After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), ocular GvHD is a common complication, typical symptoms being dry eye syndrome with features of fibrosis. In this study, we have ...identified and quantified two cell types-myofibroblasts (MFB) and polyploid (PP) cells-in the conjunctival surface of allo-SCT patients (pts) and have explored their kinetics and association with local and systemic GvHD. Results are compared with control groups of (a) pretransplant samples from allo-SCT patients, (b) recipients of autologous transplantation (auto-SCT) and (c) healthy controls. Imprint cytologies were obtained by pressing the conjunctival surface with a sterile, non-abrasive cellulose acetate filter (Millipore). After retraction, typically a monolayer of the outermost cells of the epithelium were retrieved. MFB were identified by immunofluorescent (IF) staining for alpha-smooth muscle protein. PP cells were detected by aberrant chromosome content analyzed via X/Y-FISH (X/Y fluorescence in situ hybridization). In female pts with a male donor (MF group), donor genotype were identified by sex chromosome detection using FISH methodology. IF and FISH methods were applied in situ on the same filter, and amounts of MFB and PP cells are expressed as the percentage of all cells on the filter. In all, 70 samples from 46 pts were obtained 1-122 months after allo-SCT. The total MFB density (MFB(TOT)) was higher in allo-SCT pts compared with healthy individuals and auto-SCT pts and increased by time after transplantation (P<0.001). In MF recipients, this increase proved to be due to a significant (P<0.001) and gradual elevation of donor-derived MFB (MFB(XY)), whereas recipient-derived MFB (MFB(XX)) did not vary over time. Clinical ocular GvHD correlated with MFB(XY)/MFB(TOT) ratio (P=0.034), whereas no association between MFB(TOT) or MFB(XY) systemic GvHD was observed. In the MF group (n=25), both MFB(XY) and MFB(XX) were detected on 28 of the 37 imprints (76%). In pts >36 months post transplant, on 11/12 imprints, a median of 9.4% (1.4-39%) MFB(XY) and 3.6% (0-11%) MFB(XX) was found. In one patient, 1.6% MFB(XY) were detected at 3 weeks post transplant. PP cells (6-24n), exclusively of recipient origin, were found to a median of 0.6% (0-37%). The PP cell density differed significantly (P<0.001) between time intervals, with a maximum 8.9% (0-35%) of all cells at 3-12 months. No correlation between PP cells and GvHD (ocular or systemic) was observed. The MFB has been indicated as a culprit in chronic inflammation and fibrosis. The observation that MFB(XY)/MFB(TOT) ratio correlated with ocular GvHD suggests a role of donor MFB in GvHD pathogenesis. The constant finding of recipient-derived MFB(XX) cells many years after transplant in pts with 100% donor hematopoiesis indicates that there is a non-hematopoietic differentiation route to MFB. The origin and role of PP cells after allo-SCT remains obscure.
Insight in schizophrenia tends to be assessed as the degree to which one possesses specific knowledge. It therefore often fails to account for the fact that awareness of illness is an inextricable ...part of a personal narrative and may be incoherent or incomplete for many different narrative reasons. Accordingly, we have developed a means of eliciting narratives of illness: the Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview, and a method for rating the coherence of those narratives: the Narrative Coherence Rating Scale. In this article we describe these methods and present data on their reliability and validity in a study of the illness narratives of 33 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Results suggest our measures possess sufficient internal consistency and good to excellent interrater reliability. Additionally, as predicted, our measures of narrative coherence were significantly correlated with traditional measures of insight and with measures of cognitive impairment and hopelessness gathered earlier.
The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale is one of the most popular maturity assessment techniques used by industrial firms worldwide. However, it is not a panacea that will work for every firm or ...every industry in its original form. Consequently, for the scale to be truly useful, it has to be adapted to fit the unique features of different firms and industries. In this article, we propose a revised and domain-specific TRL scale for evaluating technology maturity in iron and steel industries. This revised scale takes into account the idiosyncrasies of such firms, for example, product/process interdependencies, scaling problems, the reliance on pilot and demonstration experiments, and the fact that input and output materials are ingredients rather than components. The revised TRL scale helps managers to assess technology maturity and reduce risk by delivering better project and technology evaluations and providing a 'common language'.
This paper presents the thermal modelling of an unglazed solar collector (USC) flat panel, with the aim of producing a detailed yet swift thermal steady-state model. The model is analytical, ...one-dimensional (1D) and derived by a fin-theory approach. It represents the thermal performance of an arbitrary duct with applied boundary conditions equal to those of a flat panel collector. The derived model is meant to be used for efficient optimisation and design of USC flat panels (or similar applications), as well as detailed thermal analysis of temperature fields and heat transfer distributions/variations at steady-state conditions; without requiring a large amount of computational power and time. Detailed surface temperatures are necessary features for durability studies of the surface coating, hence the effect of coating degradation on USC and system performance. The model accuracy and proficiency has been benchmarked against a detailed three-dimensional Finite Difference Model (3D FDM) and two simpler 1D analytical models. Results from the benchmarking test show that the fin-theory model has excellent capabilities of calculating energy performances and fluid temperature profiles, as well as detailed material temperature fields and heat transfer distributions/variations (at steady-state conditions), while still being suitable for component analysis in junction to system simulations as the model is analytical. The accuracy of the model is high in comparison to the 3D FDM (the prime benchmark), as long as the fin-theory assumption prevails (no ‘or negligible’ temperature gradient in the fin perpendicularly to the fin length). Comparison with the other models also shows that when the USC duct material has a high thermal conductivity, the cross-sectional material temperature adopts an isothermal state (for the assessed USC duct geometry), which makes the 1D isothermal model valid. When the USC duct material has a low thermal conductivity, the heat transfer course of events adopts a 1D heat flow that reassembles the conditions of the 1D simple model (for the assessed USC duct geometry); 1D heat flow through the top and bottom fins/sheets as the duct wall reassembles a state of adiabatic condition.
The Swedish Road Administration (SRA) has developed an information technology (IT) based bridge and tunnel management system (BaTMan) that is widely implemented by the organisation. The system is a ...tool for operational, tactical and strategic management. However, this system does not include systems and tools for managing optimisation and long-term planning ofMaintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation (MR&R) actions due to service life performance aspects. This paper discusses the need of service life performance analysis for sound optimisation and long-term planning of MR&R actions in the bridge management. The paper presents a service life performance analysis model that is based on a Markov chain model and the MEDIC method. The model is developed to manage different kinds of degradation characteristic and yet present a uniform result expressed in conditional probabilities. The paper discusses also the need of systems and tools for describing objects on both an overall level and on a component level.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
While individual differences in personality exist among persons with schizophrenia and predate the onset of illness, less is known about their relationship to outcome. This study examined whether ...levels of three personality dimensions-neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness-are associated with symptomatology and coping in persons with schizophrenia. Symptom, personality, and coping measures were obtained for 59 participants with schizophrenia. Personality and coping measures were obtained for 17 persons in a community comparison group. Relative to the community comparison groups, participants with schizophrenia had higher levels of neuroticism, lower levels of extraversion and agreeableness, and tended to employ more avoidant styles of coping. Participants with schizophrenia who had higher levels of neuroticism had greater positive and emotional discomfort symptoms and greater preferences for avoidant coping strategies. Participants with schizophrenia who had higher levels of agreeableness had lower levels of positive and excitement symptoms. No links were found between extraversion and outcome measures. Implications for understanding how personality may affect outcome are discussed.
This paper utilizes time budget data allowing for a distinction between simultaneous time-use of spouses and the actual time spouses meet. The paper examines (1) the temporal choices of time-use, the ...synchronous leisure of spouses and the extent to which spouses spend time together, and (2) tests whether spouses coordinate their working schedule so that they obtain more synchronous leisure, utilizing a control group of matched singles. The empirical results suggest (i) a positive effect of coordination on synchronous leisure, (ii) that market work and leisure timing are very intra-household dependent, and (iii) that although parents with small children and couples 40+ have more synchronized time-use than others, they seem to allocate less of this to their spouses.
Introduction
Sexual harassment (SH) at the workplace is a globally discussed topic and one deserving of scrutiny. It is an issue that is often avoided although around 25% of nurses worldwide have ...experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Consequences of SH at workplaces can be very serious and an occupation hazard for nurses around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa there is also a need for more studies in the field.
Objective
The overall aim was to determine the prevalence, types, and consequences of sexual harassment among nurses and nursing students at a regional university hospital in Tanzania.
Methods
The study has a cross-sectional design. A study specific questionnaire was distributed to a total of 200 nurses and nursing students. Descriptive statistics were used for calculation of frequencies, prevalence, including gender differences, types, and consequences of sexual harassment.
Results
The result show that 9.6% of the participants had experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Regarding the female nurses and students, 10.5% had been sexually harassed at work, whereas the number for males was 7.8%, but 36% knew about a friend who had been sexually harassed. The most common perpetrator were physicians. The victims of SH were uncomfortable going back to work, felt ashamed and angry.
Conclusions
In conclusion, nearly 10% of the participants had been exposed to sexual harassment. However, an even greater number of victims was found when including by proxy victims of sexual harassment. SH can become a serious occupational hazard and stigmatization for nurses. Enhanced knowledge is needed, and hospitals and medical colleges should emphasize their possibilities to give support and assistance to the victims of SH. Education about SH in all levels and prevention methods should also be emphasized.
The solubility of vanadium oxide in the SiO2–CaO–VO
X
system was investigated as a function of basicity (CaO/SiO2) at a fixed temperature of 1600°C and oxygen partial pressure of 10−10 atm. Formed ...phases and microstructures of saturated samples were identified with SEM–EDS analysis and XRD. Maximum solubility of vanadium oxide was between 15 and 20% independent of basicity. Pure karelianite (V2O3) was formed in all samples at saturation of vanadium oxide. The morphology of karelianite changed with the change in basicity in the slag, where needles or threads were formed for slags with basicity B2 = 0.54 and B2 = 0.67 and stars or dendritic patterns were formed with basicity B2 = 1.0 and B2 = 1.22. Wollastonite (CaSiO3) was also formed in the slags with star or dendritic patterns.
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