The role of cultural value dimensions in relational demography

The Malaysian public sector has undergone various transformations since the Independence. From its custodial role in the newly independent country, the public sector had changed and taken an active role in the country’s economic development. However, since 1980s onwards, the philosophy and techniques of New Public Management (NPM) have been implemented in Malaysia.This again transformed the public sector from being an engine of economic growth to become a facilitator to the private sector and service provider to the public. In line with NPM’s underlying belief of the superiority of businesslike practices, various contemporary management practices and philosophy were implemented in the Malaysian public sector. The implantation of private sector practices in the public sector was enhanced with the introduction a performance measurement system which utilises the use of key performance indicators in 2005. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine and analyse the current improvement programme within the wider public sector reform programmes in Malaysia. The issues and consequences of using key performance indicators in the public sector are discussed. To understand further the reasons and the push for reform, contextual descriptions of the various phases of public sector reform in Malaysia are also discussed in this paper

New Voices: What Works

Reviews grantees' accomplishments in building community news sites, keys to sustainability, and lessons learned about engagement, staffing, business models, social media, technology, partnerships, and limitations of university, youth, and radio projects

Philadelphia Enterprise Reporting Awards: A Report on the First Year

Profiles collaborative in-depth reporting projects developed with funding from the William Penn Foundation. Examines the impact of collaboration and distribution across multiple venues, the role of start-ups, and funding and resources leveraged

Irradiation treatment of laryngeal cancer in a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

Background: Due to an aging population the incidence of both cardiac and tumor-related illnesses is increasing. A problem may arise if radiotherapy is necessary in close anatomic proximity to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). These highly precise devices may respond to ionizing radiation with a loss of function or uncontrolled stimulation, with both effects being potentially life threatening. Available guidelines recommend the dose maximum to a pacemaker to be cumulative below 2 Gy. For most patients undergoing radiation therapy of the neck or of the chest this limit is exceeded, thus making a removal of the device and an implantation of an external ICD necessary. Case Report: A patient with severe cardiac problems underwent an implantation of an ICD. However, a recurrence of a laryngeal cancer was diagnosed. The irradiation dose after resection was 60 Gy to the tumor region and 50 Gy to the lymph nodes. Irradiation peakload to the ICD was calculated to be 2.5 Gy. This dose was verified with thermoluminescence measurements. The ICD was externally deactivated during the sessions of irradiation. Device checks demonstrated no malfunction. Conclusion: Even though the dose limits of the ICD of 2 Gy were exceeded, the device demonstrated a regular function during and after radiotherapy

Higgs Searches in ATLAS

This talk covers the results of a search for the Standard Model Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The datasets used correspond to integrated luminosities of approximately 4.8 fb-1 collected at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV in 2011 and 5.8 fb-1 at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV in 2012. Individual searches in the channels H->ZZ(*)->4l, H->\gamma\gamma\ and H->WW(*)->e\nu\mu\nu\ in the 8 TeV data are combined with previously published results of searches for H->ZZ(*), WW(*), bb and \tau+\tau- in the 7 TeV data and results from improved analyses of the H->ZZ(*)->4l and H->\gamma\gamma\ channels in the 7 TeV data. Clear evidence for the production of a neutral boson with a measured mass of 126.0 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.4 (sys) GeV is presented. This observation, which has a significance of 5.9 standard deviations, corresponding to a background fluctuation probability of 1.7 x 10-9, is compatible with the production and decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson. First measurements of the couplings of this particle are presented and are compatible with a SM Higgs boson hypothesis.Comment: Physics in Collision, Slovakia, 201

Comparison of EFTEM and STEM EELS plasmon imaging of gold nanoparticles in a monochromated TEM

We present and compare two different imaging techniques for plasmonic excitations in metallic nanoparticles based on high energy-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy in a monochromated transmission electron microscope. We demonstrate that a recently developed monochromated energy-filtering (EFTEM) approach can be used in addition to the well established scanning technique to directly obtain plasmon images in the energy range below 1 eV. The EFTEM technique is described in detail, and a double experiment performed on the same, triangular gold nanoparticle compares equivalent data acquired by both techniques, respectively

Pressure transducer 3/8-inch in size can be faired into surface

To measure fluid pressure with minimum disturbance to fluid flow, a miniature pressure transducer can be imbedded and faired into the test surface. Incorporated in the design are piezoresistive elements mounted on a diaphragm, which transform pressure strains into an electrical signal

High noise immunity one shot

Multivibrator circuit, which includes constant current source, isolates line noise from timing circuitry and field effect transistor controls circuit's operational modes. Circuit has high immunity to supply line noise

Radio-chemotherapy as a preoperative treatment for advanced rectal cancer. Evaluation of down-staging and morbidity

Background: The standard therapy for patients with clinically resectable rectal cancer is generally considered to be surgery, If the patient is diagnosed with advanced disease, postoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT) is usually recommended. In our study we aimed to investigate and analyze the effectiveness and toxicity of preoperative pelvic radiotherapy in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients and Methods: From June 1999 to September 2001 we evaluated 50 consecutive patients {[}37 male and 13 female; average age 65.1 (range 46-79.5) years] with locally advanced rectal carcinoma. 32 patients were staged as uT3, 14 as uT4, and 4 as uT2. Regarding N-staging, 22 patients were diagnosed as ONO. 2 patients had distant metastases, with liver metastases in both instances. Conformal irradiation was performed with a box technique 4-field technique) with a dose of 45 Gy (5 x 1.8 Gy per week for a total of 25 sessions). From days 1-5 and 29-33, all patients received 5-FU (500 mg/m(2) per day, as a continuous i.v. injection). Results: Remission was observed in 28 patients (56%), with down-staging of at least one T-stage. A better success rate was achieved for patients with deep-seated tumors (64% of the patients in this group). Complete remission was observed in 4 patients (8.0%) and progression in 3 (6.0%). 15 patients had no detectable change in tumor staging (30.0%). A surgical R0 resection could be achieved in 43 patients, an R1 resection (minimal margins in 7. Side effects and toxicity (common toxicity criteria) of RCT included grade I-II dysuria in 5 patients (10%), grade I-II diarrhea in 20 patients (40%), and severe diarrhea in 2 patients (4.0%). Grade I-II skin reaction was noticed in 22 patients (44.0%), severe skin reaction only in 1 patient. Regarding acute postoperative morbidity, abscess and fistula formation was noted in 8 patients (16.0%), with anastomosis leakage in 7 (14%). Conclusion: Preoperative radiotherapy appears to be a feasible therapeutic approach with moderate toxicity and the potential to induce down-staging. The data presented in this study confirm the preliminary reports on this neoadjuvant treatment

Porphyrias associated with malignant tumors: Results of treatment with ionizing irradiation

Background: Porphyrin metabolism disorders, known as porphyria, represent inherited or acquired diseases. The development of porphyria due to light sensibility occurs especially with exposure to wavelengths in the range of 300-700 nm. Skin reactions and neurovisceral dysfunctions are known side effects of ionizing irradiation. It can be postulated that during or after ionizing irradiation treatment of patients affected with tumor and porphyria, severe side effects might appear, in contrast to patients without porphyria. This paper describes the treatment of 2 patients affected with tumor and concomitant porphyria. Patients: One female patient suffering from intermittent porphyria and breast cancer and one male patient suffering from porphyria cutanea tarda and bladder cancer were treated with ionizing irradiation (electrons and photons). No abnormalities nor any severe general or local side effects could be observed. Conclusion: Radiation therapy is not a `stimulating' factor in activating porphyria symptoms