A global approach to digital library evaluation towards quality interoperability

This paper describes some of the key research works related to my PhD thesis. The goal is the development of a global approach to digital library (DL) evaluation towards quality interoperability. DL evaluation has a vital role to play in building DLs, and in understanding and enhancing their role in society. Responding to two parallel research needs, the project is grouped around two tracks. Track one covers the theoretical approach, and provides an integrated evaluation model which overcomes the fragmentation of quality assessments; track two covers the experimental side, which has been undertaken through a comparative analysis of different DL evaluation methodologies, relating them to the conceptual framework. After presenting the problem dentition, current background and related work, this paper enumerates a set of research questions and hypotheses that I would like to address, and outlines the research methodology, focusing on a proposed evaluation framework and on the lessons learned from the case studies

Biotreatment of cr(VI)-containing wastewater mediated by indigenous bacteria

Indigenous Pseudomonas veronii 2E, Klebsiella oxytoca P2 and Klebsiella ornithinolityca 1P were tested as catalysts for the transformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) for Cr(VI)-containing wastewater biotreatments. The Cr(VI) biotransformation was assayed during bacterial growth and by using pre-grown quiescent cells. Proof of the unsuitability of a biotreatment based on Cr(VI)-reduction during bacterial growth was found: the reduction rate and the maximum Cr(VI) concentration able to be reduced were too low. On the other hand, high density suspensions of pre-grown quiescent cells presented the highest reduction rates, especially in the presence of an electron donor. The most efficient strain for Cr(VI) removal was Pseudomonas veronii 2E. Optimal pH and temperature for the biotransformation process resulted 7 and 32ºC respectively. The maximum initial reduction rate obtained in these conditions was 0.49 mg Cr(VI) h-1 g cell dry weight-1 (9.4 µmol Cr(VI) h-1 g cell dry weight-1). Proof of the feasibility and efficiency of this technology is provided by using in calcium alginate immobilized P. veronii 2E cells for the treatment of a real Cr(VI)-containing industrial wastewater.Fil: Alessandrello, Mauricio. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto de Ciencias. Área de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vullo, Diana Lia. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto de Ciencias. Área de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Space shuttle orbital maneuvering system failure detection and identification software requirements (uncontrolled)

Candidate designs and their software implementation are presented for the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) Failure Detection and Identification (FDI) algorithms in the Redundance Management (RM) module of the Space Shuttle Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) software. The OMS engine FDI algorithm monitors OMS engine thrust performance, and the OMS actuator FDI algorithm monitors OMS gimbal actuator performance. The software functional requirements of the algorithms are described along with the objective of each algorithm. A list of the assumptions which have governed its design, input/output requirements, a functional description of the algorithm (including a functional block diagram), and input interface requirements are given. The HAL (the language of the space shuttle flight computer) software formulation of the algorithms is considered including structured flowcharts of the procedures, estimates of flight computer core storage and CPU time, and processing requirements. A glossary of the symbols used to define the software requirements and formulations is included

A Global Approach to Digital Library Evaluation towards Quality Interoperability

Περιέχει τη περίληψηThis paper describes some of the key research works related to my PhD thesis. The goal is the development of a global approach to digital library (DL) evaluation towards quality interoperability. DL evaluation has a vital role to play in building DLs, and in understanding and enhancing their role in society. Responding to two parallel research needs, the project is grouped around two tracks. Track one covers the theoretical approach, and provides an integrated evaluation model which overcomes the fragmentation of quality assessments; track two covers the experimental side, which has been undertaken through a comparative analysis of different DL evaluation methodologies, relating them to the conceptual framework. After presenting the problem definition, current background and related work, this paper enumerates a set of research questions and hypotheses that I would like to address, and outlines the research methodology, focusing on a proposed evaluation framework and on the lessons learned from the case studies

A Directorial View of Tennessee Williams\u27 Suddenly Last Summer

The nucleus of my thesis will be the direction of Suddenly Last Summer\u27\u27, by Tennessee Williams. This play will be performed under my direction for The St. Charles Theatre Company on October 27 and 28, November 3 and 4, 2000. Suddenly Last Summer\u27\u27 was first introduced to the public at the York Theatre, in New York City, on January 7, 1958. It is my intent to present my own interpretation of this play and document my process of directing it in a community theatre environment. This becomes even more interesting to me because, although the St. Charles Theatre Company has been in existence for nineteen years, this is the first production in a new space that we are allowed to use as our exclusive new home. This creates more problems to be solved that go beyond the direct ion of the play. We have to tum what was a reception hall that housed a small proscenium stage into a black box theatre that will serve our community effort for many other plays. Before we can perform the play in question, we need to build walls and platforms, reinforce a stage floor, paint and plaster stage and walls, and build risers for audience members to sit o n. These preliminary necessary endeavors must be handled before the production of Suddenly Last Summer\u27\u27 can go up. Needless to say, this will take a large portion of our funds to accomplish which means my budget for this production will be small and require a minimal expenditure to produce. Chapter One of my thesis will focus on background information regarding Tennessee Williams and his family with particular attention paid to the situations that arose culminating in his sister\u27s lobotomy. Chapter Two will be comprised of a script analysis of the play based on the process taught in Francis Hodge\u27s book Play Directing. Chapter Three will be a journal documentation of the rehearsal process, including what we did at each rehearsal, what problems we encountered, and what solutions were devised. This chapter will also include information on the remodeling of the theatre space by the St. Charles Theatre Company. Chapter Four will include objective feedback from the cast, crew, audience members, and my thesis committee members as to how successful I was at communicating the play\u27s message and my objectives. It will also focus on my performance as a director and will answer such questions as where did I succeed, what could have been improved, and what I learned from the experience. Being a community project, this will require the expertise of many people. Theatre is always a team effort, and this project is no exception. The concept of team spirit is one that attracted me to this profess ion in the first place. My hope is that this thesis can help others start their own community theaters in an effort to keep live theatre thriving in communities everywhere

Usefulness of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound stiffness for the evaluation of bone health in HIV-1-infected subjects: Comparison with dual X-ray absorptiometry

Objectives: With the development of effective treatments and the resulting increase in life expectancy, bone mineral density (BMD) alteration has emerged as an important comorbidity in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. The potential contributors to the pathogenesis of osteopenia/osteoporosis include a higher prevalence of risk factors, combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-exposure, HIV-1 itself and chronic immune activation/inflammation. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the “gold standard” technique for assessing bone status in HIV-1 population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate bone mineral status in a group of 158 HIV-1-infected subjects. The primary endpoint was the feasibility of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) as a screening tool for BMD. All subjects were receiving stable cART and were virologically suppressed (HIV-RNA <37 copies/mL) from at least 12 months. Calcaneal QUS parameters were analyzed to obtain information on bone mass and microarchitecture. The results were compared with those obtained by DXA. Results: No correlations were found between DXA/QUS parameters and demographic or HIV-1-specific characteristics, also including cART strategies. In the univariate analyses BMD, QUS indexes, and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool scores conversely showed significant associations with one or more demographic or HIV-1-related variables. Moreover, a significant relationship between calcaneal quantitative ultrasound index/stiffness and femoral/lumbar BMD values from DXA was described. The multivariate analysis showed an independent association between calcaneal quantitative ultrasound index/stiffness and body mass index, higher CD4+T-cell numbers and low 25-OH D2/D3 vitamin D levels <10 ng/mL (P-values: 0.004, 0.016, and 0.015, respectively). Conclusion: As an alternative and/or integrative examination to DXA, calcaneal QUS could be proposed as a useful screening in HIV-1-infected patients for assessing bone health impairment. In fact, the results obtained confirm that calcaneal QUS may be useful for monitoring bone status, being a noninvasive and inexpensive technique, especially in those subjects with the classical traditional risk factors for bone damage that were observed earlier in HIV-1 population

Comparison of Braking Performance for Different Technologies of Heavy Hauled Freight Trains

The paper shows a comparison of different braking technologies for freight trains and their effects on in-train forces. At this aim, the UIC certified software TrainDy is employed. Freight train sets, having one and two remote locomotives, are investigated both as coupled trains and as fixed train compositions. There is also an evaluation of the in-train forces of freight train sets equipped by electro-pneumatic brakes and disk brakes. The case of two remote locomotives is further explored showing the minor benefits of an ad hoc activation of drivers brake valve, compared to the benefits of an optimized mass distribution, for train sets both coupled and fixed

La disuguaglianza socio-economica della salute come indicatore di benessere sociale

Obiettivo: Misurare il benessere sociale attraverso l’utilizzo della disuguaglianza socioeconomica della salute percepita dalle famiglie italiane e quantificare i contributi dei determinanti della salute alla disuguaglianza misurata. Materiali e metodi: Sono utilizzati i dati dell’indagine Istat sulle condizioni di vita (UDB IT-SILC), componente longitudinale. L’analisi è effettuata su un sotto-campione di 11.543 individui e 12 variabili, ottenuto dopo aver eliminato i dati mancanti per la variabile reddito e per le altre variabili rilevanti per la salute. E’ applicato il modello di regressione probit ordinale, per ottenere una misura continua della variabile salute, l’indice di concentrazione della salute, per misurare la disuguaglianza della salute, e infine la scomposizione della disuguaglianza, per calcolare il contributo di ciascun determinante. Le analisi sono a livello territoriale NUTS1. Risultati e conclusioni: La disuguaglianza di salute correlata al reddito è stimata pari all’1,18% a livello nazionale, mentre a livello territoriale il gradiente tra salute e reddito interviene solo al Sud. A livello territoriale, l’analisi rivela una disuguaglianza nella percezione della buona salute in tutte e cinque le ripartizioni territoriali, concentrata nel gruppo di individui avvantaggiati economicamente. La disuguaglianza nella salute è percepita maggiormente nel Nord Ovest (1,69%), seguita dal Nord Est (1,53%) e dal Sud (1,35%), Centro (1,21%); mentre la disuguaglianza della salute percepita non è significativa nelle Isole (-0,0012; IC95%=[-0,01; 0,01]). Emerge che in Italia nel 2010 si ha complessivamente una buona percezione della salute, che si concentra negli individui maschi, con una migliore posizione socioeconomica, istruzione più elevata, occupati; mentre esistono disuguaglianze nella malattia cronica e disabilità che penalizzano alcuni gruppi di popolazione svantaggiati economicamente con basso livello di istruzione e fuori dal mercato del lavoro

Clinical and in vitro efficacy of colistin plus vancomycin and rifampin against colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii causing ventilator-associated pneumonia

We present the case of a patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by a pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii successfully treated with the combination colistin plus vancomycin plus rifampin, whose in vitro activity was investigated by checkerboard method and killing testing. Furthermore, the serum bactericidal activity (SBA) was assessed. Our case shows that an innovative regimen consisting of colistin plus antimicrobials active only against Gram-positive microorganisms might represent a valid therapeutic option for severe infections caused by colistin-resistant A. baumannii

Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Impact of Direct-Acting Antivirals

INTRODUCTION: Globally, between 64 and 103 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV), with more than 4.6 million people in the United States and is associated with more than 15.000 deaths annually. Chronic infection can result in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. EXPLANATION: Epidemiological studies have indicated that persistent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly through chronic inflammation, cell deaths, and proliferation. Despite the new direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA's) being able to clear the HCV, HCC recurrence rate in these patients is still observed. CONCLUSION: In this review we highlighted some aspects that could be involved in the onset of HCV-induced HCC such as immune system, viral factors and host genetics factors.Moreover, we focused on some of the last reports about the effects of DAA's on the HCV clearance and their potential implications in HCC recurrence