No / Convenient exact closed-form expressions are derived for calculating the bending stiffness of and stresses within loaded cylindrical bonded rubber blocks of circular cross-section. The particular solutions for simple bending, cantilever loading and apparent shear situations are deduced and studied in detail. The shapes of the deformed profiles are discussed and confirmation is provided that the previously adopted assumption of parabolic profiles of the deformed lateral curved surface is only valid for blocks of very small aspect ratio. In simple bending a relationship which is more realistic than those hitherto suggested is derived for the couple required to maintain a specified rotation of the loaded end of the block. In apparent shear an exact expression for the ratio of the true to the apparent shear modulus is derived, and compared with the experimental data. An improved approximate relation is deduced.

No

Cesarean delivery has notably increased around the world during the last three decades. Globally, the proportion of birth by cesarean delivery is higher in countries with higher levels of socioeconomic development, higher female enrollment in secondary education, higher levels of urbanization, greater density of physicians, and lower fertility. Additionally, cesarean rates are consistently higher in private than public health facilities in all regions of the world. Latin America and the Caribbean is the region with the highest cesarean rates globally and Dominican Republic is the country with one of the highest rates of cesareans worldwide. This research focuses on factors associated with cesarean delivery in Latin America and the Caribbean with an emphasis on Dominican Republic and is presented in three interconnected papers. The first paper, entitled “Determinants of cesarean delivery in Latin America and the Caribbean: a scoping review” identified factors associated with the escalating rates of cesareans in the region by mapping the literature on social determinants, women’s preferences, and healthcare providers’ attitudes and beliefs towards cesarean delivery. Thirty studies conducted between 2009 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review. Cesarean delivery was positively associated with older maternal age, higher maternal education, higher household income or wealth, urban residency, and delivering at a private health facility. Other factors such as ethnicity and marital status were less consistently assessed in the studies. Many studies evaluated social determinants of cesarean as covariates in multivariate analysis but did not evaluate them as the primary association, hence the impact of those determinants in cesarean delivery remains understudied. Women’s beliefs and providers’ attitudes were found to influence cesarean rates; however, detailed evidence on individual incentives is still limited. The second paper entitle “Relationship between mode of delivery and type of health facility in Dominican Republic: an analysis of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey” is a secondary data analysis of a population-based survey that evaluates differences in the determinants of cesarean delivery in public and private healthcare facilities. Among a sample of 4,398 women who delivered at a healthcare facility, cesarean rates were 48.1% and 86.5% in public and private hospitals respectively. In public hospitals, cesareans were associated with older maternal age, higher education, higher quintile of wealth, and Catholic religion. After adjusting for confounders, no associations were found between sociodemographic factors or maternal health characteristics and cesarean delivery in private hospitals. This study underscores the need to study other drivers of cesareans, particularly in private hospitals. The third paper entitle “Factors associated with cesarean delivery across maternal age groups in Dominica Republic” examines the differences in factors associated with cesarean delivery in adolescents, younger, and older women. Cesarean rates were 52.6%, 59.6%, and 71.0% in women aged <20, 20-34 or 35-39 years old respectively. Overall, there were no differences in the odds of cesarean delivery between adolescents and women aged 20-34. Women aged 35 or older were more likely to have a cesarean delivery than women aged 20-34. In women 20-34 years old, education, Catholic religion, and wealth were associated with cesareans. In women >=35 years, education and wealth were associated with cesarean delivery. Delivering at a private hospital increased the odds of cesarean delivery across the three age groups. The objective of this dissertation is to contribute to the literature with evidence to inform programs, policies, and practice and to highlight opportunities for further research on determinants of cesarean delivery in Latin American and the Caribbean, and particularly in Dominican Republic.

LD2668 .T4 1962 N66

L'interaction de la radiation ionisante avec la matière biologique implique la formation d'une très grande quantité d'électrons de basse énergie, pour la plupart en deçà de 20 eV, qui déposeront ultimement la plus grande partie de l'énergie transportée par cette radiation. Il est connu que ces électrons peuvent causer des dommages très importants à l'acide désoxyribonucléique (ADN) d'une cellule. Cependant, la connaissance des mécanismes par lesquels ces dommages sont créés demeure incomplète. Nous avons étudié l'effet des électrons de basse énergie (i.e., 1 - 18.5 eV) sur des films minces d'un analogue au désoxyribose de l'ADN, soit le tétrahydrofurane (THF), condensés sur un séparateur inerte de krypton. Nous avons observé à l'aide de spectres d'excitations vibrationnelle et électronique que l'exposition à ces électrons pouvait impliquer l'ouverture du cycle de la molécule de THF résultant en la formation d'un composé de type aldéhyde, identifié avec le plus de certitude comme étant du butyraldéhyde. [Résumé abrégé par UMI]

A benchmark experiment was designed and conducted that irradiated two small volume mercury targets at the Weapon Neutron Research facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center with 800 MeV protons. Following irradiation the production cross sections of 53 medium and longer-lived spallation residuals using gamma spectroscopy at various decay times up to a year were determined. The measured cross sections were then compared with predicted cross sections from the MCNPX code. After acquisition of the gamma spectroscopy data the targets were drained and disassembled to study the distribution and the deposition of the spallation residuals.

Classical novae are explained as thermonuclear explosions on the surface of white dwarf stars accreting hydrogen-rich material from less evolved companions in binary star systems. These events occur frequently within our galaxy and have been proposed as significant contributors to the galactic abundance of 13C, 15N, 17/18O and 18/19F. The short-lived isotope 18F (t1/2 = 110 min) is of particular importance since it may provide a signature of novae events through the detection of 511 keVγ-ray emission following the β+ decay of a 18F nucleus. During classical novae the 17O(p,γ)18F reaction governs the production of 18F and affects the synthesis of the rare isotopes mentioned above. Prior to the present study, the 17O(p,γ)18F reaction rate was poorly determined owing to a lack of low-energy experimental data. The present work reports on the first accurate measurements of the resonant and non-resonant contributions to the 17O(p,γ)18F reaction cross section in the energy region relevant for classical novae. Measurements were performed at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA) accelerator facility of the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in Italy. Here the γ-ray background is suppressed by up to 3 orders of magnitude, thus providing a unique environment for low-energy measurements of reaction cross sections. Prompt γ rays associated with the formation and decay of states in 18F were analysed to determine the resonant and non-resonant contributions to the reaction cross section. The total non-resonant S-factor was determined at energies between Ecm ≈ 200 - 370 keV and the strength of a key resonance at Ecm = 183 keV was obtained with the best precision to date. The uncertainty in the reaction rate is now sufficiently low to place firmer constraints on nucleosynthesis predictions from accurate models of novae.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

The purpose of the research work outlined in this thesis is to determine what impact the new test for exclusion developed in Grant and Harrison has had on exclusionary trends in Canada, to assess this new three-factor approach and to provide recommendations for improvement. To this end, I conducted an empirical survey of section 24(2) cases rendered in 2012 across Canada. Based on the results of this survey, I describe the current trends for exclusion in relation to the three lines of inquiry and the Charter right at issue. I also examine the application of the test to varying types of evidence. The survey found a high rate of exclusion in the 73% range. The survey results show that developing trends do not match the predictions made by the SCC in Grant about how exclusion would operate in relation to different types of evidence. For example, there was a higher than expected rate of exclusion for breath sample results. Moreover, there was a low exclusion rate for guns as compared to the high exclusion rate for other types of non-bodily physical evidence. The rate of exclusion for section 10(b) breaches was lower than expected given the importance of the Charter interests that section 10(b) protects. The Grant rationale and the discretionary approach to exclusion are, in my view, generally satisfactory. However the test could be improved. As regards the first Grant factor, there was considerable variation in the assessment of the seriousness of the violation given the fact-specific nature of the inquiry. For greater consistency and transparency, the test, in future, should not incorporate the good faith doctrine. Police conduct should be assessed on the basis on a scale of intentionality ranging from negligent to deliberate conduct, rather than the current process of labeling police conduct as good or bad faith. Moreover, the doctrine of discoverability should be abandoned. The focus should be placed on the events that actually occurred rather than on whether police could have obtained the evidence by legal means. / Thesis (Master, Law) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-30 20:10:02.008

Background There is an increasing rate of cesarean section globally. Both low and high cesarean section rates are associated with maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidities. In Nicaragua, the rate of cesarean section is beyond the WHO recommendation of 10% to 15%. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs-effectiveness of elective caesarean section when compared with vaginal delivery in hospital in Nicaragua, a lower-middle income setting. Methods A 3 months prospective cohort study was conducted in a hospital in León, Nicaragua, from 1st May 2010 to 31st July 2010. Two questionnaires were used to obtain data, one on costs and maternal complications after delivery, and the other on postpartum complications. A descriptive analysis regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes, and a cost-effectiveness analysis were conducted comparing elective cesarean section with vaginal delivery, followed by a sensitivity analysis regarding change on rates of elective cesarean section. Results The cesarean section rate was 37.9%, and the elective cesarean section rate was 21%. The percentage of live births was 99.6% in elective cesarean section group and 98.9% in vaginal delivery group. Cesarean section had both positive and negative influences on maternal complications and postpartum complications. The costs of elective cesarean section was higher than vaginal delivery ($66 compared to $39.36). For one more live birth, 3805.71 US dollars were needed. Conclusion The maternal outcomes of cesarean section need to be improved. With the increasing cesarean section rates, more medical resources are needed in the future.