A probabilistic index for completely positive maps and an application

Gohm, Rolf, (2003) 'A probabilistic index for completely positive maps and an application', Journal of Operator Theory 54(2) pp.339-361 RAE2008

Megiston agathon (Pl. Ap. 38 a) – Sedno życia i filozoficznego wyzwania Sokratesa

We suggest a certain minimal approach to the historical Socrates on the basis of Plato’s Apology. This text makes it possible to reconstruct the authentic charge and the defense line of Socrates, as well as his motivation and the quintessence of his philosophical challenge. The most important thing is what the philosopher says in the face of his death sentence: that the greatest good for a man is to live an examined life focusing on virtues and ethical values. Unfortunately, the preponderance of studies, even the most recent ones, fail to recognize the philosopher’s provocative challenge, whilst it is not only a crucial motif in the Socratic examining (ἐξετάζειν), i.e. testing the interlocutors’ knowledge by means of irony, elenchos and aporia, but also an inspiration for his direct and indirect followers in seeking virtues and the greatest good.

Practice links [Issue 38, June 2010]

Practice Links is a free e-publication for practitioners working in Irish social services, voluntary and nongovernmental sectors. Practice Links was created to enable practitioners to keep up-to-date with new publications, electronic resources and conference opportunities. Issue 38 contains the text for a proposed constitutional amendment on children’s rights

Applications of statistical models in proportioning medium strength self-compacting concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is generally designed with a relatively higher content of finer, which includes cement, and dosage of superplasticizer than the conventional concrete. The design of the current SCC leads to high compressive strength, which is already used in special applications, where the high cost of materials can be tolerated. Using SCC, which eliminates the need for vibration, leads to increased speed of casting and thus reduces labour requirement, energy consumption, construction time, and cost of equipment. In order to obtain and gain maximum benefit from SCC it has to be used for wider applications. The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing the cement content and using a minimum amount of admixtures. This paper reviews statistical models obtained from a factorial design which was carried out to determine the influence of four key parameters on filling ability, passing ability, segregation and compressive strength. These parameters are important for the successful development of medium strength self-compacting concrete (MS-SCC). The parameters considered in the study were the contents of cement and pulverised fuel ash (PFA), water-to-powder ratio (W/P), and dosage of superplasticizer (SP). The responses of the derived statistical models are slump flow, fluidity loss, rheological parameters, Orimet time, V-funnel time, L-box, JRing combined to Orimet, JRing combined to cone, fresh segregation, and compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days. The models are valid for mixes made with 0.38 to 0.72 W/P ratio, 60 to 216 kg/m3 of cement content, 183 to 317 kg/m3 of PFA and 0 to 1% of SP, by mass of powder. The utility of such models to optimize concrete mixes to achieve good balance between filling ability, passing ability, segregation, compressive strength, and cost is discussed. Examples highlighting the usefulness of the models are presented using isoresponse surfaces to demonstrate single and coupled effects of mix parameters on slump flow, loss of fluidity, flow resistance, segregation, JRing combined to Orimet, and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. Cost analysis is carried out to show trade-offs between cost of materials and specified consistency levels and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days that can be used to identify economic mixes. The paper establishes the usefulness of the mathematical models as a tool to facilitate the test protocol required to optimise medium strength SCC.

Conscientiousness and laboriousness as academic achievement predictors in a Spanish students sample

To understand academic performance of students, the variable of conscientiousness from personality inventory Big Five, has been recognized as an important key. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship established between the personality factor conscientiousness itself and two of its facets, laboriousness and planning, with academic performance, and observe if there are genre differences in consciousness personality factor. A total of 456 Spanish students of high school and college participated in the study. They were requested to answer a personality report and a self inform questionnaire. The results show that both conscientiousness as a personality dimension and the consideration of laboriousness facet are able to predict academic performance, especially with regard to student’s exam marks, classroom attendance and dedication to study. The genre variable pointed out that feminine genre is more conscious than male in that personality factor. From a practical perspective, these results indicate that the establishment of a routine of continuous work is suitable for improving student grades and their adaptation to the educational environment.

Draft Genome Sequence of an Antibiotic-Resistant Propionibacterium acnes Strain, PRP-38, from the Novel Type IC Cluster

Propionibacterium acnes, a non-spore-forming, anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium, is most notably recognized for its association with acne vulgaris (I. Kurokawa et al., Exp. Dermatol. 18:821–832, 2009). We now present the draft genome sequence of an antibiotic-resistantP. acnesstrain, PRP-38, isolated from an acne patient in the United Kingdom and belonging to the novel type IC cluster. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Hair cortisol reflects socio-economic factors and hair zinc in preschoolers

This study examined the relationship between children's hair cortisol and socioeconomic status of the family, as measured by parental education and income. Low family socioeconomic status has traditionally been considered a long-term environmental stressor. Measurement of hair cortisol provides an integrated index of cumulative stress exposure across an extended period of time. The present study is the first to examine the relationship between hair cortisol and parental education as well as parental income in a representative sample of preschoolers. Data on hair cortisol, family income, and parental education were collected for a representative sample of 339 children (Mean age=4.6 years; SD=.5 years) from across 23 neighbourhoods of the city of Vancouver, Canada. As maternal education was shown previously to be associated with hair zinc level, hair zinc measurements were included as well in order to explore potential relationships between hair zinc and hair cortisol. The relationship between hair cortisol and parental education was examined using hierarchical regression, with hair zinc, gender, age, and single parenthood included as covariates. Maternal and paternal education both were correlated significantly with hair cortisol (r=-0.18; p=.001). The relationship remained statistically significant even after controlling for all demographic covariates as well as for hair zinc and after taking the neighbourhood-level clustering of the data into account. Parental income, on the other hand, was not related significantly to children's hair cortisol. This study provides evidence that lower maternal and paternal education are associated with higher hair cortisol levels. As hair cortisol provides an integrated index of cortisol exposure over an extended time period, these findings suggest a possibly stable influence of SES on the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Cumulative exposure to cortisol during early childhood may be greater in children from low socio-economic backgrounds, possibly through increased exposure to environmental stressors.