Three dimensional couette flow and heat transfer through a porous medium with variable permeability

This paper reports research on the effects of variations in injection velocity and permeability on the heat transfer and flow through a highly porous medium between two horizontal parallel plates situated at constant distance with constant suction by the upper plate. Due to this type of variation in injection velocity and in permeability the flow becomes three dimensional. The governing equations are solved by adopting complex variable notations to obtain the expressions for the velocity and temperature field. The skin-friction along the main flow direction and rate of heat transfer are discussed with the help of graphs.     

CASE MANAGERS FOR SENIORS: EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Case management is widely recognized as an important component of an effective model for delivering health and social services in the community. In Canada, case management is increasingly being adopted as a method of providing long‐term services to older clients. Professionals working in community‐based, long‐term care require training specific to their roles as case managers for seniors. Gerontology educators can respond to case managers’ learning needs by developing and providing innovative programs. This article reports on an assessment of the training needs of health and social service personnel who perform case management functions on a long‐term basis with elderly clients in Canada, the extent and type of case management training currently provided by Canadian agencies, and an outline of curriculum options designed to address case manager training needs.     

Effects of short-term hormone replacement on atherogenic indices in Indian postmenopausal women

Indian ethnicity by itself is a strong risk factor for development of CAD in Indian postmenopausal women due to lower HDL levels as compared to Whites and women of oriental origin. We evaluated and compared the short-term effects of menopause, estrogen replacement therapy and combined estrogen and progestin replacement therapy on various atherogenic indices. 40 postmenopausal women, both surgical and natural (20 each) were selected. 10 surgical postmenopausal women were given 0.625 mg conjugated estrogens daily for 6 months and 10 natural postmenopausal women were given 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen with 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate daily. 20 women were included in the control group and given placebo. Fasting venous blood samples were analyzed for extended lipid profile and calculated atherogenic indices before starting the therapy and after 1,3 and 6 months. LDL and Apolipoprotein B increased (p<0.05) and those of Apolipoprotein A1 and HDL decreased in the control groups. In both the study groups levels of serum cholesterol and LDL decreased (p<0.05) and those of HDL and Apolipoprotein A1 increased (p<0.01). LDL/HDL, Apo B/ApoA1, Total Cholesterol/HDL decreased significantly (p<0.05) in both the study groups compared to the control groups. The effect of estrogen alone was more significant as compared to combination therapy. Log Triglycerides (TG)/HDL ratio showed a decrease in women on estrogen alone but the difference was not significant. Our study confirms that short term HRT has a favorable effect on atherogenic indices in Indian postmenopausal women.     

A strategy for detection of inconsistency in evaluation of essay type answers

The quality of evaluation of essay type answer books involving multiple evaluators for courses with large number of enrollments is likely to be affected due to heterogeneity in experience, expertise and maturity of evaluators. In this paper, we present a strategy to detect anomalies in evaluation of essay type answers by multiple evaluators based on the relationship between marks/grades awarded and symbolic markers, opinionated words recorded in answer books during evaluation. Our strategy is based on the results of our survey with evaluators, analysis of large number of essay type evaluated answer books and our own experiences regarding grievances of students regarding marks/grades. Results of both survey and analysis of evaluated answer books identified underline, tick and cross as frequently used markers compared to circle and question mark. Further, both opinionated words and symbolic markers identified through the survey are used by evaluators to express either positive or negative sentiments. They have differential usage pattern of these symbols as single evaluator and as one amongst multiple evaluators. Tick and cross have well define purposes and have strong correlation with marks awarded. However, the underline marker is being used for dual purpose of expressing both correctness and incorrectness of answers. Our strategy of inconsistency detection first identifies outliers based on the relationship between marks/grades awarded and number of symbols and/or opinionated words used in evaluation. Subsequently, marks and number of symbolic markers of outliers are compared with peer non-outlier answer books having same marks but different number of markers used. Such outlier answer books are termed as anomalous. We discovered 36 anomalies out of total 425 evaluated answer books. We have developed a prototype tool to facilitate online evaluation of answer book and to proactively alert evaluators of possible anomalies.     

A Profile of Giving Patterns and Donor Behavior at a Suburban Community College

Community colleges have become increasingly reliant on diversifying their revenue sources, and turning to private fund raising has become a common strategy for many of them. Although fund raising has been a common practice in higher education since its inception, it has only emerged in the two-year college sector in the past several decades. The current study sought to identify donors at a case study, suburban community college, specifically exploring giving patterns over time and testing the conceptual framework of a pyramid of giving that overlays institutional involvement and commitment with giving levels. Major infrastructure inconsistencies prevented much of the framework testing, but data were capable of creating an initial donor and giving profile for a typical community college. This profile demonstrated that board members and employees were the most loyal and consistent in making contributions, but that these gifts often were stable over time and did not increase to become major gifts. Also, private business and industry gifts were often given at the same level as individual gifts, perhaps illustrating the responsiveness and cooperation between community colleges and the local workforce.