Microstructure evolution and thermal stability of rapidly solidified Al-Ni-Co-RE alloy

In the frame of this work, Al-5Ni-1Co-3RE (RE-Rare Earth (Mischmetal)) rapidly solidified ribbons were manufactured and analyzed. The morphology of the as-cast structure, as well as the microstructural features were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal stability has been investigated by combination of four point scanning electrical resistivity measurement (ER), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and microhardness measurement. From the results we can conclude, that Al-5Ni-1Co-3RE rapidly solidified alloys have good thermal stability due to very slow coarsening kinetics of precipitated particles

Philosophy of the world and philosophy of Karl Löwith as a precursor and incentive to the idea of integrative bioethics

Traditional cosmology, once used to explain the world, was suppressed by the domination of science over philosophy which happened after their separation. Nowadays, scientific (in terms of natural sciences) cosmology is given the advantage in answering the question what is the world, while the "non-empirical" catholicity (the basic characteristic of traditional cosmology) became useless. Encouragement of one’s effort to re-establish the category of catholicity can be found in the idea of integrative bioethics on one side and in the philosophy of the world on the other. In this paper the relation between the idea of integrative bioethics and the philosophy of the world will be established through philosophical discussions which were held in Augsburg and in Zagreb (1988, 1990, 1993) and also with reliance on understanding the world in philosophy of Karl Löwith

Potencijalna korist meteoroloških informacija u prometu

U uvodu se ukazuje na ulogu i značaj meteorološke službe u valorizaciji prometa Republike Hrvatske. U drugom poglavlju daju se ciljevi i nabrajaju korisnici meteoroloških informacija u prometu, objašnjava priroda korisničkih zahtjeva i njihova identifikacija, vrste i sadržaj meteoroloških informacija, odnos korisnika prema ovim informacijama, te načini ostvarenja potencijalnih koristi u prometu. U trećem poglavlju obrazlaže se potreba upoznavanja meteorologa s djelatnostima korisnika informacija te osposobljavanje korisnika, i svih onih koji po prirodi posla dolaze u dodir s meteorološkim informacijama na putu od meteorologa do korisnika, kako bi se one optimalno koristile. U četvrtom poglavlju prikazan je sastav simulacijskog modela za istraživanje i primjenu potencijalnih koristi meteoroloških informacija u prometu, te se ukratko opisuje metodologija za njihovo efikasno korištenje od strane korisnika primjenom cost/benefit analize na jednostavnom primjeru

Screening for inter-hospital differences in cesarean section rates in low-risk deliveries using administrative data: An initiative to improve the quality of care

BACKGROUND: Rising national cesarean section rates (CSRs) and unexplained inter-hospital differences in CSRs, led national and international bodies to select CSR as a quality indicator. Using hospital discharge abstracts, we aimed to document in Belgium (1) inter-hospital differences in CSRs among low risk deliveries, (2) a national upward CSR trend, (3) lack of better neonatal outcomes in hospitals with high CSRs, and (4) possible under-use of CS. METHODS: We defined a population of low risk deliveries (singleton, vertex, full-term, live born, 2499 g). Using multivariable logistic regression techniques, we provided degrees of evidence regarding the observed departure ([relative risk-1]*100) of each hospital (N = 107) from the national CSR and its trend. To determine a benchmark, we defined three CSR groups (high, average and low) and compared them regarding 1 minute Apgar scores and other neonatal endpoints. An anonymous feedback is provided to the hospitals, the College of Physicians (with voluntary disclosure of the outlying hospitals for quality improvement purposes) and to the policy makers. RESULTS: Compared with available information, the completeness and accuracy of the data, regarding the variables selected to determine our study population, showed adequate. Important inter-hospital differences were found. Departures ranged from -65% up to +75%, and 9 "high CSR" and 13 "low CSR" outlying hospitals were identified. We observed a national increasing trend of 1.019 (95%CI [1.015; 1.022]) per semester, adjusted for age groups. In the "high CSR" group 1 minute Apgar scores <4 were over-represented in the subgroup of vaginal deliveries, suggesting CSs not carried out for medical reasons. Under-use of CS was also observed. Given their questionable completeness, except Apgar scores, our neonatal results, showing a significant association of CS with adverse neonatal endpoints, are to be cautiously interpreted. Taking the available evidence into account, the "Average CSR" group seemed to be the best benchmark candidate. CONCLUSION: Rather than firm statements about quality of care, our results are to be considered a useful screening. The inter-hospital differences in CSR, the national CS upward trend, the indications of over-use and under-use, the geographically different obstetric patterns and the admission day-related concentration of deliveries, whether or not by CS, may trigger initiatives aiming at improving quality of care