medical doctors on the staff). The design was a qualitative, multiple-case study. The sample consisted of four nurse counsellors and the co-ordinator of HIV/AIDS services at the hospital. Three semi-structured interviews with the counsellors were used as the basis for case narratives of their experiences. These narratives were in turn subjected to content analysis to determine the range and nature of the concerns identified by the counsellors. The counsellors found their HIV/AIDS counselling work to be emotionally demanding and identified several significant problems. These were related to confidentiality, stigmatisation, motional responses to informing clients of their HIV-positive status, cultural and contextual factors and situational stressors related to the organisation of the work environment. They did not feel sufficiently supported by their work infrastructure. It is recommended that in setting up counselling services of this sort, managers need to be aware of the need for ongoing support in the form of facilitated groups, professional supervision, managerial attention to problems in the working environment, and regular in-service training
Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) after acute oral exposure of azaspiracid 1,-2 and-3 in mice
Azaspiracids (AZAs) are marine algal toxins that can be accumulated by edible shellfish to cause a foodborne gastrointestinal poisoning in humans. In the European Union, only AZA1, -2 and -3 are currently regulated and their concentration in shellfish is determined through their toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) derived from the intraperitoneal lethal potency in mice. Nevertheless, considering the potential human exposure by oral route, AZAs TEFs should be calculated by comparative oral toxicity data. Thus, the acute oral toxicity of AZA1, -2 and -3 was investigated in female CD-1 mice treated with different doses (AZA1: 135-1100 mu g/kg; AZA2 and AZA3: 300-1100 mu g/kg) and sacrificed after 24 h or 14 days. TEFs derived from the median lethal doses (LD50) were 1.0, 0.7 and 0.5, respectively for AZA1, -2 and -3. In fact, after 24 h from gavage administration, LD(50)s were 443 mu g/kg (AZA1; 95% CL: 350-561 mu g/kg), 626 mu g/kg (AZA2; 95% CL: 430-911 mu g/kg) and 875 mu g/kg (AZA3; 95% CL: 757-1010 mu g/kg). Mice dead more than 5 h after the treatment or those sacrificed after 24 h (doses: = 175 mu g AZA1/kg, >= 500 mu g AZA2/kg and >= 600 mu g AZA3/kg) showed enlarged pale liver, while increased serum markers of liver alteration were recorded even at the lowest doses. Blood chemistry revealed significantly increased serum levels of K+ ions (>= 500 mg/kg), whereas light microscopy showed tissue changes in the gastrointestinal tract, liver and spleen. No lethality, macroscopic, tissue or haematological changes were recorded two weeks post exposure, indicating reversible toxic effects. LC-MS/MS analysis of the main organs showed a dose-dependency in gastrointestinal absorption of these toxins: at 24 h, the highest levels were detected in the stomach and, in descending order, in the intestinal content, liver, small intestine, kidneys, lungs, large intestine, heart as well as detectable traces in the brain. After 14 days, AZA1 and AZA2 were still detectable in almost all the organs and intestinal content
Design of a Wear Test Machine for Diamond Saw Segment
Diamond tools are used in a wide range of industrial areas such as construction industry, metal machining and exploration drilling. The diamond impregnated tools used in the stone and construction industry are metal matrix composites. Diamond saw blades are the most commonly used tools. The optimum operation of diamond saw blades is determined by the cutting action of the diamond grit and the bounding of the metal matrix. However the wear behavior of the diamond saw has been less studied Currently in the blade development, actual full blade tests often have to be conducted for optimization and the testing process is very slow and expensive to carry out. So the development of a testing machine that could reduce the blade development time would be very advantageous. This paper describes the design and construction of a wear apparatus which simulates the Wear conditions that a diamond impregnated saw blade experiences by using just a single segment. It is also our intention to present single segment wear tests on ceramic-based materials, which can be used for the testing and developing of a full blade diamond saw
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"Iâm not different, Iâm still a human being ... but I am different". An exploration of the experiences of transgender prisoners using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
The treatment and placement of transgender individuals within the UK prison system has garnered considerable political and media attention. This paper presents an analysis of the experiences of three transgender women located within a male, Category C prison in England. Participants were interviewed, and their accounts analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three overarching themes emerged from the dataset: (i) participantsâ experiences of transition, (ii) their identity within custody and the challenges associated with presenting as female within a male establishment, and (iii) what they perceived as their fight against the prison system which encompassed a fight for their rights alongside a daily struggle against harassment, victimisation and discrimination. Findings are discussed in relation to policy and safeguarding of transgender prisoners
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and European Cystic Fibrosis Society Survey of cystic fibrosis mental health care delivery
Background: Psychological morbidity in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their caregivers is common. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and European Cystic Fibrosis Society (ECFS) Guidelines Committee on Mental Health sought the views of CF health care professionals concerning mental health care delivery.
Methods: An online survey which focused on the current provision and barriers to mental health care was distributed to CF health care professionals.
Results: Of the 1454 respondents, many did not have a colleague trained in mental health issues and 20% had no one on their team whose primary role was focused on assessing or treating these issues. Insufficient resources and a lack of competency were reported in relation to mental health referrals. Seventy-three percent of respondents had no experience with mental health screening. Of those who did, they utilized 48 different, validated scales.
Conclusions: These data have informed the decision-making, dissemination and implementation strategies of the Mental Health Guidelines Committee sponsored by the CFF and ECFS
An evaluation of seasonal variations in footwear worn by adults with inflammatory arthritis: a cross-sectional observational study using a web-based survey
Background: Foot problems are common in adults with inflammatory arthritis and therapeutic footwear can be
effective in managing arthritic foot problems. Accessing appropriate footwear has been identified as a major barrier,
resulting in poor adherence to treatment plans involving footwear. Indeed, previous New Zealand based studies
found that many people with rheumatoid arthritis and gout wore inappropriate footwear. However, these studies
were conducted in a single teaching hospital during the New Zealand summer therefore the findings may not be
representative of footwear styles worn elsewhere in New Zealand, or reflect the potential influence of seasonal
climate changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate seasonal variations in footwear habits of people with
inflammatory arthritic conditions in New Zealand.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a web-based survey. The survey questions were designed to elicit
demographic and clinical information, features of importance when choosing footwear and seasonal footwear
habits, including questions related to the provision of therapeutic footwear/orthoses and footwear experiences.
Results: One-hundred and ninety-seven participants responded who were predominantly women of European
descent, aged between 46â65 years old, from the North Island of New Zealand. The majority of participants
identified with having either rheumatoid arthritis (35%) and/or osteoarthritis (57%) and 68% reported established
disease (>5 years duration). 18% of participants had been issued with therapeutic footwear. Walking and athletic
shoes were the most frequently reported footwear type worn regardless of the time of year. In the summer,
42% reported wearing sandals most often. Comfort, fit and support were reported most frequently as the footwear
features of greatest importance. Many participants reported difficulties with footwear (63%), getting hot feet in the
summer (63%) and the need for a sandal which could accommodate a supportive insole (73%).
Conclusions: Athletic and walking shoes were the most popular style of footwear reported regardless of seasonal
variation. During the summer season people with inflammatory arthritis may wear sandals more frequently in
order to accommodate disease-related foot deformity. Healthcare professionals and researchers should consider
seasonal variation when recommending appropriate footwear, or conducting footwear studies in people with
inflammatory arthritis, to reduce non-adherence to prescribed footwear
Determination of the b quark mass at the M_Z scale with the DELPHI detector at LEP
An experimental study of the normalized three-jet rate of b quark events with
respect to light quarks events (light= \ell \equiv u,d,s) has been performed
using the CAMBRIDGE and DURHAM jet algorithms. The data used were collected by
the DELPHI experiment at LEP on the Z peak from 1994 to 2000. The results are
found to agree with theoretical predictions treating mass corrections at
next-to-leading order. Measurements of the b quark mass have also been
performed for both the b pole mass: M_b and the b running mass: m_b(M_Z). Data
are found to be better described when using the running mass. The measurement
yields: m_b(M_Z) = 2.85 +/- 0.18 (stat) +/- 0.13 (exp) +/- 0.19 (had) +/- 0.12
(theo) GeV/c^2 for the CAMBRIDGE algorithm. This result is the most precise
measurement of the b mass derived from a high energy process. When compared to
other b mass determinations by experiments at lower energy scales, this value
agrees with the prediction of Quantum Chromodynamics for the energy evolution
of the running mass. The mass measurement is equivalent to a test of the
flavour independence of the strong coupling constant with an accuracy of 7
permil.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, Accepted by Eur. Phys. J.
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