4,820 research outputs found
Measuring the impact of cataract services in the community.
No full textIn many low-income countries, a substantial number of people remain needlessly visually impaired or blind from cataract as a result of not accessing surgical services.1 In this article, we will discuss how Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) surveys can play a role in improving cataract services, and the impact that sight-restoring cataract surgery can have on people’s lives
Writers Talk Featuring Kevin Bauer & Scott Raab
No full textKevin Bauer, President of the OSU student group 8th Floor Improv, discusses writing on the fly and what audience members can expect during the November 18th show. Also, Scott Raab, author of The Whore of Akron, discusses writing about LeBron James, and what he'll talk about during his Writers Talk book tour stop on November 18 at the Ohio State University Bookstore.The media can be accessed here: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/cstw12/WT_WCRS_11-14-11_ScottRaab_KevinBauer.mp3Ohio State University. Center for the Study and Teaching of Writin
Impact of a theoretically based sex education programme (SHARE) delivered by teachers on NHS registered conceptions and terminations: final results of cluster randomised trial
No full text<b>Objective</b>: To assess the impact of a theoretically based sex education programme (SHARE) delivered by teachers compared with conventional education in terms of conceptions and terminations registered by the NHS.
Design Follow-up of cluster randomised trial 4.5 years after intervention.
<b>Setting</b>: NHS records of women who had attended 25 secondary schools in east Scotland.
<b>Participants</b>: 4196 women (99.5% of those eligible).
<b>Intervention</b>: SHARE programme (intervention group) v existing sex education (control group).
<b>Main outcome measure</b>: NHS recorded conceptions and terminations for the achieved sample linked at age 20.
<b>Results</b>: In an "intention to treat" analysis there were no significant differences between the groups in registered conceptions per 1000 pupils (300 SHARE v 274 control; difference 26, 95% confidence interval –33 to 86) and terminations per 1000 pupils (127 v 112; difference 15, –13 to 42) between ages 16 and 20.
<b>Conclusions</b>: This specially designed sex education programme did not reduce conceptions or terminations by age 20 compared with conventional provision. The lack of effect was not due to quality of delivery. Enhancing teacher led school sex education beyond conventional provision in eastern Scotland is unlikely to reduce terminations in teenagers
Interview with Lawrence Raab
No full textLawrence Raab is Morris Professor of Rhetoric at Williams College and the author of seven books of poetry. He has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Bess Hokin prize from Poetry magazine. What We Don\u27t Know about Each Other won the National Poetry Series and was a finalist for the National Book Award. His latest collection, The History of Forgetting, explores both intimate and universal subjects with a depth and beauty wrought from clear language.
In March 2010, he was Poet-in-Residence at Butler University where he sat down with Amanda Fagan, graduate student and Poetry Co-Editor of Booth to discuss verse, inspiration, and the writing process
Study on the Asphalt Pavement Response in the Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility
No full textAccelerated pavement testing (APT) is an effective method in evaluating pavement performance by applying wheel loading and speed under controlled conditions. This study aims to investigate the effects of wheel loading, speed and ambient temperature on the pavement responses at different directions and depths of pavement structure. A two-layer asphalt pavement structure was constructed on a base layer constructed 10 years ago. Strain gauges were installed both in the transversal and longitudinal directions of motion on the bottom of both layers. The response of the asphalt layers was monitored and the developed strains were recorded. The results show that maximum compressive strain increases with wheel load. In contrast, the maximum tensile strain decreases as load increases; this is probably due to the high confining pressure that occurs within the pavement structure when higher wheel load is applied. The maximum compressive and tensile strains decrease with wheel speed, because the asphalt mixture becomes stiffer at high wheel speed (frequency). The maximum compressive and tensile strains in the transversal direction increase with ambient temperature, because of the low stiffness of asphalt materials at high temperature, which appears to be the cause of rutting.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Pavement Engineerin
Self-healing Asphalt for Road Pavements
No full textThis paper presents a unique self-healing system for asphalt pavement which employs compartmented calcium-alginate fibres encapsulating an asphalt binder healing agent (rejuvenator). This system presents a novel method of incorporating rejuvenators into asphalt pavement mixtures. The compartmented fibres are used to distribute the rejuvenator throughout the pavement mixture, thereby overcoming some of the problems associated with alternate asphalt pavement healing methods, i.e., spherical capsules and hollow fibres. The healing system performance, when embedded in Porous Asphalt (PA) mix was tested by employing: (i) Indirect Tensile Stiffness and Strength test (ii) 4 Point Bending Fatigue test. The Semi Circular Bend (SCB) test was adopted to study crack propagation and its closure (healing) in an asphalt mix. The findings demonstrate that compartmented alginate fibres have capacity to survive asphalt mixing and compaction process. The fibres can efficiently repair damage (close the cracks), increase asphalt mix stiffness and strength. However, when the asphalt mix is subjected to fatigue loading the system does not significantly improve healing properties of the asphalt mix. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that, with further enhancement, compartmented calcium alginate fibres may present a promising new approach for the development of self-healing asphalt pavement systems.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Materials and Environmen
Living mulch and organic fertilization to improve weed management, yield and quality of broccoli raab in organic farming
No full textLiving mulch gives many benefits to agro-ecosystems such as erosion control, nitrogen fixation and nutrient recycling, increasing of organic matter, weed and pest control, and increasing of soil organism. The experiment, carried out in Puglia, Southern Italy on transplanted broccoli raab (cv. Grossa fasanese), evaluated four soil management systems (SMSs): Trifolium subterraneum and T. repens used as living mulch, undisturbed weedy, and conventional tillage. For each SMS, four rates of nitrogen and phosphorous (NP0, NP1, NP2, and NP3) were supplied, using an organic fertilizer. The following data were collected: weed infestation, leaf chlorophyll in the plants (as SPAD units), weight, diameter, and colour of the inflorescences, anion and Mg, Fe, Na, K, Ca content. Fertilization showed prominent effects on most of parameters evaluated. The Sufficient Index of broccoli raab plants was higher in fertilized plots. With the increasing of fertilization rates, weight of primary inflorescences and the marketable yield linearly increased, confirming the great influence of nitrogen fertilization on the yield of Brassicaceae vegetables and highlighting the importance of combining living mulch and fertilization. By increasing fertilization rates, some elements, such as Mg and Fe, increased, whereas a decrease of Na, K, and Ca was observed. The nitrate content in the inflorescences was different only between the fertilized and unfertilized plots, although it was very low. In NP2 and NP3 a greener colour was found. Living mulch did not clearly affect quality and yield of broccoli raab but was effective in weed control. Results show the positive effects of living mulch and organic fertilization in the sustainable production of broccoli raab
Recommendation of RILEM TC 280-CBE: test method to assess the bonding of microsurfacing mixtures using the shear bond testing (SBT) apparatus
No full textMicrosurfacings are widely recognized as a valid solution for reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials in the construction and maintenance of road surfaces. They require specifically formulated mixtures, designed to compensate for the variability of the substrate and to ensure a durable bond at the interface of the newly applied layer. In fact, the surface texture of the support has a strong effect on the bonding behaviour, as it influences the interlocking and adhesion at the interface. Insufficient interlayer bonding can lead to slippage and to partial or complete delamination of layers. This can impair the functionality of the pavement, as large cracks and potholes can occur. Although several methods for assessing the mechanical performance of microsurfacings are included in the main international standards, there is a lack of standardised guidelines for assessing their bond strength. This recommendation proposes a testing procedure to assess the interlayer bond strength of microsurfacing mixtures using a common shear testing device. In addition to the results of the shear strength, the surface of the substrate can be characterised with regard to its texture using a simple laboratory method
Effect of atmosphere composition on the quality of ready-to-use broccoli raab (Brassica rapa L.)
No full textBACKGROUND: Many leafy brassicas are widely used for ready-to-use salads. Broccoli raab (Brassica rapa L.), also called turnip top, or rapini, is extensively cultivated in southern Italy. The edible portion is made up of the green, immature inflorescences and the stem with itsmost tender leaves. Recently, interest in this crop has increased among European consumers; moreover, a substantial increase in consumption could come from the ready-to-use product.
RESULTS: The effects of four different atmosphere compositions (air,3%O2 in nitrogen, 3%O2 +10%CO2 in air, and 10% CO2 in air) on quality attributes of ready-to-use broccoli raab were studied. Controlled atmosphere affected appearance, composition, respiration rate, weight loss, and presence of off-odours. Storage of broccoli raab florets under low oxygen conditions delayed post-cutting deterioration during storage at 5 ◦C and preserved appearance and typical odour, up to 17 days. Moreover, respiration rate as well as loss of green colour, chlorophyll and vitamin C were also slowed down in this condition. Finally, in this study no effect of controlled atmosphere storage was found on total phenols content and antioxidant activity.
CONCLUSION: Results showed that cold storage in 3%O2 can be beneficial in order tomaintain quality of ready-to-use, broccoli raab for up to 17 days
Etnizaciones de lo político. Estado nación e identidad étnica en América Latina desde una perspectiva histórica
No full textBüschges C. Etnizaciones de lo político. Estado nación e identidad étnica en América Latina desde una perspectiva histórica. In: Thies S, Raab J, eds. E Pluribus Unum? National and Transnational Identities in the Americas. Münster: LIT; 2008: 111-128
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