Integration of maintenance optimization in process design and operation under uncertainty.

Imperial Users onl

Educational efficiency in a dea-bootstrap approach

We use the PISA 2006 results to analyse the students' proficiencies in 24 European Countries with regard to two indexes that represent the educational resources available at home and the family background of students. Many factors affect the proficiencies and therefore, using a DEA-bootstrap method, we intend to measure the efficiency of the European educational systems as capability to ensure high students' competencies despite adverse conditions about the educational resources available in students' home and the family background.PISA, educational achievement, efficiency analysis.

Analysis of Signals Leading to Differentiation of Immature HL-60 after Administration of IL-4

Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells with differentiation agents leads not only to the acquisition of normal phenotypes but also contributes to the understanding of special immuno-haematology issues. For instance, induction of HLA-DR antigens on human promyelocytic leukaemia HL-60 cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4) is of pivotal importance in immunology not only because class II expression is prerequisite to antigen recognition and response but also because IL-4 participates in a plethora of inflammatory or non-inflammatory reactions. At the same time, the same observation coupled with an increase in Mac-1, mature monocyte marker, is revealing ways to haematologists for converting malignant cases to normal situations. Based on previous reports that HLA-DR induction by IL-4 in the HL-60 system is mediated via the G-protein system (p21ras), this study was undertaken in order to define the intermediate signalling steps followed by this agent from the moment it is added to cultures to the differentiated cellular form obtained. It is proposed that IL-4 increases p21ras which in turn suppresses the HL-60 cells' p34cdc2 constitutive expression. This inhibition appears to be responsible for the subsequently.observed cessation ofgrowth. Concomitant to decreased cellular proliferation, HI-DR antigen expression increases, a finding that matches the initially mentioned induction of p21ras since its inhibition abolishes HI-DR upregulation

Orthodox Perspectives on Mission

The collected volume is divided into two parts: Part I under the subtitle The Orthodox Heritage consists of a limited number of representative Orthodox missiological contributions of the past, whereas Part II includes all the papers presented in the Plenary of the recent Edinburgh 2010 conference, as well as the short studies and contributions prepared during the Edinburgh 2010 ongoing study process.https://scholar.csl.edu/edinburghcentenary/1018/thumbnail.jp

Application of a virtual scientific experiment model in different educational contexts

E-learning practice is continuously using experimentation in order to enhance the basic information transfer model where knowledge is passed from the system/ tutors to the students. Boosting student productivity through on-line experimentation is not simple since many organizational, educational and technological issues need to be dealt with. This work describes the application of a Learning Model for Virtual Scientific Experiments (VSEs) in two different scenarios: Information and Communication Technologies and Physics. As part of the first, a VSE for Wireless Sensor Networks was specified and deployed while the second involved the specification and design of a collaborative VSE for physics experiments. Preliminary implementation and deployment results are also discussed

Improving Patient Self-Efficacy, Readiness, and Completion of Advance Care Planning Documents Using PREPARE Documents and Advance Care Planning Group Referral

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is an ongoing discussion about medical decision making between a provider, patient, and support person. ACP can also include legal documentation in the form of an advance directive (AD). Nationally, only 36.7% of adults complete any form of AD for end-of-life care. Recently, ACP has become an important quality metric that many organizations are prioritizing. The purpose of this evidence-based project is to improve ACP readiness, self-efficacy, and documentation among patients at an internal medicine clinic using the PREPARE program and referral to an ACP group meeting. PREPARE for Your Care is an online program aimed at preparing diverse populations for medical decision making. Ten participants were recruited for this project and were given a validated preintervention survey assessing self-efficacy and readiness. Interventions included brief education using PREPARE documents and referral to an ACP group meeting. Post surveys were to be completed after ACP group meeting attendance; however, group meetings were abruptly discontinued during project implementation. Five participants responded to post surveys based on the intervention of PREPARE education alone. When comparing pre and post data, 40% of participants self-efficacy scores increased, 40% decreased, and one participant’s scores were unchanged. Eighty percent had decreased readiness scores while one participant had increased readiness scores. A comprehensive chart review showed no increase in ADs on file postintervention. Overall, self-efficacy, readiness, and AD completion were not improved with PREPARE education alone. The project outcomes suggest that ACP group meetings be reinstated to improve ACP self-efficacy, readiness, and AD completion. Keywords: Advance care planning, advance directive, self-efficacy, readines