A Multi-Project Scheduling Procedure for Transportation Projects, Part II, HR-339, 1994

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has been requiring Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules on some larger or more schedule sensitive projects. The Office of Construction's expectations for enhanced project control and improved communication of project objectives have not been fully met by the use of CPM. Recognizing that the current procedures might not be adequate for all projects, IDOT sponsored a research project to explore the state-of-the-art in transportation scheduling and identify opportunities for improvement. The first phase of this project identified a technique known as the Linear Scheduling Method (LSM) as an alternative to CPM on certain highway construction projects. LSM graphically displays the construction process with respect to the location and the time in which each activity occurs. The current phase of this project was implemented to allow the research team the opportunity to evaluate LSM on all small groups of diverse projects. Unlike the first phase of the project, the research team was closely involved in the project from early in the planning phase throughout the completion of the projects. The research strongly suggests that the linear scheduling technique has great potential as a project management tool for both contractors and IDOT personnel. However, before this technique can become a viable weapon in the project management arsenal, a software application needs to be developed. This application should bring to linear scheduling a degree of functionality as rich and as comprehensive as that found in microcomputer based CPM software on the market today. The research team recommends that the IDOT extend this research effort to include the development of a linear scheduling application.

La geografia a la part troncal en el futur cicle de l'escola secundària obligatòria a Catalunya

Aquest article recull quines han estat les línies mestres en I'elaboració del currículum de geografia per a l'etapa 12-16 anys de I'ensenyament obligatori a Catalunya i la relació entre els conceptes, els procediments i les actituds dissenyats i els objectius generals del cicle. S'hi fa també una reflexió sobre les aportacions de la geografia al currículum de I'etapa i sobre la formació del professorat que I'ha d'impartir.

Tumor-host interactions Part 1: Stromal signatures of breast and prostate cancer Part 2: GLG1 and the control of the secretory pathway in tumor cells

Tumor-host interaction is a key determinant during cancer progression, from primary tumor growth to metastatic dissemination. At each step, tumor cells have to adapt to and subvert different types of microenvironment, leading to major phenotypic and genotypic alterations that affect both tumor and surrounding stromal compartments. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern tumor-host interplay may be essential for better comprehension of tumorigenesis in an effort to improve current anti-cancer therapies. The present work is composed of two projects that address tumor-host interactions from two different perspectives, the first focusing on the characterization of tumor-associated stroma and the second on membrane trafficking in tumor cells. Part 1. To selectively address stromal gene expression changes during cancer progression, oligonucleotide-based Affymetrix microarray technology was used to analyze the transcriptomes of laser-microdissected stromal cells derived from invasive human breast and prostate carcinoma. Comparison showed that invasive breast and prostate cancer elicit distinct, tumor-specific stromal responses, with a limited panel of shared induced and/or repressed genes. Both breast and prostate tumor-specific deregulated stromal gene sets displayed statistically significant survival-predictive ability for their respective tumor type. By contrast, a stromal gene signature common to both tumor types did not display prognostic value, although expression of two individual genes within this common signature was found to be associated with patient survival. Part 2. GLG1 is known as an E-selectin ligand and an intracellular FGF receptor, depending on cell type and context. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses showed that GLG1 is primarily localized in the Golgi of human tumor cells, a central location in the biosynthetic/secretory pathways. GLG1 has been shown to interact with and to recruit the ARF GEF BIGI to the Golgi membrane. Depletion of GLG1 or BIGI markedly reduced ARF3 membrane localization and activation, and altered the Golgi structure. Interestingly, these perturbations did not impair constitutive secretion in general, but rather seemed to impair secretion of a specific subset of proteins that includes MMP-9. Thus, GLG1 coordinates ARF3 activation by recruiting BIGI to the Golgi membrane, thereby affecting secretion of specific molecules. - Les interactions tumeur-hôte constituent un élément essentiel à la progression tumorale, de la croissance de la tumeur primaire à la dissémination des métastases. A chaque étape, les cellules tumorales doivent s'adapter à différents types de microenvironnement et les détourner à leur propre avantage, donnant lieu à des altérations phénotypiques et génotypiques majeures qui affectent aussi bien la tumeur elle-même que le compartiment stromal environnant. L'étude des mécanismes moléculaires qui régissent les interactions tumeur-hôte constitue une étape essentielle pour une meilleure compréhension du processus de tumorigenèse dans le but d'améliorer les thérapies anti cancer existantes. Le travail présenté ici est composé de deux projets qui abordent la problématique des interactions tumeur-hôte selon différentes perspectives, le premier se concentrant sur la caractérisation du stroma tumoral et le second sur le trafic intracellulaire des cellules tumorales. Partie 1. Pour examiner les changements d'expression des gènes dans le stroma en réponse à la progression du cancer, des puces à ADN Affymetrix ont été utilisées afin d'analyser les transcriptomes des cellules stromales issues de carcinomes invasifs du sein et de la prostate et collectées par microdissection au laser. L'analyse comparative a montré que les cancers invasifs du sein et de la prostate provoquent des réponses stromales spécifiques à chaque type de tumeur, et présentent peu de gènes induits ou réprimés de façon similaire. L'ensemble des gènes dérégulés dans le stroma associé au cancer du sein, ou à celui de la prostate, présente une valeur pronostique pour les patients atteints d'un cancer du sein, respectivement de la prostate. En revanche, la signature stromale commune aux deux types de cancer n'a aucune valeur prédictive, malgré le fait que l'expression de deux gènes présents dans cette liste soit liée à la survie des patients. Partie 2. GLG1 est connu comme un ligand des sélectines E ainsi que comme récepteur intracellulaire pour des facteurs de croissances FGFs selon le type de cellule dans lequel il est exprimé. Des analyses immunohistochimiques et d'immunofluorescence ont montré que dans les cellules tumorales, GLG1 est principalement localisé au niveau de l'appareil de Golgi, une place centrale dans la voie biosynthétique et sécrétoire. Nous avons montré que GLG1 interagit avec la protéine BIGI et participe à son recrutement à la membrane du Golgi. L'absence de GLG1 ou de BIGI réduit drastiquement le pool d'ARF3 associé aux membranes ainsi que la quantité d'ARF3 activés, et modifie la structure de l'appareil de Golgi. Il est particulièrement intéressant de constater que ces perturbations n'ont pas d'effet sur la sécrétion constitutive en général, mais semblent plutôt affecter la sécrétion spécifique d'un sous-groupe défini de protéines comprenant MMP-9. GLG1 coordonne donc l'activation de ARF3 en recrutant BIGI à la membrane du Golgi, agissant par ce moyen sur la sécrétion de molécules spécifiques.

INTERMED predicts non-return to work in an occupational rehabilitation setting for individuals with orthopaedic trauma-part 2

Introduction.- The model presented in part I (19 predictors) had good predictive values for non-return to work 2 years after vocational rehabilitation for orthopaedic trauma. However, the number of predictors is high for the detection of patients at risk in a clinic. For example, the INTERMED for itself consists of 20 questions and needs 20 minutes to be filled in. For this reason, the aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of different models for the prediction of non-return to work.Patients and methods.- In this longitudinal prospective study, the cohort consisted of 2156 included inpatients with orthopaedic trauma attending a rehabilitation hospital after a work, traffic, sport or leisure related injury. Two years after discharge, 1502 patients returned a questionnaire regarding return to work. We compared the area under the receiver-operator-characteristics curve (ROC) between different models: INTERMED total score, the 4 partial INTERMED scores, the items of the most predictive partial score; with or without confounders.Results.- The ROC for the total score of the INTERMED plus the five confounders of the of the part one (qualified work, speaking French, lesion of upper extremity, education and age) was 0.72. The sole partial INTERMED score to predict return to work was the social sub score. The ROC for the five items of the latter sub score of the INTERMED was 0.69. The ROC for the five items of the social subscale of the INTERMED combined with five predictors was 0.73. This was significantly better than the use of only the five items from INTERMED alone (delta 0.034; 95% CI 0.017 to .050). The model presented in part I (INTERMED total score plus 18 predictors) was not significantly better than the five items INTERMED social score plus five confounders.Discussion.- The use of a model with ten variables (INTERMED social five items plus five confounders) has good predictive value to detect patients not returning to work after vocational rehabilitation after orthopaedic trauma. The parsimony of this model facilitates its use in a clinic for the detection of patients at risk.

Lihahygienialainsäädännön omavalvontasäädökset ja käytäntö Oy Snellman Ab:n teurastamossa ja leikkaamossa, osa I Osa 1 : Owncontrol directions in meat hygiene legislation and their practical implementation in the slaughterhouse and cutting plant of Snellman Ltd, part I

Summary: Owncontrol directions in meat hygiene legislation and their practical implementation in the slaughterhouse and cutting plant of Snellman Ltd, part I

Spinal epidural hematoma: not always an obvious diagnosis.

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare neurosurgical emergency. SEH is characterized by an archetypal clinical presentation including abrupt spinal pain followed more or less rapidly by various degrees of neurological deficit. The diagnosis of SEH, often based on a clinical presumption, represents a clinical challenge. Several reports have outlined missed or delayed diagnosis due to unusual and confusing onsets or unawareness of this diagnosis by physicians. Therefore, physicians should keep in mind the possibility of SEH in their differential diagnosis when confronted with patients complaining of sudden onset of acute spinal pain with or without neurological sign, because the impact of a delayed diagnosis can be disabling catastrophic neurological sequelae. We suggest that SEH is a dynamic disease, which occurs in patients with an abnormal vasculature structural degenerative change. The bleeding is probably of multifactorial origin incriminating veins as well as arteries. Therefore, we proposed a classification of SEH, according to the most probable etiology whatever the associated factors, in six groups: spontaneous, secondary, iatrogenic, traumatic, recurrent, and idiopathic SEH.

Optimization of HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis and its use in the profiling of illicit ecstasy tablets (Part 1)

A headspace solid-phase microextraction procedure (HS-SPME) was developed for the profiling of traces present in 3,4-methylenedioxymethylampethamine (MDMA). Traces were first extracted using HS-SPME and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The HS-SPME conditions were optimized using varying conditions. Optimal results were obtained when 40 mg of crushed MDMA sample was heated at 80 °C for 15 min, followed by extraction at 80 °C for 15 min with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene coated fibre. A total of 31 compounds were identified as traces related to MDMA synthesis, namely precursors, intermediates or by-products. In addition some fatty acids used as tabletting materials and caffeine used as adulterant, were also detected. The use of a restricted set of 10 target compounds was also proposed for developing a screening tool for clustering samples having close profile. 114 seizures were analyzed using an SPME auto-sampler (MultiPurpose Samples MPS2), purchased from Gerstel GMBH & Co. (Germany), and coupled to GC-MS. The data was handled using various pre-treatment methods, followed by the study of similarities between sample pairs based on the Pearson correlation. The results show that HS-SPME, coupled with the suitable statistical method is a powerful tool for distinguishing specimens coming from the same seizure and specimens coming from different seizures. This information can be used by law enforcement personnel to visualize the ecstasy distribution network as well as the clandestine tablet manufacturing.

Report on the Iowa Judicial Branch – County Clerks of District Courts, a part of the State of Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2013

Report on the Iowa Judicial Branch – County Clerks of District Courts, a part of the State of Iowa, for the year ended June 30, 2013

Indications, perspectives et limites de la stimulation électrique épidurale en cas d'artériopathie périphérique ou coronarienne [Indications, limits and future of epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation for coronary and peripheral artery disease]

The electrical stimulation of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord exerts a dual analgesic and vasodilatory effect on ischemic tissues. It is increasingly considered a valuable method to treat severe and otherwise intractable coronary and peripheral artery disease. The quality of the results depends from both a strict selection of the patients by vascular specialists and the frequency and quality of the follow-up controls. However the indications, limits, mode of action and results of spinal cord stimulation are still poorly understood. This article, based on a personal experience of 164 implantations for peripheral and coronary artery disease, aims to draw attention to this technique and to provide information on recent and future developments.

Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques de la UPC per part de l’estudiantat : curs 2010/2011

Per tal de valorar el grau de satisfacció que té l’estudiantat de les biblioteques de la UPC, el Servei de Biblioteques i Documentació elabora amb periodicitat biennal l’Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques de la UPC per part de l’estudiantat.Atès que l’any 2008/2009 no es va lliurar l’enquesta i que la primera es va realitzar el curs 1994/1995, els resultats que es presenten en aquest document corresponen a la vuitena edició. [...] La present edició 2010/2011 s’ha realitzat en format en línia, format que permet la incorporació de les dades a un programa i posterior extracció i anàlisi de les mateixes de forma automatitzada.

Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques de la UPC per part dels estudiants : curs 2006/07

Per tal de valorar el grau de satisfacció que tenen els estudiants de les biblioteques de la UPC, el Servei de Biblioteques i Documentació elabora amb periodicitat biennal“L’enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques per part dels estudiants”. La primera enquesta es va realitzar el curs 1994-95, així doncs, els resultats que es presenten en aquest document corresponen a la setena edició.Aquesta enquesta té com a objectiu principal obtenir informació sobre la percepció quetenen de les biblioteques de la UPC els usuaris que les visiten i conèixer així l’ús i el grau de satisfacció dels serveis, les instal·lacions i els recursos bibliogràfics.A partir de l’anàlisi de les dades obtingudes, les biblioteques estableixen propostes que han de comportar una millora dels serveis i les instal·lacions de les biblioteques.

Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques de la UPC per part dels estudiants. Curs 2004-2005

Amb l’objectiu de conèixer de primera mà l’ús de les instal·lacions, la utilització dels serveis i recursos bibliogràfics i el grau de satisfacció que aquests es mereixen per part dels estudiants, el Servei de Biblioteques i Documentació (SBD) de la UPC realitza cada dos anys, des del curs 1994/95, l’enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques per part dels estudiants.L’enquesta de satisfacció s’ha tornat a passar durant el curs 2004/05, deixant un curs d’interval des de la darrera edició, per tal d’analitzar l’evolució de l’ús de serveis i recursos i de la satisfacciódels nostres usuaris i avaluar les millores introduïdes per cadascuna de les biblioteques a partir dels resultats obtinguts en les edicions anteriors de l’enquesta realitzades durant el període dedurada del programa Paideia (2000-2005).Igual que en les edicions precedents, els resultats de totes les enquestes s’han treballat conjuntament tot i que cada biblioteca disposa dels seus resultats locals per tal de planificar i dur a terme actuacions que ajudin a millorar el bon funcionament de la biblioteca. El document que a continuació es presenta recull els resultats globals obtinguts en la sisena Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques per part dels estudiants. Aquesta actuació ha estat supervisada pels bibliotecaris de les biblioteques de la UPC que donen suport als serveis d’aprenentatge i coordinada per la Unitat de Recursos per a l’Aprenentatge dels Serveis Generalsde Biblioteques.

Enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques de la UPC per part del Personal Docent i Investigador: any 2005

Durant el 2005 i per segona vegada dins el Pla Estratègic Paideia 2000-2005, el Servei de Biblioteques i Documentació (SBD) ha volgut realitzar una enquesta sobre l’ús i la satisfacció de les biblioteques, adreçada exclusivament al Personal Docent i Investigador (PDI) de la UPC.L’objectiu principal d’aquesta enquesta és conèixer de primera mà, el nivell de coneixement, ús i satisfacció que el PDI té dels recursos i serveis que les biblioteques posen al seu abast. Són aquests resultats els que es presenten en el present informe.En el moment de distribuir l’enquesta (maig 2005), es va aprofitar per incloure un qüestionari elaborat pel Consorci de Biblioteques Universitàries de Catalunya (CBUC) per conèixer l’ús de les revistes electròniques dins cada Universitat.