Open questions

Author(s):  
Adrian P. Sutton

Four areas requiring further research are introduced and possible PhD projects are identified. They are (i) workhardening, (ii) electroplasticity, (iii) mobility of dislocations and (iv) hydrogen-assisted cracking. In each case the topic is introduced and key questions are identified. Self-organised criticality and slip bands are considered in the discussion of work hardening. The impact of drag forces is considered in the discussionof dislocation mobility. Possible mechanisms for hyfrogen-assisted cracking include hydrogen-enhanced decohesion (HEDE), adsorption-induced dislocation emission (AIDE) and hydrogen-enhanced localised plasticity (HELP).

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Eni Susilawati

The research objective is to analyze the impact of the participation of online  ICT teacher training to increase the number of accessibility the learning content of features in Rumah Belajar. This research used the quantitative research approach with descriptive quantitative analysis methods to be able to describe how the increase in accessibility features of Rumah Belajar and utilization in learning in school. Samples were selected in this study are all online training participants at 15 locations online training that has been conducted by Pustekkom in 2015 and 2016 in 2015. The data was collected using a questionnaire and a list of open questions in accordance with the purpose of research. The results showed that 1) online ICT teacher training participants, after completing the Pustekkom  training online  using become more motivated to access other feature in Rumah Belajar; 2) The order of the percentage of the intensity level of accessibility to the other features of Rumah Belajar are: Sumber Belajar 23%, BSE 23%, Bank Soal 21%, Kelas Maya 13%, Lab Maya 6%, Karya Guru 4%, Wahana Jelajah Angkasa 4%, Peta Budaya 4% and Karya Komunitas 2%, and ICT training online using the application PKB Rumah Belajar can be used as a reference for efforts to develop a web-based learning applications, in particular for the development of Rumah belajar portal belongs Pustekkom Kemendikbud. Tujuan penelitian yaitu untuk menganalisis dampak keikutsertaan diklat online  TIK guru Belajar terhadap peningkatan jumlah aksebilitas konten pembelajaran pada fitur-fitur rumah belajar. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan penelitian kuantitatif dengan metode analisis kuantitatif secara deskriptif untuk bisa menggambarkan bagaimana peningkatan aksesbilitas fitur-fitur rumah belajar dan pemanfaatannya dalam pembelajaran di sekolah. Sampel yang dipilih dalam penelitian ini adalah semua peserta diklat online  pada 15 lokasi diklat online yang telah dilaksanakan oleh Pustekkom pada tahun 2015 dan 2016. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner dan daftar pertanyaan terbuka sesuai dengan tujuan penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 1) peserta diklat online TIK Guru, setelah mengikuti diklat online Pustekkom, menjadi lebih termotivasi untuk mengakses fitur-fitur lainnya dalam Rumah Belajar; 2) Urutan prosentase tingkat intensitas aksesbilitas terhadap fitur-fitur Rumbel selain Pengembangan Keprofesian berkelanjutan (PKB) adalah: Sumber Belajar 23%, Buku Sekolah Elektronik (BSE) 23%, Bank Soal 21%, Kelas Maya 13%, Lab Maya 6%, Karya Guru 4%, Wahana Jelajah Angkasa 4%, Peta Budaya 4% dan Karya Komunitas 2%; dan 3) diklat online TIK menggunakan aplikasi PKB. Rumah belajar bisa dijadikan referensi bagi upaya pengembangan aplikasi pembelajaran berbasis web, khususnya bagi pengembangan portal Rumah Belajar milik Pustekkom Kemendikbud.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 85-85
Author(s):  
Sabine Ettinger ◽  
Judit Erdos ◽  
Cecilia De Villiers

IntroductionPatients can provide valuable experience on living with diseases, health-related quality of life, various therapies and relevant outcomes. Their input and perspectives can be helpful in complementing health technology assessment (HTA) processes. The European Network for HTA (EUnetHTA), funded by the European Commission, aims to further advance and standardise patient involvement processes in order to add to the quality and applicability of HTAs and to allow capability building.MethodsDifferent methods for patient involvement in HTAs on non-pharmaceutical technologies were tested: Patient input templates (open questions sent to relevant patient organizations, or published on EUnetHTA website); scoping meeting with patients/patient representatives; one-on-one conversation and group conversation. Applied methods depended on the scope of the HTA and other factors like timelines of HTAs and burden of disease for patients.ResultsPatients were included in eight of sixteen HTAs on non-pharmaceutical technologies. Applied methods were: group conversation (n = 2), scoping meeting (n = 1), patient input templates (n = 4), one-on-one conversation (n = 2,) and other approach (i.e. written feedback on scope n= 2). In some HTAs more than one method was used. Main reasons for not including patients were inability to identify suitable patients or tight timelines. Patients' feedback on health-related quality of life and outcome measures proved most useful in the scoping phase.ConclusionsThe different approaches were useful for complementing HTA processes. Those need to be further tested and evaluated in order to formulate deeper understanding about the impact of patient involvement on HTA. Additionally, feedback from patients that were actively involved in the HTAs should be collected to further improve the involvement methods that should serve as basis for future recommendations post 2020.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Peiró Pérez ◽  
E Pérez Sanz ◽  
E Legaz Sanchez ◽  
J Quiles Izquierdo ◽  
Grupo XarxaSalut

Abstract “XarxaSalut” started in 2017, with the municipalities that have taken the commitment to boost the Promotion of Health (HP) at the local level through community participation, intersectorality and equity perspective. The objective is to present a policy process evaluation (2'5 years) of the implementation of XarxaSalut. Different approaches have been used; a questionnaire addressed to the municipalities at the time of adhesion including data on intersectorality, participation, HP actions and open questions; description of instruments that Regional Public Health Authorities (RPHA) has mobilized and an analysis of barriers and strengths made by the coordination office. In 2017, 17 municipalities were joined, being 197 in February 2020 (70% of the population). 65% are in a process of an organizational change through the intersectoral, decision making and participative working group. 35% are doing analysis of determinants and /or health situation, assets maps and a prioritization of HP actions. The main barriers identified by municipalities are lack of economic and personal resources, and difficulties in achieve citizen participation. The main benefits were the optimization of resources, the exchange of experiences, training, or economic support from the RPHA. Some support instruments develop for RPHA are a collection of guides for community development, funds that the municipalities can apply to support actions related with training, HP action on vulnerable population, on asset maps, participation processes, vulnerable neighborhoods, etc.; Community actions have been included in the “Health Observatory” to give visibility and social support to XarxaSalut. Interdisciplinary training processes with health and municipal professionals have been made in order to develop a common language and strength the competences for HP. Lesson learned: The need to improve coordination and a common language between different types of participants and professionals Key messages The decision makers and professionals in the municipalities understand the impact in health of the policies developed at local level but needs guide and support to deal with it. The coordination between different administrations and primary health at local level and the misunderstandings about health and their determinants are the main aspect to reinforce.


Author(s):  
Pablo Ibáñez Colomo

Abstract This article examines the meaning and scope of the notion of anticompetitive effects in EU competition law. It does so by bringing together several strands of the case law (and this across all provisions, namely Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and merger control). The analysis is structured around a framework that considers the main variables that shape the notion in practice: the time variable (actual or potential effects); the dimensions of competition and the counterfactual; the meaning of effects and the probability threshold (plausibility, likelihood, certainty). The exercise shows that it is possible to discern a concrete meaning to the notion of anticompetitive effects. Some central questions, including the role and operation of the counterfactual and the threshold of effects, have already been answered by the Court of Justice. In particular, it has long been clear that anticompetitive effects amount to more than a mere competitive disadvantage and/or a limitation of a firm’s freedom of action. The impact on equally efficient firms’ ability and/or incentive to compete would need to be established. At the same time, some open questions and some potential areas of friction (relating, inter alia, to stakeholders’ tendency to conflate appreciability and effects) remain. These are also discussed.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 756
Author(s):  
Maciej Walędziak ◽  
Anna Różańska-Walędziak ◽  
Paweł Bartnik ◽  
Joanna Kacperczyk-Bartnik ◽  
Andrzej Kwiatkowski ◽  
...  

Background: the COVID-19 pandemic and the implemented restrictions have changed the functioning of healthcare systems worldwide. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the present epidemiological situation on patients’ decisions about undergoing weight loss surgery. Methods: data were collected from 906 bariatric patients by the means of a national online survey, the majority of whom were women (87.9%). The survey started on 9 April 2020 and was open until 28 April 2020. The questionnaire included multiple choice and open questions, divided into three chapters: general information about the patient, life during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bariatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: despite the pandemic and the associated risk of COVID-19 infection, 443 responders (48.9%) would have decided to undergo bariatric surgery. Awareness of the negative impact of obesity on the course of COVID-19 illness had only marginable impact on patients’ decision-making (76.6% vs. 75.3%; p < 0.80). Contact with COVID-19 prior to the survey had a negative impact on the willingness to undergo bariatric surgery (3.0% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.55). There was a positive correlation between the BMI and preference for bariatric surgery in the time of the pandemic (37.4 ± 9.0 vs. 34.9 ± 8.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: the level of awareness about the advantages of operative treatment of obesity is high among bariatric patients. The majority of patients awaiting bariatric surgery at the moment of the survey were positive about undergoing bariatric surgery despite the increased risk of a serious course of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, a large proportion of patients was determined to have bariatric treatment even during the pandemic, being aware of the increased risk of worse pace of COVID-19 disease in case of obesity and related diseases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1059-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Rath ◽  
J. F. González Rouco ◽  
H. Goosse

Abstract. The investigation of observed borehole temperatures has proved to be a valuable tool for the reconstruction of ground surface temperature histories. However, there are still many open questions concerning the significance and accuracy of the reconstructions from these data. In particular, the temperature signal of the warming after the Last Glacial Maximum is still present in borehole temperature profiles. It is shown here that this signal also influences the relatively shallow boreholes used in current paleoclimate inversions to estimate temperature changes in the last centuries by producing errors in the determination of the steady state geothermal gradient. However, the impact on estimates of past temperature changes is weaker. For deeper boreholes, the curvature of the long-term signal is significant. A correction based on simple assumptions about glacial–interglacial temperature changes shows promising results, improving the extraction of millennial scale signals. The same procedure may help when comparing observed borehole temperature profiles with the results from numerical climate models.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 746-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Upadhaya ◽  
Seetharamprasad Madala ◽  
Ramkaji Baniya ◽  
Kalyan Saginala ◽  
Jahangir Khan

Numerous studies have investigated use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for prevention of cardiovascular deaths. The vast majority of the work in this area has focused on secondary prevention. However, underuse of ASA still remains a major issue. Fewer studies have investigated the impact of ASA on primary prevention of cardiovascular death. A meta-analysis of individual participant data from six randomized studies, published in 2009, showed decrease in serious vascular events but at the cost of causing increased bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Recent studies have raised a number of key questions regarding the benefits and risks of using ASA for primary prevention.


A summary is given of some present ideas on the mechanism of work-hardening of single crystals and polycrystalline materials. In particular, the difference is stressed between the three stages of hardening: stage I, or easy glide; stage II, the region of rapid hardening accompanied by short slip lines; and stage III, the region of slow or parabolic hardening which is temperature-dependent and in which long slip bands are formed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-211
Author(s):  
Józef Pociecha

Every researcher desires to uncover the truth about the object of the undertaken study. When conducting statistical research, however, scientists frequently give no deeper thought as to their motivation underlying the choice of the particular purpose and scope of the study, or the choice of analytical tools. The aim of this paper is to provide a reflection on the philosophical foundations of statistical research. The three basic understandings of the term ‘statistics’ are outlined, followed by a synthetic overview of the understanding of the concept of truth in the key branches of philosophy, with particular attention devoted to the understanding of truth in probabilistic terms. Subsequently, a short discussion is presented on the philosophical bases of statistics, touching upon such topics as determinism and indeterminism, chance and chaos, deductive and inductive reasoning, randomness and uncertainty, and the impact of the information revolution on the development of statistical methods, especially in the context of socio-economic research. The article concludes with the formulation of key questions regarding the future development of statistics.


Author(s):  
Saqib Jamshed ◽  
Amit Dhiman

Abstract The current research focuses on the laminar flow through permeable side-by-side bars of a square cross-section in a channel-confined domain. Vorticity generation on the leeward sides of the permeable bodies further necessitates the study for a better understanding of underlying physics. Reynolds number Re and Darcy number Da are varied from 5 to 150 and 10-6 to 10-2, respectively, at transverse gap ratios s/d=2.5-10. In the perspective of periodic unsteady flow, critical Re for the onset of vortex shedding is analyzed. Streamlines, vorticity, pressure coefficient distribution, and velocity profiles are discussed to identify the wake patterns. In lower permeability level, vortex-shedding from the permeable square cylinders is observed either in synchronized anti-phase mode or a single large vortex street with a synchronized in-phase pattern in the near wake. A steady-state wake pattern symmetric and flocked towards the centerline is observed for all s/d at a higher permeability level regardless of Re. Wake patterns are not altered for Da=10-6-10-3; instead, prompt extermination of the two vortex streets downstream is observed at Da=10-3 as compared to Da=10-6. The impact of s/d, Re, and permeability on the drag is examined. A jump in the flow characteristics and drag forces is noticed at higher Re for the mid-range Da remarkably at lower s/d. For the extent of high permeability, the drag coefficient asymptotically gets closer to zero.


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