Implementing quality/productivity improvement initiatives in an engineering environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruda, R. R.

1985-01-01

Quality/Productivity Improvement (QPI) initiatives in the engineering environment at McDonnell Douglas-Houston include several different, distinct activities, each having its own application, yet all targeted toward one common goal - making continuous improvement a way of life. The chief executive and the next two levels of management demonstrate their commitment to QPI with hands-on involvement in several activities. Each is a member of a QPI Council which consists of six panels - Participative Management, Communications, Training, Performance/Productivity, Human Resources Management and Strategic Management. In addition, each manager conducts Workplace Visits and Bosstalks, to enhance communications with employees and to provide a forum for the identification of problems - both real and perceived. Quality Circles and Project Teams are well established within McConnel Douglas as useful and desirable employee involvement teams. The continued growth of voluntary membership in the circles program is strong evidence of the employee interest and management support that have developed within the organization.

Quality circles and their potential application to rural health care in Papua New Guinea.

PubMed

Cibulskis, R E; Edwards, K N

1993-06-01

A quality circle is a group of service providers who meet regularly to solve problems relating to the quality of their work. This is an example of bottom-up rather than top-down management which has found considerable success in the industries of the developed world. This article describes the principles which govern the operation of quality circles, the expected benefits and how best to introduce them. The problems relating to the provision of quality health care in rural areas and the potential application of the quality circle methodology are discussed.

Using Participatory Management in a Traditional Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tavarone, Antonia R.

This paper describes the use of a participatory management process in an older, public-sector bureaucracy with an extremely traditional, hierarchical, and entrenched culture. Into this culture, two separate projects were introduced: an employee involvement program using the quality circle concept and a task force that would design and implement an…

Perceptual Differences in Attitudes on Quality Circles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holcomb, Lynn; Berger, Leonard

1986-01-01

A study was conducted to determine any perceptual differences toward quality circles in a chemical plant. It also tried to determine if any perceptual differences that might be found could be related to attitudes toward the circles themselves or the attitudes toward circle members. Length of service was also a factor. (CT)

An Effective Time and Management Strategy in Quality Circles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halverson, Don E.

Contending that participation in quality circles enhances effective time management by school administrators and teachers, this guide provides both a theoretical briefing and practical recommendations for better time management. A pre- posttest prefaces a review of basic concepts of quality circles with reference to the work of Abraham Maslow,…

Quality Circles: How Effective Are They in Improving Employee Performance and Attitudes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buch, Kimberly; Raban, Amiram

1990-01-01

Used a quasi-experimental design to assess the effect of a quality circle intervention on behavior and attitudes of 88 employees at a large Midwestern organization. Results provide mixed support for the purported ability of circles to improve work behavior with no change for absenteeism and productivity but positive change for quality of work.…

The study circle as a tool in multiple sclerosis patient education in Sweden

PubMed Central

Landtblom, Anne-Marie; Lang, Cecilia; Flensner, Gullvi

2008-01-01

Objective Patient education plays an important role in the management of chronic diseases that can cause disability and predictable psychosocial problems. Quality of life assessment in multiple sclerosis (MS) has confirmed that psychosocial complications related to working life, marriage/partnership, and the family often occur. Furthermore, symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and sexual dysfunction have a great impact. We wanted to develop and implement study circles to promote the patients’ abilities to meet such common problems and to provide a network where they can be autonomous and develop appropriate strategies in self-care and existential problems. Methods Together with the MS patient organization and a study association, we have arranged study circles for patients with MS, thus providing structured information according to a pedagogic model. The patients are encouraged to work together in groups to learn about the disease and its key symptoms, to develop strategies to master these symptoms in everyday life, and to make necessary changes, ie, self-care management. The programme also contains handicap policies. Results Fifteen study circles with a total of 105 patients started during the first year. Fifteen circle leaders were approved. A focus interview showed that the patients are highly satisfied but also revealed some problems in interactions with health care professionals. The study circles were included in a wider project from a newly started multidisciplinary centre for health education for a variety of chronic diseases causing disability, which aims at becoming a regional interface between the health care system, patient organizations, and educational services. Conclusion The study circles have an important role to play in the management of MS. Good organization is required to make such a project work since health care services do not normally work so closely with patient organizations and educational services. Practice implications Study circles that are permanently established and function well are of great help for the patients and the work at the MS clinic is substantially facilitated. Health care professionals also gain from the arrangement by learning more about the self-perceived impact of the disease. PMID:19920967

Quality Circles: A Corporate Strategy Applied in a Student Services Setting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steele, Brenton H.; And Others

1987-01-01

Discusses the historical and conceptual framework of quality circles, presents a brief case history of circles initiated by the University of Maryland Office of Admissions, and provides a summary of implications. Emphasizes implications for student affairs administrators. (Author/ABB)

Implementing the patient circle. Call on patients to help improve perceptions of health care quality.

PubMed

Ostasiewski, P; Fugate, D L

1994-01-01

Adapting the quality-circle concept to a health care setting helped one hospital solve a problem and boosted its image among patients. The "patient circle" technique is one step health care providers can take toward delivering "total customer value," a quality perception that can mean the difference between surviving and thriving in the future.

The Establishment of a Quality Circles Program and Its Effect on Employee Attitudes, Morale, and Performance at an Army Medical Treatment Facility.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-08-01

more times. Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa , a professor at the University of Tokyo and a board member of JUSE, used the efforts of Dr. Juran as the background for...his later work with quality circles. Dr. Ishikawa and the JUSE are generally credited with formalizing the modern Japanese quality circle technique in

Exploring Factors That Influence Quality Literature Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Chase; Mohr, Kathleen A. J.

2018-01-01

Research indicates that literature circles are an authentic means for literacy development that students typically enjoy. To better understand the potential value and to add to the research base regarding literature circles, this study, involving 17 fourth graders, explores factors that may influence the quality of literature discussions,…

A Novel Pairwise Comparison-Based Method to Determine Radiation Dose Reduction Potentials of Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms, Exemplified Through Circle of Willis Computed Tomography Angiography.

PubMed

Ellmann, Stephan; Kammerer, Ferdinand; Brand, Michael; Allmendinger, Thomas; May, Matthias S; Uder, Michael; Lell, Michael M; Kramer, Manuel

2016-05-01

The aim of this study was to determine the dose reduction potential of iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the circle of Willis using a novel method of evaluating the quality of radiation dose-reduced images. This study relied on ReconCT, a proprietary reconstruction software that allows simulating CT scans acquired with reduced radiation dose based on the raw data of true scans. To evaluate the performance of ReconCT in this regard, a phantom study was performed to compare the image noise of true and simulated scans within simulated vessels of a head phantom. That followed, 10 patients scheduled for CTA of the circle of Willis were scanned according to our institute's standard protocol (100 kV, 145 reference mAs). Subsequently, CTA images of these patients were reconstructed as either a full-dose weighted filtered back projection or with radiation dose reductions down to 10% of the full-dose level and Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction (SAFIRE) with either strength 3 or 5. Images were marked with arrows pointing on vessels of different sizes, and image pairs were presented to observers. Five readers assessed image quality with 2-alternative forced choice comparisons. In the phantom study, no significant differences were observed between the noise levels of simulated and true scans in filtered back projection, SAFIRE 3, and SAFIRE 5 reconstructions.The dose reduction potential for patient scans showed a strong dependence on IR strength as well as on the size of the vessel of interest. Thus, the potential radiation dose reductions ranged from 84.4% for the evaluation of great vessels reconstructed with SAFIRE 5 to 40.9% for the evaluation of small vessels reconstructed with SAFIRE 3. This study provides a novel image quality evaluation method based on 2-alternative forced choice comparisons. In CTA of the circle of Willis, higher IR strengths and greater vessel sizes allowed higher degrees of radiation dose reduction.

[Data supporting quality circle management of inpatient depression treatment].

PubMed

Brand, S; Härter, M; Sitta, P; van Calker, D; Menke, R; Heindl, A; Herold, K; Kudling, R; Luckhaus, C; Rupprecht, U; Sanner, Dirk; Schmitz, D; Schramm, E; Berger, M; Gaebel, W; Schneider, F

2005-07-01

Several quality assurance initiatives in health care have been undertaken during the past years. The next step consists of systematically combining single initiatives in order to built up a strategic quality management. In a German multicenter study, the quality of inpatient depression treatment was measured in ten psychiatric hospitals. Half of the hospitals received comparative feedback on their individual results in comparison to the other hospitals (bench marking). Those bench markings were used by each hospital as a statistic basis for in-house quality work, to improve the quality of depression treatment. According to hospital differences concerning procedure and outcome, different goals were chosen. There were also differences with respect to structural characteristics, strategies, and outcome. The feedback from participants about data-based quality circles in general and the availability of bench-marking data was positive. The necessity of carefully choosing quality circle members and professional moderation became obvious. Data-based quality circles including bench-marking have proven to be useful for quality management in inpatient depression care.

Flat panel detector-based cone beam computed tomography with a circle-plus-two-arcs data acquisition orbit: preliminary phantom study.

PubMed

Ning, Ruola; Tang, Xiangyang; Conover, David; Yu, Rongfeng

2003-07-01

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been investigated in the past two decades due to its potential advantages over a fan beam CT. These advantages include (a) great improvement in data acquisition efficiency, spatial resolution, and spatial resolution uniformity, (b) substantially better utilization of x-ray photons generated by the x-ray tube compared to a fan beam CT, and (c) significant advancement in clinical three-dimensional (3D) CT applications. However, most studies of CBCT in the past are focused on cone beam data acquisition theories and reconstruction algorithms. The recent development of x-ray flat panel detectors (FPD) has made CBCT imaging feasible and practical. This paper reports a newly built flat panel detector-based CBCT prototype scanner and presents the results of the preliminary evaluation of the prototype through a phantom study. The prototype consisted of an x-ray tube, a flat panel detector, a GE 8800 CT gantry, a patient table and a computer system. The prototype was constructed by modifying a GE 8800 CT gantry such that both a single-circle cone beam acquisition orbit and a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit can be achieved. With a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit, a complete set of cone beam projection data can be obtained, consisting of a set of circle projections and a set of arc projections. Using the prototype scanner, the set of circle projections were acquired by rotating the x-ray tube and the FPD together on the gantry, and the set of arc projections were obtained by tilting the gantry while the x-ray tube and detector were at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions, respectively. A filtered backprojection exact cone beam reconstruction algorithm based on a circle-plus-two-arcs orbit was used for cone beam reconstruction from both the circle and arc projections. The system was first characterized in terms of the linearity and dynamic range of the detector. Then the uniformity, spatial resolution and low contrast resolution were assessed using different phantoms mainly in the central plane of the cone beam reconstruction. Finally, the reconstruction accuracy of using the circle-plus-two-arcs orbit and its related filtered backprojection cone beam volume CT reconstruction algorithm was evaluated with a specially designed disk phantom. The results obtained using the new cone beam acquisition orbit and the related reconstruction algorithm were compared to those obtained using a single-circle cone beam geometry and Feldkamp's algorithm in terms of reconstruction accuracy. The results of the study demonstrate that the circle-plus-two-arcs cone beam orbit is achievable in practice. Also, the reconstruction accuracy of cone beam reconstruction is significantly improved with the circle-plus-two-arcs orbit and its related exact CB-FPB algorithm, as compared to using a single circle cone beam orbit and Feldkamp's algorithm.

The effect of quality circles on job satisfaction and quality of work-life of staff in emergency medical services.

PubMed

Hosseinabadi, Reza; Karampourian, Arezou; Beiranvand, Shoorangiz; Pournia, Yadollah

2013-10-01

Quality circles, as a participatory management technique, offer one alternative for dealing with frustration and discontent of today's workers. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of implementation of quality circles on nurses' quality of work-life and job satisfaction. In this study, two emergency medical services (EMS) of Hamedan province were selected and randomly assigned as the experimental and control groups. After the experimental group was trained and quality circles were established in this group, the levels of quality of work-life and job satisfaction were measured in the two groups. Then, the statistical analyses were performed using t-test. After the intervention, the results showed significant differences between the scores of motivational factors (p=0.001), the total scores of job satisfaction (p=0.003), and the scores of some quality of work life (QWL) conceptual categories including the use and development of capacities (p=0.008), the total space of life (p=0.003), and the total scores of QWL (p=0.031) in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. This study confirms the effectiveness of quality circles in improving quality of work-life and job satisfaction of nurses working in EMS, and offers their application as a management method that can be used by EMS managers. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Spring Playscape Project: Building a Tree Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keeler, Rusty

2009-01-01

The Tree Circle is a green gathering area for children made by planting trees in a circle. For children, the Tree Circle becomes a magical place for dramatic play, quiet retreat, or lively nature exploration. For teachers and parents it becomes a shady grove for snacks and stories. The trees create a sweet spot that changes during the seasons and…

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Effect of Quality Circles on Twelve Attitudinal Variables.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

task of rebuilding its industrial capabilities which had been largely destroyed during the war. Japanese leaders had a goal of making their country an...members, providing support when necessary, and acting as a liaison between the circles and other organizations. The circle leader or supervisor...34" " .-.-- • .- .".-",,-, . -.- -,: ".’-"’ -. -. .,-’,: Top & Middle - Management Steering Committee Supervisors . . . ....- Circle Circle Leaders Facilitator Employees Circle Members Source

Quality circles in a department of dietetics.

PubMed

Treadwell, D D; Klein, J A

1984-06-01

Quality circles can be an excellent approach to managerial effectiveness in the 1980s. For the Department of Dietetics at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton , Ohio, quality circles have demonstrated excellent return on investment. Their many benefits include increased productivity, improved employee satisfaction and morale, and cost savings. In order to ensure success, the team needs to be selected carefully and trained thoroughly in problem-solving techniques. Initial meetings should be directed to defining the objectives and code of conduct as well as establishing a trusting environment in which to grow and develop.

E-Quality in the Workplace: Quality Circles or Quality of Working Life Programs in the US.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savage, Grant T.; Romano, Richard

Quality Circle (QC) and Quality of Working Life (QWL) in the United States are similar in that both stress participative decision making, preserve management's prerogative to have the final say, and are voluntary. QC and QWL programs differ, however, in that labor unions are more involved in QWLs; QCs deal only with technical problems related to…

Supporting Academic Literacies: University Teachers in Collaboration for Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bergman, Lotta

2016-01-01

This article deals with an action research project, where a group of university teachers from different disciplines reflected on and gradually extended their knowledge about how to support students' academic literacy development. The project was conducted within a "research circle" [Bergman, L. 2014. "The Research Circle as a…

Improving quality of care in general practices by self-audit, benchmarking and quality circles.

PubMed

Mahlknecht, Angelika; Abuzahra, Muna E; Piccoliori, Giuliano; Enthaler, Nina; Engl, Adolf; Sönnichsen, Andreas

2016-10-01

Guideline adherence of general practitioners (GP) regarding treatment of chronic conditions shows room for improvement. Thus, concepts have to be designed to promote quality of care. The aim of the interventional study "Improvement of Quality by Benchmarking" was to assess whether quality can be improved by self-auditing, benchmarking and quality circles in Salzburg (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy). In this publication we present the Austrian results. Quality indicators were developed in a consensus process for eight chronic diseases based on pre-existing quality management systems. A quality score consisting of 35 indicators was calculated (0-5 points per indicator depending on fulfilment, maximum 175 points). Data were extracted from the electronic health records of participating practices in 2012, 2013 and 2014. A statistical pre-post analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. A total of 20 GPs participated in the project. The mean quality score increased from 62.0 at baseline to 84.0 at the second follow-up (p = 0.003). Regarding the individual quality indicators, strong improvements were achieved between baseline and first follow-up, especially in process indicators concerning documentation. Between the first and second follow-up, quality remained in most cases at the same level. The validity of results is limited because of structural and technical problems. Due to the uncontrolled pre-post design we cannot exclude external influences on the results. Nevertheless, the intervention was able to improve measured quality of care. Barriers were detected that should be considered in a possible implementation of quality control programs.

Conference Proceedings of the Productivity Program Implementation Conference Held in Jacksonville, Florida on 20-22 May 1981.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-05-01

first Quality Circle was registered with the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) in 1962. The concept was conceived by Dr. Kaoru ... Ishikawa , a professor of engineering at Tokyo University, and developed under the sponsorship of . JUSE. Quality Circles fuse the quality sciences

Quality circles: the nurse executive as mentor.

PubMed

Flarey, D L

1991-12-01

Changes within and around the health care environment are forcing health care executives to reexamine their managerial and leadership styles to confront the resulting turbulence. The nurse executive is charged with the profound responsibility of directing the delivery of nursing care throughout the organization. Care delivered today must be of high quality. Declining financial resources as well as personnel shortages cause the executive to be an effective innovator in meeting the increasing demands. Quality circles offer the nurse executive an avenue of recourse. Circles have been effectively implemented in the health care setting, as has been consistently documented over time. By way of a participative management approach, quality circles may lead to increased employee morale and productivity, cost savings, and decreased employee turnover rates, as well as realization of socialization and self-actualization needs. A most effective approach to their introduction would be implementation at the first-line manager level. This promotes an acceptance of the concept at the management level as well as a training course for managers to implement the process at the unit level. The nurse executive facilitates the process at the first-line manager level. This facilitation will cause a positive outcome to diffuse throughout the entire organization. Quality circles offer the nurse executive the opportunity to challenge the existing environmental turmoil and effect a positive and lasting change.

DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) Quality Circles Workshop Held at Alexandria, Virginia on 7-9 August 1985.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-08-09

personality conflicts but avoiding group therapy . He discussed the barriers in communicating, such as selective hearing and believing, and stereotyping...Center (DISC) gave a presentation on a sucessful QC project they participated in on a training manual for incoming procurement agents within the DISC...Directorate of Contracting and Production. DI.A Centralized Intern Development Office (DCIDO) is also using the manual to train procurement interns

Black Pine Circle Project

ScienceCinema

Mytko, Christine

2018-05-18

A group of seventh graders from Black Pine Circle school in Berkeley had the opportunity to experience the Advanced Light Source (ALS) as "users" via a collaborative field trip and proposal project. The project culminated with a field trip to the ALS for all seventh graders, which included a visit to the ALS data visualization room, a diffraction demonstration, a beamline tour, and informative sessions about x-rays and tomography presented by ALS scientists.

Black Pine Circle Project

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mytko, Christine

2014-03-31

A group of seventh graders from Black Pine Circle school in Berkeley had the opportunity to experience the Advanced Light Source (ALS) as "users" via a collaborative field trip and proposal project. The project culminated with a field trip to the ALS for all seventh graders, which included a visit to the ALS data visualization room, a diffraction demonstration, a beamline tour, and informative sessions about x-rays and tomography presented by ALS scientists.

[Does implementation of benchmarking in quality circles improve the quality of care of patients with asthma and reduce drug interaction?].

PubMed

Kaufmann-Kolle, Petra; Szecsenyi, Joachim; Broge, Björn; Haefeli, Walter Emil; Schneider, Antonius

2011-01-01

The purpose of this cluster-randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of quality circles (QCs) working either with general data-based feedback or with an open benchmark within the field of asthma care and drug-drug interactions. Twelve QCs, involving 96 general practitioners from 85 practices, were randomised. Six QCs worked with traditional anonymous feedback and six with an open benchmark. Two QC meetings supported with feedback reports were held covering the topics "drug-drug interactions" and "asthma"; in both cases discussions were guided by a trained moderator. Outcome measures included health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction with treatment, asthma severity and number of potentially inappropriate drug combinations as well as the general practitioners' satisfaction in relation to the performance of the QC. A significant improvement in the treatment of asthma was observed in both trial arms. However, there was only a slight improvement regarding inappropriate drug combinations. There were no relevant differences between the group with open benchmark (B-QC) and traditional quality circles (T-QC). The physicians' satisfaction with the QC performance was significantly higher in the T-QCs. General practitioners seem to take a critical perspective about open benchmarking in quality circles. Caution should be used when implementing benchmarking in a quality circle as it did not improve healthcare when compared to the traditional procedure with anonymised comparisons. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Quality Control Circles: A Vehicle for Just-in-Time Implementation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sepehri, Mehran

1985-01-01

Explains just-in-time (JIT) material flow and production, a method of production designed to eliminate waste. Discusses why quality control circles work so well with a JIT system, and describes how several companies have made JIT work for them. (CT)

Japanese Quality Control Circles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nishiyama, Kazuo

In recent years, United States scholars with an interest in international business and organizational communication have begun to notice the success of Japanese "quality control circles." These are small groups, usually composed of seven to ten workers, who are organized at the production levels within most large Japanese factories. A…

Quality Circles: An Alternative for Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holt, Larry C.; Wagner, Thomas E.

1983-01-01

The times demand that institutions make the best use of resources. College administrators must ensure that each faculty and staff member has the opportunity to work at his or her fullest potential. One means toward achieving this goal may be the introduction of a quality circle program. (MLW)

Forging Institutional Links: Making Quality Circles Work in the U.S.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cole, Robert E.; Tachiki, Dennis S.

1984-01-01

The authors discuss the top three problems reported to hinder the spread of quality circles and evaluate selected solutions to them. The top problems include middle management resistance, lack of top management support, and employee resistance or apathy. Solutions discussed include social recognition and economic rewards. (CT)

The Quality Control Circle: Is It for Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Land, Arthur J.

From its start in Japan after World War II, the Quality Control Circle (Q.C.) approach to management and organizational operation evolved into what it is today: people doing similar work meeting regularly to identify, objectively analyze, and develop solutions to problems. The Q.C. approach meets Maslow's theory of motivation by inviting…

Circle Time Revisited: How Do Preschool Classrooms Use This Part of the Day?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bustamante, Andres S.; Hindman, Annemarie H.; Champagne, Carly R.; Wasik, Barbara A.

2018-01-01

Circle time is a near universally used preschool activity; however, little research has explored its nature, content, and quality. This study examined activity types, teacher and child talk, child engagement, and classroom quality in a sample of public preschool classrooms in an urban, high-poverty school district. Results demonstrated that…

Quality Circles in the Community College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cloud, Robert C.

Background information on the history and use of quality circles is provided in this paper, along with a discussion of the applicability of this management technique to the community college setting. First, introductory material is presented on the development of the approach in the early 1950s, its widespread use in the industrial and business…

Opening the Box: Information Technology, Work Practices, and Wages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hunter, Larry W.; Lakfas, John J.

2003-01-01

Analysis of 1994-95 data on customer service representatives in 303 banks revealed a positive relationship between high-involvement work practices (quality circles) and extensive use of information technology (IT) to support sales. Use of IT to automate routine processes and no quality circles were associated with lower wages. (Contains 55…

Erlang circular model motivated by inverse stereographic projection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramesti, G.

2018-05-01

The Erlang distribution is a special case of the Gamma distribution with the shape parameter is an integer. This paper proposed a new circular model used inverse stereographic projection. The inverse stereographic projection which is a mapping that projects a random variable from a real line onto a circle can be used in circular statistics to construct a distribution on the circle from real domain. From the circular model, then can be derived the characteristics of the Erlang circular model such as the mean resultant length, mean direction, circular variance and trigonometric moments of the distribution.

Revisiting Cyberbullying in Schools Using the Quality Circle Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paul, Simone; Smith, Peter K.; Blumberg, Herbert H.

2012-01-01

An earlier study reported the use of Quality Circles (QC) in a UK school in the context of understanding and reducing bullying and cyberbullying. Here, we report further work in the same school setting. The QC approach allows explorative analysis of problems in school settings, whereby students embark on a problem-solving exercise over a period of…

Evaluating Quality Circles in a College of Further Education. Manchester Monographs 31.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Tim

Quality circles (QCs) are small volunteer groups of workers who meet weekly with a trained leader operating to a strict code of conduct. They use techniques of brainstorming, cause and effect classification, pareto analysis, and presentation to consider work-related problems and recommend solutions to management. QCs have been tried in educational…

Quality Circles: Can They Be Used in Training and Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schutten, A. J.

Although there is little literature on the topic, there seems to be no reason why quality circles (QCs) could not be implemented in an educational organization. The most important obstacles are the seeming lack of tangible results in education, the lack of a tradition of group decision making and participative management, and the confusion over…

Quality Circles at Wilford Hall U.S.A.F. Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas: Some Preliminary Findings

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

relationships which can be identified from one sample population and generalized to cause and effect in different persons, settings, and times...affect the cause-and-effect relationship which one can draw with a civilian group? Will it be pos- sible to generalize about other groups within... relationship about quality circles obtained in a military health care facility be generalized to a civil- ian one? Can a causal relationship about quality

Quality Circles: An Innovative Program to Improve Military Hospitals

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

quality control. However, Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa is credited with starting the first "Quality Control Circles" and registering them with the Japanese Union of...McGregor and Abraham Maslow into a unique style of management. In 1962 Dr. Ishikawa , a professor at Tokyo University, developed the QC concept based on...RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusions The QC concept has come a long way since Dr. Ishikawa gave it birth in 1962. It has left an enviable record of success along its

Gene Wiki Reviews-Raising the quality and accessibility of information about the human genome.

PubMed

Tsueng, Ginger; Good, Benjamin M; Ping, Peipei; Golemis, Erica; Hanukoglu, Israel; van Wijnen, Andre J; Su, Andrew I

2016-11-05

Wikipedia and other openly available resources are increasingly becoming commonly used sources of information not just among the lay public but even in academic circles including undergraduate students and postgraduate trainees. To enhance the quality of the Wikipedia articles, in 2013, we initiated the Gene Wiki Reviews on genes and proteins as a series of invited reviews that stipulated editing the corresponding Wikipedia article(s) that would be also subject to peer-review. Thus, while the review article serves as an authoritative snapshot of the field, the "living article" can continue to evolve with the crowdsourcing model of Wikipedia. After publication of over 50 articles, we surveyed the authors to assess the impact of the project. The author survey results revealed that the Gene Wiki project is achieving its major objectives to increase the involvement of scientists in authoring Wikipedia articles and to enhance the quantity and quality of the information about genes and their protein products. Thus, the dual publication model introduced in the Gene Wiki Reviews series represents a valuable innovation in scientific publishing and biomedical knowledge management. We invite experts on specific genes to contact the editors to take part in this project to enhance the quality and accessibility of information about the human genome. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inside Larry's Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnold, Alice

2009-01-01

Last spring, students from several North Carolina middle schools were invited to participate in the annual Celebrate the Arts festival in Columbus Country. Larry Hewett, a local art teacher, had been selected to instruct the middle-school students. Larry's River Rock Circles project was made as the starting point for the Celebrate the Arts…

Circles of support and accountability: The characteristics of core members in England and Wales.

PubMed

Clarke, Martin; Warwick, Leah; Völlm, Birgit

2017-04-01

Circles of support and accountability, or Circles, use community volunteers to help reintegrate sex offenders at risk of reoffending in the community. The aims of this study are to describe the first 275 male sex offenders ('core members') in England and Wales supported by a Circle and to compare those attending the five largest Circles. As part of their monitoring activity, 10 Circles extracted data from case files, anonymised it and submitted it to Circles UK, the national oversight body. Circles have expanded rapidly with 165 (60%) of Circles commencing in the three years 2011-2013 compared with 110 in the nine years 2002-2010. Most core members were referred from the Probation Service (82%). Circles were provided to men with a range of predicted risks of reoffending - from low (26%) to very high (12%). There were some positive changes between the beginning and end of Circles, such as fewer men being unemployed and more living in their own chosen accommodation. Circles have been used to support the reintegration of a wide range of sex offenders. Given their rapid growth and flexibility, consistent recording standards are required across. These standards should be reviewed periodically to ensure all important fields of change are captured, including frequency of attendance, length per session and quality of engagement in the work. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determining the Effectiveness and Evaluating the Implementation Process of a Quality/Performance Circles System Model to Assist in Institutional Decision Making and Problem Solving at Lakeshore Technical Institute.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ladwig, Dennis J.

During the 1982-83 school year, a quality/performance circles system model was implemented at Lakeshore Technical Institute (LTI) to promote greater participation by staff in decision making and problem solving. All management staff at the college (N=45) were invited to participate in the process, and 39 volunteered. Non-management staff (N=240)…

76 FR 24868 - Extension of Public Comment Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Trident...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-03

... INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine Stevenson, EHW-2 EIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, Washington 98315-1101; or http://ehw.nbkeis.com/ . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces a fifteen... Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, Washington 98315-1101. In addition, comments may be submitted...

77 FR 68114 - Notice of Extension of Comment Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Military...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-15

... Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle Suite 203, Silverdale, Washington, 98315-1101... Burt, NWSTF Boardman EIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle Suite 203, Silverdale, Washington, 98315-1101. In addition, comments may be submitted online at http://www.NWSTFBoardmanEIS.com during the...

77 FR 5242 - Notice of Extension of Public Scoping Period for the Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-02

... Engineering Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101, Attn: NWSTF Boardman... mailed to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attention: Mrs. Amy Burt, NWSTF Boardman EIS Project Manager, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale...

Promoting Staff Support in Schools: Solution Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Emma; Henderson, Linda

2012-01-01

The Solution Circle (SC) approach is a flexible tool which encourages participants to maintain a positive, creative approach to problem-solving. This project focussed on the introduction of this approach to staff in a primary and a secondary school. The rationale was to implement a problem-solving/discussion tool that would allow staff to utilise…

Circling "the Scourge"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Bess

2005-01-01

In Kenya alone, where the infection rate is estimated to have reached 13 percent of the population, 27,000 teachers will die and more than 2 million children will lose one or both parents to AIDS in the next five years. The Kenyan project uses "study circles," in which teachers learn together about HIV, script new sexual behaviors for…

United States Participation in the Pacific Circle Consortium. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, OR.

The goal of the Pacific Circle Project is to improve international and intercultural understanding among the people and nations of the Pacific. Consortium member countries are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Within the countries are chosen member institutions. Two major types of activities of the consortium are the exchange…

Report to OECD/CERI Policy Group from Pacific Circle Consortium on Phase 1 Activities: 1977-1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connell, Helen; Wells, Marguerite

Established in 1977, the Pacific Circle Consortium is a group of national-level educational research and development agencies from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Pacific region countries engaged in cooperative projects intended to improve international understanding and relations. From 1977 to 1980 the Consortium…

[Measures to reduce costs for prescriptions in Vienna--preliminary analysis].

PubMed

Tönies, Hans

2009-01-01

To increase the rate of prescriptions for generic drugs in Vienna an information campaign was started in 2004 and quality circles for prescribing doctors were organized. Since the result of this initiative is not yet known publicly this report aims to present a preliminary analysis. The prescription statements kindly provided by the health insurance fund of Vienna could be analysed. Data from the Chamber of Viennese Physicians were used for compiling a report about the quality circles. A total of 17 quality circles with an average of 15 participants were formed; they met four times yearly. Participants were paid for their attendance. The rate of prescribed generic drugs in Vienna has continuously improved, with the major increase in the first year of the activities. In the year 2006 a rate of over 40% generic prescriptions was reached by 80% of general practitioners. This cooperation between the health insurance fund and doctors apparently resulted in both an increase in the rate of generic drugs prescribed and in a good acceptance among physicians.

Objectives of public participation: Which actors should be involved in the decision making for river restorations?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junker, Berit; Buchecker, Mattias; Müller-BöKer, Ulrike

2007-10-01

River restoration as a measure to improve both flood protection and ecological quality has become a common practice in river management. This new practice, however, has also become a source of conflicts arising from a neglect of the social aspects in river restoration projects. Therefore appropriate public involvement strategies have been recommended in recent years as a way of coping with these conflicts. However, an open question remains: Which stakeholders should be involved in the decision-making process? This, in turn, raises the question of the appropriate objectives of public participation. This study aims to answer these questions drawing on two case studies of Swiss river restoration projects and a related representative nationwide survey. Our findings suggest that public involvement should not be restricted to a small circle of influential stakeholder groups. As restoration projects have been found to have a substantial impact on the quality of life of the local population, avoiding conflicts is only one of several objectives of the involvement process. Including the wider public provides a special opportunity to promote social objectives, such as trust building and identification of people with their local environment.

Classification by causes of dark circles and appropriate evaluation method of dark circles.

PubMed

Park, S R; Kim, H J; Park, H K; Kim, J Y; Kim, N S; Byun, K S; Moon, T K; Byun, J W; Moon, J H; Choi, G S

2016-08-01

Dark circles refer to a symptom that present darkness under the eyes. Because of improvement in the quality of life, the dark circles have been recognized as one of major cosmetic concerns. However, it is not easy to classify the dark circles because they have various causes. To select suitable instruments and detailed evaluation items, the dark circles were classified according to the causes through visual assessment, Wood's lamp test, and medical history survey for 100 subjects with dark circles. After the classification, were newly recruited for instrument conformity assessment. Through this, suitable instruments for dark circle evaluation were selected. We performed a randomized clinical trial for dark circles, a placebo-controlled double-blind study, using effective parameters of the instruments selected from the preliminary test. Dark circles of vascular type (35%) and mixed type (54%), a combination of pigmented and vascular types, were the most common. Twenty four subjects with the mixed type dark circles applied the test product (Vitamin C 3%, Vitamin A 0.1%, Vitamin E 0.5%) and placebo on randomized split-face for 8 weeks. The effective parameters (L*, a, M.I., E.I., quasi L*, quasi a* and dermal thickness) were measured during the study period. Result showed that the L* value of Chromameter(®) , Melanin index (M.I.) of Mexameter(®) and quasi L* value obtained by image analysis improved with statistical significance after applying the test product compared with the placebo product. We classified the dark circles according to the causes of the dark circles and verified the reliability of the parameter obtained by the instrument conformity assessment used in this study through the efficacy evaluation. Also based on this study, we were to suggest newly established methods which can be applied to the evaluation of efficacy of functional cosmetics for dark circles. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Utilizing Talking Circles as a Means of Gathering American Indian Stories for Developing a Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brandenburger, Shelly J.; Wells, Karlys; Stluka, Suzanne

2017-01-01

This qualitative study used a focus group approach (talking circles) to elicit tribal elder insight on important concepts for the purpose of creating a curriculum to teach tribal youth in South Dakota about nutrition and physical activity in culturally appropriate ways. The focus groups were part of a larger project that is exploring mechanisms…

OD Covariance in Conjunction Assessment: Introduction and Issues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hejduk, M. D.; Duncan, M.

2015-01-01

Primary and secondary covariances combined and projected into conjunction plane (plane perpendicular to relative velocity vector at TCA) Primary placed on x-axis at (miss distance, 0) and represented by circle of radius equal to sum of both spacecraft circumscribing radiiZ-axis perpendicular to x-axis in conjunction plane Pc is portion of combined error ellipsoid that falls within the hard-body radius circle

The SDM 3 Circle Model: A Literature Synthesis and Adaptation for Shared Decision Making in the Hospital.

PubMed

Rennke, Stephanie; Yuan, Patrick; Monash, Brad; Blankenburg, Rebecca; Chua, Ian; Harman, Stephanie; Sakai, Debbie S; Khan, Adeena; Hilton, Joan F; Shieh, Lisa; Satterfield, Jason

2017-12-01

Patient engagement through shared decision-making (SDM) is increasingly seen as a key component for patient safety, patient satisfaction, and quality of care. Current SDM models do not adequately account for medical and environmental contexts, which may influence medical decisions in the hospital. We identified leading SDM models and reviews to inductively construct a novel SDM model appropriate for the inpatient setting. A team of medicine and pediatric hospitalists reviewed the literature to integrate core SDM concepts and processes and iteratively constructed a synthesized draft model. We then solicited broad SDM expert feedback on the draft model for validation and further refinement. The SDM 3 Circle Model identifies 3 core categories of variables that dynamically interact within an "environmental frame." The resulting Venn diagram includes overlapping circles for (1) patient/family, (2) provider/team, and (3) medical context. The environmental frame includes all external, contextual factors that may influence any of the 3 circles. Existing multistep SDM process models were then rearticulated and contextualized to illustrate how a shared decision might be made. The SDM 3 Circle Model accounts for important environmental and contextual characteristics that vary across settings. The visual emphasis generated by each "circle" and by the environmental frame direct attention to often overlooked interactive forces and has the potential to more precisely define, promote, and improve SDM. This model provides a framework to develop interventions to improve quality and patient safety through SDM and patient engagement for hospitalists. © 2017 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Dialing in to a Circle of Trust: A "Medium" Tech Experiment and Poetic Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Love, Christine T.

2012-01-01

In his 2004 book "A Hidden Wholeness," Parker Palmer makes explicit the unique qualities of the transformational "circle of trust." He describes a group of people embracing the paradox of "being alone together," where the only goal of the group is to invite the emergence of the soul of each individual, through…

DRUM-PD: The use of a drum circle to improve the symptoms and signs of Parkinson's disease (PD)

PubMed Central

Pantelyat, Alexander; Syres, Candace; Reichwein, Suzanne; Willis, Allison

2015-01-01

Background Physical therapy can improve motor function in patients with PD. Music performance may be used to improve motor skills by rhythmic entrainment. Drumming has long been a part of traditional healing rituals worldwide, and is increasingly being utilized as a therapeutic strategy. Methods This pilot controlled prospective cohort trial assessed feasibility and effects of twice-weekly group West African drum circle classes for 6 weeks on PD patients’ quality of life, symptoms, motor findings, cognition, and mood. Ten patients with PD were recruited into the drum circle group. Ten patients with PD were matched pairwise to each of the drum circle participants, and enrolled in a no-intervention control group. Both groups completed the PD-specific Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ)-39 quality of life assessment and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and underwent motor and cognitive assessments by a rater blinded to group at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results Drummers had significantly improved PDQ-39 scores from baseline to 6 weeks (−5.8, p=0.042), whereas the control group's scores were unchanged. Walking performance was significantly faster at baseline for controls; after 6 weeks of drumming this difference was no longer significant, and remained non-significant at 12 weeks. The drummers trended (p=0.069) toward improvement in walking from baseline to 12 weeks. Other outcomes did not significantly change from baseline to 6 or 12 weeks. Conclusions Drum circle classes significantly and reversibly improved quality of life in patients with PD. This pilot trial's findings merit larger controlled investigations comparing drumming classes to established interventions in PD, such as physical therapy. PMID:27340683

A Chiang-type lagrangian in CP^2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cannas da Silva, Ana

2018-03-01

We analyse a monotone lagrangian in CP^2 that is hamiltonian isotopic to the standard lagrangian RP^2, yet exhibits a distinguishing behaviour under reduction by one of the toric circle actions, namely it intersects transversally the reduction level set and it projects one-to-one onto a great circle in CP^1. This lagrangian thus provides an example of embedded composition fitting work of Wehrheim-Woodward and Weinstein.

ECO TECH LINK: PT3 Grant Builds Technology Circles in the K-18 Community.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klinger, Katie; Duckett, Jane; Medrano, Maria; Crow, Nedra; Stowers, Gwen

Through the vehicle of the PT3 grant program, ECO TECH LINK has built a strong consortium to support technology circles of government, education and business in order to raise student achievement scores, shorten the time it takes to earn a teaching credential, and enhance the quality of teacher credential courses. The ECO TECH LINK grant enables…

The Circle in the Spiral: Up the Down Spiral with English, Volume II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Catholic Board of Education, Diocese of Cleveland, OH.

This document reports on a project on changing and improving the teaching of English, Project Insight. This project aims to improve the instruction of English on the secondary level through an organically unified English program. Initiated by the Board of Catholic Education, the project included participants from both public and Catholic high…

Quasi-eccentricity error modeling and compensation in vision metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Yijun; Zhang, Xu; Cheng, Wei; Zhu, Limin

2018-04-01

Circular targets are commonly used in vision applications for its detection accuracy and robustness. The eccentricity error of the circular target caused by perspective projection is one of the main factors of measurement error which needs to be compensated in high-accuracy measurement. In this study, the impact of the lens distortion on the eccentricity error is comprehensively investigated. The traditional eccentricity error turns to a quasi-eccentricity error in the non-linear camera model. The quasi-eccentricity error model is established by comparing the quasi-center of the distorted ellipse with the true projection of the object circle center. Then, an eccentricity error compensation framework is proposed which compensates the error by iteratively refining the image point to the true projection of the circle center. Both simulation and real experiment confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method in several vision applications.

Evaluating Quality Circles in U.S. Industry: A Feasibility Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-06-30

are the following: whether the ,.-~. .- "i. 24 circle is cost-effective, whether it deals with long-range rather than crisis problems, whether the...Chapter 4. The evolution of the Japanese instruments took into consideration the nature of the Japanese work setting. To assist in the transculturation ...crises rather than implementing long-term change? Name____________________ Short-term, Long-Term, Title______________________ crisis on-going oriented

Full Circle: Stakeholders' Evaluation of a Collaborative Enquiry Action Research Literacy Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forey, Gail; Firkins, Arthur S.; Sengupta, Sima

2012-01-01

This paper reports on school-university collaboration during an action research project, which aimed to build a writing pedagogy for students with Learning Disabilities in the trilingual, biliterate educational context of Hong Kong. The project was established through interpersonal relationships built from the ground up between stakeholders from a…

Identifying EGRET Sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schlegel, E.; Norris, Jay P. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This project was awarded funding from the CGRO program to support ROSAT and ground-based observations of unidentified sources from data obtained by the EGRET instrument on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The critical items in the project are the individual ROSAT observations that are used to cover the 99% error circle of the unidentified EGRET source. Each error circle is a degree or larger in diameter. Each ROSAT field is about 30 deg in diameter. Hence, a number (>4) of ROSAT pointings must be obtained for each EGRET source to cover the field. The scheduling of ROSAT observations is carried out to maximize the efficiency of the total schedule. As a result, each pointing is broken into one or more sub-pointings of various exposure times. This project was awarded ROSAT observing time for four unidentified EGRET sources, summarized in the table. The column headings are defined as follows: 'Coverings' = number of observations to cover the error circle; 'SubPtg' = total number of sub-pointings to observe all of the coverings; 'Rec'd' = number of individual sub-pointings received to date; 'CompFlds' = number of individual coverings for which the requested complete exposure has been received. Processing of the data can not occur until a complete exposure has been accumulated for each covering.

The National Shipbuilding Research Program, Analytical Quality Circles

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-09-01

standard tools for quality control, in English, see “Guide to Quality Control” by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa , Asian Productivity Organization, Aoyama Dai-ichi...factors affect work evaluation is shown schemati- cally by Characteristic-Factor Diagrams (also called Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagrams), see Figure 2-5

The use of quality circles as a support tool in the taking over of practices by young general practitioners

PubMed Central

Král, Norbert; Seifert, Bohumil; Kovář, Jan; Mucha, Cyril; Vojtíšková, Jana; Bednár, Jáchym; Martin, Seifert

2018-01-01

Introduction: Although informal meetings of healthcare professionals in smaller groups are common in the area of primary care in the Czech Republic, the method of quality circles is not in wide use. The aim of our project is to use this method to help new general practitioners (GPs) when they take over a medical practice and to suggest measures to improve the organization and overall attractiveness of new practices, as well as patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods: For the purposes of this observation, an already existing informal group formed by healthcare professionals and their trainees was used. The group met a total of four times in a 6-month period. In the first meeting, problematic areas were identified. In the second, specific issues of newly starting to practice were discussed, with time to consider suggestions for improvements. The third meeting consisted of an analysis of the suggested measures and their implementation, and in the fourth, these measures and their effects were evaluated. Results: On the basis of the discussion in the first and second meetings, suggestions were made, and then, during the third meeting, structured into three dimensions: (1) The organization of work, including clinical activities, (2) the attractiveness of the practice and the satisfaction levels of the patients, (3) the satisfaction levels of the employees. In each area, specific measures were proposed. The new doctors' feedback in the fourth phase of the project was positive. The main problems the new doctors faced were related to their lack of knowledge and experience with buying or starting their own practice, as well as being an effective team leader. Conclusion: Despite the application of small groups being significantly larger, it was demonstrated that if GPs are given direction and clear goals in their meetings, these meetings can be very constructive. Small groups thus offer a good platform for young GPs in starting their own practice, giving them the capacity to do so.

Chromium Ions in Tetrahedral Sites

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

octahedral sites-the inversion site and the mirror site.4 After energy level calculations were performed, it was found that chromium ions in octahedral sites...octahedral site with symmetry C, the other half at the mirror octahedral sites with symmetry Cs. Its structure projected on (100) plane is shown in Fig... mirror symmetry. I 181 !U 10O 0 0 Fig. 2.1 Unit cell of forsterite, Mg2SiO4. Small open and solid circles are Mg atoms, big circles are 0 atoms and

Predictors of Quality Verbal Engagement in Third-Grade Literature Discussions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Chase

2014-01-01

This study investigates how reading ability and personality traits predict the quality of verbal discussions in peer-led literature circles. Third grade literature discussions were recorded, transcribed, and coded. The coded statements and questions were quantified into a quality of engagement score. Through multiple linear regression, the…

The Pitfalls of a "Democracy Promotion" Project for Women of Iraq

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Kassem, Nadeen

2008-01-01

"Democracy promotion" as part of a larger project of 'reconstruction' is hailed in mainstream academia and in policy circles as an essential component of rebuilding the state and civil society in post-conflict situations. Here "democracy promotion" refers exclusively to the promotion of political representation and…

Correlation Between the Integrity of the Circle of Willis and the Severity of Initial Noncardiac Cerebral Infarction and Clinical Prognosis

PubMed Central

Zhou, Houshi; Sun, Jian; Ji, Xiaotan; Lin, Jing; Tang, Shujin; Zeng, Jinsheng; Fan, Yu-hua

2016-01-01

Abstract The quality of collateral circulation affects the severity and prognosis of stroke patients. The effect of the circle of Willis, which is the primary collateral circulation, on ischemic stroke has attracted significant attention. This study was designed to investigate the effect of different circles of Willis types on stroke severity and prognosis in patients with noncardiac stroke. A total of 376 patients with noncardiac ischemic stroke, who were treated by the specialty team of cerebrovascular diseases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen Hospital, were successively enrolled in this study. The detailed clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded upon admission, including risk factors of vascular disease and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. The patients were divided into groups of different circles of Willis types based on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that was performed within 3 days of admission—type I: complete circle of Willis; type II: complete anterior half of the circle of Willis and incomplete posterior half of the circle of Willis; type III: incomplete anterior half of the circle of Willis and complete posterior half of the circle of Willis; and type IV: incomplete anterior and posterior halves of the circle of Willis. Patients were re-evaluated for NIHSS scores at discharge and after discharge. The modified Rankin score (mRS) was recorded for 90 days, and stroke recurrence and death after 90 days were also recorded until the end of the study. The 376 patients were divided into 4 groups based on the MRA—type I group: 92 patients (24.5%); type II group: 215 patients (57.2%); type III group: 12 patients (3.2%), and type IV group: 57 patients (15.2%). NIHSS scores at admission and discharge were significantly lower for the type I group compared with those for the type II and type IV groups (P < 0.05). NIHSS scores were higher in the groups with an incomplete circle of Willis compared with the group with a complete circle of Willis. A poor recovery rate was highest for the type IV group, whereas a good recovery rate was highest for the type I group. The logistic regression analysis showed that a complete circle of Willis was one of the predictors of suitable recovery (odds ratio [OR] = 0.708, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.554–0.906). Circle of Willis type was associated with stroke severity and patient prognosis, whereas an incomplete circle of Willis was associated with more severe conditions and a higher 90-day poor diagnosis rate. A complete circle of Willis was an independent predictor of good prognosis. PMID:26962785

Expanding the Circle: South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project. Final Report, 10-1-98 through 9-30-99.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

South Dakota State Dept. of Education and Cultural Affairs, Pierre.

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project, a 4-year federally funded project designed to raise awareness of the need for early identification of children who are deaf-blind and reside on Native American reservation lands. To this end, the states of Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska,…

Squaring the Project Management Circle: Updating the Cost, Schedule, and Performance Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-30

success is measured as achieving technical performance and/or mission performance goals, coupled with customer (warfighter) satisfaction (De Wit, 1988...studies added criteria such as customer satisfaction , efficiency of execution, and effectiveness of the project organization (Pinto & Slevin, 1998...team and the user customer organization, management policy and project control. This clustering of success factors represents the amalgamation of the

Antarctica: Teaching and Learning about. A Teacher's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiernan, Jan; Brewer, Warren

In 1980 the members of the Pacific Circle Consortium (Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, and Canada) considered a proposal from the Tasmanian Education Department for a project to develop a curriculum framework and teaching materials about the Antarctic. The outcome was the Antarctic Project conducted jointly by Australia and New…

Report of an Urban Education Reform Experiment: Problems and Promises. Section II: Project Evaluation. Supplement to the Final Report of the 5th Cycle Teacher Corps Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rippey, Robert M.

This document recounts the efforts of an urban college of education (the one at the University of Illinois/Chicago Circle) to develop a cooperative program in urban teacher education. It deals with the origin of the project, operational problems encountered, solutions attempted, critical functions of systematic evaluation. Also included are…

Stereoscopic Machine-Vision System Using Projected Circles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mackey, Jeffrey R.

2010-01-01

A machine-vision system capable of detecting obstacles large enough to damage or trap a robotic vehicle is undergoing development. The system includes (1) a pattern generator that projects concentric circles of laser light forward onto the terrain, (2) a stereoscopic pair of cameras that are aimed forward to acquire images of the circles, (3) a frame grabber and digitizer for acquiring image data from the cameras, and (4) a single-board computer that processes the data. The system is being developed as a prototype of machine- vision systems to enable robotic vehicles ( rovers ) on remote planets to avoid craters, large rocks, and other terrain features that could capture or damage the vehicles. Potential terrestrial applications of systems like this one could include terrain mapping, collision avoidance, navigation of robotic vehicles, mining, and robotic rescue. This system is based partly on the same principles as those of a prior stereoscopic machine-vision system in which the cameras acquire images of a single stripe of laser light that is swept forward across the terrain. However, this system is designed to afford improvements over some of the undesirable features of the prior system, including the need for a pan-and-tilt mechanism to aim the laser to generate the swept stripe, ambiguities in interpretation of the single-stripe image, the time needed to sweep the stripe across the terrain and process the data from many images acquired during that time, and difficulty of calibration because of the narrowness of the stripe. In this system, the pattern generator does not contain any moving parts and need not be mounted on a pan-and-tilt mechanism: the pattern of concentric circles is projected steadily in the forward direction. The system calibrates itself by use of data acquired during projection of the concentric-circle pattern onto a known target representing flat ground. The calibration- target image data are stored in the computer memory for use as a template in processing terrain images. During operation on terrain, the images acquired by the left and right cameras are analyzed. The analysis includes (1) computation of the horizontal and vertical dimensions and the aspect ratios of rectangles that bound the circle images and (2) comparison of these aspect ratios with those of the template. Coordinates of distortions of the circles are used to identify and locate objects. If the analysis leads to identification of an object of significant size, then stereoscopicvision algorithms are used to estimate the distance to the object. The time taken in performing this analysis on a single pair of images acquired by the left and right cameras in this system is a fraction of the time taken in processing the many pairs of images acquired in a sweep of the laser stripe across the field of view in the prior system. The results of the analysis include data on sizes and shapes of, and distances and directions to, objects. Coordinates of objects are updated as the vehicle moves so that intelligent decisions regarding speed and direction can be made. The results of the analysis are utilized in a computational decision-making process that generates obstacle-avoidance data and feeds those data to the control system of the robotic vehicle.

Project Relationship: Creating and Sustaining a Nurturing Community [Manual and Video].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poulsen, Marie Kanne; Cole, Carol K.

This manual and related 41-minute video was produced by a 5-year federally funded project to foster collaboration between special education and child care staff in early childhood programs. The approach is based on a structured, relationship-based, problem solving framework, "Going Around the Circle." The process involves five steps: (1)…

Quantitative damage imaging using Lamb wave diffraction tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hai-Yan; Ruan, Min; Zhu, Wen-Fa; Chai, Xiao-Dong

2016-12-01

In this paper, we investigate the diffraction tomography for quantitative imaging damages of partly through-thickness holes with various shapes in isotropic plates by using converted and non-converted scattered Lamb waves generated numerically. Finite element simulations are carried out to provide the scattered wave data. The validity of the finite element model is confirmed by the comparison of scattering directivity pattern (SDP) of circle blind hole damage between the finite element simulations and the analytical results. The imaging method is based on a theoretical relation between the one-dimensional (1D) Fourier transform of the scattered projection and two-dimensional (2D) spatial Fourier transform of the scattering object. A quantitative image of the damage is obtained by carrying out the 2D inverse Fourier transform of the scattering object. The proposed approach employs a circle transducer network containing forward and backward projections, which lead to so-called transmission mode (TMDT) and reflection mode diffraction tomography (RMDT), respectively. The reconstructed results of the two projections for a non-converted S0 scattered mode are investigated to illuminate the influence of the scattering field data. The results show that Lamb wave diffraction tomography using the combination of TMDT and RMDT improves the imaging effect compared with by using only the TMDT or RMDT. The scattered data of the converted A0 mode are also used to assess the performance of the diffraction tomography method. It is found that the circle and elliptical shaped damages can still be reasonably identified from the reconstructed images while the reconstructed results of other complex shaped damages like crisscross rectangles and racecourse are relatively poor. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11474195, 11274226, 11674214, and 51478258).

School Development Applications in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hosgörür, Vural

2014-01-01

This study aims to define and explain the establishment, functioning and problems of school development management teams (SDMTs), similar to quality circles used in total quality management practices, for the purposes of continuous development and improvement of schools on the basis of the planned school development model. This is a qualitative…

TQL, A Case Study of Implementation into the Operational Fleet

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-18

Methods, Poka - Yoke (mistake proofing of a process), Total Preventive Maintenance, and Group Technology and Quality Circles. All of these methods can be...Thomas, What Every Manager Should Know About Quality, 1991, Marcel Dekker,inc. 9. Poka - Yoke , 1987, Productivity Press. 67 B. STATISTICAL METHODS: 1

Wilderness quality mapping - the Australian experiences

Treesearch

Nick Sawyer

2015-01-01

By 1995 wilderness quality maps developed under the Australian Government's National Wilderness Inventory (NWI) program had been published for most of Australia, but few traces of the NWI now remain and the word "wilderness" has become almost unmentionable in government and professional land management circles. Yet its popular appeal is demonstrated by...

Running around in Circles: Quality Assurance Reforms in Georgia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jibladze, Elene

2013-01-01

This article investigates the implementation of a quality assurance system in Georgia as a particular case of "Bologna transplant" in a transitioning country. In particular, the article discusses to what extent new concepts, institutions and models framed as "European" have been institutionalised in Georgia. Based on an outcome…

The Virtuous Circles of Clinical Information Systems: a Modern Utopia.

PubMed

Degoulet, P

2016-11-10

Clinical information systems (CIS) are developed with the aim of improving both the efficiency and the quality of care. This position paper is based on the hypothesis that such vision is partly a utopian view of the emerging eSociety. Examples are drawn from 15 years of experience with the fully integrated Georges Pompidou University Hospital (HEGP) CIS and temporal data series extracted from the data warehouses of Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) acute care hospitals which share the same administrative organization as HEGP. Three main virtuous circles are considered: user satisfaction vs. system use, system use vs. cost efficiency, and system use vs quality of care. In structural equation models (SEM), the positive bidirectional relationship between user satisfaction and use was only observed in the early HEGP CIS deployment phase (first four years) but disappeared in late post-adoption (≥8 years). From 2009 to 2013, financial efficiency of 20 AP-HP hospitals evaluated with stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) models diminished by 0.5% per year. The lower decrease of efficiency observed between the three hospitals equipped with a more mature CIS and the 17 other hospitals was of the same order of magnitude than the difference observed between pediatric and non-pediatric hospitals. Outcome quality benefits that would bring evidence to the system use vs. quality loop are unlikely to be obtained in a near future since they require integration with population-based outcome measures including mortality, morbidity, and quality of life that may not be easily available. Barriers to making the transformation of the utopian part of the CIS virtuous circles happen should be overcome to actually benefit the emerging eSociety.

Crisis management in transportation : building capacity through exercises.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-03-01

Building on research conducted in part with UTC Year 20 funding, this project : examined the experience of organizations from the second circle of the : emergency response community including surface transportation agencies in : using e...

Expanding Access to Quality Pre-K Is Sound Public Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnett, W. Steven

2013-01-01

In 2013, preschool education received more attention in the media and public policy circles than it has for some time, in part because of a series of high-profile proposals to expand access to quality pre-K. The scientific basis for these proposed expansions of quality pre-K is impressive. This paper brings to bear the full weight of the evidence…

The research on multi-projection correction based on color coding grid array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fan; Han, Cheng; Bai, Baoxing; Zhang, Chao; Zhao, Yunxiu

2017-10-01

There are many disadvantages such as lower timeliness, greater manual intervention in multi-channel projection system, in order to solve the above problems, this paper proposes a multi-projector correction technology based on color coding grid array. Firstly, a color structured light stripe is generated by using the De Bruijn sequences, then meshing the feature information of the color structured light stripe image. We put the meshing colored grid intersection as the center of the circle, and build a white solid circle as the feature sample set of projected images. It makes the constructed feature sample set not only has the perceptual localization, but also has good noise immunity. Secondly, we establish the subpixel geometric mapping relationship between the projection screen and the individual projectors by using the structure of light encoding and decoding based on the color array, and the geometrical mapping relation is used to solve the homography matrix of each projector. Lastly the brightness inconsistency of the multi-channel projection overlap area is seriously interfered, it leads to the corrected image doesn't fit well with the observer's visual needs, and we obtain the projection display image of visual consistency by using the luminance fusion correction algorithm. The experimental results show that this method not only effectively solved the problem of distortion of multi-projection screen and the issue of luminance interference in overlapping region, but also improved the calibration efficient of multi-channel projective system and reduced the maintenance cost of intelligent multi-projection system.

Report of an Urban Education Reform Experiment: Problems and Promise. Part I Project Development. Supplement to Final Report of the 5th Cycle Teacher Corps Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monroe, George E.

The Fifth Cycle Teacher Corps Project was undertaken by the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle to a) fulfill a stated mission of a university especially created to help resolve urban problems, b) find effective ways to help an inner-city community utilize its own resources, and c) conduct research on the effective uses of evaluation in…

A new measuring method for motion accuracy of 3-axis NC equipments based on composite trajectory of circle and non-circle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fan; Du, Zhengchun; Yang, Jiangguo; Hong, Maisheng

2011-12-01

Geometric motion error measurement has been considered as an important task for accuracy enhancement and quality assurance of NC machine tools and CMMs. In consideration of the disadvantages of traditional measuring methods,a new measuring method for motion accuracy of 3-axis NC equipments based on composite trajectory including circle and non-circle(straight line and/or polygonal line) is proposed. The principles and techniques of the new measuring method are discussed in detail. 8 feasible measuring strategies based on different measuring groupings are summarized and optimized. The experiment of the most preferable strategy is carried out on the 3-axis CNC vertical machining center Cincinnati 750 Arrow by using cross grid encoder. The whole measuring time of 21 error components of the new method is cut down to 1-2 h because of easy installation, adjustment, operation and the characteristics of non-contact measurement. Result shows that the new method is suitable for `on machine" measurement and has good prospects of wide application.

ELSID-Diabetes study-evaluation of a large scale implementation of disease management programmes for patients with type 2 diabetes. Rationale, design and conduct--a study protocol [ISRCTN08471887].

PubMed

Joos, Stefanie; Rosemann, Thomas; Heiderhoff, Marc; Wensing, Michel; Ludt, Sabine; Gensichen, Jochen; Kaufmann-Kolle, Petra; Szecsenyi, Joachim

2005-10-04

Diabetes model projects in different regions of Germany including interventions such as quality circles, patient education and documentation of medical findings have shown improvements of HbA1c levels, blood pressure and occurrence of hypoglycaemia in before-after studies (without control group). In 2002 the German Ministry of Health defined legal regulations for the introduction of nationwide disease management programs (DMP) to improve the quality of care in chronically ill patients. In April 2003 the first DMP for patients with type 2 diabetes was accredited. The evaluation of the DMP is essential and has been made obligatory in Germany by the Fifth Book of Social Code. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of DMP by example of type 2 diabetes in the primary care setting of two German federal states (Rheinland-Pfalz and Sachsen-Anhalt). The study is three-armed: a prospective cluster-randomized comparison of two interventions (DMP 1 and DMP 2) against routine care without DMP as control group. In the DMP group 1 the patients are treated according to the current situation within the German-Diabetes-DMP. The DMP group 2 represents diabetic care within ideally implemented DMP providing additional interventions (e.g. quality circles, outreach visits). According to a sample size calculation a sample size of 200 GPs (each GP including 20 patients) will be required for the comparison of DMP 1 and DMP 2 considering possible drop-outs. For the comparison with routine care 4000 patients identified by diabetic tracer medication and age (> 50 years) will be analyzed. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the German Diabetes-DMP compared to a Diabetes-DMP providing additional interventions and routine care in the primary care setting of two different German federal states.

ELSID-Diabetes study-evaluation of a large scale implementation of disease management programmes for patients with type 2 diabetes. Rationale, design and conduct – a study protocol [ISRCTN08471887

PubMed Central

Joos, Stefanie; Rosemann, Thomas; Heiderhoff, Marc; Wensing, Michel; Ludt, Sabine; Gensichen, Jochen; Kaufmann-Kolle, Petra; Szecsenyi, Joachim

2005-01-01

Background Diabetes model projects in different regions of Germany including interventions such as quality circles, patient education and documentation of medical findings have shown improvements of HbA1c levels, blood pressure and occurrence of hypoglycaemia in before-after studies (without control group). In 2002 the German Ministry of Health defined legal regulations for the introduction of nationwide disease management programs (DMP) to improve the quality of care in chronically ill patients. In April 2003 the first DMP for patients with type 2 diabetes was accredited. The evaluation of the DMP is essential and has been made obligatory in Germany by the Fifth Book of Social Code. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of DMP by example of type 2 diabetes in the primary care setting of two German federal states (Rheinland-Pfalz and Sachsen-Anhalt). Methods/Design The study is three-armed: a prospective cluster-randomized comparison of two interventions (DMP 1 and DMP 2) against routine care without DMP as control group. In the DMP group 1 the patients are treated according to the current situation within the German-Diabetes-DMP. The DMP group 2 represents diabetic care within ideally implemented DMP providing additional interventions (e.g. quality circles, outreach visits). According to a sample size calculation a sample size of 200 GPs (each GP including 20 patients) will be required for the comparison of DMP 1 and DMP 2 considering possible drop-outs. For the comparison with routine care 4000 patients identified by diabetic tracer medication and age (> 50 years) will be analyzed. Discussion This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the German Diabetes-DMP compared to a Diabetes-DMP providing additional interventions and routine care in the primary care setting of two different German federal states. PMID:16202151

Pacific Circle Consortium: A Regional Project of OECD/CERI. Report of Annual Conference (6th, Hiroshima, Japan, September 27-October 4, 1982).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France). Centre for Educational Research and Innovation.

Pacific region countries reported on their 1982 cooperative activities in education, including exchange and curriculum development projects, aimed at improving intercultural understanding. The first part of the report describes what happened at the sessions; the second part contains the appendices. Various countries--Australia, Canada, Japan, New…

CIOs use outsourcing to revamp systems.

PubMed

Morrissey, J

1995-07-24

Faced with the challenge of keeping pace with computer technology, many chief information officers are farming out projects to experts. Outsourcing firms are circling the healthcare industry, ready to pounce on market opportunities that exceeded $1 billion in 1994.

Restorative justice innovations in Canada.

PubMed

Wilson, Robin J; Huculak, Bria; McWhinnie, Andrew

2002-01-01

As many jurisdictions move towards more retributive measures as a means to address public discontent with crime, a parallel movement has developed in regard to restorative justice. This article presents three restorative initiatives currently in use in Canada. Each initiative addresses offender behavior and community engagement at a different point in the justice continuum. The use of Sentencing Circles is an example of how restorative justice principles can be instituted at the front end, prior to an offender becoming lodged in the system. The Restorative Justice Options to Parole Suspension project demonstrates how community engagement can assist in preventing offenders from being returned to the system once they have achieved conditional release. The Circles of Support and Accountability project has enlisted the support of professionally supported volunteers in the community reintegration of high-risk sexual offenders. These initiatives are presented within a framework of effective correctional interventions and increased empowerment for a variety of stakeholders. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pacific Circle Consortium: A Regional Project of OECD/CERI. Report of Annual Meeting (5th, Portland, Oregon, September 28-October 3, 1981).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France). Centre for Educational Research and Innovation.

Efforts, including exchange activities and curriculum development projects, undertaken by Pacific region countries in 1981 to improve intercultural understanding were the main focus of the meeting. The report begins with a very brief description of what transpired during the sessions. Papers and reports presented are contained in the appendices,…

Provider connectedness and communication patterns: extending continuity of care in the context of the circle of care

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Continuity is an important aspect of quality of care, especially for complex patients in the community. We explored provider perceptions of continuity through a system’s lens. The circle of care was used as the system. Methods Soft systems methodology was used to understand and improve continuity for end of life patients in two communities. Participants: Physicians, nurses, pharmacists in two communities in British Columbia, involved in end of life care. Two debates/discussion groups were completed after the interviews and initial analysis to confirm findings. Interview recordings were qualitatively analyzed to extract components and enablers of continuity. Results 32 provider interviews were completed. Findings from this study support the three types of continuity described by Haggerty and Reid (information, management, and relationship continuity). This work extends their model by adding features of the circle of care that influence and enable continuity: Provider Connectedness the sense of knowing and trust between providers who share care of a patient; a set of ten communication patterns that are used to support continuity across the circle of care; and environmental factors outside the circle that can indirectly influence continuity. Conclusions We present an extended model of continuity of care. The components in the model can support health planners consider how health care is organized to promote continuity and by researchers when considering future continuity research. PMID:23941179

A Proposal to Localize Fermi GBM GRBs Through Coordinated Scanning of the GBM Error Circle via Optical Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ukwatta, T. N.; Linnemann, J. T.; Tollefson, K.; Abeysekara, A. U.; Bhat, P. N.; Sonbas, E.; Gehrels, N.

2011-01-01

We investigate the feasibility of implementing a system that will coordinate ground-based optical telescopes to cover the Fermi GBM Error Circle (EC). The aim of the system is to localize GBM detected GRBs and facilitate multi-wavelength follow-up from space and ground. This system will optimize the observing locations in the GBM EC based on individual telescope location, Field of View (FoV) and sensitivity. The proposed system will coordinate GBM EC scanning by professional as well as amateur astronomers around the world. The results of a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the feasibility of the project are presented.

Impact of quality circles for improvement of asthma care: results of a randomized controlled trial

PubMed Central

Schneider, Antonius; Wensing, Michel; Biessecker, Kathrin; Quinzler, Renate; Kaufmann-Kolle, Petra; Szecsenyi, Joachim

2008-01-01

Rationale and aims Quality circles (QCs) are well established as a means of aiding doctors. New quality improvement strategies include benchmarking activities. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of QCs for asthma care working either with general feedback or with an open benchmark. Methods Twelve QCs, involving 96 general practitioners, were organized in a randomized controlled trial. Six worked with traditional anonymous feedback and six with an open benchmark; both had guided discussion from a trained moderator. Forty-three primary care practices agreed to give out questionnaires to patients to evaluate the efficacy of QCs. Results A total of 256 patients participated in the survey, of whom 185 (72.3%) responded to the follow-up 1 year later. Use of inhaled steroids at baseline was high (69%) and self-management low (asthma education 27%, individual emergency plan 8%, and peak flow meter at home 21%). Guideline adherence in drug treatment increased (P = 0.19), and asthma steps improved (P = 0.02). Delivery of individual emergency plans increased (P = 0.008), and unscheduled emergency visits decreased (P = 0.064). There was no change in asthma education and peak flow meter usage. High medication guideline adherence was associated with reduced emergency visits (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.07–0.89). Use of theophylline was associated with hospitalization (OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.5–34.3) and emergency visits (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.6–14.7). There was no difference between traditional and benchmarking QCs. Conclusions Quality circles working with individualized feedback are effective at improving asthma care. The trial may have been underpowered to detect specific benchmarking effects. Further research is necessary to evaluate strategies for improving the self-management of asthma patients. PMID:18093108

Managerial Techniques in Educational Administration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lane, John J.

1983-01-01

Management techniques developed during the past 20 years assume the rational bureaucratic model. School administration requires contingent techniques. Quality Circle, Theory Z, and the McKenzie 7-Framework are discussed as techniques to increase school productivity. (MD)

Fresnel Lenses for Wide-Aperture Optical Receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemmati, Hamid

2004-01-01

Wide-aperture receivers for freespace optical communication systems would utilize Fresnel lenses instead of conventional telescope lenses, according to a proposal. Fresnel lenses weigh and cost much less than conventional lenses having equal aperture widths. Plastic Fresnel lenses are commercially available in diameters up to 5 m large enough to satisfy requirements for aperture widths of the order of meters for collecting sufficient light in typical long-distance free-space optical communication systems. Fresnel lenses are not yet suitable for high-quality diffraction-limited imaging, especially in polychromatic light. However, optical communication systems utilize monochromatic light, and there is no requirement for high-quality imaging; instead, the basic requirement for an optical receiver is to collect the incoming monochromatic light over a wide aperture and concentrate the light onto a photodetector. Because of lens aberrations and diffraction, the light passing through any lens is focused to a blur circle rather than to a point. Calculations for some representative cases of wide-aperture non-diffraction-limited Fresnel lenses have shown that it should be possible to attain blur-circle diameters of less than 2 mm. Preferably, the blur-circle diameter should match the width of the photodetector. For most high-bandwidth communication applications, the required photodetector diameters would be about 1 mm. In a less-preferable case in which the blur circle was wider than a single photodetector, it would be possible to occupy the blur circle with an array of photodetectors. As an alternative to using a single large Fresnel lens, one could use an array of somewhat smaller lenses to synthesize the equivalent aperture area. Such a configuration might be preferable in a case in which a single Fresnel lens of the requisite large size would be impractical to manufacture, and the blur circle could not be made small enough. For example one could construct a square array of four 5-m-diameter Fresnel lenses to obtain the same light-collecting area as that of a single 10-m-diameter lens. In that case (see figure), the light collected by each Fresnel lens could be collimated, the collimated beams from the four Fresnel lenses could be reflected onto a common offaxis paraboloidal reflector, and the paraboloidal reflector would focus the four beams onto a single photodetector. Alternatively, detected signal from each detector behind each lens would be digitized before summing the signals.

On triangulations of the plane by pencils of conics. II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lazareva, V B; Shelekhov, A M

2013-06-30

The present work continues our previous paper in which all possible triangulations of the plane using three pencils of circles were listed. In the present article we find all projectively distinct triangulations of the plane by pencils of conics that are obtained by projecting regular three-webs, cut out on a nondegenerate cubic surface by three pencils of planes, whose axes lie on this surface. Bibliography: 6 titles.

Characteristic analysis and comparison of two kinds of hybrid plasmonic annular resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jie; Shi, Feifei; Zhou, Taojie; He, Kebo; Qiu, Bocang; Zhang, Zhaoyu

2017-04-01

We designed two kinds of hybrid plasmonic annular resonators with different cross-sectional shapes, i.e., a square and circle called "square ring" and "circle ring" resonators, respectively. Both resonators feature an ultracompact mode volume of ˜10-4 μm3 and a relatively high-quality factor of ˜102 at a submicron footprint within our studied wavelength range from 400 to 900 nm. Their performance as defined by the Q/V ratio (quality factor over mode volume) is enhanced considerably with a reduction in their physical dimensions. There exists critical annular radii, which increase from 400 to 600 nm with an increase in the azimuthal numbers from m=7 to m=10, if the two types of rings are compared with the same mode numbers and same ring thickness of 120 nm. Below the critical radii, the circle ring resonator outperforms the square ring resonator in terms of the Q/V ratio, and the difference in Q/V of the two types of rings increases rapidly with the decrease of the radii. On the other hand, they have critical annular radii of ˜250 nm, below which the square ring resonator outperforms the circle ring resonator at the wavelengths of 490 and 595 nm however, the difference in Q/V of the two types of rings remains small within the radii range we consider. It is suggested that, in practice, with the consideration of the wavelength of green emission for these two ring structures with radii from 100 to 500 nm and ring thickness ˜120 nm, they have a negligible difference in Q/V performance.

Productivity Research and Development Planning Workshop.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-01

mission. These ideas must come from everyone in all echelons of the Comand. The MAC quality of worklife efforts consist of quality circles, labor-manage...that would not have been captured by the measure as initially formulated by the PIG. The balance of the plan and recommenda- tions made by the PMWG...people are doing things. We have the suggestion program, the quality of worklife program, and the Tech Mod program. All of these programs are productivity

Circle the Wagons & Bust out the Big Guns! Tame the "Wild West" of Distance Librarianship Using Quality Matters™ Benchmarks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickens, Kathleen; Witte, Ginna

2015-01-01

The Quality Matters™ (QM) Program is utilized by over 700 colleges and universities to ensure that online course design meets standards imperative to student success in a Web-based classroom. Although a faculty-driven peer-review process, QM provides assessment from a student perspective, thereby identifying opportunities for improvement that may…

The Action Competence Approach and the "New" Discourses of Education for Sustainable Development, Competence and Quality Criteria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mogensen, Finn; Schnack, Karsten

2010-01-01

Action competence has been a key concept in educational circles in Denmark since the 1980s. This paper explores the relationship between the action competence approach and recent discourses of education for sustainable development (ESD), competence and quality criteria. First we argue that action competence is an educational ideal, referring to…

Variable plant spacing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bledsoe, Jim; Weiss, Lee

1988-01-01

The goal of this project was to develop a system for varying the spacings between soybean plants as they grow to maximize the number of plants grown in a given volume. The project was studied to aid in the development of NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). The resulting design consists of plant trays which are three dimensional trapezoids arranged into circles in a compact geometrical configuration. These circles are stacked together in back to back pairs to form a long cylinder. In each growth tray, plants will be housed in individual containers containing a nutrient delivery system and a plant support mechanism. Between the containers, a half trellis has been designed to space the plants for maximum space efficiency. The design allows for localized seeding and harvesting mechanisms due to the chambers' geometrical configuration. In addition, the components have been designed for ease of cleaning and minimal maintenance. Next semester, the individual components will be constructed and tested to determine the success of the design.

General Practitioners' preferences and use of educational media: a German perspective

PubMed Central

Vollmar, Horst Christian; Rieger, Monika A; Butzlaff, Martin E; Ostermann, Thomas

2009-01-01

Background Several studies suggest that General Practitioners (GPs) prefer "traditional" media such as journals or quality circles when they are seeking out different options to meet their continuing medical education (CME) requirements. A survey was designed in order to gain a better understanding of German General Practitioners' preferences for different forms of educational media that will meet their CME needs. Methods Four hundred and forty nine (N = 449) German physicians were contacted to take part in this study on the occasion of one of their quality circle meetings. The participating physicians received a standardized 26-item-questionnaire that surveyed their preferences for different forms of educational media. A factor analysis was performed in order to determine whether the observed variables can be explained largely or entirely in terms of the underlying patterns. Results Two hundred and sixty-four physicians with an average age of 51.1 years participated (28.5% female, 71.5% male). We found that GPs favor learning environments such as: journals, colleagues, and quality circles. New media like the internet was used less often for their learning activities, even though the usage of the internet in general was quite high. The most important requirements for media in medical education as perceived by the participants were its relevancy for daily practice and dependability. Conclusion Despite a growing use of the Internet it seems that German GPs favor "classical/traditional" settings for their learning activities. These results should be taken into consideration when planning CME or CPD programs or other learning activities. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN36550981. PMID:19220905

Hospital quality: a product of good management as much as good treatment.

PubMed

Hyde, Andy; Frafjord, Anders

2013-01-01

In Norway, as in most countries, the demands placed on hospitals to reduce costs and improve the quality of services are intense. Although many say that improving quality reduces costs, few can prove it. Futhermore, how many people can show that improving quality improves patient satisfaction. Diakonhjemmet hospital in Norway has designed and implemented a hospital management system based on lean principles and the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) quality circle introduced by WE Deming (Deming 2000). The results are quite impressive with improvements in quality and patient satisfaction. The hospital also runs at a profit.

Understanding map projections: Chapter 15

USGS Publications Warehouse

Usery, E. Lynn; Kent, Alexander J.; Vujakovic, Peter

2018-01-01

It has probably never been more important in the history of cartography than now that people understand how maps work. With increasing globalization, for example, world maps provide a key format for the transmission of information, but are often poorly used. Examples of poor understanding and use of projections and the resultant maps are many; for instance, the use of rectangular world maps in the United Kingdom press to show Chinese and Korean missile ranges as circles, something which can only be achieved on equidistant projections and then only from one launch point (Vujakovic, 2014).

Communicating Ocean Acidification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pope, Aaron; Selna, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

Participation in a study circle through the National Network of Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) project enabled staff at the California Academy of Sciences to effectively engage visitors on climate change and ocean acidification topics. Strategic framing tactics were used as staff revised the scripted Coral Reef Dive program,…

A STUDY OF LAND APPLICATION OF ANAEROBICALLY DIGESTED BIOSOLIDS

EPA Science Inventory

A field-scale research project was conducted in 2004-2005 to evaluate land application of anaerobically digested biosolids at agronomic levels. Biosolids had not been applied to this land previously. For this study, biosolids wee applied in a 100-m diameter circle by a side dis...

Verification of real sensor motion for a high-dynamic 3D measurement inspection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breitbarth, Andreas; Correns, Martin; Zimmermann, Manuel; Zhang, Chen; Rosenberger, Maik; Schambach, Jörg; Notni, Gunther

2017-06-01

Inline three-dimensional measurements are a growing part of optical inspection. Considering increasing production capacities and economic aspects, dynamic measurements under motion are inescapable. Using a sequence of different pattern, like it is generally done in fringe projection systems, relative movements of the measurement object with respect to the 3d sensor between the images of one pattern sequence have to be compensated. Based on the application of fully automated optical inspection of circuit boards at an assembly line, the knowledge of the relative speed of movement between the measurement object and the 3d sensor system should be used inside the algorithms of motion compensation. Optimally, this relative speed is constant over the whole measurement process and consists of only one motion direction to avoid sensor vibrations. The quantified evaluation of this two assumptions and the error impact on the 3d accuracy are content of the research project described by this paper. For our experiments we use a glass etalon with non-transparent circles and transmitted light. Focused on the circle borders, this is one of the most reliable methods to determine subpixel positions using a couple of searching rays. The intersection point of all rays characterize the center of each circle. Based on these circle centers determined with a precision of approximately 1=50 pixel, the motion vector between two images could be calculated and compared with the input motion vector. Overall, the results are used to optimize the weight distribution of the 3d sensor head and reduce non-uniformly vibrations. Finally, there exists a dynamic 3d measurement system with an error of motion vectors about 4 micrometer. Based on this outcome, simulations result in a 3d standard deviation at planar object regions of 6 micrometers. The same system yields a 3d standard deviation of 9 µm without the optimization of weight distribution.

The Full Circle: Building a Coherent Teacher Preparation System. The Report of the NASBE Study Group on Coordination and Accountability in Teacher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of State Boards of Education, Alexandria, VA.

Research shows that teacher quality may be one of the most significant factors in student achievement. This report includes five chapters that focus on: (1) "Introduction and Executive Summary"; (2) "Coordinating K-12 and Higher Education to Support High-Quality Teacher Preparation" (e.g., coordinating teacher candidate experience in K-12 and…

Experiential Learning in Marketing Communications Courses: The Demarketing of College Binge-Drinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rozensher, Susan G.; Seal, David S.

2009-01-01

The experiential learning approach has been gathering substantial momentum and support in educational circles. In the team-based experiential learning project presented here, which effectively integrated theory and application, students were charged with creating an integrated marketing communications plan to demarket binge drinking on the college…

Project SisterCircle: Risk, Intersectionality, and Intervening in Urban Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Wendi; Karlin, Thomas; Wallace, Deidre

2012-01-01

Adolescent Black/African descent and Latina girls in urban environments are at heightened risk for the negative consequences of sexual risk. Intervention programming that accounts for the intersection of adolescent girls' racial/ethnic cultural experiences and gender are likely to be most effective in minimizing their vulnerability for sexual…

Care in Academia: An Exploration of Student Parents' Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moreau, Marie-Pierre; Kerner, Charlotte

2015-01-01

While student parents now represent a significant proportion of the higher education population in England, this group has been given limited consideration in policy circles. Using a social constructivist and feminist theoretical framework, this paper draws on a research project investigating the role of higher education policies in supporting…

Illuminating the Mathematics of Lamp Shades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthews, Michael E.; Gross, Greg

2008-01-01

The problem of creating lamp shades to specific design parameters allows rich and interesting explorations in the mathematics of circles and triangles. This interactive project helps students build their spatial reasoning and is especially appropriate during a unit on either the Pythagorean theorem or similar triangles. (Contains 7 figures and 1…

Home-School Literacy Bags for Twenty-First Century Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brand, Susan Trostle; Marchand, Jessica; Lilly, Elizabeth; Child, Martha

2014-01-01

Combining home-school literacy bags with preschool family literature circles provided a strong foundation for family involvement at home and school during this year-long Reading Partners project, and helped parents become essential partners in their children's literacy development. Using home-school literacy bags, children and parents learned…

Empowering Adult Learners. NIF Literacy Program Helps ABE Accomplish Human Development Mission.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hurley, Mary E.

1991-01-01

The National Issues Forum's Literacy Program uses study circles and group discussion to promote empowerment and enhance adult literacy through civic education. The program has helped the Westonka (Minnesota) Adult Basic Education project accomplish its mission and has expanded the staff's view of adult learning. (SK)

76 FR 70729 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-15

..., and behavior related to the campaign and monitoring early child development. The project aims to... children has an autism spectrum disorder in 2006. Today, autism is recognized in many circles as an... communities participating in both the 2002 and 2006 studies observed an increase in identified ASD prevalence...

Successful Instructional Strategies for the Community College Student.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Franse, Stephen R.

1992-01-01

Describes methods which have proven effective in motivating largely nontraditional and bilingual community college students to succeed. Suggests that teachers require writing, use graphs/illustrations creatively, use primary sources as required readings, provide supplementary readings, use brainstorming and quality circle techniques, and prepare…

Knowledge translation on dementia: a cluster randomized trial to compare a blended learning approach with a "classical" advanced training in GP quality circles.

PubMed

Vollmar, Horst C; Butzlaff, Martin E; Lefering, Rolf; Rieger, Monika A

2007-06-22

Thus far important findings regarding the dementia syndrome have been implemented into patients' medical care only inadequately. A professional training accounting for both, general practitioners' (GP) needs and learning preferences as well as care-relevant aspects could be a major step towards improving medical care. In the WIDA-study, entitled "Knowledge translation on dementia in general practice" two different training concepts are developed, implemented and evaluated. Both concepts are building on an evidence-based, GP-related dementia guideline and communicate the guideline's essential insights. Both development and implementation emphasize a procedure that is well-accepted in practice and, thus, can achieve a high degree of external validity. This is particularly guaranteed through the preparation of training material and the fact that general practitioners' quality circles (QC) are addressed. The evaluation of the two training concepts is carried out by comparing two groups of GPs to which several quality circles have been randomly assigned. The primary outcome is the GPs' knowledge gain. Secondary outcomes are designed to indicate the training's potential effects on the GPs' practical actions. In the first training concept (study arm A) GPs participate in a structured case discussion prepared for by internet-based learning material ("blended-learning" approach). The second training concept (study arm B) relies on frontal medical training in the form of a slide presentation and follow-up discussion ("classical" approach). This paper presents the outline of a cluster-randomized trial which has been peer reviewed and support by a national funding organization--Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)--and is approved by an ethics commission. The data collection has started in August 2006 and the results will be published independently of the study's outcome. Current Controlled Trials [ISRCTN36550981].

Efficient and robust analysis of complex scattering data under noise in microwave resonators.

PubMed

Probst, S; Song, F B; Bushev, P A; Ustinov, A V; Weides, M

2015-02-01

Superconducting microwave resonators are reliable circuits widely used for detection and as test devices for material research. A reliable determination of their external and internal quality factors is crucial for many modern applications, which either require fast measurements or operate in the single photon regime with small signal to noise ratios. Here, we use the circle fit technique with diameter correction and provide a step by step guide for implementing an algorithm for robust fitting and calibration of complex resonator scattering data in the presence of noise. The speedup and robustness of the analysis are achieved by employing an algebraic rather than an iterative fit technique for the resonance circle.

An Introduction to Student Quality Circle at College of Business Administration, Salman Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--An Empirical Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faridi, Mohammad Rishad; Al Kahtani, Nasser Saad; Alam, Teg; Malki, Said

2014-01-01

Catch 'em young for imparting hands-on rigorous academic training. This is what has been relentlessly pursued while dealing with the undergraduate students of business management who are to be thoroughly exposed to the whole gamut of quality work life. Whether they opt for corporate career or pursue masters or choose be an entrepreneur, their…

Challenging Chait on Theory Z.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nichols, David A.

1982-01-01

It is argued that there is little evidence in higher education of: participatory management with academic departments the equivalent of quality circles; tenure systems similar to Japanese lifetime employment; collegiate mission statements comparable to superordinate goals; and a democratic leadership style close to the interdependent style favored…

Mars PathFinder Rover Traverse Image

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

This figure contains an azimuth-elevation projection of the 'Gallery Panorama.' The original Simple Cylindrical mosaic has been reprojected to the inside of a sphere so that lines of constant azimuth radiate from the center and lines of constant elevation are concentric circles. This projection preserves the resolution of the original panorama. Overlaid onto the projected Martian surface is a delineation of the Sojourner rover traverse path during the 83 Sols (Martian days) of Pathfinder surface operations. The rover path was reproduced using IMP camera 'end of day' and 'Rover movie' image sequences and rover vehicle telemetry data as references.

High-Speed Civil Transport Forecast: Simulated Airlines Scenarios for Mach 1.6, Mach 2.0, and Mach 2.4 Configurations for Year 2015

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Metwally, Munir

1996-01-01

The report describes the development of a database of fuel burn and emissions from projected High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) fleets that reflect actual airlines' networks, operational requirement, and traffic flow as operated by simulated world wide airlines for Mach 1.6, 2.0, and 2.4 HSCT configurations. For the year 2015, McDonnell Douglas Corporation created two supersonic commercial air traffic networks consisting of origin-destination city pair routes and associated traffic levels. The first scenario represented a manufacturing upper limit producible HSCT fleet availability by year 2015. The fleet projection of the Mach 2.4 configuration for this scenario was 1059 units with a traffic capture of 70 percent. The second scenario focused on the number of units that can minimally be produced by the year 2015. Using realistic production rates, the HSCT fleet projection amounts to 565 units. The traffic capture associated with this fleet was estimated at 40 percent. The airlines network was extracted from the actual networks of 21 major world airlines. All the routes were screened for suitability for HSCT operations. The route selection criteria included great circle distance, difference between flight path distance and great circle distance to avoid overland operations, and potential flight frequency.

A Model of American Indian School Administrators: Completing the Circle of Knowledge in Native Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christman, Dana; Guillory, Raphael; Fairbanks, Anthony; Gonzalez, Maria Luisa

2008-01-01

This study sought to understand the perceptions of American Indian educators as they made their way through a pre-service school administrator preparation program at a large, public research university. The Model of American Indian School Administrators, or "Project MAISA", prepares American Indian/Alaska Native teachers to obtain…

Adolescent Development of Trust. CIRCLE Working Paper 61

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flanagan, Connie; Gallay, Leslie

2008-01-01

The purpose of this project was to gain a better understanding of dimensions of trust and inter-relationships between those dimensions during the adolescent years. Drawing from survey data collected at the beginning and end of a semester in eighty middle- and high-school social studies classes, relationships were assessed between: social trust,…

Reimagining the Color Wheel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snyder, Jennifer

2011-01-01

Color wheels are a traditional project for many teachers. The author has used them in art appreciation classes for many years, but one problem she found when her pre-service art education students created colored wheels was that they were boring: simple circles, with pie-shaped pieces, which students either painted or colored in. This article…

78 FR 64595 - Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in Illinois

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-29

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in Illinois AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of... Sec. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Circle Interchange, I-90/I-94 and I...

Effectiveness of Circle of Life, an HIV-Preventive Intervention for American Indian Middle School Youths: A Group Randomized Trial in a Northern Plains Tribe

PubMed Central

Whitesell, Nancy Rumbaugh; Keane, Ellen M.; Desserich, Jennifer A.; Giago, Cindy; Sam, Angela; Mitchell, Christina M.

2014-01-01

Objectives. We assessed the effectiveness of Circle of Life (COL), an HIV-preventive intervention developed specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) middle school youths. Methods. By partnering with a tribal community, we conducted a longitudinal wait-listed group randomized trial with 635 seventh and eighth graders in 13 schools of a Northern Plains tribe. We surveyed participants at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months from 2006 to 2007. Results. COL was found to increase HIV knowledge in the short term, but had no effect on sexual activity compared with those who did not receive it. However, COL was found to be effective for delaying the onset of sexual activity, with the greatest reduction in risk occurring for those receiving COL at early ages. Conclusions. Community partnership was key to successful project design, implementation, and analysis. The project confirmed the importance of the timing of interventions in early adolescence. COL may be a key resource for reducing sexual risk among AI/AN youths. PMID:24754555

Kaizen and ergonomics: the perfect marriage.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Martin Antonio; Lopez, Luis Fernando

2012-01-01

This paper is an approach of how Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) and Ergonomics could be implemented in the field of work. The Toyota's Team Members are the owners of this job, applying tools and techniques to improve work conditions using the Kaizen Philosophy in a QCC Activity (Quality Control Circle).

15 CFR 922.93 - Permit procedures and criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary § 922.93... Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411. (c) The Director, at his or her discretion may issue a permit, subject... related to the resources and qualities of the Sanctuary; (2) Further the educational, natural, or...

Why Demonstrations Matter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Black, Richard

2005-01-01

With the current focus on constructivist perspectives, science demonstrations have fallen out of favor in some circles. Demonstrations are easy to do and offer many benefits and unique opportunities in the constructivist classroom. With careful use, demonstrations can be powerful teaching tools. A wonderful quality of a demonstration (or a series…

Analytic reconstruction algorithms for triple-source CT with horizontal data truncation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Ming; Yu, Hengyong, E-mail: hengyong-yu@ieee.org

2015-10-15

Purpose: This paper explores a triple-source imaging method with horizontal data truncation to enlarge the field of view (FOV) for big objects. Methods: The study is conducted by using theoretical analysis, mathematical deduction, and numerical simulations. The proposed algorithms are implemented in c + + and MATLAB. While the basic platform is constructed in MATLAB, the computationally intensive segments are coded in c + +, which are linked via a MEX interface. Results: A triple-source circular scanning configuration with horizontal data truncation is developed, where three pairs of x-ray sources and detectors are unevenly distributed on the same circle tomore » cover the whole imaging object. For this triple-source configuration, a fan-beam filtered backprojection-type algorithm is derived for truncated full-scan projections without data rebinning. The algorithm is also extended for horizontally truncated half-scan projections and cone-beam projections in a Feldkamp-type framework. Using their method, the FOV is enlarged twofold to threefold to scan bigger objects with high speed and quality. The numerical simulation results confirm the correctness and effectiveness of the developed algorithms. Conclusions: The triple-source scanning configuration with horizontal data truncation cannot only keep most of the advantages of a traditional multisource system but also cover a larger FOV for big imaging objects. In addition, because the filtering is shift-invariant, the proposed algorithms are very fast and easily parallelized on graphic processing units.« less

Analytic reconstruction algorithms for triple-source CT with horizontal data truncation.

PubMed

Chen, Ming; Yu, Hengyong

2015-10-01

This paper explores a triple-source imaging method with horizontal data truncation to enlarge the field of view (FOV) for big objects. The study is conducted by using theoretical analysis, mathematical deduction, and numerical simulations. The proposed algorithms are implemented in c + + and matlab. While the basic platform is constructed in matlab, the computationally intensive segments are coded in c + +, which are linked via a mex interface. A triple-source circular scanning configuration with horizontal data truncation is developed, where three pairs of x-ray sources and detectors are unevenly distributed on the same circle to cover the whole imaging object. For this triple-source configuration, a fan-beam filtered backprojection-type algorithm is derived for truncated full-scan projections without data rebinning. The algorithm is also extended for horizontally truncated half-scan projections and cone-beam projections in a Feldkamp-type framework. Using their method, the FOV is enlarged twofold to threefold to scan bigger objects with high speed and quality. The numerical simulation results confirm the correctness and effectiveness of the developed algorithms. The triple-source scanning configuration with horizontal data truncation cannot only keep most of the advantages of a traditional multisource system but also cover a larger FOV for big imaging objects. In addition, because the filtering is shift-invariant, the proposed algorithms are very fast and easily parallelized on graphic processing units.

Experiments Testing the Causes of Namibian Fairy Circles.

PubMed

Tschinkel, Walter R

2015-01-01

The grasslands on the sandy soils of the eastern edge of the Namib Desert of Namibia are strikingly punctuated by millions of mostly regularly-spaced circular bare spots 2 to 10 m or more in diameter, generally with a margin of taller grasses. The causes of these so called fairy circles are unknown, but several hypotheses have been advanced. In October 2009, we set up experiments that specifically tested four hypothesized causes, and monitored these 5 times between 2009 and 2015. Grass exclusion in circles due to seepage of subterranean vapors or gases was tested by burying an impermeable barrier beneath fairy circles, but seedling density and growth did not differ from barrier-less controls. Plant germination and growth inhibition by allelochemicals or nutrient deficiencies in fairy circle soils were tested by transferring fairy circle soil to artificially cleared circles in the grassy matrix, and matrix soil to fairy circles (along with circle to circle and matrix to matrix controls). None of the transfers changed the seedling density and growth from the control reference conditions. Limitation of plant growth due to micronutrient depletion within fairy circles was tested by supplementing circles with a micronutrient mixture, but did not result in differences in plant seedling density and growth. Short-range vegetation competitive feedbacks were tested by creating artificially-cleared circles of 2 or 4 m diameter located 2 or 6 m from a natural fairy circle. The natural circles remained bare and the artificial circles revegetated. These four experiments provided evidence that fairy circles were not caused by subterranean vapors, that fairy circle soil per se did not inhibit plant growth, and that the circles were not caused by micronutrient deficiency. There was also no evidence that vegetative feedbacks affected fairy circles on a 2 to 10 m scale. Landscape-scale vegetative self-organization is discussed as a more likely cause of fairy circles.

Automatic Monitoring of Tunnel Deformation Based on High Density Point Clouds Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, L.; Zhong, R.; Sun, H.; Wu, Q.

2017-09-01

An automated method for tunnel deformation monitoring using high density point clouds data is presented. Firstly, the 3D point clouds data are converted to two-dimensional surface by projection on the XOY plane, the projection point set of central axis on XOY plane named Uxoy is calculated by combining the Alpha Shape algorithm with RANSAC (Random Sampling Consistency) algorithm, and then the projection point set of central axis on YOZ plane named Uyoz is obtained by highest and lowest points which are extracted by intersecting straight lines that through each point of Uxoy and perpendicular to the two -dimensional surface with the tunnel point clouds, Uxoy and Uyoz together form the 3D center axis finally. Secondly, the buffer of each cross section is calculated by K-Nearest neighbor algorithm, and the initial cross-sectional point set is quickly constructed by projection method. Finally, the cross sections are denoised and the section lines are fitted using the method of iterative ellipse fitting. In order to improve the accuracy of the cross section, a fine adjustment method is proposed to rotate the initial sectional plane around the intercept point in the horizontal and vertical direction within the buffer. The proposed method is used in Shanghai subway tunnel, and the deformation of each section in the direction of 0 to 360 degrees is calculated. The result shows that the cross sections becomes flat circles from regular circles due to the great pressure at the top of the tunnel

School Improvement Teams. The Best of ERIC on Educational Management, Number 102.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, Eugene, OR.

The reports included in this annotated bibliography of 11 publications on school improvement teams suggest that ownership and commitment to improvement are natural consequences of shared planning and decisionmaking, that overcentralization has severely limited the scope of teachers' professional discretion, and that quality circles--stressing…

Higher Education and Japanese Management: Are They Compatible? AIR 1983 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spiro, Louis M.; Campbell, Jill F.

Suggestions for administrators who wish to implement Japanese management techniques in higher education are offered. These techniques are more than establishing quality circles; instead they propose different value structures that link employees and the organization. The organizational structures that typically exist in higher education and the…

7 CFR 51.3069 - Very serious damage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... STANDARDS) United States Standards for Florida Avocados Definitions § 51.3069 Very serious damage. Very... break very seriously affecting the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality; (b) Pulled stems when the skin surrounding the exposed stem cavity is torn more than an aggregate area of a circle one-half...

7 CFR 51.3069 - Very serious damage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... STANDARDS) United States Standards for Florida Avocados Definitions § 51.3069 Very serious damage. Very... break very seriously affecting the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality; (b) Pulled stems when the skin surrounding the exposed stem cavity is torn more than an aggregate area of a circle one-half...

Paradigm Privilege: Determining the Value of Research in Teacher Education Policy Making.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bales, Barbara L.

This paper explains that despite the long debate over the relative value of quantitative and qualitative educational research and attempts to talk across disciplines, quantitative research dominates educational policy circles. As a result, quality qualitative research may not enter into educational policy conversations. The paper discusses whether…

Squaring the Circle: A New Alternative to Alternative-Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Peter

2014-01-01

Many quality assurance systems rely on high-stakes assessment for course certification. Such methods are not as objective as they might appear; they can have detrimental effects on student motivation and may lack relevance to the needs of degree courses increasingly oriented to vocational utility. "Alternative assessment" methods can…

PRESS SHOP. SEVEN BLISS PRESSES STAMP OUT A VARIETY OF ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

PRESS SHOP. SEVEN BLISS PRESSES STAMP OUT A VARIETY OF CARTRIDGE AND SHELL CASINGS. THIS DEPARTMENT WAS TRANSFORMED FROM A MONEY-LOSING OPERATION TO A PROFIT CENTER UNDER THE FIRST WORKER-MANAGED QUALITY CIRCLE IN THE PLANT. - American Brass Foundry, 70 Sayre Street, Buffalo, Erie County, NY

7 CFR 51.2128 - Damage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... materially detracts from the appearance of the individual kernel, or the edible or shipping quality of the... maximum allowed for any one defect shall be considered as damage: (a) Chipped and scratched kernels, when the affected area on an individual kernel aggregates more than the equivalent of a circle one-quarter...

China's Succession Battle Stirs Higher Education Debate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cleverley, John

1976-01-01

Describes the current debate going on in Chinese political and educational circles regarding the quality of university education since the Cultural Revolution. Those being singled out for their bourgeois line are critical of such practices as nonacademic selection criteria and the weight given to practical experience in the shortened courses. (JT)

Limitations of Experiments in Education Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore

2012-01-01

Research based on randomized experiments (along with high-quality quasi-experiments) has gained traction in education circles in recent years. There is little doubt this has been driven in large part by the shift in research funding strategy by the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences under Grover Whitehurst's lead, described…

How accurate is NETTO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dupont, S.

1979-01-01

The historical origin and general history of vertical current total energy variometer, including its optimum airspeed selector ring are reviewed, and some later developments of it are discussed. Polars of three sailplanes of different spans are charted for straight and circling flight, then plotted to reveal their parabolic anomaly and the effect of circling flight sink rate. These effects are further analyzed for their influence on the transient compensation of NETTO variometers as well as the speed ring. Some other disturbances due to the quality of sailplane preparation and flight dynamics are listed. Conclusions are drawn about the problems to pilots from imperfect NETTO variometer compensation and its effect on the maximization of ground speed from the speed ring. A modification for improvements to the speed ring and computer is suggested.

Special geometries associated to quaternion-Kähler 8-manifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gambioli, A.; Nagatomo, Y.; Salamon, S.

2015-05-01

We develop a calculus of differential forms on a quaternion-Kähler manifold M4n admitting an isometric circle action. This is used to study three fundamental examples of such actions on the quaternionic projective plane and the construction of G2 and half-flat structures on quotients of M8 and its hypersurfaces.

Pace's Maxims for Homegrown Library Projects. Coming Full Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pace, Andrew K.

2005-01-01

This article discusses six maxims by which to run library automation. The following maxims are discussed: (1) Solve only known problems; (2) Avoid changing data to fix display problems; (3) Aut viam inveniam aut faciam; (4) If you cannot make it yourself, buy something; (5) Kill the alligator closest to the boat; and (6) Just because yours is…

The Xicana Sacred Space: A Communal Circle of Compromiso for Educational Researchers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soto, Lourdes Diaz; Cervantes-Soon, Claudia G.; Villarreal, Elizabeth; Campos, Emmet E.

2009-01-01

The Xicana Sacred Space resulted from an effort to develop a framework that would center the complexities of Chicana ontology and epistemology as they relate to social action projects in our communities. Claiming indigenous roots and ways of knowing, the Xicana Sacred Space functions as a decolonizing tool by displacing androcentric and Western…

Learning about Social Capital in a Nonprofit and Philanthropy Management Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Livshin, Alexander

2011-01-01

The SOTL project was based on the goal of developing learning tools that would help students think and act outside the narrow circles of relatives and friends and develop the potential for broader associations through participating in nonprofit organizations and philanthropy. This was done by having students work in groups to invent a charitable…

Sub-Saharan Africa Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-16

Signs Agreement To Provide Further Industrial Aid (Franck Raharison; MADAGASCAR MATIN, 28 Jan 87) 19 Medical Aid Agreement Signed With Armenian City...operation in Tsarahasina, and FAFIMALAL medical -veterinary aid in the provinces of Fianarantsoa and Tulear. As to current projects, Jean Bemananjara...provoke comment in various circles. 5157 CSO:3419/100 20 MADAGASCAR MEDICAL AID AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH ARMENIAN CITY Tananarive MADAGASCAR

Update of the U.S. Army Research Institute’s Longitudinal Research Data Base of Officers

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-08-01

AIMS system. C-22 APPENDIX D AIMS CONTACT INFORMATION AIMS Project Office Administrative POC for AIMS Data Steven Veazey Commander (804) 878-5088 TRADOC...804) 727-4386 ATIN: ATOM-O ( Veazey ) Fort Monroe, VA 23651-5000 SYSCON HQ Williamsburg, VA 309 McLaws Circle Suite K Williamsburg, VA 23185 (804) 253

The E-Learning Setting Circle: First Steps toward Theory Development in E-Learning Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rüth, Marco; Kaspar, Kai

2017-01-01

E-learning projects and related research generate an increasing amount of evidence within and across various disciplines and contexts. The field is very heterogeneous as e-learning approaches are often characterized by rather unique combinations of situational factors that guide the design and realization of e-learning in a bottom-up fashion.…

A complete set of two-dimensional harmonic vortices on a spherical surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esparza, Christian; Rendón, Pablo Luis; Ley Koo, Eugenio

2018-03-01

The solutions of the Euler equations on a spherical surface are constructed, starting from a vector velocity potential A in the radial direction and with a two-dimensional spherical harmonic variation of order m and well-defined parity under \\varphi \\mapsto -\\varphi . The solutions are well-behaved on the entire surface and continuous at the position of a parallel circle θ ={θ }0, where the vorticity is shown to be harmonically distributed. The velocity field is evaluated as the curl of the vector potential: it is shown that the velocity is divergenceless and distributed on the spherical surface. Its polar components at the parallel circle are shown to be continuous, confirming its divergenceless nature, while its azimuthal components are discontinuous at the circle, and their discontinuity is a measure of the vorticity in the radial direction. A closed form for the velocity field lines is also obtained in terms of fixed values of the scalar harmonic function associated with the vector potential. Additionally, the connections of the solutions on a spherical surface with their circular, elliptic and bipolar counterparts on the equatorial plane are implemented via stereographic projections.

[The Origin of Scientific Notions in the Circle of the Roman Accademiadella Virt¾ around 1550].

PubMed

Kulawik, Bernd

2015-06-01

The Origin of Scientific Notions in the Circle of the Roman Accademia della Virtù around 1550. Between c. 1537 and 1555 a group of humanists, clerics, architects and philologists known as the so-called Accademia della Virtù got together in Rome to work on a program which was formulated in a letter by the Sienese humanist Claudio Tolomei in 1542 and published in 1547. Starting out with the intention to understand the only surviving antique book on architecture and architectural theory - Vitruvius' De architectura libri decem - the program describes a series of 24 books, eleven containing the classical text and its translation with commentaries, 13 books systematically illustrating and documenting all known and available material remains from Roman antiquity. This program for a scientific classical archaeology in a modern sense was not only intended to serve the intellectual curiosity of some humanist antiquarians but to help architects and their patrons to develop a new architecture of the same high quality as the idealized Roman examples. To achieve this practical as well as theoretical goal it was obviously necessary to re-create the antique vocabulary of architecture and its rules as well as to unify the contemporary usage of notions and norms in a canon. The first results of this project seem to be the In decem Libros M. Vitruvii Pollionis de Architectura Annotationes by Guillaume Philandrier (Rome, 1544) - up to this day a very valuable explanation of ambiguous parts in the Vitruvian text. Until the 1980s, it was believed that this book was the only outcome of the ambitious project; but then two codices of drawings after antique reliefs were identified as preparations for one of the other 23 volumes - and, because of their systematic approach, regarded as the 'first systematic archaeological book'. Now it seems that there are some other corpora of manuscripts and drawings documenting antique artifacts that should be regarded as results of the Accademia's work, too, showing antique buildings, inscriptions and coins. Other results of the unfinished project may be the theoretical and practical works of the two most influencial architects of the sixteenth century: Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and Andrea Palladio. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Introducing Nine-Point Circle to Junior High School Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiangga, S.; Azizah, M. A. N.; Rini, R. N. K.; Hidayanti, A. N.

2018-01-01

The concept of circles is an ancient concept that has appeared since Ancient Egypt from which this concept gives many significant contributions in mathematics’ development until now. Nevertheless, the concept of circles hides many uncover mysterious features that are of applications in mathematics. One of the mysterious features is the Nine-Point Circle. This Nine-point circle is also known as Euler’s circle, six-point circle, Feuerbach’s circle, the twelve-point circle, and many others. Because of these different names, there have been misunderstand among mathematicians about the Nine-Point Circle’s history. Besides, the discussion of Nine-Point Circle can be used to be an initial material to explain elementary geometry topic in junior high school’s level curriculum of 2013. Therefore, this concept needs to be delivered to the students as a geometry introduction. A possible form of the integration historical aspect of Nine-point circle is suggested in this paper as well as its importance in the curriculum of 2013.

Examining the Relationship between Civic Education and Partisan Alignment in Young Voters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Christopher H.

2017-01-01

As American politics becomes more polarized, it is increasingly necessary for teachers to understand the relationship between education and partisan behavior. Using data from a 2012 CIRCLE survey of 18-24-year-olds, I examine the relationship between students' educational experiences (focusing on exposure to high-quality civics instruction and…

Improving the Communication Environment for Children with Severe Handicaps through Manual Sign Inservice Training.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lloyd, Lyle L.; And Others

A "working party" (a decision-making group similar to the quality circles concept) comprised of public elementary school personnel (administrator, regular and special education staff), and parents, university special education faculty and graduate students worked cooperatively to develop and implement a manual sign inservice training package to…

The Influence of Quality Circles on Attitudinal Outcomes Among Civil Engineering Personnel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

whatsoever since 1977 (Donnelly, Gibson, & Ivancevich , 1984). From 1950 to 1980, however, Japan’s annual productivity growth rate has been four times...Cliffs NJ: Pren"ce-Ha11, 1980. Donnelly, James H. Jr., James L. Gibson, and John M. Ivancevich . Fundamentals of Management (Fifth Edition). Plano TX

Theory Z: Panacea or Placebo?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waagen, Christopher L.

William Ouchi's Theory Z, a theory that focuses on the identification of both management and labor with the company's goals, emphasizes communication structures and styles. Ringi is a Japanese procedure for decision making in which all levels of management participate. In Ringi, a manager's task is to communicate. In quality control (Q-C) circles,…

The Baylor Principals' Center: Developing Leadership through Quality Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Estes, Dwain M.; Crowder, David

The Baylor Principals' Center in Waco, Texas, offers programs in the Texas cities of Waco, Corsicana, and Killeen. Advanced instructional leadership training workshops consist of 12 hours of training. Incorporated into the meetings of the instructional leadership sessions are collegial circles made up of from six to eight people assigned in a…

Employee Participation and Involvement. Background Paper No. 35b.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levine, David I.; Strauss, George

Formal worker participation schemes, such as the quality circles and related employee involvement schemes that have been introduced in 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, are likely to have a lasting impact on the way many organizations work. In a majority of empirical studies, direct participation is associated with at least a short-run…

24. VIEW OF THE BUILDING 447 AND 448 ADDITIONS. THE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

24. VIEW OF THE BUILDING 447 AND 448 ADDITIONS. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Non-Nuclear Production Facility, South of Cottonwood Avenue, west of Seventh Avenue & east of Building 460, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Topographic control of sorted circle morphology on Svalbard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voigt, Joana; Hauber, Ernst; Reiss, Dennis; Hiesinger, Harald; Johnsson, Andreas; van Gasselt, Stephan; Balme, Matt; Head, Jim; de Verra, Jean-Pierre; Steinbrügge, Gregor; Jaumann, Ralf

2015-04-01

Patterned ground is a typical phenomenon in polar, subpolar and alpine regions [1]. As it is commonly (but not necessarily!) related to freeze-thaw cycles, its presence on Mars could possibly point to locations and periods where and when liquid water existed in the recent past [2]. Sorted circles are a class of patterned ground that was tentatively identified in Elysium Planitia (Mars) [3], but this interpretation has been challenged on the basis of physical considerations [4]. Without direct access to potential patterned ground on Mars, the analysis of terrestrial analogues can inform the interpretation of Martian landforms. Svalbard (Norway) offers a wide variety of permafrost features that are morphologically analogous to Martian cold-climate landforms [5]. It hosts some of the best examples of sorted circles on Earth, which are located on the westernmost tip of Brøgger peninsula, on a broad strand flat that is characterized by a series of postglacial beach ridges [6]. Here we report on our analysis of sorted circle morphology (especially their plan-view shape, i.e. their "roundness" or ellipticity) and its correlation with local topography (slopes, curvature). Sorted circle morphology was determined from HRSC-AX images (for details on the flight campaign and image properties see ref [5]) and through field work. Topographic information comes from a 50 cm gridded DEM derived from HRSC-AX stereo images. We measured sorted circle morphology (ellipticity, azimuth of major axis) along a WNW-ESE traverse that runs from the inland towards the sea and is oriented perpendicular to the local beach ridge trend. Selected areas with homogeneous sorted circle appearance were visually mapped, and compared to the average slope, aspect, and the calculated topographic wetness index (TWI). Furthermore the whole traverse was classified into four different morphologies of the sorted patterned ground (sorted circles, sorted "ellipses", sorted nets and areas without patterned ground). For these morphologies, we also measured the slope, aspect and TWI to correlate the topographical parameters with the geomorphological characteristics of the patterned ground, and with predictions from modeling [7]. Our results confirm that the dependence of morphology on topography of sorted circles can be measured using a combination of plan-view and topographic remote sensing data. Thus, as the same quality of data is available on Mars, these same measurements could be made there in order to test whether the circle morphology depends on the local relief patterns in the same ways as in our terrestrial study. A positive result would argue that the Martian features may have formed in the same way (freeze-thaw) as the terrestrial ones. [1] Washburn, A.L. (1956) Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 67, 823-866. [2] Balme et al. (2013) Prog. Phys. Geog. 37, 289-324. [3] Balme et al. (2009) Icarus 200, 30-38. [4] Kreslavsky, M.A., Head, J.W. (2014) LPSC 45, abstract 2715. [5] Hauber et al. (2011) GSA Spec. Paper 483, 177-201. [6] Tolgensbakk, J., Sollid, J.L. (1987) Kvadehuksletta, Geomorfologi og Kvartærgeologi (geomorphological map; scale 1:10,000), Universitet i Oslo. [7] Kessler, M.A., Werner, B.T. (2003) Science 299, 380-383.

The Research Circle as a Resource in Challenging Academics' Perceptions of How to Support Students' Literacy Development in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bergman, Lotta

2014-01-01

This article deals with an action research project in which a group of academics from different disciplines reflect on and gradually extend their knowledge on how to support students' academic literacy development. The aim of this research is to understand how the collaborative work becomes a resource in challenging participants' initial…

Use an Interactive Whiteboard: Get a Handle on How This Technology Can Spice up the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Branzburg, Jeffrey

2006-01-01

Interactive whiteboards are desirable peripherals these days. When hooked up to a computer, the whiteboard's screen becomes a "live" computer desktop, which can be tapped to pull down menus, highlight, and move or open files. Users can also circle relevant sections on the projected image, draw geometric figures, and underline. Then they can save…

"English Is Here to Stay": A Critical Look at Institutional and Educational Practices in India.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramanathan, Vai

1999-01-01

Based on an ethnographic project, this article examines ways that the Indian middle class, with its easy access to English, represents an inner circle of power and privilege that is inaccessible to particular groups of people in India. Certain institutional and teaching practices keep English out of reach of lower income and lower-caste groups and…

The Circle in the Spiral: Up the Down Spiral with English, Vol. 2, Project Insight.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Catholic Board of Education, Diocese of Cleveland, OH.

Units contained in this second volume of a spiral curriculum guide for English (See also TE 002 061.) are (1) An Insight into the Writing Process--Composition, 7-12; (2) A Program for Culturally Different, Underachieving, Low I.Q., Seventh Grade Students ("an approach to English conceived for the modern black American"); (3) Seventh Grade Program…

The Power of the Pygmalion Effect: Teachers' Expectations Strongly Predict College Completion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boser, Ulrich; Wilhelm, Megan; Hanna, Robert

2014-01-01

People do better when more is expected of them. In education circles, this is called the Pygmalion Effect. It has been demonstrated in study after study, and the results can sometimes be quite significant. In one research project, for instance, teacher expectations of a pre-schooler's ability was a robust predictor of the child's high school GPA.…

Fact Book 2012

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ...ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Naval Postgraduate School,1 University Circle,Monterey,CA,93943 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9...while building the intellectual capital of the Naval Postgraduate School faculty. Naval Postgraduate School Vision NPS develops creative

All Are Worthy to Know the Earth: Henry De la Beche and the Origin of Geological Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clary, Renee M.; Wandersee, James H.

2009-01-01

Henry T. De la Beche (1796-1855) began his geological career within an elite circle (Geological Society of London, 1817; FRS, 1819), collaborating with influential gentlemen geologists and publishing original research. When his independent income dwindled, De la Beche managed to secure governmental funding for his mapping projects. This led to…

Civil Rights Activists in the Information Age: The Development of Math Literacy Workers. CIRCLE Working Paper 50

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watts, Roderick J.; Guessous, Omar

2006-01-01

Roderick Watts and Omar Guessous of Georgia State University conducted exploratory research to investigate the link between math and civic engagement. Their research is based on an evaluation of the Young People's Project (YPP), a national program that recruits, trains, and deploys high school and college Math Literacy Workers for mentoring middle…

Paradoxes of Solidarity: Democracy and Colonial Legacies in Swedish Popular Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahlstedt, Magnus; Nordvall, Henrik

2011-01-01

Over the years, there have been several attempts to spread the "Swedish model" of popular education, that is, study circles and folk high schools, to countries in other parts of the world. In this article, the authors analyze the large-scale project of establishing folk development colleges in Tanzania in the 1970s and 1980s, by…

Implementing Writing Support Circles with Adult Learners in a Nonformal Education Setting: Priority, Practice, and Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plakhotnik, Maria S.; Rocco, Tonette S.

2012-01-01

Most students come to their graduate programs with academic writing skills insufficient to excel in their studies. A lack of academic writing skills among graduate students has been a problem in a college of education at a large southeastern public research university where the project described in this article was implemented. To address this…

Introducing the Japan Unified HIgh-Resolution Relocated Catalog for Earthquakes (JUICE) Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yano, T. E.; Takeda, T.; Shiomi, K.

2013-12-01

To understand the tectonic processes, seismogenic zones, and active fault evaluations, the precise location of earthquake hypocenters is necessary. Routinely determined hypocenters typically have uncertainties that can make seismically active areas appear more diffuse. These uncertainties influence the interpretation of what are active faults. Objective of this Japan Unified HIgh-resolution Relocated Catalog for Earthquakes (JUICE) project is to create a high-resolution earthquake relocated catalog for all of Japan. To initiate the project, we relocate hypocenters around Kanto-Tokai region. The network geometry, available phases, arrival-time reading accuracy, and knowledge of crustal structure control the accuracy of absolute hypocenter locations (Pavlis, 1986; Gomberg et al., 1990). We take advantage of having an excellent network operated by NIED Hi-net team. We use the high-quality data from this network for events from 2001 to the present. To initiate the JUICE project, we utilize more than 5,500,000 and 5,300,000 P and S phase arrival-time readings (catalog data) and waveforms for about 120,000 events between M0 and M6.5 from 2001 through 2012 in the Kanto and Tokai region. To reduce uncertainties, we apply the double-difference algorithm (hypoDD) by Waldhauser and Ellsworth (2000) to the data. To obtain the travel time differences for the pairs of earthquakes, we cross correlate the seismograms at the stations, which produces another data set -- cross-correlation data. In addition to the catalog phase data, we add 800,000 and 1,000,000 of P and S phase cross-correlations that are used to relocate hypocenters. We use Hi-net routine velocity structure (Ukawa et al., 1984) to estimate theoretical differential travel times. The newly relocated hypocenters show tighter clusters and lineaments compared to the routinely generated hypocenters. Figure 1 (a) shows the hypocenters in the Shizuoka region before relocation and (b) shows the hypocenters after relocation. Particularly, more compact clusters and lineaments clearly appear in the Shizuoka region after relocation. Significant changes are indicated in red circles and arrows for clusters and lineaments, respectively This relocated catalog will contribute to a better understanding of the depth of seismogenic zone and the mechanism for earthquakes. Because relocated hypocenters reflect the thickness of the seismogenic zone more accurately (Hauksson et al., 2012), they are more easily related to other data sets, such as geodetic, geological, gravity, and stress field measurements. We will continue expanding the area of study to relocate events all over Japan. We will apply 3D velocity model in future updated JUICE catalog to complete this project. Figure 1 (a): Map of hypocenters routinely determined by NIED Hi-net. (b): An example of hypocenters after relocations. Significant changes are indicated in red circles/arrows for clusters/lineaments.

Circle of life: rationale, design, and baseline results of an HIV prevention intervention among young American Indian adolescents of the Northern Plains.

PubMed

Kaufman, Carol E; Mitchell, Christina M; Beals, Janette; Desserich, Jennifer A; Wheeler, Cindy; Keane, Ellen M; Whitesell, Nancy Rumbaugh; Sam, Angela; Sedey, Cory

2010-03-01

In spite of significant disparities in sexual health outcomes for American Indian youth, no studies exist examining the effectiveness of HIV-prevention interventions. Circle of Life is an HIV-prevention intervention specifically developed for American Indian middle-school youth. We describe the rationale, methodology, and baseline results of a longitudinal randomized trial of Circle of Life conducted among American Indian youth aged 11-15 in a reservation community. The innovative design includes two pre-intervention waves to determine patterns of behavior prior to the intervention that might be associated with a differential impact of the intervention on sexual risk. We used one-way analysis of variance and chi-square tests to test for significant differences between randomized group assignment at each baseline wave and generalized estimating equations (GEE) to test significant differences in the rate of change in outcomes by group longitudinally. We present the collaborative and adaptive strategies for consenting, assenting, and data collection methodology in this community. Achieved response rates are comparable to other similar studies. Results from the two baseline waves indicate that few outcomes significantly varied by randomized intervention assignment. Ten percent of youth reported having had sex at Wave 1, rising to 15% at Wave 2. Among those who had had sex, the majority (>70%) reported using a condom at last sex. The project is well positioned to carry out the longitudinal assessments of the intervention to determine the overall impact of the Circle of Life and the differential impact by pre-intervention patterns of behavior across youth.

Knowledge translation on dementia: a cluster randomized trial to compare a blended learning approach with a "classical" advanced training in GP quality circles

PubMed Central

Vollmar, Horst C; Butzlaff, Martin E; Lefering, Rolf; Rieger, Monika A

2007-01-01

Background Thus far important findings regarding the dementia syndrome have been implemented into patients' medical care only inadequately. A professional training accounting for both, general practitioners' (GP) needs and learning preferences as well as care-relevant aspects could be a major step towards improving medical care. In the WIDA-study, entitled "Knowledge translation on dementia in general practice" two different training concepts are developed, implemented and evaluated. Both concepts are building on an evidence-based, GP-related dementia guideline and communicate the guideline's essential insights. Methods/Design Both development and implementation emphasize a procedure that is well-accepted in practice and, thus, can achieve a high degree of external validity. This is particularly guaranteed through the preparation of training material and the fact that general practitioners' quality circles (QC) are addressed. The evaluation of the two training concepts is carried out by comparing two groups of GPs to which several quality circles have been randomly assigned. The primary outcome is the GPs' knowledge gain. Secondary outcomes are designed to indicate the training's potential effects on the GPs' practical actions. In the first training concept (study arm A) GPs participate in a structured case discussion prepared for by internet-based learning material ("blended-learning" approach). The second training concept (study arm B) relies on frontal medical training in the form of a slide presentation and follow-up discussion ("classical" approach). Discussion This paper presents the outline of a cluster-randomized trial which has been peer reviewed and support by a national funding organization – Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – and is approved by an ethics commission. The data collection has started in August 2006 and the results will be published independently of the study's outcome. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials [ISRCTN36550981] PMID:17587452

The Mediation of Tools in the Development of Formal Mathematical Concepts: The Compass and the Circle as an Example.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chassapis, Dimitris

1999-01-01

Focuses on the process by which children develop a formal mathematical concept of the circle by using various instruments to draw circles within the context of a goal-directed drawing task. Concludes that the use of the compass in circle drawing structures the circle-drawing operation in a radically different fashion than circle tracers and…

Estimation and tracking of AP-diameter of the inferior vena cava in ultrasound images using a novel active circle algorithm.

PubMed

Karami, Ebrahim; Shehata, Mohamed S; Smith, Andrew

2018-05-04

Medical research suggests that the anterior-posterior (AP)-diameter of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and its associated temporal variation as imaged by bedside ultrasound is useful in guiding fluid resuscitation of the critically-ill patient. Unfortunately, indistinct edges and gaps in vessel walls are frequently present which impede accurate estimation of the IVC AP-diameter for both human operators and segmentation algorithms. The majority of research involving use of the IVC to guide fluid resuscitation involves manual measurement of the maximum and minimum AP-diameter as it varies over time. This effort proposes using a time-varying circle fitted inside the typically ellipsoid IVC as an efficient, consistent and novel approach to tracking and approximating the AP-diameter even in the context of poor image quality. In this active-circle algorithm, a novel evolution functional is proposed and shown to be a useful tool for ultrasound image processing. The proposed algorithm is compared with an expert manual measurement, and state-of-the-art relevant algorithms. It is shown that the algorithm outperforms other techniques and performs very close to manual measurement. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Circling motion and screen edges as an alternative input method for on-screen target manipulation.

PubMed

Ka, Hyun W; Simpson, Richard C

2017-04-01

To investigate a new alternative interaction method, called circling interface, for manipulating on-screen objects. To specify a target, the user makes a circling motion around the target. To specify a desired pointing command with the circling interface, each edge of the screen is used. The user selects a command before circling the target. To evaluate the circling interface, we conducted an experiment with 16 participants, comparing the performance on pointing tasks with different combinations of selection method (circling interface, physical mouse and dwelling interface) and input device (normal computer mouse, head pointer and joystick mouse emulator). A circling interface is compatible with many types of pointing devices, not requiring physical activation of mouse buttons, and is more efficient than dwell-clicking. Across all common pointing operations, the circling interface had a tendency to produce faster performance with a head-mounted mouse emulator than with a joystick mouse. The performance accuracy of the circling interface outperformed the dwelling interface. It was demonstrated that the circling interface has the potential as another alternative pointing method for selecting and manipulating objects in a graphical user interface. Implications for Rehabilitation A circling interface will improve clinical practice by providing an alternative pointing method that does not require physically activating mouse buttons and is more efficient than dwell-clicking. The Circling interface can also work with AAC devices.

A localization algorithm of adaptively determining the ROI of the reference circle in image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zeen; Zhang, Jun; Zhang, Daimeng; Liu, Xiaomao; Tian, Jinwen

2018-03-01

Aiming at solving the problem of accurately positioning the detection probes underwater, this paper proposed a method based on computer vision which can effectively solve this problem. The theory of this method is that: First, because the shape information of the heat tube is similar to a circle in the image, we can find a circle which physical location is well known in the image, we set this circle as the reference circle. Second, we calculate the pixel offset between the reference circle and the probes in the picture, and adjust the steering gear through the offset. As a result, we can accurately measure the physical distance between the probes and the under test heat tubes, then we can know the precise location of the probes underwater. However, how to choose reference circle in image is a difficult problem. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that can adaptively confirm the area of reference circle. In this area, there will be only one circle, and the circle is the reference circle. The test results show that the accuracy of the algorithm of extracting the reference circle in the whole picture without using ROI (region of interest) of the reference circle is only 58.76% and the proposed algorithm is 95.88%. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the efficiency of the tubes detection.

Are Namibian “Fairy Circles” the Consequence of Self-Organizing Spatial Vegetation Patterning?

PubMed Central

Cramer, Michael D.; Barger, Nichole N.

2013-01-01

Causes of over-dispersed barren “fairy circles” that are often surrounded by ca. 0.5 m tall peripheral grasses in a matrix of shorter (ca. 0.2 m tall) grasses in Namibian grasslands remain mysterious. It was hypothesized that the fairy circles are the consequence of self-organizing spatial vegetation patterning arising from resource competition and facilitation. We examined the edaphic properties of fairy circles and variation in fairy circle size, density and landscape occupancy (% land surface) with edaphic properties and water availability at a local scale (<50 km) and with climate and vegetation characteristics at a regional scale. Soil moisture in the barren fairy circles declines from the center towards the periphery and is inversely correlated with soil organic carbon, possibly indicating that the peripheral grass roots access soil moisture that persists into the dry season within fairy circles. Fairy circle landscape occupancy is negatively correlated with precipitation and soil [N], consistent with fairy circles being the product of resource-competition. Regional fairy circle presence/absence is highly predictable using an empirical model that includes narrow ranges of vegetation biomass, precipitation and temperature seasonality as predictor variables, indicating that fairy circles are likely a climate-dependent emergent phenomenon. This dependence of fairy circle occurrence on climate explains why fairy circles in some locations may appear and disappear over time. Fairy circles are only over-dispersed at high landscape occupancies, indicating that inter-circle competition may determine their spacing. We conclude that fairy circles are likely to be an emergent arid-grassland phenomenon that forms as a consequence of peripheral grass resource-competition and that the consequent barren circle may provide a resource-reservoir essential for the survival of the larger peripheral grasses and provides a habitat for fossicking fauna. PMID:23976962

BKKBN and the expanding role of private sector FP services and commercial contraceptive sales in Indonesia.

PubMed

Suyono, H

1989-07-01

The Indonesian family planning program is an internationally recognized success. Launched in 1970, the program, coordinated by the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), now enrolls an average of 20,000 new acceptors each day. About 60% of eligible couples participate in the program. The key factors in the BKKBN's strategy are 1) a firm commitment from all government leaders, 2) a positive relationship with religious and other leaders, 3) decentralization and flexibility, 4) a shift from a traditional clinic-based to a community-based program, and 5) the integration of the program with health, family welfare, and other development activities. The next phase of the program emphasizes self-support or self-reliance in family planning. This means taking responsibility for one's own family planning, but it also means that those who are financially able to do so should pay for services and supplies. New projects have begun with the private sector. BKKBN has been working with professional doctors' and midwives' associations to promote private initiatives for family planning. The Kondom Dua Lima, a social marketing project with a private company, distributes and sells condoms in the commercial retail sales market. The Blue Circle Contraceptive Social Marketing Project provides low-cost but high-quality contraceptive supplies to fill the gap between free BKKBN supplies and the expensive contraceptives available through commercial pharmacies. BKKBN is working with the private sector to encourage its participation in the Indonesian goal of institutionalizing the small, happy, and prosperous family norm.

Healthy cities: overview of a WHO international program.

PubMed

Goldstein, G

2000-01-01

Health is the outcome of all the factors and activities impinging upon the lives of individuals and communities. The last decade has seen an emerging understanding within development circles that living conditions are greatly affected by local action, by the work of local government, and by community groups and organizations. In addressing health and environmental issues and making interventions, an integrated approach, based on 'settings', exemplified in the Healthy Cities approach, has proved most effective. A Healthy City project can involve people and organizations in the programs and activities that are needed for better health, and enables a city or neighborhood to mobilize the human and financial resources required to address many health and quality of life issues. The WHO program involves implementating city projects and networks in all regions of the world and serves as a vehicle for many health programs, including major disease control initiatives. Healthy City projects allow Ministries of Health to develop stronger partnerships with local government organizations (such as the Union of Local Authorities and its members, "Local Agenda 21" initiatives, and others). One focus for the program is the development of 'multi-'multi-city action plans' for major global priority issues, including AIDS, sanitation, women's health, and violence, to ensure that major public health programs are strengthened by wider community participation. It is recognized that city networking--at national, regional, and international levels--now must be better exploited by individual cities and municipalities to solve local health problems.

Impact of Institutional- and Individual-Level Discrimination on Medical Care and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

apply. (Circle all that apply) 1. Athabascan 11. Navajo 2. Cahuilla 12. Porno If more than one response 3. Cherokee 13. Pueblo selected, check box...tribes are you Navajo Porno Pueblo Sioux Tlingit Yurok Other tribe (please specify): REFUSED D/K D EBCC EPI Rev_071911 SECTION 2: GENERAL

Good Schooling as the Outcome of the Interaction between Children and Teachers in Greek Primary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Babalis, Thomas; Trilianos, Athanasios; Stavrou, Nektarios A.; Koutouvela, Christina; Tsoli, Konstantina; Alexopoulos, Nikolaos

2012-01-01

Pedagogic and educational circles nowadays consider the school environment, related to its quality, to be the soul and essence of school, which is conducive to students and teachers feeling endless love for their school. Schools usually pursue emotional and social results positively affecting cognitive outcomes. The objective of this research is…

Procedure for normalization of cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Bonaldo, Maria DeFatima; Soares, Marcelo Bento

1997-01-01

This invention provides a method to normalize a cDNA library constructed in a vector capable of being converted to single-stranded circles and capable of producing complementary nucleic acid molecules to the single-stranded circles comprising: (a) converting the cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating complementary nucleic acid molecules to the single-stranded circles; (c) hybridizing the single-stranded circles converted in step (a) with complementary nucleic acid molecules of step (b) to produce partial duplexes to an appropriate Cot; (e) separating the unhybridized single-stranded circles from the hybridized single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library.

Amplification of telomeric arrays via rolling-circle mechanism.

PubMed

Nosek, Jozef; Rycovska, Adriana; Makhov, Alexander M; Griffith, Jack D; Tomaska, Lubomir

2005-03-18

Alternative (telomerase-independent) lengthening of telomeres mediated through homologous recombination is often accompanied by a generation of extrachromosomal telomeric circles (t-circles), whose role in direct promotion of recombinational telomere elongation has been recently demonstrated. Here we present evidence that t-circles in a natural telomerase-deficient system of mitochondria of the yeast Candida parapsilosis replicate independently of the linear chromosome via a rolling-circle mechanism. This is supported by an observation of (i) single-stranded DNA consisting of concatameric arrays of telomeric sequence, (ii) lasso-shaped molecules representing rolling-circle intermediates, and (iii) preferential incorporation of deoxyribonucleotides into telomeric fragments and t-circles. Analysis of naturally occurring variant t-circles revealed conserved motifs with potential function in driving the rolling-circle replication. These data indicate that extrachromosomal t-circles observed in a wide variety of organisms, including yeasts, plants, Xenopus laevis, and certain human cell lines, may represent independent replicons generating telomeric sequences and, thus, actively participating in telomere dynamics. Moreover, because of the promiscuous occurrence of t-circles across phyla, the results from yeast mitochondria have implications related to the primordial system of telomere maintenance, providing a paradigm for evolution of telomeres in nuclei of early eukaryotes.

A High Precision Approach to Calibrate a Structured Light Vision Sensor in a Robot-Based Three-Dimensional Measurement System.

PubMed

Wu, Defeng; Chen, Tianfei; Li, Aiguo

2016-08-30

A robot-based three-dimensional (3D) measurement system is presented. In the presented system, a structured light vision sensor is mounted on the arm of an industrial robot. Measurement accuracy is one of the most important aspects of any 3D measurement system. To improve the measuring accuracy of the structured light vision sensor, a novel sensor calibration approach is proposed to improve the calibration accuracy. The approach is based on a number of fixed concentric circles manufactured in a calibration target. The concentric circle is employed to determine the real projected centres of the circles. Then, a calibration point generation procedure is used with the help of the calibrated robot. When enough calibration points are ready, the radial alignment constraint (RAC) method is adopted to calibrate the camera model. A multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) is then employed to identify the calibration residuals after the application of the RAC method. Therefore, the hybrid pinhole model and the MLPNN are used to represent the real camera model. Using a standard ball to validate the effectiveness of the presented technique, the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed novel calibration approach can achieve a highly accurate model of the structured light vision sensor.

Arctic patterned-ground ecosystems: A synthesis of field studies and models along a North American Arctic Transect

Treesearch

Walker D.A.; Romanovsky V.E.; Ping C.L.; Michaelson G.J.; Daanen R.P.; Shur Y.; Peterson R.A.; Krantz W.B.; Raynolds M.K.; William Gould; Grizelle Gonzalez; Nicolsky D.J.; Vonlanthen C.M.; Kade A.N.; Kuss P.; Kelley A.M.; Munger C.A.; Tarnocai C.T.; Matveyeva N.V.; Daniels F.J.A.

2008-01-01

Arctic landscapes have visually striking patterns of small polygons, circles, and hummocks. The linkages between the geophysical and biological components of these systems and their responses to climate changes are not well understood. The “Biocomplexity of Patterned Ground Ecosystems” project examined patterned-ground features (PGFs) in all five Arctic bioclimate...

Project on Teaching Charts and Graphs to ABE Students. Part I: Teacher's Guide [and] Part II: Transparency Assembly Package.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Renton Vocational Inst., WA.

The teacher's guide and collection of transparency masters are designed for use in teaching adult basic education (ABE) students how to read and interpret graphs and charts. Covered in the individual lessons of the instructional unit are the reading and interpretation of charts as well as picture, line, bar, and circle graphs. Each unit contains a…

A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN RADWASTE MANAGEMENT FOR CONFIDENCE BUILDING: THE FRENCH APPROACH AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le Bars, Y.

2002-02-25

The search for concrete radioactive waste management generates bitter debates, and mobilizes not only in the restricted circles of convinced supporters and opponents, but also in relatively large circles of the civil society. How would it be possible to go forward in such a situation and ensure in both the short and long terms a valid and socially acceptable management of radioactive waste? In this presentation, a few elements of reflection are proposed: on French experience as I understand it after three years as Chairman of Andra; on the results of the Forum for Stakeholders Confidence created by the OECD/NEA;more » and on the comments of EDRAM, an association of managers from major waste-management organizations; to those, I should add the observation of a European Project called COWAM (Communities Waste Management), consisting of a group of local communities confronted with radioactive-waste management.« less

PLANET HUNTERS: NEW KEPLER PLANET CANDIDATES FROM ANALYSIS OF QUARTER 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lintott, Chris J.; Schwamb, Megan E.; Schwainski, Kevin, E-mail: cjl@astro.ox.ac.uk

2013-06-15

We present new planet candidates identified in NASA Kepler Quarter 2 public release data by volunteers engaged in the Planet Hunters citizen science project. The two candidates presented here survive checks for false positives, including examination of the pixel offset to constrain the possibility of a background eclipsing binary. The orbital periods of the planet candidates are 97.46 days (KIC 4552729) and 284.03 (KIC 10005758) days and the modeled planet radii are 5.3 and 3.8 R{sub Circled-Plus }. The latter star has an additional known planet candidate with a radius of 5.05 R{sub Circled-Plus} and a period of 134.49 days,more » which was detected by the Kepler pipeline. The discovery of these candidates illustrates the value of massively distributed volunteer review of the Kepler database to recover candidates which were otherwise uncataloged.« less

Three Concentric Circles: Young Chinese English Learners' Perceptions of Purposeful Audiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Jack Jinghui

2015-01-01

English learners have more access to communicate with different purposeful audiences across the Three Concentric Circles of English (Kachu, 1985): the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle and the Expanding Circle. However, young language learners' purposeful audience as a focus of communication has not been emphasized as much as other linguistic…

The business of relief work: a Victorian Quaker in Constantinople and her circle.

PubMed

Tusan, Michelle

2009-01-01

This article explores how Victorian notions of charity translated to evangelical mission projects in the Near East. Focusing on Quaker philanthropist Ann Mary Burgess, it traces the trade networks that she established to serve the Armenian community living in the Ottoman Empire. Burgess's vast network of supporters throughout Britain, Europe, and the Near East enabled her to fund relief projects using profits from goods produced by the orphans and widows served by the Friends' Constantinople Mission. The mapping of these networks reveals the evolving relationship between evangelicalism, the humanitarian movement, and the marketplace in imperial Britain.

[Quality management in pathology--an executive function and political implications].

PubMed

Turzynski, A

2013-09-01

Quality management (QM) is primarily an in-house executive function. It conduces to ensure a high quality service and has the external object to satisfy customer expectations. In Germany the implementation of quality management systems (QMS) is made compulsory for all medical facilities by law. However, details are not regulated and there is no need to certify the in-house QMS. Within the last 10 years many pathology institutions have become certified or accredited and have implemented voluntary measures of external quality assurance, such as quality circles and round robin trials. For non-certified institutions it might be helpful to be guided by established QM standards like the ISO 9001:2008. The fundamental concepts of QM, some pathology-specific aspects and some implications for the professional associations are discussed in this article.

Research on auto-calibration technology of the image plane's center of 360-degree and all round looking camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shaojun; Xu, Xiping

2015-10-01

The 360-degree and all round looking camera, as its characteristics of suitable for automatic analysis and judgment on the ambient environment of the carrier by image recognition algorithm, is usually applied to opto-electronic radar of robots and smart cars. In order to ensure the stability and consistency of image processing results of mass production, it is necessary to make sure the centers of image planes of different cameras are coincident, which requires to calibrate the position of the image plane's center. The traditional mechanical calibration method and electronic adjusting mode of inputting the offsets manually, both exist the problem of relying on human eyes, inefficiency and large range of error distribution. In this paper, an approach of auto- calibration of the image plane of this camera is presented. The imaging of the 360-degree and all round looking camera is a ring-shaped image consisting of two concentric circles, the center of the image is a smaller circle and the outside is a bigger circle. The realization of the technology is just to exploit the above characteristics. Recognizing the two circles through HOUGH TRANSFORM algorithm and calculating the center position, we can get the accurate center of image, that the deviation of the central location of the optic axis and image sensor. The program will set up the image sensor chip through I2C bus automatically, we can adjusting the center of the image plane automatically and accurately. The technique has been applied to practice, promotes productivity and guarantees the consistent quality of products.

Procedure for normalization of cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Bonaldo, M.D.; Soares, M.B.

1997-12-30

This invention provides a method to normalize a cDNA library constructed in a vector capable of being converted to single-stranded circles and capable of producing complementary nucleic acid molecules to the single-stranded circles comprising: (a) converting the cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating complementary nucleic acid molecules to the single-stranded circles; (c) hybridizing the single-stranded circles converted in step (a) with complementary nucleic acid molecules of step (b) to produce partial duplexes to an appropriate Cot; (e) separating the unhybridized single-stranded circles from the hybridized single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. 1 fig.

A procedure to determine the radiation isocenter size in a linear accelerator.

PubMed

González, A; Castro, I; Martínez, J A

2004-06-01

Measurement of radiation isocenter is a fundamental part of commissioning and quality assurance (QA) for a linear accelerator (linac). In this work we present an automated procedure for the analysis of the stars-shots employed in the radiation isocenter determination. Once the star-shot film has been developed and digitized, the resulting image is analyzed by scanning concentric circles centered around the intersection of the lasers that had been previously marked on the film. The center and the radius of the minimum circle intersecting the central rays are determined with an accuracy and precision better than 1% of the pixel size. The procedure is applied to the position and size determination of the radiation isocenter by means of the analysis of star-shots, placed in different planes with respect to the gantry, couch and collimator rotation axes.

Closed Circular Chains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caglayan, Günhan

2016-01-01

A Steiner chain is defined as the sequence of n circles that are all tangent to two given non-intersecting circles. A closed chain, in particular, is one in which every circle in the sequence is tangent to the previous and next circles of the chain. In a closed Steiner chain the first and the "n"th circles of the chain are also tangent…

The Director Circle of a Central Conic Section

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ayoub, Ayoub B.

2007-01-01

Each ellipse and hyperbola has a circle associated with it called the director circle. In this article, the author derives the equations of the circle for the ellipse and hyperbola through a different approach. Then the author concentrates on the director circle of the central conic given by the general quadratic equation. The content of this…

Circles of Support & Accountability: a Canadian national replication of outcome findings.

PubMed

Wilson, Robin J; Cortoni, Franca; McWhinnie, Andrew J

2009-12-01

Circles of Support & Accountability (COSA) started 15 years ago in Ontario, Canada, as an alternate means of social support to high-risk sexual offenders released at the end of their sentences without any community supervision. The pilot project in South-Central Ontario has since assisted almost 200 offenders. Projects based on this model are now in place in the United Kingdom, several jurisdictions in the United States, and throughout Canada. Initial research into the efficacy of the COSA pilot project showed that participation reduced sexual recidivism by 70% or more in comparison with both matched controls and actuarial norms. The current study sought to replicate these findings using an independent Canadian national sample. A total of 44 high-risk sexual offenders, released at sentence completion and involved in COSA across Canada, were matched to a group of 44 similar offenders not involved in COSA. The average follow-up time was 35 months. Recidivism was defined as having a charge or conviction for a new offense. Results show that offenders in COSA had an 83% reduction in sexual recidivism, a 73% reduction in all types of violent recidivism, and an overall reduction of 71% in all types of recidivism in comparison to the matched offenders. These findings suggest that participation in COSA is not site-specific and provide further evidence for the position that trained and guided community volunteers can and do assist in markedly improving offenders' chances for successful reintegration.

Geology and assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Yukon Flats Basin Province, 2008

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bird, Kenneth J.; Stanley, Richard G.; Moore, Thomas E.; Gautier, Donald L.

2017-12-22

The hydrocarbon potential of the Yukon Flats Basin Province in Central Alaska was assessed in 2004 as part of an update to the National Oil and Gas Assessment. Three assessment units (AUs) were identified and assessed using a methodology somewhat different than that of the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (CARA). An important difference in the methodology of the two assessments is that the 2004 assessment specified a minimum accumulation size of 0.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), whereas the 2008 CARA assessment specified a minimum size of 50 MMBOE. The 2004 assessment concluded that >95 percent of the estimated mean undiscovered oil and gas resources occur in a single AU, the Tertiary Sandstone AU. This is also the only AU of the three that extends north of the Arctic Circle.For the CARA project, the number of oil and gas accumulations in the 2004 assessment of the Tertiary Sandstone AU was re-evaluated in terms of the >50-MMBOE minimum accumulation size. By this analysis, and assuming the resource to be evenly distributed across the AU, 0.23 oil fields and 1.20 gas fields larger than 50 MMBOE are expected in the part of the AU north of the Arctic Circle. The geology suggests, however, that the area north of the Arctic Circle has a lower potential for oil and gas accumulations than the area to the south where the sedimentary section is thicker, larger volumes of hydrocarbons may have been generated, and potential structural traps are probably more abundant. Because of the low potential implied for the area of the AU north of the Arctic Circle, the Yukon Flats Tertiary Sandstone AU was not quantitatively assessed for the 2008 CARA.

Dark Circles under Eyes

MedlinePlus

Symptoms Dark circles under eyes By Mayo Clinic Staff Dark circles under your eyes generally implies that the darkening ... eye. Fatigue is the most common cause of dark circles under your eyes. Sometimes, what appear to ...

The National Shipbuilding Research Program. Proceedings of the REAPS Technical Symposium. Paper No. 16: Quality Circles -- Doing Business Better at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

improving productivity has rapidly grown in the last two and one-half years in both the public and private sectors . According to a 21 February 1980 article...method, or process disclosed in this report may not infringe privately owned rights; or (B) assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of or for...the brainpower of people by allowing them to participate in making heretofore management decisions to improve their quality of worklife . The structure

Study of the surface wave off-great-circle propagation based on dense seismic array: a case study in Northeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, H.; Chong, J.

2016-12-01

The traditional surface wave tomography is based on the ray theory, which assumes that surface wave propagates along the great-circle. The great-circle assumption is valid only when the size of the anomaly is larger than the width of the Fresnel zone and the lateral variation is relatively smooth. However, off-great-circle propagation may occur when the surface wave travels across tectonic boundaries with strong heterogeneity and sharp velocity change, e.g., continental margin, mid-ridge and sea trench, resulting in arrival angle anomaly and multi-pathing effect. The off-great-circle propagation may deviate the result of surface wave tomography based on great-circle approximation, so it is of great importance to study the off-great-circle propagation. In this study, we used the teleseismic waveforms from September 2009 to August 2011, recorded by the NECESSArray in Northeast China, to study the off-great-circle propagation of Rayleigh wave by the Beamforming method. Our results show that the off-great-circle effect increases with decreasing period. At the period of 60 s, the off-great-circle effect is relatively weak and the Rayleigh wave propagates approximately along the great-circle. While at the period of 20 s, the off-great-circle effect becomes strong, the arrival angle anomaly measured from some events can be as large as 20º, and obvious multi-pathing effect is also observed. Lateral variations of the arrival angle anomaly and phase velocity have also been found in the study region, which may be correlated with the lithosphere heterogeneity in Northeast China. Our results demonstrate the necessity to study the surface wave off-great-circle propagation. Acknowledgement: This study is financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 41590854.

Empowering Staff in an Organization: Making the Most of Human Resources in the New York State Education Department. Summary and Recommendations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany.

The identification of strategies for the improvement of individual and organizational effectiveness is the purpose of this task force summary report. Methodology involved passive and active needs assessment techniques. Over 200 New York State Education Department employees voluntarily participated in quality circles, the active component, and a…

21. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

21. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Non-Nuclear Production Facility, South of Cottonwood Avenue, west of Seventh Avenue & east of Building 460, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Review-Esso Resources Canada Ltd. , Norman Wells expansion project drilling program

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schaef, D.G.

Esso Resources Canada Limited has embarked on a project to increase production from its Norman Wells Oil field located 145 km south of the Arctic Circle, from 475 m/sup 3//D to 4000 m/sup 3//D of crude oil. This paper provides details on the development drilling portion of the project which is comprised of 150 wells to be drilled in 3 years utilizing 2 drilling rigs from July 1982 through September 1985. The majority of the wells will be directionally drilled from multiwell land pads and artificial islands to shallow reservoir targets underlying the Mackenzie River, a major river intersecting themore » field boundaries. Experience from the initial 27 wells completed is provided.« less

Full-Circle Color Panorama of Phoenix Landing Site on Northern Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Mission Success Pan Click on image to view the movie

This view combines more than 400 images taken during the first several weeks after NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander arrived on an arctic plain at 68.22 degrees north latitude, 234.25 degrees east longitude on Mars.

The movie makes a slow tour around highlights of the image.

The full-circle panorama in approximately true color shows the polygonal patterning of ground at the landing area, similar to patterns in permafrost areas on Earth. The center of the image is the westward part of the scene. Trenches where Phoenix's robotic arm has been exposing subsurface material are visible in the right half of the image. The spacecraft's meteorology mast, topped by the telltale wind gauge, extends into the sky portion of the panorama.

This view comprises more than 100 different camera pointings, with images taken through three different filters at each pointing. It is presented here as a cylindrical projection.

The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.

Harnessing user generated multimedia content in the creation of collaborative classification structures and retrieval learning games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borchert, Otto Jerome

This paper describes a software tool to assist groups of people in the classification and identification of real world objects called the Classification, Identification, and Retrieval-based Collaborative Learning Environment (CIRCLE). A thorough literature review identified current pedagogical theories that were synthesized into a series of five tasks: gathering, elaboration, classification, identification, and reinforcement through game play. This approach is detailed as part of an included peer reviewed paper. Motivation is increased through the use of formative and summative gamification; getting points completing important portions of the tasks and playing retrieval learning based games, respectively, which is also included as a peer-reviewed conference proceedings paper. Collaboration is integrated into the experience through specific tasks and communication mediums. Implementation focused on a REST-based client-server architecture. The client is a series of web-based interfaces to complete each of the tasks, support formal classroom interaction through faculty accounts and student tracking, and a module for peers to help each other. The server, developed using an in-house JavaMOO platform, stores relevant project data and serves data through a series of messages implemented as a JavaScript Object Notation Application Programming Interface (JSON API). Through a series of two beta tests and two experiments, it was discovered the second, elaboration, task requires considerable support. While students were able to properly suggest experiments and make observations, the subtask involving cleaning the data for use in CIRCLE required extra support. When supplied with more structured data, students were enthusiastic about the classification and identification tasks, showing marked improvement in usability scores and in open ended survey responses. CIRCLE tracks a variety of educationally relevant variables, facilitating support for instructors and researchers. Future work will revolve around material development, software refinement, and theory building. Curricula, lesson plans, instructional materials need to be created to seamlessly integrate CIRCLE in a variety of courses. Further refinement of the software will focus on improving the elaboration interface and developing further game templates to add to the motivation and retrieval learning aspects of the software. Data gathered from CIRCLE experiments can be used to develop and strengthen theories on teaching and learning.

Assessing the impact of science communication in the development of resilient cities to extreme weather

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vicari, Rosa; Gires, Auguste; Tchiguirinskaia, Ioulia; Schertzer, Daniel

2014-05-01

The combined effects of climate change and increasing urbanisation call for new solutions to achieve urban resiliency to extreme weather. The research projects carried out by the HM&Co team (LEESU & Chair 'Hydrology for Resilient Cities' sponsored by Veolia) need to be supported by communication activities aimed to support community capacity building and cooperation between scientists and their partners and stakeholders. While outreach activities are becoming an integral part of many research projects on climate adaptation, their evaluation is scarce, rather optional, very limited. This work aims to develop quantitative and qualitative evaluation of science communication and to design corresponding assessment tools. It will be examined how evaluation can eventually improve the quality, efficiency and impact of communication activities in enhancing collaboration between scientists, professionals (e.g. water managers, urban planners) and beneficiaries (e.g. concerned citizens, policy makers). The research takes hold on several case studies on projects and programs aiming to increase the resiliency of cities to extreme weather: French projects and programmes such as RadX@IdF and Chair "Hydrology for a resilient city", European projects such as Climate KIC Blue Green Dream and Interreg NWE IVB RainGain and worldwide collaborations (e.g. TOMACS). The evaluation techniques and tools developed in the framework of this work are intended to become a useful support for engineers and researchers involved in projects on urban hydrology where resilience to extreme weather events relies also on effective communication processes between the above mentioned social actors. In particular, one of the purposes of this work is to highlight how auto-evaluation can improve on-going communication activities and create a virtuous circle of planning/implementation/evaluation. This research has links with those on the development of exploration techniques of the unstructured social big data, with a particular focus on digital communications.

Participant Experiences of Talking Circles on Type 2 Diabetes in Two Northern Plains American Indian Tribes

PubMed Central

Struthers, Roxanne; Hodge, Felicia Schanche; Geishirt-Cantrell, Betty; De Cora, Lorelei

2011-01-01

The Talking Circle, a culturally appropriate, 12-week educational intervention, was employed on two Northern Plains American Indian reservations to provide information on type 2 diabetes. In a phenomenological study, funded as a minority supplement to the Talking Circle intervention, the authors asked 8 American Indian participants of the Talking Circle to describe their experience of being an American Indian Talking Circle participant. Seven common themes describe the phenomenon of participating in a Talking Circle diabetic intervention. The Talking Circle technique was effective in providing information on type 2 diabetes through culturally appropriate community sharing. Type 2 diabetes is viewed by both outsiders and those involved as a chronic disease of the utmost concern in American Indian communities. PMID:14556421

High-throughput multiplexed T-cell-receptor excision circle quantitative PCR assay with internal controls for detection of severe combined immunodeficiency in population-based newborn screening.

PubMed

Gerstel-Thompson, Jacalyn L; Wilkey, Jonathan F; Baptiste, Jennifer C; Navas, Jennifer S; Pai, Sung-Yun; Pass, Kenneth A; Eaton, Roger B; Comeau, Anne Marie

2010-09-01

Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting a specific marker of functional T cells, the T-cell-receptor excision circle (TREC), detects the absence of functional T cells and has a demonstrated clinical validity for detecting severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in infants. There is need for a qPCR TREC assay with an internal control to monitor DNA quality and the relative cellular content of the particular dried blood spot punch sampled in each reaction. The utility of the qPCR TREC assay would also be far improved if more tests could be performed on the same newborn screening sample. We approached the multiplexing of qPCR for TREC by attenuating the reaction for the reference gene, with focus on maintaining tight quality assurance for reproducible slopes and for prevention of sample-to-sample cross contamination. Statewide newborn screening for SCID using the multiplexed assay was implemented, and quality-assurance data were recorded. The multiplex qPCR TREC assay showed nearly 100% amplification efficiency for each of the TREC and reference sequences, clinical validity for multiple forms of SCID, and an analytic limit of detection consistent with prevention of contamination. The eluate and residual ghost from a 3.2-mm dried blood spot could be used as source material for multiplexed immunoassays and multiplexed DNA tests (Multiplex Plus), with no disruption to the multiplex TREC qPCR. Population-based SCID newborn screening programs should consider multiplexing for quality assurance purposes. Potential benefits of using Multiplex Plus include the ability to perform multianalyte profiling.

[Levers in Primary Health Care - Identifying Strategic Success Factors for Improved Primary Care in Upper Austria].

PubMed

Kriegel, J; Rebhandl, E; Reckwitz, N; Hockl, W

2016-12-01

Current and projected general practitioner (GP) and primary care in Austria shows structural and process inadequacies in the quality as well as assurance of healthcare supply. The aim is therefore to develop solution- and patient-oriented measures that take patient-related requirements and medical perspectives into account. Using an effect matrix, subjective expert and user priorities were ascertained, cause and effect relationships were examined, and an expanded circle of success for the optimization of GP and primary care in Upper Austria was developed. Through this, the relevant levers for target-oriented development and optimization of the complex system of GP and primary care in Upper Austria were identified; these are training to become general practitioners, entrepreneurs as well as management and coordination. It is necessary to further adapt the identified levers conceptually and operationally in a targeted approach. This is to be achieved by means of the primary health care (PHC) concept as well as management tools and information and communication technologies (ICT) associated with it. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Active participation in preventionist professional practices: a specific ergonomics training course.

PubMed

Querelle, Léonard; Duwelz, Michel; Beaujouan, Joffrey; Pignault, Anne

2012-01-01

Currently, the different forms of corporate management methods (quality circles, lean manufacturing, etc.) are usually based on employee mobilisation. Very often, the goal of this type of approach is at best, to ensure that employees embrace corporate projects, or otherwise to impose changes on them without taking into account the real work and difficulties that they face daily. However, do these employee solicitation methods converge with participatory approaches as envisaged by ergonomists and more generally, preventionists? Based on the observation that the activity of institutional preventionists evolves with regulatory constraints and work related to the monitoring of indicators, the implementation and steering of the participatory approach within companies may be a major lever for prevention. After describing the foundations of a participatory approach, this paper will present a training experiment aimed at implementing and promoting employee participation in prevention efforts. The content of this training is then analysed with regard to the balance between methodology and the use of trainees' narratives. The results of the training session are presented from the point of view of the development prospects for pedagogical tools and the organisation of the training.

Educational action research on Facebook®: combining leisure and learning.

PubMed

Labegalini, Célia Maria Gomes; Nogueira, Iara Sescon; Rodrigues, Daysi Mara Murio Ribeiro; Almeida, Elton Carlos; Bueno, Sonia Maria Villela; Baldissera, Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi

2017-04-06

To analyse the path of dialogical education in leisure and mental health in social media. Action research based on the theoretical-methodological framework of Paulo Freire, conducted with 11 nursing students of a public university in the state of Paraná, Brazil, during seven days of June 2015, in a closed group on Facebook®. The dialogues were called, 'Virtual Culture Circles' and preceded by self-administered questionnaires that addressed the relationship between leisure and mental health. The data were analysed in an interpretive way, using the encoding and decoding proposed by Freire. The students related leisure to pleasurable activities and quality of life; however, it is not widely or critically practiced in their personal lives or education. The Virtual Culture Circles provided emancipatory dialogues and a critical analysis of the subject matter, with possible repercussions on the personal and professional lives of the subjects.

Veterans Affairs facility performance on Washington Circle indicators and casemix-adjusted effectiveness.

PubMed

Harris, Alex H S; Humphreys, Keith; Finney, John W

2007-12-01

Self-administered Addiction Severity Index (ASI) data were collected on 5,723 patients who received substance abuse treatment in 1 of 110 programs located at 73 Veterans Affairs facilities. The associations between each of three Washington Circle (WC) performance indicator scores (identification, initiation, and engagement) and their casemix-adjusted facility-level improvement in ASI drug and alcohol composites 7 months after intake were estimated. Higher initiation rates were not associated with facility-level improvement in ASI alcohol composite scores but were modestly associated with greater improvements in ASI drug composite scores. Identification and engagement rates were unrelated to 7-month outcomes. WC indicators focused on the early stages of treatment may tap necessary but insufficient processes for patients with substance use disorder to achieve good posttreatment outcomes. Ideally, the WC indicators would be supplemented with other measures of treatment quality.

Operational improvements at traffic circles : safety analysis, final report, December 2008.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-12-01

The purpose of this study was to improve the safety and operation at three traffic circles in New : Jersey. To do this, data were collected at the traffic circles to allow researchers to model the : circles using the PARAMICS software simulation pack...

[Child protection network and the intersector implementation of the circle of security as alternatives to medication].

PubMed

Becker, Ana Laura Martins M M; de Souza, Paulo Haddad; de Oliveira, Mônica Martins; Paraguay, Nestor Luiz Bruzzi B

2014-09-01

To describe the clinical history of a child with aggressive behavior and recurring death-theme speech, and report the experience of the team of authors, who proposed an alternative to medication through the establishment of a protection network and the inter-sector implementation of the circle of security concept. A 5-year-old child has a violent and aggressive behavior at the day-care. The child was diagnosed by the healthcare center with depressive disorder and behavioral disorder, and was medicated with sertraline and risperidone. Side effects were observed, and the medications were discontinued. Despite several actions, such as talks, teamwork, psychological and psychiatric follow-up, the child's behavior remained unchanged. A unique therapeutic project was developed by Universidade Estadual de Campinas' Medical School students in order to establish a connection between the entities responsible for the child's care (daycare center, healthcare center, and family). Thus, the team was able to develop a basic care protection network. The implementation of the inter-sector circle of security, as well as the communication and cooperation among the teams, produced very favorable results in this case. This initiative was shown to be a feasible and effective alternative to the use of medication for this child. Copyright © 2014 Sociedade de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Circles of Tobacco Wisdom: learning about traditional and commercial tobacco with Native elders.

PubMed

Nadeau, Melanie; Blake, Norby; Poupart, John; Rhodes, Kristine; Forster, Jean L

2012-11-01

Circles of Tobacco Wisdom (CTW) was an elder-led, community-based project that aimed to enhance tobacco control in the American Indian community. Its goal was to provide elders with the knowledge, opportunities, and support to enable them to assume leadership of a tobacco control movement that was grounded in the ceremonial traditions of tobacco use. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of the pilot intervention on participants. The design of this pilot study intervention was a single group, pre-post comparison, with a pre-post survey, monthly check-ins, and a post-1-year focus group. Twelve elders were included in the pre- and post-analyses. All twelve elders were women who self-identified as American Indian (mean age = 64). The CTW elders participated in monthly talking circles, quarterly learning sessions, and a post-1-year focus group, and took part in other learning, support, and community action opportunities. Data were collected from December 2008 through November 2009 and analyzed throughout the process. American Indian Elders' tobacco-related knowledge, perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors were measured while participating in the CTW project. Knowledge, perceptions, beliefs, and behavior changes were seen with cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke, and ceremonial tobacco use and risk perception. After 6 months, the number of people the elders had talked with about tobacco increased, elders were more likely to have a discussion on tobacco at a community event, and their comfort level talking about commercial and traditional tobacco also increased. A number of themes also were identified in the focus group: feeling more comfortable talking about tobacco issues, learning a lot about traditional and commercial tobacco, and realizing the dangers of smoking. Elders increased their knowledge about commercial and traditional tobacco and changed related attitudes as a result of CTW. Further, American Indian Elders perceived that CTW was effective. Copyright © 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Soil Biota and Litter Decay in High Arctic Ecosystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, G.; Rivera, F.; Makarova, O.; Gould, W. A.

2006-12-01

Frost heave action contributes to the formation of non-sorted circles in the High Arctic. Non-sorted circles tend to heave more than the surrounding tundra due to deeper thaw and the formation of ice lenses. Thus, the geomorphology, soils and vegetation on the centers of the patterned-ground feature (non-sorted circles) as compared to the surrounding soils (inter-circles) can be different. We established a decomposition experiment to look at in situ decay rates of the most dominant graminoid species on non-sorted circles and adjacent inter-circle soils along a climatic gradient in the Canadian High Arctic as a component of a larger study looking at the biocomplexity of small-featured patterned ground ecosystems. Additionally, we investigated variation in soil chemical properties and biota, including soil microarthropods and microbial composition and biomass, as they relate to climate, topographic position, and litter decay rates. Our three sites locations, from coldest to warmest, are Isachsen, Ellef Ringnes Island (ER), NU (bioclimatic subzone A); Mould Bay (MB), Prince Patrick Island, NT (bioclimatic subzone B), and Green Cabin (GC), Aulavik National Park, Thomsen River, Banks Island, NT (bioclimatic subzone C). Our sample design included the selection of 15 non-sorted circles and adjacent inter-circle areas within the zonal vegetation at each site (a total of 90 sites), and a second set of 3 non-sorted circles and adjacent inter-circle areas in dry, mesic and wet tundra at each of the sites. Soil invertebrates were sampled at each site using both pitfall traps, soil microbial biomass was determined using substrate induced respiration and bacterial populations were determined using the most probable number method. Decomposition rates were measured using litterbags and as the percent of mass remaining of Carex misandra, Luzula nivalis and Alopecuris alpinus in GC, MB and ER, respectively. Our findings indicate these graminoid species decayed significantly over time at a rate of 10-15 % mass loss / yr during the first year of decay. Decay rates are different in non-sorted circles vs. inter-circle soils along the climatic gradient. In MB, L. nivalis seems to decay faster in the inter-circle soils than in non-sorted circles (0.05

Quality Circles in the Navy: Productivity Improvement or Just Another Program?

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

related problems and recommend solutions to management. Interest in implementation of QCs is spreading rapidly in both the public and private sectors . Ci...main objectives are to (I) describe QCs, (2) provide information regarding current interest and involvement in QCs in Navy and private sector ...3 QCs in the Private Sector . .. ......... ......... ... 4 Current Use of QCs in the Navy .. .. ...... ............. 4 Impact of QCs

An Evaluation of the Effect of a Quality Circle Intervention on Attitudinal Variables in Three DoD Organizations.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-09-01

and Control Groups on the Pretest .......................... 57 XI. T-tests Between Full-term QC and Control Groups on the Posttest ...two groups differed at the pretest in terms of self-rated job performance and job involvement. At the posttest , one significant result emerged. Table...8 Static Group Designs .......................... 9 Pretest / posttest Designs ...................... 9 Nonequivalent Control Group

22. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN. THE BASEMENT TUNNELS ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

22. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN. THE BASEMENT TUNNELS WERE DESIGNED AS FALLOUT SHELTERS AND USED FOR STORAGE. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, General Manufacturing, Support, Records-Central Computing, Southern portion of Plant, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

PSYOP Needs More Science: The Root Cause of the Branch’s Difficulties with Assessment

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704–0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE...our wives who encouraged and supported us throughout this educational process. xviii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 1 I. INTRODUCTION A...manual. In Figure 1, the doubled line ending in a circle indicates a doctrinal item that has been specifically superseded. The dashed line ending

Fostering Classroom Communities through Circling with Teacher Candidates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bouchard, Karen L.; Hollweck, Trista; Smith, J. David

2016-01-01

Classroom circles have been recognized as a valuable pedagogical approach to develop students' social-emotional learning and to establish a sense of community within a classroom. Until recently, there has been little consideration that teachers, themselves, may benefit from circling experiences. To garner a deeper understanding of circling for…

Making Morning Circle Meaningful

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Susan; Fasy, Cara; Gulick, Jessica; Jones, Jill; Pike, Elizabeth

2006-01-01

Morning Circle, also known as Morning Meeting, is often a daily lesson in both general education and special education classrooms. The primary purpose of the Circle is to support each child to establish membership in the class while developing a classroom community and culture. The Responsive Classroom Approach recommends four Circle components:…

Transaction Circles with Digital Texts as a Foundation for Democratic Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Sally

2015-01-01

Transaction circles weave together elements of guided reading and literature circles in an open conversational structure that supports students as agentive learners. Discourse within these circles utilizing digital informational texts assist in the development of democratic practices even in a time when federal mandates limit curricula and…

Two self-referencing methods for the measurement of beam spot position.

PubMed

Nyiri, Balazs J; Smale, Jason R; Gerig, Lee H

2012-12-01

Two quantitative methods of measuring electron beam spot position with respect to the collimator axis of rotation (CAOR) are described. Method 1 uses a cylindrical ion chamber (IC) mounted on a jig corotational with the collimator making the relationship among the chamber, jaws, and CAOR fixed and independent of collimator angle. A jaw parallel to the IC axis is set to zero and the IC position adjusted so that the IC signal is approximately 50% of the open field value, providing a large dose gradient in the region of the IC. The cGy∕MU value is measured as a function of collimator rotation, e.g., every 30°. If the beam spot does not lie on the CAOR, the signal from the ion chamber will vary with collimator rotation. Based on a measured spatial sensitivity, the distance of the beam spot from the CAOR can be calculated from the IC signal variation with rotation. The 2nd method is image based. Two stainless steel rods, 3 mm in diameter, are mounted to a jig attached to the Linac collimator. The rods, offset from the CAOR, lay in different planes normal to the CAOR, one at 158 cm SSD and the other at 70 cm SSD. As the collimator rotates the rods move tangent along an envelope circle, the centers of which are on the CAOR in their respective planes. Three images, each at a different collimator rotation, containing the shadows of both rods, are acquired on the Linac EPID. At each angle the shadow of the rods on the EPID defines lines tangent to the projection of the envelope circles. From these the authors determine the projected centers of the two circles at different heights. From the distance of these two points using the two heights and the source to EPID distance, the authors calculate the distance of the beam spot from the CAOR. Measurements with all two techniques were performed on an Elekta Linac. Measurements were performed with the beam spot in nominal clinical position and in a deliberately offset position. Measurements were also performed using the Flexmap image registration∕ball-bearing test. Within their uncertainties, both methods report the same beam spot displacement. In clinical use, a total of 203 monthly beam spot measurements on 14 different beams showed an average displacement of 0.11 mm (σ = 0.07 mm) in-plane and 0.10 mm (σ = 0.07 mm) cross-plane with maximum displacement of 0.37 mm in-plane and 0.34 mm cross-plane. The methods described provide a quantitative measure of beam spot position, are easy to use, and provide another tool for Linac setup and quality assurance. Fundamental to the techniques is that they are self-referencing-i.e., they do not require the user to independently define the CAOR.

Two self-referencing methods for the measurement of beam spot position

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nyiri, Balazs J.; Smale, Jason R.; Gerig, Lee H.

2012-12-15

Purpose: Two quantitative methods of measuring electron beam spot position with respect to the collimator axis of rotation (CAOR) are described. Methods: Method 1 uses a cylindrical ion chamber (IC) mounted on a jig corotational with the collimator making the relationship among the chamber, jaws, and CAOR fixed and independent of collimator angle. A jaw parallel to the IC axis is set to zero and the IC position adjusted so that the IC signal is approximately 50% of the open field value, providing a large dose gradient in the region of the IC. The cGy/MU value is measured as amore » function of collimator rotation, e.g., every 30 Degree-Sign . If the beam spot does not lie on the CAOR, the signal from the ion chamber will vary with collimator rotation. Based on a measured spatial sensitivity, the distance of the beam spot from the CAOR can be calculated from the IC signal variation with rotation. The 2nd method is image based. Two stainless steel rods, 3 mm in diameter, are mounted to a jig attached to the Linac collimator. The rods, offset from the CAOR, lay in different planes normal to the CAOR, one at 158 cm SSD and the other at 70 cm SSD. As the collimator rotates the rods move tangent along an envelope circle, the centers of which are on the CAOR in their respective planes. Three images, each at a different collimator rotation, containing the shadows of both rods, are acquired on the Linac EPID. At each angle the shadow of the rods on the EPID defines lines tangent to the projection of the envelope circles. From these the authors determine the projected centers of the two circles at different heights. From the distance of these two points using the two heights and the source to EPID distance, the authors calculate the distance of the beam spot from the CAOR. Measurements with all two techniques were performed on an Elekta Linac. Measurements were performed with the beam spot in nominal clinical position and in a deliberately offset position. Measurements were also performed using the Flexmap image registration/ball-bearing test. Results: Within their uncertainties, both methods report the same beam spot displacement. In clinical use, a total of 203 monthly beam spot measurements on 14 different beams showed an average displacement of 0.11 mm ({sigma}= 0.07 mm) in-plane and 0.10 mm ({sigma}= 0.07 mm) cross-plane with maximum displacement of 0.37 mm in-plane and 0.34 mm cross-plane. Conclusions: The methods described provide a quantitative measure of beam spot position, are easy to use, and provide another tool for Linac setup and quality assurance. Fundamental to the techniques is that they are self-referencing-i.e., they do not require the user to independently define the CAOR.« less

GENERATING FRACTAL PATTERNS BY USING p-CIRCLE INVERSION

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramírez, José L.; Rubiano, Gustavo N.; Zlobec, Borut Jurčič

2015-10-01

In this paper, we introduce the p-circle inversion which generalizes the classical inversion with respect to a circle (p = 2) and the taxicab inversion (p = 1). We study some basic properties and we also show the inversive images of some basic curves. We apply this new transformation to well-known fractals such as Sierpinski triangle, Koch curve, dragon curve, Fibonacci fractal, among others. Then we obtain new fractal patterns. Moreover, we generalize the method called circle inversion fractal be means of the p-circle inversion.

Elements of the quality management in the materials' industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ioana, Adrian; Semenescu, Augustin; Costoiu, Mihnea; Marcu, Dragoş

2017-12-01

The criteria function concept consists of transforming the criteria function (CF) in a quality-economical matrix math MQE. The levels of prescribing the criteria function was obtained by using a composition algorithm for three vectors: T¯ vector - technical parameters' vector (ti); Ē vector - economical parameters' vector (ej) and P¯ vector - weight vector (p1). For each product or service, the area of the circle represents the value of its sales. The BCG Matrix thus offers a very useful map of the organization's service strengths and weaknesses, at least in terms of current profitability, as well as the likely cash flows.

Development strategy and process models for phased automation of design and digital manufacturing electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korshunov, G. I.; Petrushevskaya, A. A.; Lipatnikov, V. A.; Smirnova, M. S.

2018-03-01

The strategy of quality of electronics insurance is represented as most important. To provide quality, the processes sequence is considered and modeled by Markov chain. The improvement is distinguished by simple database means of design for manufacturing for future step-by-step development. Phased automation of design and digital manufacturing electronics is supposed. The MatLab modelling results showed effectiveness increase. New tools and software should be more effective. The primary digital model is proposed to represent product in the processes sequence from several processes till the whole life circle.

Native American Values and Management Education: Envisioning an Inclusive Virtuous Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verbos, Amy Klemm; Gladstone, Joe S.; Kennedy, Deanna M.

2011-01-01

Circles are symbols of interconnectedness. Behavioral circles can be vicious or virtuous. Many American Indians are caught in a vicious circle of exclusion from the purported benefits of Westernization, entrapment in its negative elements, and the ongoing undermining of their culture and thus their identities. Yet Native Americans, along with many…

The Value of the Math Circle for Gifted Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burns, Barbara; Henry, Julie; McCarthy, Dianne; Tripp, Jennifer

2017-01-01

Math Circles are designed to allow students to explore mathematics using a problem-solving/inquiry approach. Many of the students attending our Math Circle are mathematically talented and curious. This study examines the perspectives of the students and their families in determining why students attend Math Circle, what they enjoy about Math…

Expanding the Reach of Extension to Underserved Audiences through Study Circles in Rural Idaho

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cummins, Melissa; Petty, Barbara; Hansen, Lyle; Hoffman, Katie; Wittman, Grace

2012-01-01

Extension educators expanded the reach of their programming to underserved audiences through the implementation of Study Circles in rural Southern Idaho. Study Circles gave educators entry into communities by establishing relationships necessary for long-term change. Study Circle discussions in rural Southern Idaho led to stronger relationships…

The Acoustic Reality of the Kachruvian Circles: A Rhythmic Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Low, Ee Ling

2010-01-01

This paper investigates whether the rhythmic properties of varieties of English found in each of the concentric circles of Kachru's model can, in any way, be elucidated by the "Three Circles" model. A measurement and comparison of the rhythm of three varieties of English: British English (from the Inner Circle), Singapore English (from…

The "Us" in Discuss: Grouping in Literature Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Batchelor, Katherine

2012-01-01

This article describes one middle school teacher's use of literature circles using heterogeneous grouping. It begins with a brief rationale for using literature circles in the language arts classroom. Next, it describes techniques to form literature circles. Then, it shares how to build and establish a supportive environment within each group. It…

A Round Is a Circle...

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyarsky, Terry L.

2006-01-01

Circles are everywhere and endlessly intriguing. We know, sense, and feel them in time, space, sound, and the cycles of nature. A person's life contains spirals, repetitions, going out and coming back. Poets write of circles; composers write song cycles. Circles are at the root of the curriculum, concepts deep yet accessible, infinite in their…

Accuracy of tree diameter estimation from terrestrial laser scanning by circle-fitting methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koreň, Milan; Mokroš, Martin; Bucha, Tomáš

2017-12-01

This study compares the accuracies of diameter at breast height (DBH) estimations by three initial (minimum bounding box, centroid, and maximum distance) and two refining (Monte Carlo and optimal circle) circle-fitting methods The circle-fitting algorithms were evaluated in multi-scan mode and a simulated single-scan mode on 157 European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.). DBH measured by a calliper was used as reference data. Most of the studied circle-fitting algorithms significantly underestimated the mean DBH in both scanning modes. Only the Monte Carlo method in the single-scan mode significantly overestimated the mean DBH. The centroid method proved to be the least suitable and showed significantly different results from the other circle-fitting methods in both scanning modes. In multi-scan mode, the accuracy of the minimum bounding box method was not significantly different from the accuracies of the refining methods The accuracy of the maximum distance method was significantly different from the accuracies of the refining methods in both scanning modes. The accuracy of the Monte Carlo method was significantly different from the accuracy of the optimal circle method in only single-scan mode. The optimal circle method proved to be the most accurate circle-fitting method for DBH estimation from point clouds in both scanning modes.

COMPLETENESS OF CIRCLE OF WILLIS IN ASYMPTOMATIC AND SYMPTOMATIC EXTRACRANIAL CAROTID DISEASE.

PubMed

Manojlovic, Vladimir; Popovic, Vlandan; Nikoloc, Dragan; Milosevic, Dorde; Pasternak, Janko; Budakov, Nebojsa

2016-11-01

This research has been aimed at determining whether incomplete Circle of Willis in patients with significant extracranial carotid stenosis is associated with a higher incidence of neurological symptomatology and/or ischemnic cerebral lesions. The research was conducted as a prospective study which comprised 211 patients who underwent surgical treatment of extracranial carotid disease at the Department of Vascular Surgery in Novi Sad and 102 patients in the control group. Each patient underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography with visualization of cerebral parenchyma. extracranial and intracranial cerebral circulation. Assessment of Circle of Willis morphology was performed by 3D time-of-fight magnetic resonance angiogram sequence analysis. The patients were divided into two groups: group I - the patients with'complete Circle of Willis and group II - the patients with incomplete Circle of Willis i.e. with the disruption of anterior and/ or ipsilateral posterior circulation - regarding the side of signif icant carotid stenosis. Out of 211 patients who -were operated during a two-year period, 133 had the complete Circle of Willis. while 78 patients had the incomplete Circle of Willis. Out of 111 patients with symptomatic carotid disease or silent cerebral infarction, 52.5% (58) had the complete Circle of' Willis and 47.5% (53) had the incomplete Circle of Willis. It was shown to be statistically different (P = 0.0146) in relation with the asymptomatic group of patients (100), where the frequency of the complete Circle of Willis was 75% (75) while the insufficiency of anterior or ipsilateral posterior collateral ization was found in 25% (25). In the control group there were significantly fewer cases of developed collateral flow and the complete Circle of Willis (41%) compared to the operated patients with extracranial carotid stenosis (63%) (P= 0.0003). Incompleteness of Circle of Willis is associated with more frequent occurrence of neurological symptomatology or ischemic lesions of brain parenchyma in operated patients with significant extracranial carotid stenosis. The control group without extracranial carotid stenosis had less developed collaterals of Circle of Willis compared to extracranial carotid patients.

What Works: Study Circles in the Real World. Best Practices for Producing Community-Wide Study Circles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mengual, Gloria

This document, which is based on information gathered during a 1998 study of how study circle programs contribute to community problem solving, presents best practices for producing community-wide study circles. The best practices are illustrated through stories that are grouped into five sections on the following themes: (1) creating a…

Expanding-Circle Students Learning "Standard English" in the Outer-Circle Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kobayashi, Yoko

2011-01-01

Drawing upon Kachru's concentric circles of English, the present study explores whether middle-class Japanese students who chose to study English solo at private language schools in Singapore diverge from many others who (wish to) study inner-circle English. The study is stimulated by the repeated interdisciplinary findings that, in spite of the…

Circles of Support and Personalization: Exploring the Economic Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wistow, Gerald; Perkins, Margaret; Knapp, Martin; Bauer, Annette; Bonin, Eva-Maria

2016-01-01

Circles of Support aim to enable people with learning disabilities (and others) to live full lives as part of their communities. As part of a wider study of the economic case for community capacity building conducted from 2012 to 2014, we conducted a mixed methods study of five Circles in North West England. Members of these Circles were…

Children with Autism and Peer Group Support: "Using Circles of Friends".

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitaker, Philip; Barratt, Penny; Joy, Helen; Potter, Mo; Thomas, George

1998-01-01

Explains the "circle of friends approach" as one strategy aimed at using peer group support to promote the inclusion of children with autism into mainstream schools. It describes use of the approach with six autistic children in years 3 to 10 of British mainstream schools. Evaluation comments by the circle leaders, circle members, and…

The Chicken and the Egg: Inviting Response and Talk through Socratic Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Styslinger, Mary E.; Pollock, Timothy

2010-01-01

This collaborative inquiry answers the following questions: 1) What is the nature of talk during Socratic Circles? 2) What is student response to talk? 3) How might knowing more about student response to talk and the nature of talk improve teaching during Socratic Circles? The article first describes the process of implementing Socratic Circles,…

Getting Started with Literature Circles. The Bill Harp Professional Teachers Library Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noe, Katherine L. Schlick; Johnson, Nancy J.

Designed to help teachers get started using literature circles in their classrooms, this book gives teachers a boost to begin, offers some insights from other teachers, and helps teachers clarify where to go next. It notes that literature circles (or literature study groups, book clubs, or discussion circles) take many forms and engage students in…

Guided Discovery of the Nine-Point Circle Theorem and Its Proof

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchbinder, Orly

2018-01-01

The nine-point circle theorem is one of the most beautiful and surprising theorems in Euclidean geometry. It establishes an existence of a circle passing through nine points, all of which are related to a single triangle. This paper describes a set of instructional activities that can help students discover the nine-point circle theorem through…

PySCIs: a user friendly Python tool to quickly applying Small Circle methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calvín, Pablo; José Villalaín, Juan; Casas, Antonio; Torres, Sara

2017-04-01

Small Circle (SC) methods are common tools in paleomagnetic working on synfolding paleomagnetic components. These methods have a twofold applicability. On one hand, the Small Circle Intersection (SCI) method allows obtaining the local remagnetization direction and on the other the SCs can be used to restitute the attitude of the sedimentary beds at the moment of the remagnetization acquisition. The bases of the SCI method are as follows. (i) The paleomagnetic direction for each site follows a path which draws a SC under progressive untinting of the beds; this SC links the paleomagnetic direction before and after the tectonic correction. (ii) Considering that the beds have been deformed only by tilting around the bedding strike, the remagnetization direction is placed upon the small circle of each site. (iii) The acquisition of the remagnetization was simultaneous for the analyzed rocks. Therefore, the remagnetization direction must to be placed upon the small circle for all sites and hence the all small circle must to intersect in one direction which corresponds with the remagnetization direction. Actually the method looks for the direction in the space closest to the set of SCs by means of A/n parameter (this is the sum of the angular distances between one direction and each SC normalized by the number of sites). Once the remagnetization direction is known, it is possible to calculate the paleomagnetic direction upon each SC closest to the calculated remagnetization direction, called as Best Fit Direction (BFD). After that the paleodip of the bed (i.e. the dip of the bed at the moment of the remagnetization event) can be calculated for each site (the paleodip is the angle measured over the SC between the BFD and the paleomagnetic direction after the complete bedding correction) and perform a palinspastic reconstruction of a region. We present pySCIs, a new python tool which allows applying this methodology in an easy way. The program has two different modules, pySCIs_calc.py and pySCIs_draw.py. The first one performs all calculations whereas the second one provides a graphical output. The input data are a comma delimited text file with the name of the sites, the in situ paleomagnetic directions and the attitude beds. After perform the calculations, pySCIs_calc.py export four text files: (i) one of them with all information regarding the paleomagnetic direction and the paleodip, (i) other with the calculated remagnetization direction, (iii) a third one with the direction of the intersections between the small circles and (iv) the last one with a one degree grid with the values of A/n. The graphical output consist in four equal area projections, three of them with the SCs and the paleomagnetic direction in different stages (before and after the bedding correction and the BFD) and the last one is a contour plot of A/n and the intersection between the SCs.

Productivity, job satisfaction, and health and safety in the coal industry: the participatory alternative

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1982-01-01

This is a conference which presents results and ideas on workplace participation in the coal industry. It discusses the theory of the quality circle groups for developing their own production rates and design goals. It presents the results of different coal company participation in this idea and how to implement this option. Individual topics are entered into the Data Base as separate items.

23. VIEW OF SECTION DRAWINGS. THE SECTION LINES CUT THE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

23. VIEW OF SECTION DRAWINGS. THE SECTION LINES CUT THE BUILDING EAST-WEST. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Uranium Rolling & Forming Operations, Southeast section of plant, southeast quadrant of intersection of Central Avenue & Eighth Street, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

24. VIEW OF THE SECOND FLOOR PLAN. ENRICHED URANIUM AND ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

24. VIEW OF THE SECOND FLOOR PLAN. ENRICHED URANIUM AND STAINLESS STEEL WEAPONS COMPONENT PRODUCTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES OCCURRED PRIMARILY ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, General Manufacturing, Support, Records-Central Computing, Southern portion of Plant, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

22. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT AND MEZZANINE FLOOR PLANS. ALL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

22. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT AND MEZZANINE FLOOR PLANS. ALL MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL UTILITY EQUIPMENT IS CONTAINED IN THE BASEMENT. THE MEZZANINE CONTAINS OFFICES. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Non-Nuclear Production Facility, South of Cottonwood Avenue, west of Seventh Avenue & east of Building 460, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

25. VIEW OF THE MACHINE TOOL LAYOUT IN ROOMS 244 ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

25. VIEW OF THE MACHINE TOOL LAYOUT IN ROOMS 244 AND 296. MACHINES WERE USED FOR STAINLESS STEEL FABRICATION (THE J-LINE). THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, General Manufacturing, Support, Records-Central Computing, Southern portion of Plant, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

23. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE FIRST FLOOR ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

23. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE FIRST FLOOR HOUSED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, THE CENTRAL COMPUTING, UTILITY SYSTEMS, ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES, AND MAINTENANCE SHOPS. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, General Manufacturing, Support, Records-Central Computing, Southern portion of Plant, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Analysis of the pen pressure and grip force signal during basic drawing tasks: The timing and speed changes impact drawing characteristics.

PubMed

Gatouillat, Arthur; Dumortier, Antoine; Perera, Subashan; Badr, Youakim; Gehin, Claudine; Sejdić, Ervin

2017-08-01

Writing is a complex fine and trained motor skill, involving complex biomechanical and cognitive processes. In this paper, we propose the study of writing kinetics using three angles: the pen-tip normal force, the total grip force signal and eventually writing quality assessment. In order to collect writing kinetics data, we designed a sensor collecting these characteristics simultaneously. Ten healthy right-handed adults were recruited and were asked to perform four tasks: first, they were instructed to draw circles at a speed they considered comfortable; they then were instructed to draw circles at a speed they regarded as fast; afterwards, they repeated the comfortable task compelled to follow the rhythm of a metronome; and eventually they performed the fast task under the same timing constraints. Statistical differences between the tasks were computed, and while pen-tip normal force and total grip force signal were not impacted by the changes introduced in each task, writing quality features were affected by both the speed changes and timing constraint changes. This verifies the already-studied speed-accuracy trade-off and suggest the existence of a timing constraints-accuracy trade-off. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Young Pupils', Their Teacher's and Classroom Assistants' Experiences of iPads in a Northern Ireland School: "Four and Five Years Old, Who Would Have Thought They Could Do That?"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clarke, Linda; Abbott, Lesley

2016-01-01

This paper describes an iPad project in a Northern Ireland primary school. It evaluates how the technology impacted on learning in literacy, numeracy and in pupil skills. The youngest pupils were asked about their iPad experiences using small-group interviews based on the circle time approach. Their teacher and two classroom assistants were…

Linking Science Analysis with Observation Planning: A Full Circle Data Lifecycle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grosvenor, Sandy; Jones, Jeremy; Koratkar, Anuradha; Li, Connie; Mackey, Jennifer; Neher, Ken; Wolf, Karl; Obenschain, Arthur F. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A clear goal of the Virtual Observatory (VO) is to enable new science through analysis of integrated astronomical archives. An additional and powerful possibility of the VO is to link and integrate these new analyses with planning of new observations. By providing tools that can be used for observation planning in the VO, the VO will allow the data lifecycle to come full circle: from theory to observations to data and back around to new theories and new observations. The Scientist's Expert Assistant (SEA) Simulation Facility (SSF) is working to combine the ability to access existing archives with the ability to model and visualize new observations. Integrating the two will allow astronomers to better use the integrated archives of the VO to plan and predict the success of potential new observations more efficiently, The full circle lifecycle enabled by SEA can allow astronomers to make substantial leaps in the quality of data and science returns on new observations. Our paper examines the exciting potential of integrating archival analysis with new observation planning, such as performing data calibration analysis on archival images and using that analysis to predict the success of new observations, or performing dynamic signal-to-noise analysis combining historical results with modeling of new instruments or targets. We will also describe how the development of the SSF is progressing and what have been its successes and challenges.

Linking Science Analysis with Observation Planning: A Full Circle Data Lifecycle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Jeremy; Grosvenor, Sandy; Wolf, Karl; Li, Connie; Koratkar, Anuradha; Powers, Edward I. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A clear goal of the Virtual Observatory (VO) is to enable new science through analysis of integrated astronomical archives. An additional and powerful possibility of the VO is to link and integrate these new analyses with planning of new observations. By providing tools that can be used for observation planning in the VO, the VO will allow the data lifecycle to come full circle: from theory to observations to data and back around to new theories and new observations. The Scientist's Expert Assistant (SEA) Simulation Facility (SSF) is working to combine the ability to access existing archives with the ability to model and visualize new observations. Integrating the two will allow astronomers to better use the integrated archives of the VO to plan and predict the success of potential new observations. The full circle lifecycle enabled by SEA can allow astronomers to make substantial leaps in the quality of data and science returns on new observations. Our paper will examine the exciting potential of integrating archival analysis with new observation planning, such as performing data calibration analysis on archival images and using that analysis to predict the success of new observations, or performing dynamic signal-to-noise analysis combining historical results with modeling of new instruments or targets. We will also describe how the development of the SSF is progressing and what has been its successes and challenges.

Ecohydrological interactions within "fairy circles" in the Namib Desert: Revisiting the self-organization hypothesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravi, Sujith; Wang, Lixin; Kaseke, Kudzai Farai; Buynevich, Ilya V.; Marais, Eugene

2017-02-01

Vegetation patterns such as rings, bands, and spots are recurrent characteristics of resource-limited arid and semiarid ecosystems. One of the most recognizable vegetation patterns is the millions of circular patches, often referred to as "fairy circles," within the arid grassland matrix extending over hundreds of kilometers in the Namib Desert. Several modeling studies have highlighted the role of plant-soil interactions in the formation of these fairy circles. However, little is known about the spatial and temporal variabilities of hydrological processes inside a fairy circle. In particular, a detailed field assessment of hydrological and soil properties inside and outside the fairy circles is limited. We conducted extensive measurements of infiltration rate, soil moisture, grass biometric, and sediment grain-size distribution from multiple circles and interspaces in the Namib Desert. Our results indicate that considerable heterogeneity in hydrological processes exists within the fairy circles, resulting from the presence of coarser particles in the inner bare soil areas, whereas concentration of fine soil occurs on the vegetated edges. The trapping of aeolian and water-borne sediments by plants may result in the observed soil textural changes beneath the vegetation, which in turn, explains the heterogeneity in hydrological processes such as infiltration and runoff. Our investigation provides new insights and experimental data on the ecohydrological processes associated with fairy circles, from a less studied location devoid of sand termite activity within the circles. The results seem to provide support to the "self-organization hypothesis" of fairy circle formation attributed to the antiphase spatial biomass-water distributions.

National Forest System working circles: a question of size and ownership composition

Treesearch

Robert J. Hrubes

1976-01-01

Allowable-cut (potential yield) levels on National Forest land are determined for planning units called working circles. The size of working circles has been increased over the past 30 years to the present scale which is often coincident with National Forest boundaries. Larger working circles have recently been considered because of the anticipated impacts on timber...

The combination of circle topology and leaky integrator neurons remarkably improves the performance of echo state network on time series prediction.

PubMed

Xue, Fangzheng; Li, Qian; Li, Xiumin

2017-01-01

Recently, echo state network (ESN) has attracted a great deal of attention due to its high accuracy and efficient learning performance. Compared with the traditional random structure and classical sigmoid units, simple circle topology and leaky integrator neurons have more advantages on reservoir computing of ESN. In this paper, we propose a new model of ESN with both circle reservoir structure and leaky integrator units. By comparing the prediction capability on Mackey-Glass chaotic time series of four ESN models: classical ESN, circle ESN, traditional leaky integrator ESN, circle leaky integrator ESN, we find that our circle leaky integrator ESN shows significantly better performance than other ESNs with roughly 2 orders of magnitude reduction of the predictive error. Moreover, this model has stronger ability to approximate nonlinear dynamics and resist noise than conventional ESN and ESN with only simple circle structure or leaky integrator neurons. Our results show that the combination of circle topology and leaky integrator neurons can remarkably increase dynamical diversity and meanwhile decrease the correlation of reservoir states, which contribute to the significant improvement of computational performance of Echo state network on time series prediction.

Fabrication and characteristics of thin disc piezoelectric transformers based on piezoelectric buzzers with gap circles.

PubMed

Chang, Kuo-Tsai; Lee, Chun-Wei

2008-04-01

This paper investigates design, fabrication and test of thin disc piezoelectric transformers (PTs) based on piezoelectric buzzers with gap circles at different diameters of the gap circles. The performance test is focused on characteristics of voltage gains, including maximum voltage gains and maximum-gain frequencies, for each piezoelectric transformer under different load conditions. Both a piezoelectric buzzer and a gap circle on a silver electrode of the buzzer are needed to build any type of the PTs. Here, the gap circle is used to form a ring-shaped input electrode and a circle-shaped output electrode for each piezoelectric transformer. To do so, both structure and connection of a PT are first expressed. Then, operating principle of a PT and its related vibration mode observed by a carbon-power imaging technique are described. Moreover, an experimental setup for characterizing each piezoelectric transformer is constructed. Finally, effects of diameters of the gap circles on characteristics of voltage gains at different load resistances are discussed.

A programmable systolic array correlator as a trigger processor for electron pairs in rich (ring image Cherenkov) counters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Männer, R.

1989-12-01

This paper describes a systolic array processor for a ring image Cherenkov counter which is capable of identifying pairs of electron circles with a known radius and a certain minimum distance within 15 μs. The processor is a very flexible and fast device. It consists of 128 x 128 processing elements (PEs), where one PE is assigned to each pixel of the image. All PEs run synchronously at 40 MHz. The identification of electron circles is done by correlating the detector image with the proper circle circumference. Circle centers are found by peak detection in the correlation result. A second correlation with a circle disc allows circles of closed electron pairs to be rejected. The trigger decision is generated if a pseudo adder detects at least two remaining circles. The device is controlled by a freely programmable sequencer. A VLSI chip containing 8 x 8 PEs is being developed using a VENUS design system and will be produced in 2μ CMOS technology.

Circles South East: the first 10 years 2002-2012.

PubMed

Bates, Andrew; Williams, Dominic; Wilson, Chris; Wilson, Robin J

2014-07-01

This article describes the first 10 years of the implementation of Circles of Support and Accountability (Circles) in the management of sexual offenders in South-East England by Circles South East (CSE). The Circles of 71 core members are reviewed in detail, with reference to demographic data, offense and sentencing histories, risk assessment data, and considerations regarding Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. A group of 71 comparison subjects who were referred to CSE and deemed suitable for but did not receive the service was identified. Follow-up behaviors of both groups are examined (including all forms of reconviction, breach of orders, and prison recall). Over a comparable follow-up period of 55 months, the incidence of violent and contact sexual reconviction in the comparison group was significantly higher than for the Circles cohort. Comparisons are made between expected and actual levels of sexual reconviction, with the Circles cohort showing lower than expected rate of sexual reconviction but not to a statistically significant degree. © The Author(s) 2013.

Wear simulation of apex seal in rotary engine under mixed lubrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Hanying; Zuo, Zhengxing; Liu, Jinxiang

2018-05-01

In this work, the wear of apex seal's running face under mixed lubrication is studied. Numerical simulation is carried out by employing the couple model of Reynolds equation, Greenwood and Tripp model and Archard's wear law. The simulation is performed both for one circle and multi circle. In the multi circle simulation, the change of contact position due to wear is considered. A method that is able to find the new contact position based on the updated apex seal's contour profile is proposed, validated and used. The result of multi circle simulation indicates that contact position changes obviously around the maximum swing angles both on leading and trailing sides with the increase number of circles. The wear depth distribution becomes more uniform with the increase of operation circle number.

Software for keratometry measurements using portable devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyomasa, C. M.; Ventura, L.; De Groote, J. J.

2010-02-01

In this work we present an image processing software for automatic astigmatism measurements developed for a hand held keratometer. The system projects 36 light spots, from LEDs, displayed in a precise circle at the lachrymal film of the examined cornea. The displacement, the size and deformation of the reflected image of these light spots are analyzed providing the keratometry. The purpose of this research is to develop a software that performs fast and precise calculations in mainstream mobile devices. In another words, a software that can be implemented in portable computer systems, which could be of low cost and easy to handle. This project allows portability for keratometers and is a previous work for a portable corneal topographer.

Algebraic criteria for positive realness relative to the unit circle.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siljak, D. D.

1973-01-01

A definition is presented of the circle positive realness of real rational functions relative to the unit circle in the complex variable plane. The problem of testing this kind of positive reality is reduced to the algebraic problem of determining the distribution of zeros of a real polynomial with respect to and on the unit circle. Such reformulation of the problem avoids the search for explicit information about imaginary poles of rational functions. The stated algebraic problem is solved by applying the polynomial criteria of Marden (1966) and Jury (1964), and a completely recursive algorithm for circle positive realness is obtained.

Influence of off-great-circle propagation of Rayleigh waves on event-based surface wave tomography in Northeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Haopeng; Ni, Sidao; Chu, Risheng; Chong, Jiajun; Liu, Zhikun; Zhu, Liangbao

2018-05-01

Surface waves are generally assumed to propagate along great-circle paths in most surface-wave tomography. However, when lateral heterogeneity is strong, off-great-circle propagation may occur and deteriorate surface wave tomography results based on the great-circle assumption. In this study, we used teleseismic waveforms recorded by the NECESSArray in Northeast China to study off-great-circle propagation of Rayleigh waves using the beamforming method and evaluated the influence of off-great-circle propagation on event-based surface wave tomography. The results show that arrival angle anomalies generally increase with decreasing period. The arrival angle anomalies at 60 and 50 s periods are smaller than that at 40 and 30 s periods, which indicates that the off-great-circle propagation is relatively weak for longer periods. At 30 s period, the arrival angle anomalies are relatively larger and some of the measurements can exceed 20°, which represents a strong off-great-circle propagation effect. In some areas, the arrival angle anomalies of adjacent events differ significantly, which may be attributed to multipathing propagation of surface waves. To evaluate the influence of off-great-circle propagation on event-based surface wave tomography, we used measured arrival angle anomalies to correct two-station phase velocity measurements, and performed azimuthal anisotropy tomography using dispersion datasets with and without the arrival angle correction. At longer periods, such as 60 s, the influence of off-great-circle propagation on surface wave tomography is weak even though the corrected model has better data fit than the uncorrected model. However, the influence of off-great-circle propagation is non-negligible at short periods. The tomography results at 30 s period show that the differences in phase velocity, the strength of anisotropy and the fast direction can be as large as 1.5 per cent, 1.0 per cent and 30°, respectively. Furthermore, the corrected phase velocity is systematically lower than that without correction. This study illustrates the necessity of studying the off-great-circle propagation of surface waves to improve the accuracy of event-based surface wave tomography, especially for shorter periods.

Rolling-circle amplification under topological constraints

PubMed Central

Kuhn, Heiko; Demidov, Vadim V.; Frank-Kamenetskii, Maxim D.

2002-01-01

We have performed rolling-circle amplification (RCA) reactions on three DNA templates that differ distinctly in their topology: an unlinked DNA circle, a linked DNA circle within a pseudorotaxane-type structure and a linked DNA circle within a catenane. In the linked templates, the single-stranded circle (dubbed earring probe) is threaded, with the aid of two peptide nucleic acid openers, between the two strands of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). We have found that the RCA efficiency of amplification was essentially unaffected when the linked templates were employed. By showing that the DNA catenane remains intact after RCA reactions, we prove that certain DNA polymerases can carry out the replicative synthesis under topological constraints allowing detection of several hundred copies of a dsDNA marker without DNA denaturation. Our finding may have practical implications in the area of DNA diagnostics. PMID:11788721

Circle of influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Andrew

2018-04-01

The founder of the Vienna Circle – a polymathic and influential group of intellectuals dedicated to the philosophy of science from the late 1920s until the Nazi takeover of Austria in 1938 – was German philosopher and physicist Moritz Schlick. Karl Sigmund's latest book – Exact Thinking in Demented Times: the Vienna Circle and the Epic Quest for the Foundations of Science – tells the story of the Vienna Circle's ideas and personalities.

Calculation of Latitude and Longitude for Points on Perimeter of a Circle on a Sphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morris, Heidi E.

2015-08-14

This document describes the calculation of the Earth-Centered Earth Fixed (ECEF) coordinates for points lying on the perimeter of a circle. Here, the perimeter of the circle lies on the surface of the sphere and the center of the planar circle is below the surface. These coordinates are converted to latitude and longitude for mapping fields on the surface of the earth.

Empirical Evaluation of Different Feature Representations for Social Circles Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-16

study and compare the performance on the available labelled Facebook data from the Kaggle competition on learning social circles in networks . We...Kaggle competition on learning social circles in networks [5]. The data consist of hand- labelled friendship egonets from Facebook and a set of 57...16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: Social circles detection is a special case of community detection in social network that is currently attracting a

21. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE FIRST FLOOR ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

21. VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN. THE FIRST FLOOR WAS USED FOR DEPLETED AND ENRICHED URANIUM FABRICATION. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Uranium Rolling & Forming Operations, Southeast section of plant, southeast quadrant of intersection of Central Avenue & Eighth Street, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

22. VIEW OF THE SECOND FLOOR PLAN. THE SECOND FLOOR ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

22. VIEW OF THE SECOND FLOOR PLAN. THE SECOND FLOOR CONTAINS THE AIR PLENUM ND SOME OFFICE SPACE. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Uranium Rolling & Forming Operations, Southeast section of plant, southeast quadrant of intersection of Central Avenue & Eighth Street, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Data-Model Comparison of Pliocene Sea Surface Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dowsett, H. J.; Foley, K.; Robinson, M. M.; Bloemers, J. T.

2013-12-01

The mid-Piacenzian (late Pliocene) climate represents the most geologically recent interval of long-term average warmth and shares similarities with the climate projected for the end of the 21st century. As such, its fossil and sedimentary record represents a natural experiment from which we can gain insight into potential climate change impacts, enabling more informed policy decisions for mitigation and adaptation. We present the first systematic comparison of Pliocene sea surface temperatures (SST) between an ensemble of eight climate model simulations produced as part of PlioMIP (Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project) and the PRISM (Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping) Project mean annual SST field. Our results highlight key regional (mid- to high latitude North Atlantic and tropics) and dynamic (upwelling) situations where there is discord between reconstructed SST and the PlioMIP simulations. These differences can lead to improved strategies for both experimental design and temporal refinement of the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Scatter plot of multi-model-mean anomalies (squares) and PRISM3 data anomalies (large blue circles) by latitude. Vertical bars on data anomalies represent the variability of warm climate phase within the time-slab at each locality. Small colored circles represent individual model anomalies and show the spread of model estimates about the multi-model-mean. While not directly comparable in terms of the development of the means nor the meaning of variability, this plot provides a first order comparison of the anomalies. Encircled areas are a, PRISM low latitude sites outside of upwelling areas; b, North Atlantic coastal sequences and Mediterranean sites; c, large anomaly PRISM sites from the northern hemisphere. Numbers identify Ocean Drilling Program sites.

Numerical Grid Generation. Proceedings of a Symposium on the Numerical Generation of Curvilinear Coordinate Systems and their Use in the Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations, held April 1982, Nashville, Tennessee

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

the transformation 2 1 V I " |€ , (22) 121 I which transforms a unit circle in the Z plane to a unit upper half ...circle (and to the real axis from -1. to 1.) in the 4 plane as illustrated in Fig. 6. I Zpbns rpIUII A A , FIGURE 6. , CIRCLE TO HALF CIRCLE MAPPING The ...an airfoil, or inlet, etc. ... ) to a rectangle (or equivalently to a circle or half plane ). The cumputing time required for this step is

Optimizing and Validating a Brief Assessment for Identifying Children of Service Members at Risk for Psychological Health Problems Following Parent Deployment

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

these groups . In the 2014/2015 year, efforts focused on securing a commitment from the United States Marine Corps to host the study. In Winter 2014...we can reach an adjusted sample size target in the 2017/2018 project year by expanding our recruitment to incorporate deploying infantry groups ...Vocabulary Test Revised. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service. George, C. & Solomon , J. (2008). The caregving system: A behavioral systems approach

NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Report Number 20. The Use of Selected Information Products and Services by U.S. Aerospace Engineers and Scientists: Results of Two Surveys.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-01

within and between organizations. The technical report has been defined etymologically , according to report content and method (U.S. Department of...number) I AERONAUTICS 6 MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTER SCIENCES 2 ASTRONAUTICS 7 MATERIALS & CHEMISTRY 3 ENGINEERING 8 PHYSICS 4 GEOSCIENCES 9 SPACE SCIENCES 5...the application of your work? (Circle ONLY one number) 1 AERONAUTICS 6 MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTER SCIENCES 2 ASTRONAUTICS 7 MATERIALS & CHEMISTRY 3

Observations of the star Cor Caroli at the Apple Valley Workshop 2016

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estrada, Reed; Boyd, Sidney; Estrada, Chris; Evans, Cody; Rhoades, Hannah; Rhoades, Mark; Rhoades, Trevor

2017-06-01

Using a 22-inch Newtonian Alt/Az telescope and Celestron Micro Guide eyepiece, students participating in a workshop observed the binary star Cor Caroli (STF 1692) and found a position angle of 231.0 degrees as well as an average separation of 18.7" This observation compared favorably with the 2015 Washington Double Star published position. This project was part of Mark Brewer's Apple Valley Double Star Workshop. The results were analyzed using bias and circle error probability calculations.

Japans Hauptstadt in Deutschland -. wie Düsseldorf sich zum wichtigsten Ziel japanischer Investitionen machte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jäger, Kristina

2017-04-01

Local actors, such as municipal authorities, can promote and shape the settlement of foreign companies in a particular manner. In many instances, actions of economic promotion can lead to several conflicts; firstly between foreign investors and their national representatives, and secondly with (supra)regional industries or business circles. Here, flexible and long-term settlement projects, the permission of migrant infrastructure, and moreover, their high-profile marketing may attract foreign companies and long-term investors.

Operation DOMINIC I-1962.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-02-01

ISLAND DANGER AREA IS A CIRCLE WITH RADII" JOHNSTON ISLAND (1) 470 nm- ( 871 km) 30 APRIL-12 JUNE 1962 AND DANGER AREA 22 SEPTEMBER-1S OCTOBER 1962 (21...AFCRL. Prolect Report: Reference C. 2018 . .I Project 6.4 -- E- and F-Region Physical Chemistry Agencies: Air Force Cambtidge Research Laboratory (AFCRL...1076) USS RECLAIMER (ARS-42) LISSTO LOVANA (AO- 64) 0USS GURKE (00-783) 2 - USS HALSEY POWELL (DO-686) aJ H I TM SI L N SURFACE ZERO S10- 0 30 60 Go

Ready or Not? Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

number . 1. REPORT DATE 2010 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Ready or Not? Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell 5a. CONTRACT... NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING...ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) USAF Air War College,325 Chennault Circle,Maxwell AFB,AL,36112 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING

Psychosexual characteristics of male university students in Brazil.

PubMed

Leite, R M; Buoncompagno, E M; Leite, A C; Mergulhao, E A; Battistoni, M M

1995-01-01

Male freshmen (N = 268) at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil responded to a questionnaire concerning aspects of their sexuality from the onset of adolescence. Topics such as physical changes, first ejaculation, masturbation, homosexual manifestations, and sexual practices were investigated, as well as present attitudes toward virginity, intercourse, birth control, abortion, and prevention of AIDS. The quality of the relationship established with parents and the possibilities for dialogue about sex in the family circle were also surveyed. The majority of the subjects revealed satisfactory development in most areas of their sexuality, as well as a good relationship with their parents. Nevertheless, great difficulty was found in dialogue about sex within the family circle. Of these young men, 32% were still virgins at the end of their freshman year, but a considerable number of those already sexually active reported behavior which was inappropriate for the prevention of pregnancy and AIDS. The results are analyzed using psychoanalytic theories of psychosexual development.

Lessons from Five States: Public Sector Use of Washington Circle Performance Measures

PubMed Central

Garnick, Deborah W.; Lee, Margaret T.; Horgan, Constance; Acevedo, Andrea; Botticelli, Michael; Clark, Spencer; Davis, Steven; Gallati, Robert; Haberlin, Karin; Hanchett, Andrew; Lambert–Wacey, Dawn; Leeper, Tracy; Siemianowski, James; Tikoo, Minakshi

2011-01-01

Five states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Oklahoma) have incorporated Washington Circle (WC) substance abuse performance measures in various ways into their quality improvement strategies. In this paper we focus on what other states and local providers might learn from these states’ experiences as they consider using WC performance measures. Using a case study approach, we report that the use of WC measures differs across these five states, although there are important common themes required for adoption and sustainability of performance measures which include: leadership, evaluation of specification and use of measures over time, state-specific adaptation of the WC measure specifications, collaboration with consultants and partners, inclusion of WC measures in the context of other initiatives, reporting to providers and the public, and data and resource requirements. As additional states adopt some of the WC measures, or adopt other performance measurement approaches, these states’ experiences could help them to develop implementations based on their particular needs. PMID:21257282

Component analysis and synthesis of dark circles under the eyes using a spectral image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akaho, Rina; Hirose, Misa; Ojima, Nobutoshi; Igarashi, Takanori; Tsumura, Norimichi

2017-02-01

This paper proposes to apply nonlinear estimation of chromophore concentrations: melanin, oxy-hemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin and shading to the real hyperspectral image of skin. Skin reflectance is captured in the wavelengths between 400nm and 700nm by hyperspectral scanner. Five-band wavelengths data are selected from skin reflectance. By using the cubic function which obtained by Monte Carlo simulation of light transport in multi-layered tissue, chromophore concentrations and shading are determined by minimize residual sum of squares of reflectance. When dark circles are appeared under the eyes, the subject looks tired and older. Therefore, woman apply cosmetic cares to remove dark circles. It is not clear about the relationship between color and chromophores distribution in the dark circles. Here, we applied the separation method of the skin four components to hyperspectral image of dark circle, and the separated components are modulated and synthesized. The synthesized images are evaluated to know which components are contributed into the appearance of dark circles. Result of the evaluation shows that the cause of dark circles for the one subject was mainly melanin pigmentation.

Traffic Circle Model

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1971-05-01

The report describes a dynamic model of a traffic circle which has been implemented on a CRT display terminal. The model includes sufficient parameters to allow changes in the structure of the traffic circle, the frequency of traffic introduced to th...

Can the Expanding Circle Own English? Comments on Yoo's "Nonnative Teachers in the Expanding Circle and the Ownership of English"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ren, Wei

2014-01-01

Yoo's (2014) article raises a number of questions concerning local teachers' status and the ownership of English in the Expanding Circle. In this article, I address five issues that I see as most important relating to the ownership of English and empowering local teachers in the Expanding Circle. I provide up-to-date evidence of World…

Circles of Support and Accountability for Sex Offenders: A Systematic Review of Outcomes.

PubMed

Clarke, Martin; Brown, Susan; Völlm, Birgit

2017-08-01

We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting on the effectiveness of Circles of Support and Accountability (Circles). Circles use volunteers to provide support for sex offenders living in the community. We searched 10 databases up to the end of 2013 and identified 3 relevant outcome studies. An additional 12 papers or reports were identified by searching reference lists, Google, and contacting key authors and Circles providers to obtain unpublished data. These 15 studies comprised one randomized controlled trial, three retrospective cohorts with matched controls, and 11 case series. The majority reported measures of recidivism, particularly reconviction. The 4 studies with controls generally reported that participation in Circles was associated with lower recidivism although there were few statistically significant differences. Few studies examined changes in risk or psychosocial outcomes. A number of methodological issues are discussed. Longer term, prospective follow-up studies with control groups are required to address these issues.

[Acute pain therapy in German hospitals as competitive factor. Do competition, ownership and case severity influence the practice of acute pain therapy?].

PubMed

Erlenwein, J; Hinz, J; Meißner, W; Stamer, U; Bauer, M; Petzke, F

2015-07-01

Due to the implementation of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system, the competitive pressure on German hospitals increased. In this context it has been shown that acute pain management offers economic benefits for hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the competitive situation, the ownership and the economic resources required on structures and processes for acute pain management. A standardized questionnaire on structures and processes of acute pain management was mailed to the 885 directors of German departments of anesthesiology listed as members of the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin). For most hospitals a strong regional competition existed; however, this parameter affected neither the implementation of structures nor the recommended treatment processes for pain therapy. In contrast, a clear preference for hospitals in private ownership to use the benchmarking tool QUIPS (quality improvement in postoperative pain therapy) was found. These hospitals also presented information on coping with the management of pain in the corporate clinic mission statement more often and published information about the quality of acute pain management in the quality reports more frequently. No differences were found between hospitals with different forms of ownership in the implementation of acute pain services, quality circles, expert standard pain management and the implementation of recommended processes. Hospitals with a higher case mix index (CMI) had a certified acute pain management more often. The corporate mission statement of these hospitals also contained information on how to cope with pain, presentation of the quality of pain management in the quality report, implementation of quality circles and the implementation of the expert standard pain management more frequently. There were no differences in the frequency of using the benchmarking tool QUIPS or the implementation of recommended treatment processes with respect to the CMI. In this survey no effect of the competitive situation of hospitals on acute pain management could be demonstrated. Private ownership and a higher CMI were more often associated with structures of acute pain management which were publicly accessible in terms of hospital marketing.

[Collaborative and stepped care for depression: Development of a model project within the Hamburg Network for Mental Health (psychenet.de)].

PubMed

Härter, Martin; Heddaeus, Daniela; Steinmann, Maya; Schreiber, Robert; Brettschneider, Christian; König, Hans-Helmut; Watzke, Birgit

2015-04-01

Depression is one of the most widespread mental disorders in Germany and causes a great suffering and involves high costs. Guidelines recommend stepped and interdisciplinary collaborative care models for the treatment of depression. Stepped and collaborative care models are described regarding their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. A current model project within the Hamburg Network for Mental Health exemplifies how guideline-based stepped diagnostics and treatment incorporating innovative low-intensity interventions are implemented by a large network of health care professionals and clinics. An accompanying evaluation using a cluster randomized controlled design assesses depressive symptom reduction and cost-effectiveness for patients treated within "Health Network Depression" ("Gesundheitsnetz Depression", a subproject of psychenet.de) compared with patients treated in routine care. Over 90 partners from inpatient and outpatient treatment have been successfully involved in recruiting over 600 patients within the stepped care model. Communication in the network was greatly facilitated by the use of an innovative online tool for the supply and reservation of treatment capacities. The participating professionals profit from the improved infrastructure and the implementation of advanced training and quality circle work. New treatment models can greatly improve the treatment of depression owing to their explicit reference to guidelines, the establishment of algorithms for diagnostics and treatment, the integration of practices and clinics, in addition to the implementation of low-intensity treatment alternatives. These models could promote the development of a disease management program for depression.

Fine-scale Patterns in Thaw Depth, Micro-relief, and Ground Cover on Non-sorted Circles and Small Patterned Ground Features Along a Climatic Gradient From Low to High Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okie, J.; Gould, W. A.; González, G.

2006-12-01

Patterned ground is a ubiquitous feature in the Arctic and the related variation in microtopographic relief strongly affects biotic and abiotic patterns and processes. Patterned ground features are polygenic in origin and are often found superimposed in a complex pattern of multiple features. We investigated the relationship between thaw depth, micro-relief, the cover of vascular, bryophyte, cryptogamic crust and bare ground along transects traversing non-sorted circles and small non-sorted polygons at 8 research sites along a climatic gradient in bioclimatic subzones A-E in the North American Arctic. Non-sorted circles are the result of differential frost heave with circle centers typically showing greater heave during freezing than inter circle areas. Differential heave is a function of climate, soil texture, soil moisture, and vegetation cover. Differential heave and subsidence creates fine-scale gradients in microtopography that affect soil moisture, exposure to winds, and development of vegetation and soils. Non-sorted circles typically range from 20 to 200 cm in diameter and are most common in subzones C-E. Often superimposed on these features are the development of small non-sorted polygons 10-30 cm in diameter, and fine-scale desiccation cracking at a scale of less than 10 cm. These are most common in subzones A-C. We established three 20 m transects in zonal vegetation at each site. Thaw depth, micro-relief, and ground cover were measured at 10 cm intervals along each transect. Additionally, we measured vascular plant beta diversity in a set of 25 x 25 cm quadrates on 15 circles and 15 inter circles at each site. The resulting pattern of thaw depth and micro-relief is correlated with both summer temperatures and vegetation cover. The variability and degree of micro-relief decrease from the Low to the High Arctic. Non-sorted circle centers had deeper active layer than inter circle areas along the gradient. Thaw depths increase linearly with the degree of bare ground and nonlinearly with summer warmth. This unimodal pattern of shallower active layer at the warmest and coldest sites is due to the interaction of climate and the insulating vegetation layer. Greatest thaw depths are found on bare non-sorted circles in subzone C. Beta diversity is greatest in subzone D, where vegetated inter circle areas differ markedly from more barren non- sorted circles.

Curved grating fabrication techniques for concentric-circle grating, surface-emitting semiconductor lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, Rebecca H.; King, Oliver; Wicks, Gary W.; Hall, Dennis G.; Anderson, Erik H.; Rooks, Michael J.

1993-01-01

We describe the fabrication and operational characteristics of a novel, surface-emitting semiconductor laser that makes use of a concentric-circle grating to both define its resonant cavity and to provide surface emission. A properly fabricated circular grating causes the laser to operate in radially inward- and outward-going circular waves in the waveguide, thus, introducing the circular symmetry needed for the laser to emit a beam with a circular cross-section. The basic circular-grating-resonator concept can be implemented in any materials system; an AlGaAs/GaAs graded-index, separate confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH), single-quantum-well (SQW) semiconductor laser, grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), was used for the experiments discussed here. Each concentric-circle grating was fabricated on the surface of the AlGaAs/GaAs semiconductor laser. The circular pattern was first defined by electron-beam (e-beam) lithography in a layer of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and subsequently etched into the semiconductor surface using chemically-assisted (chlorine) ion-beam etching (CAIBE). We consider issues that affect the fabrication and quality of the gratings. These issues include grating design requirements, data representation of the grating pattern, and e-beam scan method. We provide examples of how these techniques can be implemented and their impact on the resulting laser performance. A comparison is made of the results obtained using two fundamentally different electron-beam writing systems. Circular gratings with period lambda = 0.25 microns and overall diameters ranging from 80 microns to 500 microns were fabricated. We also report our successful demonstration of an optically pumped, concentric-circle grating, semiconductor laser that emits a beam with a far-field divergence angle that is less than one degree. The emission spectrum is quite narrow (less than 0.1 nm) and is centered at wavelength lambda = 0.8175 microns.

Sustainable reduction of antibiotic-induced antimicrobial resistance (ARena) in German ambulatory care: study protocol of a cluster randomised trial.

PubMed

Kamradt, Martina; Kaufmann-Kolle, Petra; Andres, Edith; Brand, Tonia; Klingenberg, Anja; Glassen, Katharina; Poß-Doering, Regina; Uhlmann, Lorenz; Hees, Katharina; Weber, Dorothea; Gutscher, Andreas; Wambach, Veit; Szecsenyi, Joachim; Wensing, Michel

2018-02-05

Despite many initiatives to enhance the rational use of antibiotics, there remains substantial room for improvement. The overall aim of this study is to optimise the appropriate use of antibiotics in German ambulatory care in patients with acute non-complicated infections (respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis and otitis media), community-acquired pneumonia and non-complicated cystitis, in order to counter the advancing antimicrobial resistance development. A three-armed cluster randomised trial will be conducted in 14 practice networks in two German federal states (Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia) and an added cohort that reflects standard care. The trial is accompanied by a process evaluation. Each arm will receive a different set of implementation strategies. Arm A receives a standard set, comprising of e-learning on communication with patients and quality circles with data-based feedback for physicians, information campaigns for the public, patient information material and performance-based additional reimbursement. Arm B receives this standard set plus e-learning on communication with patients and quality circles with data-based feedback tailored for non-physician health professionals of the practice team and information material for tablet computers (culture sensitive). Arm C receives the standard set as well as a computerised decision support system and quality circles in local multidisciplinary groups. The study aims to recruit 193 practices which will provide data on 23,934 patients each year (47,867 patients in total). The outcome evaluation is based on claims data and refers to established indicators of the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net). Primary and secondary outcomes relate to prescribing of antibiotics, which will be analysed in multivariate regression models. The process evaluation is based on interviews with surveys among physicians, non-physician health professionals of the practice team and stakeholders. A patient survey is conducted in one of the study arms. Interview data will be qualitatively analysed using thematic framework analysis. Survey data of physicians, non-physician health professionals of the practice team and patients will use descriptive and exploratory statistics for analysis. The ARena trial will examine the effectiveness of large scale implementation strategies and explore their delivery in routine practice. ISRCTN, ISRCTN58150046 . Registered 24 August 2017.

Advancing Climate Change Education: Student Engagement and Teacher Talk in the Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holthuis, N.; Saltzman, J.; Lotan, R.; Mastrandrea, M. D.; Diffenbaugh, P.; Gray, S.; Kloser, M.

2011-12-01

Stanford's Global Climate Change: Professional Development for K-12 Teachers is a unique collaboration between the Stanford School of Education and School of Earth Sciences to provide teacher professional development on the science of global climate change, pedagogical strategies, and curriculum materials. Scientists and education specialists developed a curriculum for middle and high school science classrooms. It addresses the fundamental issues of climate science, the impacts of climate change on society and on global resources, mitigation and adaptation strategies. This project documents in detail the full circle of curriculum development, teacher professional development, classroom implementation, analysis of student achievement data, and curriculum revision. Ongoing evaluation has provided understanding of the unique conditions and requirements of climate change education. In a sample of 750 secondary students in 25 Bay Area classrooms, we found statistically significant differences between post- (x=11.56, sd=4.75) and pre- (x=8.64, sd=4.58) test scores on standardized items and short open-ended essay questions. Through systematic classroom observations (300 observations in 25 classrooms), we documented student engagement and interactions, and the nature of teachers' talk in the classroom. We found that on average, 73.4% of the students were engaged, 14.4% were interacting with peers, and about 12.1% were disengaged. We also documented teacher talk (165 observations) and found that on the average, teachers delivered factual content and talked about classroom processes and spent less time on scientific argumentation, reasoning and/ or analysis. We documented significant differences in the quality of implementation among the teachers. Our study suggests that in addition to strengthening content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, professional development for teachers needs to include classroom management strategies, explicit modeling of collaborative work, and greater attention to the quality of teachers' questions and interactions with the students to enhance the quality of student talk and understanding. In our final year of the project, we will focus our observations more tightly on the nature of teacher and student talk to explore student understanding of climate change.

A hint of Poincaré dodecahedral topology in the WMAP first year sky map

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roukema, B. F.; Lew, B.; Cechowska, M.; Marecki, A.; Bajtlik, S.

2004-09-01

It has recently been suggested by Luminet et al. (\\cite{LumNat03}) that the WMAP data are better matched by a geometry in which the topology is that of a Poincaré dodecahedral model and the curvature is ``slightly'' spherical, rather than by an (effectively) infinite flat model. A general back-to-back matched circles analysis by Cornish et al. (\\cite{CSSK03}) for angular radii in the range 25-90 °, using a correlation statistic for signal detection, failed to support this. In this paper, a matched circles analysis specifically designed to detect dodecahedral patterns of matched circles is performed over angular radii in the range 1-40\\ddeg on the one-year WMAP data. Signal detection is attempted via a correlation statistic and an rms difference statistic. Extreme value distributions of these statistics are calculated for one orientation of the 36\\ddeg ``screw motion'' (Clifford translation) when matching circles, for the opposite screw motion, and for a zero (unphysical) rotation. The most correlated circles appear for circle radii of \\alpha =11 ± 1 \\ddeg, for the left-handed screw motion, but not for the right-handed one, nor for the zero rotation. The favoured six dodecahedral face centres in galactic coordinates are (\\lII,\\bII) ≈ (252\\ddeg,+65\\ddeg), (51\\ddeg,+51\\ddeg), (144\\ddeg,+38\\ddeg), (207\\ddeg,+10\\ddeg), (271\\ddeg,+3\\ddeg), (332\\ddeg,+25\\ddeg) and their opposites. The six pairs of circles independently each favour a circle angular radius of 11 ± 1\\ddeg. The temperature fluctuations along the matched circles are plotted and are clearly highly correlated. Whether or not these six circle pairs centred on dodecahedral faces match via a 36\\ddeg rotation only due to unexpected statistical properties of the WMAP ILC map, or whether they match due to global geometry, it is clear that the WMAP ILC map has some unusual statistical properties which mimic a potentially interesting cosmological signal.

Water quality of arctic rivers in Finnish Lapland.

PubMed

Niemi, Jorma

2010-02-01

The water quality monitoring data of eight rivers situated in the Finnish Lapland above the Arctic Circle were investigated. These rivers are icebound annually for about 200 days. They belong to the International River Basin District founded according to the European Union Water Framework Directive and shared with Norway. They are part of the European river monitoring network that includes some 3,400 river sites. The water quality monitoring datasets available varied between the rivers, the longest comprising the period 1975-2003 and the shortest 1989-2003. For each river, annual medians of eight water quality variables were calculated. In addition, medians and fifth and 95th percentiles were calculated for the whole observation periods. The medians indicated good river water quality in comparison to other national or foreign rivers. However, the river water quality oscillated widely. Some rivers were in practice in pristine state, whereas some showed slight human impacts, e.g., occasional high values of hygienic indicator bacteria.

Models to support students’ understanding of measuring area of circles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rejeki, S.; Putri, R. I. I.

2018-01-01

Many studies showed that enormous students got confused about the concepts of measuring area of circles. The main reason is because mathematics classroom practices emphasized on memorizing formulas rather than understanding concepts. Therefore, in this study, a set of learning activities were designed as an innovation in learning area measurement of circles. The activities involved two models namely grid paper and reshaping which are respectively as a means and a strategy to support students’ learning of area measurement of circles. Design research was used as the research approach to achieve the aim. Thirty-eight of 8th graders in Indonesia were involved in this study. In this study, together with the contextual problems, the grid paper and reshaping sectors, which used as the models in this learning, helped the students to gradually develop their understanding of the area measurement of circles. The grid papers plays important role in comparing and estimating areas. Whereas, the reshaping sectors might support students’ understanding of the circumference and the area measurement of circles. Those two models could be the tool for promoting the informal theory of area measurement. Besides, the whole activities gave important role on distinguishing the area and perimeter of circles.

Anísio Teixeira on universities, research and public education.

PubMed

Xavier, Libânia Nacif

2012-06-01

The article investigates the issues that were central to the debate about Brazilian education in intellectual circles in the 1920s-1930s and 1950s-1960s. It analyzes the project for Universidade do Distrito Federal, highlighting what set it apart from other higher education models, and the articulation between education and social science that oriented the work of Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Educacionais, founded and run by Anísio Teixeira. The positions of Darcy Ribeiro and Anísio Teixeira concerning the plans for Universidade de Brasília are set forth. The changes in Brazil's intellectual field in the midst of competing university projects and the prospect of developing social science research and applying it to education policymaking are analyzed.

An Examination of the Effects of a Quality Circles Program on Attitudinal Variables in Two DoD Installations

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-28

organization, the leader, the group, the reward system, and the individual’s attitudes, skills, and effort expended ( Szilagyi & Wallace , 1980), The...hesiveness are consistent with group tasks and goals. Szilagyi and Wallace (1980) write that the highest levels of group performance are found in highly...organizational commitment. Administrative Science Quarterly, March 1977, 46-56. Szilagyi , A. D., Jr., & Wallace , M. J., Jr. Organizational behavior and

Translations on North Korea, Number 607

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-08-04

in producing many more consumer goods of much better quality. Youth in scientific, educational, literary and artistic circles as well must achieve a...SINMUN in Korean 1 May 78 p 3] MASS GYMNASTIC DISPLAY FOR BOKASSA—The following were seated with Kim Il-song on the viewing platform at the mass... gymnastic display "Song of Korea," which was performed on 1 May at Moranbong Stadium in honor of the visiting Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African

Schematic Animation of Phoenix's Microscope Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Click on image for animation

This animation shows the workings of the microscope station of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) instrument suite of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.

Samples are delivered to the horizontal portion of the sample wheel (yellow) that pokes outside an opening in the box enclosure. The wheel rotates to present the sample to the microscopes. The Optical Microscope (red) can see particles a little smaller than one-tenth the diameter of a human hair. The Atomic Force Microscope (pink) can see particles forty time smaller. The samples are on a variety of substrate surfaces, the small circles on the beveled edge of the sample wheel. For scale, the diameter of the wheel is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches). Each substrate is a circle 3 millimeters (0.1 inch) in diameter.

The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.

A quality control circle process to improve implementation effect of prevention measures for high-risk patients.

PubMed

Feng, Haixia; Li, Guohong; Xu, Cuirong; Ju, Changping; Suo, Peiheng

2017-12-01

The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of prevention measures on pressure injuries for high-risk patients and to establish the most appropriate methods of implementation. Nurses assessed patients using a checklist and factors influencing the prevention of a pressure injury determined by brain storming. A specific series of measures was drawn up and an estimate of risk of pressure injury determined using the Braden Scale, analysis of nursing documents, implementation of prevention measures for pressure sores and awareness of the system both before and after carrying out a quality control circle (QCC) process. The overall scores of implementation of prevention measures ranged from 74.86 ± 14.24 to 87.06 ± 17.04, a result that was statistically significant (P < 0.0025). The Braden Scale scores ranged from 8.53 ± 3.21 to 13.48 ± 3.57. The nursing document scores ranged from 7.67 ± 3.98 to 10.12 ± 1.63; prevention measure scores ranged from 11.48 ± 4.18 to 13.96 ± 3.92. Differences in all of the above results are statistically significant (P < 0.05). Implementation of a QCC can standardise and improve the prevention measures for patients who are vulnerable to pressure sores and is of practical importance to their prevention and control. © 2017 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Wind Factor Simulation Model: User’s Manual.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-04-01

computer program documentation; com- puterized simulation; equivalent headwind technique; great circle; great circle distance; great circle equation ; great... equation of a great circle. Program listing and flow chart are included. iv UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE(WIh.n Date EnItrd) USER’S...THE EQUATOR . 336 C 337 NTRIFG = 0 338 C 339 C END OF FUNCTION ICONV I 1. RETURN TO MAIN PROGRAM . 340 C 42 341 RETURN 34? C 343 C 344 C 345 C * PART II

Normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, Marcelo B.; Efstratiadis, Argiris

1997-01-01

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3' noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to moderate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library.

Normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, M.B.; Efstratiadis, A.

1997-06-10

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3{prime} noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to moderate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. 4 figs.

Developing learning trajectory on the circumference of a cycle with realistic mathematics education (RME)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Indriani, Novi; Julie, Hongki

2017-08-01

According Nuranisa, the students' difficulties on a lesson about the circumference of a circle were to understand the concept of what was the circumference of a circle and solve problems associated with the circumference of a circle [8]. According Nuranisa, this is because the teacher only gives a formula to find the circumference of a circle without helping students to construct the formula [8]. The purposes of this study were (1) to develop the hypothetical learning trajectory (HLT) for the cycle circumference material, (2) to describe the student results from the HLT implementation. The type of research used in this research was the design research developed by Gravemeijer and Cobb (2006). According Gravemeijer and Cobb, the design research was divided into three stages: (1) preparing for the experiment, (2) design experiments, and (3) retrospective analysis [6]. In this study, researchers developed the student learning trajectories which were help students to construct their knowledge about the understanding and how to calculate the circumference of a circle. The context used on the students' learning trajectory was sports and arts event. The learning trajectory has been tried out for 15 grade five students on the Budya Wacana elementary school in Yogyakarta. In this paper, researchers would describe how the learning trajectory traversed students to construct their knowledge about the understanding and how to calculate the circumference of the circle and the student thinking process on the understanding and how to calculate the circumference of a circle. The results showed that students could construct about the understanding of the circumference of a circle and how to calculate the circumference of a circle through the student learning trajectory.

[Containing, right hemisphere: projective identification as an interpersonal mechanism, the ability for affect regulation].

PubMed

Becker, Tobias; Streeck-Fischer, Annette

2012-01-01

The capacity of affect regulation develops with priority in reciprocal, non-verbal communication processes between the early caregiver and the baby. In this process, the projective identification plays the role of crucial means of communication. Processes of projective identification which emerge in therapeutic and educational interactions can be understood as such an early form of communication which contributes to the afterward-ripening of the capacity of affect regulation. Before the background of recent neuro-psychological findings it becomes clear, why the reciprocal and non-verbal communication between the early caregiver and infant as well as between the therapist and the patient is of such fundamental importance for the structural (re-) maturation of the right cerebral hemisphere, as well as for the connections between the left and right hemisphere. In case the projective identification persists as a defensive strategy in dealing with other people, pathological interaction circles can develop which can be overcome only when, for example, the other person assumes the role of the "regulating other".

Astrometry and early astrophysics at Kuffner Observatory in the late 19th century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habison, Peter

The astronomer and mathematician Norbert Herz encouraged Moriz von Kuffner, owner of the beer brewery in Ottakring, to finance a private scientific observatory in the western parts of Vienna. In the years 1884-87 the Kuffner Observatory was built at the Gallitzinberg in Wien-Ottakring. It was an example of enlighted patronage and noted at the time for its rapid acquisition of new instruments and by increasing international recognition. It contained the largest heliometer in the world and the largest meridian circle in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Of the many scientists who worked here we mention Leo de Ball, Gustav Eberhard, Johannes Hartmann and we should not forget Karl Schwarzschild. Here in Vienna he published papers on celestial mechanics, measuring techniques, optics and his fundamental papers concerning photographic photometry, in particular the quantitative determination of the departure of the reciprocity law. The telescope and the associated camera with which he carried out his measurements are still in existence at the observatory. The observatory houses important astronomical instruments from the 19th century. All telescopes were made by Repsold und Söhne in Hamburg, and Steinheil in Munich. These two German companies were best renowned for quality and precision in high standard astronomical instruments. The Great Refractor (270/3500 mm) is still the third largest refractor in Austria. It was installed at the observatory in 1886 and was used together with the Schwarzschild Refractor for early astrophysical work including photography. It is this double refractor, where Schwarzschild carried out his measurements on photographic photometry. The Meridian Circle (132/1500 mm) was the largest meridian passage instrument of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today it is the largest meridian circle in Austria and still one of the largest in Europe. The telescope is equipped with one of the first impersonal micrometers of that time. First observations were carried out in 1886, followed by an international program called the ``Zonenunternehmen der Astronomischen Gesellschaft''. During this program 8468 stars were measured at the meridian circle. The Vertical Circle (81/1200 mm) was used as an auxiliary instrument for the meridian circle and for measuring polar motion. It is a rare instrument and only very few are still in existence at European observatories. Originally the Heliometer (217/3000 mm) was an instrument for measuring very small distances at the celestial sphere. Of this type of instrument, the Vienna heliometer was the largest in the world. It was installed at the observatory in 1896 and was mainly used for measuring the trigonometric parallaxes of the stars. Of 108 known parallaxes in 1910, 16 stars were measured at Kuffner Observatory at that time.

The experience of meaning in circle dance

PubMed Central

Borges da Costa, Ana L.; Cox, Diane L.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Circle dance, which derives from the tradition of folk dances, is practised worldwide. This article explores the meanings participants attribute to it. In-depth interviews with 39 participants, teachers and coordinators of teacher training programmes from the circle dance network in the United Kingdom were undertaken. Applying a constructivist grounded theory approach, major categories, representing respectively the experiences of circle dance participants, teachers and coordinators, were developed. This article specifically focuses on the first major category, termed “I can't imagine life without it”, which relates to the experience of 22 dancers. From an occupational perspective, the study reveals how participants realise a sense of meaning and satisfaction through engagement in circle dance and the potential contribution of this occupation to well-being. PMID:27366111

Vicious Circles in Organizations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masuch, Michael

1985-01-01

After examining some elementary notions of action theory and cybernetics, this article analyzes the dynamics, clustering, and survival chances of vicious circles. It argues that the action perspective implies that many structural suboptimalities of organizations are caused by vicious circles. Eleven figures and 105 references are provided. (DCS)

VIEW FROM EAST SIDE OF ELM DRIVE/BIRCH CIRCLE BLOCK, SHOWING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW FROM EAST SIDE OF ELM DRIVE/BIRCH CIRCLE BLOCK, SHOWING SLOPING TOPOGRAPHY. VIEW FACING WEST. - Camp H.M. Smith and Navy Public Works Center Manana Title VII (Capehart) Housing, Intersection of Acacia Road and Brich Circle, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

The Exclusionary Circle Game: A Tool to Promote Critical Dialogue About HIV Stigma and Social Justice.

PubMed

Wong, Josephine Pui; Li, Alan Tai

2015-01-01

The Exclusionary Circle Game was a learning tool developed for an intervention study to address stigma associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and social exclusion. The objectives of The Exclusionary Circle Game were to enhance collective resonance and empathy, promote critical reflection and dialogue, and motivate collective action to address social exclusion. The game began with all participants being inside a circle. Each participant was randomly given one color-coded card. Each card color represented a character with a specific lived experience associated with racism, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, HIV stigma, and so on. Participants holding a marginalized status card were asked to leave the circle in sequence and go to designated spaces. Eventually, only one half of the participants were left in the circle. Participants then debriefed about their experiences within the entire group. The game has been used, beyond the intervention study, at research conferences with positive feedback. In this article, we detail the processes, strengths, and possibility of using this game for empowerment education.

Designing worked examples for learning tangent lines to circles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Retnowati, E.; Marissa

2018-03-01

Geometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with shape and space, including the circle. A difficult topic in the circle may be the tangent line to circle. This is considered a complex material since students have to simultaneously apply several principles to solve the problems, these are the property of circle, definition of the tangent, measurement and Pythagorean theorem. This paper discusses designs of worked examples for learning tangent line to circles and how to apply this design to an effective and efficient instructional activity. When students do not have sufficient prior knowledge, solving tangent problems might be clumsy, and as a consequence, the problem-solving activity hinders learning. According to a Cognitive Load Theory, learning occurs when students can construct new knowledge based on the relevant knowledge previously learned. When the relevant knowledge is unavailable, providing students with the worked example is suggested. Worked example may reduce unproductive process during learning that causes extraneous cognitive load. Nevertheless, worked examples must be created in such a way facilitate learning.

Alien crop circle? No, that’s just NASA’s newest balloon launch pad

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

Aviators, skydivers and other altitude-seeking enthusiasts flying out of Wanaka Airport, New Zealand, are double taking at a new topographical feature reminiscent of an alien crop circle. Rest assured, the nearly 2,000-foot (600-meter) diameter circle with a pie-shaped wedge on one side and spokes on the other is no extraterrestrial footprint and it’s definitely no hoax. It’s NASA’s newest launch pad for launching the agency’s most advanced high-altitude, heavy-lift scientific balloon: the super pressure balloon. The four spokes emanating from the center and toward the west, each nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) long, align with magnetic compass directions at 240, 260, 290 and 320 degrees. On launch day, balloon flight experts from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility will assess meteorological data and determine if the conditions are suitable to support a launch opportunity. The new pad is the first major project in developing a long-term super pressure balloon launch site in Wanaka. Earlier in 2017, NASA signed a 10-year lease with the Queenstown Airport Corporation to conduct balloon operations from a newly acquired piece of land adjacent to the Wanaka Airport. Credit: NASA/Dave Webb NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Comfortable synchronization of cyclic drawing movements with a metronome.

PubMed

Repp, Bruno H

2011-02-01

Continuous circle drawing is considered a paragon of emergent timing, whereas the timing of finger tapping is said to be event-based. Synchronization with a metronome, however, must to some extent be event-based for both types of movement. Because the target events in the movement trajectory are more poorly defined in circle drawing than in tapping, circle drawing shows more variable asynchronies with a metronome than does tapping. One factor that may have contributed to high variability in past studies is that circle size, drawing direction, and target point were prescribed and perhaps outside the comfort range. In the present study, participants were free to choose most comfortable settings of these parameters for two continuously drawn shapes, circles and infinity signs, while synchronizing with a regular or intermittently perturbed metronome at four different tempi. Results showed that preferred circle sizes were generally smaller than in previous studies but tended to increase as tempo decreased. Synchronization results were similar for circles and infinity signs, and similar to earlier results for circles drawn within a fixed template (Repp & Steinman, 2010). Comparison with tapping data still showed drawing to exhibit much greater variability and persistence of asynchronies as well as slower phase correction in response to phase shifts in the metronome. With comfort level ruled out as a factor, these differences can now be attributed more confidently to differences in event definition and/or movement dynamics. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

What Goes Around Can Come Around: An Unexpected Deleterious Effect of Using Mouse Running Wheels for Environmental Enrichment

PubMed Central

Leduc, Renee Y M; Rauw, Gail; Baker, Glen B; McDermid, Heather E

2017-01-01

Environmental enrichment items such as running wheels can promote the wellbeing of laboratory mice. Growing evidence suggests that wheel running simulates exercise effects in many mouse models of human conditions, but this activity also might change other aspects of mouse behavior. In this case study, we show that the presence of running wheels leads to pronounced and permanent circling behavior with route-tracing in a proportion of the male mice of a genetically distinct cohort. The genetic background of this cohort includes a mutation in Arhgap19, but genetic crosses showed that an unknown second-site mutation likely caused the induced circling behavior. Behavioral tests for inner-ear function indicated a normal sense of gravity in the circling mice. However, the levels of dopamine, serotonin, and some dopamine metabolites were lower in the brains of circling male mice than in mice of the same genetic background that were weaned without wheels. Circling was seen in both singly and socially housed male mice. The additional stress of fighting may have exacerbated the predisposition to circling in the socially housed animals. Singly and socially housed male mice without wheels did not circle. Our current findings highlight the importance and possibly confounding nature of the environmental and genetic background in mouse behavioral studies, given that the circling behavior and alterations in dopamine and serotonin levels in this mouse cohort occurred only when the male mice were housed with running wheels. PMID:28315651

Comprehensibility of Englishes within ASEAN: A Synopsis of Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilang, Jeffrey Dawala; Teo, Adisa

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to measure the comprehensibility of the Expanding Circle nations' citizens, namely Burmese, Cambodians, Indonesians, Laotians, Thais and Vietnamese towards the Outer Circle Englishes, namely Bruneian English, Malaysian English. Philippine English and Singaporean English. Ten universities in the Expanding Circle that…

Conceptions and Representations: The Circle as an Example.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janvier, Claude

This paper, which addresses the issue of representation as an internal construct corresponding to an external abstract configuration, attempts to extend A. A. DiSessa's phenomenological primitives to mathematics (particularly to the notion of circle). Various acceptations of the word representation are examined, using the notion of a circle as an…

Exploring Writing Circles as Innovative, Collaborative Writing Structures with Teacher Candidates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Sherron Killingsworth; Blanch, Norine; Gurjar, Nandita

2017-01-01

Writing circles are "small groups... meeting regularly to share drafts, choose common writing topics, practice positive response, and in general, help each other become better writers" (Vopat, 2009, p. 6). In this exploratory study, writing circles were employed with elementary teacher candidates in hopes of enhancing their perceptions…

The Effect of Literature Circles on Text Analysis and Reading Desire

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karatay, Halit

2017-01-01

In order to make teaching activities more appealing, different techniques and strategies have been constantly employed. This study utilized the strategy of "literature circles" to improve the text-analysis skills, reading desires, and interests of prospective teachers of Turkish. "Literature circles" was not chosen to be used…

Adjusting an electron beam for drilling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Childress, C. L.

1980-01-01

Reticle contains two concentric circles: inner circle insures beam circularity and outer circle is guide to prevent beam from cutting workpiece clamp. Precise measurement of beam and clamp are required with old reticle. New reticle speeds up electron-beam drilling process by eliminating need to rotate eyepiece to make measurements against reticle scale.

Participation and Gender in Circle-Time Situations in Preschool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emilson, Anette; Johansson, Eva

2013-01-01

This study sought to investigate participatory values in relation to gender, as expressed in interactions between teachers and children in circle-time situations in Swedish and Norwegian preschools. This paper reports evidence from three research questions: How is children's participation conditioned in circle-time situations? How are…

VIEW OF THE OUTER RING OF CENTER CIRCLE, LOOKING NORTH. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW OF THE OUTER RING OF CENTER CIRCLE, LOOKING NORTH. GRANITE COPING DEFINES THE SWAIN FAMILY PLOT, WHICH CONTAINS A CELTIC CROSS, ON WHICH THE CIRCLE REFERS TO ETERNAL LIFE, AND A RECLINING HUMAN FIGURE IN ETERNAL SLEEP - Woodlands Cemetery, 4000 Woodlands Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Using Literature Circles to Enhance Student Knowledge of Nonfiction Text

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitworth, Amanda

2017-01-01

This mixed methods action research study explored how students reacted to using literature circles to enhance their knowledge and understanding of reading nonfiction text as compared to students using guided reading. This study showed a minimal improvement for students participating in the literature circle group in overall understanding of…

Assign Roles to Get Literature Circles Rolling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curriculum Review, 2005

2005-01-01

This article briefly describes a role-playing exercise designed to break the ice in a classroom literature circle from The Ultimate Small-Group Reading How-To Book: Building Comprehension through SmallGroup Instruction, written by Gail Saunders-Smith. The members of a literature circle participate in the group discussion according to the…

Literature Circles. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Chia-Hui

The use of literature circles has been discussed in a variety of academic journals, conference papers, and workshops. Teachers at all grade levels use literature circles as a vehicle through which students learn to: think critically about literature; express their thoughts in oral and written forms; and better enjoy their literacy experiences.…

Developing Soft Skills Using "Literature Circles"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azmi, Mohd Nazri Bin Latiff

2013-01-01

This study investigates the impact of the implementation of "Literature Circles" in an Active Learning classroom in relations to developing soft skills among university students. The use of Literature Circles is a well-known strategy in teaching the students to be more creative, independent, and think out of the box. A group of…

Method for construction of normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, Marcelo B.; Efstratiadis, Argiris

1996-01-01

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3' noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to moderate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library.

Method for construction of normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, M.B.; Efstratiadis, A.

1996-01-09

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form. The method comprises: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3` noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to moderate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. 4 figs.

Sister Circles as a Culturally Relevant Intervention for Anxious African American Women

PubMed Central

Neal-Barnett, Angela; Stadulis, Robert; Murray, Marsheena; Payne, Margaret Ralston; Thomas, Anisha; Salley, Bernadette B.

2011-01-01

Research on anxiety treatment with African American women reveals a need to develop interventions that address factors relevant to their lives. Such factors include feelings of isolation, multiple roles undertaken by Black women, and faith. A recurrent theme across treatment studies is the importance of having support from other Black women. Sister circles are support groups that build upon existing friendships, fictive kin networks, and the sense of community found among African Americans females. Sister circles appear to offer many of the components Black women desire in an anxiety intervention. In this article, we explore sister circles as an intervention for anxious African American women. Culturally-infused aspects from our sister circle work with middle-class African American women are presented. Further research is needed. PMID:22081747

Age-related interference from irrelevant distracters in visual feature search among heterogeneous distracters.

PubMed

Merrill, Edward C; Conners, Frances A

2013-08-01

We evaluated age-related variations in the influence of heterogeneous distracters during feature target. Participants in three age groups-6-year-old children, 9-year-old children, and young adults-completed three conditions of search. In a singleton search condition, participants searched for a circle among squares of the same color. In two feature mode search conditions, participants searched for a gray circle or a black circle among gray and black squares. Singleton search was performed at the same level of efficiency for all age groups. In contrast, the two feature mode search conditions yielded age-related performance differences in both conditions. Younger children exhibited a steeper slope than young adults when searching for a gray or black circle. Older children exhibited a steeper slope than young adults when searching for a gray circle but not when searching for a black circle. We concluded that these differences revealed age-related improvements in the relative abilities of adults and children to execute attentional control processes during visual search. In particular, it appears that children found it more difficult to maintain the goal of searching for a circle target than adults and were distracted by the presence of the irrelevant feature dimension of color. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The National Library of Medicine's Native American outreach portfolio: a descriptive overview*

PubMed Central

Wood, Frederick B.; Siegel, Elliot R.; Dutcher, Gale A.; Ruffin, Angela; Logan, Robert A.; Scott, John C.

2005-01-01

Objectives: This paper provides the most complete accounting of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) Native outreach since 1995, when there were only a few scattered projects. Method: The descriptive overview is based on a review of project reports, inventories, and databases and input from the NLM Specialized Information Services Division, National Network Office of the Library Operations Division, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, and Office of Health Information Programs Development of the Office of the NLM Director. The overview focuses on NLM-supported or sponsored outreach initiatives involving Native peoples: American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Results: The review of NLM's relevant activities resulted in a portfolio of projects that clustered naturally into the following areas: major multisite projects: Tribal Connections and related, Native American Information Internship Project: Sacred Root, tribal college outreach and tribal librarianship projects, collaboration with inter-tribal and national organizations, participation in Native American Powwows, Native American Listening Circle Project, Native American Health Information, and other Native American outreach projects. Implications: NLM's Native American Outreach reached programmatic status as of late 2004. The companion paper identifies several areas of possible new or enhanced Native outreach activities. Both papers highlight the importance of solid reporting and evaluation to optimize project results and programmatic balance and priorities. PMID:16239955

The National Library of Medicine's Native American outreach portfolio: a descriptive overview.

PubMed

Wood, Frederick B; Siegel, Elliot R; Dutcher, Gale A; Ruffin, Angela; Logan, Robert A; Scott, John C

2005-10-01

This paper provides the most complete accounting of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) Native outreach since 1995, when there were only a few scattered projects. The descriptive overview is based on a review of project reports, inventories, and databases and input from the NLM Specialized Information Services Division, National Network Office of the Library Operations Division, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, and Office of Health Information Programs Development of the Office of the NLM Director. The overview focuses on NLM-supported or sponsored outreach initiatives involving Native peoples: American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. The review of NLM's relevant activities resulted in a portfolio of projects that clustered naturally into the following areas: major multisite projects: Tribal Connections and related, Native American Information Internship Project: Sacred Root, tribal college outreach and tribal librarianship projects, collaboration with inter-tribal and national organizations, participation in Native American Powwows, Native American Listening Circle Project, Native American Health Information, and other Native American outreach projects. NLM's Native American Outreach reached programmatic status as of late 2004. The companion paper identifies several areas of possible new or enhanced Native outreach activities. Both papers highlight the importance of solid reporting and evaluation to optimize project results and programmatic balance and priorities.

20. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN. THE BASEMENT AREA ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

20. VIEW OF THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN. THE BASEMENT AREA INCLUDES A UTILITY ROOM, PROCESS WASTE STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE AREAS, AND THE ENTRANCE TO AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL LEADING TO BUILDING 881. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Uranium Rolling & Forming Operations, Southeast section of plant, southeast quadrant of intersection of Central Avenue & Eighth Street, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Investigation of New Semiinsulating Behavior of III-V Compounds.

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-02-23

load (I 10) directions, respectively. Open circles correspond to p-type samples cell . The sample with the length Io of 7 mm, was placed deformed in the...DISCUSSION at a constant rate dl /dt of 0.05 mm/min. The load cell was used to monitor the applied force. All samples used in this A. Free-carrier...the growth of epitaxial quality GaAs bulk crystals (Bryskiewicz et al 1987b). A schematic diagram of the growth cell used in our growth experi- S-nts

23. VIEW OF SECTION DRAWINGS. THE SECTION LINES FOR AA ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

23. VIEW OF SECTION DRAWINGS. THE SECTION LINES FOR A-A AND C-C CUT THE BUILDING EAST-WEST; SECTION LINE B-B CUTS THE BUILDING NORTH-SOUTH. THE ORIGINAL DRAWING HAS BEEN ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM. THE DRAWING WAS REPRODUCED AT THE BEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. LETTERS AND NUMBERS IN THE CIRCLES INDICATE FOOTER AND/OR COLUMN LOCATIONS. - Rocky Flats Plant, Non-Nuclear Production Facility, South of Cottonwood Avenue, west of Seventh Avenue & east of Building 460, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Navy Quality of Life and Reenlistment.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

Problema with Unique Solution,- 20 pp., Jun 1976, 234-253) AD AOSS 536 AD AO SYSpp 223 pp 213 Mengel . Marc. *StOdetlc Mechanics of Moleoloion thloule... Mengel . Marc. ’Fluctuations In Systeme with Multiple Steady lesecttons.’ 21 pp.. Jan 1978. AD AD%6 227 Stetes. Application to Landmaster Equations,’ 12 pp...Qirrot Mengel , bee ead QuenAw*, Gould D.. ’Ilop aleam of a 0Ias~ Facing oer movet and Busanss Learsa presented by Slverlsto Normal Oe as Offet CIrcle

NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Report Number 19. The U. S. Government Technical Report and the Transfer of Federally Funded Aerospace R&D: An Analysis of Five Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

defined etymologically , according to report content and method (U.S. Department of Defense, 1964); behaviorally, according to the influence on the reader...SCIENCES 2 ASTRONAUTICS 7 MATERIALS & CHEMISTRY 3 ENGINEERING 8 PHYSICS 4 GEOSCIENCES 9 SPACE SCIENCES 5 LIFE SCIENCES 10 OTHER (specify) 63. IsANYof...YOUR work? (Circle ONLY one number) I AERONAUTICS 6 MATHEMATICAL & COMPUTER SCIENCES 2 ASTRONAUTICS 7 MATERIALS & CHEMISTRY 3 ENGINEERING 8 PHYSICS 4

US tornadoes. Part 1: 70-year statistics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fujita, T. T.

1987-01-01

If tornadoes were counted as the Gross National Product, no other country on the surface of the earth could come even close to the United States. During the recent 70 year period, the United States produced 31,054 tornadoes which left behind a cumulative path of 132,005 miles (212,396 km) which would circle the world 5.3 times along the equator. In completing the book, staff members of the Satellite and Mesometeorlogy Research Project (1961 to the present) played an important role in collecting, evaluating, and archiving the historical tornado data.

Observations of the Star Cor Caroli at the Apple Valley Workshop 2016 (Abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estrada, R.; Boyd, S.; Estrada, C.; Evans, C.; Rhoades, H.; Rhoades, M.; Rhoades, T.

2017-12-01

(Abstract only) Using a 22-inch Newtonian Alt/Az telescope and Celestron Micro Guide eyepiece, students participating in a workshop observed the binary star Cor Caroli (STF 1692; alpha CVn) and found a position angle of 231.0 degrees as well as an average separation of 18.7" This observation compared favorably with the 2015 Washington Double Star published position. This project was part of Mark Brewer's Apple Valley Double Star Workshop. The results were analyzed using bias and circle error probability calculations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vertesi, T.; Bene, E.

A bipartite Bell inequality is derived which is maximally violated on the two-qubit state space if measurements describable by positive operator valued measure (POVM) elements are allowed, rather than restricting the possible measurements to projective ones. In particular, the presented Bell inequality requires POVMs in order to be maximally violated by a maximally entangled two-qubit state. This answers a question raised by N. Gisin [in Quantum Reality, Relativistic Causality, and Closing the Epistemic Circle: Essays in Honour of Abner Shimony, edited by W. C. Myrvold and J. Christian (Springer, The Netherlands, 2009), pp. 125-138].

Effects of Refresher Training on Job-Task Typewriting Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-10-01

preceded by some blank space. How much space? The scanner requires not less than a sixth nor more than a half inch of space. The postal department stresses ...postal department stresses that the code be not less than two nor more than six spaces away from the state. INSERT NEW PAPER AND BEGIN TYPING WITH THE...Questionnaire Project 2 Home 1. Name Phone Work 2. Social Security Number i 3. NOS 4. Time in 0S Months 5. Location of AIT 6. Sex 7. Grade(circle one) El E2 E3 E4

Department of Defense Biological Threat Responses to the 2009-2010 H1N1 Influenza Outbreak: A Real World Exercise (Counterproliferation Paper Number 51, April 2011)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-01

PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Air...University,USAF Counterproliferation Center,325 Chennault Circle,Maxwell AFB,AL,36112 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING...2007 and 2008,” Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 3.4, (Jul 2009), pp. 183–188. IV Butler , Declan, “Portrait of a Year-Old Pandemic,” Nature

THE FORM AND STRUCTURE OF KINETOPLAST DNA OF CRITHIDIA

PubMed Central

Renger, Hartmut C.; Wolstenholme, David R.

1972-01-01

Cesium chloride centrifugation of each of the DNAs extracted from eight strains of Crithidia revealed a main band at ρ = 1.717 g/cm3 and a satellite band varying from ρ = 1.701 to 1.705 g/cm3 for the different strains By electron microscopy each DNA was shown to include circular molecules, 0.69–0.80 µ in mean contour length, and large, topologically two-dimensional masses of DNA in which the molecules appeared in the form of rosettes. DNA isolated from kinetoplast fractions of Crithidia acanthocephali was shown to consist of light satellite DNA and to be mainly in the form of large masses, 0.8 µ (mol wt = 1.54 x 106 daltons) circular molecules, and a few long, linear molecules. The results of experiments involving ultracentrifugation, heating, and quenching, sonication, and endodeoxyribonuclease digestion, combined with electron microscopy, are consistent with the following hypothesis. The large DNA masses are associations of 0.8 µ circles which are mainly covalently closed. The circles are held together in groups (the rosettes) of up to 46 by the topological interlocking of each circle with many other circles in the group. A group of circles is attached to an adjacent group by one or more circles, each interlocking with many circles of both groups. Each of the associations comprises, on the average, about 27,000 circles (total mol wt ≃ 41 x 109 daltons). A model is proposed for the in situ arrangement of the associations which takes into consideration their form and structure, and appearance in thin sections PMID:5040863

[Quality assurance in geriatric rehabilitation--approaches and methods].

PubMed

Deckenbach, B; Borchelt, M; Steinhagen-Thiessen, E

1997-08-01

It did not take the provisions of the 5th Book of the Social Code for quality assurance issues to gain significance in the field of geriatric rehabilitation as well. While in the surgical specialties, experience in particular with external quality assurance have already been gathered over several years now, suitable concepts and methods for the new Geriatric Rehabilitation specialty are still in the initial stages of development. Proven methods from the industrial and service sectors, such as auditing, monitoring and quality circles, can in principle be drawn on for devising geriatric rehabilitation quality assurance schemes; these in particular need to take into account the multiple factors influencing the course and outcome of rehabilitation entailed by multimorbidity and multi-drug use; the eminent role of the social environment; therapeutic interventions by a multidisciplinary team; as well as the multi-dimensional nature of rehabilitation outcomes. Moreover, the specific conditions of geriatric rehabilitation require development not only of quality standards unique to this domain but also of quality assurance procedures specific to geriatrics. Along with a number of other methods, standardized geriatric assessment will play a crucial role in this respect.

Polygons and Their Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephenson, Paul

2009-01-01

In order to find its circumference, Archimedes famously boxed the circle between two polygons. Ending the first of a series of articles (MT179) with an aside, Francis Lopez-Real reverses the situation to ask: Which polygons can be boxed between two circles? (The official term for such polygons is "bicentric".) The sides of these polygons are…

Empowerment of Children through Circle Time: Myth or Reality?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Bernie

2013-01-01

The focus of this paper is circle time, a widely used method in primary schools in Ireland and elsewhere. It involves children sitting in a circle with their teacher using method-specific techniques and strategies for self-esteem enhancement, promoting positive relationships and development of social skills. Qualitative research was undertaken in…

78 FR 44119 - Circle Environmental #1 Superfund Site; Dawson, Terrell County, Georgia; Notice of Settlement

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-23

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-9837-3; CERCLA-04-2013-3760] Circle Environmental 1 Superfund... settlement with Walter G. Mercer, Jr. concerning the Circle Environmental 1 Superfund Site located in Dawson... methods: Internet: www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/programs/enforcement/enforcement.html U.S. Mail: U.S...

VIEW OF DATE DRIVE, FROM INTERSECTION WITH BIRCH CIRCLE, WITH ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW OF DATE DRIVE, FROM INTERSECTION WITH BIRCH CIRCLE, WITH FACILITY 809 ON LEFT, 816 ON RIGHT. NOTE THE MANY DATE PALMS. VIEW FACING NORTHWEST - Camp H.M. Smith and Navy Public Works Center Manana Title VII (Capehart) Housing, Intersection of Acacia Road and Brich Circle, Pearl City, Honolulu County, HI

From Silence to a Whisper to Active Participation: Using Literature Circles with ELL Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carrison, Catherine; Ernst-Slavit, Gisela

2005-01-01

This article discusses benefits of using literature circles with ELL students to strengthen literacy skills and student confidence. Highlighting one teacher's implementation of literature circles, the authors present a candid examination of areas of initial weakness and describe strategies used for improvements in subsequent "rounds." A discussion…

Comparing Interactions in Literature Circles in Both Online and in Class Discussions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skeen, Christel Ghrist

2014-01-01

Discourse analysis of literature circles can lead educators to understand the different types of interactions taking place as students talk about text. Social and academic interactions exist in both face-to-face and online discussions of reading material. This study examines two different settings of literature circles and compares interactions of…

College Students' Science Societies and Special-Interest Circles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivanov, A.

2005-01-01

From the point of view of their age, student science societies and special-interest circles are among the most venerable forms of corporate association among students in colleges and universities. In this article, the author traces the formation of different societies and special-interest circles by college students in different universities in…

Integrating Literature Circles into a Cotaught Inclusive Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whittaker, Catharine R.

2012-01-01

Literature circles or book clubs are small, heterogeneous groups of students who have chosen to read and discuss the same book together. The research on literature circles suggests that they hold great promise for increasing students' enjoyment of reading and honing their literacy skills. When evidence-based strategies are embedded into a…

Mouse Behavior on ISS: The Emergence of a Distinctive, Organized Group Circling Behavior Unique to Spaceflight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ronca, A. E.; Moyer, E. L.; Talyansky, Y.; Solomides, P.; Choi, S.; Gong, C.; Globus, R. K.

2017-01-01

As interest in long duration effects of space habitation increases, understanding the behavior of model organisms living within the habitats engineered to fly them is vital for designing, validating, and interpreting future spaceflight studies. Only a handful of papers have previously reported behavior of mice and rats in the weightless environment of space (Andreev-Andrievskiy, et al., 2013; Cancedda et al., 2012; Ronca et al., 2008). The Rodent Research Hardware and Operations Validation Mission (Rodent Research-1; RR1) utilized the Rodent Habitat (RH) developed at NASA Ames Research Center to fly mice on the ISS. Ten adult (16-week-old) female C57BL6J mice were launched on September 21st, 2014 in an unmanned Dragon Capsule, and spent 37 days in flight. Here we report group behavioral phenotypes of the RR1 Flight (FLT) and environment-matched Ground Control (GC) mice in the RH during this long duration flight. Video was recorded for 34 days on the ISS, permitting daily assessments of overall health and well being of the mice, and providing a valuable repository for detailed behavioral analysis. As compared to GC mice, RR1 FLT mice exhibited the same range of behaviors, including eating, drinking, exploration, self- and allogrooming, and social interactions at similar or greater levels of occurrence. Overall activity was greater in FLT as compared to GC mice, with spontaneous ambulatory behavior, including organized circling or race-tracking behavior that emerged within the first few days of flight following a common developmental sequence, comprising the primary dark cycle activity of FLT mice. Circling participation by individual mice persisted throughout the mission. Analysis of group behavior over mission days revealed recruitment of mice into the group phenotype, coupled with decreasing numbers of collisions between circling mice. This analysis provides insights into the behavior of mice in microgravity, and clear evidence for the emergence of a distinctive, organized group behavior unique to the weightless space environment. Supported by the NASA Rodent Research Project, Space Biology Program, and Space Life Sciences Training Program.

Violence in the eye of adolescents: education intervention with Culture Circles.

PubMed

Brandão Neto, Waldemar; Silva, Marta Angélica Iossi; de Aquino, Jael Maria; de Lima, Luciane Soares; Monteiro, Estela Maria Leite Meirelles

2015-01-01

to apply the methodology of Culture Circles on adolescents as a strategy for health education of nurses in the construction of the collective knowledge of the thematic violence. action research type and qualitative study. Participants were 11 adolescents from a public school in Recife, PE, Brazil. Data production in Culture Circles included the participant observation with field diary, photographic recording and filming, as well as the photovoice technique. The analysis was performed by triangulating data in dialogue with the literature. it was shown that the problematizing action provided by the Culture Circle made possible to create situations in which adolescents felt invited to critically refl ect on the phenomenon of violence in all its complexity. the health education intervention, performed by Culture Circles, added learning and mutual growth subsidizing nursing care actions that excel at leadership and autonomy of adolescents.

Multimodal determination of Rayleigh dispersion and attenuation curves using the circle fit method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verachtert, R.; Lombaert, G.; Degrande, G.

2018-03-01

This paper introduces the circle fit method for the determination of multi-modal Rayleigh dispersion and attenuation curves as part of a Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) experiment. The wave field is transformed to the frequency-wavenumber (fk) domain using a discretized Hankel transform. In a Nyquist plot of the fk-spectrum, displaying the imaginary part against the real part, the Rayleigh wave modes correspond to circles. The experimental Rayleigh dispersion and attenuation curves are derived from the angular sweep of the central angle of these circles. The method can also be applied to the analytical fk-spectrum of the Green's function of a layered half-space in order to compute dispersion and attenuation curves, as an alternative to solving an eigenvalue problem. A MASW experiment is subsequently simulated for a site with a regular velocity profile and a site with a soft layer trapped between two stiffer layers. The performance of the circle fit method to determine the dispersion and attenuation curves is compared with the peak picking method and the half-power bandwidth method. The circle fit method is found to be the most accurate and robust method for the determination of the dispersion curves. When determining attenuation curves, the circle fit method and half-power bandwidth method are accurate if the mode exhibits a sharp peak in the fk-spectrum. Furthermore, simulated and theoretical attenuation curves determined with the circle fit method agree very well. A similar correspondence is not obtained when using the half-power bandwidth method. Finally, the circle fit method is applied to measurement data obtained for a MASW experiment at a site in Heverlee, Belgium. In order to validate the soil profile obtained from the inversion procedure, force-velocity transfer functions were computed and found in good correspondence with the experimental transfer functions, especially in the frequency range between 5 and 80 Hz.

Guided discovery of the nine-point circle theorem and its proof

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchbinder, Orly

2018-01-01

The nine-point circle theorem is one of the most beautiful and surprising theorems in Euclidean geometry. It establishes an existence of a circle passing through nine points, all of which are related to a single triangle. This paper describes a set of instructional activities that can help students discover the nine-point circle theorem through investigation in a dynamic geometry environment, and consequently prove it using a method of guided discovery. The paper concludes with a variety of suggestions for the ways in which the whole set of activities can be implemented in geometry classrooms.

Potential for Natural Gas Storage in Deep Basalt Formations at Canoe Ridge, Washington State: A Hydrogeologic Assessment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reidel, Steve P.; Spane, Frank A.; Johnson, Vernon G.

2005-09-24

Between 1999 and 2002, Pacific Gas Transmission Company (PGT) (now TransCanada Pipeline Company) and AVISTA Corporation, together with technical support provided by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) examined the feasibility of developing a subsurface, natural gas-storage facility in deep, underlying Columbia River basalt in south-central Washington state. As part of this project, the 100 Circles #1 well was drilled and characterized in addition to surface studies. This report provides data and interpretations of the geology and hydrology collected specific to the Canoe Ridge site as part of the U.S. DOE funding to themore » Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in support of this project.« less

An evaluation of a public health nutrition workforce development intervention for the nutrition and dietetics workforce.

PubMed

Palermo, C; Hughes, R; McCall, L

2010-06-01

Workforce development is a key element for building the capacity to effectively address priority population nutrition issues. On-the-job learning and mentoring have been proposed as strategies for practice improvement in public health nutrition; however, there is limited evidence for their effectiveness. An evaluation of a mentoring circle workforce development intervention was undertaken. Thirty-two novice public health nutritionists participated in one of three mentoring circles for 2 h, every 6 weeks, over a 7-month period. Pre- and post-intervention qualitative (questionnaire, interview, mentor diary) and quantitative (competence, time working in public health nutrition) data were collected. The novice public health nutritionists explained the intervention facilitated sharing of ideas and strategies and promoted reflective practice. They articulated the important attributes of the mentor in the intervention as having experience in and a passion for public health, facilitating a trusting relationship and providing effective feedback. Participants reported a gain in competency and had an overall mean increase in self-reported competence of 15% (range 3-48% change; P < 0.05) across a broad range of competency elements. Many participants described re-orienting their practice towards population prevention, with quantifiable increases in work time allocated to preventive work post-intervention. Mentoring supported service re-orientation and competency development in public health nutrition. The nature of the group learning environment and the role and qualities of the mentor were important elements contributing to the interventions effects. Mentoring circles offer a potentially effective strategy for workforce development in nutrition and dietetics.

The Gasket of Circles: A Fractal of Circular Nature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haggar, Fred; Kricic, Senida

2017-01-01

Subdividing an equilateral triangle into four congruent triangles, then doing likewise to each of the three non-central triangles, and then again and again, leads to the Sierpinski gasket, from which the chaos game originated. An analogous procedure is hereforth applied to a circle, where a subdivision consists of two pairs of inscribed circles,…

Influence of a Mathematics Teachers' Circle on Elementary Teachers' Use of Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garner, Mary L.; Watson, Virginia; Rogers, Beth; Head, Catherine

2017-01-01

Math teachers' circles are a form of professional development that is recommended by the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences in their publication Mathematical Education of Teachers II (2012). However, little research has been published on how effective math teachers' circles are in advancing the mathematical knowledge of teachers and…

Author Correction: Quantum Landauer erasure with a molecular nanomagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaudenzi, R.; Burzurí, E.; Maegawa, S.; van der Zant, H. S. J.; Luis, F.

2018-06-01

In the version of this Letter originally published, the key to the green and open circles in Fig. 4 was reversed; it should have shown that the green circles correspond to `From χ versus T' and the open circles correspond to `From χ versus Hy'. This has now been corrected in all versions of the Letter.

Growing a Circle of Courage Culture: One School's Journey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Espiner, Deborah; Guild, Diane

2010-01-01

Mt. Richmond Special School is the first Circle of Courage school in New Zealand. The school reflects the richness of the cultural and learning diversity found in many New Zealand schools. Located in the heart of South Auckland, the school's 130 students represent a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. The universal values in the Circle of Courage…

Dynamic Investigation of Triangles Inscribed in a Circle, Which Tend to an Equilateral Triangle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stupel, Moshe; Oxman, Victor; Sigler, Avi

2017-01-01

We present a geometrical investigation of the process of creating an infinite sequence of triangles inscribed in a circle, whose areas, perimeters and lengths of radii of the inscribed circles tend to a limit in a monotonous manner. First, using geometrical software, we investigate four theorems that represent interesting geometrical properties,…

D'Nealian Handwriting versus Circle-Stick Print.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thurber, Donald N.

This paper argues against teaching children to make letters using circle-stick writing. It contends that the circle-stick method requires continued pen/pencil lifts hindering rhythm or flow in the writing process and that there is little carry-over value into cursive writing as the two scripts are totally different. D'Nealian print, one type of…

Unit Circles and Inverse Trigonometric Functions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barrera, Azael

2014-01-01

Historical accounts of trigonometry refer to the works of many Indian and Arab astronomers on the origin of the trigonometric functions as we know them now, in particular Abu al-Wafa (ca. 980 CE), who determined and named all known trigonometric functions from segments constructed on a regular circle and later on a unit circle (Moussa 2011;…

Optical Coherence Tomography Scan Circle Location and Mean Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurement Variability

PubMed Central

Gabriele, Michelle L.; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Wollstein, Gadi; Bilonick, Richard A.; Townsend, Kelly A.; Kagemann, Larry; Wojtkowski, Maciej; Srinivasan, Vivek J.; Fujimoto, James G.; Duker, Jay S.; Schuman, Joel S.

2009-01-01

PURPOSE To investigate the effect on optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements of varying the standard 3.4-mm-diameter circle location. METHODS The optic nerve head (ONH) region of 17 eyes of 17 healthy subjects was imaged with high-speed, ultrahigh-resolution OCT (hsUHR-OCT; 501 × 180 axial scans covering a 6 × 6-mm area; scan time, 3.84 seconds) for a comprehensive sampling. This method allows for systematic simulation of the variable circle placement effect. RNFL thickness was measured on this three-dimensional dataset by using a custom-designed software program. RNFL thickness was resampled along a 3.4-mm-diameter circle centered on the ONH, then along 3.4-mm circles shifted horizontally (x-shift), vertically (y-shift) and diagonally up to ±500 µm (at 100-µm intervals). Linear mixed-effects models were used to determine RNFL thickness as a function of the scan circle shift. A model for the distance between the two thickest measurements along the RNFL thickness circular profile (peak distance) was also calculated. RESULTS RNFL thickness tended to decrease with both positive and negative x- and y-shifts. The range of shifts that caused a decrease greater than the variability inherent to the commercial device was greater in both nasal and temporal quadrants than in the superior and inferior ones. The model for peak distance demonstrated that as the scan moves nasally, the RNFL peak distance increases, and as the circle moves temporally, the distance decreases. Vertical shifts had a minimal effect on peak distance. CONCLUSIONS The location of the OCT scan circle affects RNFL thickness measurements. Accurate registration of OCT scans is essential for measurement reproducibility and longitudinal examination (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00286637). PMID:18515577

Real-time monitoring of rolling-circle amplification using a modified molecular beacon design

PubMed Central

Nilsson, Mats; Gullberg, Mats; Dahl, Fredrik; Szuhai, Karoly; Raap, Anton K.

2002-01-01

We describe a method to monitor rolling-circle replication of circular oligonucleotides in dual-color and in real-time using molecular beacons. The method can be used to study the kinetics of the polymerization reaction and to amplify and quantify circularized oligonucleotide probes in a rolling-circle amplification (RCA) reaction. Modified molecular beacons were made of 2′-O-Me-RNA to prevent 3′ exonucleolytic degradation by the polymerase used. Moreover, the complement of one of the stem sequences of the molecular beacon was included in the RCA products to avoid fluorescence quenching due to inter-molecular hybridization of neighboring molecular beacons hybridizing to the concatemeric polymerization product. The method allows highly accurate quantification of circularized DNA over a broad concentration range by relating the signal from the test DNA circle to an internal reference DNA circle reporting in a distinct fluorescence color. PMID:12136114

Synthesis of boron nitride coatings on quartz fibers: Thickness control and mechanism research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Yu; Wang, Shubin

2011-10-01

Boron nitride (BN) coatings were successfully synthesized on quartz fibers by dip-coating in boric acid and urea solutions at 700 °C. The SEM micrographs indicated that the quartz fibers were fully covered by coatings with smooth surface. The XRD, FT-IR, XPS spectra and HR-TEM results showed that the composition of the coatings which combined closely with the quartz fibers was polycrystalline h-BN. By changing the dip circles, the coating thickness was well controlled. The thicknesses of samples dipped less than six circles increased linearly with dipping-circles; and the increment of coating thickness would slow down when the fibers were dipped 10 circles. After being dipped for 10 circles, the thickness was about 300 nm. The coating thickness was also established by calculation and the calculated results were consistent with the results measured by micrograph.

ANDRILL Education and Public Outreach: A Legacy of the IPY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rack, F. R.; Huffman, L. T.; Reed, J.; Harwood, D. M.; Berg, M.; Diamond, J.; Fox, A.; Dahlman, L. E.; Levy, R. H.

2009-12-01

ANDRILL field projects during the IPY included the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) and Southern McMurdo Sound (SMS) drilling projects, and the Mackay Sea Valley (MSV) and Offshore New Harbor (ONH) seismic surveys. ANDRILL's international network of scientists, engineers, students and educators work together to convey an understanding of geoscience research and the process of science to non-technical audiences. ANDRILL education and public outreach (EPO) program goals are to: (1) promote environmental and polar science literacy for all audiences; (2) develop and disseminate engaging resources for formal and informal education; (3) develop and nurture a network of polar science educators; (4) spark the curiosity of students and the general public; (5) encourage students to pursue careers in science; (6) challenge misconceptions about scientific research; (7) provide professional development opportunities for educators; and, (8) encourage inquiry teaching in science education. During the IPY, ANDRILL established partnerships with several IPY projects to enhance science literacy and promote the IPY in formal and informal education and outreach venues. ANDRILL-led initiatives include the ARISE (ANDRILL Research Immersion for Science Educators) Program, Project Iceberg, the FLEXHIBIT (FLEXible exHIBIT; in partnership with Antarctica’s Climate Secrets/IPY Engaging Antarctica), and the Project Circle. ANDRILL partnerships developed with several museums and school districts for teacher professional development workshops and a variety of public events. A polar learning community was created from the ARISE participants and their many contacts, the Project Circle participants, and interested educators who contacted ANDRILL. EPO activities are continuing in the post-IPY period with additional funding. The ARISE program has been successful in building a team of educators and a network of international collaborations across grade levels and cultures. The ANDRILL website has expanded to include project outcomes, video journals, ARISE blogs, and other resources. The web pages continue to provide key educational outcomes by providing resources for students, teachers and the general public. The FLEXHIBIT banners and posters focus on five (5) Antarctic themes with a booklet of polar science activities. The banners are translated into German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Kiwi English with Maori subheadings. Smaller FLEXHIBIT posters with activities on the backs have been bundled into Teachers Packets that include two DVDs of ANDRILL’s educational content. The FLEXHIBIT posters have been translated into Italian, Spanish and Arabic. ANDRILL has demonstrated the value of EPO and has invested time and resources to improve polar and climate science literacy. ANDRILL’s EPO efforts give teachers, students and the public exposure to key scientific findings regarding climate change and the new knowledge interpreted from the ANDRILL cores.

New head equivalent phantom for task and image performance evaluation representative for neurovascular procedures occurring in the Circle of Willis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionita, Ciprian N.; Loughran, Brendan; Jain, Amit; Swetadri Vasan, S. N.; Bednarek, Daniel R.; Levy, Elad; Siddiqui, Adnan H.; Snyder, Kenneth V.; Hopkins, L. N.; Rudin, Stephen

2012-03-01

Phantom equivalents of different human anatomical parts are routinely used for imaging system evaluation or dose calculations. The various recommendations on the generic phantom structure given by organizations such as the AAPM, are not always accurate when evaluating a very specific task. When we compared the AAPM head phantom containing 3 mm of aluminum to actual neuro-endovascular image guided interventions (neuro-EIGI) occurring in the Circle of Willis, we found that the system automatic exposure rate control (AERC) significantly underestimated the x-ray parameter selection. To build a more accurate phantom for neuro-EIGI, we reevaluated the amount of aluminum which must be included in the phantom. Human skulls were imaged at different angles, using various angiographic exposures, at kV's relevant to neuro-angiography. An aluminum step wedge was also imaged under identical conditions, and a correlation between the gray values of the imaged skulls and those of the aluminum step thicknesses was established. The average equivalent aluminum thickness for the skull samples for frontal projections in the Circle of Willis region was found to be about 13 mm. The results showed no significant changes in the average equivalent aluminum thickness with kV or mAs variation. When a uniform phantom using 13 mm aluminum and 15 cm acrylic was compared with an anthropomorphic head phantom the x-ray parameters selected by the AERC system were practically identical. These new findings indicate that for this specific task, the amount of aluminum included in the head equivalent must be increased substantially from 3 mm to a value of 13 mm.

Evaluating an Indigenous health curriculum for diabetes prevention: engaging the community through talking circles and knowledge translation of results.

PubMed

Khayyat Kholghi, Maedeh; Bartlett, Gillian; Phillips, Morgan; Salsberg, Jon; McComber, Alex M; Macaulay, Ann C

2018-01-16

Kahnawà:ke is a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community in Quebec, Canada. In 1997, the community-controlled Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre in partnership with the Kahnawake Education Center, and the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP) developed an elementary school diabetes prevention health education program, aimed to increase knowledge of Type 2 diabetes, healthy eating and active lifestyles. Long-term goals for KSDPP community and school interventions are to decrease obesity and diabetes. To evaluate the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Health Education Program for Diabetes Prevention (HEP) and use key principles of knowledge translation to promote understanding of results to upgrade HEP content and improve delivery. A KSDPP community-based participatory research team used mixed methods for evaluation, combining a cross-sectional survey for 23 teachers with interviews of two elementary school principals and three culturally appropriate Indigenous talking circles with HEP authors, teachers and parents. Questionnaire results were presented as descriptive statistics. The thematic textual analysis identified emerging themes from talking circles and interviews. Facilitators of HEP delivery were an acknowledgement of its importance; appreciation of prepared lesson plans for teachers; and KSDPP's strong community presence. Barriers included reduced administrative support and instructional time due to competing academic demands; the need for increased Kanien'kehá:ka cultural content; and outdated resource materials. Recommendations included increasing teacher training, Kanien'kehá:ka cultural content and administrative support. Community researchers undertook detailed knowledge translation activities of facilitators, barriers and recommendations with hospital and education centre administrators and Kahnawà:ke community to maximize uptake of findings before external dissemination of results. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Circle of care modelling: an approach to assist in reasoning about healthcare change using a patient-centric system.

PubMed

Price, Morgan

2016-10-04

Many health system and health Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects do not achieve their expected benefits. This paper presents an approach to exploring changes in the healthcare system to better understand the expected improvements and other changes by using a patient-centric modelling approach. Circle of care modeling (CCM) was designed to assist stakeholders in considering healthcare system changes using a patient centric approach. The CCM approach is described. It includes four steps, based on soft systems methodology: finding out, conceptual modelling, structured discussion, and describing potential improvements. There are four visualizations that are used though this process: patient-persona based rich pictures of care flows (as part of finding out), and three models: provider view, communication view, and information repository view (as part of conceptual modelling). Three case studies are presented where CCM was applied to different real-world healthcare problems: 1. Seeking improvements in continuity of care for end of life patients. 2. Exploring current practices for medication communication for ambulatory patients prior to an update of a jurisdictional drug information system. 3. Deciding how to improve attachment of patients to primary care. The cases illustrate how CCM helped stakeholders reason from a patient centered approach about gaps and improvements in care such as: data fragmentation (in 1), coordination efforts of medication management (in 2), and deciding to support a community health centre for unattached patients (in 3). The circle of care modelling approach has proved to be a useful tool in assisting stakeholders explore health system change in a patient centric approach. It is one way to instantiate the important principle of being patient centered into practice when considering health system changes.

Dissemination and Exploitation: Project Goals beyond Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamann, Kristin; Reitz, Anja

2017-04-01

Dissemination and Exploitation are essential parts of public funded projects. In Horizon 2020 a plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results (PEDR) is a requirement. The plan should contain a clear vision on the objectives of the project in relation to actions for dissemination and potential exploitation of the project results. The actions follow the basic idea to spread the knowledge and results gathered within the project and face the challenge of how to bring the results into potentially relevant policy circle and how they impact the market. The plan follows the purpose to assess the impact of the project and to address various target groups who are interested in the project results. Simply put, dissemination concentrates on the transfer of knowledge and exploitation on the commercialization of the project. Beyond the question of the measurability of project`s impact, strategies within science marketing can serve purposes beyond internal and external communication. Accordingly, project managers are facing the challenge to implement a dissemination and exploitation strategy that ideally supports the identification of all partners with the project and matches the current discourse of the project`s content within the society, politics and economy. A consolidated plan might unite all projects partners under a central idea and supports the identification with the project beyond the individual research questions. Which applications, strategies and methods can be used to bring forward a PEDR that accompanies a project successfully and allows a comprehensive assessment of the project afterwards? Which hurdles might project managers experience in the dissemination process and which tasks should be fulfilled by the project manager?

A Historical Note on the Proof of the Area of a Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilamowsky, Yonah; Epstein, Sheldon; Dickman, Bernard

2011-01-01

Proofs that the area of a circle is nr[superscript 2] can be found in mathematical literature dating as far back as the time of the Greeks. The early proofs, e.g. Archimedes, involved dividing the circle into wedges and then fitting the wedges together in a way to approximate a rectangle. Later more sophisticated proofs relied on arguments…

The Revival of Research Circles: Meeting the Needs of Modern Aging and the Third Age

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ostlund, Britt

2008-01-01

This article provides evidence that it is worthwhile to reconsider the traditional research circle method as a means of involving people in the third age in fulfilling their needs to participate in learning activities and make their voices heard. The findings are based on three cases of research circles consistently driven by the interests of the…

Providing a Full Circle of Support to Teachers in an Inclusive Elementary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waldron, Nancy L.; Redd, Lacy

2011-01-01

Providing a full circle of support to teachers in an inclusive elementary school, the Newberry Elementary School (NES) principal and staff have worked for 5 years to ensure the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms. The authors would like to share their perceptions of how this full circle (the multiple systems) of…

Finding the Maximal Area of Bounded Polygons in a Circle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rokach, Arie

2005-01-01

The article deals with the area of polygons that are inscribed in a given circle. Naturally, the following question arises: Among all n-polygons that are inscribed in a given circle, which one has the biggest area? Intuitively, it may be guessed that is suitable for secondary students, and without any use id calculus, but only using very…

The Box and the Circle--Two Systems of Life: A Model for Understanding Native-Non-Native Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Derrick, Jann

Working as a family systems therapist with Native and non-Native families, the author observed two opposing social systems. Non-native families systems typify "The Box System," whereas native family systems portray "The Circle System." A few characteristics of the Circle System are: (1) a focus on life and peacefulness; (2) females and children…

Understanding Girls' Circle as an Intervention on Perceived Social Support, Body Image, Self-Efficacy, Locus of Control, and Self-Esteem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steese, Stephanie; Dollette, Maya; Phillips, William; Hossfeld, Elizabeth; Matthews, Gail; Taormina, Giovanna

2006-01-01

The Girls' Circle is a support group for adolescent girls developed by Beth Hossfeld and Giovanna Taormina as a unique program that addresses the needs of girls by focusing on increasing connections, building empathic skills, and developing resiliency. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the Girls' Circle intervention on improving…

DETAIL VIEW OF PIEDMONT AVENUE TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT INTERSECTION OF ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

DETAIL VIEW OF PIEDMONT AVENUE TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT INTERSECTION OF CHANNING WAY. SEEN FROM EAST SIDE OF CIRCLE LOOKING NORTH AT 2395 PIEDMONT, SIGMA PI HOUSE BY FREDERICK H. REIMERS, 1928. Photograph by Brian Grogan, July 8, 2007 - Piedmont Way & the Berkeley Property Tract, East of College Avenue between Dwight Way & U.C. Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, Alameda County, CA

Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-15

FY13+ Phase I Buy Contractor: United Launch Services, LLC Contractor Location: 9501 East Panorama Circle Centennial , CO 80112 Contract Number...Contract Name: FY13+ Phase I Buy Contractor: United Launch Services, LLC Contractor Location: 9501 East Panorama Circle Centennial , CO 80112 Contract...FY12 EELV Launch Services (ELS5) Contractor: United Launch Services, LLC. Contractor Location: 9501 East Panorama Circle Centennial , CO 80112

Geometrical Solutions of Quadratic Equations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grewal, A. S.; Godloza, L.

1999-01-01

Demonstrates that the equation of a circle (x-h)2 + (y-k)2 = r2 with center (h; k) and radius r reduces to a quadratic equation x2-2xh + (h2 + k2 -r2) = O at the intersection with the x-axis. Illustrates how to determine the center of a circle as well as a point on a circle. (Author/ASK)

Method for construction of normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, Marcelo B.; Efstratiadis, Argiris

1998-01-01

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3' noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to appropriate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. This invention also provides normalized cDNA libraries generated by the above-described method and uses of the generated libraries.

Method for construction of normalized cDNA libraries

DOEpatents

Soares, M.B.; Efstratiadis, A.

1998-11-03

This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3` noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to appropriate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. This invention also provides normalized cDNA libraries generated by the above-described method and uses of the generated libraries. 19 figs.

Sometimes area counts more than number.

PubMed

Hurewitz, Felicia; Gelman, Rochel; Schnitzer, Brian

2006-12-19

Using an interference paradigm, we show across three experiments that adults' order judgments of numbers, sizes, or combined area of dots in pairs of arrays occur spontaneously and automatically, but at different speeds and levels of accuracy. Experiment 1 used circles whose sizes varied between but not within arrays. Variation in circle size interfered with judgments of which array had more circles. Experiment 2 used displays in which circle size varied within and between arrays. Between-array differences in the amount of "circle stuff" (area occupied by circles) interfered with judgments of number. Experiment 3 examined whether variation in number also interferes with judgments of area. Interference between discrete and continuous stimulus dimensions occurred in both directions, although it was stronger from the continuous to the discrete than vice versa. These results bear on interpretations of studies with infants and preschoolers wherein subjects respond on the basis of continuous quantity rather than discrete quantity. In light of our results with adults, these findings do not license the conclusion that young children cannot represent discrete quantity. Absent data on attentional hierarchies and speed of processing, it is premature to conclude that infant and child quantity processes are fundamentally different from that of adults.

Walking straight into circles.

PubMed

Souman, Jan L; Frissen, Ilja; Sreenivasa, Manish N; Ernst, Marc O

2009-09-29

Common belief has it that people who get lost in unfamiliar terrain often end up walking in circles. Although uncorroborated by empirical data, this belief has widely permeated popular culture. Here, we tested the ability of humans to walk on a straight course through unfamiliar terrain in two different environments: a large forest area and the Sahara desert. Walking trajectories of several hours were captured via global positioning system, showing that participants repeatedly walked in circles when they could not see the sun. Conversely, when the sun was visible, participants sometimes veered from a straight course but did not walk in circles. We tested various explanations for this walking behavior by assessing the ability of people to maintain a fixed course while blindfolded. Under these conditions, participants walked in often surprisingly small circles (diameter < 20 m), though rarely in a systematic direction. These results rule out a general explanation in terms of biomechanical asymmetries or other general biases [1-6]. Instead, they suggest that veering from a straight course is the result of accumulating noise in the sensorimotor system, which, without an external directional reference to recalibrate the subjective straight ahead, may cause people to walk in circles.

An unusual case of olecranon tuberculosis.

PubMed

Megas, Panagiotis; Karageorgos, Athanasios; Gliatis, Ioannis; Marangos, Markos

2008-08-01

A 67-year-old woman presented with erythema and swelling over her left elbow. She felt pain during palpation of the olecranon, while the range of elbow motion was slightly reduced (02 in circle-302 in circle-1302 in circle). She had been treated conservatively elsewhere for 3 months with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and splint immobilization. Radiographs and computed tomography showed an osteolytic area over the olecranon with cortex disruption. She underwent open biopsy of the olecranon, and the histologic features were compatible with tuberculosis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated and she had a positive Mantoux test (14 mm). She mentioned no history of pulmonary disease and had a normal chest radiograph. She received antituberculous treatment (isoniazid, rifambin, and pyrazinamide) for 2 months without obvious improvement. She underwent surgical debridement of the olecranon while she continued antituberculous treatment for 12 months, discontinuing pyrazinamide after the third month. After the completion of antituberculous treatment, the patient was pain-free, without local signs of infection and with improved range of motion (02 in circle-202 in circle-1452 in circle). Early diagnosis and treatment of olecranon tuberculosis is of great value, and the prognosis is good when there is no spread in the elbow joint.

[26th Conference of the Spanish Society of Quality in Healthcare: a good balance between quality, innovation, science and participation].

PubMed

Astier-Peña, M P; Barrasa-Villar, I; García-Mata, J R; Aranaz-Andrés, J; Enriquez-Martín, N; Vela-Marquina, M L

2010-01-01

The experience and learning process of preparing a scientific conference programme, organising and conducting a conference ccompletes the quality circle with the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the process and results. The transmission of this experience and learning process through this paper will improve the performance of committees of future conference venues, partners and participants and collaborators. The method for performing this evaluation is the assessment of the activities of both the scientific and organising committees of the XXVI Conference of the Spanish Society of Quality Healthcare in October 2008 in Zaragoza. The methodology evaluated the observance of the timetable and tasks assigned to the committees in the Congress Manual of the society along with the presentation of final results of the congress concerning scientific participation and overall satisfaction. There were a total of 1211 communications with a rejection rate of 9.1%. Of the total, 577 communications were presented in oral format and 544 in poster format. Aragon was the community of origin of 24% of communications. By subject areas, those of most interest were patient safety, organisational and management processes, and patient perspectives. A total of 83 participants attended 7 of the 11 workshops offered. The average attendance for each workshop was 12 people. The response rate to the assessment of workshops questionnaire was 54.2% with an average score of 4 (scale of 1 to 5). A total of 1131 people attended the conference of which 17% (193) were SECA associates. Out of a total of 1075 overall satisfaction conference questionnaires distributed there was a response rate of 9.30% (100). The scientific content was assessed with an average score of 3.6 and the organization with 3.87, both on a total score of 5 points. According to the number of abstracts received, number of conferences, level of satisfaction with the scientific program and organisation, we can conclude that the XXVI Conference of the Society has been a success, although we are still in our continuous quality improvement circle that will make conferences even better. Copyright © 2010 SECA. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Analysis and Compensation for Lateral Chromatic Aberration in a Color Coding Structured Light 3D Measurement System.

PubMed

Huang, Junhui; Xue, Qi; Wang, Zhao; Gao, Jianmin

2016-09-03

While color-coding methods have improved the measuring efficiency of a structured light three-dimensional (3D) measurement system, they decreased the measuring accuracy significantly due to lateral chromatic aberration (LCA). In this study, the LCA in a structured light measurement system is analyzed, and a method is proposed to compensate the error caused by the LCA. Firstly, based on the projective transformation, a 3D error map of LCA is constructed in the projector images by using a flat board and comparing the image coordinates of red, green and blue circles with the coordinates of white circles at preselected sample points within the measurement volume. The 3D map consists of the errors, which are the equivalent errors caused by LCA of the camera and projector. Then in measurements, error values of LCA are calculated and compensated to correct the projector image coordinates through the 3D error map and a tri-linear interpolation method. Eventually, 3D coordinates with higher accuracy are re-calculated according to the compensated image coordinates. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the following experiments.

Analysis and Compensation for Lateral Chromatic Aberration in a Color Coding Structured Light 3D Measurement System

PubMed Central

Huang, Junhui; Xue, Qi; Wang, Zhao; Gao, Jianmin

2016-01-01

While color-coding methods have improved the measuring efficiency of a structured light three-dimensional (3D) measurement system, they decreased the measuring accuracy significantly due to lateral chromatic aberration (LCA). In this study, the LCA in a structured light measurement system is analyzed, and a method is proposed to compensate the error caused by the LCA. Firstly, based on the projective transformation, a 3D error map of LCA is constructed in the projector images by using a flat board and comparing the image coordinates of red, green and blue circles with the coordinates of white circles at preselected sample points within the measurement volume. The 3D map consists of the errors, which are the equivalent errors caused by LCA of the camera and projector. Then in measurements, error values of LCA are calculated and compensated to correct the projector image coordinates through the 3D error map and a tri-linear interpolation method. Eventually, 3D coordinates with higher accuracy are re-calculated according to the compensated image coordinates. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the following experiments. PMID:27598174

Cross-National User Priorities for Housing Provision and Accessibility — Findings from the European innovAge Project

PubMed Central

Haak, Maria; Slaug, Björn; Oswald, Frank; Schmidt, Steven M.; Rimland, Joseph M.; Tomsone, Signe; Ladö, Thomas; Svensson, Torbjörn; Iwarsson, Susanne

2015-01-01

To develop an innovative information and communication technology (ICT) tool intended to help older people in their search for optimal housing solutions, a first step in the development process is to gain knowledge from the intended users. Thus the aim of this study was to deepen the knowledge about needs and expectations about housing options as expressed and prioritized by older people, people ageing with disabilities and professionals. A participatory design focus was adopted; 26 people with a range of functional limitations representing the user perspective and 15 professionals with a variety of backgrounds, participated in research circles that were conducted in four European countries. An additional 20 experts were invited as guests to the different research circle meetings. Three themes illustrating cross-national user priorities for housing provision and accessibility were identified: “Information barrier: accessible housing”, “Information barrier: housing adaptation benefits”, and “Cost barrier: housing adaptations”. In conclusion, early user involvement and identification of cross-national differences in priorities and housing options will strengthen the development of a user-friendly ICT tool that can empower older people and people with disabilities to be more active consumers regarding housing provision. PMID:25739003

Orthonormal vector general polynomials derived from the Cartesian gradient of the orthonormal Zernike-based polynomials.

PubMed

Mafusire, Cosmas; Krüger, Tjaart P J

2018-06-01

The concept of orthonormal vector circle polynomials is revisited by deriving a set from the Cartesian gradient of Zernike polynomials in a unit circle using a matrix-based approach. The heart of this model is a closed-form matrix equation of the gradient of Zernike circle polynomials expressed as a linear combination of lower-order Zernike circle polynomials related through a gradient matrix. This is a sparse matrix whose elements are two-dimensional standard basis transverse Euclidean vectors. Using the outer product form of the Cholesky decomposition, the gradient matrix is used to calculate a new matrix, which we used to express the Cartesian gradient of the Zernike circle polynomials as a linear combination of orthonormal vector circle polynomials. Since this new matrix is singular, the orthonormal vector polynomials are recovered by reducing the matrix to its row echelon form using the Gauss-Jordan elimination method. We extend the model to derive orthonormal vector general polynomials, which are orthonormal in a general pupil by performing a similarity transformation on the gradient matrix to give its equivalent in the general pupil. The outer form of the Gram-Schmidt procedure and the Gauss-Jordan elimination method are then applied to the general pupil to generate the orthonormal vector general polynomials from the gradient of the orthonormal Zernike-based polynomials. The performance of the model is demonstrated with a simulated wavefront in a square pupil inscribed in a unit circle.

Digital stereophotogrammetry based on circular markers and zooming cameras: evaluation of a method for 3D analysis of small motions in orthopaedic research

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Orthopaedic research projects focusing on small displacements in a small measurement volume require a radiation free, three dimensional motion analysis system. A stereophotogrammetrical motion analysis system can track wireless, small, light-weight markers attached to the objects. Thereby the disturbance of the measured objects through the marker tracking can be kept at minimum. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a non-position fixed compact motion analysis system configured for a small measurement volume and able to zoom while tracking small round flat markers in respect to a fiducial marker which was used for the camera pose estimation. Methods The system consisted of two web cameras and the fiducial marker placed in front of them. The markers to track were black circles on a white background. The algorithm to detect a centre of the projected circle on the image plane was described and applied. In order to evaluate the accuracy (mean measurement error) and precision (standard deviation of the measurement error) of the optical measurement system, two experiments were performed: 1) inter-marker distance measurement and 2) marker displacement measurement. Results The first experiment of the 10 mm distances measurement showed a total accuracy of 0.0086 mm and precision of ± 0.1002 mm. In the second experiment, translations from 0.5 mm to 5 mm were measured with total accuracy of 0.0038 mm and precision of ± 0.0461 mm. The rotations of 2.25° amount were measured with the entire accuracy of 0.058° and the precision was of ± 0.172°. Conclusions The description of the non-proprietary measurement device with very good levels of accuracy and precision may provide opportunities for new, cost effective applications of stereophotogrammetrical analysis in musculoskeletal research projects, focusing on kinematics of small displacements in a small measurement volume. PMID:21284867

Principles and Practices for Quality Assurance and Quality Control

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jones, Berwyn E.

1999-01-01

Quality assurance and quality control are vital parts of highway runoff water-quality monitoring projects. To be effective, project quality assurance must address all aspects of the project, including project management responsibilities and resources, data quality objectives, sampling and analysis plans, data-collection protocols, data quality-control plans, data-assessment procedures and requirements, and project outputs. Quality control ensures that the data quality objectives are achieved as planned. The historical development and current state of the art of quality assurance and quality control concepts described in this report can be applied to evaluation of data from prior projects.

Elizabeth Brown and Citizen Science in the Late 1800s (poster)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, K.

2013-06-01

(Abstract only) While "Citizen Science" projects are sometimes thought of as a recent permutation of the professional-amateur relationship in science, the AAVSO is an example of an organization that has been encouraging such participation for over a century. Although the AAVSO's Solar Observing Program dates back only to 1944, AAVSO members had been submitting sunspot counts to other agencies long before this time. Other countries also have a long history of collecting valuable sunspot observations. For example, prior to the AAVSO's founding in 1911, British amateurs had been collecting solar data in organizations such as the British Astronomical Association (BAA) and Liverpool Astronomical Society (LAS) since the 1880s. British amateur astronomer Elizabeth Brown served as Solar Section Director of both the BAA and the LAS, and played an important role in promoting participation in citizen science projects, not only in solar observing, but in other astronomical and meteorological projects as well. This poster will summarize this work and argue that Brown's contributions should be more widely known and studied in modern citizen science project circles.

Dual-shaped offset reflector antenna designs from solutions of the geometrical optics first-order partial differential equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galindo-Israel, V.; Imbriale, W.; Shogen, K.; Mittra, R.

1990-01-01

In obtaining solutions to the first-order nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) for synthesizing offset dual-shaped reflectors, it is found that previously observed computational problems can be avoided if the integration of the PDEs is started from an inner projected perimeter and integrated outward rather than starting from an outer projected perimeter and integrating inward. This procedure, however, introduces a new parameter, the main reflector inner perimeter radius p(o), when given a subreflector inner angle 0(o). Furthermore, a desired outer projected perimeter (e.g., a circle) is no longer guaranteed. Stability of the integration is maintained if some of the initial parameters are determined first from an approximate solution to the PDEs. A one-, two-, or three-parameter optimization algorithm can then be used to obtain a best set of parameters yielding a close fit to the desired projected outer rim. Good low cross-polarization mapping functions are also obtained. These methods are illustrated by synthesis of a high-gain offset-shaped Cassegrainian antenna and a low-noise offset-shaped Gregorian antenna.

Projection-slice theorem based 2D-3D registration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Bom, M. J.; Pluim, J. P. W.; Homan, R.; Timmer, J.; Bartels, L. W.

2007-03-01

In X-ray guided procedures, the surgeon or interventionalist is dependent on his or her knowledge of the patient's specific anatomy and the projection images acquired during the procedure by a rotational X-ray source. Unfortunately, these X-ray projections fail to give information on the patient's anatomy in the dimension along the projection axis. It would be very profitable to provide the surgeon or interventionalist with a 3D insight of the patient's anatomy that is directly linked to the X-ray images acquired during the procedure. In this paper we present a new robust 2D-3D registration method based on the Projection-Slice Theorem. This theorem gives us a relation between the pre-operative 3D data set and the interventional projection images. Registration is performed by minimizing a translation invariant similarity measure that is applied to the Fourier transforms of the images. The method was tested by performing multiple exhaustive searches on phantom data of the Circle of Willis and on a post-mortem human skull. Validation was performed visually by comparing the test projections to the ones that corresponded to the minimal value of the similarity measure. The Projection-Slice Theorem Based method was shown to be very effective and robust, and provides capture ranges up to 62 degrees. Experiments have shown that the method is capable of retrieving similar results when translations are applied to the projection images.

A Study of Traditional Circle Games of Five-Year-Old United States Public School Kindergarten Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothlein, Liz; Einspruch, Eric

A total of 203 teachers of 5-year-olds in public school kindergartens representing 35 states responded to a questionnaire about traditional circle games. The teachers were asked to identify three of the favorite traditional circle games used in their classrooms and to indicate how often and how long the games were played. In addition, teachers…

Acquiring Combat Capability through Innovative Uses of Public-Private Partnerships

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

needed for a vital fiber -optic link near the Arctic Circle. Then, we will explore the history of the Energy Saving Performance Contracts (ESPCs...research examines Hannon Armstrong’s “fee for service contract” solution to funding the vital fiber -optic link near the Arctic Circle. The second...5 A. INNOVATIVE USE OF FEE FOR SERVICE CONTRACT .....................5 1. Introduction to the Arctic Circle Fiber

Fostering Positive Peer Relations in the Primary Classroom through Circle Time and Co-Operative Games

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mary, Latisha

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of co-operative games and circle time activities in fostering positive peer relations in two French Primary classrooms (N = 40). It presents French teachers' and pupils' perceptions of a set of co-operative games and circle time activities implemented within a year long study on personal, social…

Media Literacy as Mindful Practice for Democratic Education. A Response to "Transaction Circles with Digital Texts as a Foundation for Democratic Practices"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Redmond, Theresa

2016-01-01

This essay is a response to Brown's (2015) article describing her strategy of transaction circles as a student-centered, culturally responsive, and democratic literacy practice. In my response, I provide further evidence from the field of media literacy education (MLE) that serves to enhance Brown's argument for using transaction circles in order…

Air Vehicle Path Planning

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-12-13

6-18 6.13. Apollonius Circle for the Case of Two Unequal Power Radars . . . 6-20 6.14. Solution Triangle...Voronoi edge is an Apollonius circle [32, 19]. In this section, we are concerned with the optimality of the Voronoi path for the two radar exposure...Comparison of Cost vs. Path Length for Constrained Trajectories Around and Between Two Radars 6-18 from the two radars is an Apollonius circle

Short-Term Impacts of Student Listening Circles on Student Perceptions of School Climate and of Their Own Competencies. REL 2017-210

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanson, Thomas; Polik, Jeff; Cerna, Rebeca

2017-01-01

An activity for eliciting student involvement in collaborative decision-making and problem-solving with adults--the student listening circle workshop--is examined for the first time through an experimental study of its effects on participating students. A student listening circle is a facilitated focus group in which students articulate to adults…

Study Circles at the Pharmacy--A New Model for Diabetes Education in Groups.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarkadi, Anna; Rosenqvist, Urban

1999-01-01

Tests the feasibility of a one-year group education model for patients with type 2 diabetes in Sweden. Within study circles led by pharmacists, participants learned to self-monitor glucose, to interpret the results and to act upon them. Results show that study circles held at pharmacies are a feasible way of education persons with type 2 diabetes.…

To Believe the Past or to Trust the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jin, Fengtao; Zhou, Zhaoyan

2012-01-01

A small ball rolls down from a quarter-circle to a frictionless plane. What will be the magnitude of the normal force when the ball arrives at the tangent point of the circle and the plane? According to the centripetal force formula, the normal force will be 3 "mg" when the curvature radius of the circle is considered, but will be "mg" instead…

Talking Circles for Adolescent Girls in an Urban High School: A Restorative Practices Program for Building Friendships and Developing Emotional Literacy Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schumacher, Martha Ann

2012-01-01

Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice programs in schools are a new and emerging field. Meeting in Circles to build community, resolve conflict, and learn interactively are core components of these programs. This ethnographic study, which took place February 2010 to December 2011, evaluates 12 small, out-of-classroom Talking Circles for 60…

CIRCLE Enhancement After Myopic SMILE.

PubMed

Siedlecki, Jakob; Luft, Nikolaus; Mayer, Wolfgang J; Siedlecki, Martin; Kook, Daniel; Meyer, Bertram; Bechmann, Martin; Wiltfang, Rainer; Priglinger, Siegfried G; Dirisamer, Martin

2018-05-01

To report the outcomes of enhancement after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) using the VisuMax CIRCLE option (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany), which converts the SMILE cap into a femtosecond LASIK flap for secondary excimer laser application. Of 2,065 SMILE procedures, 22 eyes (1.1%) re-treated with CIRCLE with a follow-up of 3 months were included in the analysis. SMILE was performed in the usual manner. For re-treatment, the CIRCLE procedure was performed with pattern D flap creation on the VisuMax system and subsequent excimer laser ablation with a Zeiss MEL 90 laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) with plano target in all cases. Spherical equivalent was -5.56 ± 2.22 diopters (D) before SMILE and -0.51 ± 1.08 D before CIRCLE. CIRCLE enhancement was performed after a mean of 10.0 ± 7.9 months, allowed for safe flap lifting in all eyes, and resulted in a final manifest refraction spherical equivalent of 0.18 ± 0.31 D at 3 months (P < .008). The number of eyes within 0.50 and 1.00 D from target refraction increased from 31.8% to 90.9% and from 77.3% to 100%, respectively. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) had already improved from 0.37 ± 0.16 to 0.08 ± 0.16 logMAR at 1 week (P < .0001), resulting in 0.03 ± 0.07 logMAR at 3 months (P < .0001). All eyes gained at least one line of UDVA. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) remained unchanged at all time points (before vs after CIRCLE, P = .40). Two eyes (9.1 %) lost one line of CDVA; no eye lost two or more lines. The safety and efficacy indices were 1.03 and 0.97 at 3 months. The CIRCLE procedure represents an effective re-treatment option after SMILE. Compared to surface ablation re-treatment after SMILE, CIRCLE seems to offer advantages in respect to speed of visual recovery, safety, and predictability, but at the price of flap creation. [J Refract Surg. 2018;34(5):304-309.]. Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.

Twelve months of implementation of health care performance‐based financing in Burkina Faso: A qualitative multiple case study

PubMed Central

Yaogo, Maurice; Zongo, Sylvie; Somé, Paul‐André; Turcotte‐Tremblay, Anne‐Marie

2017-01-01

Abstract To improve health services' quantity and quality, African countries are increasingly engaging in performance‐based financing (PBF) interventions. Studies to understand their implementation in francophone West Africa are rare. This study analysed PBF implementation in Burkina Faso 12 months post‐launch in late 2014. The design was a multiple and contrasted case study involving 18 cases (health centres). Empirical data were collected from observations, informal (n = 224) and formal (n = 459) interviews, and documents. Outside the circle of persons trained in PBF, few in the community had knowledge of it. In some health centres, the fact that staff were receiving bonuses was intentionally not announced to populations and community leaders. Most local actors thought PBF was just another project, but the majority appreciated it. There were significant delays in setting up agencies for performance monitoring, auditing, and contracting, as well as in the payment. The first audits led rapidly to coping strategies among health workers and occasionally to some staging beforehand. No community‐based audits had yet been done. Distribution of bonuses varied from one centre to another. This study shows the importance of understanding the implementation of public health interventions in Africa and of uncovering coping strategies. PMID:28671285

Exploring ecology in Alaska: Reflective storytelling as a model for environmental education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoemaker, Kay Warren

This professional project is formatted as a book that was written as a part of a qualitativeparticipatory action research study exploring best practices for diverse communities in Alaska to access reflective storytelling method as environmental education. Non-invasive assessment was utilized with participants in the form of talking circles, where program leaders and educators met in small groups with youth to practice sharing and reflecting on their experiential education activity. Youth voice and educator opinions were gathered in structured and unstructured interviews. Along with interviews, standard practice methods for a qualitative research project were utilized, including: participant observation, non-participant observation, field notes, reflexive journals, and analysis of documents and materials. The current book project was designed as a tool to assist with the implementation of the Alaska Natural Resource and Environmental Literacy Plan. Through place-based curriculum and experiential learning techniques, it shares examples of a unique method of teaching outdoor environmental education through storytelling.

Primer-optimized results and trends for circular phasing and other circle-to-circle impulsive coplanar rendezvous

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandrik, Suzannah

Optimal solutions to the impulsive circular phasing problem, a special class of orbital maneuver in which impulsive thrusts shift a vehicle's orbital position by a specified angle, are found using primer vector theory. The complexities of optimal circular phasing are identified and illustrated using specifically designed Matlab software tools. Information from these new visualizations is applied to explain discrepancies in locally optimal solutions found by previous researchers. Two non-phasing circle-to-circle impulsive rendezvous problems are also examined to show the applicability of the tools developed here to a broader class of problems and to show how optimizing these rendezvous problems differs from the circular phasing case.

Trajectory control of robot manipulators with closed-kinematic chain mechanism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Charles C.; Pooran, Farhad J.; Premack, Timothy

1987-01-01

The problem of Cartesian trajectory control of a closed-kinematic chain mechanism robot manipulator, recently built at CAIR to study the assembly of NASA hardware for the future Space Station, is considered. The study is performed by both computer simulation and experimentation for tracking of three different paths: a straight line, a sinusoid, and a circle. Linearization and pole placement methods are employed to design controller gains. Results show that the controllers are robust and there are good agreements between simulation and experimentation. The results also show excellent tracking quality and small overshoots.

[The training of healthcare personnel and the improvement in health care].

PubMed

Zerón-Gutiérrez, Lydia E; Montaño-Fernández, Gerardo

2017-01-01

As part of its commitment to improve healthcare services persistently, the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) takes part in the constant training of its healthcare personnel, since the Institute knows that this has an impact on creating a virtuous circle of higher quality and giving cordial attention to patients. That is the reason why the Unidad de Educación, Investigación y Políticas en Salud has set up different programs, which offer diverse oportunities of study, always in line with the needs of the Institute.

Role of asymmetric cell division in lifespan control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

Higuchi-Sanabria, Ryo; Pernice, Wolfgang M A; Vevea, Jason D; Alessi Wolken, Dana M; Boldogh, Istvan R; Pon, Liza A

2014-01-01

Aging determinants are asymmetrically distributed during cell division in S. cerevisiae, which leads to production of an immaculate, age-free daughter cell. During this process, damaged components are sequestered and retained in the mother cell, and higher functioning organelles and rejuvenating factors are transported to and/or enriched in the bud. Here, we will describe the key quality control mechanisms in budding yeast that contribute to asymmetric cell division of aging determinants including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), vacuoles, extrachromosomal rDNA circles (ERCs), and protein aggregates. PMID:25263578

Opportunity's Surroundings on Sol 1818

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its navigation camera to take the images combined into this full-circle view of the rover's surroundings during the 1,818th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's surface mission (March 5, 2009). South is at the center; north at both ends.

The rover had driven 80.3 meters (263 feet) southward earlier on that sol. Tracks from the drive recede northward in this view.

The terrain in this portion of Mars' Meridiani Planum region includes dark-toned sand ripples and lighter-toned bedrock.

This view is presented as a cylindrical projection with geometric seam correction.

Laminar Soot Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

Interior of the Equipment Module for the Laminar Soot Processes (LSP-2) experiment that fly in the STS-107 Research 1 mission in 2002 (LSP-1 flew on Microgravity Sciences Lab-1 mission in 1997). The principal investigator is Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of Michigan. LSP uses a small jet burner (yellow ellipse), similar to a classroom butane lighter, that produces flames up to 60 mm (2.3 in) long. Measurements include color TV cameras and a radiometer or heat sensor (blue circle), and laser images whose darkness indicates the quantity of soot produced in the flame. Glenn Research in Cleveland, OH, manages the project.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-01-24

Interior of the Equipment Module for the Laminar Soot Processes (LSP-2) experiment that fly in the STS-107 Research 1 mission in 2002 (LSP-1 flew on Microgravity Sciences Lab-1 mission in 1997). The principal investigator is Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of Michigan. LSP uses a small jet burner (yellow ellipse), similar to a classroom butane lighter, that produces flames up to 60 mm (2.3 in) long. Measurements include color TV cameras and a radiometer or heat sensor (blue circle), and laser images whose darkness indicates the quantity of soot produced in the flame. Glenn Research in Cleveland, OH, manages the project.

Literature Circles in a Fifth Grade Classroom: A Qualitative Study Examining How the Teacher and Students Used Literature Circles and the Impact They Have on Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pambianchi, Laura Claypool

2017-01-01

State and national standards, including the Common Core State Standards, state that students should be expected to learn to discuss and analyze texts, comprehend ideas in increasingly complex texts, and justify their thinking. Literature circles are an instructional practice suggested by many educational writers as an instructional practice that…

Change in Ragweed Pollen Season, 1995-2015

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This figure shows how the length of ragweed pollen season changed at 11 locations in the central United States and Canada between 1995 and 2015. Data were provided by Dr. Lewis Ziska of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Red circles represent a longer pollen season; the blue circle represents a shorter season. Larger circles indicate larger changes. For more information: www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators

Discovering Social Circles in Ego Networks (Author’s Manuscript)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-10

ego-network. We expect that circles are formed by densely-connected sets of alters ( Newman , 2006). However, different circles overlap heavily, i.e...umbrella of community detection (Lancichinetti and Fortunato, 2009a; Schaeffer, 2007; Leskovec et al., 2010; Porter et al., 2009; Newman , 2004). While...MCMC) sampler ( Newman and Barkema, 1999) which efficiently updates node-community memberships by ‘collapsing’ nodes that have common features and

Sets that Contain Their Circle Centers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Greg

2008-01-01

Say that a subset S of the plane is a "circle-center set" if S is not a subset of a line, and whenever we choose three non-collinear points from S, the center of the circle through those three points is also an element of S. A problem appearing on the Macalester College Problem of the Week website stated that a finite set of points in the plane,…

Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Air Force Low Altitude Flying Operations. Preliminary Draft. Volume 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

landing strip at Circle. Lodging is available primarily at Circle Hot Springs, approximately 30 miles southwest of Circle. In general, hiking, snowmobiling... timberline ), coniferous forest, and several widespread deciduous species. Coniferous and deciduous forest, alpine and deciduous scrub, shrub tundra, and...white and paper birch, quaking aspen, and balsam poplar. Common shrub species (above and below timberline ) are alder, willow, glandular birch

Yoctomole electrochemical genosensing of Ebola virus cDNA by rolling circle and circle to circle amplification.

PubMed

Carinelli, S; Kühnemund, M; Nilsson, M; Pividori, M I

2017-07-15

This work addresses the design of an Ebola diagnostic test involving a simple, rapid, specific and highly sensitive procedure based on isothermal amplification on magnetic particles with electrochemical readout. Ebola padlock probes were designed to detect a specific L-gene sequence present in the five most common Ebola species. Ebola cDNA was amplified by rolling circle amplification (RCA) on magnetic particles. Further re-amplification was performed by circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA) and the products were detected in a double-tagging approach using a biotinylated capture probe for immobilization on magnetic particles and a readout probe for electrochemical detection by square-wave voltammetry on commercial screen-printed electrodes. The electrochemical genosensor was able to detect as low as 200 ymol, corresponding to 120 cDNA molecules of L-gene Ebola virus with a limit of detection of 33 cDNA molecules. The isothermal double-amplification procedure by C2CA combined with the electrochemical readout and the magnetic actuation enables the high sensitivity, resulting in a rapid, inexpensive, robust and user-friendly sensing strategy that offers a promising approach for the primary care in low resource settings, especially in less developed countries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Promoting retention, enabling success: Discovering the potential of student support circles.

PubMed

Bass, Janice; Walters, Caroline; Toohill, Jocelyn; Sidebotham, Mary

2016-09-01

Retention of students is critical to education programs and future workforce. A mixed methods study evaluated student engagement within a Bachelor of Midwifery program and connection with career choice through participation in student support circles. Centred on the Five Senses of Success Framework (sense of capability, purpose, identity, resourcefulness and connectedness) and including four stages of engagement (creating space, preparing self, sharing stories, focused conversations), the circles support and develop student and professional identity. Of 80 students 43 (54%) provided responses to a two item survey assessed against a five point Likert scale to determine utility. Using a nominal group technique, student's voices gave rich insight into the personal and professional growth that participation in the student support circles provided. Evaluated as helpful to first year students in orientating to university study and early socialisation into the profession, the circles appear to influence the development of a strong sense of professional identity and personal midwifery philosophy based on the relational nature of the midwife being with woman rather than doing midwifery. This suggests that student support circles positively influence perceptions and expectations, contributing to a shared sense of purpose and discipline connection, for enhancing student retention and future workforce participation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of stern hull shape on turning circle of ships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaswar, Maimun, A.; Wahid, M. A.; Priyanto, A.; Zamani, Pauzi, Saman

2012-06-01

Many factors such as: stern hull shape, length, draught, trim, propulsion system and external forces affecting the drift angle influence rate of turn and size of turning circle of ships. This paper discusses turning circle characteristics of U and V stern hull shape of Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (VLCC) ships. The ships have same principal dimension such as length, beam, and draught. The turning circle characteristics of the VLCC ships are simulated at 35 degree of rudder angle. In the analysis, firstly, turning circle performance of U-type VLCC ship is simulated. In the simulation, initial ship speed is determined using given power and rpm. Hydrodynamic derivatives coefficients are determined by including effect of fullness of aft run. Using the obtained, speed and hydrodynamic coefficients, force and moment acting on hull, force and moment induced by propeller, force and moment induced by rudder are determined. Finally, ship trajectory, ratio of speed, yaw angle and drift angle are determined. Results of simulation results of the VLCC ship are compared with the experimental one as validation. Using the same method, V-type VLCC is simulated and the simulation results are compared with U-type VLCC ship. Results shows the turning circle of U-type is larger than V-type due to effect stern hul results of simulation are.

The Effect of the Type and Colour of Placebo Stimuli on Placebo Effects Induced by Observational Learning.

PubMed

Świder, Karolina; Bąbel, Przemysław

2016-01-01

Research shows that placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia can be induced through observational learning. Our aim was to replicate and extend these results by studying the influence of the type and colour of stimuli used as placebos on the placebo effects induced by observational learning. Three experimental and two control groups were tested. All participants received pain stimuli of the same intensity preceded by colour lights (green and red) or geometric shapes (circles and squares). Before receiving pain stimuli, participants in the experimental groups, but not in the control groups, observed a model who rated pain stimuli that were preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than those preceded by either red lights (green placebo group), green lights (red placebo group), or squares (circle placebo group). As a result participants in the experimental groups rated pain stimuli preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than the participants in the control groups did, indicating that placebo effect was induced. No statistically significant differences were found in the magnitudes of the placebo effects between the three experimental groups (green placebo, red placebo, and circle placebo groups), indicating that neither the type nor the colour of placebo stimuli affected the placebo effects induced by observational learning. The placebo effects induced by observational learning were found to be unrelated to the individual differences in pain anxiety, fear of pain, and empathy.

The Effect of the Type and Colour of Placebo Stimuli on Placebo Effects Induced by Observational Learning

PubMed Central

Świder, Karolina; Bąbel, Przemysław

2016-01-01

Research shows that placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia can be induced through observational learning. Our aim was to replicate and extend these results by studying the influence of the type and colour of stimuli used as placebos on the placebo effects induced by observational learning. Three experimental and two control groups were tested. All participants received pain stimuli of the same intensity preceded by colour lights (green and red) or geometric shapes (circles and squares). Before receiving pain stimuli, participants in the experimental groups, but not in the control groups, observed a model who rated pain stimuli that were preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than those preceded by either red lights (green placebo group), green lights (red placebo group), or squares (circle placebo group). As a result participants in the experimental groups rated pain stimuli preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than the participants in the control groups did, indicating that placebo effect was induced. No statistically significant differences were found in the magnitudes of the placebo effects between the three experimental groups (green placebo, red placebo, and circle placebo groups), indicating that neither the type nor the colour of placebo stimuli affected the placebo effects induced by observational learning. The placebo effects induced by observational learning were found to be unrelated to the individual differences in pain anxiety, fear of pain, and empathy. PMID:27362552

Long Terminal Repeat Circular DNA as Markers of Active Viral Replication of Human T Lymphotropic Virus-1 in Vivo.

PubMed

Fox, James M; Hilburn, Silva; Demontis, Maria-Antonietta; Brighty, David W; Rios Grassi, Maria Fernanda; Galvão-Castro, Bernardo; Taylor, Graham P; Martin, Fabiola

2016-03-14

Clonal expansion of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infected cells in vivo is well documented. Unlike human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HTLV-1 plasma RNA is sparse. The contribution of the "mitotic" spread of HTLV-1 compared with infectious spread of the virus to HTLV-1 viral burden in established infection is uncertain. Since extrachromosomal long terminal repeat (LTR) DNA circles are indicators of viral replication in HIV-1 carriers with undetectable plasma HIV RNA, we hypothesised that HTLV-1 LTR circles could indicate reverse transcriptase (RT) usage and infectious activity. 1LTR and 2LTR DNA circles were measured in HTLV-1 cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asymptomatic carriers (ACs) and patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) or adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL). 1LTR DNA circles were detected in 14/20 patients at a mean of 1.38/100 PBMC but did not differentiate disease status nor correlate with HTLV-1 DNA copies. 2LTR DNA circles were detected in 30/31 patients and at higher concentrations in patients with HTLV-1-associated diseases, independent of HTLV-1 DNA load. In an incident case the 2LTR DNA circle concentration increased 2.1 fold at the onset of HAM/TSP compared to baseline. Detectable and fluctuating levels of HTLV-1 DNA circles in patients indicate viral RT usage and virus replication. Our results indicate HTLV-1 viral replication capacity is maintained in chronic infection and may be associated with disease onset.

The Alaskan Mineral Resource Assessment Program; background information to accompany folio of geologic and mineral resource maps of the Circle quadrangle, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Foster, Helen Laura; Menzie, W.D.; Cady, J.W.; Simpson, S.L.; Aleinikoff, J.N.; Wilson, Frederic H.; Tripp, R.B.

1987-01-01

The geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and Landsat imagery of the Circle quadrangle were investigated by an interdisciplinary research team for the purpose of assessing the mineral potential of the area. The quadrangle covers approximately 15,765 km2 in east-central Alaska; most of it is included in the mountainous Yukon-Tanana Upland physiographic division, but the northernmost part is in the low-lying Yukon Flats section. The Circle mining district, in the east-central part of the quadrangle, has been a major producing area of placer gold since its discovery in 1893. For descriptive purposes, the Circle quadrangle is divided into three areas: the northwest Circle quadrangle, the area north of the Tintina fault zone, and the area south of the Tintina fault zone. The Tintina fault zone extends northwesterly through the northern part of the quadrangle. The northwest Circle quadrangle contains mostly folded and faulted, slightly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks that are intruded by Tertiary granitic plutons. In the northern part of the area north of the Tintina fault zone (Little Crazy Mountains and northern east Crazy Mountains), the rocks consist primarily of the gabbro and basalt of the Circle Volcanics and minor associated chert, graywacke, and limestone. Elsewhere in this area (south of the Circle Volcanics and in the western Crazy Mountains), the rocks are mostly slightly metamorphosed Paleozoic sedimentary rocks that have been folded and faulted. Rocks in the largest part of the quadrangle, the area south of the Tintina fault zone, consist largely of pelitic rocks that are regionally metamorphosed to greenschist and amphibolite facies. Felsic plutons, mostly Tertiary in age, occur throughout the area. The metamorphic rocks are separated from sedimentary rocks on the northwest by thrust faulting. The aeromagnetic and gravity data show clear differences between the areas north and south of the Tintina fault zone. The metamorphic terrane to the south has low overall gravity and local gravity lows over exposed granitic plutons. It is hypothesized that magnetic chlorite schist infolded with nonmagnetic quartzite and schist account for east-northeast-trending magnetic highs that approximately parallel the regional strike of the most prominent foliation in the metamorphic rocks. North of the Tintina fault zone, the Circle Volcanics are characterized by high gravity and east-west-trending magnetic highs. The Tintina fault zone has an intense magnetic high near the western margin of the Circle quadrangle overlying the magnetic granodiorite of the Victoria Mountain pluton. A magnetic high near Circle Hot Springs is less intense, but broader, and could reflect a buried magnetic pluton similar to that of the Victoria Mountain pluton. Computer-enhanced Landsat images of the Circle quadrangle show trends and patterns of concentrations of linear features. Features trending northeast-southwest predominate throughout the quadrangle; northwest-southeast-trending linear features are found mostly south of the Tintina fault zone. High concentrations of linear features were not found to correspond to areas of known mineralization in any consistent or significant way that could presently be used in locating areas of mineralization. Geochemical and mineralogical studies of stream sediment and heavy-mineral concentrates from the Circle quadrangle identify areas of anomalous concentrations of metallic elements, including gold, silver, tin, tungsten, lead, antimony, zinc, thorium, uranium, and beryllium. The data delineate areas of known mineral occurrences and areas that may contain undiscovered mineral resources. To date, placer gold has been the only significant metallic mineral resource from the Circle quadrangle, but the general geologic setting, especially the presence of post-orogenic plutons, is similar to that of regions that contain tin greisen deposits, tungsten skarn deposits, lode gold deposits in metasedimentary roc

Effect of Work-Related Factors on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Nurses and Secretaries.

PubMed

Kaya, Yeliz; Kaya, Coşkun; Baseskioglu, Barbaros; Ozerdoğan, Nebahat; Yenilmez, Aydın; Demirüstü, Canan

2016-01-01

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between work-related factors and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to emphasize the vicious circle between symptoms and work conditions. The Turkish version of the Nurse Bladder Survey was used to estimate the prevalence of LUTS and to assess the relationship between individual characteristics, personal habits and work-related factors in nurses and secretaries who were working in Eskisehir Osmangazi University Hospital. The Turkish version of the Short Form 36 Health Survey was used to assess the nurses' and secretaries' health-related quality of life (HRQL). Of the 281 women who participated in the study, 218 (77.5%) and 63 (22.5%) were nurses and secretaries, respectively. There were no significant differences in personal habits and work-related factors between the nurses and secretaries. Of the study participants, 121 (43.1%) experienced at least one type of LUTS. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of any type of LUTS between the two groups. Only the mean scores of social functioning were significantly different for nurses and secretaries on the other aspects of HRQL in the SF-36. When the nurses with LUTS and the secretaries with LUTS were compared, the secretaries had a greater score on the general health domain than nurses. There is a vicious circle between symptoms and work conditions. To prevent the working women from harmful effects of this circle, the employers should be aware of this health problem; working conditions should be improved; educational programs for LUTS should be organized and the working women should be encouraged to go to the health providers to seek treatment when the symptoms occurred. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Lonkhuyzen, R.; Stull, L.; Butler, J.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has proposed to partially fund the construction of the Howard T. Ricketts (HTR) regional biocontainment laboratory (RBL) by the University of Chicago at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. The HTR Laboratory (HTRL) would be constructed, owned, and operated by the University of Chicago on land leased to it by DOE. The preferred project site is located north of Eastwood Drive and west of Outer Circle Road and is near the biological sciences building. This environmental assessment addresses the potential environmental effects resulting from construction and operation ofmore » the proposed facility. The proposed project involves the construction of a research facility with a footprint up to approximately 44,000 ft{sup 2} (4,088 m{sup 2}). The proposed building would house research laboratories, including Biosafety Level 2 and 3 biocontainment space, animal research facilities, administrative offices, and building support areas. The NIH has identified a need for new facilities to support research on potential bioterrorism agents and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, to protect the nation from such threats to public health. This research requires specialized laboratory facilities that are designed, managed, and operated to protect laboratory workers and the surrounding community from accidental exposure to agents. The proposed HTRL would provide needed biocontainment space to researchers and promote the advancement of knowledge in the disciplines of biodefense and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Several alternatives were considered for the location of the proposed facility, as well as a no action alternative. The preferred alternative includes the construction of a research facility, up to 44,000 ft{sup 2} (4,088 m{sup 2}), at Argonne National Laboratory, a secure government location. Potential impacts to natural and cultural resources have been evaluated in this document. The proposed activities would result in the conversion of approximately 4 acres (2 ha) of old field and open woodland for the proposed facility and landscaped areas. Impacts of the proposed project on the following resources would be minor or negligible: human health, socioeconomics, air quality, noise levels, water quality, waste management, land use, the visual environment, cultural resources, soils, terrestrial biota, wetlands or aquatic biota, threatened and endangered species, transportation, utilities and services, and environmental justice. This environmental assessment has been completed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and has been prepared in accordance with NIH guidelines and in coordination with federal, state, and local agency requirements. On the basis of the results of this assessment, impacts to environmental resources from the proposed project would be minor or negligible, provided that the project is implemented in accordance with the impact avoidance and mitigation measures described herein.« less

Baseline and Multimodal UAV GCS Interface Design

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

information queries). 2 Calhoun et al. (2004) Different musical chords and intervals. Priority level of a late-arriving UAV. 4 Graham and...tactors (the lower levels ones especially) would be on for much longer durations as the UAV’s attitude upset increases. 2.2.2.7.2 Uni- centred Circles...in uni- centred circles. Figure 2.12: Tactor formation for the uni- centred circles of tactors. In this type of display, the tactors which are

Studying the Ability of 7th Grade Students to Define the Circle and Its Elements in the Context of Mathematical Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akarsu, Esra; Yilmaz, Süha

2015-01-01

In this study, it was aimed to study the mathematical language skills that the 7th grade students use in defining the circle and its elements. In the study, the mathematical language skills of students that they use in defining the circle and its elements in a scenario were compared to the mathematical language skills they use in defining them…

Nonformal Learning and Well-Being among Older Adults: Links between Participation in Swedish Study Circles, Feelings of Well-Being and Social Aspects of Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Åberg, Pelle

2016-01-01

How does participation in nonformal learning influence the self-perceived well-being among older adults? This article looks into that issue through a study of people aged 65 years or older who have participated in Swedish study circles. The data analyzed consists of a nation-wide survey of study circle participants. The results show that there are…

A Survey of Terrain Modeling Technologies and Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

Washington , DC 20314-1000 ERDC/TEC TR-08-2 ii Abstract: Test planning, rehearsal, and distributed test events for Future Combat Systems (FCS) require...distance) for all five lines of control points. Blue circles are errors of DSM (original data), red squares are DTM (bare Earth, processed by Intermap...circles are DSM, red squares are DTM ........... 8 5 Distribution of errors for line No. 729. Blue circles are DSM, red squares are DTM

The pentag meridian circle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nemiro, A. A.

The opticomechanical scheme of a pentag meridian circle is presented. The central rotating part of the instrument, made of sitall (cer-vit), is compact and uniform, making it possible to minimize the gravitational and thermal deformations. It is shown that variations of the orientation of the central part do not affect observations because of the use of the pentag. Formulas are presented for determining the collimation error and zero point of the circle using autocollimation readings.

Effective size of certain macroscopic quantum superpositions.

PubMed

Dür, Wolfgang; Simon, Christoph; Cirac, J Ignacio

2002-11-18

Several experiments and experimental proposals for the production of macroscopic superpositions naturally lead to states of the general form /phi(1)>( multiply sign in circle N)+/phi 2 >( multiply sign in circle N), where the number of subsystems N is very large, but the states of the individual subsystems have large overlap, // 2=1-epsilon 2. We propose two different methods for assigning an effective particle number to such states, using ideal Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states of the form /0>( multiply sign in circle n)+/1>( multiply sign in circle n) as a standard of comparison. The two methods are based on decoherence and on a distillation protocol, respectively. Both lead to an effective size n of the order of N epsilon 2.

Introducing Motion in a Circle.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roche, John

2001-01-01

Motion in a circle troubled Newton and his contemporaries and troubles students today. Presents a clear presentation of certain aspects, particularly centripetal acceleration and centrifugal force. (Author/MM)

[Professionalization of Legal Dental Experts in Germany: Results of Studies on Structured Focus Groups].

PubMed

Brauer, H U; Walther, W; Dick, M

2018-04-01

Legal expert opinions are a crucial instrument of professional self-control in medicine. To give impulses for further development, focus groups were initiated to reflect upon the perspective of legal dental experts. 5 focus group discussions on the topic "Professionalization of legal dental experts" were conducted. A total of 32 experienced legal dental experts participated in the discussions. The results were evaluated by qualitative content analysis. A catalogue of 68 ideas was generated for improvement and divided into 15 categories. Among these were periodic quality circles, interprofessional exchange, supervision of novices and periodic feedback for legal dental experts and dentists. Self-reflection can be included as an instrument for quality improvement of legal dental expert opinions. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Probing the Site for r-Process Nucleosynthesis with Abundances of Barium and Magnesium in Extremely Metal-poor Stars.

PubMed

Tsujimoto; Shigeyama; Yoshii

2000-03-01

We suggest that if the astrophysical site for r-process nucleosynthesis in the early Galaxy is confined to a narrow mass range of Type II supernova (SN II) progenitors, with a lower mass limit of Mms=20 M middle dot in circle, a unique feature in the observed distribution of [Ba/Mg] versus [Mg/H] for extremely metal-poor stars can be adequately reproduced. We associate this feature, a bifurcation of the observed elemental ratios into two branches in the Mg abundance interval -3.7

CircleBoard-Pro: Concrete manipulative-based learning cycle unit for learning geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jamhari, Wongkia, Wararat

2018-01-01

Currently, a manipulative is commonly used in mathematics education as a supported tool for teaching and learning. With engaging natural interaction of a concrete manipulative and advantages of a learning cycle approach, we proposed the concrete manipulative-based learning cycle unit to promote mathematics learning. Our main objectives are to observe possibilities on the use of a concrete manipulative in learning geometry, and to assess students' understanding of a specific topic, angle properties in a circle, of secondary level students. To meet the first objective, the concrete manipulative, called CricleBoard-Pro, was designed. CircleBoard-Pro is built for easy to writing on or deleting from, accurate angle measurement, and flexible movement. Besides, learning activities and worksheets were created for helping students to learn angle properties in a circle. Twenty eighth graders on a lower secondary school in Indonesia were voluntarily involved to learn mathematics using CircleBoard-Pro with the designed learning activities and worksheets. We informally observed students' performance by focusing on criteria of using manipulative tools in learning mathematics while the learning activities were also observed in terms of whether they work and which step of activities need to be improved. The results of this part showed that CircleBoard-Pro complied the criteria of the use of the manipulative in learning mathematics. Nevertheless, parts of learning activities and worksheets need to be improved. Based on the results of the observation, CircleBoard-Pro, learning activities, and worksheets were merged together and became the CircleBoardPro embedded on 5E (Engage - Explore - Explain - Elaborate - Evaluate) learning cycle unit. Then, students understanding were assessed to reach the second objective. Six ninth graders from an Indonesian school in Thailand were recruited to participate in this study. Conceptual tests for both pre-and post-test, and semi-structured interview were used. Students' pre-and post-test answers were analyzed not only by descriptive statistics but also in qualitatively discussion. The dialogues between the interviewer and interviewees were transcribed and analyzed to find in-depth understanding. Finally, we can conclude that the participated students had better comprehension of angle properties in a circle even they could not perform proof by themselves. For further study, we will focus on how we can help students to develop their geometric thinking.

Object-oriented wavefront correction in an asymmetric amplifying high-power laser system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ying; Yuan, Qiang; Wang, Deen; Zhang, Xin; Dai, Wanjun; Hu, Dongxia; Xue, Qiao; Zhang, Xiaolu; Zhao, Junpu; Zeng, Fa; Wang, Shenzhen; Zhou, Wei; Zhu, Qihua; Zheng, Wanguo

2018-05-01

An object-oriented wavefront control method is proposed aiming for excellent near-field homogenization and far-field distribution in an asymmetric amplifying high-power laser system. By averaging the residual errors of the propagating beam, smaller pinholes could be employed on the spatial filters to improve the beam quality. With this wavefront correction system, the laser performance of the main amplifier system in the Shen Guang-III laser facility has been improved. The residual wavefront aberration at the position of each pinhole is below 2 µm (peak-to-valley). For each pinhole, 95% of the total laser energy is enclosed within a circle whose diameter is no more than six times the diffraction limit. At the output of the main laser system, the near-field modulation and contrast are 1.29% and 7.5%, respectively, and 95% of the 1ω (1053 nm) beam energy is contained within a 39.8 µrad circle (6.81 times the diffraction limit) under a laser fluence of 5.8 J cm-2. The measured 1ω focal spot size and near-field contrast are better than the design values of the Shen Guang-III laser facility.

Spatial smoothing coherence factor for ultrasound computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lou, Cuijuan; Xu, Mengling; Ding, Mingyue; Yuchi, Ming

2016-04-01

In recent years, many research studies have been carried out on ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) for its application prospect in early diagnosis of breast cancer. This paper applies four kinds of coherence-factor-like beamforming methods to improve the image quality of synthetic aperture focusing method for USCT, including the coherence-factor (CF), the phase coherence factor (PCF), the sign coherence factor (SCF) and the spatial smoothing coherence factor (SSCF) (proposed in our previous work). The performance of these methods was tested with simulated raw data which were generated by the ultrasound simulation software PZFlex 2014. The simulated phantom was set to be water of 4cm diameter with three nylon objects of different diameters inside. The ring-type transducer had 72 elements with a center frequency of 1MHz. The results show that all the methods can reveal the biggest nylon circle with the radius of 2.5mm. SSCF gets the highest SNR among the proposed methods and provides a more homogenous background. None of these methods can reveal the two smaller nylon circles with the radius of 0.75mm and 0.25mm. This may be due to the small number of elements.

Quantum transport in chaotic and integrable ballistic cavities with tunable shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Y.; Faini, G.; Mailly, D.

1997-10-01

We have performed magnetotransport measurements in ballistic cavities and obtained the average by small modulations on the shapes and/or on the Fermi level. We work with cavities whose underlying classical dynamics is chaotic (stadia and Sinaï billiards) and integrable (circles and rectangles). The former show a Lorentzian weak-localization peak, in agreement with semiclassical predictions and other averaging methods that have been used in recent measurements. For integrable cavities our measurements show that the shape of the weak localization is very sensitive to the exact geometry of the sample: a linear magnetoconductance has been observed for rectangles as expected by the theory for integrable cavities, whereas for circles the shape is always Lorentzian. These discrepancies illustrate the nongeneric behavior of scattering through integrable geometries, that we analyze taking into account the interplay of integrability with smooth disorder and geometrical effects. The power spectra of the conductance fluctuations are also analyzed, the deduced typical areas are in good agreement with those obtained from the weak localization. Periodic orbits in nonaveraged Fourier transforms of the magnetoconductance for regular cavities are clearly identified indicating the good quality of our samples.

Decrease of non-point zinc runoff using porous concrete.

PubMed

Harada, Shigeki; Komuro, Yoshinori

2010-01-01

The use of porous concrete columns to decrease the amount of zinc in stormwater runoff is examined. The concentration of zinc in a simulated stormwater fluid (zinc acetate solution), fed through concrete columns (slashed circle10x10cm) decreased by 50-81%, suggesting physical adsorption of zinc by the porous concrete. We propose the use of porous concrete columns (slashed circle50x10cm) as the base of sewage traps. Longer-term, high-zinc concentration monitoring revealed that porous concrete blocks adsorb 38.6mgcm(-3) of zinc. A period of no significant zinc runoff (with an acceptable concentration of zinc in runoff of 0.03mgL(-1), a zinc concentration equal to the Japanese Environmental Standard) is estimated for 41years using a 1-ha catchment area with 20 porous concrete sewage traps. Scanning electron microscopy of the porous concrete used in this study indicates that the needle-like particles formed by hydration action significantly increase zinc adsorption. Evidence suggests that the hydrant is ettringite and has an important role in zinc adsorption, the resulting immobilization of zinc and the subsequent effects on groundwater quality. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Foreign Language Circles of Knowledge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schiffer, Deana

1981-01-01

Describes use of Circles of Knowledge designed to generate excitement about foreign language learning as technique for individualized instruction. Includes guidelines for using, organizing, and implementing this method. (BK)

Adding "Circle of Security - Parenting" to treatment as usual in three Swedish infant mental health clinics. Effects on parents' internal representations and quality of parent-infant interaction.

PubMed

Risholm Mothander, Pia; Furmark, Catarina; Neander, Kerstin

2018-06-01

This study presents effects of adding Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) to an already established comprehensive therapeutic model for early parent-child intervention in three Swedish infant mental health (IMH) clinics. Parents' internal representations and quality of parent-infant interaction were studied in a clinical sample comprised of 52 parent-infant dyads randomly allocated to two comparable groups. One group consisted of 28 dyads receiving treatment as usual (TAU) supplemented with COS-P in a small group format, and another group of 24 dyads receiving TAU only. Assessments were made at baseline (T1), 6 months after inclusion (T2) and 12 months after inclusion (T3). Changes over time were explored in 42 dyads. In the COS-P group, the proportion of balanced representations, as assessed with Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI), significantly increased between T1 and T3. Further, the proportion of emotionally available interactions, as assessed with Emotional Availability scales (EA), significantly increased over time in the COS-P group. Improvements in the TAU-group were close to significant. Limitations of the study are mainly related to the small sample size. Strength is the real world character of the study, where COS-P was implemented in a clinical context not otherwise adapted to research. We conclude by discussing the value of supplementing TAU with COS-P in IMH treatment. © 2017 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published by Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Zernike expansion of derivatives and Laplacians of the Zernike circle polynomials.

PubMed

Janssen, A J E M

2014-07-01

The partial derivatives and Laplacians of the Zernike circle polynomials occur in various places in the literature on computational optics. In a number of cases, the expansion of these derivatives and Laplacians in the circle polynomials are required. For the first-order partial derivatives, analytic results are scattered in the literature. Results start as early as 1942 in Nijboer's thesis and continue until present day, with some emphasis on recursive computation schemes. A brief historic account of these results is given in the present paper. By choosing the unnormalized version of the circle polynomials, with exponential rather than trigonometric azimuthal dependence, and by a proper combination of the two partial derivatives, a concise form of the expressions emerges. This form is appropriate for the formulation and solution of a model wavefront sensing problem of reconstructing a wavefront on the level of its expansion coefficients from (measurements of the expansion coefficients of) the partial derivatives. It turns out that the least-squares estimation problem arising here decouples per azimuthal order m, and per m the generalized inverse solution assumes a concise analytic form so that singular value decompositions are avoided. The preferred version of the circle polynomials, with proper combination of the partial derivatives, also leads to a concise analytic result for the Zernike expansion of the Laplacian of the circle polynomials. From these expansions, the properties of the Laplacian as a mapping from the space of circle polynomials of maximal degree N, as required in the study of the Neumann problem associated with the transport-of-intensity equation, can be read off within a single glance. Furthermore, the inverse of the Laplacian on this space is shown to have a concise analytic form.

Differential involvement of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in the circling behaviour induced by apomorphine, SK & F 38393, pergolide and LY 171555 in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats.

PubMed

Arnt, J; Hyttel, J

1985-01-01

The antagonistic effect of dopamine (DA) D-1 and D-2 antagonists against circling behaviour induced by various DA agonists in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats has been investigated. DA D-1/D-2 selectivity of agonists in vitro was measured by the stimulatory effect on DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat striatal homogenates (D-1), the inhibitory effect on electrically-induced release of 3H-DA in rabbit striatal slices (D-2) and the affinity to 3H-piflutixol (D-1) and 3H-spiroperidol (D-2) binding sites in rat striatal membranes. The contralateral circling behaviour induced by the DA D-1 agonist SK & F 38393 was blocked by the DA D-1 antagonist, SCH 23390, and by the mixed DA D-1/D-2 antagonist cis(Z)-flupentixol, but was not influenced by the DA D-2 antagonists spiroperidol and clebopride. In contrast, circling behaviour induced by the preferential DA D-2 agonists pergolide and LY 171555 was blocked by clebopride, spiroperidol, and cis(Z)-flupentixol, but weakly or not influenced by SCH 23390. Apomorphine-induced circling behaviour was blocked by cis(Z)-flupentixol, partially antagonized by SCH 23390 and clebopride but not inhibited by spiroperidol, although the time-course of circling was changed. Combinations of SCH 23390 with spiroperidol or clebopride in low doses completely blocked the effect of apomorphine. These results indicate that DA D-1 and D-2 receptors mediate circling behaviour through separate mechanisms which can be independently manipulated with respective agonists and antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Advances in Social Circles Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

Acknowledgements En primer lugar , agradecer a Roberto Paredes y Paolo Rosso la oportunidad de trabajar en el centro de investigación PRHLT, gracias a...Politècnica De València Technology Transfer Office_CTT UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA - ABSTRACT Advances in Social Circles Detection Report Title...Our work opens the door to several lines of future work. Universitat Politècnica de València Trabajo de Fin de Máster Advances in Social Circles

The Use of "Circle of Friends" Strategy to Improve Social Interactions and Social Acceptance: A Case Study of a Child with Asperger's Syndrome and Other Associated Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connor, Eileen

2016-01-01

The study outlined here was an attempt to examine the use of "Circle of Friends" as a single intervention approach in addressing the issue of inappropriate social interactions in a child with Asperger Syndrome. The child selected was in a mainstream setting, as the main feature of a circle of friends is peers supporting peers. The child…

EFFICACY OF THE 20-WEEK CIRCLE OF SECURITY INTERVENTION: CHANGES IN CAREGIVER REFLECTIVE FUNCTIONING, REPRESENTATIONS, AND CHILD ATTACHMENT IN AN AUSTRALIAN CLINICAL SAMPLE.

PubMed

Huber, Anna; McMahon, Catherine A; Sweller, Naomi

2015-01-01

Circle of Security is an attachment theory based intervention that aims to promote secure parent-child attachment relationships. Despite extensive uptake of the approach, there is limited empirical evidence regarding efficacy. The current study examined whether participation in the 20-week Circle of Security intervention resulted in positive caregiver-child relationship change in four domains: caregiver reflective functioning; caregiver representations of the child and the relationship with the child; child attachment security, and attachment disorganization. Archived pre- and postintervention data were analyzed from 83 clinically referred caregiver-child dyads (child age: 13-88 months) who completed the Circle of Security intervention in sequential cohorts and gave permission for their data to be included in the study. Caregivers completed the Circle of Security Interview, and dyads were filmed in the Strange Situation Procedure before and after the intervention. Results supported all four hypotheses: Caregiver reflective functioning, caregiving representations, and level of child attachment security increased after the intervention, and level of attachment disorganization decreased for those with high baseline levels. Those whose scores were least optimal prior to intervention showed the greatest change in all domains. This study adds to the evidence suggesting that the 20-week Circle of Security intervention results in significant relationship improvements for caregivers and their children. © 2015 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Efficient and simpler method to construct normalized cDNA libraries with improved representations of full-length cDNAs

DOEpatents

Soares, Marcelo Bento; Bonaldo, Maria de Fatima

1998-01-01

This invention provides a method to normalize a cDNA library comprising: (a) constructing a directionally cloned library containing cDNA inserts wherein the insert is capable of being amplified by polymerase chain reaction; (b) converting a double-stranded cDNA library into single-stranded DNA circles; (c) generating single-stranded nucleic acid molecules complementary to the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) by polymerase chain reaction with appropriate primers; (d) hybridizing the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) with the complementary single-stranded nucleic acid molecules generated in step (c) to produce partial duplexes to an appropriate Cot; and (e) separating the unhybridized single-stranded DNA circles from the hybridized DNA circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. This invention also provides a method to normalize a cDNA library wherein the generating of single-stranded nucleic acid molecules complementary to the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) is by excising cDNA inserts from the double-stranded cDNA library; purifying the cDNA inserts from cloning vectors; and digesting the cDNA inserts with an exonuclease. This invention further provides a method to construct a subtractive cDNA library following the steps described above. This invention further provides normalized and/or subtractive cDNA libraries generated by the above methods.

Efficient and simpler method to construct normalized cDNA libraries with improved representations of full-length cDNAs

DOEpatents

Soares, M.B.; Fatima Bonaldo, M. de

1998-12-08

This invention provides a method to normalize a cDNA library comprising: (a) constructing a directionally cloned library containing cDNA inserts wherein the insert is capable of being amplified by polymerase chain reaction; (b) converting a double-stranded cDNA library into single-stranded DNA circles; (c) generating single-stranded nucleic acid molecules complementary to the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) by polymerase chain reaction with appropriate primers; (d) hybridizing the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) with the complementary single-stranded nucleic acid molecules generated in step (c) to produce partial duplexes to an appropriate Cot; and (e) separating the unhybridized single-stranded DNA circles from the hybridized DNA circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library. This invention also provides a method to normalize a cDNA library wherein the generating of single-stranded nucleic acid molecules complementary to the single-stranded DNA circles converted in step (b) is by excising cDNA inserts from the double-stranded cDNA library; purifying the cDNA inserts from cloning vectors; and digesting the cDNA inserts with an exonuclease. This invention further provides a method to construct a subtractive cDNA library following the steps described above. This invention further provides normalized and/or subtractive cDNA libraries generated by the above methods. 25 figs.

Coloring your information: How designers use Theory of Color in creative ways to present infographic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucius, C. R.; Fuad, A.

2017-12-01

Various methods of data presentation is now visualized through engaging infographics and perform the presentation techniques a new kind of storytelling. Geometric elements for infographics perform interesting data, which is developed with color harmony. There are categories of colors based on color circle from the theory of color design: primary color, secondary color and tertiary color. This color circle allows a designer to visualize the balance and harmony of colors when they are side by side. These composition of colors can be formed as a harmonious dyad, triad, or tetrads. A harmonious dyad is formed from two diametrically opposed colors on the color circle, which known as contrast complementary and works best in color harmonious if one of the colors is dominant. A harmonious triad is represented by three colors from the color circle which positions with an equilateral triangle. An triangle of yellow-red-blue shows the most powerful of harmonious triad and call as the fundamental triad. A harmonious tetrad is developed from two pairs of complementary colors, which can be formed by rectangle or square on the color circle. It help to figure out how objects are connected on presenting data. To create an efficiency infographic, presenting data has to prepare with some strategic. The color circle has the power to perform the infographic when it is made for a fascinating design.

The Experience of Native Peer Facilitators in the Campaign Against Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Struthers, Roxanne; Hodge, Felicia Schanche; De Cora, Lorelei; Geishirt-Cantrell, Betty

2011-01-01

Context The use of peer facilitators in health-programs has great potential. One important application is prevention and control of type 2 diabetes among American Indians. Purpose To explore the experience of American Indian facilitators in a culturally appropriate intervention (Talking Circles) on 2 Northern Plains reservations. The Talking Circles offered a forum for educational dialogue on diabetes risk factors and the management of type 2 diabetes. Methods Phenomenology, a qualitative research approach, was used to answer the research question: “What did Native Talking Circle facilitators-experience?” Participants were 4 lay health workers from the intervention reservations who had been trained to present a diabetes curriculum while coordinating and guiding the group discussion. During open-ended, taped interviews, the facilitators shared their experiences conducting the Talking Circles. Analysis categorized the experiences into common themes to explain the phenomena and cultural construction of oral discussions (Talking Circles) of diabetes. Findings Themes included the concept of “a calling” to do the work, which included a self-growth process, a blending of 2 worldviews as a diabetes intervention strategy, the importance of translating educational materials in a liaison role, and commitment to tribal people and communities. Conclusions The experience of the facilitators was positive because they were knowledgeable about American Indian culture arid worldview arid were trained in both Talking Circle facilitation and type 2 diabetes. PMID:12696854

Study of the peptide length and amino acid specific substitution in the antigenic activity of the chimeric synthetic peptides, containing the p19 core and gp46 envelope proteins of the HTLV-I virus.

PubMed

Marin, Milenen Hernández; Rodríguez-Tanty, Chryslaine; Higginson-Clarke, David; Bocalandro, Yadaris Márquez; Peña, Lilliam Pozo

2005-10-28

Four chimeric synthetic peptides (Q5, Q6, Q7(multiply sign in circle), and Q8(multiply sign in circle)), incorporating immunodominant epitopes of the core p19 (105-124 a.a.) and envelope gp46 proteins (175-205 a.a.), of HTLV-I were obtained. Also, two gp46 monomeric peptides M4 and M5(multiply sign in circle) (Ser at position 192) were synthesized. The analysis of the influence of the peptide lengths and the proline to serine substitution on the chimeric and monomeric peptides' antigenicity, with regard to the chimeric peptides Q1, Q2, Q3(multiply sign in circle), and Q4(multiply sign in circle), reported previously, for HTLV-I was carried out. The peptides' antigenicity was evaluated in an ultramicroenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA) using sera of HTLV-I/II. The peptides' antigenicity was affected appreciably by the change of the peptide length and amino acid substitutions into the immunodominant sequence of gp46 peptide.

Women and Chemistry in Regency England: New Light on the Marcet Circle.

PubMed

Leigh, G Jeffery; Rocke, Alan J

2016-02-01

Jane Marcet's Conversations on Chemistry (first edition, 1806) was possibly the best-selling English-language chemistry book of the first half of the nineteenth century. Recent scholarship has explored the degree to which her husband assisted in the writing of the book, without diminishing the high merits of the author. Previously unpublished correspondence, some of which appears here for the first time, casts new light on the social and professional circle of Jane and Alexander Marcet, including its influence on Jane's book. One of the members of that circle was a hitherto unrecognised but highly capable young female chemist, Frederica Sebright. The story told here underlines the tensions in elite circles in early nineteenth-century England between broad-minded acceptance and patronising limitations for women in science.

Uncertainty Analysis for Angle Calibrations Using Circle Closure

PubMed Central

Estler, W. Tyler

1998-01-01

We analyze two types of full-circle angle calibrations: a simple closure in which a single set of unknown angular segments is sequentially compared with an unknown reference angle, and a dual closure in which two divided circles are simultaneously calibrated by intercomparison. In each case, the constraint of circle closure provides auxiliary information that (1) enables a complete calibration process without reference to separately calibrated reference artifacts, and (2) serves to reduce measurement uncertainty. We derive closed-form expressions for the combined standard uncertainties of angle calibrations, following guidelines published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and NIST. The analysis includes methods for the quantitative evaluation of the standard uncertainty of small angle measurement using electronic autocollimators, including the effects of calibration uncertainty and air turbulence. PMID:28009359

Are we indeed what we eat? Street food consumption in the Market Circle area of Takoradi, Ghana.

PubMed

Hiamey, Stephen Edem; Amuquandoh, Francis Eric; Boison, Grace Aba

2013-01-01

The paper examines street foods consumption in the Market Circle of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. The data used for the study were obtained from individuals who were either purchasing or consuming street foods in the Market Circle in August of 2011. The results revealed that the average consumer makes use of street foods six times in a week and there was a penchant for carbohydrate based foods over other types of street foods. Reasons including cost saving, convenience and eating on credit were noted to underlie the consumption of street foods in the area. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the high consumption of street foods in the Market Circle was for reasons other than nutrition and health. © The Author(s) 2015.

Methane and nitrous oxide measurements onboard the UK Atmospheric Research Aircraft using quantum cascade laser spectrometry (QCL)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, J. B.; O'Shea, S.; Dorsey, J.; Bauguitte, S.; Cain, M.; Allen, G.; Percival, C. J.; Gallagher, M. W.

2012-12-01

A Aerodyne Research© Mini-Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) spectrometer was installed on the UK Facility of Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) BAe-146 research aircraft and employed during summer 2012. Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations were measured within the Arctic Circle as part of the MAMM project (Methane and other greenhouse gases in the Arctic - Measurements, process studies and Modelling) as well as around the UK as part of the ClearfLo project (Clean Air for London). A range of missions were flown, including deep vertical profiles up to the stratosphere, providing concentration profiles of CH4 and N2O, as well as low altitude level runs exploring near surface diffuse emission sources such as the wetlands in Arctic Lapland and point emissions sources such as gas platforms off the UK coast. Significant pollution plumes were observed both in the Arctic and around the UK with elevated CH4 concentrations, as well as enhanced CO, O3 and aerosol levels. The NAME Lagrangian particle dispersion model will be used to investigate the origins of these CH4 plumes to identify the locations of the emissions sources. The first set of flights using QCL on the FAAM research aircraft have been successful and regular in-flight calibrations (high/low span) and target concentrations were used to determine instrument accuracy and precision. Additional data quality control checks could be made by comparison with an onboard Los Gatos Fast Greenhouse Gas Analyser (FGGA) for CO2 and CH4 and provide the basis for further instrument development and implementation for future Arctic MAMM flights during spring and summer 2013.

Establishing Base Elements of Perspective in Order to Reconstruct Architectural Buildings from Photographs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzwierzynska, Jolanta

2017-12-01

The use of perspective images, especially historical photographs for retrieving information about presented architectural environment is a fast developing field recently. The photography image is a perspective image with secure geometrical connection with reality, therefore it is possible to reverse this process. The aim of the herby study is establishing requirements which a photographic perspective representation should meet for a reconstruction purpose, as well as determination of base elements of perspective such as a horizon line and a circle of depth, which is a key issue in any reconstruction. The starting point in the reconstruction process is geometrical analysis of the photograph, especially determination of the kind of perspective projection applied, which is defined by the building location towards a projection plane. Next, proper constructions can be used. The paper addresses the problem of establishing base elements of perspective on the basis of the photograph image in the case when camera calibration is impossible to establish. It presents different geometric construction methods selected dependently on the starting assumptions. Therefore, the methods described in the paper seem to be universal. Moreover, they can be used even in the case of poor quality photographs with poor perspective geometry. Such constructions can be realized with computer aid when the photographs are in digital form as it is presented in the paper. The accuracy of the applied methods depends on the photography image accuracy, as well as drawing accuracy, however, it is sufficient for further reconstruction. Establishing base elements of perspective presented in the paper is especially useful in difficult cases of reconstruction, when one lacks information about reconstructed architectural form and it is necessary to lean on solid geometry.

A Study on the Korean Medicine Education and the Changes in the Traditional Korean Medicine during the Japanese Colonial Era: Focused on the Korean Medicine Training Schools.

PubMed

Huang, Yongyuan

2018-04-01

The modern education institutes play an important role in fostering professional talents, reproducing knowledge and studies, and forming the identities of certain academic fields and vocational communities. It is a matter of common knowledge that the absence of an official Korean medicine medical school during the Japanese colonial era was a severely disadvantageous factor in the aspects of academic progress, fostering follow-up personnel, and establishment of social capability. Therefore, the then Korean medicine circle put emphasis on inadequate official education institutes as the main factor behind oppression. Furthermore, as the measure to promote the continuance of Korean medicine, the circle regarded establishing civilian Korean medicine training schools as their long-cherished wish and strived to accomplish the mission even after liberation. This study looked into how the Korean medicine circle during the Japanese colonial era utilized civilian training schools to conduct the Korean medicine education conforming to modern medical school and examined how the operation of these training schools influenced the changes in the traditional Korean medicine. After the introduction of the Western medical science, the Korean medicine circle aimed to improve the quality of Korean medicine doctors by establishing modern Korean medicine medical schools. However, after the annexation of Korea and Japan, official Korean medicine medical schools were not established since policies were organized centered on the Western medical science. In this light, the Korean medicine circle strived to nurture the younger generation of Korean medicine by establishing and operating the civilian Korean medicine training schools after the annexation between Korea and Japan. The schools were limited in terms of scale and status but possessed the forms conforming to the modern medical schools in terms of education system. In other words, the civilian training schools not only adhered to the standard education of Korean medicine but also aimed to lay their foundation in the education system of the Western medical science by forming the separated curriculum including basic medical science, diagnosis, clinic, drug, and the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion. Furthermore, having contained the basic subjects of the Western medical science - physiology, anatomy, pathology, etc. - in the compulsory subjects shows perceiving the intellectual and systematic hegemony of the Western medical science and satisfying the demand of the colonial power. Such an education system was succeeded and solidified through the training sessions and the training schools operated by the local colonial governments after the 1930s. Korean medicine became different from the traditional Korean medicine through the establishment and the operation of such training schools.

Eccentricity error identification and compensation for high-accuracy 3D optical measurement

PubMed Central

He, Dong; Liu, Xiaoli; Peng, Xiang; Ding, Yabin; Gao, Bruce Z

2016-01-01

The circular target has been widely used in various three-dimensional optical measurements, such as camera calibration, photogrammetry and structured light projection measurement system. The identification and compensation of the circular target systematic eccentricity error caused by perspective projection is an important issue for ensuring accurate measurement. This paper introduces a novel approach for identifying and correcting the eccentricity error with the help of a concentric circles target. Compared with previous eccentricity error correction methods, our approach does not require taking care of the geometric parameters of the measurement system regarding target and camera. Therefore, the proposed approach is very flexible in practical applications, and in particular, it is also applicable in the case of only one image with a single target available. The experimental results are presented to prove the efficiency and stability of the proposed approach for eccentricity error compensation. PMID:26900265

Eccentricity error identification and compensation for high-accuracy 3D optical measurement.

PubMed

He, Dong; Liu, Xiaoli; Peng, Xiang; Ding, Yabin; Gao, Bruce Z

2013-07-01

The circular target has been widely used in various three-dimensional optical measurements, such as camera calibration, photogrammetry and structured light projection measurement system. The identification and compensation of the circular target systematic eccentricity error caused by perspective projection is an important issue for ensuring accurate measurement. This paper introduces a novel approach for identifying and correcting the eccentricity error with the help of a concentric circles target. Compared with previous eccentricity error correction methods, our approach does not require taking care of the geometric parameters of the measurement system regarding target and camera. Therefore, the proposed approach is very flexible in practical applications, and in particular, it is also applicable in the case of only one image with a single target available. The experimental results are presented to prove the efficiency and stability of the proposed approach for eccentricity error compensation.

Bone suppression in CT angiography data by region-based multiresolution segmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaffert, Thomas; Wiemker, Rafael; Lin, Zhong Min

2003-05-01

Multi slice CT (MSCT) scanners have the advantage of high and isotropic image resolution, which broadens the range of examinations for CT angiography (CTA). A very important method to present the large amount of high-resolution 3D data is the visualization by maximum intensity projections (MIP). A problem with MIP projections in angiography is that bones often hide the vessels of interest, especially the scull and vertebral column. Software tools for a manual selection of bone regions and their suppression in the MIP are available, but processing is time-consuming and tedious. A highly computer-assisted of even fully automated suppression of bones would considerably speed up the examination and probably increase the number of examined cases. In this paper we investigate the suppression (or removal) of bone regions in 3D CT data sets for vascular examinations of the head with a visualization of the carotids and the circle of Willis.

Potential effects of surface coal mining on the hydrology of the Circle West coal tracts, McCone County, eastern Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cannon, M.R.

1984-01-01

The Circle West coal tracts in McCone County, Montana, contain about 460 million tons of recoverable coal reserves. Estimates of coal reserves for the tract are based predominantly on the S coal bed, which averages about 16 ft in thickness. About 175 million tons, or 38%, of the recoverable coal is Federally owned and has been identified for potential lease sale. A hydrologic study has been conducted in the potential lease area to describe existing hydrologic systems and to assess potential effects of surface coal mining on local water resources. Geohydrologic data collected from wells and drill holes indicate that shallow aquifers exist in sandstone and coal beds of the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation (Paleocene age). These shallow aquifers generally have small values of hydraulic conductivity (0.1 to 380 ft/day) and typically yield from 2 to 20 gal/min to stock and domestic wells. Where coal is extremely fractured or the thickness of saturated sandstone is large, some wells can yield in excess of 70 gal/min. Chemical analyses indicate that most shallow aquifers contain a sodium sulfate bicarbonate type water. Surface water resources of the area consist of intermittent streamflow in parts of the Nelson and Timber Creek basins plus a large network of reservoirs. The reservoirs provide a large part of the water supply for area livestock and irrigation. Water quality data for Nelson and Timber Creeks indicate that the water generally is a sodium sulfate type and has a large concentration (181 to 6,960 mg/L) of dissolved solids. Mining of the S coal bed in the Circle West coal tracts would permanently remove shallow coal and sandstone aquifers, resulting in the loss of shallow stock wells. Mining would destroy livestock reservoirs, alter runoff characteristics of Nelson Creek, and temporarily lower water levels in shallow aquifers near the mine. Leaching of soluble constituents from mine spoils may cause a long-term degradation of the quality of water in shallow aquifers in and near the coal tracts. Some of the effects on local water supplies could be mitigated by development of alternative water resources in deeper aquifers such as the Tullock aquifer of Paleocene age and the Fox Hills-lower Hell Creek aquifer of Late Cretaceous age. (Author 's abstract)

Easing The Calculation Of Bolt-Circle Coordinates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burley, Richard K.

1995-01-01

Bolt Circle Calculation (BOLT-CALC) computer program used to reduce significant time consumed in manually computing trigonometry of rectangular Cartesian coordinates of holes in bolt circle as shown on blueprint or drawing. Eliminates risk of computational errors, particularly in cases involving many holes or in cases in which coordinates expressed to many significant digits. Program assists in many practical situations arising in machine shops. Written in BASIC. Also successfully compiled and implemented by use of Microsoft's QuickBasic v4.0.

Noncoplanar VMAT for nasopharyngeal tumors: Plan quality versus treatment time.

PubMed

Wild, Esther; Bangert, Mark; Nill, Simeon; Oelfke, Uwe

2015-05-01

The authors investigated the potential of optimized noncoplanar irradiation trajectories for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatments of nasopharyngeal patients and studied the trade-off between treatment plan quality and delivery time in radiation therapy. For three nasopharyngeal patients, the authors generated treatment plans for nine different delivery scenarios using dedicated optimization methods. They compared these scenarios according to dose characteristics, number of beam directions, and estimated delivery times. In particular, the authors generated the following treatment plans: (1) a 4π plan, which is a not sequenced, fluence optimized plan that uses beam directions from approximately 1400 noncoplanar directions and marks a theoretical upper limit of the treatment plan quality, (2) a coplanar 2π plan with 72 coplanar beam directions as pendant to the noncoplanar 4π plan, (3) a coplanar VMAT plan, (4) a coplanar step and shoot (SnS) plan, (5) a beam angle optimized (BAO) coplanar SnS IMRT plan, (6) a noncoplanar BAO SnS plan, (7) a VMAT plan with rotated treatment couch, (8) a noncoplanar VMAT plan with an optimized great circle around the patient, and (9) a noncoplanar BAO VMAT plan with an arbitrary trajectory around the patient. VMAT using optimized noncoplanar irradiation trajectories reduced the mean and maximum doses in organs at risk compared to coplanar VMAT plans by 19% on average while the target coverage remains constant. A coplanar BAO SnS plan was superior to coplanar SnS or VMAT; however, noncoplanar plans like a noncoplanar BAO SnS plan or noncoplanar VMAT yielded a better plan quality than the best coplanar 2π plan. The treatment plan quality of VMAT plans depended on the length of the trajectory. The delivery times of noncoplanar VMAT plans were estimated to be 6.5 min in average; 1.6 min longer than a coplanar plan but on average 2.8 min faster than a noncoplanar SnS plan with comparable treatment plan quality. The authors' study reconfirms the dosimetric benefits of noncoplanar irradiation of nasopharyngeal tumors. Both SnS using optimized noncoplanar beam ensembles and VMAT using an optimized, arbitrary, noncoplanar trajectory enabled dose reductions in organs at risk compared to coplanar SnS and VMAT. Using great circles or simple couch rotations to implement noncoplanar VMAT, however, was not sufficient to yield meaningful improvements in treatment plan quality. The authors estimate that noncoplanar VMAT using arbitrary optimized irradiation trajectories comes at an increased delivery time compared to coplanar VMAT yet at a decreased delivery time compared to noncoplanar SnS IMRT.

The nine-year sustained cost-containment impact of swiss pilot physicians-pharmacists quality circles.

PubMed

Niquille, Anne; Ruggli, Martine; Buchmann, Michel; Jordan, Dominique; Bugnon, Olivier

2010-04-01

Six pioneer physicians-pharmacists quality circles (PPQCs) located in the Swiss canton of Fribourg (administratively corresponding to a state in the US) were under the responsibility of 6 trained community pharmacists moderating the prescribing process of 24 general practitioners (GPs). PPQCs are based on a multifaceted collaborative process mediated by community pharmacists for improving compliance with clinical guidelines within GPs' prescribing practices. To assess, over a 9-year period (1999-2007), the cost-containment impact of the PPQCs. The key elements of PPQCs are a structured continuous quality improvement and education process; local networking; feedback of comparative and detailed data regarding costs, drug choice, and frequency of prescribed drugs; and structured independent literature review for interdisciplinary continuing education. The data are issued from the community pharmacy invoices to the health insurance companies. The study analyzed the cost-containment impact of the PPQCs in comparison with GPs working in similar conditions of care without particular collaboration with pharmacists, the percentage of generic prescriptions for specific cardiovascular drug classes, and the percentage of drug costs or units prescribed for specific cardiovascular drugs. For the 9-year period, there was a 42% decrease in the drug costs in the PPQC group as compared to the control group, representing a $225,000 (USD) savings per GP only in 2007. These results are explained by better compliance with clinical and pharmacovigilance guidelines, larger distribution of generic drugs, a more balanced attitude toward marketing strategies, and interdisciplinary continuing education on the rational use of drugs. The PPQC work process has yielded sustainable results, such as significant cost savings, higher penetration of generics and reflection on patient safety, and the place of "new" drugs in therapy. The PPQCs may also constitute a solid basis for implementing more comprehensive collaborative programs, such as medication reviews, adherence-enhancing interventions, or disease management approaches.

MS in Your Relationships

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS)

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS)

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...