Together?

This paper explores the relationship between migrant leaders and labour rights activists starting with the acknowledgment that this is often a source of frustration for all subjects involved. The collaboration between organisations of migrants and those of workers is not always smooth and truly collaborative, yet foreign workers have an increasing importance in the negotiation of better labour rights in Europe. The topic is discussed by taking the case of migrant domestic labour in Italy and the experience of Italian and Filipino organisation leaders who campaign for better rights in this sector. The discussion will be developed by bringing together the perspectives of three key actors in the field: trade unions, Christian labour organisations, and Filipino women's groups. Through the analysis of indepth interviews with women representatives of these organisations, impediments in the collaborations among them will be discussed, including difficulties in identifying an egalitarian method for pursuing common goals together, lack of 'trust' in the good-will of labour organisations from the side of migrants, and finally, the limits of what will be called 'bridge-persons', i.e. trade unionists with migrant backgrounds who are expected to facilitate the connection between the two groups.

A New Class of Nonionic Photosensitive Surfactants: Some Insights Concerning Conformations

We report on a new class of nonionic, photosensitive surfactants consisting of a polar di(ethylene oxide) head group attached to an alkyl spacer of between two and eight methylene groups, coupled through an ether linkage to an azobenzene moiety. Structural changes associated with the interconversion of the azobenzene group between its cis and trans forms as mediated by the wavelength of an irradiating light source cause changes in the surface tension and self-assembly properties. Differences in saturated surface tensions (surface tension at concentrations above the CMC) were as high as 14.4 mN/m under radiation of different wavelengths. The qualitative behavior of the surfactants changed as the spacer length changed, attributed to the different orientations adopted by the different surfactants depending on their isomerization states, as revealed by neutron reflection studies. The self-assembly of these photosensitive surfactants has been investigated by light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, and cryo-TEM under different illuminations. The significant change in the self-assembly in response to different illumination conditions was attributed to the sign change in Gaussian rigidity, which originated from the azobenzene photoisomerization.

Responsive Azobenzene-Containing Polymers and Gels

The photoviscosity effect in aqueous solutions of novel poly(4-methacryloyloxyazobenzene-co-N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (MOAB-DMA) was demonstrated. The observed significant reduction in the zero-shear viscosity upon UV-irradiation of MOAB-DMA aqueous solutions was due to the dissociation of the interchain azobenzene aggregates. Such phenomena can be advantageously used in photoswitchable fluidic devices and in protein separation. Introduction of enzymatically degradable azo cross-links into Pluronic-PAA microgels allowed for control of swelling due to degradation of the cross-links by azoreductases from the rat intestinal cecum. Dynamic changes in the cross-link density of stimuli-responsive microgels enable novel opportunities for the control of gel swelling, of importance for drug delivery and microgel sensoric applications.

Synthesis, Optical properties and Applications of Water Soluble Conjugated PPPs for Biosensors

In recent years, application of fluorescent conjugated polymers to sense chemical and biological analytes has received much attention owing to its technological significance. Water soluble conjugated polymers are interesting towards the developing sensors for biomolecules. In this present contribution, we describe the syntheses and characterization of a series of water soluble conjugated polymers with sulfonic acid groups in the side chain. Such anionic conjugated polymers are designed to interact with biomolecules such as cytochrome-C. All polymers are water soluble and showed strong blue emission. Significant quenching of the fluorescence from our functionalized PPP was observed upon addition of viologen derivatives or cytochrome -C.

Efectividad de morfina intratecal versus endovenosa / histerectomía vaginal en el Hospital Occidente de Kennedy

Introducción: la histerectomía vaginal es una cirugía frecuente, esta investigación comparo dos vías de suministro de opiáceos: intratecal y endovenosa en un estudio realizado en el Hospital Occidente de Kennedy. Método: Estudio prospectivo observacional comparando dolor utilizando la escala de dolor numérica verbal y determinando los requerimientos de morfina de rescate y o Aines, describiendo la presencia de efectos secundarios del uso de opiáceos en dos grupos. Resultados: Participaron 48 mujeres entre 40 y 65 años con ASA I y II. Manejadas con morfina intratecal fueron 28 y 20 con morfina intravenosa, la dosis intratecal fueron de 80 microgramos y las intravenosas de entre 3 y 5 mg en bolo. El dolor se evaluó a las 6, 12 y 24 horas del procedimiento quirúrgico. A las 6, 12 y 24 horas se encontró diferencia significativa p< 0.0001). Se presentaron 28% que usaron el rescate con intratecal, 100% de los casos con morfina endovenosa lo requirió. El uso de AINES se encontró que solo el 3,6% de los casos manejado con morfina intratecal requirieron uso de AINES en cambio las manejadas con endovenosa fue 80%. El tiempo trascurrido entre la dosis de opiáceos y el requerimiento de morfina tuvo una diferencia que fue significativa (p=0,000008). Las nauseas en 14% y el vomito en 7,1% de los manejados con opiáceos intratecales en cambio con endovenosos tuvieron 70% y 35% respectivamente. Se encontró diferencia significativa en estas dos variables pero no en el prurito, a pesar que se encontró más frecuente en los casos manejados con intratecal. Conclusión: pacientes con morfina intratecal tiene más efecto prolongado de analgesia y es probable que necesiten menos dosis de rescate, con igual nausea, vomito y mas prurito.

Problems with large groups

A list of considerations on the problems with large groups. This material was sent to Debra Morris in 2007, by David Jaques, an educationist with many years' experience of working with groups.

Les activitats nàutiques i les persones amb hipoacúsia : una experiència amb focus groups.

Resumen tomado del autor

Interviews And Focus Groups: Purpose Paradigms Protocols and Pragmatics

Introduction to interview data, how it is used and how and why it might be collected

INFO2009 - Team 'DROP TABLE groups;

Edshare for INFO2009 coursework 2 - Team 'DROP TABLE groups;

IRP Poster - Side-effects in Software Transactional Memory

Poster for IRP project 'Side-effects in Software Transactional Memory: Extending Deuce with TwilightSTM'

Efecto del flujo del dializado sobre la ganancia interdialítica en hemodiálisis crónica (Estudio FLUGAIN)

Objetivos: Determinar si existe diferencia en la ganancia interdialítica entre los pacientes al ser tratados con flujo de dializado (Qd) de 400 mL/min y 500 mL/min. Diseño: Se realizó un estudio de intervención, cruzado, aleatorizado, doble ciego en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis para determinar diferencias en la ganancia de peso interdialítica entre los pacientes tratados con flujo de dializado (Qd) de 400 ml/min y 500 ml/min. Pacientes: Se analizaron datos de 46 pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica con Qd de 400 ml/min y 45 con Qd de 500 ml/min. Análisis: La prueba de hipótesis para evaluar diferencias en la ganancia interdialítica y las otras variables entre los grupos se realizó mediante la prueba T para muestras pareadas. Para el análisis de correlación se calculó el coeficiente de Pearson. Resultados: No hubo diferencia significativa en ganancia interdialítica usando Qd de 400 ml/min vs 500 ml/min (2.37 ± 0.7 vs 2.41 ± 0.6, p=0.41) ni en Kt/V (1.57 ± 0.25 vs 1.59 ± 0.23, p = 0.45), potasio (4.9 ± 1.1 vs 5.1 ± 1.0, p=0.45), fosforo (4.5 ± 1.2 vs 4.4 ± 1.2, p=0.56) o hemoglobina (11.3 ± 1.8 vs 11.3 ± 1.6, p=0.96). Conclusiones: En pacientes con peso ≤ 65 Kg el uso de Qd de 400 ml/min no se asocia con menor ganancia interdialítica de peso. No hay diferencia en la eficiencia de diálisis lo que sugiere que es una intervención segura a corto plazo.

WAIS Seminar:Evaluating the Cognitive Side of Information Interaction

Abstract In this talk, I'll focus on the work we've been doing on evaluating the cognitive side of dealing with information resources and increasingly complex user interfaces. While we can build increasingly powerful user interfaces, they often come at the cost of simple design and ease of use. I'll describe two specific studies: 1) work on the ORCHID project focused on measuring mental workload during tasks using fNIRS (a blood-oxygen-based brain scanner), and 2) a evaluation metric for measuring how much people learn during tasks. Together these provide advances towards understanding the cognitive side of information interaction, in working towards building better tools for users.