MTDPNA in non-Oil International Organisations in Libyan Post Crisis

This paper investigates how non-oil international organisations (NOIO) in Libyan post-crisis assess management training and development programme (MTDP) needs. The current situation of MTDP needs assessment and factors that may influence MTDP are investigated. Questionnaire was distributed to (150) managers from nineteen NOIO. We find that performance and experience were the most common MTDPNA measures. Likewise, poor performance, lack of knowledge, and introduction of new work methods were the most common MTDPNA indicators. Customer dissatisfaction, poor service quality, low profitability, and lack of knowledge were also found that have a positive or negative influence on MTDPNA such as; organisational sectors, size, and ownership. Customer dissatisfaction, poor service quality, low profitability, and lack of knowledge were the most used positive indications for the hotel sector, services, manufacturing, and joint venture organisations. Our findings suggested that MTDPNA should be conducted at different times, and different methods should be used.Also, MTDPNA decisions have to be based in a systematic way rather than targeting single or a group of individuals, and have to be delivered equall

Forever Changed: The Transformation of Rural America through Immigration

This qualitative case study reveals the impact of immigration on one rural Midwestern community and its longtime residents. The 123 phone interviews and sessions conducted with two focus groups provide compelling insights into residents’ perceptions of immigration and immigrants as well as their ensuing personal and collective struggle with and adaptation to an immigration process that forever changed the community. The residents offer prudent insights for policy makers, immigrants, and other communities facing similar challenges. While the focus of the study is on the macro conversion of the community through the eyes of its residents, the author stresses the need for social workers to refresh their professional roots in community organization and highlights the vital role they play in helping communities adapt effectively while negotiating the needs of residents and immigrants alike

Use of Global Sensitivity Analysis and Polynomial Chaos Expansion for Interpretation of Non-reactive Transport Experiments in Laboratory-Scale Porous Media

International audienceIn this work, we show how the use of global sensitivity analysis (GSA) in conjunction with the polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) methodology can provide relevant information for the interpretation of transport experiments in laboratory-scale heterogeneous porous media. We perform GSA by calculating the Sobol indices, which provide a variance-based importance measure of the effects of uncertain parameters on the output of a chosen interpretive transport model. The choice of PCE has the following two benefits: (1) it provides the global sensitivity indices in a straightforward manner, and (2) PCE can serve as a surrogate model for the calibration of parameters. The coefficients of the PCE are computed by probabilistic collocation. The methodology is applied to two nonreactive transport experiments available in the literature, while considering both transient and pseudo steady state transport regimes. This method allows a rigorous investigation of the relative effects and importance of different uncertain quantities, which include boundary conditions as well as porous medium hydraulic and dispersive parameters. The parameters that are most relevant to depicting the system's behavior can then be evaluated. In addition, one can assess the space-time distribution of measurement points, which is the most influential factor for the identifiability of parameters. Our work indicates that these methods can be valuable tools in the proper design of model-based transport experiments

Heat and freezing pre-thermal treatments as a means of freeing potatoes from mosaic virus and its effects on potato plants quality characters

The aim of the study was to control of potato mosaic virus by using hot-air, hot-water and freezing as a physical pre-thermal treatments. Infected tubers of Lady Rosetta and Mondial potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were treated by hot-air and hot-water treatments at 55± 2 ̊ C and freezing treatment at -18±2 ̊ C for 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours.  Hot-air and freezing treatments showed complete elimination of mosaic virus from treated tubers. Hot-water treatment caused tuber damage at different exposure times. In this respect, hot-air treatment at 55± 2 ̊ C and freezing treatment at -18±2 ̊ C for two hours gave the best results of eliminating the virus from tubers and did not affect on economic characters of potato cultivars.

Chemotherapy versus best supportive care in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, non metastatic to the brain

Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer is a fatal disease, with a median survival of 14 months. Systemic chemotherapy is the most common approach. However the impact in overall survival and quality of life still a controversy. OBJECTIVES: To determine differences in overall survival and quality of life among patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer non-metastatic to the brain treated with best supportive care versus systemic chemotherapy. PATIENTS: From February 1990 through December 1995, 78 eligible patients were admitted with the diagnosis of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer . Patients were divided in 2 groups: Group A (n=31 -- treated with best supportive care ), and Group B (n=47 -- treated with systemic chemotherapy). RESULTS: The median survival time was 23 weeks (range 5 -- 153 weeks) in Group A and 55 weeks (range 7.4 -- 213 weeks) in Group B (p=0.0018). In both groups, the incidence of admission for IV antibiotics and need of blood transfusions were similar. Patients receiving systemic chemotherapy were also stratified into those receiving mytomycin, vinblastin, and cisplatinum, n=25 and those receiving other combination regimens (platinum derivatives associated with other drugs, n=22). Patients receiving mytomycin, vinblastin, and cisplatinum, n=25 had a higher incidence of febrile neutropenia and had their cycles delayed for longer periods of time than the other group. These patients also had a shorter median survival time (51 versus 66 weeks, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: In patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, non-metastatic to the brain, chemotherapy significantly increases survival compared with best supportive care.O câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas em estádio IV é uma doença fatal, com uma sobrevida mediana de seis meses. Quimioterapia é a abordagem mais freqüente, apresentando um impacto na sobrevida controverso e questionável alteração na qualidade de vida. OBJETIVOS: Comparar o impacto na sobrevida global e na qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas, estádio IV, tratados com suporte clínico ou quimioterapia. PACIENTES: Entre fevereiro de 1990 e dezembro de 1995, 78 pacientes (pts) portadores de câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas estádio IV foram admitidos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo A (n=31 -- tratados com suporte clínico) e grupo B (n=47, tratados com quimioterapia). RESULTADOS: A sobrevida mediana no grupo tratado com suporte clínico foi de 23 semanas (variando de 5-153 semanas) e de 55 semanas no grupo tratado com quimioterapia (variando de 7,4 a 213 semanas), p= 0,0018 -- Qui-quadrada. Em ambos grupos, a incidência de internações hospitalares para a administração intravenosa de antibióticos e hemoderivados foi similar. Pacientes recebendo quimioterapia, foram estratificados entre àqueles que receberam mitomicina, vinblastina e cisplatina, n=25 e àqueles recebendo outros regimes (derivados de platina, associados à outras drogas, n= 22). Pacientes recebendo mitomicina, vinblastina e cisplatina, n=25 apresentaram uma incidência mais alta de neutropenia febril e tiveram atrasos mais longos entre os ciclos de quimioterapia, quando comparados aos pacientes do outro grupo. Pacientes recebendo mitomicina, vinblastina e cisplatina, n=25, também apresentaram uma pior sobrevida mediana (51 versus 66 semanas, p= 0,005 -- Qui-quadrado). CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas, estádio IV, não metastático para os pulmões, o uso de quimioterapia aumenta a sobrevida de maneira estatisticamente significativa, quando comparado aos cuidados de suporte

High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Bursting Pulsar GRO J1744-28

The bursting pulsar GRO J1744-28 is a Galactic low-mass X-ray binary that distinguishes itself by displaying type-II X-ray bursts: brief, bright flashes of X-ray emission that likely arise from spasmodic accretion. Combined with its coherent 2.1 Hz X-ray pulsations and relatively high estimated magnetic field, it is a particularly interesting source to study the physics of accretion flows around neutron stars. Here we report on Chandra/HETG observations obtained near the peak of its bright 2014 accretion outburst. Spectral analysis suggests the presence of a broad iron emission line centered at E_l ~ 6.7 keV. Fits with a disk reflection model yield an inclination angle of i ~ 52 degrees and an inner disk radius of R_in ~ 85 GM/c^2, which is much further out than typically found for neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. Assuming that the disk is truncated at the magnetospheric radius of the neutron star, we estimate a magnetic field strength of B ~ (2-6)E10 G. Furthermore, we identify an absorption feature near ~6.85 keV could correspond to blue-shifted Fe xxv and point to a fast disk wind with an outflow velocity of v_out ~ (7.5-8.2)E3 km/s (~0.025c-0.027c). If the covering fraction and filling factor are large, this wind could be energetically important and perhaps account for the fact that the companion star lost significant mass while the magnetic field of the neutron star remained strong.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

MTDP needs assessment in Libya. A case of international and joint venture organisation

The purpose of this article is to examine how international and joint venture organisations in all sectors rather than oil in Libya assess MTDP. This article will outline the recent situation in regards to MTDP needs assessment. Questionnaires were distributed to over 140 mangers from different sectors. SPSS software was applied, different tests were used, and significant-non significant findings were presented. The results of this research indicated that, experience and performance were the only MTDP needs assessment measurement used by many organisations. Also, the most common MTP needs assessment indicators used by some organisations were lack of knowledge, new methods introduced, and poor performance. Internal factors such as sector, size, and ownership of the organisations were also recognised to influence MTDP needs assessment whether positively or negatively. Only the hotel sector positively used poor service, low profit, customer satisfaction, and lastly, lack of knowledge as indicators for MTDP needs assessment. International and joint venture organisations in Libya advised to conduct MTDP needs assessment to all managers equally at different stages, time and used different methods

Anatomie du nerf laryngé externe et ses applications chirurgicales

Objectif : La lésion de la branche externe du nerf laryngé supérieur (BeNLS) , non rare lors de la chirurgie thyroïdienne, est responsable de modifications de la voix et de troubles de la déglutition. Mais ses différentes variantes anatomiques ainsi que les faibles taux de son identification ont découragé les chirurgiens de son repérage systématique.Le but de notre travail est de faire une description anatomique des variantes de la BeNLS , d’estimer la fréquence des nerfs à risque et de décrire les techniques chirurgicales de son identification pour proposer une approche systématique de sa préservation.Matériel et méthodes: Il s’agit d’une étude prospective portant sur 10 patients ayant eu une chirurgie thyroïdienne et chez qui on a procédé à un repérage systématique de la BeNLS dans l’espace avasculaire de Reeve. On a utilisé la classification de Cernea pour regrouper les variations anatomiques rencontrées.Résultats : On a procédé à la dissection de 13 nerfs. Le taux  d’identification de la BeNLS était de 84% , 38% sont de Type 2a , 46% sont de Type 2b. Des complications ont été notées chez 3 patients dont 2 qui présentent une BeNLS de Type Ni.Conclusion : On pense que la variante anatomique de la BeNLS de type 2 présente un risque de blessure car le chirurgien manipule le pédicule supérieur au niveau du centimètre critique situé au-dessus du pôle supérieur de la thyroïde. Le sous-type 2b , le plus fréquent dans notre série , est une variante à haut risque. L’identification du nerf lors de la chirurgie thyroïdienne est la solution de choix.Mots-clés : Branche externe du nerf laryngé supérieur, anatomie, muscle crico-thyroïdien, chirurgie thyroïdienne, voix

Metabolic Alterations in Obstructive Jaundice: Effect of Duration of Jaundice and Bile-Duct Decompression

We examined the effect of prolonged bile duct obstruction, and subsequent biliary decompression, on biochemical and metabolic parameters, using a reversible jaundice model in male Fischer 344 rats. The animals were studied after biliary obstruction for varying periods (4 days, one week, and two weeks) and following decompression. They were sacrificed one or two weeks following decompression. All the rats were compared to sham operated, pair-fed, controls. Obstructive jaundice rapidly increased bilirubin, liver enzymes, serum free fatty acid, and triglyceride levels. Glucose levels were significantly decreased in the jaundice rats compared to their pair-fed controls. Only after two weeks of jaundice was significant hypoalbuminemia observed. Following decompression, all biochemical and metabolic values gradually returned to normal levels, except for albumin. Hypoalbuminemia was not reversed within the two-week post-decompression period. The rats jaundiced for two weeks had significantly higher mortality, compared to the other groups. We conclude that prolonged jaundice adversely affects the metabolic capacity of the rats, with albumin concentration being markedly decreased, and that biliary decompression could not reverse completely all the alterations seen with cholestasis, especially following two weeks of bile duct obstruction

Detection of Very Low-Frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the 2015 Outburst of V404 Cygni

In June 2015, the black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) V404 Cygni went into outburst for the first time since 1989. Here, we present a comprehensive search for quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) of V404 Cygni during its recent outburst, utilizing data from six instruments on board five different X-ray missions: Swift/XRT, Fermi/GBM, Chandra/ACIS, INTEGRAL's IBIS/ISGRI and JEM-X, and NuSTAR. We report the detection of a QPO at 18 mHz simultaneously with both Fermi/GBM and Swift/XRT, another example of a rare but slowly growing new class of mHz-QPOs in BHXRBs linked to sources with a high orbital inclination. Additionally, we find a duo of QPOs in a Chandra/ACIS observation at 73 mHz and 1.03 Hz, as well as a QPO at 136 mHz in a single Swift/XRT observation that can be interpreted as standard Type-C QPOs. Aside from the detected QPOs, there is significant structure in the broadband power, with a strong feature observable in the Chandra observations between 0.1 and 1 Hz. We discuss our results in the context of current models for QPO formation.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, published in Ap