The use of systems thinking to deal with managing change in the context of the new South Africa

The case study afforded an opportunity to demonstrate how divergent opinions of various stakeholders could be harnessed and synthesised to provide input to resolve perceived problematical situations. In the case study of the hard systems method, ISM, divergence of the stakeholder views was through the process intended to achieve convergence (consensus) in order to solve the problem situation. In the case of the soft systems method, SSM, divergence of views were synthesised to produce an all embracing solution Of the perceived situation. No attempt is made to produce consensus. Systems thinking, therefore, is able to deal with issues that have given known-to-be desirable ends (hard systems) and where known-to-be desirable ends (soft systems) cannot be taken as given. This research has attempted to address the issue of managing the complexity of development in the context of the recently democratised South Africa. It has basically suggested that, as a point of departure, developmental issues should be approached holistically and systematically. It is important to select an appropriate methodology in seeking to solve the problem of managing change. The quality of the outcome of the two case studies reviewed has been affected by the quality of the inputs, particularly with respect to availability of time, availability of stakeholder inputs and the status of the research (that is, as an academic exercise)

A direct proof that ℓ∞(3)\ell_\infty^{(3)} has generalized roundness zero

Metric spaces of generalized roundness zero have interesting non-embedding properties. For instance, we note that no metric space of generalized roundness zero is isometric to any metric subspace of any $L_{p}$-space for which $0 < p \leq 2$. Lennard, Tonge and Weston gave an indirect proof that $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ has generalized roundness zero by appealing to highly non-trivial isometric embedding theorems of Bretagnolle Dacunha-Castelle and Krivine, and Misiewicz. In this paper we give a direct proof that $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ has generalized roundness zero. This provides insight into the combinatorial geometry of $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ that causes the generalized roundness inequalities to fail. We complete the paper by noting a characterization of real quasi-normed spaces of generalized roundness zero.Comment: The first version of this paper had the title "The generalized roundness of $\ell_\infty^{(3)}$ revisited". This version includes some minor modifications of the text and corrections to several typographic error

Enhanced negative type for finite metric trees

Finite metric trees are known to have strict 1-negative type. In this paper we introduce a new family of inequalities that quantify the extent of the "strictness" of the 1-negative type inequalities for finite metric trees. These inequalities of "enhanced 1-negative type" are sufficiently strong to imply that any given finite metric tree must have strict p-negative type for all values of p in an open interval that contains the number 1. Moreover, these open intervals can be characterized purely in terms of the unordered distribution of edge weights that determine the path metric on the particular tree, and are therefore largely independent of the tree's internal geometry. From these calculations we are able to extract a new non linear technique for improving lower bounds on the maximal p-negative type of certain finite metric spaces. Some pathological examples are also considered in order to stress certain technical points.Comment: 35 pages, no figures. This is the final version of this paper sans diagrams. Please note the corrected statement of Theorem 4.16 (and hence inequality (1)). A scaling factor was omitted in Version #

The Telehealth Skills, Training, and Implementation Project: An evaluation protocol

External stabilization is reported to improve reliability of hand held dynamometry, yet this has not been tested in burns. We aimed to assess the reliability of dynamometry using an external system of stabilization in people with moderate burn injury and explore construct validity of strength assessment using dynamometry. Participants were assessed on muscle and grip strength three times on each side. Assessment occurred three times per week for up to four weeks. Within session reliability was assessed using intraclass correlations calculated for within session data grouped prior to surgery, immediately after surgery and in the sub-acute phase of injury. Minimum detectable differences were also calculated. In the same timeframe categories, construct validity was explored using regression analysis incorporating burn severity and demographic characteristics. Thirty-eight participants with total burn surface area 5 – 40% were recruited. Reliability was determined to be clinically applicable for the assessment method (intraclass correlation coefficient \u3e0.75) at all phases after injury. Muscle strength was associated with sex and burn location during injury and wound healing. Burn size in the immediate period after surgery and age in the sub-acute phase of injury were also associated with muscle strength assessment results. Hand held dynamometry is a reliable assessment tool for evaluating within session muscle strength in the acute and sub-acute phase of injury in burns up to 40% total burn surface area. External stabilization may assist to eliminate reliability issues related to patient and assessor strength

A Surgical Cryoprobe for Targeted Transcorneal Freezing and Endothelial Cell Removal

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of transcorneal freezing using a new cryoprobe designed for corneal endothelial surgery. METHODS: A freezing console employing nitrous oxide as a cryogen was used to cool a series of different cryoprobe tip designs made of silver for high thermal conductivity. In vitro studies were conducted on 426 porcine corneas, followed by preliminary in vivo investigations on three rabbit corneas. RESULTS: The corneal epithelium was destroyed by transcorneal freezing, as expected; however, the epithelial basement membrane remained intact. Reproducible endothelial damage was optimally achieved using a 3.4 mm diameter cryoprobe with a concave tip profile. Stromal edema was seen in the pre-Descemet's area 24 hrs postfreeze injury, but this had been resolved by 10 days postfreeze. A normal collagen fibril structure was seen 1 month postfreeze, concurrent with endothelial cell repopulation. CONCLUSIONS: Transcorneal freezing induces transient posterior stromal edema and some residual deep stromal haze but leaves the epithelial basement membrane intact, which is likely to be important for corneal re-epithelialization. Localized destruction of the endothelial monolayer was achieved in a consistent manner with a 3.4 mm diameter/concave profile cryoprobe and represents a potentially useful approach to remove dysfunctional corneal endothelial cells from corneas with endothelial dysfunction

Metric trees of generalized roundness one

Every finite metric tree has generalized roundness strictly greater than one. On the other hand, some countable metric trees have generalized roundness precisely one. The purpose of this paper is to identify some large classes of countable metric trees that have generalized roundness precisely one. At the outset we consider spherically symmetric trees endowed with the usual combinatorial metric (SSTs). Using a simple geometric argument we show how to determine decent upper bounds on the generalized roundness of finite SSTs that depend only on the downward degree sequence of the tree in question. By considering limits it follows that if the downward degree sequence $(d_{0}, d_{1}, d_{2}...)$ of a SST $(T,\rho)$ satisfies $|\{j \, | \, d_{j} > 1 \}| = \aleph_{0}$, then $(T,\rho)$ has generalized roundness one. Included among the trees that satisfy this condition are all complete $n$-ary trees of depth $\infty$ ($n \geq 2$), all $k$-regular trees ($k \geq 3$) and inductive limits of Cantor trees. The remainder of the paper deals with two classes of countable metric trees of generalized roundness one whose members are not, in general, spherically symmetric. The first such class of trees are merely required to spread out at a sufficient rate (with a restriction on the number of leaves) and the second such class of trees resemble infinite combs.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Selecting the Number and Labels of Topics in Topic Modeling: A Tutorial

13 pagesTopic modeling is a type of text analysis that identifies clusters of co-occurring words, or latent topics. A challenging step of topic modeling is determining the number of topics to extract. This tutorial describes tools researchers can use to identify the number and labels of topics in topic modeling. First, we outline the procedure for narrowing down a large range of models to a select number of candidate models. This procedure involves comparing the large set on fit metrics, including exclusivity, residuals, variational lower bound, and semantic coherence. Next, we describe the comparison of a small number of models using project goals as a guide and information about topic representative and solution congruence. Finally, we describe tools for labeling topics, including frequent and exclusive words, key examples, and correlations among topics

Cortical tau is associated with microstructural imaging biomarkers of neurite density and dendritic complexity in Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION: In Alzheimer's disease (AD), hyperphosphorylated tau is closely associated with focal neurodegeneration, but the mechanism remains uncertain. METHODS: We quantified cortical microstructure using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging in 14 individuals with young onset AD. Diffusion tensor imaging measured mean diffusivity (MD). Amyloid beta and tau positron emission tomography were acquired and associations with microstructural measures were assessed. RESULTS: When regional volume was adjusted for, in the medial temporal lobe there was a significant negative association between neurite density and tau (partial R2  = 0.56, p = 0.008) and between orientation dispersion and tau (partial R2  = 0.66, p = 0.002), but not between MD and tau. In a wider cortical composite, there was an association between orientation dispersion and tau (partial R2  = 0.43, p = 0.030), but not between other measures and tau. DISCUSSION: Our findings are consistent with tau causing first dendritic pruning (reducing dispersion/complexity) followed by neuronal loss. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) microstructural measures have the potential to provide information relating to underlying tau deposition

Match physical performance of elite female soccer players during international competition.

The purpose of the present study was to provide a detailed analysis of the physical demands of competitive international female soccer match-play. A total of 148 individual match observations were undertaken on 107 outfield players competing in competitive international matches during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, using a computerized tracking system (Prozone Sports Ltd., Leeds, England). Total distance (TD) and total high-speed running distances (THSR) were influenced by playing position, with central midfielders (CM) completing the highest (10985±706 m and 2882±500 m) and central defenders (CD) the lowest (9489±562 m and 1901±268 m) distances, respectively. Greater total very high-speed running (TVHSR) distances were completed when a team was without (399±143 m) compared to with (313±210 m) possession of the ball. The majority of sprints were over short distances with 76 % and 95 % being less than 5 m and 10 m, respectively. Between half reductions in physical performance were present for all variables, independent of playing position. The current study provides novel findings regarding the physical demands of different playing positions in competitive international female match-play and provides important insights for physical coaches preparing elite female players for competition