Training Management Information System of the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management: User Satisfaction as a Measure of Its Effectiveness

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Training Management System (TMS) installed in the Security Assistance Organizations around the world. User satisfaction was measured as an indicator of the system\u27s effectiveness. In order to provide an objective measurement of the system effectiveness, the following research questions were addressed: (1) What is the system effectiveness regarding the level of product quality provided by TMS? (2) What is the level of involvement and knowledge of TMS user related to the information services function? (3) What is the level of user perceived satisfaction with the staff and services provided by support people of TMS? (4) What is the perceived difference in levels of satisfaction between military and civilian for each of the questions 1, 2 and 3 above? (5) What is the impact of experience with the system on questions 1 to 3 above? User satisfaction was determined to be the best possible measure of system effectiveness and it was measured by administering a user satisfaction survey. The data gathered from this survey was analyzed and that analysis provided the basis for concluding that TMS was meeting the users\u27 needs, but that the system effectiveness could be improved by providing training. Recommendations were offered to the TMS staff support and suggestions for further research were also given

A numerical study of non structural masonry walls with bed joint reinforcement subject to flexure

This paper presents a numerical investigation of a non structural small masonry wall submitted to a flexion effort in its plan and constructed with ceramic blocks. The effort is due to an excessive deformation of the structural elements. The small walls of ceramic blocks (named here mini-walls) were analyzed under two different situations: without bed joint reinforcement (for reference) and with bed joint reinforcement. In order to evaluate the improvement of structural performance with the proposed strengthening (reinforcement masonry walls) the arrows were measured in the middle of the mini-walls, cracking degree and the steel bars deformation. The program employed to carry out the numerical analyses was DIANA (version 9.1), that uses Finet Element Method (FEM). The strategy adopted was macromodelling and non linear phisical behaviour. The results obtained from the numerical research proved that masonry walls with bed joint showed an increased load at first cracking, better performance in service, increased capacity and more resistant arrow at break. Improvements also in relation to the ultimate limit state, which indicates that it is profit and that bed joint reinforcement can be used in non structural and structural mansory walls

Purely Elastic Flow Asymmetries

Using a numerical technique we demonstrate that the flow of the simplest differential viscoelastic fluid model (i.e., the upper-convected Maxwell model) goes through a bifurcation to a steady asymmetric state when flowing in a perfectly symmetric ‘‘cross-slot’’ geometry. We show that this asymmetry is purely elastic in nature and that the effect of inertia is a stabilizing one. Our results are in qualitative agreement with very recent experimental visualizations of a similar flow in the microfluidic apparatus of Arratia et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 144502 (2006)]

Thermodynamic and dynamic anomalies for a three dimensional isotropic core-softened potential

Using molecular dynamics simulations and integral equations (Rogers-Young, Percus-Yevick and hypernetted chain closures) we investigate the thermodynamic of particles interacting with continuous core-softened intermolecular potential. Dynamic properties are also analyzed by the simulations. We show that, for a chosen shape of the potential, the density, at constant pressure, has a maximum for a certain temperature. The line of temperatures of maximum density (TMD) was determined in the pressure-temperature phase diagram. Similarly the diffusion constant at a constant temperature, $D$, has a maximum at a density $\rho_{max}$ and a minimum at a density $\rho_{min}<\rho_{max}$. In the pressure-temperature phase-diagram the line of extrema in diffusivity is outside of TMD line. Although in this interparticle potential lacks directionality, this is the same behavior observed in SPC/E water.Comment: 16 page

Vital imaging of H9c2 myoblasts exposed to tert-butylhydroperoxide – characterization of morphological features of cell death

BACKGROUND: When exposed to oxidative conditions, cells suffer not only biochemical alterations, but also morphologic changes. Oxidative stress is a condition induced by some pro-oxidant compounds, such as by tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) and can also be induced in vivo by ischemia/reperfusion conditions, which is very common in cardiac tissue. The cell line H9c2 has been used as an in vitro cellular model for both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Understanding how these cells respond to oxidative agents may furnish novel insights into how cardiac and skeletal tissues respond to oxidative stress conditions. The objective of this work was to characterize, through vital imaging, morphological alterations and the appearance of apoptotic hallmarks, with a special focus on mitochondrial changes, upon exposure of H9c2 cells to tBHP. RESULTS: When exposed to tBHP, an increase in intracellular oxidative stress was detected in H9c2 cells by epifluorescence microscopy, which was accompanied by an increase in cell death that was prevented by the antioxidants Trolox and N-acetylcysteine. Several morphological alterations characteristic of apoptosis were noted, including changes in nuclear morphology, translocation of phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, and cell blebbing. An increase in the exposure period or in tBHP concentration resulted in a clear loss of membrane integrity, which is characteristic of necrosis. Changes in mitochondrial morphology, consisting of a transition from long filaments to small and round fragments, were also detected in H9c2 cells after treatment with tBHP. Bax aggregates near mitochondrial networks were formed after short periods of incubation. CONCLUSION: Vital imaging of alterations in cell morphology is a useful method to characterize cellular responses to oxidative stress. In the present work, we report two distinct patterns of morphological alterations in H9c2 cells exposed to tBHP, a pro-oxidant agent frequently used as model to induce oxidative stress. In particular, dynamic changes in mitochondrial networks could be visualized, which appear to be centrally involved in how these cells respond to oxidative stress. The data also indicate that the cause of H9c2 cell death following tBHP exposure is increased intracellular oxidative stress