329 research outputs found

    Incompressible viscous flow near the leading edge of a flat plate admitting slip

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    The shear stress at the leading edge, calculated on basis of the Navier-Stokes equations and the no-slip boundary condition, approaches infinity. However, taking into account the mean free path of the molecules, which implies admitting a certain slip, the shear stress becomes inversely proportional to the square root of the Knudsen number κ if κ→0. κ is defined as the ratio between the mean free path and the viscous length. The new boundary condition modifies the shear stress only within the Knudsen region of which the size is of the order of 3 to 4 times the mean free path.

    Transforming towards sustainable health and wellbeing systems:Eight guiding principles based on the experiences of nine Dutch Population Health Management initiatives

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    Introduction Population Health Management initiatives are increasingly introduced, aiming to develop towards sustainable health and wellbeing systems. Yet, little is known about which strategies to implement during this development. This study provides insights into which strategies are used, why, and when, based on the experiences of nine Dutch Population Health Management initiatives. Methods The realist evaluation approach was used to gain an understanding of the relationships between context, mechanisms and outcomes when Population Health Management strategies were implemented. Data were retrieved from three interview rounds (n = 207) in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Data was clustered into guiding principles, underpinned with strategy-context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Results The Dutch initiatives experienced different developments, varying between immediate large-scale collaborations with eventual relapse, and incremental growth towards cross-sector collaboration. Eight guiding principles for development towards health and wellbeing systems were identified, focusing on: 1. Shared commitment for a Population Health Management-vision; 2. Mutual understanding and trust; 3. Accountability; 4. Aligning politics and policy; 5. Financial incentives; 6. A learning cycle based on a data-infrastructure; 7. Community input and involvement; and 8. Stakeholder representation and leadership. Conclusion Development towards a sustainable health and wellbeing system is complex and time-consuming. Its success not only depends on the implementation of all eight guiding principles, but is also influenced by applying the right strategies at the right moment in the development

    Additional language teaching and learning in International Baccalaureate primary years program schools

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    This research is based on the belief that language is the vehicle of instruction, rather than a merely a subject . It focuses on additional language (AL) teaching and learning in a diverse range of Primary Y ears Programme (PYP) settings and languages. The research explores and documents practices in relation to school language policies, cultural influences, teacher beliefs and practices, teacher training, materials, assessments, and student learning outcomes and their alignment with PYP principles and practices..

    EEAS 2.0: draft recommendations for the 2013 EEAS Review

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    This document offers recommendations for the amendment of Council Decision 2010/427/EU establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (hereinafter ‘EEAS Decision’). These recommendations have been distilled from discussions between academics and practitioners during a two-day workshop held at the European University Institute in March 2013 in the framework of the so-called ‘EEAS 2.0’ project. This research project is a collaboration between independent scholars brought together by SIEPS, the EUI and CEPS. In February 2013, the team published a legal commentary on the EEAS Decision, available on the websites of the participating research centres. The current paper and its recommendations should be read in the light thereof. In formulating the recommendations, attention has been paid to policy papers, non-papers and recommendations that have been initiated by EU institutions, member states, think tanks and academia, notably in the context of the on-going review. As such, we hope to be able to inform, in a precise and legal way, the discussions in preparation of the High Representative’s own report. The current paper is work in progress and will be revisited for publication after the summer, taking into account the High Representative’s report of July and feedback from other stakeholders The current paper sheds light on possible adjustments in the operation of the Decision/Service ‘à droit constant’, but also includes proposals that could be considered in the context of an amendment of the EEAS Decision. With regard to the latter, several levels of revision may be envisaged: (i) a mere toilettage (e.g. deleting out-dated provisions and securing terminological consistency), (ii) technical changes in the text without reopening the political discussion that predated the adoption of the Decision and (iii) a more ambitious revision that could require more extensive legal modifications of collateral secondary measures (e.g. Staff and/or Financial regulations), if not of the founding treaties

    Saturable elimination of piperacillin in critically ill patients:implications for continuous infusion

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    The study aimed to evaluate saturation of piperacillin elimination in critically ill adult patients. Seventeen critically ill adult patients received continuous and intermittent infusion of piperacillin/tazobactam. Piperacillin plasma concentrations (n = 217) were analysed using population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modelling. Post-hoc simulations were performed to evaluate the type I error rate associated with the study. Unseen data were used to validate the final model. The mean error (ME) and root mean square error (RMSE) were calculated as a measure of bias and imprecision, respectively. A PopPK model with parallel linear and non-linear elimination best fitted the data. The median and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the model parameters drug clearance (CL), volume of central compartment (V), volume of peripheral compartment (V-p) and intercompartmental clearance (Q) were 9 (7.69-11) L/h, 6.18 (4.93-11.2) L, 11.17 (7.26-12) L and 15.61 (12.66-23.8) L/h, respectively. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K-m) and the maximum elimination rate for Michaelis-Menten elimination (V-max) were estimated without population variability in the model to avoid overfitting and inflation of the type I error rate. The population estimates for K-m and V-max were 37.09 mg/L and 353.57 mg/h, respectively. The bias (ME) was -20.8 (95% CI -26.2 to -15.4) mg/L, whilst imprecision (RMSE) was 49.2 (95% CI 41.2-56) mg/L. In conclusion, piperacillin elimination is (partially) saturable. Moreover, the population estimate for K-m lies within the therapeutic window and therefore saturation of elimination should be accounted for when defining optimum dosing regimens for piperacillin in critically ill patients. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved
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