Adolescents\u27 Affective Engagement with Theatre: Surveying Middle School Students\u27 Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs.

This essay explores how viewing a single Theatre for Young Audiences production might affect the attitudes, values, and/or beliefs of adolescent spectators. Data is drawn from a mixed-methods case study performed with middle school students who viewed a professional performance for young people, and is considered through the lens of cognitive studies in light of advances in research considering the human mirror neuron system. Data suggest it is highly probable that under certain circumstances viewing a single Theatre for Young Audiences production can influence the values of adolescent spectators. The essay concludes by exploring the ethical ramifications of these findings

Organic solar cells based on lowmolecular materials

Táto bakalárska práca je zameraná na charakterizáciu vlastností nových organických materiálov vhodných na použitie v solárnych článkoch. V teoretickej časti je rešerše na tému organické solárne články spolu s popisom fotovoltaickej premeny energie. Je tu popísaná štruktúra a všeobecné vlastnosti materiálov používaných na výrobu solárnych článkov a taktiež jednotlivé charakterizačné metódy. Praktická časť zahrňuje prípravu tenkých vrstiev organických materiálov a ich optickú charakterizáciu. Ďalej je tu obsiahnutá príprava solárnych článkov s klasickou štruktúrou spolu s vyhodnotením a porovnaním ich fotovodivosti a účinnosti.This bachelor thesis is focused on characterization of new organic materials suitable for use in solar cells. In the theoretical part, there is research on organic solar cells together with description of the photovoltaic energy conversion. In this part, description of the structure and general properties of materials used to produce solar cells is given. The individual characterization methods are also described. The practical part includes the preparation of thin layers of organic materials and their optical characterization. Preparation of solar cells with classic structure is also included together with evaluation and comparison of their photoconductivity and efficiency.

Printed Biosensor Based on Organic Electrochemical Transistor

Organické elektronické zariadenia sú vyvíjané ako vhodné riešenia senzorov pre bioelektroniku, a to najmä kvôli dobrej biokompatibilite organických polovodičov v nich použitých. Takzvané biosenzory dokážu premeniť elektrochemické procesy na elektronický signál. Matrica takýchto biosenzorov môže simultánne skenovať množstvo biologických vzoriek, alebo rôznych tkanív v živých systémoch. Aktívnou súčasťou zariadenia je organický elektrochemický tranzistor (OECT). V tejto práci je diskutovaný teoretický rámec fungovania takéhoto zariadenia, jeho elektrická charakterizácia, aplikácia v biosenzoroch na báze buniek, spôsoby výroby a aktuálnym stavom techniky v oblasti organickej elektroniky. Experimentálna časť obsahuje konkrétne výrobné postupy vývoja OECT zariadení, ktoré boli použité v našom laboratóriu. Hlavný dôraz sa kladie na schopnosť vyrobených zariadení detekovať reakciu a monitorovať stimuláciu elektrogenných buniek. Za týmto účelom boli vyvinuté matice mikroelektródových OECT zariadení založených na polovodivom polyméri PEDOT:PSS. Tieto boli vyrobené s využitím bežnými tlačiarenských techník (atramentová tlač a sieťotlač) spolu so štandardnými litografickými postupmi. Najnovšie nami vyvinuté zariadenia dosahujú najväčšieho zosílením signálu, g = 2,5 mS a časovú konštantu t = 0,15 s. Tieto zariadenia sú porovnateľné, často dokonca lepšie ako niektoré iné najmodernejšie a plne litograficky pripravené senzory.Organic electronic devices arise as a suitable solution for bioelectronics sensor development, due to the good biocompatibility of organic semiconductors. So-called biosensors can convert electrochemical processes into an electronic signal. A matrix of such biosensors can simultaneously scan a number of biological samples or tissues of the living systems. The active part of the device is an Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT). In this work, the theoretical background on such device and its characterization, application in cell-based biosensors, methods of fabrication together with the current state of the art in the field of organic electronics are discussed. The experimental part contains specific manufacturing procedures of OECT devices development employed. The main emphasis is given on the ability of produced devices to detect response and monitor the stimulation of electrogenic cells. To this end, microplate patterns with a multielectrode array of OECTs based on the semiconductive polymer PEDOT:PSS was developed and fabricated using conventional printing methods (inkjet printing and screen printing). Standard lithographic procedures were also employed. The latest devices with the highest achieved signal amplification of g = 2.5 mS and the time constant of t = 0.15 s were produced. These are comparable or even better than some state of the art fully lithographically prepared ones.

Lower limb prosthetics FEM analysis

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá vytvořením výpočtového modelu transtibiální protézy dolní končetiny. Informace o reálném zatížení a geometrické konfiguraci jsou získány na základě provedené analýzy chůze pacienta s protézou, zahrnující měření reakčních sil od podložky, měření přetvoření na trubce protézy a kinematickou analýzu. Model geometrie je vytvořen s využitím 3D optického skenování. Modely materiálů chodidla jsou stanoveny na základě laboratorních zkoušek a jejich simulace pomocí MKP. Je provedena statická strukturální analýza pomocí MKP v jednotlivých zátěžných stavech a jsou vyhodnocena nebezpečná místa protézy. Pro posouzení shody výpočtového a experimentálního modelu jsou porovnány hodnoty přetvoření na trubce protézy.This masters´s thesis deals with computational modeling of transtibial lower-limb prosthesis. For assesment of loading character and geometrical configuration, the gait analysis of an amputee, including ground reaction force measurement, strain gauge analysis and motion analysis, was accomplished. Information on geometry was obtained using 3D optical scanning procedure. Material model was gathered using non-destructive mechanical testing and mimicked in a FEA software. For loading conditions the static structure analysys using FEM was accomplished. The critical poins in construction was found. Recognition of agreement about experimental and computational model was accomplished.

Study of Elastohydrodynamic Film Formation in Hypoid Gears

Tato disertační práce se zabývá studiem elastohydrodynamického (EHD) mazání za podmínek, které se vyskytují v záběru boků zubů hypoidního soukolí. Cílem je experimentálně popsat chování mazacího filmu a mechanismy jeho utváření. Důraz je především kladen na objasnění vlivu směru a velikosti skluzové rychlosti u kruhového a eliptického kontaktu. Obecně se doposud předpokládalo, že směr skluzové rychlosti nemá vliv na výsledný mazací film. V práci je použito optické interferometrie ke stanovení rozložení tloušťky mazacího filmu. Součástí práce jsou nové a původní výsledky objasňující studovaný problém. Bylo zjištěno, že směr skluzové rychlosti ovlivňuje tvar filmu při vyšších rychlostech. To souvisí s ovlivněním tepelného toku kontaktem. Výsledky mají dopad na rozvoj obecné teorie EHD mazání a poskytují poznatky uplatnitelné při predikci tloušťky filmu při návrhu reálných tribologických uzlů.This PhD thesis deals with elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) under the conditions that occur between mated hypoid gear teeth. The aim is to describe experimentally the behaviour of lubricating film and mechanisms of its formation. The focus is mainly placed on clarifying the influence of direction and magnitude of sliding velocity in circular and elliptical contacts. Generally, it is still assumed that the direction of sliding velocity has no effect on the resulting lubricant film. In this study optical interferometry is used to determine distribution of lubricant film thickness. This work includes new and original results which clarify the studied problem. It was found that the direction of sliding velocity affects shape of the film at high speeds. This relates to the effect on heat flow through the contact. The results have an impact on the development of general EHL theory and provide knowledge applicable in film thickness prediction in the design of real tribological nodes.

Easy to use and validated predictive models to identify beneficiaries experiencing homelessness in Medicaid administrative data.

OBJECTIVE: To develop easy to use and validated predictive models to identify beneficiaries experiencing homelessness from administrative data. DATA SOURCES: We pooled enrollment and claims data from enrollees of the California Whole Person Care (WPC) Medicaid demonstration program that coordinated the care of a subset of Medicaid beneficiaries identified as high utilizers in 26 California counties (25 WPC Pilots). We also used public directories of social service and health care facilities. STUDY DESIGN: Using WPC Pilot-reported homelessness status, we trained seven supervised learning algorithms with different specifications to identify beneficiaries experiencing homelessness. The list of predictors included address- and claims-based indicators, demographics, health status, health care utilization, and county-level homelessness rate. We then assessed model performance using measures of balanced accuracy (BA), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (area under the curve [AUC]). DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: We included 93,656 WPC enrollees from 2017 to 2018, 37,441 of whom had a WPC Pilot-reported homelessness indicator. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The random forest algorithm with all available indicators had the best performance (87% BA and 0.95 AUC), but a simpler Generalized Linear Model (GLM) also performed well (74% BA and 0.83 AUC). Reducing predictors to the top 20 and top five most important indicators in a GLM model yields only slightly lower performance (86% BA and 0.94 AUC for the top 20 and 86% BA and 0.91 AUC for the top five). CONCLUSIONS: Large samples can be used to accurately predict homelessness in Medicaid administrative data if a validated homelessness indicator for a small subset can be obtained. In the absence of a validated indicator, the likelihood of homelessness can be calculated using county rate of homelessness, address- and claim-based indicators, and beneficiary age using a prediction model presented here. These approaches are needed given the rising prevalence of homelessness and the focus of Medicaid and other payers on addressing homelessness and its outcomes

Foreword: 2018 International Symposium on Rail Infrastructure Systems Engineering (i-RISE 2018)

Social and economic growth, security and sustainability around the globe are at risk of being compromised due to aging and failing railway infrastructure systems. [...

Response of a mixed grass prairie to an extreme precipitation event

Citation: Concilio, A. L., Prevey, J. S., Omasta, P., O'Connor, J., Nippert, J. B., & Seastedt, T. R. (2015). Response of a mixed grass prairie to an extreme precipitation event. Ecosphere, 6(10), 12. doi:10.1890/es15-00073.1Although much research has been conducted to measure vegetation response to directional shifts in climate change drivers, we know less about how plant communities will respond to extreme events. Here, we evaluate the response of a grassland community to an unprecedented 43 cm rainfall event that occurred in the Front Range of Colorado in September, 2013 using vegetation plots that had been monitored for response to simulated precipitation changes since 2011. This rain caused soils to stay at or above field capacity for multiple days, and much of the seed bank germinated following the early autumn event. Annual introduced grasses, especially cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and several introduced forbs demonstrated strong positive increases in cover the following growing season. Native cool season grasses and native forbs showed limited changes in absolute cover despite continued high soil water availability, while native warm season grasses increased in cover the following summer. Treatments that previously altered the amounts and seasonality of rainfall during the 2011-2013 interval showed legacy effects impacting cover responses of introduced species and warm-season native grasses. Resin bag estimates of inorganic nitrogen flux resulting from the event indicated twice as much nitrogen movement compared to any previous collections during the 2011-2013 interval. Nitrogen additions to a subset of plots made in spring of 2014 demonstrated that the relative cover of introduced species could be further increased with additional soil nitrogen. Collectively, these results support the contention that extreme precipitation events can favor species already benefiting from other environmental change drivers

Perencanaan Peningkatan Kapasitas Produksi pada Bagian Penjilidan di PT. Temprina Media Grafika Surabaya

PT Temprina Media Grafika merupakan perusahaan percetakan yang bemaung di bawah Jawa Pos Group. Pada bagian penjilidan di PT. Temprina Media Grafika Surabaya terdapat beberapa proses produksi yakni proses sisip, stitching, binding, dan potong tiga sisi. Perusahaan berencana meningkatkan kapasitas produksi karena terdorong untuk berinovasi dan meningkatkan produktivitas, yang diiringi dengan semakin meningkatnya jumlah permintaan. Peningkatan kapasitas produksi tersebut akan dimulai pada bagian penjilidan, karena sering terjadi penumpukan order yang menunggu dijilid. Selama ini perusahaan merencanakan pemakaian tenaga kerja hanya berdasarkan pengalaman dalam menyelesaikan order di masa lalu. Karena itu, akan di1akukan perencanaan tenaga keaja yang lebih efisien pada bagian penjilidan. Khusus pada proses sisip binding, perusahaan juga berinisiatif melakukan investasi mesin inserter. Tingginya biaya implementasi mengakibatkan perusahaan ragu-ragu melakukan investasi tersebut, sehingga akan dilakukan studi kelayakan investasi mesin inserter binding ditinjau dari aspek pasar, aspek teknis, dan aspek keuangan. Perencanaan tenaga keJja dilakukan selama bulan Oktober 2005 sampai Januari 2006 ( 4 bulan), pada proses potong tiga sisi stitching, proses potong tiga sisi binding, proses stitching, proses binding, proses sisip stitching, dan proses sisip binding. Berdasarkan perencanaan tenaga kerja bagian penjilidan metode usu~ selama periode perencanaan, perusahaan membutuhkan total 6 orang tenaga kerja tetap, 24 orang tenaga kerja kontrak dan harian, serta 6 orang tenaga keJja borongan. Sedangkan berdasarkan perencanaan tenaga kerja metode semula, selama periode perencanaan, perusahaan membutuhkan 6 orang tenaga keJja tetap, 30 orang tenaga keaja kontrak dan harlan, serta 14 orang tenaga kerja sisip binding manual. Jadi dengan menerapkan perencanaan tenaga ketja metode usu1an, selama periode perencanaan, terjadi penghematan tenaga kerja kontrak dan harlan sebanyak 6 orang dan tenaga kerja borongan sebanyak 8 orang. Penghematan tenaga kerja kontrak dan harlan tersebut terdiri dari 2 orang tenaga kerja kontrak dan 4 orang tenaga kerja harlan, sehingga dapat menurunkan biaya tenaga kerja sebesar Rp. 13.680.000 selama periode perencanaan. Sedangkan penghematan 8 orang tenaga keaja borongan selama periode perencanaan, akan memudahkan pengawasan kinerja tenaga keaja yang bersangkutan. Hal ini mengakibatkan semakin tingginya kualitas output yang dihasilkan, sehingga menurunkan biaya rework, biaya produk cacat, dan juga dapat meningkatkan kepuasan konsumen. Pada studi kelayakan investasi mesin inserter binding ditinjau dari aspek pasar, basil peramalan permintaan proses binding (dalam oplah) tahun 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, dan 2010 adalah 4.529.287, 5.732.026, 6.899.708, 8.084.007, dan 9.612.580. Jumlah permintaan proses binding yang selalu meningkat dari tahun ke tahun, membuka peluang perusahaan untuk melakukan investasi mesin inserter binding. Jadi ditinjau dari aspek pasar, investasi mesin inserter binding layak dilakukan. Pada aspek teknis, waktu yang dimiliki perusahaan untuk melakukan proses sisip binding manual per tahun selama horison perencanaan (tahWl 2006 sampai 2010) adalah 57120 jam. Sedangkan waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk menyelesaikan order proses sisip binding tahun 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, dan 2010 adalah 11.856,24 jam; 15.004,63 jam; 18.061,26 jam; 21.161,37 jam; dan 25.162,70 jam. Jadi order proses sisip binding selama horison perencanaan dapat dipenuhi dengan hanya mempekeJjakan tenaga kerja sisip binding manual, sehingga ditinjau dari aspek teknis, investasi mesin inserter binding tidak layak dilakukan. Pada aspek keuangan, biaya proses sisip binding jika menggunakan mesin inserter binding adalab sebesar Rp. 50,58/oplah. Sedangkan biaya proses sisip binding jika menggunakan tenaga kerja sisip binding manual yang tertinggi (sisip 10 vel) adalah Rp. 15,5/oplah. Jadi berdasarkan aspek keuangan (ditinjau dari relevant cost), investasi mesin inserter binding tidak layak dilakukan