699 research outputs found
The interaction of lean and building information modeling in construction
Lean construction and Building Information Modeling are quite different initiatives, but both are having profound impacts on the construction industry. A rigorous analysis of the myriad specific interactions between them indicates that a synergy exists which, if properly understood in theoretical terms, can be exploited to improve construction processes beyond the degree to which it might be improved by application of either of these paradigms independently. Using a matrix that juxtaposes BIM functionalities with prescriptive lean construction principles, fifty-six interactions have been identified, all but four of which represent constructive interaction. Although evidence for the majority of these has been found, the matrix is not considered complete, but rather a framework for research to
explore the degree of validity of the interactions. Construction executives, managers, designers and developers of IT systems for construction can also benefit from the framework as an aid to recognizing the potential synergies when planning their lean and BIM adoption strategies
The enhanced cognitive interview: expressions of uncertainty, motivation and its relation with report accuracy
The Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI) is one of the most widely studied and used methods to interview witnesses. However, ECI research has mainly focused on increasing report size and somewhat overlooked how to improve and evaluate report accuracy. No study evaluated if witnessesâ spontaneous expressions of uncertainty are accurate metacognitive judgments, nor if witnessesâ motivation during the interview affects report accuracy. This study examined how witnessesâ judgments of recall âuncertaintyâ and their motivation perception could relate to report accuracy. Forty-four psychology students watched a mock robbery video recording and were interviewed 48 hours later with either the Portuguese version of the ECI or a Structured Interview (SI). Afterward, participantsâ motivation was assessed and items of information were classified as âcertaintiesâ or âuncertaintiesâ. Results suggest that our ECI protocol was effective, since participants interviewed with the ECI produced more information without compromising accuracy. âUncertaintiesâ were less accurate than âcertaintiesâ, and their exclusion raised overall, ECI, and SI, accuracy. More motivated participants had better recall accuracy. Accounting for witnessesâ motivation and spontaneous verbal expressions of uncertainty may be effective and time-saving procedures to increase accuracy. These are key points that professionals and researchers should consider
Dosimetric accuracy of a deterministic radiation transport based 192Ir brachytherapy treatment planning system: Part III. Comparison to Monte Carlo simulation in voxelized anatomical computational models
To compare TG43-based and Acuros deterministic radiation transport-based calculations of the BrachyVision treatment planning system (TPS) with corresponding Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results in heterogeneous patient geometries, in order to validate Acuros and quantify the accuracy improvement it marks relative to TG43
Sulfur degassing at Erta Ale (Ethiopia) and Masaya (Nicaragua) volcanoes: Implications for degassing processes and oxygen fugacities of basaltic systems
We investigate the relationship between sulfur and oxygen fugacity at Erta Ale and Masaya volcanoes. Oxygen fugacity was assessed utilizing Fe3+/âFe and major element compositions measured in olivineâhosted melt inclusions and matrix glasses. Erta Ale melts have Fe3+/âFe of 0.15â0.16, reflecting fO2 of ÎQFM 0.0â±â0.3, which is indistinguishable from fO2 calculated from CO2/CO ratios in highâtemperature gases. Masaya is more oxidized at ÎQFM +1.7â±â0.4, typical of arc settings. Sulfur isotope compositions of gases and scoria at Erta Ale (ÎŽ34Sgasâââ0.5â°; ÎŽ34Sscoriaâ+â0.9â°) and Masaya (ÎŽ34Sgasâ+â4.8â°; ÎŽ34Sscoriaâ+â7.4â°) reflect distinct sulfur sources, as well as isotopic fractionation during degassing (equilibrium and kinetic fractionation effects). Sulfur speciation in melts plays an important role in isotope fractionation during degassing and S6+/âS is 0.67 in Masaya melt inclusions. No change is observed in Fe3+/âFe or S6+/âS with extent of S degassing at Erta Ale, indicating negligible effect on fO2, and further suggesting that H2S is the dominant gas species exsolved from the S2âârich melt (i.e., no redistribution of electrons). High SO2/H2S observed in Erta Ale gas emissions is due to gas reâequilibration at low pressure and fixed fO2. Sulfur budget considerations indicate that the majority of S injected into the systems is emitted as gas, which is therefore representative of the magmatic S isotope composition. The composition of the Masaya gas plume (+4.8â°) cannot be explained by fractionation effects but rather reflects recycling of high ÎŽ34S oxidized sulfur through the subduction zone
Sulfur degassing at Erta Ale (Ethiopia) and Masaya (Nicaragua) volcanoes: Implications for degassing processes and oxygen fugacities of basaltic systems
We investigate the relationship between sulfur and oxygen fugacity at Erta Ale and Masaya volcanoes. Oxygen fugacity was assessed utilizing Fe 3+/ÎŁFe and major element compositions measured in olivine-hosted melt inclusions and matrix glasses. Erta Ale
Understanding the UK hospital supply chain in an era of patient choice
Author Posting © Westburn Publishers Ltd, 2011. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy-edit version of an article which has been published in its definitive form in the Journal of Marketing Management, and has been posted by permission of Westburn Publishers Ltd for personal use, not for redistribution. The article was published in Journal of Marketing Management, 27(3-4), 401 - 423, doi:10.1080/0267257X.2011.547084 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2011.547084The purpose of this paper is to investigate the UK hospital supply chain in light of recent government policy reform where patients will have, inter alia, greater choice of hospital for elective surgery. Subsequently, the hospital system should become far more competitive with supply chains having to react to these changes as patient demand becomes less predictable. Using a qualitative case study methodology, hospital managers are interviewed on a range of issues. Views on the development of the hospital supply chain in different phases are derived, and are used to develop a map of the current hospital chain. The findings show hospital managers anticipating some significant changes to the hospital supply chain and its workings as Patient Choice expands. The research also maps the various aspects of the hospital supply chain as it moves through different operational phases and highlights underlying challenges and complexities. The hospital supply chain, as discussed and mapped in this research, is original work given there are no examples in the literature that provide holistic representations of hospital activity. At the end, specific recommendations are provided that will be of interest to service to managers, researchers, and policymakers
Daycare attendance and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
The relationship between daycare/preschool (âdaycareâ) attendance and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was evaluated in the Northern California Childhood Leukaemia Study. Incident cases (age 1â14 years) were rapidly ascertained during 1995â1999. Population-based controls were randomly selected from the California birth registry, individually matched on date of birth, gender, race, Hispanicity, and residence, resulting in a total of 140 caseâcontrols pairs. Fewer cases (n=92, 66%) attended daycare than controls (n=103, 74%). Children who had more total childâhours had a significantly reduced risk of ALL. The odds ratio associated with each thousand childâhours was 0.991 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.984â0.999), which means that a child with 50 thousand childâhours (who may have, for example, attended a daycare with 15 other children, 25 h per week, for a total duration of 30.65 months) would have an odds ratio of (0.991)50=0.64 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.95), compared to children who never attended daycare. Besides, controls started daycare at a younger age, attended daycare for longer duration, remained in daycare for more hours, and were exposed to more children at each daycare. These findings support the hypothesis that delayed exposure to common infections plays an important role in the aetiology of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and suggest that extensive contact with other children in a daycare setting is associated with a reduced risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Prospective multi-center trial utilizing electronic brachytherapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A modified form of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy has been developed called Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (EBT). EBT uses a kilovolt X-ray source and does not require treatment in a shielded vault or a HDR afterloader unit. A multi-center clinical study was carried out to evaluate the success of treatment delivery, safety and toxicity of EBT in patients with endometrial cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 15 patients with stage I or II endometrial cancer were enrolled at 5 sites. Patients were treated with vaginal EBT alone or in combination with external beam radiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prescribed doses of EBT were successfully delivered in all 15 patients. From the first fraction through 3 months follow-up, there were 4 CTC Grade 1 adverse events and 2 CTC Grade II adverse events reported that were EBT related. The mild events reported were dysuria, vaginal dryness, mucosal atrophy, and rectal bleeding. The moderate treatment related adverse events included dysuria, and vaginal pain. No Grade III or IV adverse events were reported. The EBT system performed well and was associated with limited acute toxicities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>EBT shows acute results similar to HDR brachytherapy. Additional research is needed to further assess the clinical efficacy and safety of EBT in the treatment of endometrial cancer.</p
Production of Medical Radioisotopes with High Specific Activity in Photonuclear Reactions with Beams of High Intensity and Large Brilliance
We study the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine in
photonuclear reactions or ()
photoexcitation reactions with high flux [()/s], small
diameter m and small band width () beams produced by Compton back-scattering of laser
light from relativistic brilliant electron beams. We compare them to (ion,np) reactions with (ion=p,d,) from particle accelerators like
cyclotrons and (n,) or (n,f) reactions from nuclear reactors. For
photonuclear reactions with a narrow beam the energy deposition in the
target can be managed by using a stack of thin target foils or wires, hence
avoiding direct stopping of the Compton and pair electrons (positrons).
isomer production via specially selected cascades
allows to produce high specific activity in multiple excitations, where no
back-pumping of the isomer to the ground state occurs. We discuss in detail
many specific radioisotopes for diagnostics and therapy applications.
Photonuclear reactions with beams allow to produce certain
radioisotopes, e.g. Sc, Ti, Cu, Pd, Sn,
Er, Pt or Ac, with higher specific activity and/or
more economically than with classical methods. This will open the way for
completely new clinical applications of radioisotopes. For example Pt
could be used to verify the patient's response to chemotherapy with platinum
compounds before a complete treatment is performed. Also innovative isotopes
like Sc, Cu and Ac could be produced for the first time
in sufficient quantities for large-scale application in targeted radionuclide
therapy.Comment: submitted to Appl. Phys.
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