3,123 research outputs found
Evaluating complex interventions and health technologies using normalization process theory: development of a simplified approach and web-enabled toolkit
No full text<b>Background</b> Normalization Process Theory (NPT) can be used to explain implementation processes in health care relating to new technologies and complex interventions. This paper describes the processes by which we developed a simplified version of NPT for use by clinicians, managers, and policy makers, and which could be embedded in a web-enabled toolkit and on-line users manual.<p></p>
<b>Methods</b> Between 2006 and 2010 we undertook four tasks. (i) We presented NPT to potential and actual users in multiple workshops, seminars, and presentations. (ii) Using what we discovered from these meetings, we decided to create a simplified set of statements and explanations expressing core constructs of the theory (iii) We circulated these statements to a criterion sample of 60 researchers, clinicians and others, using SurveyMonkey to collect qualitative textual data about their criticisms of the statements. (iv) We then reconstructed the statements and explanations to meet users' criticisms, embedded them in a web-enabled toolkit, and beta tested this 'in the wild'.<p></p>
<b>Results</b> On-line data collection was effective: over a four week period 50/60 participants responded using SurveyMonkey (40/60) or direct phone and email contact (10/60). An additional nine responses were received from people who had been sent the SurveyMonkey form by other respondents. Beta testing of the web enabled toolkit produced 13 responses, from 327 visits to www.normalizationprocess.org. Qualitative analysis of both sets of responses showed a high level of support for the statements but also showed that some statements poorly expressed their underlying constructs or overlapped with others. These were rewritten to take account of users' criticisms and then embedded in a web-enabled toolkit. As a result we were able to translate the core constructs into a simplified set of statements that could be utilized by non-experts.<p></p>
<b>Conclusion</b> Normalization Process Theory has been developed through transparent procedures at each stage of its life. The theory has been shown to be sufficiently robust to merit formal testing. This project has provided a user friendly version of NPT that can be embedded in a web-enabled toolkit and used as a heuristic device to think through implementation and integration problems
Synthesis optimization and charge carrier transfer mechanism in LiLuSiO<sub>4</sub>:Ce, Tm storage phosphor
No full textLiLuSiO4:Ce and LiLuSiO4:Ce, Tm show very efficient charge carrier storage properties upon beta irradiation after samples have received treatment in vacuum. They outperform the commercial storage phosphor BaFBr(I):Eu2+ in many aspects. The influence of the synthesis conditions, Ce and Tm concentration, nonstoichiometry and codoping with Ca, Hf, Al and Ge are reported. Based on the results of the synthesis optimization, thermoluminescence (TL) emission and TL excitation spectra a mechanism of charge carrier transfer, storage, and recombination during irradiation and thermal or optical readout is proposed.Accepted Author ManuscriptRST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and EnergyRST/Luminescence Material
A quantitative NMR spectroscopic examination of the flexibility of the C-terminal extensions of the molecular chaperones, alpha A- and alpha B-crystallin
No full textThe principal lens proteins αA- and αB-crystallin are members of the small heat-shock protein (sHsp) family of molecular chaperone proteins. Via their chaperone action, αA- and αB-crystallin play an important role in maintaining lens transparency by preventing crystallin protein aggregation and precipitation. αB-crystallin is found extensively extralenticularly where it is stress inducible and acts as a chaperone to facilitate general protein stabilization. The structure of either αA- or αB-crystallin is not known nor is the mechanism of their chaperone action. Our earlier (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies determined that mammalian sHsps have a highly dynamic, polar and unstructured region at their extreme C-terminus (summarized in Carver (1999) Prog. Ret. Eye Res. 18, 431). This C-terminal extension acts as a solubilizing agent for the relatively hydrophobic protein and the complex it makes with its target proteins during chaperone action. In this study, αA- and αB-crystallin were (15)N-labelled and their (1)H-(15)N through-bond correlation, heteronuclear single-quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR spectra were assigned via standard methods. (1)H-(15)N spin-lattice (T(1)) and spin-spin (T(2)) relaxation times were measured for αA- and αB-crystallin in the absence and presence of a bound target protein, reduced α-lactalbumin. (1)H-(15)N Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) values provide an accurate measure, on a residue-by-residue basis, of the backbone flexibility of polypeptides. From measurement of these NOE values, it was determined that the flexibility of the extension in αA- and αB-crystallin increased markedly at the extreme C-terminus. By contrast, upon chaperone interaction of αA-crystallin with reduced α-lactalbumin, flexibility was maintained in the extension but was distributed evenly across all residues in the extension. Two mutants of αB-crystallin in its C-terminal region: (i) I159A and I161A and (ii) K175L, have altered chaperone ability (Treweek et al. (2007) PLoS One 2, e1046). Comparison of (1)H-(15)N NOE values for these mutants with wild type αB-crystallin revealed alteration in flexibility of the extension, particularly at the extremity of K175L αB-crystallin, which may affect chaperone ability.Teresa M. Treweek, Agata Rekas, Mark J. Walker, John A. Carve
GA Landsat 5 TM Analysis Ready Data Collection 3
No full textMaintenance and Update Frequency: asNeededStatement: This product is derived from the USGS Landsat Collection 1 archive.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD43A1 Version 6 Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function and Albedo (BRDF/Albedo) Model Parameters dataset was provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was produced daily using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS data at 500 m resolution.
The ozone data was provided by Environment Canada.
The Aerosol Optical Thickness data was provided by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The Precipitable Water for Entire Atmosphere data was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) / Physical Sciences Division (PSD).
The baseline Digital Surface Model (DSM) data produced from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) was provided by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Level 1 Collection 1 data was provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)'s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.<b>BACKGROUND</b><br/><p><br/><p>The United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Landsat satellite program has been capturing images of the Australian continent for more than 30 years. This data is highly useful for land and coastal mapping studies. <br/><p>In particular, the light reflected from the Earth’s surface (surface reflectance) is important for monitoring environmental resources – such as agricultural production and mining activities – over time. <br/><p>We need to make accurate comparisons of imagery acquired at different times, seasons and geographic locations. However, inconsistencies can arise due to variations in atmospheric conditions, sun position, sensor view angle, surface slope and surface aspect. These need to be reduced or removed to ensure the data is consistent and can be compared over time. <br/><p> </p><br/><b>WHAT THIS PRODUCT OFFERS</b><br/><p><br/><p>GA Landsat 5 TM Analysis Ready Data Collection 3 takes Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery captured over the Australian continent and corrects for inconsistencies across land and coastal fringes. The result is accurate and standardised surface reflectance data, which is instrumental in identifying and quantifying environmental change. <br/><p><br/><p>The TM instrument is an advanced, multispectral scanning, Earth resources sensor which is designed to categorise the Earth's surface. It is particularly useful for agricultural applications and identification of land use. <br/><p><br/><p>This product is a single, cohesive Analysis Ready Data (ARD) package, which allows you to analyse surface reflectance data as is, without the need to apply additional corrections. <br/><p><br/><p>It contains three sub-products that provide corrections or attribution information:<br/><p><br/><p> 1) GA Landsat 5 TM NBAR Collection 3 <br/><p> 2) GA Landsat 5 TM NBART Collection 3<br/><p> 3) GA Landsat 5 TM OA Collection 3<br/><p><br/><p>The resolution is a 30 m grid based on the USGS Landsat Collection 1 archive
The dependence of light extraction improvement on optimized surface microstructure for AlGaN-based UVC-LEDs considering TM-polarized emission
No full textIn order to improve the light extraction of AlGaN-based short wavelength ultraviolet light emitting diodes (DUC-LEDs), a type of microstructure with high aspect ratio is introduced and optimized on the AlN substrate surface. And, particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to inverse design of the surface microstructure to maximize the light extraction efficiency (LEE). Considering that the propagation characteristics of TM-polarized light are different from that of TE-polarized light, the optical field distribution and LEE is analyzed for the UVC-LEDs with different TE-polarized component when the optimized surface microstructure is applied. Furthermore, the preparation process tolerance of the high aspect ratio structure is discussed by calculating the LED's LEE when the structural deviation occurs or morphology changes. Simulation results show that, by using the optimized surface microstructure based on parabola cone array, the LEDs' LEE is increased from 4.4% to 8.7% and from 0.4% to 3.7% for TE-polarized and TM-polarized emission, respectively. In addition, it is demonstrated that the light extraction improvement by the surface microstructure has a good tolerance to the structural deviation and morphology. The results are significant for improving light extraction and realizing high efficient short wavelength AlGaN-based UVC-LEDs by designing surface microstructures.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.ImPhys/Esmaeil Zadeh grou
Rigor and relevance in empirical TM research: Key issues and challenges Author links open overlay panel
No full textThis paper aims to offer a critical reflection on the way Talent Management (TM) is investigated in practice, by addressing the key issues regarding the quality (in terms of rigor and relevance) of academic empirical TM research and therefore the critical scrutiny of TM scholars’ work. We will argue that despite the growth in the quantity, the quality of many empirical TM papers is lagging behind and hindering the progress of the academic field of TM. Based on a content analysis of 174 peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2017, the paper outlines nine critical issues regarding the quality of the existent empirical TM research. In order to improve the positioning of the field as well as the impact of TM research on practice itis absolutely necessary for TM scholars to secure the quality of academic empirical TM research. Also, the collaboration between practitioners and scholars should increase.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Rigor and relevance in empirical TM research: Key issues and challenges Author links open overlay panel
No full textThis paper aims to offer a critical reflection on the way Talent Management (TM) is investigated in practice, by addressing the key issues regarding the quality (in terms of rigor and relevance) of academic empirical TM research and therefore the critical scrutiny of TM scholars’ work. We will argue that despite the growth in the quantity, the quality of many empirical TM papers is lagging behind and hindering the progress of the academic field of TM. Based on a content analysis of 174 peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2017, the paper outlines nine critical issues regarding the quality of the existent empirical TM research. In order to improve the positioning of the field as well as the impact of TM research on practice itis absolutely necessary for TM scholars to secure the quality of academic empirical TM research. Also, the collaboration between practitioners and scholars should increase.Peer Reviewe
Dalla Biblioteca Comunale di Urbania: due raccolte musicali per un interprete
No full textIn the Library of Urbania (Marche, Italy) six musical manuscripts containing seventeenth century arias and cantatas are preserved. They belonged to an aristocratic family of Apecchio, (Marche), the Ubaldini. This article investigates two of them containing cantatas by Cossoni, Giovanni Bonaventura Viviani, Legrenzi Bassani and others, and in which there is the note “ex libris Antonij Barbarini”. This article reconstructs the origin of these two manuscripts, for whom the author individuated the probable owner, the singer Ippolito Fusai, by means the repertory identified in it. A thorough investigation of this hitherto little-known manuscripts may shed new light on the diffusion and transmission of music in Italy during the Seventeenth and early-Eighteenth centurie
Preferred Reporting Items for the Development of Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines in Traditional Medicine (PRIDE-CPG-TM): Explanation and elaboration
No full textAbstractIntroductionThe development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in traditional medicine (TM) is an ongoing challenge as it is unique area. This study describes a unified platform with Preferred Reporting Items for the Development of Evidence-based CPGs in TM (PRIDE-CPG-TM), which has been successfully used by the evidence-based CPGs committee for TM.MethodsInitially we searched the literature and CPG handbooks, collected items from methodology references and drew on experiences gained from Korean medical physicians and methodology experts. A group of experts subsequently edited drafts of the items, identified one or more examples of good reporting for each item, and developed text that explained the rationale and discussed relevant evidence. Face to face meetings were held with experts to finalize the items with the most extensive elaboration.ResultsThe PRIDE-CPG-TM, in the form of a checklist and description of items with TM approach and TM examples, were designed to improve the reporting of CPG in TM and thereby facilitate their interpretation and replication. The PRIDE-CPG-TM included 5 domains and 40 items. The items pertain to the development methodology (22 items), Overview of diseases and symptoms (6 items), Recommendations (4 items), Implementation and dissemination (5 items) and others (3 items).ConclusionsThe completeness of CPG descriptions in TM is very poor. Therefore, a complete description of the recommendations for TM in CPGs is necessary for physicians to implement the recommendations in clinical practice areas. The PRIDE-CPG-TM will provide useful guidance for TM developers in the development of evidence-based CPGs
Study of Tm valence state in CaSi2O2N2 and phosphor-enabled PowerWindow application
No full textPowerWindow is a luminescent solar concentrator which employs a Tm2+-doped material to strongly absorb sunlight and produce a sharp emission in the near-infrared spectrum for energy-harvesting purposes. The absence of self-absorption and the large spectral overlap with the solar spectrum make it an attractive addition to current building-integrated photovoltaics development. Such Tm2+-doped materials have so far been limited to halides that are susceptible to decomposition when exposed to air, which compromises its stability and limits the application. The solutions to functionalize the characteristic Tm2+ photoluminescence properties are two-fold: by an alternative inorganic host (CaSi2O2N2) that is insensitive to moisture, or by using a protective barrier (silicone) that protects halides against decomposition upon exposure to air. The proposed alternative phosphor CaSi2O2N2:Tm is synthesized by solid-state reaction and its luminescent property is examined. The Tm dopant is found to exist in trivalent state (Tm3+) and no luminescence of Tm2+ is found in the material. Besides Tm2O3, different starting powders with other oxidation states (TmI2 and Tm metal powder) were tested to reduce Tm3+ ion to Tm2+ but no change has been observed. It is concluded that the high-lying Tm2+ 4f electronic ground state in CaSi2O2N2 is susceptible to oxidization by losing electrons to its conduction band and therefore unlikely to be stabilized with this synthesis method. The protective barrier approach applied to the NaCl:Tm2+ phosphors was realized by a polydiphenylsiloxane silicone encapsulant. The precursors and the phosphors are cured together in a lamination scheme between two pieces of glass. From the optical properties derived from its absorption and transmission spectra, it is concluded that the Tm2+ valence state of NaCl:Tm2+ is stable in the polymer with no sign of Tm3+ formation at all. While its production process and the relative amount of phosphor still need to be further optimized, a proof-of concept has been attained
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