Healthcare Facilities: Maintaining Accessibility While Implementing Security

In the wake of the Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital shooting in the summer of 2022, it was made clear that more security needed to be implemented in healthcare facilities. As a result, I inquired: What is the happy balance for healthcare facilities to maintain their accessibility to the public while also implementing security measures to prevent terrorist attacks? With that base, I give recommendations in the areas of cybersecurity, physical infrastructure, and physical and mental health, based off the existing literature and data gathered from terrorist attacks against hospitals over several decades

Advancements in the Connection Between Unmanned Systems (UxS) and Geospatial Technologies

The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center has been tasked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to study terrorist innovation and develop frameworks that can be used to understand and mitigate malign use of geospatial technologies. In partnership with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), the NCITE team will examine the current state of terrorist innovation in this emerging space and explore near-future possibilities that federal, state, local, and tribal authorities may confront. In particular, the research team will identify how emerging geospatial technologies may be used by terrorists and violent extremists to support or execute physical attacks against critical infrastructure, namely the energy and agriculture sectors

APRENDIZES DIGITAIS

UNIRITTER - Faculdades Integradas Ritter dos Rei

Les inégalités territoriales à l’université : effets sur les parcours des étudiants d’origine populaire

Cet article est fondé sur une enquête longitudinale réalisée dans deux universités d’une même région et analyse l’impact des inégalités socio-économiques territoriales à la fois sur la composition des publics étudiants en 1re année de la filière Administration économique et sociale (AES) et sur leur devenir. Le suivi longitudinal permet d’identifier les principaux facteurs de réussite de ces étudiants. Leur parcours scolaire jusqu’au baccalauréat, et surtout le type de baccalauréat obtenu (général, technologique ou professionnel), joue un rôle déterminant dans leur trajectoire universitaire et leur réussite en licence d’AES. L’université d’appartenance a également un effet sur la réussite, effet qui s’explique par des conditions de socialisation contrastées.Based on a longitudinal study conducted in two universities in the same area, this paper analyses the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on the type of intake of first-year students attending a business and social administration course and on their futures. This study contributed to identifying the main achievement factors of these students. Their school paths until the baccalaureate degree and, above all, the type of baccalaureate (general, technological or vocational course) they passed are strong predictors of their academic paths and success in their undergraduate degrees. The university they attend also has an impact on achievement because of contrasted socialisation conditions.Este artículo se apoya en una encuesta longitudinal realizada en dos universidades de una misma región y analiza el impacto de las desigualdades socioeconómicas territoriales a la vez en la composición de los públicos de estudiantes en 1er año de la rama administración económica y social (AES) y en su porvenir. El seguimiento longitudinal permite identificar los principales factores de éxito de dichos estudiantes. Su trayectoria escolar hasta el bachillerato, y sobre todo el tipo de bachillerato aprobado (general, tecnológico o profesional), desempeña un papel determinante en su trayectoria universitaria y en su éxito en licenciatura de AES. La universidad a la que pertenecen también tiene un impacto en el éxito, impacto que se explica por condiciones de socialización contrastadas.   Dieser Artikel stützt an einer Längsuntersuchung, die in zwei Universitäten aus der gleichen Region geführt wurde und analysiert den Einfluss gesellschaftlicher, wirtschaftlicher und regionaler Ungleichheiten sowohl auf die Zusammensetzung der Studentenschaft im ersten Semester im Studiumzweig ökonomische und soziale Verwaltung (frz. AES) als auch auf den Werdegang der betroffenen Studenten. Die Längsuntersuchung erlaubt es, die Hauptfaktoren im Erfolg dieser Studenten zu identifizieren. Ihre Schullaufbahn bis zum Abitur und vor allem der Abschlusstyp (Abitur, technologischer Abschluss oder berufsbildende Ausbildung) spielen eine ausschlaggebende Rolle in ihrer Studentenlaufbahn und in ihrem Erfolg bei der Licence (Bachelor). Die besuchte Universität wirkt sich auch auf den Erfolg aus, was man durch verschiedenartige Sozialisierungsbedingungen erklären kann

L’impact des ségrégations territoriales et universitaires sur les parcours étudiants : la filière AES

Les processus de ségrégation sociale sont rarement abordés à l’échelle des universités. À partir d’une recherche composée d’une enquête qualitative et d’une enquête quantitative réalisées sur deux universités de la région parisienne, cet article propose une analyse de deux formes de ségrégations, territoriale et universitaire. Les conditions de socialisation au sein des deux établissements pour la même filière AES (Administration économique et sociale) mettent en évidence les modalités de recomposition de la population étudiante entre la première et la dernière année de licence.Processes of social segregation are rarely addressed on the scale of whole universities. This paper is based on two surveys, a qualitative one and a quantitative one, of two universities of the Paris region. Its aim is to offer an analysis of two types of segregation: territorial segregation and academic segregation. Socialization processes within these two establishments, for the same “Social and Economic Administration” course, show how the student body is reconstructed between the first and third year of university.Soziale Segregationsprozesse werden auf Universitätsebene selten angegangen. Ausgehend von einer Untersuchung, die sich auf eine qualitative und eine quantitative Erfassung an zwei Universitäten im Raum Paris stützt, soll in diesem Artikel eine Analyse zweier Arten von Segregation – nämlich auf territorialer und universitärer Ebene – vorgenommen werden. Die Sozialisierungsbedingen an beiden Bildungseinrichtungen im jeweils gleichen Studiengang AES (Administration économique et sociale) verdeutlichen die Modalitäten der Zusammensetzung der studentischen Population zwischen dem ersten und letzten Bachelor-Studienjahr.Los procesos de segregación social son raramente abordados en la escala universitaria. A partir de una investigación compuesta por una encuesta cualitativa y una encuesta cuantitativa realizada en dos universidades de la región parisina, este artículo propone un análisis de dos formas de segregación, territorial y universitaria. Las condiciones de socialización dentro de los dos establecimientos para la misma orientación AES (Administración económica y social) ponen en evidencia las modalidades de recomposición de la población estudiantil entre el primer y el último año de licenciatura

Predicting the prices of cards in the game Magic with machine learning

V tem diplomskem delu smo preučevali trende gibanja cen pri kartah igre Magic: The Gathering in pri tem uporabili najbolj primerne metode strojnega ućenja. Cilj je bil izdelati napovedni model za cene kart. Naša naloga je bila identiciranje pomembnih virov, pridobivanje potrebnih podatkov, njihova pretvorba v računalniku razumljivo obliko ter izbira primernega algoritma. Model, ki smo ga ustvarili, se je izkazal za zanesljivega s 61% točnostjo napovedi gibanja cene pri zelo redkih kartah, medtem ko smo pri redkih kartah dosegli le 52% točnost, kar ni preseglo niti privzete točnosti. Pri nalogi smo uporabili metodo podpornih vektorjev ter si pomagali z orodjem Weka. S podatki, ki smo jih pridobili, smo naredili še nekaj poizkusov in tako poiskali nekaj novih odvisnosti med podatki, ki jih prej nismo poznali.This thesis is a study of Magic: The Gathering card price fluctuations using the most appropriate machine learning methods. The goal was to construct a predictive model for card prices. This required us to identify crucial attributes, gather necessary data, convert it to a machine-readable format and select a suitable learning algorithm for the task. The resulting model was effective, attaining a 61 % price trend accuracy with mythic rare cards, while it was less successful with rare cards with only 52% accuracy, which failed to beat default accuracy. Support vector machines algorithms and the machine learning toolbox Weka were used to achieve these results, which were applied in further experiments that led to the discovery of previously unknown data dependencies

Crystal Structure of the VV Dimer [V2O2(μ-O)(dmpp)2(OCH3)2] and Its Equilibrium with the VV Trimer [V3O3(μ-O)3(dmpp)3(H2O)](H2O)2 in Methanol/Water Solutions

The behaviour of the cyclic trimeric VV complex [V3O3(μ-O)3(dmpp)3(H2O)](H2O)2, V3L3, (L = Hdmpp = 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4-pyridinone) was studied in methanol and methanol/water solutions by using 51V and 1D- and 2D 1H NMR spectroscopy. Red crystals, isolated from a highly concentrated methanol solution of the trimeric complex, were analysed by X-ray crystallography. The solid-state structure of the compound showed the presence of a new dinuclear VV cluster and allowed for its formulation as a [V2O2(μ-O)(dmpp)2(OCH3)2] complex, V2Y2L2 (Y = OCH3). This complex crystallises in the monoclinic system: P21/c, a = 8.4573(11) Å, b = 15.034(2) Å and c = 15.849(2) Å, β = 105.300(2)°, V = 1943,7(4) Å3, Z = 2, and R1(wR2) = 0.0492(0.1706). The trimer V3L3 complex dissolved in a dry methanol solution fully decomposes, as shown by the 51V NMR signals at -388, -450 and -551 ppm, which are assigned to a monomer complex [VO(OMe)(dmpp)2] (VYL2), the dimer V2Y2L2 and the monomethyl ester of monovanadate, V1Y (V1 = monovanadate; Y = OCH3), respectively. In methanol/water solutions, a new 51V NMR signal appears at delta = -492 ppm, which is assigned to the [VO2(dmpp)(H2O)2] (VL) complex. When the percentage of water in the mixture increases, the relative intensities of the V2Y2L2 and V1Y signals decrease sharply, and a broad signal at -488 ppm appears, corresponding to the original VV trimer complex, which is the only species present in 94 % water. A temperature-dependent 1H NMR study of a CD3OD solution of V3L3 confirmed the presence, at room temperature, of the dinuclear V2L2 complex and the VL2 species. At temperatures below 0 °C down to -50 °C, the appearance of new signals reflects the presence of isomers for the V2Y2L2 and VYL2 species with different stabilities and symmetries. 2D 1H homonuclear NMR exchange experiments (EXSY) allowed us to establish the isomeric equilibria that take place in solution, and indicates intramolecular exchange between the two ligands of the major isomer of VYL2 and intermolecular exchange between the major and minor isomers of species of different nuclearity, V2Y2L2 and VYL2. However, no evidence was found for intermolecular exchange between the major isomers and between the minor isomers of species of different nuclearity or between isomers of species of the same nuclearity. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006

Folic acid fortification and public health: Report on threshold doses above which unmetabolised folic acid appear in serum

BACKGROUND: All flour in the USA is fortified with folic acid at a level of 140 μg/100 g which is estimated to supply an extra 100 μg daily to the average diet. Some researchers have advocated that this be increased to double and even four times this amount. Based on previous research these higher levels are likely to lead to the appearance of unmetabolised vitamin in the circulation, which may have safety implications for sub-groups of the population. The UK and the Republic of Ireland will likely introduce mandatory fortification also in the next year or so. The aim of this study was to capture the short-term effect of folic acid fortification on unmetabolised folic acid in serum after chronic consumption of folic acid. METHODS: After pre-saturation with 400 μg folic acid supplements daily for 14-weeks, healthy folate replete adults (n = 20) consumed folic acid fortified bread, at three different levels (400 μg, 200 μg, 100 μg) over a period of one week each. The dose was administered in two-equal sized slices consumed at 09.00 hrs and 13.00 hrs. Serum samples for total folate and folic acid were collected at baseline, after 14-weeks of supplementation, and pre and post (at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours) each dose tested. RESULTS: Unmetabolised folic acid was detected after the 14-week supplementation period. Folic acid was not detected in either the 200 μg or 100 μg (current US regime) doses tested but was present at the highest level (400 μg) tested. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that persons exposed to the current US fortification programme supplying an average of 100 μg per day or less are unlikely to have unmetabolised folic acid in serum. It also seems that daily consumption of the higher level of 200 μg or less is unlikely to be problematic. Increasing the level however to 400 μg on the other hand is likely to lead to unmetabolised folic acid appearance

Tryptophan in Alcoholism Treatment II: Inhibition of the Rat Liver Mitochondrial Low Km Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity, Elevation of Blood Acetaldehyde Concentration and Induction of Aversion to Alcohol by Combined Administration of Tryptophan and Benserazide

Aims: The aims were to provide proofs of mechanism and principle by establishing the ability of the amino acid L-tryptophan (Trp) combined with the kynureninase inhibitor benserazide (BSZ) to inhibit the liver mitochondrial low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity after administration and in vivo and to induce aversion to alcohol. Methods: Trp, BSZ or both were administered to male Wistar rats and ALDH activity was determined both in vitro in liver homogenates and in vivo (by measuring acetaldehyde accumulation in blood after ethanol administration). Alcohol consumption was studied in an aversion model in rats and in alcohol-preferring C57 mice. Results: Combined administration of Trp + BSZ, but neither compound alone, produced a strong inhibition of ALDH activity and an increase in blood acetaldehyde concentration after ethanol, and induced aversion to alcohol in rats and decreased preference in mice. Another kynureninase inhibitor, carbidopa, induced aversion to alcohol by itself, which was reversed by Trp co-administration. Conclusions: The present results establish a prior art for the use of a combination of Trp plus BSZ in the treatment of alcoholism by aversion, which merits rapid clinical development

A stage-structured model to predict the effect of temperature and salinity on glass eel Anguilla anguilla pigmentation development

The pigmentation development process of glass eels Anguilla anguilla from stage V-B to VIA3 was modelled by gamma cumulative functions. These functions varied with respect to the factors temperature and salinity whose effects were adjusted by beta functions. Temperature was shown to accelerate pigmentation, while salinity acted as a secondary factor slowing down the pigmentation. The model fits the development of 15 samples kept at various temperatures and salinities in the Vilaine River, as well as samples monitored at other dates and places in Europe. It allows the prediction of the duration of estuarine residency for glass eels, in winter and spring, in the Atlantic estuaries