Using Digital and Traditional Libraries in Developing Countries

Given the existing challenges in accessing print-based publications in developing countries, digital libraries are seen as a good alternative. Thus, it is important to understand how such libraries are used in these contexts, especially when compared with the usage of traditional libraries. This paper analyzes and compares the usage of the digital and traditional libraries of the University Jean Piaget of Cape Verde, aiming at understanding the way they are used, and the relation between the access to the existing information resources in these two libraries.

Waste Reduction, Construction and Demolition Debris: Guide for Building, Construction and Environmental Professionals, Revised November 2008

This document is intended to lay the foundation for resource reduction strategies in new construction, renovation and demolition. If you have an innovative idea or information that you believe should be included in future updates of this manual please email Shelly Codner at scodner@region12cog.org or Jan Loyson at Jan.Loyson@Iowalifechanging.com. Throughout this manual, we use the term “waste reduction” to define waste management initiatives that will result in less waste going to the landfill. In accordance with the waste management hierarchy these practices include reducing (waste prevention), reusing (deconstruction and salvage), recycling and renewing (making old things new again) - in that order. This manual will explain what these practices are and how to incorporate them into your projects.

Construction Code, November 25, 2008

Construction codes establish minimum standards for structural integrity, life safety, accessibility and energy conservation in construction of buildings and facilities intended for human occupancy. These requirements affect all of the major systems of buildings and facilities.

Virtual autopsy with multiphase postmortem computed tomographic angiography versus traditional medical autopsy to investigate unexpected deaths of hospitalized patients: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: "Virtual" autopsy by postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) can replace medical autopsy to a certain extent but has limitations for cardiovascular diseases. These limitations might be overcome by adding multiphase PMCT angiography. OBJECTIVE: To compare virtual autopsy by multiphase PMCT angiography with medical autopsy. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01541995) SETTING: Single-center study at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. PATIENTS: Hospitalized patients who died unexpectedly or within 48 hours of an event necessitating cardiopulmonary resuscitation. MEASUREMENTS: Diagnoses from clinical records were compared with findings from both types of autopsy. New diagnoses identified by autopsy were classified as major or minor, depending on whether they would have altered clinical management. RESULTS: Of 143 eligible patients, 50 (35%) had virtual and medical autopsy. Virtual autopsy confirmed 93% of all 336 diagnoses identified from antemortem medical records, and medical autopsy confirmed 80%. In addition, virtual and medical autopsy identified 16 new major and 238 new minor diagnoses. Seventy-three of the virtual autopsy diagnoses, including 32 cases of coronary artery stenosis, were identified solely by multiphase PMCT angiography. Of the 114 clinical diagnoses classified as cardiovascular, 110 were confirmed by virtual autopsy and 107 by medical autopsy. In 11 cases, multiphase PMCT angiography showed "unspecific filling defects," which were not reported by medical autopsy. LIMITATION: These results come from a single center with concerted interest and expertise in postmortem imaging; further studies are thus needed for generalization. CONCLUSION: In cases of unexpected death, the addition of multiphase PMCT angiography increases the value of virtual autopsy, making it a feasible alternative for quality control and identification of diagnoses traditionally made by medical autopsy. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Ecole et construction du sens

Peut-on continuer à invoquer la neutralité abstentionniste de l'État pour proscrire un enseignement sur la religion à l'école ? Cet argument qui a eu sa légitimité historique vaut-il encore aujourd'hui ? En d'autres termes, l'existence d'un tel enseignement ne pourrait-il pas s'avérer compatible avec un régime de séparation Églises-État ? Qu'en pensent les acteurs directement concernés ? Refusant de rejeter la religion du côté du privé, les enseignants en nombre croissant déplorent le peu de place accordé à la « spiritualité » en classe. Quant aux élèves, reflétant l'attitude incertaine de leurs parents quant aux valeurs à transmettre, ils expriment des besoins plus difficiles à déchiffrer. Mais derrière ce débat relatif à l'inscription d'une case religieuse dans les programmes scolaires, ne s'en cache-t-il pas un autre touchant directement aux objectifs du système éducatif et au rôle des enseignants ?

Iowa Construction Site Erosion Control Manual, 2006

The purpose of this Iowa manual is to serve as a guide, provide solutions, and offer suggestions on construction sites to comply with Iowa's current soil erosion and storm water runoff regulations. This need is particularly important when land undergoes a land use change. Information provided in this manual will be helpful to land owners, developers, consultants, contractors, planners, local government, as well as the general public. This manual is intended to provide techniques that will meet the mandates of current legislation. Innovations that will benefit the user and still provide effective control are encouraged.

Construction of Pseudomonas strains with improved biocontrol activity

Selected strains of fluorescent pseudomonads suppress various plant diseases caused by soil-borne pathogenic fungi, by a blend of several mechanisms including aggressive root colonization, antibiosis, competition for nutrients, induction of resistance in the plant, and enzymatic attack of the pathogen. These traits are amenable to genetic analysis and, therefore, to modification by genetic engineering. Biocontrol activities of Pseudomonas spp. have been enhanced in two ways: (i) by overexpression of traits known to involved in diseaese suppression, and (ii) by introduction of additional beneficial traits into strains having basal biocontrol activities. Under experimental conditions in microcosms, a number of genetically modified Pseudomonas strains have given promising results. It remains to be seen whether such strains will be superior to the best naturally occurring strains, applied singly or in combination, under greenhouse and field conditions.

Estudi per a la construcció de l'EDAR mitjançant filtres verds de la Nou de Gaià (Tarragonès)

El tractament de les aigües en nuclis menors de 2000 habitants es troba pendent de completar per part de l’Agència Catalana de l’Aigua més concretament al corresponent Pla de Sanejament d’Aigües Residuals Urbanes (PSARU). El nucli de La Nou de Gaià (al Tarragonès) es troba pendent de la construcció de la corresponent instal·lació de sanejament, projectada al 2007. Alternativament a les depuradores tradicionals basades en l’ús de formigó (o materials alternatius) i en la despesa elèctrica per assegurar una aeració i una evacuació dels fangs generats, existeixen tecnologies “toves”. Aquestes tecnologies, també conegudes com a “verdes”, es basen en imitar els sistemes naturals maximitzant el seu potencial d’autodepuració. A grans trets existeixen dos formes de depurar les aigües de forma ecològica”: llacunatges (existeix una capa d’aigua lliure) i filtres verds. El present estudi es basa en l’aplicació de filtres verds de morfologia vertical i flux subsuperficial, plantat amb canyes dels generes Scirpus o Phragmites. El resultat han estat 4 bases de 35*35 per a tractar un cabal de 150 m3/d i una població equivalent de 1272.