The effects of team-skills training on transactive memory and performance

The existence of effective Transactive Memory Systems (TMS) in teams has been found to enhance task performance. Methods of developing Transactive Memory (TM) are therefore an important focus of research. This study aimed to explore one such method, the use of a generic team-skills training programme to develop TM and subsequent task performance. Sixteen three-member teams were all trained to complete a complex collaborative task, prior to which half the teams (n=8), completed a team-skills training programme. Results confirmed that those teams who had been trained to develop a range of team skills such as problem-solving, interpersonal relationships, goal setting and role allocation, evidenced significantly higher team skill, TM and performance than those who were not trained in such skills. Results are discussed with reference to the wider TM literature and the mechanisms through which team-skills training could facilitate the more rapid development of TM

The Web as an Adaptive Network: Coevolution of Web Behavior and Web Structure

Much is known about the complex network structure of the Web, and about behavioral dynamics on the Web. A number of studies address how behaviors on the Web are affected by different network topologies, whilst others address how the behavior of users on the Web alters network topology. These represent complementary directions of influence, but they are generally not combined within any one study. In network science, the study of the coupled interaction between topology and behavior, or state-topology coevolution, is known as 'adaptive networks', and is a rapidly developing area of research. In this paper, we review the case for considering the Web as an adaptive network and several examples of state-topology coevolution on the Web. We also review some abstract results from recent literature in adaptive networks and discuss their implications for Web Science. We conclude that adaptive networks provide a formal framework for characterizing processes acting 'on' and 'of' the Web, and offers potential for identifying general organizing principles that seem otherwise illusive in Web Scienc

Comorbidities and their impact on outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease

Comorbidities and their impact on outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease. End-stage renal disease is associated with an increased mortality compared to age-matched controls. Increasing age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and poor nutrition are the most important co-existing conditions that predict worse outcomes for patients with end-stage renal disease. Of the cardiovascular conditions that are associated with higher mortalities, ischemic heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy have a high prevalence amongst the predialysis and dialysis population. There are multiple risk factors associated with uremia that predispose to these conditions. Congestive heart failure is also a strong predictor of poor outcome and often coexists with hypertension and ischemic heart disease. Although hypertension in the general population is associated with higher mortalities, in dialysis patients hypotension is a more accurate predictor of high mortality rates. Diabetes is now the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in many parts of the world. It has a strong negative impact on survival and is associated with the presence of vascular disease. Similarly, increasing age in the uremic population is associated with a high frequency of hypertension and vascular disease. Poor nutritional status, as indicated by a low serum albumin or subjective global assessment is a strong predictor of high mortality. This may in part indicate the coexistence of a chronic inflammatory state. The most important predictors of poor outcome in end-stage renal disease are increasing age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and poor nutrition as reflected by hypoalbuminemia. Future studies need to be initiated which will assess the impact of interventions which modify directly these co-morbidities

An examination of the effect of year-round scheduling on student attendance

Year-round school scheduling is an alternative being explored by various school systems throughout the country. Alcoa High School has adopted a year-round schedule in the 2000-2001 school year from the traditional schedule used in 1999-2000. This research examined data using descriptive statistics to describe the relationship between student attendance rates within each scheduling type, by comparing Alcoa High School findings to other high schools in the area

ROTONET Primer

This document provides a brief overview of use of the ROTONET rotorcraft system noise prediction capability within the Aircraft Noise Program (ANOPP). Reviews are given on rotorcraft noise, the state-of-the-art of system noise prediction, and methods for using the various ROTONET prediction modules

The Political Economy of Property Tax in Africa: Explaining Reform Outcomes in Sierra Leone

Effective local government taxation is critical to achieving the governance benefits widely attributed to decentralization, but in practice successful tax reform has been rare because of entrenched political resistance. This article offers new insights into the political dynamics of property tax reform through a case study of Sierra Leone, focusing on variation in experiences and outcomes across the country’s four largest city councils. Based on this evidence, the article argues that elite resistance has posed a particularly acute barrier to local government tax reform, but that ethnic diversity has sometimes served to strengthen reform by fragmenting elite resistance. Furthermore, opposition councils have had stronger incentives to strengthen tax collection than councils dominated by the ruling party, in order to increase their fiscal autonomy. More generally, heightened electoral competition can lead to sustained revenue gains by encouraging city councils to adopt a more contractual approach to tax reform that stresses transparency, engagement, and equity

Pheochromocytomas

Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors derived from chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla. Such tumors arising from the sympathetic ganglia of the thorax, abdomen, or pelvis are termed “paragangliomas” or “extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas.” The classic symptoms of these tumors are due to excess circulating levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, or dopamine. Although 21% may be asymptomatic, the most common symptoms associated with pheochromocytomas include sweating, palpitations, and headaches in association with intermittent hypertension. If left untreated, excess catecholamines may result in hypertensive crisis leading to cardiac complications, cerebrovascular stroke, or ultimately sudden death. These catecholamine-secreting tumors are most commonly sporadic, but about 30% of patients have this disease as part of a familial disorder such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Although most are benign, accurate recognition of pheochromocytomas with malignant potential and distant metastases remains a major diagnostic challenge. Advances in the field of molecular genetics have led to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in an attempt to address this dilemma. Surgical excision of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas is the mainstay of treatment and offers the only potential for cure. This chapter focuses on recent developments in the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas, encompassing biochemical, radiologic, histologic, and molecular analyzes. In addition, novel therapeutic strategies and advances in individualized targeted therapies for malignant pheochromocytomas will be discussed