87 research outputs found
Antenatal Exposures in Fetal Growth Restriction that Lead to Adverse Cardio-metabolic Disease Risk: The Manchester BabyGRO Study
Full text linkDoes strict employment protection discourage job creation? Evidence from Croatia
Full text linkEmployment protection legislation in Croatia is among the most strict in Europe. Firing is difficult and costly, and flexible forms of employment are limited. Is this apparent rigidity reflected-as one would expect based on standard economic theory-in low labor market dynamics? Is job creation low and hiring limited? Is the job security of insiders achieved at the cost of outsiders not being able to enter thelabor market? The author attempts to answer these questions by examining job flows. If the employment protection legislation is binding, then job and worker turnover should be low. He shows that this is indeed the case. Hiring is limited and the average job tenure is very long in Croatia. Job destruction is low, however job creation is still lower. The result is accumulation of unemployment, in large part due to new labor market entrants not being able to find a job. The high degree of job protection also seems to strengthen the bargaining position of insiders and results in relatively high wages. So, wages in Croatia are higher than among its competitors, even after adjusting for productivity. These high labor costs are likely to contribute to limited job creation in existing firms, but also are likely to discourage the entry of-and thus job creation in-new firms. The author presents evidence that firm growth has been indeed limited in Croatia, contributing to the low employment level. The author examines other potential causes of high unemployment in Croatia (the unemployment benefit system, labor taxation, the wage structure, and skill and spatial mismatches). He argues that they do not play a substantial part in accounting for poor labor market outcomes in Croatia. The author concludes that the stringent employment protection legislation is the key labor market institution behind low job creation and high unemployment. Based on this he recommends specific measures aimed at liberalizing the labor market to foster job creation and employment.Labor Management and Relations,Labor Policies,Labor Markets,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade Finance and Investment,Labor Markets,Labor Management and Relations,Labor Standards,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies
An unstructured finite volume simulator for multiphase flow through fractured-porous media
Full text linkThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computation for Design and Optimization Program, 2009.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78).Modeling of multiphase flow in fractured media plays an integral role in management and performance prediction of oil and gas reserves. Geological characterization and nmultiphase flow simulations in fractured media are challenging for several reasons, such as uncertainty in fracture location, complexity in fracture geometry. dynamic nature of fractures etc. There is a need for complex sinmulation models that resolve the flow dynamics along fractures and the interaction with the porous matrix. The unstructured finite volume model provides a tool for the numerical simulation of multiphase flow (inmmiscible and incompressible two-phase flow) in two-dimensional fractured media. We use a finite volume formulation, which is locally imass conservative and it allows the use of fully unstructured grids to represent the coimplex geometry of the fracture networks. Fractures are represented as objects of lower diniensionality than that of the domain (in this case, ID objects in a 2D domain). The model permits fine-scale simulation of multiphase transport through fractured media. The non-Fickian transport resulting due to the presence of heterogeneity (as fractures or inhomogeneous permeability distribution) is captured by the traditional advection-diffusion equation using a highly discretized system. Today. many macroscopic flow models are being developed which account for the non-Fickian. non-local flow more accurately and efficiently with less computation. The finite volume simulator niodel described in this thesis will be instrumental as a tool to train and validate the macroscopic flow models which account for anomialous transport behavior.(cont.) We illustrate the performance of this simulator on several synthetic cases with different fracture geometries and conclude the model effectively captures the miiultiphase fluid flow pattern in fractured media.by Reena Bajaj.S.M
Ghrelin and Growth
Full text linkGhrelin is a pleiotropic hormone, whose effect on growth hormone secretion, through the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor, is one of its many actions. Relationships between GHS receptor gene variants and human height, both in healthy individuals and in patients with growth disorders have been identified. These include constitutional delay in growth and puberty, idiopathic short stature, and isolated growth hormone deficiency. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of ghrelin in growth
Une expérience vécue : l’intersection des langues, du genre et de l'identité dans la traduction
Full text link1 online resource (46 pages) : illustrationsIncludes abstract in English and French.Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-46).A saying goes that “to know another language is to possess a second soul.” Passionate about languages, translation and world cultures, the author is always on the way to learn more and decode the meaning of this quote. In this Honors essay, the author is going to explore the topic of gender and resistance in language translation based on her first experience as a translator. Working together with Dr. Bannerjee, Coupeuses d’Azur, an epic French anthology written by Mauritian poet Khal Torabully, is well translated. Based on this particular experience, the author first examines the inherent sexist components in the French language in its rules for grammatical gender, which influences French speakers' way of thinking. Furthermore, the author explores how translation practice, and the role of female translator may help change this current. Secondly, this thesis focuses particularly on the creole language and the musicality of poems in the process of translation from the postcolonial perspective. During the translation process,
the author came across many intricacies and nuances, but that’s what made this journey so challenging and rewarding at the same time. To summarize the highlights of this unique learning path, she also depicts her own lived experience in translation
Vivre l’honte et la culpabilité : les immigrant-e-s du Vietnam dans Ru de Kim Thuy
Full text link1 online resource (34 p.)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (p. 33).In Kim Thuy’s award winning novel, RU, the author recalls the individual experiences, strife and victories that created the collective “Boat People” narrative. Through her work in RU, we are able to commemorate the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War and recognize the struggles faced by the Vietnamese Immigrants to North America. Thuy remembers her triumphs and privileges as a Canadian with her roots in Vietnam, while honouring those less fortunate. Thuy’s success, while celebrated throughout her novel, is at once the source for her shame and guilt associated with her privileged life
Measurement of strain induced responses at femoral artery bypass graft junctions
No full textFemoral artery bypass grafts have a predilection for failure at the distal anastomosis due to
restenosis, within a short period of time, the cause of which has been attributed to altered
haemodynamics. This study proposes that pressure induced strain has a profound effect on
the endothelium surrounding the junction leading to the onset of stenosis. It is hypothesised
that the cellular response in the non-physiological distal junction of a femoral bypass graft
can be predicted by measuring the strain response and that this strain response is caused
primarily by the intramural pressure.
The vascular endothelium represents a highly effective fluid and solute barrier through
the synchronised apposition of tight junction protein complexes between adjoining endothelial
cells. As endothelial cell mediated functions and pathology are sensitive to mechanical
and haemodynamic forces (cyclic strain and shear stress) the author hypothesises
that the primary factor responsible for the onset of atherosclerosis surrounding femoral
artery bypass grafts is blood pressure as opposed to blood flow. This theory is investigated
via the direct measurement of in vivo deflections following elective femoral bypass
surgery and the subsequent examination of the precise effects of the recorded cyclic strain
versus physiological flow induced shear stress on human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC’s)
cultured in vitro, at 12, 24 and 36 hour time intervals.
Overall the findings indicate that physiological cyclic strain and shear instigate positive
responses such as improved cell turnover and reduced apoptosis. These events were
accompanied by a strain-dependent reduction in transendothelial permeability to FITCdextran,
an event that indicates improved barrier function. However the strain induced upon
the introduction of a synthetic arterial bypass, although close to the normal physiological
range, induced negative responses with subsequent consequences for barrier integrity, cell
turnover and unprogrammed cell death
Spaces in play: Institute of Memory
No full textMoving beyond the borders of the city centre, Bucharest reveals itself as a city of both urban development and decay. Within this fragmented city lies forgotten, isolated and forbidden spaces often being appropriated by groups on the edge of our society. The issue of decay is often portrayed as a negative quality that should be shielding from sight. However this ‘dystopic’ quality that is found in many spaces of abandonment offer a rich grounds for observation. They become a hub of radical activity as temporal visitors seek out spaces with no rules and no order so that they can begin to engage with, play in and transgress these spaces. The lack of accessibility to these spaces that allow free play remains unaddressed within the fabric of Bucharest and the negative connotations of decay prevent us from seeking out spaces of play. The design proposal therefore seeks to build within the centre of Bucharest, in an area that has been radically altered itself by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The destruction and scars that are present in the landscape has lent itself to the design of an institute of memory. This collection of continually accumulating buildings seeks to address the memory of the pre-1980s site and interweave functions that embody the multiple understandings of the word memory. Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Public Buildin
Health-Care Providers' Preparedness for H1N1/09 Influenza Prevention and Treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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In Tanzania, the first case of H1N1/09 influenza was reported in September 2009. By March 2010, the reported number of cases was 770 with one death. Due to shortage of qualified human resources, essential medicines and laboratory supplies in health facilities, it was not known how well health-care providers in the country were prepared to deal with the pandemic. The study was conducted from December 2009 to May 2010 in public hospitals and private community pharmacies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Fifty-three prescribers and 200 dispensers were interviewed to assess their knowledge on the prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza, and dissemination of correct information to the public regarding the pandemic. Most participants had inadequate knowledge on the transmission, prevention and management of H1N1/09 influenza. The majority of prescribers knew neither the antiviral drugs recommended for the treatment of H1N1 influenza (64%) nor their adverse effects (92.5%). The drug dispensers' knowledge was also inadequate regarding the transmission, prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza. Forty-one (20.5%) salespersons without formal training in pharmaceutical or medical sciences were found dispensing and supervising the pharmacies. Most participants had misconceptions on how H1N1/09 virus was transmitted. The results of the study revealed gaps in the knowledge of the health-care providers on the prevention and treatment of H1N1/09 influenza infection. This indicates the need for strengthening of health-care systems and provision of continuing education and professional development for health-care providers on new and re-emerging diseases in the community.\u
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