Order Parameter Measurements Of Dichroic Dyes Dissolved In Smectic Liquid Crystals That Tilt Without Layer Contraction

Measurements of the orientational order parameter of dissolved dichroic dyes are reported for two smectic-A liquid crystals that tilt in the presence of an in-plane electric field without any decrease in the layer spacing. The dye order parameter is determined by measuring the anisotropic absorption of linearly polarized light. Different dyes are used and measurements are also performed on a smectic liquid crystal that tilts with the expected layer contraction to check how closely the measurements reflect the order parameter of the liquid crystal. The variation of the dye order parameter with electric field is in accordance with the recently proposed model of azimuthal disorder of the tilt angle direction, but the surprising finding is that the local dye orientational order parameter is significantly lower than for the smectic liquid crystal that tilts with the expected layer contraction. This suggests that another mechanism might be contributing significantly to the smectic order, one possibility of which is the tendency for different parts of these siloxane-containing molecules to segregate within each layer. Another possible explanation is that the azimuthal disorder is due to a modulated phase with a high enough density of defects to decrease the value of the local order parameter

Systematic Review of the Literature on Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in Sport and Physical Recreation

The Carnegie Research Institute was commissioned by Sporting Equals and the Sports Councils to conduct an independent systematic review of the literature on participation in sport and recreation by Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. The brief was to focus on UK material from the past ten years, to compile an electronic, bibliographic database and use that evidence to assess the policy significance of existing knowledge in the drive to widen and increase participation. Although the field might still be considered under-researched over 300 items were identified. Judgements were made on the quality of the research on the basis of the methodological and theoretical soundness and the credibility of the link between the conclusions and the data. The various items were collated in an electronic, bibliographic database and coded as: substantive research of good quality; related public statistics and policy documents; and other related materials of interest. The research, policy and practice contained in this body of work is set within an expanding national and international framework of policy and legislation concerned with human rights and principles of equality. The Sports Councils and Sporting Equals have played a significant part in this through initiatives like the Equality Standard. They have not been acting in isolation, but have received support from other sports bodies with initiatives both to challenge discrimination and inequality and to promote participation and inclusion. Nonetheless, there still seems to be a measure of disconnection between research, sports policies and equality policies. Indeed, sports policies are sometimes based on limited representations of racism and so are inhibited in the way they address racial equality

Space for inclusion? The Construction of Sport and Leisure Spaces as Places for Migrant Communities

The research on which this paper is based started from the proposition that sport and leisure spaces can support processes of social inclusion (Amara et al., 2005), yet may also serve to exclude certain groups. As such, these spaces may be seen as contested and racialised places that shape behaviour. We shall use this paper not just to explore how those spaces are perceived by new migrants, but how those interpretations may vary with time and processes of social change. That involves examining how sport and leisure spaces are encoded in different ways, thereby affecting people’s experience, while at the same time recognising that their sport and leisure practices shape those social constructions. We argue that such an understanding is necessary to inform policies and practices that could promote the development of mutual and shared spaces rather than disconnected multiple occupations of spaces. Our goal is not only to contribute to the development of theory, but also to the debate that has counterposed multiculturalism and integrationism. Our recent systematic review, conducted for Sporting Equals and the sports councils (Long et al., 2009), synthesised literature on participation in sport and physical recreation by people from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BME) in the UK. That review identified a growing body of research, but one focussing primarily on the experiences of Black and Asian groupings. That has led us to turn to a consideration of new migrant communities. In this paper we shall be reporting on empirical research conducted with ‘new migrants’ now living in Leeds

Monte Carlo Simulation of Smectic Liquid Crystals and the Electroclinic Effect: the Role of the Molecular Shape

Using Monte Carlo simulation methods, we explore the role of molecular shape in the phase behavior of liquid crystals and the electroclinic effect. We study a "bent-rod" mesogen shaped like the letter Z, composed of seven soft spheres bonded rigidly together with no intra-molecular degrees of freedom. For strongly angled molecules, we find that steric repulsion alone provides the driving force for a smectic-C phase, even without intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions. For weakly angled (nearly rod-like) molecules, we find a stable smectic-A (SmA) phase and a strong electroclinic effect with a saturation tilt angle of about 19 degrees. In the SmA phase we find evidence of vortex-like point defects. We also observe a field-induced nematic-smectic phase transition.Comment: 10 pages, including 10 postscript figures, uses REVTeX 3.0 and epsf.st

Hubungan Hukum Para Pihak dalam Peer To Peer Lending

The development of digital world has provided various services that are beneficial for the community, one of which is the presence of information technology-based lending and borrowing services or known as peer to peer lending. However, the current applicable regulations have not clearly explained the construction of the legal relations among the parties involved in peer to peer lending platform. Regarding the fact that some peer to peer lending services are similar to those of banks, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) is required to affirm the construction of the legal relations among parties so as to create legal certainty. Based on this explanation, there is a question: how is the Legal Relation among the Parties involved in Peer To Peer Lending in terms of the Legal Certainty for these Parties. This study used a normative method. The results showed that peer to peer lending services providers are not banks that collect funds from the community and distribute them to the community. Therefore, the legal relation among the parties involved in peer to peer lending shall be differentiated from the legal relations among the parties involved in banking sector, especially in the business activities of distributing funds through credit or financing agreements. The legal certainty in peer to peer lending shall be fulfilled so that peer to peer lending business activities are not categorized as an illegal bank and so that this business is able to provide legal standing for all the parties

Performance Improvement of Hospital Through Cross Functional Teamworks Practices Optimalization

Cross Functional Teamworks (CFTs) was considered increasing the efficiency in health care business. Less implementation of CFTs decreased the Muhammadiyah Surabaya Hospital performance. The study aimed to analyze High Performace Work Practices (HPWP) as performance improvement of Muhammadiyah Surabaya Hospital. This was observational cross sectional research. There 29 members in 12 Cross Functional Team who met the inclusion criteria. Data was taken by questionnaires and interviews. The research showed that CFTs had several weaknesses, i.e. uncomplate document of CFTs task, function and job description. All respondents showed good CFTs even the cross functional boundary was not clear. HPWP which measured by six criterias (selection, reward, performance measurement, conflict resolution, cross functional meetings, cross functional boundary spanner) were mostly not good. The implementation of High Performance Work Practices by CFTs only good in 4 teams (Accreditation Team, Patient Safety Team, Education and Training Team, Folmularium Team). Muhammadiyah Surabaya Hospital management needs to reorganize the CFTs, increase the frequency of informal meeting and complement the teams role document.Keyword: Cross Functional Teamworks, High Performance Work Practices, Hospital Performanc

Pengaruh Mikoriza Glomus Fasciculatum terhadap Akumulasi Logam Timbal (Pb) pada Tanaman Dahlia Pinnata

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian dosis Glomus fasciculatum terhadap tanaman Dahlia pinnata dalam mengakumulasi logam Pb dan efisiensi serapannya. Penelitian ini menggunakan variasi dosis mikoriza yaitu 0 gram mikoriza dan tanpa Pb (kontrol negatif), 0 gram mikoriza dengan Pb (kontrol positif), 5 gram mikoriza, 10 gram mikoriza, 15 gram mikoriza, 20 gram mikoriza, dan 25 gram mikoriza. Masing-masing tanaman yang diberi penambahan dosis mikoriza juga di beri penambahan Pb(NO3)2 dalam media sebanyak 200 mg/mg. Jumlah perlakuan dalam penelitian ini adalah 7 perlakuan dengan 4 ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan dosis 25 gram mikoriza Glomus fasciculatum berpengaruh nyata dalam meningkatkan efisiensi serapan Pb pada tanaman dahlia serta meningkatkan akumulasi logam Pb pada akar tanaman dahlia dan menghambat akumulasi Pb pada batang dan dau

Penyalahgunaan Zat Adiktif pada Siswa Kelas VIII di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri 05 Kota Kendari

Penelitian ini didasarkan pada hasil survei awal tentang penyalagunaan zat adiktif di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri 05 Kota Kendari. Hasil survey menunjukkan bahwa pada tahun 2012 terdapat 5 siswa merokok dan 4 siswa menghirup lem fox. Tahun 2013 terdapat 12 siswa merokok dan pada tahun 2014 terdapat 15 siswa yang merokok dan 5 siswa menghirup lem fox, tahun 2015 terdapat 5 siswa yang merokok. Tujuan penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor determinan penyalahgunaan zat adiktif pada siswa kelas VIII di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri 05 Kota Kendari. Jenis penelitian ini adalah survey analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional study. Populasi penelitian ini berjumlah 192 orang responden dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 84 orang responden yang diperoleh melalui teknik penarikan sampel proprosional random sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa, peran keluarga, peran teman sebaya dan lingkungan merupakan faktor yang menentukan terjadinya penyalagunaan zat adiktif pada siswa kelas VIII di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri 05 Kota Kendari

External validation of models for predicting cumulative live birth over multiple complete cycles of IVF treatment

Acknowledgements We are grateful to the HFEA for their permission to analyse the database, extracting the requested information, and assisting with all our queries in an efficient manner. We are also thankful to the data management support of the Grampian Data Safe Haven (DaSH) and the associated financial support of NHS Research Scotland, through NHS Grampian investment in the Grampian DaSH (www.abdn.ac.uk/iahs/facilities/grampian-data-safe-haven.php). Funding This work was supported by the Elphinstone scholarship scheme at the University of Aberdeen and the Assisted Reproduction Unit at Aberdeen Fertility Centre, University of Aberdeen. The funder did not have any role in the study design; data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; nor the decision to submit the paper for publication. S.B. has a commitment of research funding from Merck.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Simulation Study of Missing Data with Multiple Missing X’s

When exploring missing data techniques in a realistic scenario, the current literature is limited: most studies only consider consequences with data missing on a single variable. This simulation study compares the relative bias of two commonly used missing data techniques when data are missing on more than one variable. Factors varied include type of missingness (MCAR, MAR), degree of missingness (10%, 25%, and 50%), and where missingness occurs (one predictor, two predictors, or two predictors with overlap). Using a real dataset, cells are systematically deleted to create various scenarios of missingness so that parameter estimates from listwise deletion and multiple imputation may be compared to the true estimates from the full dataset. Results suggest the multiple imputation works well, even when the imputation model itself is missing data. Accessed 7,222 times on https://pareonline.net from August 12, 2014 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right