A metallurgical route to solar-grade silicon

The aim of the process is to produce silicon for crystallization into ingots that can be sliced to wafers for processing into photovoltaic cells. If the potential purity can be realized, the silicon will also be applicable for ribbon pulling techniques where the purification during crystallization is negligible. The process consists of several steps: selection and purification of raw materials, carbothermic reduction of silica, ladle treatment, casting, crushing, leaching, and melting. The leaching step is crucial for high purity, and the obtainable purity is determined by the solidification before leaching. The most difficult specifications to fulfill are the low contents of boron, phosphorus, and carbon. Boron and phosphorus can be excluded from the raw materials, but the carbothermic reduction will unavoidably saturate the silicon with carbon at high temperature. During cooling carbon will precipitate as silicon carbide crystals, which will be harmful in solar cells. The cost of this solar silicon will depend strongly on the scale of production. It is as yet premature to give exact figures, but with a scale of some thousand tons per year, the cost will only be a few times the cost of ordinary metallurgical silicon

A classical model of the upper bounds of the cascading contribution to the second hyperpolarizability

We investigate whether microscopic cascading of second-order nonlinearities of two molecules in the side-by-side configuration can lead to a third-order molecular nonlinear-optical response that exceeds the fundamental limit. We find that for large values of the second hyperpolarizability, the side-by-side configuration has a cascading contribution that lowers the direct contribution. However, we do find that there is a cascading contribution to the second hyperpolarizability when there is no direct contribution. Thus, while cascading can never lead to a larger nonlinear-optical response than for a single molecule with the same number of electrons, it may provide design flexibility in making large third-order susceptibility materials when the molecular second hyperpolarizability vanishesComment: 10 pages, 7 Figures, 1 tabl

PENGARUH KONTROL PERILAKU DAN NIAT TERHADAP PERILAKU MENABUNG MAHASISWA (Suatu Kasus pada Mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia)

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh penemuan adanya masalah bagaimana data menunjukkan masih kurangnya intensitas menabung di kalangan mahasiswa Univeritas Pendidikan Indonesia. Penelitian ini juga ingin mengetahui bagaimana pengaruh faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi perilaku menabung mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Dasar teori untuk membahas penelitian ini adalah Teori Perilaku Terencana (Theory of Planned Behavior) yang disampaikan oleh Icek Ajzen. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi perilaku menabung dalam penelitan ini meliputi faktor kontrol perilaku (menabung) dan niat (menabung). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode survey eksplanatori, metode ini untuk mengetahui hubungan variabel dengan variabel lainnya. Populasi dalam penelitian ini yaitu seluruh mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia yang masih aktif kuliah. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah proportionate stratified random sampling, dengan jumlah 366 sampel mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Path Analysis. Untuk perhitungan analisis data menggunakan bantuan program SPSS 18. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kontrol perilaku (menabung) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap niat (menabung) mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Niat (menabung) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap perilaku menabung mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Kontrol perilaku (menabung) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap perilaku menabung mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Hasil perhitungan dan analisis data untuk keseluruhan faktor menunjukkan bagaimana adanya pengaruh yang diberikan terhadap perilaku menabung mahasiswa Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Kata kunci : Perilaku Menabung, Niat, Kontrol Perilaku, Teori Perilaku Terencana The background of this research is the discovery of how the data showed that the intensity of saving on students from Indonesia University of Education tend to be low. This research also want to know how the effect of the factors that influence the student saving behavior at Indonesian University of Education. The basic theory to discuss this research is the Theory of Planned Behavior which has submitted by Icek Ajzen. The student saving behavior can be influenced by several factors such as behavior control and intention to saving. This research employed an explanatory survey, the purpose of this method is to determine the relationship between variables. The population in this research are all students from Indonesia University of Ecucation who still active in college. The sample of this research involved 366 respondents by using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. This research used Path Analysis to analize data. All of the data were analyzed by using SPSS 18. Based on the research, it can be concluded that behavior control contributed significant on student’s saving intention. Saving intention contributed significant on student’s saving behavior. Behavior control contributed significant on student’s saving behavior. Keywords: Saving Behavior, Intention, Behavior Control, Theory of Planned Behavio

Sexual violence and neonatal outcomes: a Norwegian population-based cohort study

Objective The objective of this study was to explore the association between sexual violence and neonatal outcomes. Design National cohort study. Setting Women were recruited to the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) while attending routine ultrasound examinations from 1999 to 2008. Population A total of 76 870 pregnant women. Methods Sexual violence and maternal characteristics were self-reported in postal questionnaires during pregnancy. Neonatal outcomes were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Risk estimations were performed with linear and logistic regression analysis. Outcome measures: gestational age at birth, birth weight, preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). Results Of 76 870 women, 18.4% reported a history of sexual violence. A total of 4.7% delivered prematurely, 2.7% had children with a birth weight <2500 g and 8.1% children were small for their gestational age. Women reporting moderate or severe sexual violence (rape) had a significantly reduced gestational length (2 days) when the birth was provider-initiated in an analysis adjusted for age, parity, education, smoking, body mass index and mental distress. Those exposed to severe sexual violence had a significantly reduced gestational length of 0.51 days with a spontaneous start of birth. Crude estimates showed that severe sexual violence was associated with PTB, LBW and SGA. When controlling for the aforementioned sociodemographic and behavioural factors, the association was no longer significant. Conclusions Sexual violence was not associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Moderate and severe violence had a small but significant effect on gestational age; however, the clinical influence of this finding is most likely limited. Women exposed to sexual violence in this study reported more of the sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with PTB, LBW and SGA compared with non-abused women

Anal incontinence after vaginal delivery or cesarean section.

INTRODUCTION: Uncertainties remain as to whether cesarean section is protective for short and long term development of anal incontinence. Our aim was to explore whether women who had only delivered vaginally were at greater risk of anal incontinence compared to nulliparous women and women who had undergone caesarean sections only. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Background information, medical history and data on anal incontinence (defined as fecal or flatus incontinence weekly or more) reported by women participating in a large population-based health survey in Norway (HUNT 3) during the period October 2006-June 2008, was collected and linked to data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Anal incontinence prevalence was calculated and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: Mean age amongst the 12.567 women was 49.9 years. Age and educational level were similar in women with caesarean sections only and those with vaginal delivery and obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). Nulliparas and women with vaginal delivery and no OASIS were older and had higher educational achievements. One in four women with OASIS reported anal incontinence compared to one in six amongst the other women(p<.001). Age, educational level, diarrhea, constipation, birthweight and OASIS increased the risk of anal incontinence in all women. Parity was associated with anal incontinence in parous women only. No differences were found for fecal urgency. CONCLUSIONS: Women with vaginal deliveries complicated by OASIS were at increased risk of anal incontinence. However, no increased risk of anal incontinence was found in nulliparous women or women with cesarean sections only or vaginal deliveries not complicated by OASIS

Sexual violence and mode of delivery: a population-based cohort study

Objective This study aimed to explore the association between sexual violence and mode of delivery. Design National cohort study. Setting Women presenting for routine ultrasound examinations were recruited to the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study between 1999 and 2008. Population A total of 74 059 pregnant women. Methods Sexual violence was self-reported during pregnancy using postal questionnaires. Mode of delivery, other maternal birth outcomes and covariates were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Risk estimations were performed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Main outcome measures Mode of delivery and selected maternal birth outcomes. Results Of 74 059 women, 18.4% reported a history of sexual violence. A total of 10% had an operative vaginal birth, 4.9% had elective caesarean section and 8.6% had an emergency caesarean section. Severe sexual violence (rape) was associated with elective caesarean section, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.56 (95% CI 1.18–2.05) for nulliparous women and 1.37 (1.06–1.76) for multiparous women. Those exposed to moderate sexual violence had a higher risk of emergency caesarean section, AOR 1.31 (1.07–1.60) and 1.41 (1.08–1.84) for nulliparous and multiparous women, respectively. No association was found between sexual violence and operative vaginal birth, except for a lower risk among multiparous women reporting mild sexual violence, AOR 0.73 (0.60–0.89). Analysis of other maternal outcomes showed a reduced risk of episiotomy for women reporting rape and a higher frequency of induced labour. Conclusions Women with a history of rape had higher odds of elective caesarean section and induction and significantly fewer episiotomies

Sexual violence and pregnancy-related physical symptoms

Background Few studies have investigated the impact of sexual violence on health during pregnancy. We examined the association between sexual violence and the reporting of physical symptoms during pregnancy. Methods A population-based national cohort study conducted by The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study (MoBa) collected data from pregnant women through postal questionnaires at 17 and 32 weeks gestation. Three levels of sexual violence were measured: 1) mild (pressured into sexual relations), 2) moderate (forced with violence into sexual relation) and 3) severe (rape). Differences between women reporting and not reporting sexual violence were assessed using Pearson’s X2 test and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Of 78 660 women, 12.0% (9 444) reported mild, 2.8% (2 219) moderate and 3.6% (2 805) severe sexual violence. Sexual violence was significantly associated with increased reporting of pregnancy-related physical symptoms, both measured in number of symptoms and duration/degree of suffering. Compared to women not reporting sexual violence, the probability of suffering from ≥8 pregnancy-related symptoms estimated by Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) was 1.49 (1.41–1.58) for mild sexual violence, 1.66(1.50–1.84) for moderate and 1.78 (1.62–1.95) for severe. Severe sexual violence both previously and recently had the strongest association with suffering from ≥8 pregnancy-related symptoms, AOR 6.70 (2.34–19.14). Conclusion A history of sexual violence is associated with increased reporting of pregnancy-related physical symptoms. Clinicians should consider the possible role of a history of sexual violence when treating women who suffer extensively from pregnancy-related symptoms

Prevalence of anal incontinence among Norwegian women: a cross-sectional study

-Objective: Anal incontinence (AI) is a symptom associated with age, bowel symptoms and obstetric injuries. Primary aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of AI among women and secondarily to evaluate the impact on daily life and conditions associated with AI. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Participants attended research stations located in different parts of Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Data were collected through interviews, questionnaires and clinical examinations. Participants: In total, 40 955 community-dwelling women aged 30 years and older were invited. A total of 25 037 women participated, giving a participation rate of 61.1%. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Fecal incontinence and flatal incontinence was defined as involuntary loss of feces and flatus weekly or more, respectively. AI was defined as the involuntary loss of feces and/or flatus weekly or more. Urgency was defined as the inability to defer defecation for 15 min. Statistical methods included prevalence estimates and logistic regression analysis. Results: Questions about AI were completed by 20 391 (82.4%) women. Among the 20 391 women, AI was reported by 19.1% (95% CI 18.6% to 19.7%) and fecal incontinence was reported by 3.0% (95% CI 2.8% to 3.2%). Urgency was experienced by 2586 women (12.7%, 95% CI 12.2 to 13.1). Impact on daily life was stated by 794 (26.0%, 95% CI 24.4 to 27.5) women with AI. In bivariate age-adjusted analysis of AI, OR and CI for urgency (OR 3.19, 95% CI 2.92 to 3.49) and diarrhoea (OR 3.81, 95% CI 3.32 to 4.38) revealed strongest associations with AI. Conclusions: AI affects one in five women older than 30 years. Strongest associated symptoms are urgency and diarrhoea

Samhandlingsreformen og bruk av digitale verktøy på Fosen. En innledende kartlegging

-Informasjons- og kommunikasjonsteknologi (IKT), som høykvalitets videokonferanser, sensorteknologi etc., kan være viktige hjelpemidler i gjennomføringen av Samhandlingsreformen (SHR). Gjennom kvalitative intervjuer av 53 personer ble det undersøkt hvilke strukturelle og kulturelle forhold som det er viktig å ta hensyn til i Fosenkommunene i gjennomføringen av SHR ved hjelp av digitale verktøy. Det eksisterende kommunesamarbeidet på Fosen er et meget godt utgangspunkt for realisering av SHR. Det gis også i dag et relativt avansert helsetilbud som inkluderer bruk av IKT, særlig gjennom Fosen Distriktsmedisinske Senter, men også ved sykehjemmene. Ansatte i helsetjenestene er generelt positive til utviklingsprosjekter og til å ta i bruk ny IKT. Det er imidlertid noe skepsis knyttet til bruk av IKT mellom behandler og pasient, og også generelt til hvorvidt brukerstøtten vil være tilstrekkelig. Det anbefales at innføring av nye IKT-løsninger tas i avgrensede steg. Ved hvert steg bør det sikres tilstrekkelig opplæring, mestring og brukerstøtte for å ivareta tilliten til løsningene. Sykehjemmene kan være ”noder” i utvidelsen av samarbeidet mellom Fosenkommunene ved hjelp av IKT. Det beskrives noen utfordringer som bør søkes løst, blant annet knyttet til opplæring av mange deltidsansatte, tilgjengelighet til videokonferanseutstyr, brukerstøtte og organisatoriske forhold i spesialisthelsetjenesten