SCINTILLA A European project for the development of scintillation detectors and new technologies for nuclear security

Europe monitors transits using radiation detectors to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. The SCINTILLA project aims to develop a toolbox of innovative technologies designed to address different usage cases. This article will review the scope, approach, results of the first benchmark campaign and future plans of the SCINTILLA project.Comment: To appear on the Proceedings of the 13th ICATPP Conference on Astroparticle, Particle, Space Physics and Detectors for Physics Applications, Villa Olmo (Como, Italy), 23--27 October, 2013, to be published by World Scientific (Singapore

Pengaruh Indikator Kependudukan Terhadap Tingkat Pengangguran Terbuka Di Indonesia Dengan Pendekatan Regresi Panel

Kependudukan merupakan tantangan besar bagi pembangunan Indonesia. Badan Kependudukan dan Keluarga Berencana Nasional (BKKBN) menyebutkan bahwa jumlah penduduk yang besar akan berdampak pada berbagai aspek kehidupan, diantaranya masalah kebutuhan pangan, kemiskinan hingga lapangan kerja. Kondisi pengangguran di Indonesia semakin meningkat dari tahun ke tahun. Berdasarkan data Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), Tingkat Pengangguran Terbuka (TPT) Agustus 2015 sebesar 6,18 persen meningkat dibanding sebelumnya (5,94 persen). TPT per Agustus 2015 mencapai 7,56 juta orang. Terlebih, jika melihat Indonesia yang dihadapkan dengan pemberlakuan kerja sama dalam Masyarakat Ekonomi ASEAN (MEA), Indonesia memasuki pasar bebas tenaga kerja dalam kondisi yang kurang ideal. Berdasarkan latar belakang tersebut, maka dilakukan penelitian terkait Pengaruh Indikator Kependudukan Terhadap Tingkat Pengangguran Terbuka di Indonesia dengan Pendekatan Regresi Panel, sebagai solusi dalam mengurangi angka pengangguran. Adanya efek individu pada model panel mengakibatkan pendekatan model yang sesuai adalah Fixed EffectModelyang menghasilkan nilai R2 sebesar 86 persen. Berdasarkan analisis, diperoleh tiga variabel yang signifikan terhadap Tingkat Pengangguran Terbuka antara lain Laju Pertumbuhan Penduduk, Angka Melek Huruf dan Angka Partisipasi Kasar SMA/Sederajat

Effect of Computer Mediated Communication and Face-to-Face Communication on the Students' Writing

This research aimed to investigate the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and face-to-face (F2F) communication on the students' writing. The subjects were the English department students of the fourth semester at the private University in Madiun. The researchers employed the students in class A and B as the research subjects. The research method used was a quasi-experimental design. The research design was divided into pre-test, treatment, and post-test. Both of the two groups were given pre-test to see the homogeneity of the two groups. The experimental group was given CMC, and the comparison group was given F2F communication. Then, both of the two groups were given post-test. The data collection technique was done by giving the students a writing test. Data analysis was done by employing the independent t-test. The result shows that the students' writing after employing F2F communication is more effective than students' writing after employing CMC. The students like to share the ideas directly than they employ CMC because it is more complicated. In addition, it is because the students find difficulty in sharing the ideas through CMC, so, F2F communication is better than CMC on the students' writing quality

Control and virtual reality simulation of tendon driven mechanisms

In this paper the authors present a control strategy for tendon driven mechanisms. The aim of the control system is to find the correct torques which the motors have to exert to make the end effector describe a specific trajectory. In robotic assemblies this problem is often solved with closed loop algorithm, but here a simpler method, based on a open loop strategy, is developed. The difficulties in the actuation are in keeping the belt tight during all working conditions. So an innovative solution of this problem is presented here. This methodology can be easily applied in real time monitoring or very fast operations. For this reason several virtual reality simulations, developed using codes written in Virtual Reality Markup Language, are also presented. This approach is very efficient because it requires a very low cpu computation time, small size files, and the manipulator can be easily put into different simulated scenarios

Building Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations

Offers a capacity building model that is based on a review of civil society, sustainable development, and organizational management literature. Reviews effective capacity building programs sponsored or operated by foundations. Includes recommendations

Health-related quality of life and functional changes in DMD:A 12-month longitudinal cohort study

Family caregivers of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) live stressful lives in which they spend most of their time caring for their loved ones and managing difficult situations, thereby reducing the time spent in taking care of themselves. This situation may last several years. Previous literature has widely highlighted that this situation reduces caregivers' quality of life and increases their psychological distress and risk of health problems, but there is a lack of studies that focus on psychological interventions for these situations. This qualitative study examined a pilot experience of two mutual support groups for family caregivers of people with ALS. The aim was to identify caregivers' needs, the prominent aspects of their experience, and to understand whether and how this intervention strategy might help them. Six partners (four men and two women) and six adult children (five women and one man) participated in the groups, which were conducted in northern Italy. After the support groups finished, participants underwent semi-structured interviews. The authors conducted a content analysis of the transcripts of the interviews and the 20 group sessions. The thematic areas identified were "caregiving," "being the son/daughter of a person with ALS," "being the partner of a person with ALS," "group experience" and "group evaluation." The caregiving experience was profoundly different depending on whether the caregiver was a son/daughter or a partner of a patient with ALS. Moreover, comparison with peers and mutual support helped participants to better cope with ALS and its consequences, to improve their care for their relatives and to overcome typical caregiver isolation. These results suggest the usefulness of involving communities in caregiver support in order to create new networks and activate personal and social resources for well-being