Over the past 50 years, several advancements have been made in the research area of the mechanics of unsaturated soils. These advancements can be categorized into two groups; (i) development (or improvement) of testing techniques (or apparatus) to determine the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils and (ii) development of (numerical, empirical or semi-empirical) models to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction based on the experimental results. Implementation of the mechanics of unsaturated soils in conventional geotechnical engineering practice, however, has been rather limited. The key reasons for the limited practical applications may be attributed to the lack of simple and reliable methods for (i) measuring soil suction in the field quickly and reliably and (ii) estimating the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction. The main objective of this thesis research is to develop simple and reliable techniques, models or approaches that can be used in geotechnical engineering practice to estimate sol suction and the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. This research can be categorized into three parts. In the First Part, simple techniques are proposed to estimate the suction values of as-compacted unsaturated fine-grained soils using a pocket penetrometer and a conventional tensiometer. The suction values less than 300 kPa can be estimated using a strong relationship between the compressive strength measured using a pocket penetrometer and matric suction value. The high suction values in the range of 1,200 kPa to 60,000 kPa can be estimated using the unique relationship between the initial tangent of conventional tensiometer response versus time behavior and suction value. In the Second Part, approaches or semi-empirical models are proposed to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction, which include: - Bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils - Variation of bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils with respect to matric suction - Variation of initial tangent elastic modulus of unsaturated soils below shallow foundations with respect to matric suction - Variation of maximum shear modulus with respect to matric suction for unsaturated non-plastic sandy soils (i.e. plasticity index, Ip = 0 %) In the Third Part, approaches (or methodologies) are suggested to simulate the vertically applied stress versus surface settlement behavior of shallow foundations in unsaturated coarse-grained soils assuming elastic-perfectly plastic behavior. These methodologies are extended to simulate the stress versus settlement behavior of both model footings and in-situ plates in unsaturated coarse-grained soils. The results show that there is a reasonably good comparison between the measured values (i.e. soil suction, bearing capacity, elastic and shear modulus) and those estimated using the techniques or models proposed in this thesis research. The models (or methodologies) proposed in this thesis research are promising and encouraging for modeling studies and practicing engineers to estimate the variation of mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils with respect to matric suction.

This diploma thesis deals with the problematics of conducting a dental surgery and describes the legal person and natural person aspects of the business. The ma-in aim of the thesis is the analysis of transformation from the natural person to the limited liability company. The subsidiary aim of the thesis is the process of the change, cost calculation and the tax and accounting related consequences. The the-sis deals with situation of a concrete dental surgery and the conclusion focuses on evaluation of the change.

Empathetic communication enhances the nurse-patient relationship and improves patient outcomes and needs to be taught and evaluated during simulated clinical experiences. Experience in healthcare education has shown students' empathy levels decrease over time. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest posttest, study was to compare nursing students' empathy levels, self-confidence, and satisfaction with simulation between the use of the high-fidelity manikin simulator (HFMS) and a standardized patient (SP) used during their simulated clinical experience. Kolb's experiential learning theory was used to guide the study through the four phases specific to simulation and learning. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 135 nursing students in the pre-simulation survey; 123 participants completed the post-simulation survey with 64 in the control group (HFMS) and 59 in the experimental group (SP). Data were analyzed using an independent t-test to determine if there were any mean differences between the HFMS and SP groups in terms of empathy, satisfaction, and self-confidence. Empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Student and the NLN's Satisfaction and Self-Confidence Scales. Results revealed there were no significant difference in students' empathy levels, self-confidence, and satisfaction. Positive social change through prioritizing nursing students' empathetic communication in patient care may be enhanced in the simulated clinical environment with various approaches. Recommendations for future research are to determine what interventions best develop nursing students' empathy, satisfaction, and self-confidence in patient care .

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第21018号 / 医博第4364号 / 新制||医||1028(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 小川 誠司, 教授 柳田 素子, 教授 江藤 浩之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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This report will try to give clarity in when and if it is most advantageous for a specific pipelaying entrepreneur to invest in buying pipelaying-equipment or renting it to their pipelaying-projects. The purpose of the report is also to give the reader a good perception of both alternatives as it could be a useful tool in future procurements. The information and prices that is used for the calculations in this report are gathered through the entrepreneur’s calculation-section, interviews with field-experts, rental companies, books and publications and internet. The report is limited to equipment that pipelayers normally are in need of in projects and the specific usage percentage is not used in the calculations. The result in this report shows what equipment is needed in a typical pipelaying-project and when it is best economically for a company to buy or rent their equipment both as individual articles and as a complete set. The result also shows that the hourly rate of buying the equipment is far less than the rate of renting it. It also brings up critical factors for investment-calculating regarding pipelaying-equipment. / Denna rapport ska skapa en ökad kunskap om och i sådana fall när det för ett specifikt företag inom mark- och anläggningsbranschen i Stockholmsområdet är fördelaktigt att själva investera eller hyra sin rörläggarutrustning i interna VA- projekt. Syftet med arbetet är även att kunna ge en god uppfattning av bägge kostnadsalternativen då det kan vara till nytta att använda sig av i framtida upphandlingar. Den information och de priser som legat till grund för beräkningarna i rapporten är inhämtade genom företagets ekonomiavdelning, intervjuer med sakkunnig personal, mailkontakt med hyresföretag samt informationssökning i litteratur, publikationsdatabaser samt internetsidor. Arbetet avgränsas till utrustning som rörläggare är i behov av för att klara av sitt dagliga arbete samt att den exakta nyttjandegraden av utrustningen inte vägs in i beräkningarna som återfinns i arbetet. Resultatet i den här rapporten visar vad som bör ingå i en typisk utrustning som en rörläggare behöver för att kunna utföra sitt arbete och när man tjänar på att hyra alternativt köpa sin rörläggarutrustning både som separata artiklar och som en komplett rörläggarcontainer. Arbetet visar också att själva timpriset för att köpa utrustningen är avsevärt lägre än timpriset för att hyra utrustningen. Slutligen tar rapporten upp avgörande faktorer för investeringskalkylering av rörläggarutrustning.

Mesenchymal stem cells and their regenerative and immunomodulatory potential Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess multidirectional regenerative ability, which, together with their immunomodulatory potential, makes them promising cell type for therapy of wide variety of diseases. Despite ongoing research, which proved MSCs application to be safe, reported effect of MSCs administration on patients is not convincingly beneficial yet. In our work we focused on elucidation of MSCs role in regeneration of vital organs, heart and liver, where a large damage is life threatening for patients and any improvement in therapy would save many lives. Similar situation is in Graft versus host disease (GVHD), where MSCs immunomodulatory properties could be beneficial. Role of MSCs in heart regeneration was examined in vitro. Primary adult swine cardiomyocytes (CMCs) were co-cultured with or without swine MSCs for 3 days and morphological and functional parameters (contractions, current, respiration) of CMCs were measured. MSCs showed supportive effect on CMCs survival, especially at day 3 of the experiment, where in co-culture was significantly higher number of viable CMCs with physiological morphology and maintained function. Effect of MSCs on liver regeneration was observed in swine model of chronic liver...

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Background: Patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) represent a population with a high need for alternative and effective treatment options. Methods: We report real-life data from 18 patients treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). This cohort consisted of nine patients with steroid-refractory intestinal aGvHD and nine patients with BOS. Results: We document partial or complete clinical response and reduction of symptoms in half of the patients with intestinal acute GvHD and patients with BOS treated ECP. Responding patients tended to stay on treatment longer. In patients with BOS, stabilization of lung function and forced expiratory volume was observed, whereas, less abdominal pain, less diarrhea, and a reduction of systemic corticosteroids were seen in patients with intestinal acute GvHD. Conclusions: ECP might not only abrogate symptoms but also reduce mortality caused by complications from high-dose steroid treatment. Taken together, ECP offers a serious treatment avenue for patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute GvHD and BOS.

For businesses that rely on creativity for their success, its effective and thought-out management is necessary for the entity to thrive. The field of creativity management has emerged as a result, highlighting the employment of a ‘creative climate,’ motivational tools, and an appropriate organizational structure as essentials for the asset’s optimization (Dubina, 2013, Sternberg and Lubart, 2004, Tonnquist, 2018, Csikszentmihalyi and Wolfe, 2014, Karambayya and Reid, 2009). However, the current literature fails to address how outside factors may influence the effectiveness of creativity management’s employment, such as the financial and organizational obligations of an operation (Knight and Harvey, 2015). Creative organizations, in particular, are affected by this issue, as the success of their end-product lies directly in their ability to harness creativity effectively (Jones et al., 2016). The aim of the study is therefore to understand how executives within creative organizations attempt to maximize creativity, while continuing to heed exterior business initiatives. The following investigation has attempted to tackle the subject by exploring it through the lens of the film production process. We pose the question: What are the conflicts that arise between an economic outlook and a creative outlook on a film, and how has this power struggle been managed? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry professionals, with producer and director pairs representing the two perspectives, respectively. We find that the two primary points of contention are the intrusive measures enforced by producers for ‘profitability’ and ‘scheduling & budget control,’ which often lie in direct contrast to a project’s creative vision (Bérubé & Demers, 2019, Knight and Harvey, 2015, Senge, 1990). We then identify three winning strategies employed by the consulted professionals to handle these conflicts: clear communication on financial and organizational boundaries from the planning phase, an established relationship of trust between the artistic and managerial leader, and a capacity for empathy with the competing perspective. These principles should support and contribute to the existing knowledge on creativity management, in identifying where it may be challenged, and suggesting methods for conflict minimization. It has laid the ground for future studies within this domain of creativity management, by opening up room for research in other creative industries that may share these same challenges, to confirm the findings.