Human Sexuality as Public Policy in the Omaha Public Schools: A Case Study

Public policy in America affects a vast range of activities. Examples of public policy readily come to mind, and these policies can affect each person in hundreds of different ways. Public policy may be directly confronted, as in paying taxes, or may be largely forgotten, as in benefiting from tile fire and police protection provided by the taxes. Regardless of the public policy, The study of public policy is, in a specialized way, the study of politics in society. Public policy is political in nature because it involves conflict and struggle among individuals and groups having conflicting desires

Mechanical Properties of ZTO, ITO, and a-Si:H Multilayer Films for Flexible Thin Film Solar Cells

The behavior of bi- and trilayer coating systems for flexible a-Si:H based solar cells consisting of a barrier, an electrode, and an absorption layer is studied under mechanical load. First, the film morphology, stress, Young’s modulus, and crack onset strain (COS) were analyzed for single film coatings of various thickness on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. In order to demonstrate the role of the microstructure of a single film on the mechanical behavior of the whole multilayer coating, two sets of InSnOx (indium tin oxide, ITO) conductive coatings were prepared. Whereas a characteristic grain–subgrain structure was observed in ITO-1 films, grain growth was suppressed in ITO-2 films. ITO-1 bilayer coatings showed two-step failure under tensile load with cracks propagating along the ITO-1/a-Si:H-interface, whereas channeling cracks in comparable bi- and trilayers based on amorphous ITO-2 run through all constituent layers. A two-step failure is preferable from an application point of view, as it may lead to only a degradation of the performance instead of the ultimate failure of the device. Hence, the results demonstrate the importance of a fine-tuning of film microstructure not only for excellent electrical properties, but also for a high mechanical performance of flexible devices (e.g., a-Si:H based solar cells) during fabrication in a roll-to-roll process or under service

Mechanical Properties of ZTO, ITO, and a-Si:H Multilayer Films for Flexible Thin Film Solar Cells

The behavior of bi- and trilayer coating systems for flexible a-Si:H based solar cells consisting of a barrier, an electrode, and an absorption layer is studied under mechanical load. First, the film morphology, stress, Young’s modulus, and crack onset strain (COS) were analyzed for single film coatings of various thickness on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. In order to demonstrate the role of the microstructure of a single film on the mechanical behavior of the whole multilayer coating, two sets of InSnOx (indium tin oxide, ITO) conductive coatings were prepared. Whereas a characteristic grain–subgrain structure was observed in ITO-1 films, grain growth was suppressed in ITO-2 films. ITO-1 bilayer coatings showed two-step failure under tensile load with cracks propagating along the ITO-1/a-Si:H-interface, whereas channeling cracks in comparable bi- and trilayers based on amorphous ITO-2 run through all constituent layers. A two-step failure is preferable from an application point of view, as it may lead to only a degradation of the performance instead of the ultimate failure of the device. Hence, the results demonstrate the importance of a fine-tuning of film microstructure not only for excellent electrical properties, but also for a high mechanical performance of flexible devices (e.g., a-Si:H based solar cells) during fabrication in a roll-to-roll process or under service

Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter, Vol. 3 No. 3, May-June 1979

The Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter will be published on a bimonthly basis. The contents will consist primarily of a calendar of events, notes of interest, editorials, listings of new members and conservation news. Until there is a Society journal, the Newsletter will include short articles also. The deadline for the Newsletter is one month prior to its release.https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1014/thumbnail.jp

Composted biowaste digestates as fertilizers: effects on soil chemistry and plant development in a three-year field trial

In einem dreijährigen Feldversuch wurden kompostierte Gärreste aus Bioabfällen hinsichtlich ihrer pflanzenbau­lichen Einsatzmöglichkeiten und ihrer Wirkung auf boden­chemische Parameter geprüft. Zudem wurden die Auf­be­reitungsverfahren Pelletierung und Agglomeratbildung und deren Auswirkung auf die Gärprodukteigenschaften untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die unmit­telbare Düngewirkung der Produkte aufgrund der niedrigen Stickstoffverfügbarkeit gering ist. Allerdings zeigte sich nach der Anwendung eine deutliche Erhöhung der Kohlenstoffgehalte im Boden, was auf ein relevantes Humusreproduktionspotential durch derartige Gärprodukte schließen lässt. Agglomeratbildung und Pelletierung scheinen die Mineralisierung der Produkte weiter zu verlangsamen, was sich auf die Nährstofffreisetzung negativ, auf eventuelle Kohlenstoffsequenzierung jedoch positiv auswirkt. Problematisch sind speziell bei Bioabfällen hohe Gehalte an Schwermetallen und anderen Störstoffen. Die gesetzlich vorgegebenen Grenzwerte wurden in 50% der untersuchten Chargen überschritten, wobei jedoch nur max. 7% der ausgebrachten Schwermetalle im oberirdischen Pflanzenmaterial wiedergefunden wurden.In a three-year field trial, composted digestates from biowaste were tested for their potential for plant cultivation and their effect on soil chemical parameters. In addition, the preparation processes of pelleting and agglomeration and their effect on the digestate properties were investigated. It has been found that the immediate fertilising effect of the products is low due to the low nitrogen availability. However, there was a significant increase in carbon content in the soil, suggesting a relevant humus repro­duction potential from such digestate products. Agglo­merate formation and pelleting appear to further slow the mineralization of the products, negatively affect­ing nutrient release but positively impacting carbon sequenc­ing. Particularly problematic in biowaste are high levels of heavy metals and other impurities. The statutory limits were exceeded in 50% of the batches exa­mined, but only max. 7% of the discharged heavy metals were recovered in the aboveground plant material

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension