820 research outputs found
Evaluating megaprojects: from the “iron triangle” to network mapping
Evaluation literature has paid relatively little attention to the specific needs of evaluating large, complex industrial and infrastructure projects, often called ‘megaprojects’. The abundant megaproject governance literature, in turn, has largely focused on the so-called ‘megaproject pathologies’, i.e. the chronic budget overruns, and failure of such projects to keep to timetables and deliver the expected social and economic benefits. This article draws on these two strands of literature, identifies shortcomings, and suggests potential pathways towards an improved evaluation of megaprojects. To counterbalance the current overemphasis on relatively narrowly defined accountability as the main function of megaproject evaluation, and the narrow definition of project success in megaproject evaluation, the article argues that conceptualizing megaprojects as dynamic and evolving networks would provide a useful basis for the design of an evaluation approach better able to promote learning and to address the socio economic aspects of megaprojects. A modified version of ‘network mapping’ is suggested as a possible framework for megaproject evaluation, with the exploration of the multiple accountability relationships as a central evaluation task, designed to reconcile learning and accountability as the central evaluation functions. The article highlights the role of evaluation as an ‘emergent’ property of spontaneous megaproject ‘governing’, and explores the challenges that this poses to the role of the evaluator
Normal Ordering for Deformed Boson Operators and Operator-valued Deformed Stirling Numbers
The normal ordering formulae for powers of the boson number operator
are extended to deformed bosons. It is found that for the `M-type'
deformed bosons, which satisfy , the
extension involves a set of deformed Stirling numbers which replace the
Stirling numbers occurring in the conventional case. On the other hand, the
deformed Stirling numbers which have to be introduced in the case of the
`P-type' deformed bosons, which satisfy , are found to depend on the operator . This distinction
between the two types of deformed bosons is in harmony with earlier
observations made in the context of a study of the extended
Campbell-Baker-Hausdorff formula.Comment: 14 pages, Latex fil
The GW space-time method for the self-energy of large systems
We present a detailed account of the GW space-time method. The method increases the size of systems whose electronic structure can be studied with a computational implementation of Hedin's GW approximation. At the heart of the method is a representation of the Green function G and the screened Coulomb interaction W in the real-space and imaginary-time domain, which allows a more efficient computation of the self-energy approximation Sigma = iGW. For intermediate steps we freely change between representations in real and reciprocal space on the one hand, and imaginary time and imaginary energy on the other, using fast Fourier transforms. The power of the method is demonstrated using the example of Si with artificially increased unit cell sizes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V
Quantum-well states in ultrathin Ag(111) films deposited onto H-passivated Si(111)-(1x1) surfaces
Ag(111) films were deposited at room temperature onto H-passivated
Si(111)-(1x1) substrates, and subsequently annealed at 300 C. An abrupt
non-reactive Ag/Si interface is formed, and very uniform non-strained Ag(111)
films of 6-12 monolayers have been grown. Angle resolved photoemission
spectroscopy has been used to study the valence band electronic properties of
these films. Well-defined Ag sp quantum-well states (QWS) have been observed at
discrete energies between 0.5-2eV below the Fermi level, and their dispersions
have been measured along the GammaK, GammaMM'and GammaL symmetry directions.
QWS show a parabolic bidimensional dispersion, with in-plane effective mass of
0.38-0.50mo, along the GammaK and GammaMM' directions, whereas no dispersion
has been found along the GammaL direction, indicating the low-dimensional
electronic character of these states. The binding energy dependence of the QWS
as a function of Ag film thickness has been analyzed in the framework of the
phase accumulation model. According to this model, a reflectivity of 70% has
been estimated for the Ag-sp states at the Ag/H/Si(111)-(1x1) interface.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
161. The Potential Role of Extensor Muscle Fatigue in the Onset of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Novel In Vivo Model
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Occupation is strongly correlated to low back pain (LBP). Specific occupational activities associated with low back pain include poor posture, whole body vibration, and repetitive lifting. These activities have a common link: they result in fatigue of the primary spinal extensor musculature. This fatigue may lead to increased intervertebral loading - a stimulus for disc degeneration. If true, this association could provide a vital connection between detrimental physical activities and LBP. However, the link between muscle fatigue and increased load across the disc space has never been quantified in vivo.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a wireless multi-axial force-sensing implant and large animal model of primary extensor muscle fatigue. Combined, these tools allow measurement of in vivo spinal forces during muscle fatigue to quantify changes in spine loading
Two-domains bulklike Fermi surface of Ag films deposited onto Si(111)-(7x7)
Thick metallic silver films have been deposited onto Si(111)-(7x7) substrates
at room temperature. Their electronic properties have been studied by using
angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). In addition to the
electronic band dispersion along the high-symmetry directions, the Fermi
surface topology of the grown films has been investigated. Using ARPES, the
spectral weight distribution at the Fermi level throughout large portions of
the reciprocal space has been determined at particular perpendicular
electron-momentum values. Systematically, the contours of the Fermi surface of
these films reflected a sixfold symmetry instead of the threefold symmetry of
Ag single crystal. This loss of symmetry has been attributed to the fact that
these films appear to be composed by two sets of domains rotated 60 from
each other. Extra, photoemission features at the Fermi level were also
detected, which have been attributed to the presence of surface states and
\textit{sp}-quantum states. The dimensionality of the Fermi surface of these
films has been analyzed studying the dependence of the Fermi surface contours
with the incident photon energy. The behavior of these contours measured at
particular points along the Ag L high-symmetry direction puts forward
the three-dimensional character of the electronic structure of the films
investigated.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Physical Review
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Modeling the Integrated Performance of Dispersion and Monolithic U-Mo Based Fuels
The evaluation and prediction of integrated fuel performance is a critical component of the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program. The PLATE code is the primary tool being developed and used to perform these functions. The code is being modified to incorporate the most recent fuel/matrix interaction correlations as they become available for both aluminum and aluminum/silicon matrices. The code is also being adapted to treat cylindrical and square pin geometries to enhance the validation database by including the results gathered from various international partners. Additional modeling work has been initiated to evaluate the thermal and mechanical performance requirements unique to monolithic fuels during irradiation
Electronic properties and Fermi surface of Ag(111) films deposited onto H-passivated Si(111)-(1x1) surfaces
Silver films were deposited at room temperature onto H-passivated Si(111)
surfaces. Their electronic properties have been analyzed by angle-resolved
photoelectron spectroscopy. Submonolayer films were semiconducting and the
onset of metallization was found at a Ag coverage of 0.6 monolayers. Two
surface states were observed at -point in the metallic films,
with binding energies of 0.1 and 0.35 eV. By measurements of photoelectron
angular distribution at the Fermi level in these films, a cross-sectional cut
of the Fermi surface was obtained. The Fermi vector determined along different
symmetry directions and the photoelectron lifetime of states at the Fermi level
are quite close to those expected for Ag single crystal. In spite of this
concordance, the Fermi surface reflects a sixfold symmetry rather than the
threefold symmetry of Ag single crystal. This behavior was attributed to the
fact that these Ag films are composed by two domains rotated 60.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Difference in symptom severity between early and late grass pollen season in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For the development of forecasts for seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms, it is essential to understand the relationship between grass pollen concentrations and the symptoms of grass pollen allergic patients.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The aim of this study was to delineate this relationship between seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms and grass pollen concentrations in the Netherlands.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Grass pollen allergic patients (n = 80 [2007] - 84 [2008]) were enrolled into the study. They were asked to enter their seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose, post nasal drip, and eye symptoms) daily on a scale from 0 to 3 to the study centre either by short message service (SMS) or by internet from May-July 2007 and April-July 2008. Daily pollen counts were used to define the early and the late grass pollen season as the period 'before and during' respectively 'after' the first grass pollen peak (more than 150 pollen/m<sup>3</sup>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At similar grass pollen concentrations, the daily mean of the individual maximum symptom scores reported in the early season were higher as compared to that reported in the late season [differences of -0.41 (2007) and -0.30 (2008)]. This difference could not be explained by medication use by the patients nor by co-sensitization to birch.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms at similar grass pollen concentrations are more severe in the early flowering season as compared to those in the late flowering season. This finding is not only relevant for development of forecasts for seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms but also for understanding symptom development and planning and analysis of clinical studies.</p
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