Rail industry job analysis : freight conductor.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-03-01

This document describes the results from a job analysis that was conducted for the position of Freight Conductor. Key aspects of the position were identified, including main tasks and knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) ne...

SSME model, engine dynamic characteristics related to Pogo

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

A linear model of the space shuttle main engine for use in Pogo studies was presented. A digital program is included from which engine transfer functions are determined relative to the engine operating level.

Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium/Sulfur Batteries

PubMed Central

Zhao, Yan; Zhang, Yongguang; Gosselink, Denise; Doan, The Nam Long; Sadhu, Mikhail; Cheang, Ho-Jae; Chen, Pu

2012-01-01

This review evaluates the characteristics and advantages of employing polymer electrolytes in lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries. The main highlights of this study constitute detailed information on the advanced developments for solid polymer electrolytes and gel polymer electrolytes, used in the lithium/sulfur battery. This includes an in-depth analysis conducted on the preparation and electrochemical characteristics of the Li/S batteries based on these polymer electrolytes. PMID:24958296

Study on Remote Sensing Image Characteristics of Ecological Land: Case Study of Original Ecological Land in the Yellow River Delta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, G. Q.

2018-04-01

Takes the Yellow River Delta as an example, this paper studies the characteristics of remote sensing imagery with dominant ecological functional land use types, compares the advantages and disadvantages of different image in interpreting ecological land use, and uses research results to analyse the changing trend of ecological land in the study area in the past 30 years. The main methods include multi-period, different sensor images and different seasonal spectral curves, vegetation index, GIS and data analysis methods. The results show that the main ecological land in the Yellow River Delta included coastal beaches, saline-alkaline lands, and water bodies. These lands have relatively distinct spectral and texture features. The spectral features along the beach show characteristics of absorption in the green band and reflection in the red band. This feature is less affected by the acquisition year, season, and sensor type. Saline-alkali land due to the influence of some saline-alkaline-tolerant plants such as alkali tent, Tamarix and other vegetation, the spectral characteristics have a certain seasonal changes, winter and spring NDVI index is less than the summer and autumn vegetation index. The spectral characteristics of a water body generally decrease rapidly with increasing wavelength, and the reflectance in the red band increases with increasing sediment concentration. In conclusion, according to the spectral characteristics and image texture features of the ecological land in the Yellow River Delta, the accuracy of image interpretation of such ecological land can be improved.

Japanese Management Styles: Can Academic Libraries Learn from Them?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Paul

1987-01-01

Summarizes the three main characteristics of Japanese management style and discusses its applicability to academic library management in the United States. Responses from 10 readers of advance copies of the article are included. (6 references) (MES)

Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Qualifications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Water and Sewage Works, 1979

1979-01-01

This article summarizes in tabular form the U.S. and Canadian programs for classification of water and wastewater treatment plant personnel. Included are main characteristics of the programs, educational and experience requirements, and indications of requirement substitutions. (CS)

Current State of European Railway Fire Safety Research

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-06-01

This report describes the recent fire safety research and practical fire experience of the major European railways. It includes a summary of the main causes and characteristics of railway vehicle fires, general approaches to the problem, and existing...

Effect of carbon dioxide enrichment on health-promoting compounds and organoleptic properties of tomato fruits grown in greenhouse.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhiming; Liu, Lihong; Zhang, Min; Zhang, Yongsong; Wang, Qiaomei

2014-06-15

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment on the main health-promoting compounds and organoleptic characteristics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits grown in greenhouse. The contents of health-promoting compounds, including lycopene, β-carotene, and ascorbic acid, as well as the flavour, indicated by sugars, titrable acidity, and sugar/acid ratio, were markedly increased in CO2 enrichment fruits. Furthermore, CO2 enrichment significantly enhanced other organoleptic characteristics, including colour, firmness, aroma, and sensory attributes in tomato fruits. The results indicated that CO2 enrichment has potential in promoting the nutritional value and organoleptic characteristics of tomatoes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quasi-Static and Dynamic Response Characteristics of F-4 Bias-Ply and Radial-Belted Main Gear Tires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Pamela A.

1997-01-01

An investigation was conducted at Langley Research Center to determine the quasi-static and dynamic response characteristics of F-4 military fighter 30x11.5-14.5/26PR bias-ply and radial-belted main gear tires. Tire properties were measured by the application of vertical, lateral, and fore-and-aft loads. Mass moment-of-inertia data were also obtained. The results of the study include quasi-static load-deflection curves, free-vibration time-history plots, energy loss associated with hysteresis, stiffness and damping characteristics, footprint geometry, and inertia properties of each type of tire. The difference between bias-ply and radial-belted tire construction is given, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each tire design. Three simple damping models representing viscous, structural, and Coulomb friction are presented and compared with the experimental data. The conclusions discussed contain a summary of test observations.

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma - characteristics and survival in aboriginal and non-aboriginal Western australians.

PubMed

Frydrych, A M; Slack-Smith, L M; Parsons, R; Threlfall, T

2014-01-01

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of malignancy affecting the oral cavity. While exposures to main risk factors for oral SCC such as smoking and alcohol use are higher amongst the Aboriginal people, little is known about oral cancer in this population. This study aimed to describe characteristics and survival of oral SCC in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians. All primary oral SCC cases reported to the Western Australian Cancer Registry (WACR) between 1990 and 1999 were analysed with respect to person characteristics including: date of birth, sex and indigenous status; and disease characteristics including: date of biopsy, disease stage and site as well as date of recurrence and date of death. Exclusion criteria included diagnosis not based on incisional or excisional biopsy, diagnosis other than oral SCC or a history of another malignant neoplasm. Aboriginal individuals were more likely to reside in rural areas. No statistically significant differences in oral SCC characteristics and survival were noted between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians. This study provides new information on person and disease characteristics of Aboriginal Western Australians diagnosed with oral SCC.

Design review - A tool for all seasons.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liberman, D. S.

1972-01-01

The origins of design review are considered together with questions of definitions. The main characteristics which distinguish the concept of design review discussed from the basic master-apprentice relationship include competence, objectivity, formality, and a systematic approach. Preliminary, major, and final reviews are the steps used in the management of the design and development process in each company. It is shown that the design review is generically a systems engineering milestone review with certain unique characteristics.

Leaf phenological characters of main tree species in urban forest of Shenyang.

PubMed

Xu, Sheng; Xu, Wenduo; Chen, Wei; He, Xingyuan; Huang, Yanqing; Wen, Hua

2014-01-01

Plant leaves, as the main photosynthetic organs and the high energy converters among primary producers in terrestrial ecosystems, have attracted significant research attention. Leaf lifespan is an adaptive characteristic formed by plants to obtain the maximum carbon in the long-term adaption process. It determines important functional and structural characteristics exhibited in the environmental adaptation of plants. However, the leaf lifespan and leaf characteristics of urban forests were not studied up to now. By using statistic, linear regression methods and correlation analysis, leaf phenological characters of main tree species in urban forest of Shenyang were observed for five years to obtain the leafing phenology (including leafing start time, end time, and duration), defoliating phenology (including defoliation start time, end time, and duration), and the leaf lifespan of the main tree species. Moreover, the relationships between temperature and leafing phenology, defoliating phenology, and leaf lifespan were analyzed. The timing of leafing differed greatly among species. The early leafing species would have relatively early end of leafing; the longer it took to the end of leafing would have a later time of completed leafing. The timing of defoliation among different species varied significantly, the early defoliation species would have relatively longer duration of defoliation. If the mean temperature rise for 1°C in spring, the time of leafing would experience 5 days earlier in spring. If the mean temperature decline for 1°C, the time of defoliation would experience 3 days delay in autumn. There is significant correlation between leaf longevity and the time of leafing and defoliation. According to correlation analysis and regression analysis, there is significant correlation between temperature and leafing and defoliation phenology. Early leafing species would have a longer life span and consequently have advantage on carbon accumulation compared with later defoliation species.

Characteristic features of cutaneous melanoma in a dermatology referral centre in Tehran, Iran.

PubMed

Kamyab, Kambiz; Kazemi, Sheyda; Azimi, Pourya; Azizpour, Arghavan; Ghandi, Narges; Pirooz, Elham; Noormohammadpour, Pedram; Mirshams-Shahshahani, Mostafa; Daneshpazhooh, Maryam

2017-11-01

The characteristics of cutaneous melanoma in the Middle-Eastern countries is poorly described. Therefore we conducted this study to determine the characteristics of melanoma in Iran. A retrospective, cross sectional study of melanoma patients seen at a tertiary referral centre, Iran, from May 2004 to October 2014. Clinical data included age and gender of the patients at the time of diagnosis, tumour location and tumour size. Histological characteristics included Breslow thickness, Clark level and subtype of tumour. A total of 450 cases of melanoma with a male/female ratio of 1.1:1 were reviewed. The mean age of patients was 57.5 years. The most frequent histological subtypes were acral lentiginous melanoma (30%) and lentigo maligna melanoma (29%). In 215 cases (49%) the tumour was located on the extremities. The second most common site was the face. Tumour invasion was mainly at Clark level III and IV. The mean Breslow thickness was 2.8 mm; 143 (38%) melanomas had a Breslow thickness less than 1 mm (T1) and 86 (23%) were more than 4 mm (T4). This study indicates that clinical and histological features of melanoma in Iranians (who are mainly of skin phototypes 3-4) are different from those observed in Western countries. Further cohort studies are required to evaluate the role of ethnic and environmental risk factors for melanoma in different populations. © 2017 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.

Hibiscus tiliaceus L

Treesearch

James A. Allen

2002-01-01

The genus Hibiscus includes about 200 species distributed primarily in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is a highly variable genus, with relatively few characteristics in common (Wagner and others 1990). Hibiscus tiliaceus is one of the most widespread species in the genus, with a pantropical, mainly...

Evaluation of flyash in lean concrete base and continuously reinforced concrete pavements : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-07-01

Proposed research on this project included five main objectives: 1) To test and evaluate the physical characteristics of flyash concrete in comparions to non-flyash concrete. Tests will be conducted to see if flyash concrete meets OSHD specifications...

Introduction to Weeds and Herbicides.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartwig, Nathan L.

This agriculture extension service publication from Pennsylvania State University is an introduction to weed control and herbicide use. An initial discussion of the characteristics of weeds includes scientific naming, weed competition with crops, weed dispersal and dormancy, and conditions affecting weed seed germination. The main body of the…

The new Euskalmet coastal-maritime warning system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaztelumendi, Santiago; Egaña, Joseba; Liria, Pedro; Gonzalez, Manuel; Aranda, José Antonio; Anitua, Pedro

2016-06-01

This work presents the main characteristics of the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) maritime-coastal risk warning system, with special emphasis on the latest updates, including a clear differentiation on specific warning messages addressing sea conditions for navigation purposes in the first 2 nautical miles, and expected coastal impacts. Some details of the warning bulletin for maritime and coastal risk situations are also presented, together with other communication products and strategies used in coastal and maritime severe episodes at the Basque coast. Today, three different aspects are included in the coastal-maritime risk warning system in Basque Country, related to the main potential severe events that affecting coastal activities. - "Galerna" risk relates to a sudden wind reversal that can severely affect coastal navigation and recreational activities. - "Navigation" risk relates to severe sea state conditions for 0-2 miles, affecting different navigation activities. - "Coastal impact" risk relates to adverse wave characteristics and tidal surges that induce flooding events and different impacts in littoral areas.

Investigating pyrolysis characteristics of moso bamboo through TG-FTIR and Py-GC/MS.

PubMed

Liang, Fang; Wang, Ruijuan; Hongzhong, Xiang; Yang, Xiaomeng; Zhang, Tao; Hu, Wanhe; Mi, Bingbing; Liu, Zhijia

2018-05-01

This study was carried out to investigate pyrolysis characteristics of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), including outer layer (OB), middle layer (MB) and inner layer (IB) and bamboo leaves (BL), through TG-FTIR and Py-GC/MS. The results showed that 70% of weight loss occurred at rapid pyrolysis stage with temperature of 200-400 °C. With increase in heating rate, pyrolysis process shifted toward higher temperature. IB, OB, MB and BL had a different activation energy at different conversion rates. BL had a higher activation energy than IB, OB and MB. The volatiles of bamboo was complicated with 2-30 of C atoms. IB, OB and MB mainly released benzofuran, hydroxyacetaldehyde and 2-Pentanone. BL released furan, acetic acid and phenol. The main pyrolysis products included H 2 O, CH 4 , CO 2 , CO, carboxylic acids, NO, NO 2 . Pyrolysis products of IB was the most and that of BL was the lowest. MB had the lowest pyrolysis temperature. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characteristics and transport of organochlorine pesticides in urban environment: air, dust, rain, canopy throughfall, and runoff.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Ye, Youbin; Hu, Dan; Ou, Langbo; Wang, Xuejun

2010-11-01

Characteristics and transport of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in urban multiple environments, including air, dust, rain, canopy throughfall, and runoff water, are explored in this study. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) dominated in both air and rain water, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) related substances showed a higher affinity to dust. Relatively high concentrations of DDT and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in air, rain and dust imply that technical DDT in the environment has been degrading, and there may be unknown local or regional emission sources that contain DDTs in the study area. Source identification showed that DDTs in Beijing urban environments with a fresh signature may originate from the atmospheric transport from remote areas. The ratio of α-/γ-HCH in dust, rain, canopy throughfall and runoff were close to 1, indicating the possible use of lindane. OCPs in runoff were transported from various sources including rain, dust, and canopy throughfall. In runoff, DDTs and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were mainly transported from dust, and HCHs were mainly from rain and canopy throughfall.

Characteristics of caring self-efficacy in pediatric nurses: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Alavi, Azam; Bahrami, Masoud; Zargham-Boroujeni, Ali; Yousefy, Alireza

2015-07-01

The present study was conducted to clarify pediatric nurses' characteristics of caring self-efficacy. This study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach. The participants included 27 pediatric nurses and clinical instructors, selected purposively. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using the content analysis method. Data analysis generated four main themes as attributes of a self-efficient pediatric nurse including: (a) professional communications; (b) management of care; (c) altruism; and (d) proficiency. Nursing managers and instructors can use these results to help develop nurses' empowerment and self-efficacy, especially in pediatric care. © 2015, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Delivering meat carcasses/cuts to craft-butcher shops: an investigation of work characteristics and manual handling hazards.

PubMed

Okunribido, Olanrewaju O; Gingell, Alison

2014-11-01

This study investigated delivery scenarios of service drivers working in the retail meat industry. The methodology included analysis of accident reports, and field investigations of deliveries at craft-butcher shop premises, including semi-structured interviews with managers and workers. The findings provide greater clarity about the hazards in this job, and suggest for peripatetic delivery activities, four main factors on which decisions about risk and good practice may be made: composition of the orders; characteristics of the delivery vehicle/truck; handling method most often used; and, the road/access conditions. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extravehicular activities guidelines and design criteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, N. E.; Dashner, T. R.; Hayes, B. C.

1973-01-01

A listing of astronaut EVA support systems and equipment, and the physical, operational, and performance characteristics of each major system are presented. An overview of the major ground based support operations necessary in the development and verification of orbital EVA systems is included. The performance and biomedical characteristics of man in the orbital EV environment are discussed. Major factors affecting astronaut EV work performance are identified and delineated as they relate to EV support systems design. Data concerning the medical and physiological aspects of spaceflight on man are included. The document concludes with an extensive bibliography, and a series of appendices which expand on some of the information presented in the main body.

Associations Between Neighborhood Characteristics, Social Cohesion, and Perceived Sex Partner Risk and Non-Monogamy Among HIV-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative Women in the Southern U.S.

PubMed

Haley, Danielle F; Wingood, Gina M; Kramer, Michael R; Haardörfer, Regine; Adimora, Adaora A; Rubtsova, Anna; Edmonds, Andrew; Goswami, Neela D; Ludema, Christina; Hickson, DeMarc A; Ramirez, Catalina; Ross, Zev; Bolivar, Hector; Cooper, Hannah L F

2018-07-01

Neighborhood social and physical factors shape sexual network characteristics in HIV-seronegative adults in the U.S. This multilevel analysis evaluated whether these relationships also exist in a predominantly HIV-seropositive cohort of women. This cross-sectional multilevel analysis included data from 734 women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study's sites in the U.S. South. Census tract-level contextual data captured socioeconomic disadvantage (e.g., tract poverty), number of alcohol outlets, and number of non-profits in the census tracts where women lived; participant-level data, including perceived neighborhood cohesion, were gathered via survey. We used hierarchical generalized linear models to evaluate relationships between tract characteristics and two outcomes: perceived main sex partner risk level (e.g., partner substance use) and perceived main sex partner non-monogamy. We tested whether these relationships varied by women's HIV status. Greater tract-level socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with greater sex partner risk (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.58) among HIV-seropositive women and less partner non-monogamy among HIV-seronegative women (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.92). Perceived neighborhood trust and cohesion was associated with lower partner risk (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69-1.00) for HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative women. The tract-level number of alcohol outlets and non-profits were not associated with partner risk characteristics. Neighborhood characteristics are associated with perceived sex partner risk and non-monogamy among women in the South; these relationships vary by HIV status. Future studies should examine causal relationships and explore the pathways through which neighborhoods influence partner selection and risk characteristics.

49 CFR 582.5 - Information form.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... mainly consider driver characteristics (such as age, gender, marital status, and driving record), the geographic area in which the vehicle is driven, how many miles are traveled, and how the vehicle is used... INSERTED], and it does not include information about models without enough claim experience. Although many...

49 CFR 582.5 - Information form.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... mainly consider driver characteristics (such as age, gender, marital status, and driving record), the geographic area in which the vehicle is driven, how many miles are traveled, and how the vehicle is used... INSERTED], and it does not include information about models without enough claim experience. Although many...

49 CFR 582.5 - Information form.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... mainly consider driver characteristics (such as age, gender, marital status, and driving record), the geographic area in which the vehicle is driven, how many miles are traveled, and how the vehicle is used... INSERTED], and it does not include information about models without enough claim experience. Although many...

A Planning Model for American-Sponsored Overseas Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baron, Mark A.

The main reason for the establishment of American-Sponsored Overseas Schools (ASOS) was to offer the dependents of Americans living abroad educational opportunities similar to what was available at home. ASOS have several general characteristics, including being privately controlled, nonprofit, nonsectarian, and American or binational in…

Good Teaching: What Matters to University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hwee Hoon; Kim, Grace May Lin; Chan, Ling Ling

2015-01-01

Institutions assess teaching effectiveness in various ways, such as classroom observation, peer evaluation and self-assessment. In higher education, student feedback continues to be the main teaching evaluation tool. However, most of such forms include characteristics of good teaching that the institutions deem important and may not adequately…

The role of geographic and network factors in racial disparities in HIV among young men who have sex with men: An egocentric network study

PubMed Central

Mustanski, Brian; Birkett, Michelle; Kuhns, Lisa M.; Latkin, Carl A.; Muth, Stephen Q.

2014-01-01

The objective of this study was to characterize and compare individual and sexual network characteristics of Black, White, and Latino YMSM as potential drivers of racial disparities in HIV. Egocentric network interviews were conducted with 175 diverse YMSM who described 837 sex partners within 167 sexual-active egos. Sexual partner alter attributes were summarized by ego. Descriptives of ego demographics, sexual partner demographics, and network characteristics were calculated by race of the ego and compared. No racial differences were found in individual engagement in HIV risk behaviors or concurrent sexual partnership. Racial differences were found in partner characteristics, including female gender, non-gay sexual orientations, older age, and residence in a high HIV prevalence neighborhood. Racial differences in relationship characteristics included type of relationships (i.e., main partner) and strength of relationships. Network characteristics also showed differences, including sexual network density and assortativity by race. Most racial differences were in the direction of effects that would tend to increase HIV incidence among Black YMSM. These data suggest that racial disparities in HIV may be driven and/or maintained by a combination of racial differences in partner characteristics, assortativity by race, and increased sexual network density, rather than differences in individual’s HIV risk behaviors. PMID:25430501

Engineering design manual of parachute decelerator characteristics for space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mansfield, D. L.

1973-01-01

The design criteria and characteristics of parachutes for recovery of the solid rocket boosters used with the space shuttle launch are presented. A computer program for analyzing the requirements of the parachute decelerators is described. The computer inputs for both the drogue and main parachute decelerators are; (1) parachute size, (2) deployment conditions, (3) inflation times, (4) reefing times, (5) mass properties, (6) spring properties, and (7) aerodynamic coefficients. Graphs of the parachute performance are included.

Integrated technology rotor/flight research rotor hub concept definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dixon, P. G. C.

1983-01-01

Two variations of the helicopter bearingless main rotor hub concept are proposed as bases for further development in the preliminary design phase of the Integrated Technology Rotor/Flight Research Rotor (ITR/FRR) program. This selection was the result of an evaluation of three bearingless hub concepts and two articulated hub concepts with elastomeric bearings. The characteristics of each concept were evaluated by means of simplified methodology. These characteristics included the assessment of stability, vulnerability, weight, drag, cost, stiffness, fatigue life, maintainability, and reliability.

Aliens in irregular status in the United States: a review of their numbers, characteristics, and role in the U.S. labor market.

PubMed

Houstoun, M F

1983-01-01

A general review of international migration to the United States is first presented. The analysis then focuses on aliens in irregular status in the United States, including the size of the illegal alien population, the intention of migrants to stay or to return, migrant characteristics, and the role of migrants in the U.S. labor market. The main concern of the paper is with illegal migration from Mexico. (summary in FRE, SPA)

Correlation and evaluation of inplane stability characteristics for an advanced bearingless main rotor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weller, W. H.

1983-01-01

A program of experimental and analytical research was performed to demonstrate the degree of correlation achieved between measured and computed rotor inplane stability characteristics. The experimental data were obtained from hover and wind tunnel tests of a scaled bearingless main rotor model. Both isolated rotor and free-hub conditions were tested. Test parameters included blade built-in cone and sweep angles; rotor inplane structural stiffness and damping; pitch link stiffness and location; and fuselage damping, inertia, and natural frequency. Analytical results for many test conditions were obtained. In addition, the analytical and experimental results were examined to ascertain the effects of the test parameters on rotor ground and air resonance stability. The results from this program are presented herein in tabular and graphical form.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. State-of-the-art review with emphasis on pulmonary involvement.

PubMed

Dal Sasso, Aline Amaral; Belém, Luciana Camara; Zanetti, Gláucia; Souza, Carolina Althoff; Escuissato, Dante Luiz; Irion, Klaus Loureiro; Guimarães, Marcos Duarte; Marchiori, Edson

2015-03-01

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare, inherited autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by the development of cutaneous lesions, renal tumors, pulmonary cysts, and spontaneous pneumothorax. The gene responsible for BHDS is located on the short arm of chromosome 17 (17p11.2) and codes for the protein folliculin, which is believed to be an oncogene suppressor protein. We reviewed currently published literature on the main characteristics of BHDS. Pulmonary cysts and spontaneous pneumothorax are often the presenting manifestations that lead to a final diagnosis in family members affected by the syndrome. Certain imaging characteristics of pulmonary cysts, including size and location, can suggest the diagnosis of BHDS based on chest computed tomography alone. The main concern in patients with BHDS is the increased risk of renal carcinoma. The aim of this review is to describe the main pathological, clinical, and imaging aspects of BHDS, ranging from its genetic basis to treatment, with emphasis on pulmonary involvement. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pencil beam characteristics of the next-generation proton scanning gantry of PSI: design issues and initial commissioning results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedroni, E.; Meer, D.; Bula, C.; Safai, S.; Zenklusen, S.

2011-07-01

In this paper we report on the main design features, on the realization process and on selected first results of the initial commissioning of the new Gantry 2 of PSI for the delivery of proton therapy with new advanced pencil beam scanning techniques. We present briefly the characteristics of the new gantry system with main emphasis on the beam optics, on the characterization of the pencil beam used for scanning and on the performance of the scanning system. The idea is to give an overview of the major components of the whole system. The main long-term technical goal of the new equipment of Gantry 2 is to expand the use of pencil beam scanning to the whole spectrum of clinical indications including moving targets. We report here on the initial experience and problems encountered in the development of the system with selected preliminary results of the ongoing commissioning of Gantry 2.

Damping characterization in large structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eke, Fidelis O.; Eke, Estelle M.

1991-01-01

This research project has as its main goal the development of methods for selecting the damping characteristics of components of a large structure or multibody system, in such a way as to produce some desired system damping characteristics. The main need for such an analytical device is in the simulation of the dynamics of multibody systems consisting, at least partially, of flexible components. The reason for this need is that all existing simulation codes for multibody systems require component-by-component characterization of complex systems, whereas requirements (including damping) often appear at the overall system level. The main goal was met in large part by the development of a method that will in fact synthesize component damping matrices from a given system damping matrix. The restrictions to the method are that the desired system damping matrix must be diagonal (which is almost always the case) and that interbody connections must be by simple hinges. In addition to the technical outcome, this project contributed positively to the educational and research infrastructure of Tuskegee University - a Historically Black Institution.

[EEG-correlates of pilots' functional condition in simulated flight dynamics].

PubMed

Kiroy, V N; Aslanyan, E V; Bakhtin, O M; Minyaeva, N R; Lazurenko, D M

2015-01-01

The spectral characteristics of the EEG recorded on two professional pilots in the simulator TU-154 aircraft in flight dynamics, including takeoff, landing and horizontal flight (in particular during difficult conditions) were analyzed. EEG recording was made with frequency band 0.1-70 Hz continuously from 15 electrodes. The EEG recordings were evaluated using analysis of variance and discriminant analysis. Statistical significant of the identified differences and the influence of the main factors and their interactions were evaluated using Greenhouse - Gaiser corrections. It was shown that the spectral characteristics of the EEG are highly informative features of the state of the pilots, reflecting the different flight phases. High validity ofthe differences including individual characteristic, indicates their non-random nature and the possibility of constructing a system of pilots' state control during all phases of flight, based on EEG features.

The Solutions of the Agricultural Land Use Monitoring Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vershinin, Valentin V.; Murasheva, Alla A.; Shirokova, Vera A.; Khutorova, Alla O.; Shapovalov, Dmitriy A.; Tarbaev, Vladimir A.

2016-01-01

Modern landscape--it's a holistic system of interconnected and interacting components. To questions of primary importance belongs evaluation of stability of modern landscape (including agrarian) and its optimization. As a main complex characteristic and landscape inhomogeneity in a process of agricultural usage serves materials of quantitative and…

Tree species diversity and distribution patterns in tropical forests of Garo Hills.

Treesearch

A. Kumar; B.G. Marcot; A. Saxena

2006-01-01

We analyzed phytosociological characteristics and diversity patterns of tree species of tropical forests of Garo Hills, western Meghalaya, northeast India. The main vegetation of the region included primary forests, secondary forests, and sal (Shorea robusta) plantations, with 162, 132, and 87 tree species, respectively. The Shannon-Wiener...

Characteristics of the wood adhesion bonding mechanism using hydroxymethyl resorcinol

Treesearch

Douglas J. Gardner; Charles E. Frazier; Alfred W. Christiansen

2006-01-01

A recent collaborative effort among the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Virginia Tech, and the University of Maine has explored the possible bonding mechanisms contributing to durable wood adhesive bonding using hydroxymethyl resorcinol (HMR) surface treatment. Current adhesive bonding mechanisms include: mechanical interlocking, electronic or electrostatic theory,...

The Construction of Infrastructure for Library's Digital Document Telecommunications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Changxing, Ying; Zuzao, Lin

This paper discusses the construction of the infrastructure for libraries' digital document telecommunications. The first section describes the topologies of the library LAN (Local Area Network) cabling system, including the main characteristics of the LAN and three classical topologies typically used with LANs, i.e., the bus, star, and ring…

Flauto: An Ethnographic Study of a Highly Successful Private Studio

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montemayor, Mark

2008-01-01

This study examined the instructional settings, pedagogical techniques, interpersonal dynamics and personal characteristics of a teacher and her adolescent students in a renowned private flute studio. Using ethnographic techniques including observations and interviews, four main themes emerged that seem to contribute to the satisfaction of the…

Expression of novel, putative stem cell markers in prepubertal and lactating mammary glands of bovine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mammary stem cells (MaSC) are essential for growth and maintenance of the mammary epithelium. Two main phases of mammary growth include ductal elongation prior to puberty and lobulo-alveolar growth and development during pregnancy. Some studies have utilized morphological characteristics and retenti...

General properties of a sample of isolated galaxies containing active nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chesnok, N. G.

2010-10-01

We investigated the general properties of 62 isolated galaxies with active nuclei (AGN) selected from the Catalogue 2MIG and Catalogue Veron+2010. The main characteristics of the distribution of these objects are given. The sample under investigation can be included to the scientific research program for "Radioastron".

Rapid Screening of Chemical Constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Combined with Data Postprocessing Techniques

PubMed Central

Shan, Lanlan; Wu, Yuanyuan; Yuan, Lei; Zhang, Yani

2017-01-01

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is the dried rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. (Anemarrhena Bunge of Liliaceae). The medicine presents anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, sedative, and diuretic effects. The chemical constituents of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae are complex and diverse, mainly including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, benzophenones, and alkaloids. In this study, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used in combination with data postprocessing techniques, including characteristic fragments filter and neutral loss filter, to rapidly classify and identify the five types of substances in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. On the basis of numerous literature reviews and according to the corresponding characteristic fragments produced by different types of compounds in combination with neutral loss filtering, we summarized the fragmentation patterns of the main five types of compounds and successfully screened and identified 32 chemical constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. The components included 18 steroidal saponins, 6 flavonoids, 4 phenylpropanoids, 2 alkaloids, and 2 benzophenones. The method established in this study provided necessary data for the study on the pharmacological effects of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and also provided the basis for the chemical analysis and quality control of TCMs to promote the development of a method for chemical research on TCMs. PMID:29234389

Rapid Screening of Chemical Constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Combined with Data Postprocessing Techniques.

PubMed

Shan, Lanlan; Wu, Yuanyuan; Yuan, Lei; Zhang, Yani; Xu, Yanyan; Li, Yubo

2017-01-01

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae , a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is the dried rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. ( Anemarrhena Bunge of Liliaceae). The medicine presents anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, sedative, and diuretic effects. The chemical constituents of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae are complex and diverse, mainly including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, benzophenones, and alkaloids. In this study, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used in combination with data postprocessing techniques, including characteristic fragments filter and neutral loss filter, to rapidly classify and identify the five types of substances in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae . On the basis of numerous literature reviews and according to the corresponding characteristic fragments produced by different types of compounds in combination with neutral loss filtering, we summarized the fragmentation patterns of the main five types of compounds and successfully screened and identified 32 chemical constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae . The components included 18 steroidal saponins, 6 flavonoids, 4 phenylpropanoids, 2 alkaloids, and 2 benzophenones. The method established in this study provided necessary data for the study on the pharmacological effects of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and also provided the basis for the chemical analysis and quality control of TCMs to promote the development of a method for chemical research on TCMs.

Students' approaches to medical school choice: relationship with students' characteristics and motivation.

PubMed

Wouters, Anouk; Croiset, Gerda; Schripsema, Nienke R; Cohen-Schotanus, Janke; Spaai, Gerard W G; Hulsman, Robert L; Kusurkar, Rashmi A

2017-06-12

The aim was to examine main reasons for students' medical school choice and their relationship with students' characteristics and motivation during the students' medical study. In this multisite cross-sectional study, all Year-1 and Year-4 students who had participated in a selection procedure in one of the three Dutch medical schools included in the study were invited to complete an online survey comprising personal data, their main reason for medical school choice and standard, validated questionnaires to measure their strength of motivation (Strength of Motivation for Medical School-Revised) and autonomous and controlled type of motivation (Academic Self-regulation Questionnaire). Four hundred seventy-eight students participated. We performed frequency analyses on the reasons for medical school choice and regression analyses and ANCOVAs to study their associations with students' characteristics and motivation during their medical study. Students indicated 'city' (Year-1: 24.7%, n=75 and Year-4: 36.0%, n=52) and 'selection procedure' (Year-1: 56.9%, n=173 and Year-4: 46.9%, n=68) as the main reasons for their medical school choice. The main reasons were associated with gender, age, being a first-generation university student, ethnic background and medical school, and no significant associations were found between the main reasons and the strength and type of motivation during the students' medical study. Most students had based their medical school choice on the selection procedure. If medical schools desire to achieve a good student-curriculum fit and attract a diverse student population aligning the selection procedure with the curriculum and taking into account various students' different approaches is important.

Advanced orbit transfer vehicle propulsion system study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cathcart, J. A.; Cooper, T. W.; Corringrato, R. M.; Cronau, S. T.; Forgie, S. C.; Harder, M. J.; Mcallister, J. G.; Rudman, T. J.; Stoneback, V. W.

1985-01-01

A reuseable orbit transfer vehicle concept was defined and subsequent recommendations for the design criteria of an advanced LO2/LH2 engine were presented. The major characteristics of the vehicle preliminary design include a low lift to drag aerocapture capability, main propulsion system failure criteria of fail operational/fail safe, and either two main engines with an attitude control system for backup or three main engines to meet the failure criteria. A maintenance and servicing approach was also established for the advanced vehicle and engine concepts. Design tradeoff study conclusions were based on the consideration of reliability, performance, life cycle costs, and mission flexibility.

Improving of technical characteristics of launch vehicles with liquid rocket engines using active onboard de-orbiting systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trushlyakov, V.; Shatrov, Ya.

2017-09-01

In this paper, the analysis of technical requirements (TR) for the development of modern space launch vehicles (LV) with main liquid rocket engines (LRE) is fulfilled in relation to the anthropogenic impact decreasing. Factual technical characteristics on the example of a promising type of rocket ;Soyuz-2.1.v.; are analyzed. Meeting the TR in relation to anthropogenic impact decrease based on the conventional design approach and the content of the onboard system does not prove to be efficient and leads to depreciation of the initial technical characteristics obtained at the first design stage if these requirements are not included. In this concern, it is shown that the implementation of additional active onboard de-orbiting system (AODS) of worked-off stages (WS) into the onboard LV stages systems allows to meet the TR related to the LV environmental characteristics, including fire-explosion safety. In some cases, the orbital payload mass increases.

Application of climatic indices to analyse viticultural suitability in Extremadura, south-western Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moral, Francisco J.; Rebollo, Francisco J.; Paniagua, Luis L.; García, Abelardo; de Salazar, Enrique Martínez

2016-01-01

Although climate is recognised as one of the main drivers of viticulture success, its main features have not been sufficiently described in many viticultural regions, including Extremadura, which contains one of the largest grapevine-growing areas in Europe. Using climatic data from 80 weather stations located throughout Extremadura, seven bioclimatic indices were calculated to estimate heat accumulation and potential water balance during the growing season and the thermal regime during the ripening of grapes. Differences in some climatic indices were found, and after a multivariate geographic analysis, four groups were delimited containing weather stations with similar climatic features, with variability between groups explained by heat accumulation and tempearture and thermal amplitude during the ripening season. Suitability for cultivation of grapevines without thermal restriction and temperate nights during the ripening period are the main characteristics of the weather stations studied, but spatial variability found in climatic potential denotes the importance of differentiating locations to properly relate the viticultural climate to grape quality factors and the style of wines produced. The climatic features of the four groups are very similar to those described in other viticultural regions, including those in close proximity to Extremadura and others worldwide, but few studies have used broad and updated temporal climate data for computing bioclimatic indices as in this case study. Finally, trends in climate indices were analysed. Results revealed that all groups have experienced warmer growing seasons, driven mainly by changes in minimum temperatures. This fact has numerous potential impacts, including changes in grapevine phenological timing, disruption of balanced composition in grapes (ultimately affecting wine characteristics), alterations in varieties grown and spatial changes in viable winegrape-growing zones.

Overview of Petroleum Settings in Deep Waters of the Brazilian South Atlantic Margin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anjos, Sylvia; Penteado, Henrique; Oliveira, Carlos M. M.

2015-04-01

The objective of this work is to present an overall view of the tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of the western South Atlantic with focus on the Brazilian marginal basins. It includes the structural evolution, stratigraphic sequences, depositional environments and petroleum systems model along the Brazilian marginal basins. In addition, a description of the main petroleum provinces and selected plays including the pre-salt carbonates and post-salt turbidite reservoirs is presented. Source-rock ages and types, trap styles, main reservoir characteristics, petroleum compositions, and recent exploration results are discussed. Finally, an outlook and general assessment of the impact of the large pre-salt discoveries on the present-day and future production curves are given.

Conceptualisation of the characteristics of advanced practitioners in the medical radiation professions.

PubMed

Smith, Tony; Harris, Jillian; Woznitza, Nick; Maresse, Sharon; Sale, Charlotte

2015-09-01

Professions grapple with defining advanced practice and the characteristics of advanced practitioners. In nursing and allied health, advanced practice has been defined as 'a state of professional maturity in which the individual demonstrates a level of integrated knowledge, skill and competence that challenges the accepted boundaries of practice and pioneers new developments in health care'. Evolution of advanced practice in Australia has been slower than in the United Kingdom, mainly due to differences in demography, the health system and industrial relations. This article describes a conceptual model of advanced practitioner characteristics in the medical radiation professions, taking into account experiences in other countries and professions. Using the CanMEDS framework, the model includes foundation characteristics of communication, collaboration and professionalism, which are fundamental to advanced clinical practice. Gateway characteristics are: clinical expertise, with high level competency in a particular area of clinical practice; scholarship and teaching, including a masters qualification and knowledge dissemination through educating others; and evidence-based practice, with judgements made on the basis of research findings, including research by the advanced practitioner. The pinnacle of advanced practice is clinical leadership, where the practitioner has a central role in the health care team, with the capacity to influence decision making and advocate for others, including patients. The proposed conceptual model is robust yet adaptable in defining generic characteristics of advanced practitioners, no matter their clinical specialty. The advanced practice roles that evolve to meet future health service demand must focus on the needs of patients, local populations and communities.

Simulation and Experimental Investigation of Structural Dynamic Frequency Characteristics Control

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xingwu; Chen, Xuefeng; You, Shangqin; He, Zhengjia; Li, Bing

2012-01-01

In general, mechanical equipment such as cars, airplanes, and machine tools all operate with constant frequency characteristics. These constant working characteristics should be controlled if the dynamic performance of the equipment demands improvement or the dynamic characteristics is intended to change with different working conditions. Active control is a stable and beneficial method for this, but current active control methods mainly focus on vibration control for reducing the vibration amplitudes in the time domain or frequency domain. In this paper, a new method of dynamic frequency characteristics active control (DFCAC) is presented for a flat plate, which can not only accomplish vibration control but also arbitrarily change the dynamic characteristics of the equipment. The proposed DFCAC algorithm is based on a neural network including two parts of the identification implement and the controller. The effectiveness of the DFCAC method is verified by several simulation and experiments, which provide desirable results. PMID:22666072

Simulation and experimental investigation of structural dynamic frequency characteristics control.

PubMed

Zhang, Xingwu; Chen, Xuefeng; You, Shangqin; He, Zhengjia; Li, Bing

2012-01-01

In general, mechanical equipment such as cars, airplanes, and machine tools all operate with constant frequency characteristics. These constant working characteristics should be controlled if the dynamic performance of the equipment demands improvement or the dynamic characteristics is intended to change with different working conditions. Active control is a stable and beneficial method for this, but current active control methods mainly focus on vibration control for reducing the vibration amplitudes in the time domain or frequency domain. In this paper, a new method of dynamic frequency characteristics active control (DFCAC) is presented for a flat plate, which can not only accomplish vibration control but also arbitrarily change the dynamic characteristics of the equipment. The proposed DFCAC algorithm is based on a neural network including two parts of the identification implement and the controller. The effectiveness of the DFCAC method is verified by several simulation and experiments, which provide desirable results.

Arctic rabies--a review.

PubMed

Mørk, Torill; Prestrud, Pål

2004-01-01

Rabies seems to persist throughout most arctic regions, and the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland, is the only part of the Arctic where rabies has not been diagnosed in recent time. The arctic fox is the main host, and the same arctic virus variant seems to infect the arctic fox throughout the range of this species. The epidemiology of rabies seems to have certain common characteristics in arctic regions, but main questions such as the maintenance and spread of the disease remains largely unknown. The virus has spread and initiated new epidemics also in other species such as the red fox and the racoon dog. Large land areas and cold climate complicate the control of the disease, but experimental oral vaccination of arctic foxes has been successful. This article summarises the current knowledge and the typical characteristics of arctic rabies including its distribution and epidemiology.

The Role of Geographic and Network Factors in Racial Disparities in HIV Among Young Men Who have Sex with Men: An Egocentric Network Study.

PubMed

Mustanski, Brian; Birkett, Michelle; Kuhns, Lisa M; Latkin, Carl A; Muth, Stephen Q

2015-06-01

The objective of this study was to characterize and compare individual and sexual network characteristics of Black, White, and Latino young men who have sex with men (YMSM) as potential drivers of racial disparities in HIV. Egocentric network interviews were conducted with 175 diverse YMSM who described 837 sex partners within 167 sexual-active egos. Sexual partner alter attributes were summarized by ego. Descriptives of ego demographics, sexual partner demographics, and network characteristics were calculated by race of the ego and compared. No racial differences were found in individual engagement in HIV risk behaviors or concurrent sexual partnership. Racial differences were found in partner characteristics, including female gender, non-gay sexual orientations, older age, and residence in a high HIV prevalence neighborhood. Racial differences in relationship characteristics included type of relationships (i.e., main partner) and strength of relationships. Network characteristics also showed differences, including sexual network density and assortativity by race. Most racial differences were in the direction of effects that would tend to increase HIV incidence among Black YMSM. These data suggest that racial disparities in HIV may be driven and/or maintained by a combination of racial differences in partner characteristics, assortativity by race, and increased sexual network density, rather than differences in individual's HIV risk behaviors.

Development and applications of optical interferometric micrometrology in the Angstrom and subangstrom range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lauer, James L.; Abel, Phillip B.

1988-01-01

The characteristics of the scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope (AFM) are briefly reviewed, and optical methods, mainly interferometry, of sufficient resolution to measure AFM deflections are discussed. The methods include optical resonators, laser interferometry, multiple-beam interferometry, and evanescent wave detection. Experimental results using AFM are reviewed.

Clinical features and treatment of lactational mastitis: the experience from a binational study.

PubMed

Iatrakis, G; Zervoudis, S; Ceausu, I; Peitsidis, P; Tomara, I; Bakalianou, K; Hudita, D

2013-01-01

The characteristics of 38 patients with mastitis are listed in this study, including nationality, age, parity, history of mastitis, clinical and laboratory findings, and medical treatment. Differential diagnosis was mainly correlated to breast engorgement. Mastitis was primarily related to staphylococcus aureus and it was more common in primiparous patients.

Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Foreign-Born Persons Living in San Francisco

PubMed Central

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G.; Grinsdale, Jennifer A.; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L. Masae; Hopewell, Philip C.

2013-01-01

Rationale: In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. Objectives: To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. Methods: We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. Measurements and Main Results: We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. Conclusions: There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions. PMID:23471470

Influence of socioeconomic factors on pregnancy outcome in women with structural heart disease.

PubMed

van Hagen, Iris M; Baart, Sara; Fong Soe Khioe, Rebekah; Sliwa-Hahnle, Karen; Taha, Nasser; Lelonek, Malgorzata; Tavazzi, Luigi; Maggioni, Aldo Pietro; Johnson, Mark R; Maniadakis, Nikolaos; Fordham, Richard; Hall, Roger; Roos-Hesselink, Jolien W

2018-05-01

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of indirect maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to analyse to what extent socioeconomic factors influence the outcome of pregnancy in women with heart disease. The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac disease is a global prospective registry. For this analysis, countries that enrolled ≥10 patients were included. A combined cardiac endpoint included maternal cardiac death, arrhythmia requiring treatment, heart failure, thromboembolic event, aortic dissection, endocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, hospitalisation for cardiac reason or intervention. Associations between patient characteristics, country characteristics (income inequality expressed as Gini coefficient, health expenditure, schooling, gross domestic product, birth rate and hospital beds) and cardiac endpoints were checked in a three-level model (patient-centre-country). A total of 30 countries enrolled 2924 patients from 89 centres. At least one endpoint occurred in 645 women (22.1%). Maternal age, New York Heart Association classification and modified WHO risk classification were associated with the combined endpoint and explained 37% of variance in outcome. Gini coefficient and country-specific birth rate explained an additional 4%. There were large differences between the individual countries, but the need for multilevel modelling to account for these differences disappeared after adjustment for patient characteristics, Gini and country-specific birth rate. While there are definite interregional differences in pregnancy outcome in women with cardiac disease, these differences seem to be mainly driven by individual patient characteristics. Adjustment for country characteristics refined the results to a limited extent, but maternal condition seems to be the main determinant of outcome. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Land mobile satellite propagation measurements in Japan using ETS-V satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obara, Noriaki; Tanaka, Kenji; Yamamoto, Shin-Ichi; Wakana, Hiromitsu

1993-01-01

Propagation characteristics of land mobile satellite communications channels have been investigated actively in recent years. Information of propagation characteristics associated with multipath fading and shadowing is required to design commercial land mobile satellite communications systems, including protocol and error correction method. CRL (Communications Research Laboratory) has carried out propagation measurements using the Engineering Test Satellite-V (ETS-V) at L band (1.5 GHz) through main roads in Japan by a medium gain antenna with an autotracking capability. This paper presents the propagation statistics obtained in this campaign.

Aerodynamic studies of delta-wing shuttle orbiters. Part 1: Low speed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freeman, D. C., Jr.; Ellison, J. C.

1972-01-01

Numerous wind tunnel tests conducted on the evolving delta-wing orbiters have generated a fairly large aerodynamic data base over the entire entry operation range of these vehicles. A limited assessment is made of some of the aerodynamics of the current HO type orbiters, and several specific problem areas selected from the broad data base are discussed. These include, from a subsonic viewpoint, discussions of trim drag effect; effects of the installation of main rocket engine nozzles, OMS and RCS packages, Reynolds number effects, lateral-directional stability characteristics, and landing characteristics.

Leaf Phenological Characters of Main Tree Species in Urban Forest of Shenyang

PubMed Central

Xu, Sheng; Xu, Wenduo; Chen, Wei; He, Xingyuan; Huang, Yanqing; Wen, Hua

2014-01-01

Background Plant leaves, as the main photosynthetic organs and the high energy converters among primary producers in terrestrial ecosystems, have attracted significant research attention. Leaf lifespan is an adaptive characteristic formed by plants to obtain the maximum carbon in the long-term adaption process. It determines important functional and structural characteristics exhibited in the environmental adaptation of plants. However, the leaf lifespan and leaf characteristics of urban forests were not studied up to now. Methods By using statistic, linear regression methods and correlation analysis, leaf phenological characters of main tree species in urban forest of Shenyang were observed for five years to obtain the leafing phenology (including leafing start time, end time, and duration), defoliating phenology (including defoliation start time, end time, and duration), and the leaf lifespan of the main tree species. Moreover, the relationships between temperature and leafing phenology, defoliating phenology, and leaf lifespan were analyzed. Findings The timing of leafing differed greatly among species. The early leafing species would have relatively early end of leafing; the longer it took to the end of leafing would have a later time of completed leafing. The timing of defoliation among different species varied significantly, the early defoliation species would have relatively longer duration of defoliation. If the mean temperature rise for 1°C in spring, the time of leafing would experience 5 days earlier in spring. If the mean temperature decline for 1°C, the time of defoliation would experience 3 days delay in autumn. Interpretation There is significant correlation between leaf longevity and the time of leafing and defoliation. According to correlation analysis and regression analysis, there is significant correlation between temperature and leafing and defoliation phenology. Early leafing species would have a longer life span and consequently have advantage on carbon accumulation compared with later defoliation species. PMID:24963625

[Characteristics and adaptation of seasonal drought in southern China under the background of climate change. V. Seasonal drought characteristics division and assessment in southern China].

PubMed

Huang, Wan-Hua; Sui, Yue; Yang, Xiao-Guang; Dai, Shu-Wei; Li, Mao-Song

2013-10-01

Zoning seasonal drought based on the study of drought characteristics can provide theoretical basis for formulating drought mitigation plans and improving disaster reduction technologies in different arid zones under global climate change. Based on the National standard of meteorological drought indices and agricultural drought indices and the 1959-2008 meteorological data from 268 meteorological stations in southern China, this paper analyzed the climatic background and distribution characteristics of seasonal drought in southern China, and made a three-level division of seasonal drought in this region by the methods of combining comprehensive factors and main factors, stepwise screening indices, comprehensive disaster analysis, and clustering analysis. The first-level division was with the annual aridity index and seasonal aridity index as the main indices and with the precipitation during entire year and main crop growing season as the auxiliary indices, dividing the southern China into four primary zones, including semi-arid zone, sub-humid zone, humid zone, and super-humid zone. On this basis, the four primary zones were subdivided into nine second-level zones, including one semi-arid area-temperate-cold semi-arid hilly area in Sichuan-Yunnan Plateau, three sub-humid areas of warm sub-humid area in the north of the Yangtze River, warm-tropical sub-humid area in South China, and temperate-cold sub-humid plateau area in Southwest China, three humid areas of temperate-tropical humid area in the Yangtze River Basin, warm-tropical humid area in South China, and warm humid hilly area in Southwest China, and two super-humid areas of warm-tropical super-humid area in South China and temperate-cold super-humid hilly area in the south of the Yangtze River and Southwest China. According to the frequency and intensity of multiple drought indices, the second-level zones were further divided into 29 third-level zones. The distribution of each seasonal drought zone was illustrated, and the zonal drought characteristics and their impacts on the agricultural production were assessed. Accordingly, the drought prevention measures were proposed.

A flight investigation of basic performance characteristics of a teetering-rotor attack helicopter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, C. E. K., Jr.

1979-01-01

Flight data were obtained with an instrumented AH-16 helicopter having uninstrumented, standard main-rotor blades. The data are presented to facilitate the analysis of data taken when the same vehicle was flown with instrumented main-rotor blades built with new airfoils. Test results include data on performance, flight-state parameters, pitch-link loads and blade angles for level flight, descending turns and pull-ups. Flight test procedures and the effects of both trim variations and transient phenomena on the data are discussed.

Force Measurements in Magnetic Suspension and Balance System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuzin, Alexander; Shapovalov, George; Prohorov, Nikolay

1996-01-01

The description of an infrared telemetry system for measurement of drag forces in Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems (MSBS) is presented. This system includes a drag force sensor, electronic pack and transmitter placed in the model which is of special construction, and receiver with a microprocessor-based measuring device, placed outside of the test section. Piezosensitive resonators as sensitive elements and non-magnetic steel as the material for the force sensor are used. The main features of the proposed system for load measurements are discussed and the main characteristics are presented.

[Seed geography: its concept and basic scientific issues].

PubMed

Yu, Shun-Li; Wang, Zong-Shuai; Zeren, Wangmu

2010-01-01

In this paper, a new concept 'seed geography' was provided, and its definition, research contents, and scientific issues were put forward. Seed geography is a newly developed interdisciplinary science from plant geography, seed ecology, and phytosociology, which studies the geographic variation patterns of seed biological traits as well as their relationships with environmental factors from macroscopic to microscopic, and the seed formation, development, and change trends. The main research contents would include geography of seed mass, geography of seed chemical components, geography of seed morphology, geography of seed cell biological characteristics, geography of seed physiological characteristics, geography of seed genetic characteristics, and geography of flower and fruit. To explore the scientific issues in seed geography would help us to better understand the long-term adaptation and evolution of seed characteristics to natural environments.

Research on dynamic characteristics of motor vibration isolation system through mechanical impedance method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xingqian; Xu, Wei; Shuai, Changgeng; Hu, Zechao

2017-12-01

A mechanical impedance model of a coupled motor-shaft-bearing system has been developed to predict the dynamic characteristics and partially validated by comparing the computing results with finite element method (FEM), including the comparison of displacement amplitude in x and z directions at the two ends of the flexible coupling, the comparison of normalized vertical reaction force in z direction at bearing pedestals. The results demonstrate that the developed model can precisely predict the dynamic characteristics and the main advantage of such a method is that it can clearly illustrate the vibration property of the motor subsystem, which plays an important role in the isolation system design.

Students’ approaches to medical school choice: relationship with students’ characteristics and motivation

PubMed Central

Croiset, Gerda; Schripsema, Nienke R.; Cohen-Schotanus, Janke; Spaai, Gerard W.G.; Hulsman, Robert L.; Kusurkar, Rashmi A.

2017-01-01

Objectives The aim was to examine main reasons for students’ medical school choice and their relationship with students’ characteristics and motivation during the students’ medical study. Methods In this multisite cross-sectional study, all Year-1 and Year-4 students who had participated in a selection procedure in one of the three Dutch medical schools included in the study were invited to complete an online survey comprising personal data, their main reason for medical school choice and standard, validated questionnaires to measure their strength of motivation (Strength of Motivation for Medical School-Revised) and autonomous and controlled type of motivation (Academic Self-regulation Questionnaire). Four hundred seventy-eight students participated. We performed frequency analyses on the reasons for medical school choice and regression analyses and ANCOVAs to study their associations with students’ characteristics and motivation during their medical study. Results Students indicated ‘city’ (Year-1: 24.7%, n=75 and Year-4: 36.0%, n=52) and ‘selection procedure’ (Year-1: 56.9%, n=173 and Year-4: 46.9%, n=68) as the main reasons for their medical school choice. The main reasons were associated with gender, age, being a first-generation university student, ethnic background and medical school, and no significant associations were found between the main reasons and the strength and type of motivation during the students’ medical study. Conclusions Most students had based their medical school choice on the selection procedure. If medical schools desire to achieve a good student-curriculum fit and attract a diverse student population aligning the selection procedure with the curriculum and taking into account various students’ different approaches is important. PMID:28624778

Spatial Characteristics and Driving Factors of Provincial Wastewater Discharge in China.

PubMed

Chen, Kunlun; Liu, Xiaoqiong; Ding, Lei; Huang, Gengzhi; Li, Zhigang

2016-12-09

Based on the increasing pressure on the water environment, this study aims to clarify the overall status of wastewater discharge in China, including the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of wastewater discharge and its driving factors, so as to provide reference for developing "emission reduction" strategies in China and discuss regional sustainable development and resources environment policies. We utilized the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) method to analyze the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of the total wastewater discharge among 31 provinces in China from 2002 to 2013. Then, we discussed about the driving factors, affected the wastewater discharge through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method and classified those driving factors. Results indicate that: (1) the total wastewater discharge steadily increased, based on the social economic development, with an average growth rate of 5.3% per year; the domestic wastewater discharge is the main source of total wastewater discharge, and the amount of domestic wastewater discharge is larger than the industrial wastewater discharge. There are many spatial differences of wastewater discharge among provinces via the ESDA method. For example, provinces with high wastewater discharge are mainly the developed coastal provinces such as Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province. Provinces and their surrounding areas with low wastewater discharge are mainly the undeveloped ones in Northwest China; (2) The dominant factors affecting wastewater discharge are the economy and technological advance; The secondary one is the efficiency of resource utilization, which brings about the unstable effect; population plays a less important role in wastewater discharge. The dominant driving factors affecting wastewater discharge among 31 provinces are divided into three types, including two-factor dominant type, three-factor leading type and four-factor antagonistic type. In addition, the proposals aimed at reducing the wastewater discharge are provided on the basis of these three types.

Nutritional Aspects of Dysphagia Management.

PubMed

Gallegos, C; Brito-de la Fuente, E; Clavé, P; Costa, A; Assegehegn, G

This chapter describes the nutritional aspects of dysphagia management by starting with the definition of these two conditions (dysphagia and malnutrition) that share three main clinical characteristics: (a) their prevalence is very high, (b) they can lead to severe complications, and (c) they are frequently underrecognized and neglected conditions. From an anatomical standpoint, dysphagia can result from oropharyngeal and/or esophageal causes; from a pathophysiological perspective, dysphagia can be caused by organic or structural diseases (either benign or malignant) or diseases causing impaired physiology (mainly motility and/or perception disorders). This chapter gathers up-to-date information on the screening and diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia, the consequences of dysphagia (aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration), and on the nutritional management of dysphagic patients. Concerning this last topic, this chapter reviews the rheological aspects of swallowing and dysphagia (including shear and elongational flows) and its influence on the characteristics of the enteral nutrition for dysphagia management (solid/semisolid foods and thickened liquids; ready-to-use oral nutritional supplements and thickening powders), with special focus on the real characteristics of the bolus after mixing with human saliva. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cornering and wear characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter nose-gear tire

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Pamela A.; Stubbs, Sandy M.; Vogler, William A.

1989-01-01

Tests of the Space Shuttle Orbiter nose-gear tire have been completed at NASA Langley's Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility. The purpose of these tests was to determine the cornering and wear characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter nose-gear tire under realistic operating conditions. The tire was tested on a simulated Kennedy Space Center runway surface at speeds from 100 to 180 kts. The results of these tests defined the cornering characteristics which included side forces and associated side force friction coefficient over a range of yaw angles from 0 deg to 12 deg. Wear characteristics were defined by tire tread and cord wear over a yaw angle range of 0 deg to 4 deg under dry and wet runway conditions. Wear characteristics were also defined for a 15 kt crosswind landing with two blown right main-gear tires and nose-gear steering engaged.

Conceptualisation of the characteristics of advanced practitioners in the medical radiation professions

PubMed Central

Smith, Tony; Harris, Jillian; Woznitza, Nick; Maresse, Sharon; Sale, Charlotte

2015-01-01

Professions grapple with defining advanced practice and the characteristics of advanced practitioners. In nursing and allied health, advanced practice has been defined as ‘a state of professional maturity in which the individual demonstrates a level of integrated knowledge, skill and competence that challenges the accepted boundaries of practice and pioneers new developments in health care’. Evolution of advanced practice in Australia has been slower than in the United Kingdom, mainly due to differences in demography, the health system and industrial relations. This article describes a conceptual model of advanced practitioner characteristics in the medical radiation professions, taking into account experiences in other countries and professions. Using the CanMEDS framework, the model includes foundation characteristics of communication, collaboration and professionalism, which are fundamental to advanced clinical practice. Gateway characteristics are: clinical expertise, with high level competency in a particular area of clinical practice; scholarship and teaching, including a masters qualification and knowledge dissemination through educating others; and evidence-based practice, with judgements made on the basis of research findings, including research by the advanced practitioner. The pinnacle of advanced practice is clinical leadership, where the practitioner has a central role in the health care team, with the capacity to influence decision making and advocate for others, including patients. The proposed conceptual model is robust yet adaptable in defining generic characteristics of advanced practitioners, no matter their clinical specialty. The advanced practice roles that evolve to meet future health service demand must focus on the needs of patients, local populations and communities. PMID:26451243

Conceptualisation of the characteristics of advanced practitioners in the medical radiation professions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, Tony; Harris, Jillian; Woznitza, Nick

Professions grapple with defining advanced practice and the characteristics of advanced practitioners. In nursing and allied health, advanced practice has been defined as ‘a state of professional maturity in which the individual demonstrates a level of integrated knowledge, skill and competence that challenges the accepted boundaries of practice and pioneers new developments in health care’. Evolution of advanced practice in Australia has been slower than in the United Kingdom, mainly due to differences in demography, the health system and industrial relations. This article describes a conceptual model of advanced practitioner characteristics in the medical radiation professions, taking into account experiencesmore » in other countries and professions. Using the CanMEDS framework, the model includes foundation characteristics of communication, collaboration and professionalism, which are fundamental to advanced clinical practice. Gateway characteristics are: clinical expertise, with high level competency in a particular area of clinical practice; scholarship and teaching, including a masters qualification and knowledge dissemination through educating others; and evidence-based practice, with judgements made on the basis of research findings, including research by the advanced practitioner. The pinnacle of advanced practice is clinical leadership, where the practitioner has a central role in the health care team, with the capacity to influence decision making and advocate for others, including patients. The proposed conceptual model is robust yet adaptable in defining generic characteristics of advanced practitioners, no matter their clinical specialty. The advanced practice roles that evolve to meet future health service demand must focus on the needs of patients, local populations and communities.« less

[The Phenotype of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease With Frequent Exacerbations in the Aspect of Long-term Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Results].

PubMed

Zafiraki, V K; Namitokov, A M; Skaletsky, K V; Kosmacheva, E D; Shulzhenko, L V; Ramazanov, J M; Omarov, A A; Pershukov, I V

2017-03-01

To evaluate the results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depending on the frequency of exacerbations of COPD. We enrolled in this prospective study 103 patients with CHD and COPD who underwent PCI (n=103) including 25 who satisfied criteria of COPD phenotype with frequent exacerbations (main group). Analysis included comparison of rates and times to major adverse cardiac events (MACE - myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac death, repeat revascularization) in the main group and other patients. Clinical and functional features of patients with major adverse cardiac events were also analyzed. Study groups did not differ significantly on demographic characteristics and the presence of comorbidity. MACE frequency was almost 2 times higher in the main group (relative risk 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.3). There was a tendency to higher rate of MACE among patients with history of more or equal 1 COPD exacerbations in a year (40% vs. 24%, p=0.09). The following clinical and functional characteristics of COPD, were associated with MACE in remote period after PCI: frequency of exacerbations, results of the COPD Assessment Test, exercise capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec. Conclusion/ COPD phenotype with frequent exacerbations in patients with CHD undergoing PCI is associated with increased risk and earlier occurrence of MACE.

[A review on fundamental studies of secondary forest management].

PubMed

Zhu, Jiaojun

2002-12-01

Secondary forest is also called as natural secondary forest, which regenerates on native forest that has been disturbed by severe natural or anthropogenic disturbances. The structural and dynamic organizations, growth, productivity and stand environment of secondary forests are significantly different from those of natural and artificial forests. Such significant differences make secondary forests have their own special characteristics in forestry. Secondary forests are the main body of forests in China. Therefore, their management plays a very important role in the projects of natural forest conservation and the construction of ecological environment in China or in the world. Based on a wide range of literature collection on secondary forest research, the fundamental studies of secondary forest management were discussed. The major topics are as follows: 1) basic characteristics of secondary forest, 2) principles of secondary forest management, 3) types of secondary forest, 4) community structure and succession dynamics of secondary forest, including niches, biodiversity, succession and so on, 5) main ecological processes of secondary forest, including regeneration, forest soil and forest environment. Additionally, the research needs and tendency related to secondary forest in the future were also given, based on the analyses of the main results and the problems in current management of secondary forest. The review may be helpful to the research of secondary forest management, and to the projects of natural forest conservation in China.

[Experience of the development special medical technical laboratory for studies of effects caused by potent electromagnetic radiation in biologic objects].

PubMed

Gorodetsky, B N; Kalyada, T V; Petrov, S V

2015-01-01

This article covers topics of creating special medical technical laboratory for medial and biologic studies concerning influence of potent high-frequency elecromagnetic radiation on various biologic objects. The authors gave example of such laboratory, described its construction features, purpose and main characteristics of the included devices.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sabel, C.S.; Bell, G.A.; Wildish, G.M. comps.

A bibliography is presented consisting of 175 references to books, journal articles, reports, and patent literature concerning the Harwell reactors: BEPO, DIDO, DIMPLE, GLEEP, HAZEL, LIDO, NEPTUNE, PLUTO, Z EPHYR, ZETR-I, ZETR-II, and ZEUS. The main characteristics of the reactors are tabulated for: startup date, peak neutron flux, maximum heat output moderator, coolant, fuel, and purpose. An author complex is included. (B.O.G.)

Arctic Rabies – A Review

PubMed Central

Mørk, Torill; Prestrud, Pål

2004-01-01

Rabies seems to persist throughout most arctic regions, and the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland, is the only part of the Arctic where rabies has not been diagnosed in recent time. The arctic fox is the main host, and the same arctic virus variant seems to infect the arctic fox throughout the range of this species. The epidemiology of rabies seems to have certain common characteristics in arctic regions, but main questions such as the maintenance and spread of the disease remains largely unknown. The virus has spread and initiated new epidemics also in other species such as the red fox and the racoon dog. Large land areas and cold climate complicate the control of the disease, but experimental oral vaccination of arctic foxes has been successful. This article summarises the current knowledge and the typical characteristics of arctic rabies including its distribution and epidemiology. PMID:15535081

Introducing hydrological information in rainfall intensity-duration thresholds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greco, Roberto; Bogaard, Thom

2016-04-01

Regional landslide hazard assessment is mainly based on empirically derived precipitation-intensity-duration (PID) thresholds. Generally, two features of rainfall events are plotted to discriminate between observed occurrence and absence of occurrence of mass movements. Hereafter, a separation line is drawn in logarithmic space. Although successfully applied in many case studies, such PID thresholds suffer from many false positives as well as limited physical process insight. One of the main limitations is indeed that they do not include any information about the hydrological processes occurring along the slopes, so that the triggering is only related to rainfall characteristics. In order to introduce such an hydrological information in the definition of rainfall thresholds for shallow landslide triggering assessment, in this study the introduction of non-dimensional rainfall characteristics is proposed. In particular, rain storm depth, intensity and duration are divided by a characteristic infiltration depth, a characteristic infiltration rate and a characteristic duration, respectively. These latter variables depend on the hydraulic properties and on the moisture state of the soil cover at the beginning of the precipitation. The proposed variables are applied to the case of a slope covered with shallow pyroclastic deposits in Cervinara (southern Italy), for which experimental data of hourly rainfall and soil suction were available. Rainfall thresholds defined with the proposed non-dimensional variables perform significantly better than those defined with dimensional variables, either in the intensity-duration plane or in the depth-duration plane.

Hot-Fire Test Results of an Oxygen/RP-2 Multi-Element Oxidizer-Rich Staged-Combustion Integrated Test Article

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hulka, J. R.; Protz, C. S.; Garcia, C. P.; Casiano, M. J.; Parton, J. A.

2016-01-01

As part of the Combustion Stability Tool Development project funded by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center was contracted to assemble and hot-fire test a multi-element integrated test article demonstrating combustion characteristics of an oxygen/hydrocarbon propellant oxidizer-rich staged-combustion engine thrust chamber. Such a test article simulates flow through the main injectors of oxygen/kerosene oxidizer-rich staged combustion engines such as the Russian RD-180 or NK-33 engines, or future U.S.-built engine systems such as the Aerojet-Rocketdyne AR-1 engine or the Hydrocarbon Boost program demonstration engine. For the thrust chamber assembly of the test article, several configurations of new main injectors, using relatively conventional gas-centered swirl coaxial injector elements, were designed and fabricated. The design and fabrication of these main injectors are described in a companion paper at this JANNAF meeting. New ablative combustion chambers were fabricated based on hardware previously used at NASA for testing at similar size and pressure. An existing oxygen/RP-1 oxidizer-rich subscale preburner injector from a previous NASA-funded program, along with existing and new inter-connecting hot gas duct hardware, were used to supply the oxidizer-rich combustion products to the oxidizer circuit of the main injector of the thrust chamber. Results from independent hot-fire tests of the preburner injector in a combustion chamber with a sonic throat are described in companion papers at this JANNAF conference. The resulting integrated test article - which includes the preburner, inter-connecting hot gas duct, main injector, and ablative combustion chamber - was assembled at Test Stand 116 at the East Test Area of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The test article was well instrumented with static and dynamic pressure, temperature, and acceleration sensors to allow the collected data to be used for combustion analysis model development. Hot-fire testing was conducted with main combustion chamber pressures ranging from 1400 to 2100 psia, and main combustion chamber mixture ratios ranging from 2.4 to 2.9. Different levels of fuel film cooling injected from the injector face were examined ranging from none to about 12% of the total fuel flow. This paper presents the hot-fire test results of the integrated test article. Combustion performance, stability, thermal, and compatibility characteristics of both the preburner and the thrust chamber are described. Another companion paper at this JANNAF meeting includes additional and more detailed test data regarding the combustion dynamics and stability characteristics.

Patterns of pre-treatment drug abuse, drug treatment history and characteristics of addicts in methadone maintenance treatment in Iran

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Opiates are the main drugs of abuse, and Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is the most widely administered drug addiction treatment program in Iran. Our study aimed to investigate patterns of pre-treatment drug abuse, addiction treatment history and characteristics of patients in MMT in Tehran. Methods We applied a stratified cluster random sampling technique and conducted a cross-sectional survey utilizing a standard patient characteristic and addiction history form with patients (n = 810) in MMT. The Chi-square test and t-test served for statistical analyses. Results A clear majority of the participants were men (96%), more than 60% of whom were between 25 and 44 years of age, educated (89% had more than elementary education), and employed (>70%). The most commonly reported main drugs of abuse prior to MMT entry were opium (69%) and crystalline heroin (24%). The patients’ lifetime drug experience included opium (92%), crystalline heroin (28%), cannabis (16%), amphetamines (15%), and other drugs (33%). Crystalline heroin abusers were younger than opium users, had begun abusing drugs earlier, and reported a shorter history of opiate addiction. Conclusion Opium and crystalline heroin were the main drugs of abuse. A high rate of addiction using more dangerous opiate drugs such as crystalline heroin calls for more preventive efforts, especially among young men. PMID:22676557

A review of hospital characteristics associated with improved performance.

PubMed

Brand, Caroline A; Barker, Anna L; Morello, Renata T; Vitale, Michael R; Evans, Sue M; Scott, Ian A; Stoelwinder, Johannes U; Cameron, Peter A

2012-10-01

The objective of this review was to critically appraise the literature relating to associations between high-level structural and operational hospital characteristics and improved performance. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, proQuest and PsychINFO were searched for articles published between January 1996 and May 2010. Reference lists of included articles were reviewed and key journals were hand searched for relevant articles. and data extraction Studies were included if they were systematic reviews or meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, controlled before and after studies or observational studies (cohort and cross-sectional) that were multicentre, comparative performance studies. Two reviewers independently extracted data, assigned grades of evidence according to the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines and critically appraised the included articles. Data synthesis Fifty-seven studies were reported within 12 systematic reviews and 47 observational articles. There was heterogeneity in use and definition of performance outcomes. Hospital characteristics investigated were environment (incentives, market characteristics), structure (network membership, ownership, teaching status, geographical setting, service size) and operational design (innovativeness, leadership, organizational culture, public reporting and patient safety practices, information technology systems and decision support, service activity and planning, workforce design, staff training and education). The strongest evidence for an association with overall performance was identified for computerized physician order entry systems. Some evidence supported the associations with workforce design, use of financial incentives, nursing leadership and hospital volume. There is limited, mainly low-quality evidence, supporting the associations between hospital characteristics and healthcare performance. Further characteristic-specific systematic reviews are indicated.

Study on rejection characteristic of current loop to the base disturbance of optical communication system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yao; Deng, Chao; Liu, Qiong; Cao, Zheng

2016-10-01

As laser has narrow transmitting beam and small divergence angle, the LOS (Line of Sight) stabilization of optical communication system is a primary precondition of laser communication links. Compound axis control is usually adopted in LOS stabilization of optical communication system, in which coarse tracking and fine tracking are included. Rejection against high frequency disturbance mainly depends on fine tracking LOS stabilization platform. Limited by different factors such as mechanical characteristic of the stabilization platform and bandwidth/noise of the sensor, the control bandwidth of LOS stabilization platform is restricted so that effective rejection of high frequency disturbance cannot be achieved as it mainly depends on the isolation characteristic of the platform itself. It is proposed by this paper that current loop may reject the effect of back-EMF. By adopting the method of electric control, high frequency isolation characteristic of the platform can be improved. The improvement effect is similar to increasing passive vibration reduction devices. Adopting the double closed loop control structure of velocity and current with the combining of the rejection effect of back-EMF caused by current loop is equivalent to reducing back-EMF coefficient, which can enhance the isolation ability of the LOS stabilization platform to high frequency disturbance.

Fluorescent photochromes of diarylethene series: synthesis and properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirinian, Valerii Z.; Lonshakov, D. V.; Lvov, A. G.; Krayushkin, Mikhail M.

2013-06-01

The research data in the field of fluorescent photochromic di(het)arylethenes published over the last decade are summarized. The characteristics of these compounds significant for their application in the design of molecular optical memory systems and photocontrolled switches are considered. The main types of diarylethenes and methods for their synthesis are described, and the correlations between structure and spectral properties, in particular, fluorescence characteristics are analyzed. Considerable attention is given to the means for endowing diarylethenes with fluorescence properties as one of the most promising methods for data readout from molecular information carriers. The bibliography includes 203 references.

Alternative Physics Examination Questions: Identification and Explanation of Different Discriminating Powers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forster, Patricia A.

2005-12-01

The issue of unfairness arises in high-stakes public examinations when students choose questions from alternatives that are offered and marks on the alternatives turn out to be discrepant. This paper addresses and defines unfairness and discrepancy in the context of alternative questions in Physics Tertiary Entrance Examinations (TEE) in Western Australia. As well, I present an analysis of question characteristics that explain observed marks-differences. The characteristics mainly relate to the construction of the text of questions, the detail on diagrams, and requirements for calculation. The list of characteristics could inform the setting of compulsory as well as alternative examination questions. The paper includes a brief exploration of results by gender on the alternative Physics TEE questions.

Physicochemical characteristics and microbial community evolution of biofilms during the start-up period in a moving bed biofilm reactor.

PubMed

Zhu, Yan; Zhang, Yan; Ren, Hong-Qiang; Geng, Jin-Ju; Xu, Ke; Huang, Hui; Ding, Li-Li

2015-03-01

This study aimed to investigate biofilm properties evolution coupled with different ages during the start-up period in a moving bed biofilm reactor system. Physicochemical characteristics including adhesion force, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), morphology as well as volatile solid and microbial community were studied. Results showed that the formation and development of biofilms exhibited four stages, including (I) initial attachment and young biofilm formation, (II) biofilms accumulation, (III) biofilm sloughing and updating, and (IV) biofilm maturation. During the whole start-up period, adhesion force was positively and significantly correlated with the contents of EPS, especially the content of polysaccharide. In addition, increased adhesion force and EPS were beneficial for biofilm retention. Gram-negative bacteria mainly including Sphaerotilus, Zoogloea and Haliscomenobacter were predominant in the initial stage. Actinobacteria was beneficial to resist sloughing. Furthermore, filamentous bacteria were dominant in maturation biofilm. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Results from the calibration of the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer instruments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welsh, Barry Y.; Jelinsky, Pat; Vedder, Peter W.; Vallerga, John V.; Finley, David S.; Malina, Roger F.

1991-01-01

The paper describes the main features and selected results of the calibration of the scientific instruments to be flown on the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer in 1991. The instrument payload includes three grazing incidence scanning telescopes and an EUV spectrometer/deep survey instrument covering the spectral region 70-800 A. The measured imaging characteristics, the effective areas, and the details of spectral responses of the instruments are presented. Diagrams of the cross-sectional views of the scanning telescope and the deep-survey/spectrometer telescope are included.

Main challenges in demulsifier research and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Fusheng; Liu, Guoliang; Ma, Junhan; Ouyang, Jian; Yi, Xiaoling; Su, Huimin

2017-01-01

Main challenges in demulsifier research, such as demulsification of ASP flooding produced liquid, demulsification of heavy oil produced liquid, low temperature demulsification and fast demulsification, are summarized. Some importance technology routes to solve the challenges are proposed according to demulsification mechanisms and emulsion characteristics. The proposed routes include increasing aromaticity, molecular weight and branch degree of demulsifiers, and introducing double-function groups to demulsifiers for W/O and O/W emulsions, or groups with alkyl matching with alkyl carbon number of the crude oil into demulsifier molecule. The demulsification mechanisms of the above-mentioned research routes are described in detail.

Cornering characteristics of the main-gear tire of the space shuttle orbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daugherty, Robert H.; Stubbs, Sandy M.; Robinson, Martha P.

1988-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center to study the effects of various vertical load and yaw angle conditions on the cornering behavior of the Space Shuttle Orbiter main gear tire. Measured parameters included side and drag force, side and drag force coefficients, aligning torque, and overturning torque. Side force coefficient was found to increase as yaw angle was increased, but decreased as the vertical load was increased. Drag force was found to increase as vertical load was increased at constant yaw angles. Aligning torque measurements indicated that the tire is stable in yaw.

Real-Time Demonstration of the Main Characteristics of Chaos in the Motion of a Real Double Pendulum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vadai, Gergely; Gingl, Zoltan; Mellar, Janos

2012-01-01

Several studies came to the conclusion that chaotic phenomena are worth including in high school and undergraduate education. The double pendulum is one of the simplest systems that is chaotic; therefore, numerical simulations and theoretical studies of it have been given large publicity, and thanks to its spectacular motion, it has become one of…

NEETs versus EETs: An Observational Study in Italy on the Framework of the HEALTH25 European Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nardi, Bernardo; Lucarelli, Chiara; Talamonti, Marta; Arimatea, Emidio; Fiori, Valentina; Moltedo-Perfetti, Andrès

2015-01-01

An observational study of young Italian NEETs (not in education, employment or training) and their EET peers (in education, employment or training) was conducted in the framework of a European Union (EU) project. Main characteristics and behaviours were compared to gain insights into the NEET condition in Italy. The sample included 111 NEETs…

CHARACTERISTICS OF FARM WORKERS AS RELATED TO STABILIZATION OF THE WORK FORCE.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

METZLER, WILLIAM H.

PROBLEMS OF THE MIGRANTS INCLUDE THEIR LACK OF DESIRE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND TO ADJUST TO NEW SITUATIONS, THEIR NEED TO MIGRATE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT DURING CERTAIN OFF-SEASONS, THEIR LACK OF TRAINING FOR MANY KINDS OF JOBS, THEIR PREJUDICED ATTITUDE TOWARD JOBS MAINLY PERFORMED BY FOREIGN OR COLORED WORKERS, THEIR TENDENCY TO LEAVE A JOB WHEN…

Stochastic GARCH dynamics describing correlations between stocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prat-Ortega, G.; Savel'ev, S. E.

2014-09-01

The ARCH and GARCH processes have been successfully used for modelling price dynamics such as stock returns or foreign exchange rates. Analysing the long range correlations between stocks, we propose a model, based on the GARCH process, which is able to describe the main characteristics of the stock price correlations, including the mean, variance, probability density distribution and the noise spectrum.

Review of Combustion Stability Characteristics of Swirl Coaxial Element Injectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hulka, J. R.; Casiano, M. J.

2013-01-01

Liquid propellant rocket engine injectors using coaxial elements where the center liquid is swirled have become more common in the United States over the past several decades, although primarily for technology or advanced development programs. Currently, only one flight engine operates with this element type in the United States (the RL10 engine), while the element type is very common in Russian (and ex-Soviet) liquid propellant rocket engines. In the United States, the understanding of combustion stability characteristics of swirl coaxial element injectors is still very limited, despite the influx of experimental and theoretical information from Russia. The empirical and theoretical understanding is much less advanced than for the other prevalent liquid propellant rocket injector element types, the shear coaxial and like-on-like paired doublet. This paper compiles, compares and explores the combustion stability characteristics of swirl coaxial element injectors tested in the United States, dating back to J-2 and RL-10 development, and extending to very recent programs at the NASA MSFC using liquid oxygen and liquid methane and kerosene propellants. Included in this study are several other relatively recent design and test programs, including the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME), COBRA, J-2X, and the Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE). A presentation of the basic data characteristics is included, followed by an evaluation by several analysis techniques, including those included in Rocket Combustor Interactive Design and Analysis Computer Program (ROCCID), and methodologies described by Hewitt and Bazarov.

Disrupting gatekeeping practices: Journalists’ source selection in times of crisis

PubMed Central

van der Meer, Toni G.L.A.; Verhoeven, Piet; Beentjes, Johannes W.J.; Vliegenthart, Rens

2016-01-01

As gatekeepers, journalists have the power to select the sources that get a voice in crisis coverage. The aim of this study is to find out how journalists select sources during a crisis. In a survey, journalists were asked how they assess the following sources during an organizational crisis: news agencies, an organization undergoing a crisis, and the general public. The sample consisted of 214 Dutch experienced journalists who at least once covered a crisis. Using structural equation modeling, sources’ likelihood of being included in the news was predicted using five source characteristics: credibility, knowledge, willingness, timeliness, and the relationship with the journalist. Findings indicated that during a crisis, news agencies are most likely to be included in the news, followed by the public, and finally the organization. The significance of the five source characteristics is dependent on source type. For example, to be used in the news, news agencies and organizations should be mainly evaluated as knowledgeable, whereas information from the public should be both credible and timely. In addition, organizations should not be seen as too willing or too eager to communicate. The findings imply that, during a crisis, journalists remain critical gatekeepers; however, they rely mainly on familiar sources. PMID:29278263

Disrupting gatekeeping practices: Journalists' source selection in times of crisis.

PubMed

van der Meer, Toni G L A; Verhoeven, Piet; Beentjes, Johannes W J; Vliegenthart, Rens

2017-10-01

As gatekeepers, journalists have the power to select the sources that get a voice in crisis coverage. The aim of this study is to find out how journalists select sources during a crisis. In a survey, journalists were asked how they assess the following sources during an organizational crisis: news agencies, an organization undergoing a crisis, and the general public. The sample consisted of 214 Dutch experienced journalists who at least once covered a crisis. Using structural equation modeling, sources' likelihood of being included in the news was predicted using five source characteristics: credibility, knowledge, willingness, timeliness, and the relationship with the journalist. Findings indicated that during a crisis, news agencies are most likely to be included in the news, followed by the public, and finally the organization. The significance of the five source characteristics is dependent on source type. For example, to be used in the news, news agencies and organizations should be mainly evaluated as knowledgeable, whereas information from the public should be both credible and timely. In addition, organizations should not be seen as too willing or too eager to communicate. The findings imply that, during a crisis, journalists remain critical gatekeepers; however, they rely mainly on familiar sources.

Dental and craniofacial characteristics in a patient with Dubowitz syndrome: a case report.

PubMed

Ballini, Andrea; Cantore, Stefania; Tullo, Domenica; Desiate, Apollonia

2011-01-27

Dubowitz syndrome is a very rare, autosomal recessive disease characterized by microcephaly, growth retardation, a high sloping forehead, facial asymmetry, blepharophimosis, sparse hair and eyebrows, low-set ears and mental retardation. Symptoms vary between patients, but other characteristics include a soft high-pitched voice, dental and craniofacial abnormalities, partial webbing of the fingers and toes, palate deformations, genital abnormalities, eczema, hyperactivity, preference for concrete over abstract thinking, language difficulties and an aversion to crowds. We describe the craniofacial and dental characteristics of a 12-year-old Caucasian Italian boy with both the typical and less common findings of Dubowitz syndrome. Diagnosis of Dubowitz syndrome is mainly based on the facial phenotype. Possible conditions for differential diagnosis include Bloom syndrome, Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome. As there are few reports of this syndrome in the literature, we hope this case report will enable health professionals to recognize the phenotypic alterations of this syndrome, and allow early referral for the necessary multidisciplinary treatments.

[Main characteristics of current biomedical research, in Chile].

PubMed

Valdés S, Gloria; Armas M, Rodolfo; Reyes B, Humberto

2012-04-01

Biomedical research is a fundamental tool for the development of a country, requiring human and financial resources. To define some current characteristics of biomedical research, in Chile. Data on entities funding bio-medical research, participant institutions, and the number of active investigators for the period 2007-2009 were obtained from institutional sources; publications indexed in PubMed for 2008-2009 were analysed. Most financial resources invested in biomedical research projects (approximately US$ 19 million per year) came from the "Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica" (CONICYT), a state institution with 3 independent Funds administering competitive grant applications open annually to institutional or independent investigators in Chile. Other sources and universities raised the total amount to US$ 26 million. Since 2007 to 2009, 408 investigators participated in projects funded by CONICYT. The main participant institutions were Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, both adding up to 84% of all funded projects. Independently, in 2009,160 research projects -mainly multi centric clinical trials- received approximately US$ 24 million from foreign pharmaceutical companies. Publications listed in PubMed were classified as "clinical research" (n = 879, including public health) or "basic biomedical research" (n = 312). Biomedical research in Chile is mainly supported by state funds and university resources, but clinical trials also obtained an almost equivalent amount from foreign resources. Investigators are predominantly located in two universities. A small number of MD-PhD programs are aimed to train and incorporate new scientists. Only a few new Medical Schools participate in biomedical research. A National Registry of biomedical research projects, including the clinical trials, is required among other initiatives to stimulate research in biomedical sciences in Chile.

Automatic Extraction of Urban Built-Up Area Based on Object-Oriented Method and Remote Sensing Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Zhou, H.; Wen, Q.; Chen, T.; Guan, F.; Ren, B.; Yu, H.; Wang, Z.

2018-04-01

Built-up area marks the use of city construction land in the different periods of the development, the accurate extraction is the key to the studies of the changes of urban expansion. This paper studies the technology of automatic extraction of urban built-up area based on object-oriented method and remote sensing data, and realizes the automatic extraction of the main built-up area of the city, which saves the manpower cost greatly. First, the extraction of construction land based on object-oriented method, the main technical steps include: (1) Multi-resolution segmentation; (2) Feature Construction and Selection; (3) Information Extraction of Construction Land Based on Rule Set, The characteristic parameters used in the rule set mainly include the mean of the red band (Mean R), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Ratio of residential index (RRI), Blue band mean (Mean B), Through the combination of the above characteristic parameters, the construction site information can be extracted. Based on the degree of adaptability, distance and area of the object domain, the urban built-up area can be quickly and accurately defined from the construction land information without depending on other data and expert knowledge to achieve the automatic extraction of the urban built-up area. In this paper, Beijing city as an experimental area for the technical methods of the experiment, the results show that: the city built-up area to achieve automatic extraction, boundary accuracy of 2359.65 m to meet the requirements. The automatic extraction of urban built-up area has strong practicality and can be applied to the monitoring of the change of the main built-up area of city.

Rotor performance characteristics from an aeroacoustic helicopter wind-tunnel test program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoad, D. R.; Elliott, J. W.; Orie, N. M.

1986-01-01

An investigation of helicopter rotor noise at model scale was conducted in the Langley 4 by 7 meter tunnel. The program described was the first of a planned three-phase project whose purpose was to examine the characteristic noise mechanism involved in main rotor/tail rotor interaction noise. This first phase was conducted with a main rotor only, in order to identify the characteristic noise generated by only the main rotor. The aerodynamic operating conditions of the rotor system were defined during the test. The acoustic data were properly referenced.

Exploring Mechanisms for Effective Technology-Enhanced Simulation-based Education in Wilderness Medicine: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

MacKinnon, Ralph; Aitken, Deborah; Humphries, Christopher

2015-12-17

 Technology-enhanced simulation is well-established in healthcare teaching curricula, including those regarding wilderness medicine. Compellingly, the evidence base for the value of this educational modality to improve learner competencies and patient outcomes are increasing.  The aim was to systematically review the characteristics of technology-enhanced simulation presented in the wilderness medicine literature to date. Then, the secondary aim was to explore how this technology has been used and if the use of this technology has been associated with improved learner or patient outcomes.  EMBASE and MEDLINE were systematically searched from 1946 to 2014, for articles on the provision of technology-enhanced simulation to teach wilderness medicine. Working independently, the team evaluated the information on the criteria of learners, setting, instructional design, content, and outcomes.  From a pool of 37 articles, 11 publications were eligible for systematic review. The majority of learners in the included publications were medical students, settings included both indoors and outdoors, and the main focus clinical content was initial trauma management with some including leadership skills. The most prevalent instructional design components were clinical variation and cognitive interactivity, with learner satisfaction as the main outcome.  The results confirm that the current provision of wilderness medicine utilizing technology-enhanced simulation is aligned with instructional design characteristics that have been used to achieve effective learning. Future research should aim to demonstrate the translation of learning into the clinical field to produce improved learner outcomes and create improved patient outcomes.

Test stand for gas-discharge chamber of TEA CO2 lasers with pulse-periodical energy supply

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shorin, Vladimyr P.; Bystrov, N. D.; Zhuravlyov, O. A.; Nekrasov, V. V.

1997-05-01

Test stand for function optimization (incomposition of gas- dynamic circuit (GDC) of operating characteristics of full- size discharge chamber of flowing TEA carbon-dioxide lasers (power up to 100 kW) was created in Samara State Aerospace University (former Kuibyshev Aviation Institute). Test stand includes an inside-type GDC, low inductive generators of voltage pulses of preionization and main discharges, two-flow rate system of gas supply and noise immunity diagnostic system. Module construction of units of GDC, power supplies of preionization and main discharges allows to change configuration of stand's systems for providing given properties of gas flow and its energy supply. This test stand can also be used in servicing of laser system. The diagnostic system of this stand allows us to analyze energy properties of discharge by means of oscillographic measurements of voltage and current with following processing of discharges' volt- ampere characteristics by means of a computer; rate of non- stationary gas-dynamic disturbances in discharge gap of discharge chamber was measured by means of pulse holographic system (UlG-1M) with data processing of schliren- and interferogram (density fluctuation sensitivity approximately 10-2) and sensor measurement system of gas-dynamic shock and acoustics process with resonance frequency exceeding 100 kHz. Research results of process of plasma plate wave and channel structures interaction with mediums, including actuation non-stationary gas-dynamic flows, cavitation erosion of preionization electrodes' dielectric substructure, ancillary heating of channels by main volumetric discharge are presented as well.

Epidemiological characterization of diabetic patients on therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and continuous glucose monitoring in real time.

PubMed

Aristizábal, Natalia; Ramírez, Alex; Hincapié-García, Jaime; Laiton, Estefany; Aristizábal, Carolina; Cuesta, Diana; Monsalve, Claudia; Hincapié, Gloria; Zapata, Eliana; Abad, Verónica; Delgado, Maria-Rocio; Torres, José-Luis; Palacio, Andrés; Botero, José

2015-11-01

To describe baseline characteristics of diabetic patients who were started on insulin pump and real time continuous glucose monitor (CSII-rtCGM) in a specialized center in Medellin, Colombia. All patients with diabetes with complete data who were started on CSII-rtCGM between February 2010 and May 2014 were included. This is a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. 141 of 174 patients attending the clinic were included. 90,1% had type 1diabetes (T1D). The average age of T1D patients at the beginning of therapy was 31,4 years (SD 14,1). 75.8% of patients had normal weight (BMI<25), 21.0% were overweight (BMI 25-30) and 2,3% were obese (BMI>30). The median duration of T1D was 13 years (P25-P75=10.7-22.0). 14,2% of the patients were admitted at least once in the year preceding the start of CSII-rtCGM because of diabetes related complications. Mean A1c was 8.6%±1.46%. The main reasons for starting CSII-rtCGM were: poor glycemic control (50.2%); frequent hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia related to exercise, asymptomatic hypoglycemia (30.2%); severe hypoglycemia (16.44%) and dawn phenomena (3.1%). Baseline characteristics of patients included in this study who were started on CSII-rtCGM are similar to those reported in the literature. The Clinic starts CSII-rtCGM mainly in T1D patients with poor glycemic control, frequent or severe hypoglycemia despite being on basal/bolus therapy. Copyright © 2015 SEEN. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

A clinician survey of speech and non-speech characteristics of neurogenic stuttering.

PubMed

Theys, Catherine; van Wieringen, Astrid; De Nil, Luc F

2008-03-01

This study presents survey data on 58 Dutch-speaking patients with neurogenic stuttering following various neurological injuries. Stroke was the most prevalent cause of stuttering in our patients, followed by traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and other causes. Speech and non-speech characteristics were analyzed separately for these four etiology groups. Results suggested possible group differences, including site of lesion and influence of speech conditions on stuttering. Other characteristics, such as within-word localization of disfluencies and presence of secondary behaviors were comparable across the etiology groups. The implications of our results for the diagnosis of neurogenic stuttering will be discussed. After reading this article, the reader will be able to: (1) provide a concise overview of the main literature on neurogenic stuttering; (2) discuss the speech and non-speech characteristics of neurogenic stuttering; (3) provide an overview of current clinical practices for intervention with neurogenic stuttering patients and their perceived outcome.

[Healthy eating according to teenagers: perceptions, barriers, and expected characteristics of teaching materials].

PubMed

Toral, Natacha; Conti, Maria Aparecida; Slater, Betzabeth

2009-11-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate perceptions, barriers, and characteristics of teaching materials to promote healthy eating, as described by teenagers. Four focus groups were conducted with 25 adolescents, including questions on: perceptions regarding diet and motivations to change; concepts of (and barriers to) healthy eating; and characteristics needed for teaching materials to promote healthy eating. The teens were often undecided when attempting to classify a diet as healthy. They generally reported feeling insecure about making dietary changes, but showed adequate notions of healthy eating. The main barriers involved personal and social characteristics: temptation, food flavors, parental influence, and lack of time and options for healthy snacks at school. According to these teenagers, educational materials for promotion of healthy eating should emphasize the immediate benefits and emphasize high-impact messages on the health risks of unhealthy diet.

[A review on the urban green space cooling effect based on field measurement of air temperature].

PubMed

Liu, Feng Feng; Yan, Wei Jiao; Kong, Fan Hua; Yin, Hai Wei; Ban, Yu Long; Xu, Wen Bin

2017-04-18

With the development of urbanization, the effect of urban heat island has become increasingly evident. As an essential component of the urban natural landscapes, urban green space plays an important role in mitigating the effect of urban heat island. However, facing the rapid urbanization and changing environment, how to rationally plan and design the green space and realize its best cooling effect which can improve the urban environment and microclimate is still an urgent problem to be solved. So there is a strong need for mulitiscale researches on the cooling effect of urban green space. This paper systematically gave a review on the cooling effect of urban green space based on field measurement of air temperature, the main factors that influenced the cooling effect of green space were explored from three aspects including the area and shape characteristics of urban green space, the structure characteristics of vegetation and the external factors which affected the cooling effect, and the characteristics of the cooling effect of the green space were summarized from the aspect of time variation and distance decay. Then, the main problems and future research prospects of urban green space cooling effect were put forward.

ADA Title I allegations and the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil/Gas Extraction industry.

PubMed

Van Wieren, Todd A; Rhoades, Laura; McMahon, Brian T

2017-01-01

The majority of research about employment discrimination in the U.S. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil/Gas (MQOGE) industries has concentrated on gender and race, while little attention has focused on disability. To explore allegations of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title I discrimination made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by individuals with disabilities against MQOGE employers. Key data available to this study included demographic characteristics of charging parties, size of employers, types of allegations, and case outcomes. Using descriptive analysis, allegation profiles were developed for MQOGE's three main sectors (i.e., Oil/Gas Extraction, Mining except Oil/Gas, and Support Activities). These three profiles where then comparatively analyzed. Lastly, regression analysis explored whether some of the available data could partially predict MQOGE case outcomes. The predominant characteristics of MQOGE allegations were found to be quite similar to the allegation profile of U.S. private-sector industry as a whole, and fairly representative of MQOGE's workforce demographics. Significant differences between MQOGE's three main sector profiles were noted on some important characteristics. Lastly, it was found that MQOGE case outcomes could be partially predicted via some of the available variables. The study's limitations were presented and recommendations were offered for further research.

Groupwise connectivity-based parcellation of the whole human cortical surface using watershed-driven dimension reduction.

PubMed

Lefranc, Sandrine; Roca, Pauline; Perrot, Matthieu; Poupon, Cyril; Le Bihan, Denis; Mangin, Jean-François; Rivière, Denis

2016-05-01

Segregating the human cortex into distinct areas based on structural connectivity criteria is of widespread interest in neuroscience. This paper presents a groupwise connectivity-based parcellation framework for the whole cortical surface using a new high quality diffusion dataset of 79 healthy subjects. Our approach performs gyrus by gyrus to parcellate the whole human cortex. The main originality of the method is to compress for each gyrus the connectivity profiles used for the clustering without any anatomical prior information. This step takes into account the interindividual cortical and connectivity variability. To this end, we consider intersubject high density connectivity areas extracted using a surface-based watershed algorithm. A wide validation study has led to a fully automatic pipeline which is robust to variations in data preprocessing (tracking type, cortical mesh characteristics and boundaries of initial gyri), data characteristics (including number of subjects), and the main algorithmic parameters. A remarkable reproducibility is achieved in parcellation results for the whole cortex, leading to clear and stable cortical patterns. This reproducibility has been tested across non-overlapping subgroups and the validation is presented mainly on the pre- and postcentral gyri. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Properties of acetylene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pavlovcak, J.T.

1994-12-31

Acetylene continues to be the most widely used fuel in the oxyfuel cutting and welding industry. It displays properties that enhance its benefits to the industry, but at the same time, present potential hazards that have to be addressed. The presentation explores the main properties or characteristics of acetylene -- odor, toxicity, flammability, composition, and manufacture. it expands on those properties that are unique to acetylene and which account for its main value to the user or which constitute the chief concern for safe use of acetylene. The presentation explains characteristics such as anosmia, flammable or explosive range, ignition energy,more » autoignition temperature, and flame temperature, comparing these values for acetylene to other common gaseous fuels. it explains the unique property of acetylene to decompose explosively in the absence of air or oxygen. The toxicological aspects of acetylene is discussed, including anesthetic effect and simple asphyxiant, showing the increasing severity of symptoms to increasing levels of oxygen deficiency. The main value of this basic review of the properties of acetylene is to remind people of the benefits of acetylene due to its unique properties, and to realert them to the potential hazards that also have to be addressed to control the properties of acetylene.« less

Influence of quality of care and individual patient characteristics on quality of life and return to work in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome: protocol for a prospective, observational, multi-centre patient cohort study (DACAPO).

PubMed

Brandstetter, Susanne; Dodoo-Schittko, Frank; Blecha, Sebastian; Sebök, Philipp; Thomann-Hackner, Kathrin; Quintel, Michael; Weber-Carstens, Steffen; Bein, Thomas; Apfelbacher, Christian

2015-12-17

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and return to work are important outcomes in critical care medicine, reaching beyond mortality. Little is known on factors predictive of HRQoL and return to work in critical illness, including the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and no evidence exists on the role of quality of care (QoC) for outcomes in survivors of ARDS. It is the aim of the DACAPO study ("Surviving ARDS: the influence of QoC and individual patient characteristics on quality of life") to investigate the role of QoC and individual patient characteristics on quality of life and return to work. A prospective, observational, multi-centre patient cohort study will be performed in Germany, using hospitals from the "ARDS Network Germany" as the main recruiting centres. It is envisaged to recruit 2400 patients into the DACAPO study and to analyse a study population of 1500 survivors. They will be followed up until 12 months after discharge from hospital. QoC will be assessed as process quality, structural quality and volume at the institutional level. The main outcomes (HRQoL and return to work) will be assessed by self-report questionnaires. Further data collection includes general medical and ARDS-related characteristics of patients as well as sociodemographic and psycho-social parameters. Multilevel hierarchical modelling will be performed to analyse the effects of QoC and individual patient characteristics on outcomes, taking the cluster structure of the data into account. By obtaining comprehensive data at patient and hospital level using a prospective multi-centre design, the DACAPO-study is the first study investigating the influence of QoC on individual outcomes of ARDS survivors.

Cystic pancreatic neoplasms evaluation by CT and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

PubMed

Sahani, Dushyant; Prasad, Srinivasa; Saini, Sanjay; Mueller, Peter

2002-10-01

CT provides limited assistance in the differentiation between serous and mucinous neoplasms. Because of the variability in the radiographic appearance of serous cystadenomas and overlap in CT characteristics with mucinous neoplasms, most serous neoplasms still require ancillary testing such as biopsy to reach a definitive diagnosis. MRCP is useful in differentiating benign and malignant mucinous tumors including IPMT of the pancreas. The presence of mural nodules is suggestive of malignancy; however, the absence of mural nodules does not indicate that the tumor is benign. A maximum main pancreatic duct diameter of greater than 15 mm and diffuse dilatation of the main pancreatic duct are suggestive of malignancy in main duct-type tumors. Among branch duct-type tumors, malignant tumors tend to be larger than benign tumors; however, this finding is variable. The presence of main pancreatic duct dilatation may be helpful in determining malignancy of branch duct-type tumors.

Role of Morphological Structure, Doping, and Coating of Different Materials in the Sensing Characteristics of Humidity Sensors

PubMed Central

Tripathy, Ashis; Pramanik, Sumit; Cho, Jongman; Santhosh, Jayasree; Osman, Noor Azuan Abu

2014-01-01

The humidity sensing characteristics of different sensing materials are important properties in order to monitor different products or events in a wide range of industrial sectors, research and development laboratories as well as daily life. The primary aim of this study is to compare the sensing characteristics, including impedance or resistance, capacitance, hysteresis, recovery and response times, and stability with respect to relative humidity, frequency, and temperature, of different materials. Various materials, including ceramics, semiconductors, and polymers, used for sensing relative humidity have been reviewed. Correlations of the different electrical characteristics of different doped sensor materials as the most unique feature of a material have been noted. The electrical properties of different sensor materials are found to change significantly with the morphological changes, doping concentration of different materials and film thickness of the substrate. Various applications and scopes are pointed out in the review article. We extensively reviewed almost all main kinds of relative humidity sensors and how their electrical characteristics vary with different doping concentrations, film thickness and basic sensing materials. Based on statistical tests, the zinc oxide-based sensing material is best for humidity sensor design since it shows extremely low hysteresis loss, minimum response and recovery times and excellent stability. PMID:25256110

Psychosocial job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen in Japanese male and female workers: the Jichi Medical School cohort study.

PubMed

Hirokawa, Kumi; Tsutsumi, Akizumi; Kayaba, Kazunori

2008-06-01

The aim of the study was to explore the association between psychosocial job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen levels among 1588 male and 1677 female Japanese workers aged 65 and younger. Sociodemographic and behavioral variables were obtained by a standardized questionnaire, which included the Japanese version of the demand-control questionnaire. Fibrinogen levels were determined with a one-stage clotting assay kit. Job strain - a ratio of demand to control - was positively associated with plasma fibrinogen (p for trend<0.05) but ANCOVA showed that the main effect was only marginally statistically significant in men. Analyses by individual job characteristics components revealed that men with a high level of job demand (Age-adjusted geometric mean (mg/dl)=234.6, 95% CI: 230.9-238.2) showed a higher fibrinogen level than those with other levels (middle; 227.9, 223.6-232.3, low; 224.8, 220.5-229.1) (F (2, 1584)=6.63, p<0.001). Adjustment for potential confounders including total cholesterol and CRP did not reduce the association. No significant association was found between psychosocial job characteristics and fibrinogen in women. The findings appear to imply a mechanism through which adverse psychosocial job characteristics lead to cardiovascular diseases in men.

Fabrication of novel dental nanocomposites and investigation their physicochemical and biological properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaymand, Mehdi; lotfi, Mehrdad; Abbasian, Mojtaba

2018-03-01

This article evaluates physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of a series of novel dental nanocomposites that fabricated from multifunctional methacrylate-based dental monomers, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) monomer, and modified silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The antibacterial activities of the monomers were investigated against lactobacillus plantarum by standard agar disk diffusion method. The cytotoxicity characteristics of the monomers and fabricated nanocomposites were evaluated by MTT and trypan blue cell viability tests, respectively against NIH3T3 cell line. In addition, the mechanical properties, as well as physicochemical characteristics including water sorption, sol fraction, and double bond conversion were also investigated. According to the results, the formulated nanocomposites have potential to apply as dental nanocomposites mainly due to their acceptable physicochemical, mechanical and biological characteristics.

Characteristics of Annosus Root Disease in the Pacific Southwest

Treesearch

Gregg A. DeNitto

1989-01-01

Annosus root disease is mainly a concern in pines and true firs in California. It is most serious on the east side of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade crest, in the mountains of southern California, and in higher elevation fir forests. Symptoms caused by the disease include crown decline and decay and resinosis of roots. Several signs of the fungus may be found. Conks are...

Relation between Working Memory and Self-Regulation Capacities and the Level of Social Skills Acquisition in People with Moderate Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ducic, Bojan; Gligorovic, Milica; Kaljaca, Svetlana

2018-01-01

Background: Social competence deficit is one of the main characteristics of intellectual disability. The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of working memory (WM) and self-regulation (SR) on social skills in persons with moderate intellectual disability (MID). Method: The sample included 41 participants with MID, aged 14-21.…

[General principles for scientific reading and writing].

PubMed

Seda Diestro, José; Garrido Díaz, Isabel; López Rodríguez, Luis; Aparcero Bernet, Luis; Chacartegui Martínez, E Ildefonso

2002-10-01

To present an introduction to scientific writing and reading. To analyse the most frequently used different formats of scientific-technical documents as reported by UNESCO (1983) including Scientific journals, books, monographs, presentations to congresses, technical reports, yearbooks and bulletins. We describe the main characteristics of each one. To emphasize the importance of written communication, in its different formats, in health sciences, for health care professionals formation and information.

Prader-Willi syndrome.

PubMed

Cassidy, Suzanne B; Driscoll, Daniel J

2009-01-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a highly variable genetic disorder affecting multiple body systems whose most consistent major manifestations include hypotonia with poor suck and poor weight gain in infancy; mild mental retardation, hypogonadism, growth hormone insufficiency causing short stature for the family, early childhood-onset hyperphagia and obesity, characteristic appearance, and behavioral and sometimes psychiatric disturbance. Many more minor characteristics can be helpful in diagnosis and important in management. PWS is an example of a genetic condition involving genomic imprinting. It can occur by three main mechanisms, which lead to absence of expression of paternally inherited genes in the 15q11.2-q13 region: paternal microdeletion, maternal uniparental disomy, and imprinting defect.

Plant diversity of the Pantanal wetland.

PubMed

Pott, A; Oliveira, A K M; Damasceno-Junior, G A; Silva, J S V

2011-04-01

This is a review of current studies in diversity of the flora and main vegetation types in the Brazilian Pantanal. The flora of this wetland, nearly 2,000 species, constitutes a pool of elements of wide distribution and from more or less adjacent phytogeographic provinces, such as Cerrado, dry seasonal forests, Chaco, Amazonia and Atlantic Forest. The most numerous group includes wide-distribution species, mainly herbs, while the second contingent comes from the Cerrado. Endemic plants are rare, numbering only seven. The vegetation of the sedimentary floodplain is a mosaic of aquatics, floodable grasslands, riparian forests, savannas (cerrados), cerrado woodlands, dry forests, and a large area of mono-dominant savannas, and pioneer woodlands. The main vegetation types are briefly described with their characteristic species, and their estimated areas are given according to the latest mapping.

The urban environment and sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men.

PubMed

Frye, Victoria; Latka, Mary H; Koblin, Beryl; Halkitis, Perry N; Putnam, Sara; Galea, Sandro; Vlahov, David

2006-03-01

Increasingly, studies show that characteristics of the urban environment influence a wide variety of health behaviors and disease outcomes, yet few studies have focused on the sexual risk behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM). This focus is important as many gay men reside in or move to urban areas, and sexual risk behaviors and associated outcomes have increased among some urban MSM in recent years. As interventions aimed at changing individual-level risk behaviors have shown mainly short-term effects, consideration of broader environmental influences is needed. Previous efforts to assess the influence of environmental characteristics on sexual behaviors and related health outcomes among the general population have generally applied three theories as explanatory models: physical disorder, social disorganization and social norms theories. In these models, the intervening mechanisms specified to link environmental characteristics to individual-level outcomes include stress, collective efficacy, and social influence processes, respectively. Whether these models can be empirically supported in generating inferences about the sexual behavior of urban MSM is underdeveloped. Conceptualizing sexual risk among MSM to include social and physical environmental characteristics provides a basis for generating novel and holistic disease prevention and health promotion interventions.

SSME/side loads analysis for flight configuration, revision A. [structural analysis of space shuttle main engine under side load excitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holland, W.

1974-01-01

This document describes the dynamic loads analysis accomplished for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) considering the side load excitation associated with transient flow separation on the engine bell during ground ignition. The results contained herein pertain only to the flight configuration. A Monte Carlo procedure was employed to select the input variables describing the side load excitation and the loads were statistically combined. This revision includes an active thrust vector control system representation and updated orbiter thrust structure stiffness characteristics. No future revisions are planned but may be necessary as system definition and input parameters change.

Transformation of Raindrop characteristics (Nov 24, 2015) of natural rainfall of Yellow River basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Zhenzhou; Liu, Ke; Wu, Zhiqiang; Liu, Jun; Qi, Kuan; Niu, Xinnian; Wang, Guiying; Yao, Wenyi

2018-02-01

Raindrop characteristics, including speed and size of raindrops, in Zhengzhou city of Yellow River basin were analyzed through a natural rainfall on the loess slope. Results showed that the process of natural rainfall belonged to a parabola and counts, size and terminal velocity would increase with the rainfall intensity rising. Besides, the size and terminal velocity of natural raindrops were relatively scattered; In the process of individual rainfall, the terminal velocity and its peak value were mainly focused between 1∼3.4m/s and 1.4m/s, respectively. Size of raindrops were mainly consisted of 0.125-0.75mm, among which the terminal velocity of raindrops with a size of 0.125mm, 0.25mm, 0.375mm, 0.5mm and 0.75mm were primarily 1-3.4m/s, 1-4.2m/s, 0.8-3.4m/s, 0.8-3.4m/s, 1-2.6m/s, respectively.

[Zoonotic diseases caused by bacteria of the genus Bartonella genus: new reservoirs ? New vectors?].

PubMed

Chomel, Bruno B; Boulouis, Henri-Jean

2005-03-01

Domestic animals and wildlife represent a large reservoir for bartonellae, at least eight species or subspecies of which have been reported to cause zoonotic infections. In addition, numerous orphan clinical syndromes are now being attributed to Bartonella henselae infection. Many mammalian species, including cats, dogs, rodents and ruminants are the main bartonellae reservoirs. Cats are the main reservoir for B. henselae. It appears that domestic dogs, at least in non tropical regions, are more likely to be accidental hosts than reservoirs, and constitute excellent sentinels for human infections. Bartonellae are vector-borne bacteria. The mode of B. henselae transmission by cat fleas is now better understood, but new potential vectors have recently been identified, including ticks and biting flies. This articles summarizes current knowledge of the etiology, new clinical features and epidemiological characteristics of these emerging zoonoses.

A Systematic Review Exploring the Social Cognitive Theory of Self-Regulation as a Framework for Chronic Health Condition Interventions

PubMed Central

Tougas, Michelle E.; Hayden, Jill A.; McGrath, Patrick J.; Huguet, Anna; Rozario, Sharlene

2015-01-01

Background Theory is often recommended as a framework for guiding hypothesized mechanisms of treatment effect. However, there is limited guidance about how to use theory in intervention development. Methods We conducted a systematic review to provide an exemplar review evaluating the extent to which use of theory is identified and incorporated within existing interventions. We searched electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and EMBASE from inception to May 2014. We searched clinicaltrials.gov for registered protocols, reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and included studies, and conducted a citation search in Web of Science. We included peer-reviewed publications of interventions that referenced the social cognitive theory of self-regulation as a framework for interventions to manage chronic health conditions. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for eligibility. We contacted all authors of included studies for information detailing intervention content. We describe how often theory mechanisms were addressed by interventions, and report intervention characteristics used to address theory. Results Of 202 articles that reported using the social cognitive theory of self-regulation, 52% failed to incorporate self-monitoring, a main theory component, and were therefore excluded. We included 35 interventions that adequately used the theory framework. Intervention characteristics were often poorly reported in peer-reviewed publications, 21 of 35 interventions incorporated characteristics that addressed each of the main theory components. Each intervention addressed, on average, six of eight self-monitoring mechanisms, two of five self-judgement mechanisms, and one of three self-evaluation mechanisms. The self-monitoring mechanisms ‘Feedback’ and ‘Consistency’ were addressed by all interventions, whereas the self-evaluation mechanisms ‘Self-incentives’ and ‘External rewards’ were addressed by six and four interventions, respectively. The present review establishes that systematic review is a feasible method of identifying use of theory as a conceptual framework for existing interventions. We identified the social cognitive theory of self-regulation as a feasible framework to guide intervention development for chronic health conditions. PMID:26252889

How Student and School Characteristics Are Associated with Performance on the Maine High School Assessment. Issues & Answers. REL 2011-No. 102

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoyle, Craig D.; O'Dwyer, Laura M.; Chang, Quincy

2011-01-01

The Maine Department of Education wanted to use longitudinal data from its data system to better understand whether and how student and school characteristics are associated with student performance on the state-mandated Maine High School Assessment (MHSA). It was particularly interested in understanding the factors associated with changes in test…

How Student and School Characteristics Are Associated with Performance on the Maine High School Assessment. Summary. Issues & Answers. REL 2011-No. 102

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoyle, Craig D.; O'Dwyer, Laura M.; Chang, Quincy

2011-01-01

The Maine Department of Education wanted to use longitudinal data from its data system to better understand whether and how student and school characteristics are associated with student performance on the state-mandated Maine High School Assessment (MHSA). It was particularly interested in understanding the factors associated with changes in test…

Spatial Characteristics and Driving Factors of Provincial Wastewater Discharge in China

PubMed Central

Chen, Kunlun; Liu, Xiaoqiong; Ding, Lei; Huang, Gengzhi; Li, Zhigang

2016-01-01

Based on the increasing pressure on the water environment, this study aims to clarify the overall status of wastewater discharge in China, including the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of wastewater discharge and its driving factors, so as to provide reference for developing “emission reduction” strategies in China and discuss regional sustainable development and resources environment policies. We utilized the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) method to analyze the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of the total wastewater discharge among 31 provinces in China from 2002 to 2013. Then, we discussed about the driving factors, affected the wastewater discharge through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method and classified those driving factors. Results indicate that: (1) the total wastewater discharge steadily increased, based on the social economic development, with an average growth rate of 5.3% per year; the domestic wastewater discharge is the main source of total wastewater discharge, and the amount of domestic wastewater discharge is larger than the industrial wastewater discharge. There are many spatial differences of wastewater discharge among provinces via the ESDA method. For example, provinces with high wastewater discharge are mainly the developed coastal provinces such as Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province. Provinces and their surrounding areas with low wastewater discharge are mainly the undeveloped ones in Northwest China; (2) The dominant factors affecting wastewater discharge are the economy and technological advance; The secondary one is the efficiency of resource utilization, which brings about the unstable effect; population plays a less important role in wastewater discharge. The dominant driving factors affecting wastewater discharge among 31 provinces are divided into three types, including two-factor dominant type, three-factor leading type and four-factor antagonistic type. In addition, the proposals aimed at reducing the wastewater discharge are provided on the basis of these three types. PMID:27941698

Geomorphic characteristics and classification of Duluth-area streams, Minnesota

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fitzpatrick, Faith A.; Peppler, Marie C.; DePhilip, Michele M.; Lee, Kathy E.

2006-01-01

In 2003 and 2004, a geomorphic assessment of streams in 20 watersheds in the Duluth, Minn., area was conducted to identify and summarize geomorphic characteristics, processes, disturbance mechanisms, and potential responses to disturbance. Methods used to assess the streams included watershed characterization, descriptions of segment slopes and valley types, historical aerial photograph interpretation, and rapid field assessments and intensive field surveys of stream reaches. Geomorphic conditions were summarized into a segment-scale classification with 15 categories mainly based on drainage-network position and slope, and, secondarily, based on geologic setting, valley type, and dominant geomorphic processes. Main causes of geomorphic disturbance included historical logging and agriculture, and ongoing urban development, human-caused channel alterations, road and storm sewer drainage, ditching, hiking trails, and gravel pits or quarries. Geomorphic responses to these disturbances are dependent on a combination of drainage-network position, slope, and geologic setting. Geologic setting is related to drainage-network position because the geologic deposits parallel the Lake Superior shoreline. Headwater streams in large watersheds flow over glacial deposits above altitudes of about 1,200 feet (ft). Headwater tributaries and upper main stems have ditch-like channels with gentle slopes and no valleys. Urban development and road drainage cause increased runoff and flood peaks in these segments resulting in channel widening. Below about 1,200 ft, main-stem segments generally are affected by bedrock type and structure and have steep slopes and confined or entrenched valleys. Increases in flood peaks do not cause incision or widening in the bedrock-controlled valleys; instead, the flow and scour areas are expanded. Feeder tributaries to these main stems have steep, confined valleys and may be sources for sediment from urban areas, road runoff, or storm sewer outfalls. Main-stem segments near the glacial deposits/surficial bedrock contact (1,000–1,200 ft) have the most potential for response to disturbance because they tend to have narrow valleys with sandy glacial lakeshore deposits and moderate slopes. Increases in flood peaks (from upstream increases in runoff) increase the potential for landslides and mass wasting from valley sides as well as channel widening.

A review of recent studies on the mechanisms and analysis methods of sub-synchronous oscillation in wind farms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chenggen; Zhou, Qian; Gao, Shuning; Luo, Jia; Diao, Junchao; Zhao, Haoran; Bu, Jing

2018-04-01

This paper reviews the recent studies of Sub-Synchronous Oscillation(SSO) in wind farms. Mechanisms and analysis methods are the main concerns of this article. A classification method including new types of oscillation occurred between wind farms and HVDC systems and oscillation caused by Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators(PMSG) is proposed. Characteristics of oscillation analysis techniques are summarized.

Environmental Assessment for Expansion of Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Range Moody AFB, Georgia

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-09-01

TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE RANGE AT MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...1999). 3.1.3 Soils Soils found within Moody AFB are associated with the Tifton Upland District of the Lower Coastal Plain. Characteristics of...dominant soil associations on Moody AFB include the Tifton -Pelham-Fuquay and the Dasher associations. The majority of the main base consists of the

The Formal and Situated Learning of Beginning Teacher Educators in England: Identifying Characteristics for Successful Induction in the Transition from Workplace in Schools to Workplace in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Jennifer; McKeon, Frankie

2008-01-01

We present interview data from the early stages of a longitudinal study on the emerging professional, academic identities of five beginning teacher educators. We identify the main facilitators and barriers which support different types of professional learning. Barriers in the early stages include: a reliance on trial and error learning,…

Characterization of Non-Organized Soils at Gusev Crater with the Spirit Rover Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cabrol, N. A.; Greeley, R.

2005-01-01

We surveyed the characteristic of non-organized soils at Gusev crater at microscale and macroscale in four main traverse regions: (1) Landing site to Bonneville crater; (2) Bonneville to West Spur; (3) the West Spur region; and (4) the Columbia Hills up to sol 363. Non-organized soils are defined as soils traversed by Spirit that do not include drifts, ripples, or dunes.

[Use of midazolam in hospitalized patients: analysis of medical practice].

PubMed

Giroud, Mathilde; Sellier, Elodie; Laval, Guillemette

2013-09-01

To evaluate the prevalence and the characteristics of use of midazolam among hospitalized patients and to analyze physicians' representation of this medicine. We conducted a retrospective study between 1st May and 22nd May 2011 in Grenoble University Hospital in France. All patients receiving midazolam during the study period were included, excepted if the prescription was performed in intensive care units, operating rooms or in pediatric units. Physicians from the different units were asked about the characteristics of patients receiving midazolam and about their practice concerning the use of midazolam. Forty-four patients were included, 82 % of whom having a cancer. The prevalence of prescription of midazolam was 3.3 % (44/1,323), 2.8 % (37/1,323) for anxiety relieving and 0.8 % (11/1,323) for sedation. The main refractory symptoms that justified the prescription were dyspnea (36.4 %), confusion (29.5 %), pain (27.3 %) and psychological suffering (27.3 %). Twenty-eight physicians were asked about their practice. The main representations of midazolam were the stop of active treatment (46.5 %) and premature cause of death (46.5 %). Practice of sedation is under-estimated by physicians as they have difficulties to differentiate anxiety relieving and sedation and they have difficulties to initiate a sedation. A guideline to help physicians using midazolam could improve practice.

Species Composition and Fire: Non-Additive Mixture Effects on Ground Fuel Flammability

PubMed Central

van Altena, Cassandra; van Logtestijn, Richard S. P.; Cornwell, William K.; Cornelissen, Johannes H. C.

2012-01-01

Diversity effects on many aspects of ecosystem function have been well documented. However, fire is an exception: fire experiments have mainly included single species, bulk litter, or vegetation, and, as such, the role of diversity as a determinant of flammability, a crucial aspect of ecosystem function, is poorly understood. This study is the first to experimentally test whether flammability characteristics of two-species mixtures are non-additive, i.e., differ from expected flammability based on the component species in monospecific fuel. In standardized fire experiments on ground fuels, including monospecific fuels and mixtures of five contrasting subarctic plant fuel types in a controlled laboratory environment, we measured flame speed, flame duration, and maximum temperature. Broadly half of the mixture combinations showed non-additive effects for these flammability indicators; these were mainly enhanced dominance effects for temporal dynamics – fire speed and duration. Fuel types with the more flammable value for a characteristic determined the rate of fire speed and duration of the whole mixture; in contrast, maximum temperature of the fire was determined by the biomass-weighted mean of the mixture. These results suggest that ecological invasions by highly flammable species may have effects on ground-fire dynamics well out of proportion to their biomass. PMID:22639656

Types and Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse: How Do They Matter in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Women in Methadone Treatment in New York City?

PubMed

Engstrom, Malitta; Winham, Katherine; Gilbert, Louisa

2016-01-01

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is often considered an important distal factor in HIV sexual risk behaviors; however, there are limited and mixed findings regarding this relationship among women experiencing substance use problems. In addition, research with this population of women has yet to examine differences in observed CSA-HIV sexual risk behaviors relationships by CSA type and characteristics. This study examines relationships between CSA coding, type, and characteristics and HIV sexual risk behaviors with main intimate partners among a random sample of 390 women in methadone treatment in New York City who completed individual interviews with trained female interviewers. Findings from logistic regression analyses indicate that CSA predicts substance use with sexual activity, with variations by CSA coding, type, and characteristics; however, the role of CSA is more limited than expected. Having a main partner with HIV risk mediates some relationships between CSA and drinking four or more drinks prior to sex. Intimate partner violence is the most consistent predictor of sexual risk behaviors. Other salient factors include polysubstance use, depression, social support, recent incarceration, relationship characteristics, and HIV status. This study contributes to understanding of relationships between CSA and HIV sexual risk behaviors and key correlates associated with HIV sexual risk behaviors among women in methadone treatment. It also highlights the complexity of measuring CSA and its association with sexual risk behaviors and the importance of comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention that address psychological, relational, situational, and substance use experiences associated with sexual risk behaviors among this population.

Model Test of the Aerospace Laser Propulsion Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ageichik, Alexander A.; Egorov, Maxim S.; Ostapenko, Svetlana V.; Rezunkov, Yuri A.; Safronov, Alexander L.; Stepanov, Vladimir V.

2005-04-01

One of the main results of the experimental and theoretical investigations made under the ISTC Project ♯ 1801 is the original design of Aerospace Laser Propulsion Engine (ASLPE) developed. The designed characteristics of the ASLPE flight model are experimentally approved, including the test experiments with a solid propellant. The obtained momentum coupling coefficient is rather high and comparable one with respect to the coefficient obtained by other researchers. Moreover, it is experimentally demonstrated that the thrust characteristics of the ASLPE flight model does not depend on angular aberrations of the beam coming onto the beam concentrator of the model with the incident angle of 0.01 radian. The experiments also demonstrated that successful launching of the vehicle with the ASLPE under the laser characteristics is possible also if the vehicle mass will be decreased and the thermal blooming effect will be eliminated.

Engine dynamic analysis with general nonlinear finite element codes. II - Bearing element implementation, overall numerical characteristics and benchmarking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padovan, J.; Adams, M.; Lam, P.; Fertis, D.; Zeid, I.

1982-01-01

Second-year efforts within a three-year study to develop and extend finite element (FE) methodology to efficiently handle the transient/steady state response of rotor-bearing-stator structure associated with gas turbine engines are outlined. The two main areas aim at (1) implanting the squeeze film damper element into a general purpose FE code for testing and evaluation; and (2) determining the numerical characteristics of the FE-generated rotor-bearing-stator simulation scheme. The governing FE field equations are set out and the solution methodology is presented. The choice of ADINA as the general-purpose FE code is explained, and the numerical operational characteristics of the direct integration approach of FE-generated rotor-bearing-stator simulations is determined, including benchmarking, comparison of explicit vs. implicit methodologies of direct integration, and demonstration problems.

Performance evaluation of Space Shuttle SRB parachutes from air drop and scaled model wind tunnel tests. [Solid Rocket Booster recovery system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moog, R. D.; Bacchus, D. L.; Utreja, L. R.

1979-01-01

The aerodynamic performance characteristics have been determined for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster drogue, main, and pilot parachutes. The performance evaluation on the 20-degree conical ribbon parachutes is based primarily on air drop tests of full scale prototype parachutes. In addition, parametric wind tunnel tests were performed and used in parachute configuration development and preliminary performance assessments. The wind tunnel test data are compared to the drop test results and both sets of data are used to determine the predicted performance of the Solid Rocket Booster flight parachutes. Data from other drop tests of large ribbon parachutes are also compared with the Solid Rocket Booster parachute performance characteristics. Parameters assessed include full open terminal drag coefficients, reefed drag area, opening characteristics, clustering effects, and forebody interference.

[Analysis of the death cases in the urban rail traffic accident in Shanghai].

PubMed

Hu, Yi-Ping; Cao, Yu; Ma, Kai-Jun

2009-06-01

To analyze the features of death cases in the urban rail traffic accidents in order to prevent the similar accidents in the future and to provide reference for forensic expertise. Eighteen death cases in urban rail traffic accidents between 2005 to 2008 in Shanghai were collected. The forensic characteristics were summarized in aspects of the nature of cases, the injury mechanism and characteristics, etc. There were total 18 cases with 14 suicide and 4 accidental incidents, aged from 21 to 55 years. Of those dead, 14 died of craniocerebral injury and 4 died of traumatic shock. The injury mechanism included hit, fall and rolling. The injury in urban rail traffic accidents have their own characteristics, mainly due to suicide, and partly due to accidental incident, and most of these cases are probably preventable.

Performance and Stability Characteristics of a Uni-Element Swirl Injector for Oxygen-Rich Stage Combustion Cycles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pal, S.; Kalitan, D.; Woodward, R. D.; Santoro, R. J.

2004-01-01

A uni-element liquid propellant combustion performance and instability study for liquid RP-1 and hot oxygen-rich pre-burner products was conducted, at a chamber pressure of about 1000 psi. using flush and recessed swirl injectors. High-frequency pressure transducer measurements were analyzed to yield the characteristic frequencies which were compared to expected frequencies of the chamber. Modes, which were discovered to be present within the main chamber included, the first longitudinal, detected at approximately 1950 Hz, and the second longitudinal mode at approximately 3800 Hz. An additional first longitudinal quarter wave mode was measured at a frequency of approximately 23000 Hz for the recessed swirl injector configuration. The characteristic instabilities resulting from these experiments were relatively weak averaging 0.2% to 0.3% of the chamber pressure.

Analysis of the Governance Structures in Japan's Biosphere Reserves: Perspectives from Bottom-Up and Multilevel Characteristics.

PubMed

Tanaka, Toshinori; Wakamatsu, Nobuhiko

2018-01-01

This paper analyzes the governance structures of Biosphere Reserves (BRs) in Japan by focusing on six criteria that elucidate the main characteristics therein: general information (nomination process, year of designation, size, and population), legal frameworks, stakeholder identification, and decision-making processes (number of municipalities and role of consociation), administrative institutions (human resources, budgetary situation, and expense distribution), executed BR implementation activities, and participatory/collaborative frameworks. This research consists of a literature review, a questionnaire administered to the secretariats of seven existing BRs and follow-up interviews. Three main characteristics of BRs were identified. First, a responsible local government(s) is nominated to manage the BR rather than the central government. Consequently, BR implementation in Japan is led by those municipalities that have strong motivations for regional development using the BR concept. Second, two types of BR governance structures exist in Japan: the single municipality type and the multi-municipality type. All BRs have so called Kyougikai, a consociation for decision-making, consultation and/or collaboration among stakeholders. In the single municipality structure, the consociation includes diverse actors from private and community sectors, while in the multi-municipality structure, consociations are based in more diplomatic settings and only include members of the public sector. Third, gaps between pre/post-Seville BR implementation sites were identified. The motivations for the formation of pre-Seville BRs, which were designated in 1980 in a top-down fashion prior to an awareness of BRs, varied greatly from those BRs nominated by municipalities after 2010. The authors identified fewer administrative resources and activities associated with the pre-Seville sites.

Analysis of the Governance Structures in Japan's Biosphere Reserves: Perspectives from Bottom-Up and Multilevel Characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Toshinori; Wakamatsu, Nobuhiko

2018-01-01

This paper analyzes the governance structures of Biosphere Reserves (BRs) in Japan by focusing on six criteria that elucidate the main characteristics therein: general information (nomination process, year of designation, size, and population), legal frameworks, stakeholder identification, and decision-making processes (number of municipalities and role of consociation), administrative institutions (human resources, budgetary situation, and expense distribution), executed BR implementation activities, and participatory/collaborative frameworks. This research consists of a literature review, a questionnaire administered to the secretariats of seven existing BRs and follow-up interviews. Three main characteristics of BRs were identified. First, a responsible local government(s) is nominated to manage the BR rather than the central government. Consequently, BR implementation in Japan is led by those municipalities that have strong motivations for regional development using the BR concept. Second, two types of BR governance structures exist in Japan: the single municipality type and the multi-municipality type. All BRs have so called Kyougikai, a consociation for decision-making, consultation and/or collaboration among stakeholders. In the single municipality structure, the consociation includes diverse actors from private and community sectors, while in the multi-municipality structure, consociations are based in more diplomatic settings and only include members of the public sector. Third, gaps between pre/post-Seville BR implementation sites were identified. The motivations for the formation of pre-Seville BRs, which were designated in 1980 in a top-down fashion prior to an awareness of BRs, varied greatly from those BRs nominated by municipalities after 2010. The authors identified fewer administrative resources and activities associated with the pre-Seville sites.

Exploring Mechanisms for Effective Technology-Enhanced Simulation-based Education in Wilderness Medicine: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

MacKinnon, Ralph; Humphries, Christopher

2015-01-01

Background: Technology-enhanced simulation is well-established in healthcare teaching curricula, including those regarding wilderness medicine. Compellingly, the evidence base for the value of this educational modality to improve learner competencies and patient outcomes are increasing. Aims: The aim was to systematically review the characteristics of technology-enhanced simulation presented in the wilderness medicine literature to date. Then, the secondary aim was to explore how this technology has been used and if the use of this technology has been associated with improved learner or patient outcomes. Methods: EMBASE and MEDLINE were systematically searched from 1946 to 2014, for articles on the provision of technology-enhanced simulation to teach wilderness medicine. Working independently, the team evaluated the information on the criteria of learners, setting, instructional design, content, and outcomes. Results: From a pool of 37 articles, 11 publications were eligible for systematic review. The majority of learners in the included publications were medical students, settings included both indoors and outdoors, and the main focus clinical content was initial trauma management with some including leadership skills. The most prevalent instructional design components were clinical variation and cognitive interactivity, with learner satisfaction as the main outcome. Conclusions: The results confirm that the current provision of wilderness medicine utilizing technology-enhanced simulation is aligned with instructional design characteristics that have been used to achieve effective learning. Future research should aim to demonstrate the translation of learning into the clinical field to produce improved learner outcomes and create improved patient outcomes. PMID:26824012

Specialized data analysis for the Space Shuttle Main Engine and diagnostic evaluation of advanced propulsion system components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

The Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible for the development and management of advanced launch vehicle propulsion systems, including the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), which is presently operational, and the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) under development. The SSME's provide high performance within stringent constraints on size, weight, and reliability. Based on operational experience, continuous design improvement is in progress to enhance system durability and reliability. Specialized data analysis and interpretation is required in support of SSME and advanced propulsion system diagnostic evaluations. Comprehensive evaluation of the dynamic measurements obtained from test and flight operations is necessary to provide timely assessment of the vibrational characteristics indicating the operational status of turbomachinery and other critical engine components. Efficient performance of this effort is critical due to the significant impact of dynamic evaluation results on ground test and launch schedules, and requires direct familiarity with SSME and derivative systems, test data acquisition, and diagnostic software. Detailed analysis and evaluation of dynamic measurements obtained during SSME and advanced system ground test and flight operations was performed including analytical/statistical assessment of component dynamic behavior, and the development and implementation of analytical/statistical models to efficiently define nominal component dynamic characteristics, detect anomalous behavior, and assess machinery operational condition. In addition, the SSME and J-2 data will be applied to develop vibroacoustic environments for advanced propulsion system components, as required. This study will provide timely assessment of engine component operational status, identify probable causes of malfunction, and indicate feasible engineering solutions. This contract will be performed through accomplishment of negotiated task orders.

Analysis of the main components of the aguamiel produced by the maguey-pulquero (Agave mapisaga) throughout the harvest period.

PubMed

Ortiz-Basurto, Rosa Isela; Pourcelly, Gérald; Doco, Thierry; Williams, Pascale; Dornier, Manuel; Belleville, Marie-Pierre

2008-05-28

The main characteristics of the aguamiel (maguey-pulquero sap) during the harvest period of the Agave mapisaga plants were assessed to establish its stability through time and the industrial potential of its components. Only minor differences in aguamiel composition were detected among samples collected at different time points of the harvest period. The aguamiel analyzed contained 11.5 wt % of dry matter, which was composed mainly of sugars (75 wt %). Among these sugars, 10 wt % were fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which are known to be important in the food industry for their prebiotic properties. Other components include 0.3 wt % of free amino acids (with most essential amino acids and four neurotransmitters: GABA, GLY, GLX, and ASX), 3 wt % of proteins, and 3 wt % of ashes.

Direct characterization of commercial lecithins by easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Fernandes, Gabriel D; Alberici, Rosana M; Pereira, Gustavo G; Cabral, Elaine C; Eberlin, Marcos N; Barrera-Arellano, Daniel

2012-12-01

Commercial lecithins are composed mainly of phospholipids and triacylglycerols. The analysis of the commercial lecithins, including their fraction of phospholipids, normally involves laborious and expensive protocols. Easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) is shown to be an efficient technique for the analysis of lipids. Samples of commercial lecithins including standards, refined, deoiled and modified soy lecithin were tested. Characteristic profiles of phosphatidylcholines and triacylglycerols are detected by EASI(+)-MS, whereas EASI(-)-MS provided phosphatidylethanolamines, glycophospholipids and free fatty acids profiles. Acetylated lecithins also displayed characteristic acetylated derivatives. EASI-MS data was also compared to MALDI-MS, and found to display richer compositional information. The industrial process applied to lecithin fabrication was also characterised via typical EASI-MS profiles. EASI-MS both in its positive and negative ion modes offers a direct, fast and efficient technique able to characterise commercial lecithin. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Shadow Labor: Work and Wages among Immigrant Hispanic Women in Durham, North Carolina.

PubMed

Flippen, Chenoa A

2016-07-01

Drawing on data collected in Durham, NC, this paper examines the forces shaping the labor supply and wages of immigrant Hispanic women in new destinations. The analysis evaluates the role of human capital and immigration characteristics (including legal status), family structure, and immigrant-specific labor market conditions, such as subcontracting, in shaping labor market outcomes. Findings indicate that the main determinants of labor supply among immigrant Hispanic women in Durham relate to family structure, with human capital playing a relatively minor role. Important variation is observed, however, in the degree of work-family conflict across occupations. For wages, human capital and immigration characteristics (including documentation) are more determinant than family structure. Results highlight the extremely precarious position of immigrant Hispanic women in Durham's low wage labor market, and multiple, overlapping sources of disadvantage, particularly relating to legal status and family structure.

Shadow Labor: Work and Wages among Immigrant Hispanic Women in Durham, North Carolina

PubMed Central

Flippen, Chenoa A.

2017-01-01

Drawing on data collected in Durham, NC, this paper examines the forces shaping the labor supply and wages of immigrant Hispanic women in new destinations. The analysis evaluates the role of human capital and immigration characteristics (including legal status), family structure, and immigrant-specific labor market conditions, such as subcontracting, in shaping labor market outcomes. Findings indicate that the main determinants of labor supply among immigrant Hispanic women in Durham relate to family structure, with human capital playing a relatively minor role. Important variation is observed, however, in the degree of work-family conflict across occupations. For wages, human capital and immigration characteristics (including documentation) are more determinant than family structure. Results highlight the extremely precarious position of immigrant Hispanic women in Durham’s low wage labor market, and multiple, overlapping sources of disadvantage, particularly relating to legal status and family structure. PMID:28603290

Tools for detecting insect semiochemicals: a review.

PubMed

Brezolin, Alexandra Nava; Martinazzo, Janine; Muenchen, Daniela Kunkel; de Cezaro, Alana Marie; Rigo, Aline Andressa; Steffens, Clarice; Steffens, Juliana; Blassioli-Moraes, Maria Carolina; Borges, Miguel

2018-07-01

Semiochemicals are chemical compounds that are released by many species as a means of intra- and interspecific communication. Insects have extremely advanced olfactory systems; indeed, they rely on smell when performing many of their main behaviors, such as oviposition, breeding, prey location, and defense. This characteristic of insects implies that semiochemicals could be used for various applications, including in agriculture, where they could be employed along with other tools to control pest insects. The aim of this review is to present the main techniques used and the state of the art in the detection of semiochemicals, focusing on pheromones. In addition to the traditional methods of identifying semiochemicals, such as gas chromatography coupled to a high-resolution detection mode (e.g., flame ionization (FID), electron capture (ECD), photoionization (PID), or mass spectrometry (MS)), other tools are addressed in this review, including sensors and biosensors. While these new technologies may be used under laboratory conditions to improve or complement technologies that are already being used, they are mainly intended for use as new agricultural tools for detecting and controlling pest insects in the field.

[Epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV infections in Chinese and Burmese residents, during 2012-2016 in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province].

PubMed

Wang, J B; Chen, X C; Duan, X; Yang, J; Wang, Y K; Yang, T; Ye, R H; Yang, Y C; Yao, S T; Jiang, Y; Duan, S; He, N

2017-10-10

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV infections in Chinese and Burmese residents during 2012-2016 in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province (Dehong) and to provide evidence for the development of related programs on prevention and control. Methods: All the HIV infections who were newly reported during 2012-2016 in Dehong, were recruited as the study subjects, with epidemiological characteristics of the cases analyzed by using the software SPSS 22.0. Results: A total of 5 692 HIV infections were newly reported between 2012 and 2016 (including 5 592 in this study), in which the Chinese patients accounted for 43.3 % (2 419) and the rest 56.7 % (3 173) were Burmese. Differences in age, gender and other social characteristics of these newly reported HIV infections were statistically significant between the Chinese and the Burmese (all p -values <0.05). Most cases were males and between the age of 20-49 years old. Other characteristics of the patients would include: having had primary school education, married, being farmers, and with CD(4)(+)T cells counts ≥350 cells/μl. HIV infection was mainly transmitted through sexual contact among the Chinese patients but through injecting drug use among the Burmese patients. Conclusions: Epidemiological characteristics of the newly reported HIV infections were different between the Chinese and the Burmese, between 2012 and 2016 in Dehong. Targeted prevention and control programs should be taken.

Meat products and consumption culture in the East.

PubMed

Nam, Ki-Chang; Jo, Cheorun; Lee, Mooha

2010-09-01

Food consumption is a basic activity necessary for survival of the human race and evolved as an integral part of mankind's existence. This not only includes food consumption habits and styles but also food preparation methods, tool development for raw materials, harvesting and preservation as well as preparation of food dishes which are influenced by geographical localization, climatic conditions and abundance of the fauna and flora. Food preparation, trade and consumption have become leading factors shaping human behavior and developing a way of doing things that created tradition which has been passed from generation to generation making it unique for almost every human niche in the surface of the globe. Therefore, the success in understanding the culture of other countries or ethnic groups lies in understanding their rituals in food consumption customs. Meat consumption culture in the East has not been well developed by its characteristic environment, religion, history, and main food staples. However, recently, the amount of meat production and consumption of the Eastern countries has grown rapidly by the globalization of food industry and rapid economic growth of the countries. This manuscript introduces meat-based products and consumption culture in Asian countries. However, because the environments and cultures within Asia are too diverse to cover all food cultures, this manuscript focused mainly on three northeast Asian countries including China, Japan, and Korea (Republic of) and some southeast Asian countries including Vietnam and Thailand, which have similar environments and cultural interactions historically but retain their own characteristic food culture.

Deep convection over Northern Italy: synoptic and thermodynamic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, S.; Mezzasalma, P.; Levizzani, V.; Alberoni, P. P.; Nanni, S.

Synoptic and thermodynamic characteristics of severe storm outbreaks, including supercells, over northern Italy's Po valley are examined over a 3-year period. Storms are divided into three main categories according to the most relevant associated ground phenomenon: tornado-like, hailfall and heavy rain. For each category, the most common synoptic characteristics are investigated. Sounding data are used to calculate stability indices that help define the storm's environment. Results indicate that the interaction between the synoptic flow and the steep Alpine orography is the key factor responsible for building up the mesoscale circulation that leads to different kinds of severe storms. Some of the stability indices can be regarded as predictors of intense convection.

Dendrorchis pampae sp. n. (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from Cynopoecilus melanotaenia (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae) a killifish from southern Brazil, with an emended diagnosis of Dendrorchis.

PubMed

Monteiro, C M; Wendt, E W; Zebral, Y D

2018-04-15

A new species of Dendrorchis is described and compared with others in the genus. The parasites were found in the swim bladder of the annual killifish Cynopoecilus melanotaenia. Hosts were collected from a seasonal wetland in southern Brazil. The main characteristics of D. pampae are: genital pore in the intestinal bifurcation region elongate and lobed vitellaria uterine loops limited to the acetabular region and to the rear end of the body; and wide intestinal caeca. An emended diagnosis of the genus Dendrorchis includes the characteristics of the new species. This is the first record of an adult digenean in an annual killifish from South America.

Interference of Tail Surfaces and Wing and Fuselage from Tests of 17 Combinations in the N.A.C.A. Variable-Density Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherman, Albert

1939-01-01

An investigation of the interference associated with tail surfaces added to wing-fuselage combinations was included in the interference program in progress in the NACA variable-density tunnel. The results indicate that, in aerodynamically clean combinations, the increment to the high-speed drag can be estimated from section characteristics within useful limits of accuracy. The interference appears mainly as effects on the downwash angel and as losses in the tail. An interference burble, which markedly increases the glide-path angle and the stability in pitch before the actual stall, may be considered a means of obtaining satisfactory stalling characteristics for a complete combination.

Spread of plague among black-tailed prairie dogs is associated with colony spatial characteristics

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, T.L.; Cully, J.F.; Collinge, S.K.; Ray, C.; Frey, C.M.; Sandercock, B.K.

2011-01-01

Sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis) is an exotic pathogen that is highly virulent in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and causes widespread colony losses and individual mortality rates >95%. We investigated colony spatial characteristics that may influence inter-colony transmission of plague at 3 prairie dog colony complexes in the Great Plains. The 4 spatial characteristics we considered include: colony size, Euclidean distance to nearest neighboring colony, colony proximity index, and distance to nearest drainage (dispersal) corridor. We used multi-state mark-recapture models to determine the relationship between these colony characteristics and probability of plague transmission among prairie dog colonies. Annual mapping of colonies and mark-recapture analyses of disease dynamics in natural colonies led to 4 main results: 1) plague outbreaks exhibited high spatial and temporal variation, 2) the site of initiation of epizootic plague may have substantially influenced the subsequent inter-colony spread of plague, 3) the long-term effect of plague on individual colonies differed among sites because of how individuals and colonies were distributed, and 4) colony spatial characteristics were related to the probability of infection at all sites although the relative importance and direction of relationships varied among sites. Our findings suggest that conventional prairie dog conservation management strategies, including promoting large, highly connected colonies, may need to be altered in the presence of plague. ?? 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Prediction of protein post-translational modifications: main trends and methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sobolev, B. N.; Veselovsky, A. V.; Poroikov, V. V.

2014-02-01

The review summarizes main trends in the development of methods for the prediction of protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) by considering the three most common types of PTMs — phosphorylation, acetylation and glycosylation. Considerable attention is given to general characteristics of regulatory interactions associated with PTMs. Different approaches to the prediction of PTMs are analyzed. Most of the methods are based only on the analysis of the neighbouring environment of modification sites. The related software is characterized by relatively low accuracy of PTM predictions, which may be due both to the incompleteness of training data and the features of PTM regulation. Advantages and limitations of the phylogenetic approach are considered. The prediction of PTMs using data on regulatory interactions, including the modular organization of interacting proteins, is a promising field, provided that a more carefully selected training data will be used. The bibliography includes 145 references.

A Computer Program for Drip Irrigation System Design for Small Plots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philipova, Nina; Nicheva, Olga; Kazandjiev, Valentin; Chilikova-Lubomirova, Mila

2012-12-01

A computer programhas been developed for design of surface drip irrigation system. It could be applied for calculation of small scale fields with an area up to 10 ha. The program includes two main parts: crop water requirements and hydraulic calculations of the system. It has been developed in Graphical User Interface in MATLAB and gives opportunity for selecting some parameters from tables such as: agro- physical soil properties, characteristics of the corresponding crop, climatic data. It allows the user of the program to assume and set a definite value, for example the emitter discharge, plot parameters and etc. Eight cases of system layout according to the water source layout and the number of plots of the system operation are laid into hydraulic section of the program. It includes the design of lateral, manifold, main line and pump calculations. The program has been compiled to work in Windows.

Spectra investigation on surface characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets treated with tartaric, malic and oxalic acids.

PubMed

Teng, Xiyao; Yan, Manqing; Bi, Hong

2014-01-24

The surface characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) treated respectively with tartaric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid, have been investigated by mainly using optical spectroscopic methods including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the electrochemical property of the products has also been studied. The data revealed that oxygen-containing groups such as OH, COOH and CO on the GO surface have been almost removed and thus reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (RGN) were obtained. Interestingly, the number of sp(2) domains of RGN increases as treated by tartaric acid

Combustion characteristics of the LO2/GCH4 fuel-rich preburners for staged combustion cycle rocket engines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Fumiei; Tamura, Hiroshi; Sakamoto, Hiroshi; Sasaki, Masaki

1991-09-01

The combustion characteristics of Liquid Oxygen (LO2)/Gaseous Methane (GCH4) fuel rich preburners were experimentally studied using subscale hardware. Three types of preburners with coaxial type propellant injection elements were designed and fabricated, and were used for hot fire testing. LO2 was used as oxidizer, and GCH4 at room temperature was used as fuel. The tests were conducted at chamber pressures ranging from 6.7 to 11.9 M Pa, and oxidizer to fuel ratios ranged from 0.16 to 0.42. The test results, which include combustion gas temperature T(sub c), characteristic velocity C(sup *) and soot adhesion data, are presented. The T(sub c) efficiency and the C(sup *) efficiency were found to be a function of oxidizer to fuel ratio and chamber pressure. These efficiencies are correlated by an empirical correlation parameter which accounts for the effects of oxidizer to fuel ratio and chamber pressure. The exhaust plumes were colorless and transparent under all tests conditions. There was some soot adhesion to the chamber wall, but no soot adhesion was observed on the main injector simulator orifices. Higher temperature igniter gas was required to ignite the main propellants of the preburner compared with that of the LO2/Gaseous Hydrogen (GH2) propellants combination.

The permeability characteristics and interaction of main components from Si-Ni-San in a MDCK epithelial cell monolayer model.

PubMed

Chen, Ruonan; Shen, Chenlin; Xu, Qingqing; Liu, Yaru; Li, Bo; Huang, Cheng; Ma, Taotao; Meng, Xiaoming; Wu, Maomao; Li, Jun

2017-07-26

1. Si-Ni-San (SNS) possesses extensive therapeutic effects, however, the extent to which main components are absorbed and the mechanisms involved are controversial. 2. In this study, MDCK cell model was used to determine the permeability characteristics and interaction between the major components of Si-Ni-San, including saikosaponin a, paeoniflorin, naringin and glycyrrhizic acid. 3. The transport of the major components was concentration-dependent in both directions. Moreover, the transport of paeoniflorin, naringin and glycyrrhizic acid was significantly reduced at 4°C or in the presence of NaN3. Additionally, the efflux of paeoniflorin and naringin were apparently reduced in the presence of P-gp inhibitor verapamil. The transport of glycyrrhizic acid was clearly inhibited by the inhibitors of MRP2, indicating that MRP2 may be involved in the transport of glycyrrhizic acid. However, the results indicated that saikosaponin a was absorbed mainly by passive diffusion. Furthermore, the combined incubation of four major components had a powerful sorbefacient effect than a single drug used alone which may be regulated by tight junctions. 4. Taken together, our study provides useful information for pharmacological applications of Si-Ni-San and offers new insights into this ancient decoction for further researches, especially in drug synergism.

Evaluation of SSME test data reduction methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Santi, L. Michael

1994-01-01

Accurate prediction of hardware and flow characteristics within the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) during transient and main-stage operation requires a significant integration of ground test data, flight experience, and computational models. The process of integrating SSME test measurements with physical model predictions is commonly referred to as data reduction. Uncertainties within both test measurements and simplified models of the SSME flow environment compound the data integration problem. The first objective of this effort was to establish an acceptability criterion for data reduction solutions. The second objective of this effort was to investigate the data reduction potential of the ROCETS (Rocket Engine Transient Simulation) simulation platform. A simplified ROCETS model of the SSME was obtained from the MSFC Performance Analysis Branch . This model was examined and tested for physical consistency. Two modules were constructed and added to the ROCETS library to independently check the mass and energy balances of selected engine subsystems including the low pressure fuel turbopump, the high pressure fuel turbopump, the low pressure oxidizer turbopump, the high pressure oxidizer turbopump, the fuel preburner, the oxidizer preburner, the main combustion chamber coolant circuit, and the nozzle coolant circuit. A sensitivity study was then conducted to determine the individual influences of forty-two hardware characteristics on fourteen high pressure region prediction variables as returned by the SSME ROCETS model.

Quantitative assessment of desertification in south of Iran using MEDALUS method.

PubMed

Sepehr, A; Hassanli, A M; Ekhtesasi, M R; Jamali, J B

2007-11-01

The main aim of this study was the quantitative assessment of desertification process in the case study area of the Fidoye-Garmosht plain (Southern Iran). Based on the MEDALUS approach and the characteristics of study area a regional model developed using GIS. Six main factors or indicators of desertification including: soil, climate, erosion, plant cover, groundwater and management were considered for evaluation. Then several sub-indicators affecting the quality of each main indicator were identified. Based on the MEDALUS approach, each sub-indicator was quantified according to its quality and given a weighting of between 1.0 and 2.0. ArcGIS 9 was used to analyze and prepare the layers of quality maps using the geometric mean to integrate the individual sub-indicator maps. In turn the geometric mean of all six quality maps was used to generate a single desertification status map. Results showed that 12% of the area is classified as very severe, 81% as severe and 7% as moderately affected by desertification. In addition the plant cover and groundwater indicators were the most important factors affecting desertification process in the study area. The model developed may be used to assess desertification process and distinguish the areas sensitive to desertification in the study region and in regions with the similar characteristics.

Multiwavelength Study of Powerful New Jet Activity in the Symbiotic System R AQR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karovska, Margarita

2016-10-01

We propose to carry out coordinated high-spatial resolution Chandra ACIS-S and multiwavelength (UV-Optical) HST/WFC3 observations of R Aqr, a very active symbiotic interacting binary system. Our main goal is to study the physical characteristics of the multi-scale components of the powerful jet; from the vicinity of the central binary (within a few AU) to the jet-circumbinary material interaction region (2500 AU) and beyond, and especially of the recently discovered new component of the inner jet (likely due to recent ejection of material). Our main goal is to gain new insight on early jet formation and propagation, including jet kinematics and precession.

Risperidone in the treatment of behavioral disorders associated with autism in children and adolescents.

PubMed

Canitano, Roberto; Scandurra, Valeria

2008-08-01

This is a review of the clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The main clinical characteristics are impairment in social skills, communication difficulties, repetitive movements and behaviors, including stereotypies. Pharmacotherapy is mainly directed at the so-called target symptoms, ie, behavioral disorders and the various kinds of repetitions associated with ASD. According to the available data, risperidone seems to be moderately efficacious and safe for treating behavioral disorders. 4 double blind controlled trial. 3 reanalysis studies, and 12 open studies have documented the role of risperidone in children with ASD. Controlled studies have been thoroughly considered in this review.

Anisotropic surface physicochemical properties of spodumene and albite crystals: Implications for flotation separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Longhua; Peng, Tiefeng; Tian, Jia; Lu, Zhongyuan; Hu, Yuehua; Sun, Wei

2017-12-01

Aluminosilicate minerals (e.g., spodumene, albite) have complex crystal structures and similar surface chemistries, but they have poor selectivity compared to traditional fatty acid collectors, making flotation separation difficult. Previous research has mainly considered the mineral crystal structure as a whole. In contrast, the surface characteristics at the atomic level and the effects of different crystal interfaces on the flotation behavior have rarely been investigated. This study focuses on investigating the surface anisotropy quantitatively, including the chemical bond characteristics, surface energies, and broken bond densities, using density functional theory and classical theoretical calculations. In addition, the anisotropy of the surface wettability and adsorption characteristics were examined using contact angle, zeta potential, and Fourier-transform infrared measurements. Finally, these surface anisotropies with different flotation behaviors were investigated and interpreted using molecular dynamics simulations, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This systematic research offers new ideas concerning the selective grinding and stage flotation of aluminosilicate minerals based on the crystal characteristics.

Influence of the power supply parameters on the projectile energy in the permanent magnet electrodynamic accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waindok, Andrzej; Piekielny, Paweł

2017-10-01

The main objective of the research is to investigate, how the power supply parameters influence the kinetic energy of the movable element, called commonly a projectile or bullet. A calculation and measurement results of transient characteristics for an electrodynamic accelerator with permanent magnet support were presented in the paper. The calculations were made with using field-circuit model, which includes the parameters of the power supply, mass of the bullet and friction phenomenon. Characteristics of energy and muzzle velocity verso supply voltage (50 V to 350 V) and capacitance value (60 mF to 340.5 mF) were determined, as well. A measurement verification of selected points of calculation characteristics were carried out for investigated values of muzzle velocity. A good conformity between calculation and measurement results was obtained. Concluding, presented characteristics of the muzzle velocity and energy of the projectile vs. power supply parameters indicate, that accelerators could be used for fatigue testing of materials.

[Carbon sources metabolic characteristics of airborne microbial communities in constructed wetlands].

PubMed

Song, Zhi-Wen; Wang, Lin; Xu, Ai-Ling; Wu, Deng-Deng; Xia, Yan

2015-02-01

Using BIOLOG-GN plates, this article describes the carbon sources metabolic characteristics of airborne microbial communities in a free surface-flow constructed wetland in different seasons and clarify the correlation between airborne microbial metabolic functions and environmental factors. The average well color development (AWCD), carbon metabolic profiles and McIntosh values of airborne microbial communities in different seasons were quite different. Analysis of the variations showed that AWCD in spring and summer differed significantly from that in autumn and winter (P < 0.01). In the same season, the degree of utilization of different types of carbon by airborne microbes was different. Summer had a significant difference from other seasons (P < 0.05). Dominant communities of airborne microbes in four seasons were carboxylic acids metabolic community, carbohydrates metabolic community, polymers metabolic community and carboxylic acids metabolic community respectively. Principal component analysis showed that the carbon metabolic characteristics of airborne microbial community in autumn were similar to those in winter but different from those in spring and summer. The characteristics of carbon metabolism revealed differences between summer and spring, autumn, or winter. These differences were mainly caused by amines or amides while the differences between spring and autumn or winter were mainly caused by carboxylic acids. Environmental factors, including changes in wind speed, temperature, and humidity acted to influence the carbon sources metabolic properties of airborne microbial community. The dominant environmental factors that acted to influence the carbon sources metabolic properties of airborne microbial community varied between different seasons.

The High Five: Associations of the Five Positive Factors with the Big Five and Well-being.

PubMed

Cosentino, Alejandro C; Castro Solano, Alejandro

2017-01-01

The study of individual differences in positive characteristics has mainly focused on moral traits. The objectives of this research were to study individual differences in positive characteristics from the point of view of the layperson, including non-moral individual characteristics, and to generate a replicable model of positive factors. Three studies based on a lexical approach were conducted. The first study generated a corpus of words which resulted in a refined list of socially shared positive characteristics. The second study produced a five-factor model of positive characteristics: erudition, peace, cheerfulness, honesty, and tenacity. The third study confirmed the model with a different sample. The five-positive-factor model not only showed positive associations with emotional, psychological and social well-being, but it also accounted for the variance beyond that accounted for by the Big Five factors in predicting these well-being dimensions. In addition, the presence of convergent and divergent validity of the five positive factors is shown with relation to the Values-in-Action (VIA) classification of character strengths proposed by Peterson and Seligman (2004).

The High Five: Associations of the Five Positive Factors with the Big Five and Well-being

PubMed Central

Cosentino, Alejandro C.; Castro Solano, Alejandro

2017-01-01

The study of individual differences in positive characteristics has mainly focused on moral traits. The objectives of this research were to study individual differences in positive characteristics from the point of view of the layperson, including non-moral individual characteristics, and to generate a replicable model of positive factors. Three studies based on a lexical approach were conducted. The first study generated a corpus of words which resulted in a refined list of socially shared positive characteristics. The second study produced a five-factor model of positive characteristics: erudition, peace, cheerfulness, honesty, and tenacity. The third study confirmed the model with a different sample. The five-positive-factor model not only showed positive associations with emotional, psychological and social well-being, but it also accounted for the variance beyond that accounted for by the Big Five factors in predicting these well-being dimensions. In addition, the presence of convergent and divergent validity of the five positive factors is shown with relation to the Values-in-Action (VIA) classification of character strengths proposed by Peterson and Seligman (2004). PMID:28790947

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Hα & Hβ spectral regions of low-z QSOs (Chen+, 2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Z.-F.; Pan, D.-S.; Pang, T.-T.; Huang, Y.

2018-03-01

In this paper, we mainly measure the spectral characteristics in the Hα and Hβ spectral regions for the low-redshift quasars included in Data Release 12 Quasar Catalog of the SDSS (DR12Q; Paris+ 2017, VII/279). The SDSS Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) produces spectra in a wavelength range of 3600Å<λ<10400Å at a resolution of R=1300~2500. (2 data files).

Characteristics and Use of a Parametric End-Fired Array for Acoustics in Air

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

as a sonar application for underwater use. The vast majority of the research for parametric arrays was devoted to underwater applications until the...and also for the calibration of hydrophones and receivers for wide band sonar . All of the researchers mentioned above mainly focused their efforts on...features, which include very high directivity at low frequencies without unwanted side lobes. They are generally used as a wide band sonar system

Noise Dosimetry Survey of Land Force Occupations

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

exercice de la réserve militaire à la base de Petawawa. On a demandé aux participants de porter des sonomètres intégrateurs personnels pendant...Central Area. In the training scenario, task forces were grouped under a Multi-National Brigade Headquarters, which included several groups of infantry...an artillery battery, an engineering squadron and an armoured reconnaissance squadron. Table 2 outlines the main characteristics of VG06. Figure 1

Thermionic emission current in a single barrier varactor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hjelmgren, Hans; East, Jack; Kollberg, Erik

1992-01-01

From I-V measurements on Single Barrier Varactors (SBV) at different temperatures we concluded that thermionic emission across the barrier of the actual device is mainly due to transport through the X band. The same structure was also modeled with a one-dimensional drift-diffusion model, including a 'boundary condition' for thermionic emission across the heterojunction interface. By including thermionic field emission through the top of the triangular barrier of a biased diode and the effect of a non-abrupt interface at the heterojunction, we obtained good agreement between the modeled and measured I-V characteristics.

Reporting of research quality characteristics of studies published in 6 major clinical dental specialty journals.

PubMed

Pandis, Nikolaos; Polychronopoulou, Argy; Madianos, Phoebus; Makou, Margarita; Eliades, Theodore

2011-06-01

The objective of this article was to record reporting characteristics related to study quality of research published in major specialty dental journals with the highest impact factor (Journal of Endodontics, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics; Pediatric Dentistry, Journal of Clinical Periodontology, and International Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry). The included articles were classified into the following 3 broad subject categories: (1) cross-sectional (snap-shot), (2) observational, and (3) interventional. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted for effect estimation using the journal as the response and randomization, sample calculation, confounding discussed, multivariate analysis, effect measurement, and confidence intervals as the explanatory variables. The results showed that cross-sectional studies were the dominant design (55%), whereas observational investigations accounted for 13%, and interventions/clinical trials for 32%. Reporting on quality characteristics was low for all variables: random allocation (15%), sample size calculation (7%), confounding issues/possible confounders (38%), effect measurements (16%), and multivariate analysis (21%). Eighty-four percent of the published articles reported a statistically significant main finding and only 13% presented confidence intervals. The Journal of Clinical Periodontology showed the highest probability of including quality characteristics in reporting results among all dental journals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bird Integumentary Melanins: Biosynthesis, Forms, Function and Evolution.

PubMed

Galván, Ismael; Solano, Francisco

2016-04-08

Melanins are the ubiquitous pigments distributed in nature. They are one of the main pigments responsible for colors in living cells. Birds are among the most diverse animals regarding melanin-based coloration, especially in the plumage, although they also pigment bare parts of the integument. This review is devoted to the main characteristics of bird melanins, including updated views of the formation and nature of melanin granules, whose interest has been raised in the last years for inferring the color of extinct birds and non-avian theropod dinosaurs using resistant fossil feathers. The molecular structure of the two main types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin, and the environmental and genetic factors that regulate avian melanogenesis are also presented, establishing the main relationship between them. Finally, the special functions of melanin in bird feathers are also discussed, emphasizing the aspects more closely related to these animals, such as honest signaling, and the factors that may drive the evolution of pheomelanin and pheomelanin-based color traits, an issue for which birds have been pioneer study models.

Anomalous - viscosity current drive

DOEpatents

Stix, Thomas H.; Ono, Masayuki

1988-01-01

An apparatus and method for maintaining a steady-state current in a toroidal magnetically confined plasma. An electric current is generated in an edge region at or near the outermost good magnetic surface of the toroidal plasma. The edge current is generated in a direction parallel to the flow of current in the main plasma and such that its current density is greater than the average density of the main plasma current. The current flow in the edge region is maintained in a direction parallel to the main current for a period of one or two of its characteristic decay times. Current from the edge region will penetrate radially into the plasma and augment the main plasma current through the mechanism of anomalous viscosity. In another aspect of the invention, current flow driven between a cathode and an anode is used to establish a start-up plasma current. The plasma-current channel is magnetically detached from the electrodes, leaving a plasma magnetically insulated from contact with any material obstructions including the cathode and anode.

Software and package applicating for network meta-analysis: A usage-based comparative study.

PubMed

Xu, Chang; Niu, Yuming; Wu, Junyi; Gu, Huiyun; Zhang, Chao

2017-12-21

To compare and analyze the characteristics and functions of software applications for network meta-analysis (NMA). PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, the official websites of Bayesian inference Using Gibbs Sampling (BUGS), Stata and R, and Google were searched to collect the software and packages for performing NMA; software and packages published up to March 2016 were included. After collecting the software, packages, and their user guides, we used the software and packages to calculate a typical example. All characteristics, functions, and computed results were compared and analyzed. Ten types of software were included, including programming and non-programming software. They were developed mainly based on Bayesian or frequentist theory. Most types of software have the characteristics of easy operation, easy mastery, exact calculation, or excellent graphing. However, there was no single software that performed accurate calculations with superior graphing; this could only be achieved through the combination of two or more types of software. This study suggests that the user should choose the appropriate software according to personal programming basis, operational habits, and financial ability. Then, the choice of the combination of BUGS and R (or Stata) software to perform the NMA is considered. © 2017 Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Foraging characteristics of larval bluegill sunfish and larval longear sunfish in the Kanawha River, West Virginia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rider, S.J.; Margraf, F.J.

1998-01-01

We determined spatial and temporal foraging characteristics of larval bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) in the upper Kanawha River, West Virginia during the summer of 1989. Stomach contents were examined among habitat types (i.e., main channel, main-channel border, and shoreline habitats) and depth (surface, middle, and bottom). Diet of larval bluegill sunfish was dominated by Chironomidae, temporally and spatially. Chironomidae dominated larval longear sunfish diet in main channel and main-channel border collections from all three depths. However, along the shoreline, larval longear sunfish diet was dominated by Cladocera.

YADBrowser: A Browser for Web-Based Educational Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaldivar, Vicente Arturo Romero; Arandia, Jon Ander Elorriaga; Brito, Mateo Lezcano

2005-01-01

In this article, the main characteristics of the educational browser YADBrowser are described. One of the main objectives of this project is to define new languages and object models which facilitate the creation of educational applications for the Internet. The fundamental characteristics of the object model of the browser are also described.…

Respiratory Conditions Associated with Tracheobronchomegaly (Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome): A Study of Seventeen Cases.

PubMed

Schmitt, Pierre; Dalar, Levent; Jouneau, Stéphane; Toublanc, Bénédicte; Camuset, Juliette; Chatte, Gérard; Cellerin, Laurent; Dutau, Hervé; Sanchez, Stéphane; Sauvage, Maxime; Vergnon, Jean-Michel; Dury, Sandra; Deslée, Gaetan; Lebargy, François

2016-01-01

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (MKS) is a rare disorder characterized by enlargement of the trachea and main bronchi and associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections. This multicenter, retrospective study was carried out to describe respiratory conditions associated with tracheobronchomegaly. Nine institutions involved in the 'Groupe d'Endoscopie de Langue Française' (GELF) participated in this study. A standard form was used to record patient characteristics, treatments and follow-up from medical charts. Seventeen patients, 53% male, aged 58 ± 18 years at diagnosis were included. Recurrent infections revealed MKS in 88% of cases. Main comorbid conditions were diffuse bronchiectasis in 88% of patients and tracheobronchomalacia in 67% of cases. The exacerbation rate was 1.5 exacerbations/patient/year. The main non-respiratory morbid condition was gastroesophageal reflux disease in 29% of cases. Interventional bronchoscopy was performed in seven patients (41%), consisting of laser (n = 2) and tracheal stenting (n = 5). Complications related to stents were observed in 80% of cases with a mean stent duration of 8 months. Four deaths, including three due to respiratory causes, occurred during follow-up. This is the largest series of MKS reported in the literature, showing that bronchiectasis and tracheobronchomalacia are the main associated morbid conditions that constitute a challenge for treatment. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Main Sources, Socio-Demographic and Anthropometric Correlates of Salt Intake in Austria

PubMed Central

Hasenegger, Verena; Rust, Petra; Purtscher, Anna Elisabeth; Erler, Judith; Ekmekcioglu, Cem

2018-01-01

Excessive salt intake is known to increase blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, salt intake exceeds the recommendations in most countries. To face this problem, it is important to identify high consumers as well as the main contributors of salt intake. Overall, data of 2018 adults between 18 and 64 years were analysed to determine the main sources, socio-demographic and anthropometric correlates of salt intake. Dietary intake was assessed from 24-h-recalls, information on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained using a questionnaire and anthropometric data were measured. Salt intake was significantly higher in males than in females. There was a significant positive association between salt intake and body mass index. No significant differences in salt intake were observed for other variables including affluence, educational level, smoking status and physical activity. The main contributor to salt intake were condiments including table salt (32.6%), followed by cereals and cereal products (27.0%), meat and meat products (16.1%) and dairy products (14.0%). These results highlight that specific population groups need to be targeted by public health initiatives and that a reduction in salt intake can only be achieved in tandem with the food producers by the reduction of salt in processed foods. PMID:29509671

[Neurological manifestations of Behçet's disease].

PubMed

Noel, N; Drier, A; Wechsler, B; Piette, J-C; De Paz, R; Dormont, D; Cacoub, P; Saadoun, D

2014-02-01

Neurological manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD) occur in 5.3 to more than 50% of patients. They are divided into two major forms: "parenchymal" lesions, which include mainly meningoencephalitis as opposed to "extra-parenchymal" lesions (i.e. cerebral venous thrombosis and arterial aneurysms). Myelitis or peripheral neuropathy is exceptional. The neuro-Behçet syndrome (NBS) should be considered in the setting of neurological manifestations, particularly headache and pyramidal signs, in a young man diagnosed with BD. However, its recognition may be difficult when neurological manifestations are the presenting features of BD (one third of cases), and requires a thorough knowledge of clinical manifestations and morphological lesions. Thus, parenchymal NB lesions classically exhibit inflammatory characteristics on MRI and are located at the meso-diencephalic junction and in the brainstem, rarely with a supratentorial extension. Meningitis is not systematically associated, and may be absent in about 30% of cases. The pathogenesis of these lesions is incompletely understood, but inflammatory infiltrates include mainly neutrophils and activated T cells (mainly Th17). Differential diagnoses include infectious diseases (herpes, listeria, tuberculosis), and inflammatory diseases (i.e. multiple sclerosis and sarcoidosis). A prompt recognition of NBS should lead to initiate adequate therapies in order to limit the risk of sequelae, relapses or death. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier SAS.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis.

PubMed

Martínez-Martínez, Marco Ulises; Abud-Mendoza, Carlos

2014-01-01

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare but potentially fatal condition. Although the pathogenesis of this condition is unknown, high disease activity is the main characteristic; moreover, histopathology in some studies showed alveolar immune complex deposits and capillaritis. Clinical features of DAH include dyspnea, a drop in hemoglobin, and diffuse radiographic alveolar images, with or without hemoptysis. Factors associated with mortality include mechanical ventilation, renal failure, and infections. Bacterial infections have been reported frequently in patients with DAH, but also invasive fungal infections including aspergillosis. DAH treatment is based on high dose methylprednisolone; other accepted therapies include cyclophosphamide (controversial), plasmapheresis, immunoglobulin and rituximab. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

The Martian dust cycle: A proposed model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greeley, Ronald

1987-01-01

Despite more than a decade of study of martian dust storms, many of their characteristics and associated processes remain enigmatic, including the mechanisms for dust raising, modes of settling, and the nature of dust deposits. However, observations of Mars dust, considerations of terrestrial analogs, theoretical models, and laboratory simulations permit the formulation of a Martian Dust Cycle Model, which consists of three main processes: (1) suspension threshold, (2) transportation, and (3) deposition; two associated processes are also included: (4) dust removal and (5) the addition of new dust to the cycle. Although definitions vary, dust includes particles less than 4 to approx. 60 microns in diameter, which by terrestrial usage includes silt, loess, clay, and aerosolic dust particles. The dust cycle model is explained.

Sudden increase in human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China, September–December 2016

PubMed Central

Zhou, Lei; Ren, Ruiqi; Yang, Lei; Bao, Changjun; Wu, Jiabing; Wang, Dayan; Li, Chao; Xiang, Nijuan; Wang, Yali; Li, Dan; Sui, Haitian; Shu, Yuelong; Feng, Zijian; Li, Qun

2017-01-01

Since the first outbreak of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in humans was identified in 2013, there have been five seasonal epidemics observed in China. An earlier start and a steep increase in the number of humans infected with H7N9 virus was observed between September and December 2016, raising great public concern in domestic and international societies. The epidemiological characteristics of the recently reported confirmed H7N9 cases were analysed. The results suggested that although more cases were reported recently, most cases in the fifth epidemic were still highly sporadically distributed without any epidemiology links; the main characteristics remained unchanged and the genetic characteristics of virus strains that were isolated in this epidemic remained similar to earlier epidemics. Interventions included live poultry market closures in several cities that reported more H7N9 cases recently. PMID:28409054

Personality traits in childhood and adolescent headache.

PubMed

Lanzi, G; Zambrino, C A; Ferrari-Ginevra, O; Termine, C; D'Arrigo, S; Vercelli, P; De Silvestri, A; Guglielmino, C R

2001-02-01

We evaluate personality traits, anxiety and depression in a population of paediatric and adolescent patients, correlating personality characteristics with headache and sociodemographic variables. The clinical features of headache include specific personality traits. We report a clinical study of 57 patients (age 8-18 years), divided up as follows: 12 migraine with aura, 29 migraine without aura and 16 tension-type headache. One of Cattel's tests was administered to every patient; the Children's Depression Inventory test was administered to 53 patients and the Test Anxiety Inventory test to 43 subjects. The scores obtained by every patient in each test were correlated with the characteristics of headache and with sociodemographic data. We found that patients affected by idiopathic headache share some personality traits, mainly emotional rigidity and tendency to repress anger and aggression. These traits do not seem to be correlated with sociodemographic data and the duration of headache: we considered these as characteristic of migrainous patients.

Physical Activity Pattern of Malaysian Preschoolers: Environment, Barriers, and Motivators for Active Play.

PubMed

Lee, Shoo Thien; Wong, Jyh Eiin; Ong, Wei Wen; Ismail, Mohd Noor; Deurenberg, Paul; Poh, Bee Koon

2016-07-01

Children's physical activity has been correlated with child characteristics and social or physical environment. This study aimed to compare preschoolers' physical activity among various sociodemographic characteristics and to determine barriers, motivators, and environmental factors for active play. A total of 835 preschoolers were included in this analysis. Time spent on active play, quiet play, and screen time was reported by parents. Boys spent significantly more time on active play and screen time than girls. Time spent on quiet play was highest in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia and lowest in Sarawak. Some 40% of children achieved active play recommendation while 27% exceeded daily screen time recommendation. Most parents reported that their child played actively in the house area; and that the main barrier and motivator to active play were safety and child's enjoyment, respectively. These findings demonstrate that sociodemographic characteristics and environment should be considered in designing physical activity intervention programs. © 2016 APJPH.

Investigating co-combustion characteristics of bamboo and wood.

PubMed

Liang, Fang; Wang, Ruijuan; Jiang, Changle; Yang, Xiaomeng; Zhang, Tao; Hu, Wanhe; Mi, Bingbing; Liu, Zhijia

2017-11-01

To investigate co-combustion characteristics of bamboo and wood, moso bamboo and masson pine were torrefied and mixed with different blend ratios. The combustion process was examined by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The results showed the combustion process of samples included volatile emission and oxidation combustion as well as char combustion. The main mass loss of biomass blends occurred at volatile emission and oxidation combustion stage, while that of torrefied biomass occurred at char combustion stage. With the increase of bamboo content, characteristic temperatures decreased. Compared with untreated biomass, torrefied biomass had a higher initial and burnout temperature. With the increase of heating rates, combustion process of samples shifted to higher temperatures. Compared with non-isothermal models, activation energy obtained from isothermal model was lower. The result is helpful to promote development of co-combustion of bamboo and masson pine wastes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methodological characteristics and treatment effect sizes in oral health randomised controlled trials: Is there a relationship? Protocol for a meta-epidemiological study.

PubMed

Saltaji, Humam; Armijo-Olivo, Susan; Cummings, Greta G; Amin, Maryam; Flores-Mir, Carlos

2014-02-25

It is fundamental that randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are properly conducted in order to reach well-supported conclusions. However, there is emerging evidence that RCTs are subject to biases which can overestimate or underestimate the true treatment effect, due to flaws in the study design characteristics of such trials. The extent to which this holds true in oral health RCTs, which have some unique design characteristics compared to RCTs in other health fields, is unclear. As such, we aim to examine the empirical evidence quantifying the extent of bias associated with methodological and non-methodological characteristics in oral health RCTs. We plan to perform a meta-epidemiological study, where a sample size of 60 meta-analyses (MAs) including approximately 600 RCTs will be selected. The MAs will be randomly obtained from the Oral Health Database of Systematic Reviews using a random number table; and will be considered for inclusion if they include a minimum of five RCTs, and examine a therapeutic intervention related to one of the recognised dental specialties. RCTs identified in selected MAs will be subsequently included if their study design includes a comparison between an intervention group and a placebo group or another intervention group. Data will be extracted from selected trials included in MAs based on a number of methodological and non-methodological characteristics. Moreover, the risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Effect size estimates and measures of variability for the main outcome will be extracted from each RCT included in selected MAs, and a two-level analysis will be conducted using a meta-meta-analytic approach with a random effects model to allow for intra-MA and inter-MA heterogeneity. The intended audiences of the findings will include dental clinicians, oral health researchers, policymakers and graduate students. The aforementioned will be introduced to the findings through workshops, seminars, round table discussions and targeted individual meetings. Other opportunities for knowledge transfer will be pursued such as key dental conferences. Finally, the results will be published as a scientific report in a dental peer-reviewed journal.

Booster Main Engine Selection Criteria for the Liquid Fly-Back Booster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ryan, Richard M.; Rothschild, William J.; Christensen, David L.

1998-01-01

The Liquid Fly-Back Booster (LFBB) Program seeks to enhance the Space Shuttle system safety performance and economy of operations through the use of an advanced, liquid propellant Booster Main Engine (BME). There are several viable BME candidates that could be suitable for this application. The objective of this study was to identify the key criteria to be applied in selecting among these BME candidates. This study involved an assessment of influences on the overall LFBB utility due to variations in the candidate rocket engines' characteristics. This includes BME impacts on vehicle system weight, perfortnance,design approaches, abort modes, margins of safety, engine-out operations, and maintenance and support concepts. Systems engineering analyses and trade studies were performed to identify the LFBB system level sensitivities to a wide variety of BME related parameters. This presentation summarizes these trade studies and the resulting findings of the LFBB design teams regarding the BME characteristics that most significantly affect the LFBB system. The resulting BME choice should offer the best combination of reliability, performance, reusability, robustness, cost, and risk for the LFBB program.

Booster Main Engine Selection Criteria for the Liquid Fly-Back Booster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ryan, Richard M.; Rothschild, William J.; Christensen, David L.

1998-01-01

The Liquid Fly-Back Booster (LFBB) Program seeks to enhance the Space Shuttle system safety, performance and economy of operations through the use of an advanced, liquid propellant Booster Main Engine (BME). There are several viable BME candidates that could be suitable for this application. The objective of this study was to identify the key Criteria to be applied in selecting among these BME candidates. This study involved an assessment of influences on the overall LFBB utility due to variations in the candidate rocket-engines characteristics. This includes BME impacts on vehicle system weight, performance, design approaches, abort modes, margins of safety, engine-out operations, and maintenance and support concepts. Systems engineering analyses and trade studies were performed to identify the LFBB system level sensitivities to a wide variety of BME related parameters. This presentation summarizes these trade studies and the resulting findings of the LFBB design teams regarding the BME characteristics that most significantly affect the LFBB system. The resulting BME choice should offer the best combination of reliability, performance, reusability, robustness, cost, and risk for the LFBB program.

Brazilian cheeses: A survey covering physicochemical characteristics, mineral content, fatty acid profile and volatile compounds.

PubMed

Matera, Juliana; Luna, Aderval S; Batista, Diego B; Pimentel, Tatiana C; Moraes, Jeremias; Kamimura, Bruna A; Ferreira, Marcus Vinicius S; Silva, Hugo L A; Mathias, Simone P; Esmerino, Erick A; Freitas, Monica Q; Raices, Renata S L; Quitério, Simone L; Sant'Ana, Anderson S; Silva, Marcia C; Cruz, Adriano G

2018-06-01

Chemical characteristics, mineral levels (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Mn), fatty acid profile and volatile compounds of typically Brazilian cheeses (Minas Frescal, Minas Padrão, Prato and Coalho, n = 200, equally distributed) were investigated. The cheeses have proven to be a source of Ca, Cu and Zn (>15% RDI/30 g), with low atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, with ethanol as the main alcohol and butanoic acid as the main acid, and moderate to high sodium content. Minas Frescal cheese presented lower nutritional value (proteins, lipids, and minerals), while Prato cheese had a higher fatty acids concentration, including conjugated linoleic acid (0.013 g 100 g -1 ). Coalho cheese had a higher acetic acid level, while citric acid and lactic acid predominated in Minas Padrão cheese. The results provide essential information for Brazilian consumers, demonstrated that the manufacturing conditions are heterogeneous and suggested that a standardized manufacturing protocol for dairy processors is needed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Raindrop characteristics analysis (Oct 25, 2015) of natural rainfall in Zhengzhou city of Yellow River basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Nana; Lin, Jing; Che, Shuhong; Yang, Xueqin; Li, Weiwei; Shen, Zhenzhou

2018-03-01

Raindrop characteristics, including speed and size of raindrops, in Zhengzhou city of Yellow River basin were analyzed through a natural rainfall on the loess slope. Results showed that the process of natural rainfall belonged to a parabola and counts, size and terminal velocity would increase with the rainfall intensity rising. Besides, the size and terminal velocity of natural raindrops were relatively scattered; In the process of individual rainfall, the terminal velocity and its peak value were mainly focused between 1∼5m/s and 3.4m/s, respectively. Size of raindrops were mainly consisted of 0.125-1.25mm, among which the terminal velocity of raindrops with a size of 0.125mm, 0.25mm, 0.375mm, 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 1mm were primarily 0.8-2.6m/s, 1-3.4m/s, 1.4-3.4m/s, 1.8-3.4m/s, 3-4.2m/s and 3.4-5m/s, respectively.

Maternal characteristics and birth outcomes of pregnant women who had offspring with congenital ear abnormalities - a population-based case-control study.

PubMed

Paput, László; Bánhidy, Ferenc; Czeizel, Andrew E

2011-09-01

To describe the maternal characteristics and birth outcomes of newborn infants affected with isolated ear congenital abnormalities (IECA), mainly isolated anotia/microtia and unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities (CAs) including anotia/microtia (UMAM). Cases with IECA and UMAM were compared with their matched controls and all controls without any defect and malformed controls affected with other defects in the population-based large dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities. The mothers of 354 cases with IECA did not show significant difference in age, but their mean birth order was higher while their socio-economic status based on the maternal employment status was lower compared to the figures of their matched controls. There was a male excess among cases with microtia and mainly with UMAM. The evaluation of birth outcomes of newborns affected with IECA indicated intrauterine fetal growth retardation. Newborn infants with isolated microtia had intrauterine growth retardation and the association of this developmental defect localized for a small region of head with the general fetal development raises interesting theoretical question.

[Effect of hydrochemistry characteristics under impact of human activity: a case study in the upper reaches of the Xijiang River basin].

PubMed

Yu, Shil; Sun, Ping-an; Du, Wen-yue; He, Shi-yi; Li, Rui

2015-01-01

In this paper, observation and sampling were taken three times a month in a hydrological year for three typical sections of the middle and upper reaches of the Xijiang River basin, based on the data of hydrochemistry and flow, the article mainly discusses the evolution process of hydrochemistry in river under natural process and impact of human activity. Hydrochemical characteristics of 116. samples were analyzed in the study area. The hydrochemistry type in the middle and upper reaches of the Xijiang River basin belonged to HCO3- -Ca2+ type, and the chemical weathering type mainly came from carbonate rock weathering. Ca2+ and HCO3- were the main cations and anions, which reflected that hydrochemical characteristics of river in karst area mainly affected by the dissolution of carbonate rock. Na, Mg2, Ca2+ and Cl- mainly affected by natural conditions, the impact of human activity was little. K+, NO3-, SO4(2-) and HCO3- were affected by human activity in different degrees, and it showed different influence ways. This study had an important significance for the change of river hydrochemistry, water quality characteristics, and the effect on substance transported fluxes in the downstream of Pearl River and water quality protection in South China Monsoon Area.

[Growth characteristics of Porites lutea skeleton in east sea area of Hainan Island, China and main affecting environmental factors.

PubMed

Jiang, Qiao Wen; Cao, Zhi Min; Wang, Dao Ru; Li, Yuan Chao; Ni, Jian Yu

2016-03-01

The growth characteristics of Porites lutea skeleton in east sea area of Hainan Island were studied by CoralXDS software based on X-ray chronology. The growth parameters obtained included extension rate (ER), skeleton density (D), and calcification rate (CR). The results showed that ER varied from 0.49 to 1.10 cm·a -1 with an annual average of 0.76 cm·a -1 , D varied from 1.11 to 1.35 g·cm -3 with an annual average of 1.22 g·cm -3 , and CR varied from 0.55 to 1.41 g·cm -2 ·a -1 with an annual average of 0.94 g·cm -2 ·a -1 . Statistical analyses indicated that sea surface temperature (SST) was the key environmental factor that controlled the growth characteristics, as it highly co-varied with ER and CR, less so with D. All of the three growth characteristics increased with the increase of SST. There were other factors that influenced the growth characteristics of the coral column, such as light, water salinity, and hydrodynamics, etc. In addition, typhoon and severe tropical storms also imposed a significant impact on the growth pattern of Porites lutea coral. The change in growth pattern of coral skeleton in east of Hainan Island was a response to complex climate fluctuation. Over the past century, SST of east Hainan Island dramatically increased at a rate of 0.15 ℃·(10 a) -1 . The SST increase trend for the oceanic region could be divided into two stages, early 1940s and early 1980s. The human activities and global warming was the main causes for the increase of SST.

Factors that influence public awareness of domestic waste characteristics and management in rural areas.

PubMed

Han, Zhiyong; Duan, Qingqing; Fei, Yongqiang; Zeng, Dan; Shi, Guozhong; Li, Haimei; Hu, Meilun

2018-05-01

Public awareness of domestic waste characteristics and management (PADWCM) is a prerequisite for a domestic waste management (DWM) plan. In this study, we considered China as a typical example of developing countries to investigate the public perception of environmental pollution (PEP), its PADWCM, and its socioeconomic factors, using questionnaires and statistical methods. The results indicated that the public PEP was mainly due to obvious environmental contamination in local villages, and the PADWCM is still inadequate in rural areas. However, 83.9% of the respondents agreed that DWM is highly necessary. The PADWCM, including the hazard, recyclability, and characteristic pollution caused by domestic waste, was learned mainly from people's direct PEP, experiences, and repurchasing by recyclers. Education period had highly significant positive correlations and regressions with PEP and PADWCM, respectively. Additionally, education directly affected public awareness in different income and age groups. Demonstration projects had a significant positive effect on the awareness of characteristic pollution caused by domestic waste, which was readily perceived. Propaganda had a significant positive influence on the awareness of treatment necessity. Age and gender had no obvious effects on public PEP and PADWCM. Some aspects of PADWCM requiring a deep understanding became stronger as income increased; however, the PADWCM located close to poor people became weaker. Some aspects of PEP could significantly influence the awareness of characteristic pollution caused by domestic waste and awareness of treatment necessity. Therefore, improving environmental education, performing demonstration projects and effective environmental propaganda, increasing people's income, and attracting young people to participate in DWM will be important for enhancing environmental awareness and DWM in rural areas. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:395-406. © 2018 SETAC. © 2018 SETAC.

Survey of Hearth Products in U.S. Homes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siap, David; Willem, Henry; Price, Sarah K.

There are over 7 million gas-fired fireplaces currently installed in US households. On an annual basis, these use substantial energy. However, the details of the fireplace energy use and the factors that influence it are currently not well understood. Fireplaces are a type of hearth product, which is a product category that primarily consists of fireplaces, stoves, and gas log sets. For the purpose of this study, the fuels used in hearth products are primarily natural gas, propane, or electricity. They may be vented or unvented. This study reports the results of a web survey of 2,100 respondents in themore » United States performed in February 2016. The responses were cleaned and weighted using the raking method to form a nationally representative population. The reported data include hearth product characteristics, usage information, and repair and maintenance practices. The hearth product characteristics include the hearth product type, fuel type, ignition system type, features, venting, and installation details. The usage information includes seasonal usage of the main burner and standing pilot (if present), daily usage, and the primary utility (whether decorative or for heating). These raw data are further processed and combined with values from the literature to estimate the annual operating hours and energy use and to assess how these are impacted by the hearth product type, features, age, and the main heating appliance, if present. Based on the survey responses, the estimated average annual hours of usage was 234 for the main burner, and 4,593 for the standing pilot. The results presented provide the most comprehensive data regarding hearth products in the United States published to date. These new data allow for an improved understanding of hearth products’ energy use, which in turn may facilitate the development of more informed analyses, and ultimately more efficient hearth products and reduced energy use. These new data also provide insight into topics not previously studied, such as the effect of hearth product features on energy use.« less

Clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in Spain. Comparison with the 2008-2009 period and analysis of the causes of diagnosis out of screening programs. Analysis of 686 cases in 73 centers.

PubMed

Rodríguez de Lope, Carlos; Reig, María; Matilla, Ana; Ferrer, María Teresa; Dueñas, Eva; Mínguez, Beatriz; F Castroagudín, Javier; Ortiz, Inmaculada; Pascual, Sonia; Lledó, José Luis; Gallego, Adolfo; Arenas, Juan I; Aracil, Carles; Forne, Montserrat; Muñoz, Carolina; Pons, Fernando; Sala, Margarita; Iñarrairaegui, Mercedes; Martin-Llahi, Marta; Andreu, Victoria; Garre, Carmen; Rendón, Paloma; Fuentes, Javier; Crespo, Javier; Rodríguez, Manuel; Bruix, Jordi; Varela, María

2017-07-21

In 2010 we published that 53% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detected in Spain were diagnosed outside the context of standard screening programs, which consequently leads to lower survival rates. The aim of this study was to analyze the current situation and the causes of diagnosis out of screening programs. Prospective registry of 73 second- and third-level Spanish healthcare centers carried out between October 1, 2014 and January 31, 2015. The baseline characteristics of the disease and the first treatment administered for the incidental primary liver tumors during such period were recorded. A total of 720 patients were included in the study: HCC (n=686), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n=29), hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n=2), other (n=3). HCC characteristics: male 82%; mean age 67 years; cirrhosis 87%; main etiologies: alcohol 35%, HCV 30%, alcohol and HCV 15%, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 6%; tumor stage: BCLC-0 11%, A 43%, B 19%, C 16% and D 11%; first treatment: transarterial chemoembolization (23%), percutaneous ablation (22%), symptomatic treatment (20%), resection (11%), sorafenib (11%). Three hundred and fifty-six patients (53%) were diagnosed outside of screening programs, mainly owing to the fact that they suffered from an undiagnosed liver disease (76%) and to the poor adherence to the screening program (18%). These patients were mainly male (P<.001), with an alcoholic etiology (P<.001) and active alcohol consumption (P<.001). Moreover, the disease was predominantly diagnosed at more advanced stages (P<.001) and was addressed with less radical treatments (P<.001). In Spain, the main cause of diagnosis of a HCC outside the context of a screening program is the absence of a prior diagnosis of a liver disease, particularly in alcohol-consuming men. Detecting a liver disease in asymptomatic populations and improving adherence to screening programs are the main areas that must be subject to improvement in order to improve the early detection of HCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

The condition of insomnia: etiopathogenetic considerations and their impact on treatment practices.

PubMed

Dikeos, Dimitris G; Soldatos, Constantin R

2005-08-01

Insomnia is conceived as the subjective complaint of reduced sleep quantity and/or quality, even in the absence of objective verification of sleep loss; it is the outcome of the interplay of many environmental, biological, and psychological factors, which can be distinguished into predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating. Predisposing and precipitating factors include various demographic characteristics and the occurrence of psychiatric or somatic illnesses as well as other stressful life events. The perpetuating factors, responsible for the development of chronicity of the complaint of insomnia, mainly involve a 24-hour state of hyperarousal and a vicious cycle of sleeplessness causing fear of sleeplessness which in turn leads to further hyperarousal and more sleeplessness. Particular psychological characteristics, including excessive use of denial and repression as well as a strong propensity for internalisation of emotions, are also among the main factors contributing to the psychophysiological activation and state of hyper-arousability commonly encountered among insomniac patients. The treatment should not only focus on ameliorating sleeplessness, it should also address all those factors that cause and maintain insomnia. An integrative management of insomnia includes education on sleep hygiene measures, behavioural, cognitive and psychodynamic psychotherapies, and the utilization of sleep-promoting drugs. Among the latter, only for the use of benzodiazepine or benzodiazepine-like hypnotics exists sufficient evidence for efficacy as well as adequate information on their side-effect profiles. Thus, these compounds are considered as the drugs of choice for the treatment of insomnia. It is recommended that the use of hypnotic drugs is restricted to the initial period of treatment; they should be rationally utilized within the context of a broad therapeutic program, which is based on a sound doctor-patient relationship and includes sleep hygiene education and the application of certain psychotherapeutic techniques in an individualized manner.

Discovery and therapeutic promise of selective androgen receptor modulators.

PubMed

Chen, Jiyun; Kim, Juhyun; Dalton, James T

2005-06-01

Androgens are essential for male development and the maintenance of male secondary characteristics, such as bone mass, muscle mass, body composition, and spermatogenesis. The main disadvantages of steroidal androgens are their undesirable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The recent discovery of nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) provides a promising alternative for testosterone replacement therapies with advantages including oral bioavailability, flexibility of structural modification, androgen receptor specificity, tissue selectivity, and the lack of steroid-related side effects.

Discovery AND Therapeutic Promise OF Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators

PubMed Central

Chen, Jiyun; Kim, Juhyun; Dalton, James T.

2007-01-01

Androgens are essential for male development and the maintenance of male secondary characteristics, such as bone mass, muscle mass, body composition, and spermatogenesis. The main disadvantages of steroidal androgens are their undesirable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The recent discovery of nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) provides a promising alternative for testosterone replacement therapies with advantages including oral bioavailability, flexibility of structural modification, androgen receptor specificity, tissue selectivity, and the lack of steroid-related side effects. PMID:15994457

An analytics of electricity consumption characteristics based on principal component analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Junshu

2018-02-01

Abstract . More detailed analysis of the electricity consumption characteristics can make demand side management (DSM) much more targeted. In this paper, an analytics of electricity consumption characteristics based on principal component analysis (PCA) is given, which the PCA method can be used in to extract the main typical characteristics of electricity consumers. Then, electricity consumption characteristics matrix is designed, which can make a comparison of different typical electricity consumption characteristics between different types of consumers, such as industrial consumers, commercial consumers and residents. In our case study, the electricity consumption has been mainly divided into four characteristics: extreme peak using, peak using, peak-shifting using and others. Moreover, it has been found that industrial consumers shift their peak load often, meanwhile commercial and residential consumers have more peak-time consumption. The conclusions can provide decision support of DSM for the government and power providers.

Factors associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with pulseless electric activity: A population-based study.

PubMed

Ko, Dennis T; Qiu, Feng; Koh, Maria; Dorian, Paul; Cheskes, Sheldon; Austin, Peter C; Scales, Damon C; Wijeysundera, Harindra C; Verbeek, P Richard; Drennan, Ian; Ng, Tiffany; Tu, Jack V; Morrison, Laurie J

2016-07-01

Many patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest present with pulseless electric activity (PEA) rather than shockable rhythm. Despite improvements in resuscitation care, survival of PEA patients remains dismal. Our main objective was to characterize out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients by initial presenting rhythm and to evaluate independent determinants of PEA. A population-based study was conducted using the Toronto Rescu Epistry database with linkage to administrative data in Ontario, Canada. We included patients older than 20 years who had nontraumatic cardiac arrests from 2005 to 2010. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine factors predicting the occurrence of PEA vs shockable rhythm vs asystole. Of the 9,882 included patients who received treatment, 24.5% had PEA, 26.3% had shockable rhythm, and 49.2% had asystole. Patients with PEA had a mean age of 72 years, 41.2% were female and had multiple comorbidities, and 53.4% were hospitalized in the past year. As compared with shockable rhythm, PEA patients were older, were more likely to be women, and had more comorbidities. As compared with asystole, PEA patients had similar baseline and clinical characteristics, but were substantially more likely to have an arrest witnessed by emergency medical services (odds ratio 13) or by bystander (odds ratio 3.24). Mortality at 30 days was 95.5%, 77.9%, and 98.9% for patients with PEA, shockable rhythm, asystole, respectively. Patient characteristics differed substantially in those presenting with PEA and shockable rhythm. In contrast, the main distinguishing factor between PEA and asystole cardiac arrest related mainly to factors at the time of the cardiac arrest. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Norm - contaminated iodine production facilities decommissioning in Turkmenistan: experience and results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gelbutovskiy, Alexander; Cheremisin, Peter; Egorov, Alexander

2013-07-01

This report summarizes the data, including the cost parameters of the former iodine production facilities decommissioning project in Turkmenistan. Before the closure, these facilities were producing the iodine from the underground mineral water by the methods of charcoal adsorption. Balkanabat iodine and Khazar chemical plants' sites remediation, transportation and disposal campaigns main results could be seen. The rehabilitated area covers 47.5 thousand square meters. The remediation equipment main characteristics, technical solutions and rehabilitation operations performed are indicated also. The report shows the types of the waste shipping containers, the quantity and nature of the logistics operations. The project waste turnovermore » is about 2 million ton-kilometers. The problems encountered during the remediation of the Khazar chemical plant site are discussed: undetected waste quantities that were discovered during the operational activities required the additional volume of the disposal facility. The additional repository wall superstructure was designed and erected to accommodate this additional waste. There are data on the volume and characteristics of the NORM waste disposed: 60.4 thousand cu.m. of NORM with total activity 1 439 x 10{sup 9} Bq (38.89 Ci) were disposed at all. This report summarizes the project implementation results, from 2009 to 15.02.2012 (the date of the repository closure and its placement under the controlled supervision), including monitoring results within a year after the repository closure. (authors)« less

The Impact of Professional Development and Student and Teacher Characteristics on the Quality of Postsecondary Goals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doren, Bonnie; Flannery, K. Brigid; Lombardi, Allison R.; Kato, Mimi McGrath

2013-01-01

This study examined (a) the main effects of professional development on the quality of postsecondary goals in employment and postsecondary education/training, (b) the main effects of student and teacher characteristics on goal quality, and (c) whether professional development moderated the relationship between the impact of these characteristics…

Microwave system performance for a solar power satellite during startup/shutdown operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arndt, G. D.; Berlin, L. A.

1979-01-01

The paper investigates the system performance and antenna characteristics under startup/shutdown conditions for the high power beam from a solar power satellite. Attention is given to the present microwave system reference configuration together with the dc power distribution system in the solar array and in the antenna. The pattern characteristics for the main beam, sidelobes, and grating lobes are examined for eight types of energizing configurations which include: random sequences, two types of concentric circles, and three types of line strips. In conclusion, it is noted that a proper choice of sequences should not cause environmental problems due to increased microwave radiation levels during the short time periods of energizing and de-energizing the antenna.

Interference of Tail Surfaces and Wing and Fuselage from Tests of 17 Combinations in the N.A.C.A. Variable-Density Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherman, Albert

1939-01-01

An investigation of the interference associated with tail surfaces added to wing-fuselage combinations was included in the interference program in progress in the NACA variable-density tunnel. The results indicate that, in aerodynamically clean combinations, the increment of the high-speed drag can be estimated from section characteristics within useful limits of accuracy. The interference appears mainly as effects on the downwash angle and as losses in the tail effectiveness and varies with the geometry of the combination. An interference burble, which markedly increases the glide-path angle and the stability in pitch before the actual stall, may be considered a means of obtaining satisfactory stalling characteristics for complete combination.

Development of a graphical method for choosing the optimal mode of traffic light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, A. N.; Katunin, A. A.; Novikov, I. A.; Kravchenko, A. A.; Shevtsova, A. G.

2018-05-01

Changing the transportation infrastructure for improving the main characteristics of the transportation flow is the key problem in transportation planning, therefore the main question lies in the ability to plan the change of the main indicators for the long term. In this investigation, an analysis of the city’s population has been performed and the most difficult transportation segment has been identified. During its identification, the main characteristics of the transportation flow have been established. For the evaluation of these characteristics until 2025, an analysis of the available methods of establishing changes in their values has been conducted. During the analysis of the above mentioned methods of evaluation of the change in intensity, based on the method of extrapolation, three scenarios of the development of the transportation system have been identified. It has been established that the most favorable method of controlling the transportation flow in the entrance to the city is the long term control of the traffic system. For the first time, with the help of the authors, based on the investigations of foreign scientists and the mathematical analysis of the changes in intensiveness on the main routes of the given road, the method of graphically choosing the required control plan has been put forward. The effectiveness of said organization scheme of the transportation system has been rated in the Transyt-14 program, with the analysis of changes in the main characteristics of the transportation flow.

Forensic applications of supercritical fluid chromatography - mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Pauk, Volodymyr; Lemr, Karel

2018-06-01

Achievements of supercritical fluid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection made in the field of forensic science during the last decade are reviewed. The main topics include analysis of traditional drugs of abuse (e.g. cannabis, methamphetamine) as well as new psychoactive substances (synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones and phenethylamines), doping agents (anabolic steroids, stimulants, diuretics, analgesics etc.) and chemical warfare agents. Control of food authenticity, detection of adulteration and identification of toxic substances in food are also pointed out. Main aspects of an analytical workflow, such as sample preparation, separation and detection are discussed. A special attention is paid to the performance characteristics and validation parameters of supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometric methods in comparison with other separation techniques. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of high-rise construction projects in the form of urban blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlov, Alexandr; Chubarkina, Irina

2018-03-01

The paper is dedicated to main modern trends in the area of high-rise construction. The classification of buildings and structures by height is given. Functional distribution by the height of buildings is presented. A review of positive and negative aspects of high-rise construction from the economic point of view is given. On the basis of the data obtained, it is proposed to build up residential microdistricts in the form of urban blocks. A plan of microdistricts development is presented. It takes into account urban blocks and includes their main characteristics. An economic and mathematical model was developed to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of high-rise construction projects.

Risperidone in the treatment of behavioral disorders associated with autism in children and adolescents

PubMed Central

Canitano, Roberto; Scandurra, Valeria

2008-01-01

This is a review of the clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The main clinical characteristics are impairment in social skills, communication difficulties, repetitive movements and behaviors, including stereotypies. Pharmacotherapy is mainly directed at the so-called target symptoms, ie, behavioral disorders and the various kinds of repetitions associated with ASD. According to the available data, risperidone seems to be moderately efficacious and safe for treating behavioral disorders. 4 double blind controlled trial. 3 reanalysis studies, and 12 open studies have documented the role of risperidone in children with ASD. Controlled studies have been thoroughly considered in this review. PMID:19043516

The flavor of pomegranate fruit: a review.

PubMed

Mayuoni-Kirshinbaum, Lina; Porat, Ron

2014-01-15

Despite the increasing commercial importance of pomegranate, especially because of its recently discovered health-promoting benefits, relatively little is yet known regarding its sensory quality and flavor preferences, or about the biochemical constituents that determine its sensory characteristics. The perceived flavor of pomegranate fruit results from the combination of various taste, aroma and mouthfeel sensations. The taste is governed mainly by the presence of sugars (glucose and fructose) and organic acids (primarily citric and malic acids). The aroma evolves from the presence of dozens of volatiles, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and terpenes, which provide a mixture of various 'green', 'woody', 'earthy', 'fruity', 'floral', 'sweet' and 'musty' notes. In addition, the sensory satisfaction during the eating of pomegranate arils is complemented by various mouthfeel sensations, including seed hardness and astringency sensations. In the present review we will describe the sensory quality and flavor preferences of pomegranate fruit, including the genetic diversity in flavor characteristics among distinct varieties. In addition, we will describe the dynamic changes that occur in fruit flavor during fruit ripening and postharvest storage. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

A dataset of housing market and self-attitudes towards housing location choices in Alexandria, Egypt.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Mohamed R

2017-04-01

A survey, of sample size 224, is designed to include the different related-factors to housing location choice, such as; socioeconomic factors, housing characteristics, travel behavior, current self-selection factors, housing demand and future location preferences. It comprises 16 questions, categorized into three different sections; socioeconomic (5 Questions), current dwelling unit characteristics (7 Questions), and housing demand characteristics (4 Questions). The first part, socioeconomic, covers the basic information about the respondent, such as; age, gender, marital status, employment, and car ownership. While the second part, current dwelling unit characteristics, covers different aspect concerning the residential unit typology, financial aspects, and travel behavior of the respondent. It includes the tenure types of the residential unit, estimation of the unit price (in the case of ownership or renting), housing typologies, the main reason for choosing the unit, in case of working, the modes of travel to work, and time to reach it, residential mobility in the last decade, and the ownership of any other residential units. The last part, housing demand characteristics, covers the size of the demand for a residential unit, preference in living in a certain area and the reason to choose it, and the preference of residential unit׳s tenure. This survey is a representative sample for the population in Alexandria, Egypt. The data in this article is represented in: How do people select their residential locations in Egypt? The case of Alexandria; JCIT1757.

The microbiology of Bandji, palm wine of Borassus akeassii from Burkina Faso: identification and genotypic diversity of yeasts, lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria.

PubMed

Ouoba, L I I; Kando, C; Parkouda, C; Sawadogo-Lingani, H; Diawara, B; Sutherland, J P

2012-12-01

To investigate physicochemical characteristics and especially genotypic diversity of the main culturable micro-organisms involved in fermentation of sap from Borassus akeassii, a newly identified palm tree from West Africa. Physicochemical characterization was performed using conventional methods. Identification of micro-organisms included phenotyping and sequencing of: 26S rRNA gene for yeasts, 16S rRNA and gyrB genes for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acetic acid bacteria (AAB). Interspecies and intraspecies genotypic diversities of the micro-organisms were screened respectively by amplification of the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2/16S-23S rDNA ITS regions and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR). The physicochemical characteristics of samples were: pH: 3.48-4.12, titratable acidity: 1.67-3.50 mg KOH g(-1), acetic acid: 0.16-0.37%, alcohol content: 0.30-2.73%, sugars (degrees Brix): 2.70-8.50. Yeast included mainly Saccharomyces cerevisiae and species of the genera Arthroascus, Issatchenkia, Candida, Trichosporon, Hanseniaspora, Kodamaea, Schizosaccharomyces, Trigonopsis and Galactomyces. Lactobacillus plantarum was the predominant LAB species. Three other species of Lactobacillus were also identified as well as isolates of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Fructobacillus durionis and Streptococcus mitis. Acetic acid bacteria included nine species of the genus Acetobacter with Acetobacter indonesiensis as predominant species. In addition, isolates of Gluconobacter oxydans and Gluconacetobacter saccharivorans were also identified. Intraspecies diversity was observed for some species of micro-organisms including four genotypes for Acet. indonesiensis, three for Candida tropicalis and Lactobacillus fermentum and two each for S. cerevisiae, Trichosporon asahii, Candida pararugosa and Acetobacter tropicalis. fermentation of palm sap from B. akeassii involved multi-yeast-LAB-AAB cultures at genus, species and intraspecies level. First study describing microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of palm wine from B. akeassii. Genotypic diversity of palm wine LAB and AAB not reported before is demonstrated and this constitutes valuable information for better understanding of the fermentation which can be used to improve the product quality and develop added value by-products. © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Characteristics of tree bark as an indicator in high-immission areas : II. Contents of heavy metals.

PubMed

Lötschert, W; Köhm, H -J

1978-01-01

1. Studies on indicator characteristics of bark of deciduous trees have been continued by measuring accumulation of Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn in the bark of Fraxinus excelsior at 34 sampling sites over an area of 150 km 2 in the immission area of Frankfurt am Main. 2. Iso-lines of equal Pb-contamination have been found. They include zones of graduated immissions. The pattern of these zones shows an eccentrical orientation and is the result of the distribution of the main traffic roads. A significant correlation of Pb in the bark and traffic congestion has been found. 3. The zones of Cd-contamination stretch from SW to NE. The orientation of these zones is determined by the distribution of the big emittenrs and the centers of heating power in the area and the predominating direction of wind. 4. A correlation between the accumulation of Pb and Cd has been detected. It is less significant than that between pH-value and sulfur content in the bark of trees in former investigations. 5. The distribution of Pb and Mn is antagonistic in the bark of Fraxinus excelsior and parallel in the needles of Taxus baccata. The content of Mn in the bark of Fraxinus is low. It must be accepted that this is partly an effect of elution by sulfur acid-aerosol formation. 6. The strongest accumulation of heavy metal immissions is found in mosses on the ground, mainly in Bryum argenteum. Nevertheless the bark of Fraxinus excelsior has shown consequently its accumulation characteristics as a good immission indicator for heavy metal contaminations by traffic and big emittents.

A single gene controls leaf background color in caladium (Araceae) and is tightly linked to genes for leaf main vein color, spotting and rugosity.

PubMed

Cao, Zhe; Sui, Shunzhao; Yang, Qian; Deng, Zhanao

2017-01-01

Modern cultivated caladiums ( Caladium × hortulanum ) are grown for their long-lasting and colorful leaves. Understanding the mode of inheritance for caladium leaf characteristics is critical for plant breeders to select appropriate parents, predict progeny performance, estimate breeding population sizes needed, and increase breeding efficiencies. This study was conducted to determine the mode of inheritance of two leaf background colors (lemon and green) in caladium and to understand their relationships with four other important leaf characteristics including leaf shape, main vein color, spotting, and rugosity. Seven caladium cultivars and three breeding lines were used as parents in 19 crosses, and their progeny were phenotyped for segregation of leaf traits. Results showed that the two leaf background colors are controlled by a single nuclear locus, with two alleles, LEM and lem , which control the dominant lemon and the recessive green leaf background color, respectively. The lemon-colored cultivar 'Miss Muffet' and breeding lines UF-52 and UF-53 have a heterozygous genotype LEMlem . Chi-square tests showed that the leaf background color locus LEM is independent from the leaf shape locus F , but is tightly linked to three loci ( S , V and RLF ) controlling leaf spotting, main vein color, and rugosity in caladium. A linkage map that consists of four loci controlling major caladium leaf characteristics and extends ~15 cM was developed based on the observed recombination frequencies. This is the first report on the mode of inheritance of leaf background colors in caladium and in the Araceae family. The information gained in this study will be very useful for caladium breeding and study of the inheritance of leaf colors in other ornamental aroids, an important group of ornamental plants in the world.

A single gene controls leaf background color in caladium (Araceae) and is tightly linked to genes for leaf main vein color, spotting and rugosity

PubMed Central

Cao, Zhe; Sui, Shunzhao; Yang, Qian; Deng, Zhanao

2017-01-01

Modern cultivated caladiums (Caladium×hortulanum) are grown for their long-lasting and colorful leaves. Understanding the mode of inheritance for caladium leaf characteristics is critical for plant breeders to select appropriate parents, predict progeny performance, estimate breeding population sizes needed, and increase breeding efficiencies. This study was conducted to determine the mode of inheritance of two leaf background colors (lemon and green) in caladium and to understand their relationships with four other important leaf characteristics including leaf shape, main vein color, spotting, and rugosity. Seven caladium cultivars and three breeding lines were used as parents in 19 crosses, and their progeny were phenotyped for segregation of leaf traits. Results showed that the two leaf background colors are controlled by a single nuclear locus, with two alleles, LEM and lem, which control the dominant lemon and the recessive green leaf background color, respectively. The lemon-colored cultivar ‘Miss Muffet’ and breeding lines UF-52 and UF-53 have a heterozygous genotype LEMlem. Chi-square tests showed that the leaf background color locus LEM is independent from the leaf shape locus F, but is tightly linked to three loci (S, V and RLF) controlling leaf spotting, main vein color, and rugosity in caladium. A linkage map that consists of four loci controlling major caladium leaf characteristics and extends ~15 cM was developed based on the observed recombination frequencies. This is the first report on the mode of inheritance of leaf background colors in caladium and in the Araceae family. The information gained in this study will be very useful for caladium breeding and study of the inheritance of leaf colors in other ornamental aroids, an important group of ornamental plants in the world. PMID:28101369

Prevalence and characteristics of psychotropic drug use in institutionalized children and adolescents with mild intellectual disability.

PubMed

Scheifes, Arlette; de Jong, Daniël; Stolker, Joost Jan; Nijman, Henk L I; Egberts, Toine C G; Heerdink, Eibert R

2013-10-01

Psychotropic drugs are a cornerstone in the treatment of psychopathology and/or behavioral problems in children with intellectual disability (ID), despite concerns about efficacy and safety. Studies on the prevalence of psychotropic drug use have mainly been focused on adults with ID or children without ID. Therefore the aim of this cross sectional study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of psychotropic drug use in children with mild ID who were institutionalized in specialized inpatient treatment facilities in The Netherlands. Demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses, the nature of the behavioral problems, level of intellectual functioning, and medication data were extracted from medical records using a standardized data collection form. Adjusted relative risks (ARR) for the association between patient characteristics and psychotropic drug use were estimated with Cox regression analysis. Of the 472 included children, 29.4% (n=139) used any psychotropic drug, of which 15.3% (n=72) used antipsychotics (mainly risperidone), and 14.8% (n=70) used psychostimulants (mainly methylphenidate). Age, sex, and behavioral problems were associated with psychotropic drug use. Boys had a 1.7 (95%CI 1.1-2.4) higher probability of using psychotropic drugs, compared to girls adjusted for age and behavioral problems. Having any behavioral problem was associated with psychotropic drug use with an ARR of 2.1 (95%CI 1.3-3.3), adjusted for sex and age. The high prevalence of psychotropic drug use in children with ID is worrisome because of the lack of evidence of effectiveness (especially for behavioral problems) at this young age, and the potential of adverse drug reactions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Judgment of infant cry: The roles of acoustic characteristics and sociodemographic characteristics.

PubMed

Esposito, Gianluca; Nakazawa, Jun; Venuti, Paola; Bornstein, Marc H

2015-04-01

Adult judgments of infant cry are determined by both acoustic properties of the cry and listener sociodemographic characteristics. The main purpose of this research was to investigate how these two sources shape adult judgments of infant cry. We systematically manipulated both the acoustic properties of infant cries and contrasted listener sociodemographic characteristics. Then, we asked participants to listen to several acoustic manipulations of infant cries and to judge the level of distress the infant was expressing and the level of distress participants felt when listening. Finally, as a contrasting condition, participants estimated the age of the crying infant. Using tree-based models, we found that judgments of the level of distress the infant was expressing as well as the level of distress listeners felt are mainly accounted for by select acoustic properties of infant cry (proportion of sound/pause, fundamental frequency, and number of utterances), whereas age estimates of a crying infant are determined mainly by listener sociodemographic characteristics (gender and parental status). Implications for understanding infant cry and its effects as well as early caregiver-infant interactions are discussed.

Temperature performance analysis of intersubband Raman laser in quantum cascade structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousefvand, Hossein Reza

2017-06-01

In this paper we investigate the effects of temperature on the output characteristics of the intersubband Raman laser (RL) that integrated monolithically with a quantum cascade (QC) laser as an intracavity optical pump. The laser bandstructure is calculated by a self-consistent solution of Schrodinger-Poisson equations, and the employed physical model of carrier transport is based on a five-level carrier scattering rates; a two-level rate equations for the pump laser and a three-level scattering rates to include the stimulated Raman process in the RL. The temperature dependency of the relevant physical effects such as thermal broadening of the intersubband transitions (ISTs), thermally activated phonon emission lifetimes, and thermal backfilling of the final lasing state of the Raman process from the injector are included in the model. Using the presented model, the steady-state, small-signal modulation response and transient device characteristics are investigated for a range of sink temperatures (80-220 K). It is found that the main characteristics of the device such as output power, threshold current, Raman modal gain, turn-on delay time and 3-dB optical bandwidth are remarkably affected by the temperature.

[Building Process and Architectural Planning Characteristics of Daehan Hospital Main Building].

PubMed

Lee, Geauchul

2016-04-01

This paper explores the introduction process of Daehan Hospital from Japan as the modern medical facility in Korea, and the architectural planning characteristics as a medical facility through the detailed building process of Daehan Hospital main building. The most noticeable characteristic of Daehan Hospital is that it was designed and constructed not by Korean engineers but by Japanese engineers. Therefore, Daehan Hospital was influenced by Japanese early modern medical facility, and Japanese engineers modeled Daehan Hospital main building on Tokyo Medical School main building which was constructed in 1876 as the first national medical school and hospital. The architectural type of Tokyo Medical School main building was a typical school architecture in early Japanese modern period which had a middle corridor and a pseudo Western-style tower, but Tokyo Medical School main building became the model of a medical facility as the symbol of the medical department in Tokyo Imperial University. This was the introduction and transplantation process of Japanese modern 'model' like as other modern systems and technologies during the Korean modern transition period. However, unlike Tokyo Medical School main building, Daehan Hospital main building was constructed not as a wooden building but as a masonry building. Comparing with the function of Daehan Hospital main building, its architectural form and construction costs was excessive scale, which was because Japanese Resident-General of Korea had the intention of ostentation that Japanese modernity was superior to Korean Empire.

KBGIS-II: A knowledge-based geographic information system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Terence; Peuquet, Donna; Menon, Sudhakar; Agarwal, Pankaj

1986-01-01

The architecture and working of a recently implemented Knowledge-Based Geographic Information System (KBGIS-II), designed to satisfy several general criteria for the GIS, is described. The system has four major functions including query-answering, learning and editing. The main query finds constrained locations for spatial objects that are describable in a predicate-calculus based spatial object language. The main search procedures include a family of constraint-satisfaction procedures that use a spatial object knowledge base to search efficiently for complex spatial objects in large, multilayered spatial data bases. These data bases are represented in quadtree form. The search strategy is designed to reduce the computational cost of search in the average case. The learning capabilities of the system include the addition of new locations of complex spatial objects to the knowledge base as queries are answered, and the ability to learn inductively definitions of new spatial objects from examples. The new definitions are added to the knowledge base by the system. The system is performing all its designated tasks successfully. Future reports will relate performance characteristics of the system.

[Globalization and infectious diseases].

PubMed

Mirski, Tomasz; Bartoszcze, Michał; Bielawska-Drózd, Agata

2011-01-01

Globalization is a phenomenon characteristic of present times. It can be considered in various aspects: economic, environmental changes, demographic changes, as well as the development of new technologies. All these aspects of globalization have a definite influence on the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Economic aspects ofglobalization are mainly the trade development, including food trade, which has an impact on the spread of food-borne diseases. The environmental changes caused by intensive development of industry, as a result of globalization, which in turn affects human health. The demographic changes are mainly people migration between countries and rural and urban areas, which essentially favors the global spread of many infectious diseases. While technological advances prevents the spread of infections, for example through better access to information, it may also increase the risk, for example through to create opportunities to travel into more world regions, including the endemic regions for various diseases. The phenomenon ofglobalization is also closely associated with the threat of terrorism, including bioterrorism. It forces the governments of many countries to develop effective programs to protect and fight against this threat.

Guidelines for the Detection of Babesia and Theileria Parasites.

PubMed

Lempereur, Laetitia; Beck, Relja; Fonseca, Isabel; Marques, Cátia; Duarte, Ana; Santos, Marcos; Zúquete, Sara; Gomes, Jacinto; Walder, Gernot; Domingos, Ana; Antunes, Sandra; Baneth, Gad; Silaghi, Cornelia; Holman, Patricia; Zintl, Annetta

2017-01-01

The genera Babesia and Theileria (phylum Apicomplexa, order Piroplasmida) are mainly transmitted by Ixodid ticks in which the sexual part of their life cycle followed by sporogony takes place. They include protozoan parasites that infect erythrocytes of a variety of vertebrate hosts, including domestic and wild animals, with some Babesia spp. also infecting humans. Babesia sporozoites transmitted in the tick's saliva during the bloodmeal directly infect erythrocytes, where they asexually multiply to produce pear-shaped merozoites in the process of merogony; whereas a pre-erythrocytic schizogonic life stage in leukocytes is found in Theileria and precedes merogony in the erythrocytes. The wide spectrum of Babesia and Theileria species and their dissimilar characteristics with relation to disease severity, transmission, epidemiology, and drug susceptibility stress the importance of accurate detection of babesiosis and theileriosis and their causative agents. These guidelines review the main methods currently used for the detection of Babesia and Theileria spp. for diagnostic purposes as well as epidemiological studies involving their vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Serological methods were not included once they did not indicate current infection but rather exposure.

Phytase in non-ruminant animal nutrition: a critical review on phytase activities in the gastrointestinal tract and influencing factors

PubMed Central

Dersjant-Li, Yueming; Awati, Ajay; Schulze, Hagen; Partridge, Gary

2015-01-01

This review focuses on phytase functionality in the digestive tract of farmed non-ruminant animals and the factors influencing in vivo phytase enzyme activity. In pigs, feed phytase is mainly active in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, and added phytase activity is not recovered in the ileum. In poultry, feed phytase activities are mainly found in the upper part of the digestive tract, including the crop, proventriculus and gizzard. For fish with a stomach, phytase activities are mainly in the stomach. Many factors can influence the efficiency of feed phytase in the gastrointestinal tract, and they can be divided into three main groups: (i) phytase related; (ii) dietary related and (iii) animal related. Phytase-related factors include type of phytase (e.g. 3- or 6-phytase; bacterial or fungal phytase origin), the pH optimum and the resistance of phytase to endogenous protease. Dietary-related factors are mainly associated with dietary phytate content, feed ingredient composition and feed processing, and total P, Ca and Na content. Animal-related factors include species, gender and age of animals. To eliminate the antinutritional effects of phytate (IP6), it needs to be hydrolyzed as quickly as possible by phytase in the upper part of the digestive tract. A phytase that works over a wide range of pH values and is active in the stomach and upper intestine (along with several other characteristics and in addition to being refractory to endogenous enzymes) would be ideal. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. PMID:25382707

Phytase in non-ruminant animal nutrition: a critical review on phytase activities in the gastrointestinal tract and influencing factors.

PubMed

Dersjant-Li, Yueming; Awati, Ajay; Schulze, Hagen; Partridge, Gary

2015-03-30

This review focuses on phytase functionality in the digestive tract of farmed non-ruminant animals and the factors influencing in vivo phytase enzyme activity. In pigs, feed phytase is mainly active in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, and added phytase activity is not recovered in the ileum. In poultry, feed phytase activities are mainly found in the upper part of the digestive tract, including the crop, proventriculus and gizzard. For fish with a stomach, phytase activities are mainly in the stomach. Many factors can influence the efficiency of feed phytase in the gastrointestinal tract, and they can be divided into three main groups: (i) phytase related; (ii) dietary related and (iii) animal related. Phytase-related factors include type of phytase (e.g. 3- or 6-phytase; bacterial or fungal phytase origin), the pH optimum and the resistance of phytase to endogenous protease. Dietary-related factors are mainly associated with dietary phytate content, feed ingredient composition and feed processing, and total P, Ca and Na content. Animal-related factors include species, gender and age of animals. To eliminate the antinutritional effects of phytate (IP6), it needs to be hydrolyzed as quickly as possible by phytase in the upper part of the digestive tract. A phytase that works over a wide range of pH values and is active in the stomach and upper intestine (along with several other characteristics and in addition to being refractory to endogenous enzymes) would be ideal. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Relationships between actual and desired workplace characteristics and job satisfaction for community health workers in China: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Li, Li; Zhang, Zhong; Sun, Zhinan; Zhou, Hao; Liu, Xinyan; Li, Heng; Fan, Lihua; Coyte, Peter C

2014-11-18

Community health workers are the main providers of community health services in China and have been important in the process of health system reform that has been in place since 2009. Therefore, it is critical that healthcare managers and policy decision makers motivate current staff and improve their job satisfaction. This study examined workplace characteristics and their contribution to job satisfaction in community health workers in Heilongjiang Province, China. A cross-sectional survey of 448 community health workers, from three cities in Heilongjiang province, was conducted between October 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Multistage sampling procedures were used to measure socioeconomic and demographic status, job satisfaction, and both actual and desired workplace characteristics. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the main factors contributing to workplace characteristics, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the key determinants of job satisfaction. Eight groups of factors were identified as the most important workplace characteristics. These comprised system and policy; fringe benefits; work itself; work relationships; professional development; recognition; work environment; and remuneration. In all cases, all desired workplace characteristics were higher than the associated actual workplace characteristics. The main determinants of job satisfaction were occupation, years worked in health service institution, and five subscales representing the gap between desired and actual workplace characteristics, which were system and policy; fringe benefits; working relationship; professional development; and remuneration. These findings suggested that managers wishing to enhance job satisfaction should assess workplace characteristics comprehensively and design mechanisms that reduce the gap between actual and desired workplace characteristics.

Construction and Operation Costs of Wastewater Treatment and Implications for the Paper Industry in China.

PubMed

Niu, Kunyu; Wu, Jian; Yu, Fang; Guo, Jingli

2016-11-15

This paper aims to develop a construction and operation cost model of wastewater treatment for the paper industry in China and explores the main factors that determine these costs. Previous models mainly involved factors relating to the treatment scale and efficiency of treatment facilities for deriving the cost function. We considered the factors more comprehensively by adding a regional variable to represent the economic development level, a corporate ownership factor to represent the plant characteristics, a subsector variable to capture pollutant characteristics, and a detailed-classification technology variable. We applied a unique data set from a national pollution source census for the model simulation. The major findings include the following: (1) Wastewater treatment costs in the paper industry are determined by scale, technology, degree of treatment, ownership, and regional factors; (2) Wastewater treatment costs show a large decreasing scale effect; (3) The current level of pollutant discharge fees is far lower than the marginal treatment costs for meeting the wastewater discharge standard. Key implications are as follows: (1) Cost characteristics and impact factors should be fully recognized when planning or making policies relating to wastewater treatment projects or technology development; (2) There is potential to reduce treatment costs by centralizing wastewater treatment via industrial parks; (3) Wastewater discharge fee rates should be increased; (4) Energy efficient technology should become the future focus of wastewater treatment.

Immunopathogenesis in Myasthenia Gravis and Neuromyelitis Optica

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhen; Yan, Yaping

2017-01-01

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are autoimmune channelopathies of the peripheral neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and central nervous system (CNS) that are mainly mediated by humoral immunity against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4), respectively. The diseases share some common features, including genetic predispositions, environmental factors, the breakdown of tolerance, the collaboration of T cells and B cells, imbalances in T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2/Th17/regulatory T cells, aberrant cytokine and antibody secretion, and complement system activation. However, some aspects of the immune mechanisms are unique. Both targets (AChR and AQP4) are expressed in the periphery and CNS, but MG mainly affects the NMJ in the periphery outside of CNS, whereas NMO preferentially involves the CNS. Inflammatory cells, including B cells and macrophages, often infiltrate the thymus but not the target—muscle in MG, whereas the infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, in NMO, is always observed in the target organ—the spinal cord. A review of the common and discrepant characteristics of these two autoimmune channelopathies may expand our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of both disorders and assist in the development of proper treatments in the future. PMID:29312313

Drought propagation and its relation with catchment biophysical characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez-Garreton, C. D.; Lara, A.; Garreaud, R. D.

2016-12-01

Droughts propagate in the hydrological cycle from meteorological to soil moisture to hydrological droughts. To understand the drivers of this process is of paramount importance since the economic and societal impacts in water resources are directly related with hydrological droughts (and not with meteorological droughts, which have been most studied). This research analyses drought characteristics over a large region and identify its main exogenous (climate forcing) and endogenous (biophysical characteristics such as land cover type and topography) explanatory factors. The study region is Chile, which covers seven major climatic subtypes according to Köppen system, it has unique geographic characteristics, very sharp topography and a wide range of landscapes and vegetation conditions. Meteorological and hydrological droughts (deficit in precipitation and streamflow, respectively) are characterized by their durations and standardized deficit volumes using a variable threshold method, over 300 representative catchments (located between 27°S and 50°S). To quantify the propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought, we propose a novel drought attenuation index (DAI), calculated as the ratio between the meteorological drought severity slope and the hydrological drought severity slope. DAI varies from zero (catchment that attenuates completely a meteorological drought) to one (the meteorological drought is fully propagated through the hydrological cycle). This novel index provides key (and comparable) information about drought propagation over a wide range of different catchments, which has been highlighted as a major research gap. Similar drought indicators across the wide range of catchments are then linked with catchment biophysical characteristics. A thorough compilation of land cover information (including the percentage of native forests, grass land, urban and industrial areas, glaciers, water bodies and no vegetated areas), catchment physical properties, and climatic conditions is done for all the catchments. Data mining techniques are applied to identify the main exogenous and endogenous factors determining drought characteristics and propagation.

Management of the Amniotic Band Syndrome with Cleft Palate: Literature Review and Report of a Case

PubMed Central

Cortez-Ortega, Carolina; Flores-Velázquez, Joselín; Ruiz-Rodríguez, Socorro; Noyola-Frías, Miguel Ángel; Santos-Díaz, Miguel Ángel

2017-01-01

Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS) is a group of congenital malformations that includes the majority of typical constriction rings and limb and digital amputations, together with major craniofacial, thoracic, and abdominal malformations. The syndrome is caused by early rupture of the amniotic sac. Some of the main oral manifestations include micrognathia, hyperdontia, and cleft lip with or without cleft palate, which is present in 14.6% of patients with this syndrome. The purpose of this report was to describe the clinical characteristics and the oral treatment provided to a 6-month-old male patient affected with ABS with cleft lip and palate. PMID:28246561

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of microstructural changes in the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of dental filling materials under the influence of an electromagnetic field.

PubMed

Moiseeva, Natalia S; Kunin, Anatoly A

2018-03-01

Restorative filling materials used for dental caries prevention and treatment consist of various components including monomers or oligomers, which play a significant role in forming the main structure of these materials, as well as in characterising their physical, mechanical and chemical properties. The necessity for the development and improvement of structural characteristics of polymeric dental filling materials intended for caries prevention and their life duration increase served as the initiating factor of our research. According to the research purpose and challenges, we studied the changes in the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of composite filling materials with and without electromagnetic field influence. The investigations in vivo include the study of microstructural features of polymeric filling materials by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the investigations in vitro include the study of sealed and extracted human teeth chips by using X-ray spectral analysis. We also evaluated the changes in the strength characteristics of dental filling materials with and without electromagnetic field influence. The analysis of the obtained data indicates the presence of structural changes in polymeric dental filling materials, including the material microstructure condensation confirmed by the SEM results, an increase in the strength and adhesion characteristics and certain regularities of the chemical elemental composition concentration change in the area of hard tooth tissue and dental filling material. These scientific data will provide tooth caries prevention and promote the increase of treatment quality.

Analysis of habitat characteristics of small pelagic fish based on generalized additive models in Kepulauan Seribu Waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivai, A. A.; Siregar, V. P.; Agus, S. B.; Yasuma, H.

2018-03-01

One of the required information for sustainable fisheries management is about the habitat characteristics of a fish species. This information can be used to map the distribution of fish and map the potential fishing ground. This study aimed to analyze the habitat characteristics of small pelagic fishes (anchovy, squid, sardine and scads) which were mainly caught by lift net in Kepulauan Seribu waters. Research on habitat characteristics had been widely done, but the use of total suspended solid (TSS) parameters in this analysis is still lacking. TSS parameter which was extracted from Landsat 8 along with five other oceanographic parameters, CPUE data and location of fishing ground data from lift net fisheries in Kepulauan Seribu were included in this analysis. This analysis used Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to evaluate the relationship between CPUE and oceanographic parameters. The results of the analysis showed that each fish species had different habitat characteristics. TSS and sea surface height had a great influence on the value of CPUE from each species. All the oceanographic parameters affected the CPUE of each species. This study demonstrated the effective use of GAMs to identify the essential habitat of a fish species.

The process and organizational characteristics of memory clinics in Israel in 2007.

PubMed

Werner, Perla; Goldstein, Dovrat; Heinik, Jeremia

2009-01-01

We previously described the characteristics and activities of 25 memory clinics in Israel in 1998 using a mail survey. Questionnaires assessing the administrative structure of the clinics, patient characteristics, processes and methods used, and outcomes of the assessment were mailed again in 2007 to 35 memory clinics. Overall, the general operating characteristics of the clinics in 2007 were found to be similar to those reported in the previous survey conducted in 1998. The assessment process in 2007 was shorter than in 1998 (mean time=1.92 and 3.12 h, respectively), although both surveys were based on an interdisciplinary team, including a physician, a nurse and a social worker. However, in 2007 the teams were more wide-ranging. A wider variety of instruments were reported in the more recent survey. Most of the clinics in both surveys reported that family members were involved at all stages of the assessment. Medication treatment was the main outcome reported by the clinics in both surveys. There has been a development in the process and organizational characteristics of memory clinics in Israel over the years, probably as a consequence of the development of knowledge in the area of cognitive deterioration.

Thermal cut-off response modelling of universal motors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thangaveloo, Kashveen; Chin, Yung Shin

2017-04-01

This paper presents a model to predict the thermal cut-off (TCO) response behaviour in universal motors. The mathematical model includes the calculations of heat loss in the universal motor and the flow characteristics around the TCO component which together are the main parameters for TCO response prediction. In order to accurately predict the TCO component temperature, factors like the TCO component resistance, the effect of ambient, and the flow conditions through the motor are taken into account to improve the prediction accuracy of the model.

Identification of quasi-steady compressor characteristics from transient data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nunes, K. B.; Rock, S. M.

1984-01-01

The principal goal was to demonstrate that nonlinear compressor map parameters, which govern an in-stall response, can be identified from test data using parameter identification techniques. The tasks included developing and then applying an identification procedure to data generated by NASA LeRC on a hybrid computer. Two levels of model detail were employed. First was a lumped compressor rig model; second was a simplified turbofan model. The main outputs are the tools and procedures generated to accomplish the identification.

A satellite system for multimedia personal communications at Ka-band and beyond

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vatalaro, F.; Losquadro, G.

1995-01-01

The main characteristics of the satellite extremely high frequency (EHF) communication of multimedia mobile services (SECOMS) system are given and the results of the preliminary analysis are included. The SECOMS provides a first generation Ka band system with coverage over Western Europe, in order to satisfy business user needs of very large bandwidths and terminal mobility. The satellite system also provides a second generation EHF enhanced system with increased capacity and enlarged coverage, to serve all of Europe and the nearby countries.

Bilateral Impedance Control For Telemanipulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, Christopher L.

1993-01-01

Telemanipulator system includes master robot manipulated by human operator, and slave robot performing tasks at remote location. Two robots electronically coupled so slave robot moves in response to commands from master robot. Teleoperation greatly enhanced if forces acting on slave robot fed back to operator, giving operator feeling he or she manipulates remote environment directly. Main advantage of bilateral impedance control: enables arbitrary specification of desired performance characteristics for telemanipulator system. Relationship between force and position modulated at both ends of system to suit requirements of task.

Mathematical model of solar radiation based on climatological data from NASA SSE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obukhov, S. G.; Plotnikov, I. A.; Masolov, V. G.

2018-05-01

An original model of solar radiation arriving at the arbitrarily oriented surface has been developed. The peculiarity of the model is that it uses numerical values of the atmospheric transparency index and the surface albedo from the NASA SSE database as initial data. The model is developed in the MatLab/Simulink environment to predict the main characteristics of solar radiation for any geographical point in Russia, including those for territories with no regular actinometric observations.

Report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a heating oil component to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Volume 2: Appendices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

Nine appendices to the main report are included in this volume. They are: Northeastern US distillate supply systems; New England fuel oil storage capacities and inventories; Characteristics of the northeast natural gas market; Documentation of statistical models and calculation of benefits; Regional product reserve study; Other countries` experience with refined product storage; Global refining supply demand appraisal; Summary of federal authorities relevant to the establishment of petroleum product reserves; Product stability and turnover requirements.

Global Lunar Gravity Field Recovery from SELENE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsumoto, Koji; Heki, Kosuke; Hanada, Hideo

2002-01-01

Results of numerical simulation are presented to examine the global gravity field recovery capability of the Japanese lunar exploration project SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) which will be launched in 2005. New characteristics of the SELENE lunar gravimetry include four-way satellite-to-satellite Doppler tracking of main orbiter and differential VLBI tracking of two small free-flier satellites. It is shown that planned satellites configuration will improve lunar gravity field in wide range of wavelength as well as far-side selenoid.

[Small vessel cerebrovascular disease].

PubMed

Cardona Portela, P; Escrig Avellaneda, A

2018-05-09

Small vessel vascular disease is a spectrum of different conditions that includes lacunar infarction, alteration of deep white matter, or microbleeds. Hypertension is the main risk factor, although the atherothrombotic lesion may be present, particularly in large-sized lacunar infarctions along with other vascular risk factors. MRI findings are characteristic and the lesions authentic biomarkers that allow differentiating the value of risk factors and defining their prognostic value. Copyright © 2018 SEH-LELHA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Detection of QTLs for seedling characteristics in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under hydroponic culture condition.

PubMed

Wang, Qifei; Sun, Genlou; Ren, Xifeng; Wang, Jibin; Du, Binbin; Li, Chengdao; Sun, Dongfa

2017-11-07

Seedling characteristics play significant roles in the growth and development of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), including stable stand establishment, water and nutrients uptake, biotic resistance and abiotic stresses, and can influence yield and quality. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying seedling characteristics in barley are largely unknown and little research has been done. In the present work, 21 seedling-related characteristics are assessed in a barley double haploid (DH) population, grown under hydroponic conditions. Of them, leaf age (LAG), shoot height (SH), maximum root length (MRL), main root number (MRN) and seedling fresh weight (SFW) were investigated at the 13th, 20th, 27th, and 34th day after germination. The objectives were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying these seedling characteristics using a high-density linkage map and to reveal the QTL expression pattern by comparing the QTLs among four different seedling growth stages. A total of 70 QTLs were distributed over all chromosomes except 4H, and, individually, accounted for 5.01%-77.78% of phenotypic variation. Out of the 70 detected QTLs, 23 showed a major effect on 14 seedling-related characteristics. Ten co-localized chromosomal regions on 2H (five regions), 3H (two regions) and 7H (three regions) involved 39 QTLs (55.71%), each simultaneously influenced more than one trait. Meanwhile, 9 co-localized genomic regions involving 22 QTLs for five seedling characteristics (LAG, SH, MRL, MRN and SFW) at the 13th, 20th, 27th and 34th day-old seedling were common for two or more growth stages of seedling. QTL in the vicinity of Vrs1 locus on chromosome 2H with the favorable alleles from Huadamai 6 was found to have the largest main effects on multiple seedling-related traits. Six QTL cluster regions associated with 16 seedling-related characteristics were observed on chromosome 2H, 3H and 7H. The majority of the 29 regions identified for five seedling characteristics were selectively expressed at different developmental stages. The genetic effects of 9 consecutive expression regions displayed different developmental influences at different developmental stages. These findings enhanced our understanding of a genetic basis underlying seedling characteristics in barley. Some QTLs detected here could be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in barley breeding.

Comparison of the Virulence-Associated Phenotypes of Five Species of Acinetobacter baumannii Complex.

PubMed

Na, In Young; Chung, Eun Seon; Jung, Chang-Yun; Kim, Dae Hun; Shin, Juyoun; Kang, KyeongJin; Kim, Seong-Tae; Ko, Kwan Soo

2016-01-01

In this study, we compared the virulence-associated factors of Acinetobacter baumannii complex species. Sixty-three isolates of five A. baumannii complex species, including 19 A. baumannii, 15 A. nosocomialis, 13 A. seifertii, 13 A. pittii, and 3 A. calcoaceticus isolates, were included in this study. For all isolates, biofilm formation, A549 cell adherence, resistance to normal human serum, and motility were evaluated. A. baumannii complex isolates showed diversity in biofilm formation, A549 cell adherence, and serum resistance, and no strong positive relationships among these virulence characteristics. However, A. seifertii showed relatively consistent virulence-associated phenotypes. In addition, A. baumannii clone ST110 exhibited consistently high virulence-associated phenotypes. Motility was observed in seven isolates, and all four A. baumannii ST110 isolates showed twitching motility. Although some inconsistencies in virulence-associated phenotypes were seen, high virulence characteristics were observed in A. seifertii, which has been mainly reported in Korea and shows high rates of colistin resistance.

Biology and Epidemiology of Venturia Species Affecting Fruit Crops: A Review

PubMed Central

González-Domínguez, Elisa; Armengol, Josep; Rossi, Vittorio

2017-01-01

The fungal genus Venturia Sacc. (anamorph Fusicladium Bonord.) includes plant pathogens that cause substantial economic damage to fruit crops worldwide. Although Venturia inaequalis is considered a model species in plant pathology, other Venturia spp. also cause scab on other fruit trees. Relative to the substantial research that has been conducted on V. inaequalis and apple scab, little research has been conducted on Venturia spp. affecting other fruit trees. In this review, the main characteristics of plant-pathogenic species of Venturia are discussed with special attention to V. inaequalis affecting apple, V. pyrina affecting European pear, V. nashicola affecting Asian pear, V. carpophila affecting peach and almond, Fusicladium oleagineum affecting olive, F. effusum affecting pecan, and F. eriobotryae affecting loquat. This review has two main objectives: (i) to identify the main gaps in our knowledge regarding the biology and epidemiology of Venturia spp. affecting fruit trees; and (ii) to identify similarities and differences among these Venturia spp. in order to improve disease management. A thorough review has been conducted of studies regarding the phylogenetic relationships, host ranges, biologies, and epidemiologies of Venturia spp. A multiple correspondence analysis (CA) has also been performed on the main epidemiological components of these Venturia spp. CA separated the Venturia spp. into two main groups, according to their epidemiological behavior: the first group included V. inaequalis, V. pyrina, V. nashicola, and V. carpophila, the second F. oleagineum and F. eriobotryae, with F. effusum having an intermediate position. This review shows that Venturia spp. affecting fruit trees are highly host-specific, and that important gaps in understanding the life cycle exist for some species, including V. pyrina; gaps include pseudothecia formation, ascospore and conidia germination, and mycelial growth. Considering the epidemiological information reviewed, this paper shows that the use of Mills tables to predict infection periods should be avoided for Venturia spp. other than V. inaequalis. PMID:28974954

Biology and Epidemiology of Venturia Species Affecting Fruit Crops: A Review.

PubMed

González-Domínguez, Elisa; Armengol, Josep; Rossi, Vittorio

2017-01-01

The fungal genus Venturia Sacc. (anamorph Fusicladium Bonord.) includes plant pathogens that cause substantial economic damage to fruit crops worldwide. Although Venturia inaequalis is considered a model species in plant pathology, other Venturia spp. also cause scab on other fruit trees. Relative to the substantial research that has been conducted on V. inaequalis and apple scab, little research has been conducted on Venturia spp. affecting other fruit trees. In this review, the main characteristics of plant-pathogenic species of Venturia are discussed with special attention to V. inaequalis affecting apple, V. pyrina affecting European pear, V. nashicola affecting Asian pear, V. carpophila affecting peach and almond, Fusicladium oleagineum affecting olive, F. effusum affecting pecan, and F. eriobotryae affecting loquat. This review has two main objectives: (i) to identify the main gaps in our knowledge regarding the biology and epidemiology of Venturia spp. affecting fruit trees; and (ii) to identify similarities and differences among these Venturia spp. in order to improve disease management. A thorough review has been conducted of studies regarding the phylogenetic relationships, host ranges, biologies, and epidemiologies of Venturia spp. A multiple correspondence analysis (CA) has also been performed on the main epidemiological components of these Venturia spp. CA separated the Venturia spp. into two main groups, according to their epidemiological behavior: the first group included V. inaequalis, V. pyrina, V. nashicola , and V. carpophila , the second F. oleagineum and F. eriobotryae , with F. effusum having an intermediate position. This review shows that Venturia spp. affecting fruit trees are highly host-specific, and that important gaps in understanding the life cycle exist for some species, including V. pyrina ; gaps include pseudothecia formation, ascospore and conidia germination, and mycelial growth. Considering the epidemiological information reviewed, this paper shows that the use of Mills tables to predict infection periods should be avoided for Venturia spp. other than V. inaequalis .

Who donates their body to science? An international, multicenter, prospective study.

PubMed

Cornwall, Jon; Perry, Gary F; Louw, Graham; Stringer, Mark D

2012-01-01

The altruistic act of body donation provides a precious resource for both teaching and researching human anatomy. However, relatively little is known about individuals who donate their bodies to science (donors), and in particular whether donors in different geographical locations share similar characteristics. A multicenter prospective survey of donors registering during 2010 in three different geographical locations, New Zealand, Ireland, and the Republic of South Africa, was conducted to identify donor characteristics. The 28-question survey included sections on body donation program awareness, reasons for donating, giving tendency, education, ethnicity, relationship status, occupation, religion, and political preference. Two hundred surveys (81%) were returned [New Zealand 123 (85% response rate), Republic of South Africa 41 (67%), and Ireland 36 (92%)]. Results indicate that donors share certain characteristics including reason for donating (80% cited a desire to aid medical science as the main reason for wishing to donate their body); family structure (most donors are or have been in long-term partnerships and ≥ 85% have siblings); and a higher proportion with no religious affiliation compared to their reference population. Some variations between locations were noted including donor age, the mode of program awareness, occupation, relationship status, political preference, organ donor status and with whom donors had discussed their decision to donate. This information could be important for assisting the identification of potential body donors in new and established bequest programs. Copyright © 2012 American Association of Anatomists.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in the African-Descent Population of Martinique, French West Indies.

PubMed

Moinet, Florence; Molinié, Vincent; Béraud, Guillaume; Polomat, Katlyne; Cordel, Nadège; Sainte-Marie, Dominique; Duffas, Olivier; Duflo, Suzy; Bomahou, Charlène; Arfi, Serge; Deligny, Christophe

2016-12-01

To provide an epidemiologic description of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), and to describe its relationship with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a population of sub-Saharan origin. Patients were retrospectively included on the basis of lymph node histology compatible with KFD reported in Martinique from 1991 until 2013. In order to describe the characteristics of the disease in a larger cohort, we subsequently included more patients of Afro-Caribbean origin from Guadeloupe and French Guiana. In Martinique, mean annual incidence between 1991 and 2013 was 2.78 cases for 1 million inhabitants (95% confidence interval 1.73-3.93). A total of 36 Afro-Caribbean patients from the 3 French American regions were included. Mean age was 30.5 years (range 5-59 years) and the female:male ratio was 3:1. The main characteristics were cervical adenopathies (88.8%), fever (83.3%), asthenia (73.0%), weight loss (64.4%), and recurrence in 33.3%. KFD was associated with lupus (n = 9 for SLE, n = 2 for cutaneous lupus) in 36.6% (11 of 30). We report the first epidemiologic description of KFD in a population of sub-Saharan origin. According to our data, this disease is present in the black African diaspora and is strongly associated with autoimmune diseases, particularly lupus. © 2016, American College of Rheumatology.

Bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of lignin: Effects of process and upgrading parameters.

PubMed

Fan, Liangliang; Zhang, Yaning; Liu, Shiyu; Zhou, Nan; Chen, Paul; Cheng, Yanling; Addy, Min; Lu, Qian; Omar, Muhammad Mubashar; Liu, Yuhuan; Wang, Yunpu; Dai, Leilei; Anderson, Erik; Peng, Peng; Lei, Hanwu; Ruan, Roger

2017-10-01

Effects of process parameters on the yield and chemical profile of bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of lignin and the processes for lignin-derived bio-oil upgrading were reviewed. Various process parameters including pyrolysis temperature, reactor types, lignin characteristics, residence time, and feeding rate were discussed and the optimal parameter conditions for improved bio-oil yield and quality were concluded. In terms of lignin-derived bio-oil upgrading, three routes including pretreatment of lignin, catalytic upgrading, and co-pyrolysis of hydrogen-rich materials have been investigated. Zeolite cracking and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) treatment are two main methods for catalytic upgrading of lignin-derived bio-oil. Factors affecting zeolite activity and the main zeolite catalytic mechanisms for lignin conversion were analyzed. Noble metal-based catalysts and metal sulfide catalysts are normally used as the HDO catalysts and the conversion mechanisms associated with a series of reactions have been proposed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genetic diversity of red-grained rice landraces in Hani's terraced fields based on phenotypic characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xiaomei; Zheng, Yun; Zhang, Tingting; Zhang, Xiaoqian; Ma, Mengli; Meng, Hengling; Wang, Tiantao; Lu, Bingyue

2018-06-01

In order to provide useful information for protection and utilization of red-grained rice landraces from Hani's terraced fields, the phenotypic diversity of 61 red-grained rice landraces were assessed based 20 quantitative traits. The results indicated that the phenotypic diversity was abundant in red-grained rice landraces. Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 4.878% to 72.878%, and the largest of CV was the panicle neck length, while grain width was smallest. Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') of 20 traits ranged from 1.464 to 2.165, the largest and the smallest H' values were observed in filled grain number and chalkiness, respectively. Cluster analysis based on unweighted pair group method showed 61 red-grain rice landraces grouped into eight clusters at a cut-off value of 6.2631. The first cluster included 11 landraces, the main cluster II involved 42 landraces, and the cluster IV included 3 landraces. Laopinzhonghongmi, Chena2, Laojingnuo, Bianhao6 and Baimi were separated from the main clusters.

Evaluation of the information content of long-term wastewater characteristics data in relation to activated sludge model parameters.

PubMed

Alikhani, Jamal; Takacs, Imre; Al-Omari, Ahmed; Murthy, Sudhir; Massoudieh, Arash

2017-03-01

A parameter estimation framework was used to evaluate the ability of observed data from a full-scale nitrification-denitrification bioreactor to reduce the uncertainty associated with the bio-kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of an activated sludge model (ASM). Samples collected over a period of 150 days from the effluent as well as from the reactor tanks were used. A hybrid genetic algorithm and Bayesian inference were used to perform deterministic and parameter estimations, respectively. The main goal was to assess the ability of the data to obtain reliable parameter estimates for a modified version of the ASM. The modified ASM model includes methylotrophic processes which play the main role in methanol-fed denitrification. Sensitivity analysis was also used to explain the ability of the data to provide information about each of the parameters. The results showed that the uncertainty in the estimates of the most sensitive parameters (including growth rate, decay rate, and yield coefficients) decreased with respect to the prior information.

Effects of Patient Pre-Injury and Injury Characteristics on Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes for Traumatic Brain Injury

PubMed Central

Corrigan, John D.; Horn, Susan D.; Barrett, Ryan S.; Smout, Randall J.; Bogner, Jennifer; Hammond, Flora M.; Brandstater, Murray E.; Majercik, Sarah

2015-01-01

Objective To examine associations of patient and injury characteristics with outcomes at inpatient rehabilitation discharge and 9 months post-discharge for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) Design Prospective, longitudinal observational study Setting 10 inpatient rehabilitation centers (9 US, 1 Canada) Participants Consecutive patients (n=2130) enrolled between 2008 and 2011, admitted for inpatient rehabilitation after index TBI injury, and divided into 5 subgroups based on rehabilitation admission FIM Cognitive score Interventions Not applicable Main Outcome Measures Rehabilitation length of stay, discharge to home, and FIM at discharge and 9 months post-discharge. Results Severity indices increased explained variation in outcomes beyond that accounted for by patient characteristics. FIM Motor scores were generally the most predictable. Higher functioning subgroups had more predictable outcomes then subgroups with lower cognitive function at admission. Age at injury, time from injury to rehabilitation admission, and functional independence at rehabilitation admission were the most consistent predictors across all outcomes and subgroups. Conclusions Findings from previous studies of the relationships among patient and injury characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes were largely replicated. Discharge outcomes were most strongly associated with injury severity characteristics; while predictors of functional independence at 9 months post-discharge included both patient and injury characteristics. PMID:26212398

Epidemiology characteristics, reporting characteristics, and methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on traditional Chinese medicine nursing interventions published in Chinese journals.

PubMed

Yang, Min; Jiang, Li; Wang, Aihong; Xu, Guihua

2017-02-01

To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, reporting characteristics, and methodological quality of systematic reviews in the traditional Chinese medicine nursing field published in Chinese journals. The number of systematic reviews in the traditional Chinese medicine nursing field has increased, but their epidemiology, quality, and reporting characteristics have not been assessed completely. We generated an overview of reviews using a narrative approach. Four Chinese databases were searched for systematic reviews from inception to December 2015. The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews checklists were adopted to evaluate reporting and methodological quality, respectively. A total of 73 eligible systematic reviews, published from 2005 to 2015, were included. The deficiencies in reporting characteristics mainly lay in the lack of structured abstract or protocol, incomplete reporting of search strategies, study selection, and risk of bias. The deficiencies in methodological quality were reflected in the lack of a priori design and conflict of interest, incomplete literature searches, and assessment of publication bias. The quality of the evaluated reviews was unsatisfactory; attention should be paid to the improvement of reporting and methodological quality in the conduct of systematic reviews. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Riparian forest and instream large wood characteristics, West Branch Sheepscot River, Maine, USA

Treesearch

Melissa Laser; James Jordan; Keith Nislow

2009-01-01

This study examined riparian forest and instream large wood characteristics in a 2.7 km reach of the West Branch of the Sheepscot River in Maine in order to increase our basic knowledge of these components in a system that is known to have undergone multiple land conversion. The West Branch is approximately 40 km long, drains a 132 km2...

Bird Integumentary Melanins: Biosynthesis, Forms, Function and Evolution

PubMed Central

Galván, Ismael; Solano, Francisco

2016-01-01

Melanins are the ubiquitous pigments distributed in nature. They are one of the main pigments responsible for colors in living cells. Birds are among the most diverse animals regarding melanin-based coloration, especially in the plumage, although they also pigment bare parts of the integument. This review is devoted to the main characteristics of bird melanins, including updated views of the formation and nature of melanin granules, whose interest has been raised in the last years for inferring the color of extinct birds and non-avian theropod dinosaurs using resistant fossil feathers. The molecular structure of the two main types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin, and the environmental and genetic factors that regulate avian melanogenesis are also presented, establishing the main relationship between them. Finally, the special functions of melanin in bird feathers are also discussed, emphasizing the aspects more closely related to these animals, such as honest signaling, and the factors that may drive the evolution of pheomelanin and pheomelanin-based color traits, an issue for which birds have been pioneer study models. PMID:27070583

Sex differences in left main coronary artery stenting: Different characteristics but similar outcomes for women compared with men.

PubMed

Shin, Eun-Seok; Lee, Cheol Whan; Ahn, Jung-Min; Lee, Pil Hyung; Chang, Mineok; Kim, Min-Ju; Yoon, Sung-Han; Park, Duk-Woo; Kang, Soo-Jin; Lee, Seung-Whan; Kim, Young-Hak; Park, Seong-Wook; Park, Seung-Jung

2018-02-15

The clinical outcomes for women compared with men undergoing left main PCI were sparse. We compared the characteristics and long-term outcomes in women versus men after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) for unprotected left main CAD. We identified 2328 patients (545 women; 1783 men) with unprotected left main CAD who received PCI with DES between January 2007 and December 2013 in the Interventional Cardiology Research In-cooperation Society-left MAIN revascularization (IRIS-MAIN) registry. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The median follow-up time was 2.9years (interquartile range: 1.0-4.1years). Women were older, had a higher incidence of insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and more commonly presented with acute coronary syndrome than men. Left main ostial lesion was more common in women, whereas left main bifurcation lesion with more extensive CAD was more common in men. The incidence of primary outcome was similar between the two groups (10.8% vs. 10.8%, respectively, log-rank p=0.587). The results were similar after adjustment for baseline variables and consistent across major subgroups. The need for target lesion revascularization was significantly higher in women than in men (8.8% vs. 5.7%, respectively, p<0.05) but the sex bias was not confirmed after adjusting for confounders. Women, as compared to men, had different clinical and lesion characteristics but similar long-term outcomes after PCI with DES for left main CAD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A realist review of mobile phone-based health interventions for non-communicable disease management in sub-Saharan Africa.

PubMed

Opoku, Daniel; Stephani, Victor; Quentin, Wilm

2017-02-06

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, the use of mobile phones is rising, expanding the opportunities for the implementation of mobile phone-based health (mHealth) interventions. This review aims to understand how, why, for whom, and in what circumstances mHealth interventions against NCDs improve treatment and care in sub-Saharan Africa. Four main databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and references of included articles were searched for studies reporting effects of mHealth interventions on patients with NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa. All studies published up until May 2015 were included in the review. Following a realist review approach, middle-range theories were identified and integrated into a Framework for Understanding the Contribution of mHealth Interventions to Improved Access to Care for patients with NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa. The main indicators of the framework consist of predisposing characteristics, needs, enabling resources, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Studies were analyzed in depth to populate the framework. The search identified 6137 titles for screening, of which 20 were retained for the realist synthesis. The contribution of mHealth interventions to improved treatment and care is that they facilitate (remote) access to previously unavailable (specialized) services. Three contextual factors (predisposing characteristics, needs, and enabling resources) influence if patients and providers believe that mHealth interventions are useful and easy to use. Only if they believe mHealth to be useful and easy to use, will mHealth ultimately contribute to improved access to care. The analysis of included studies showed that the most important predisposing characteristics are a positive attitude and a common language of communication. The most relevant needs are a high burden of disease and a lack of capacity of first-contact providers. Essential enabling resources are the availability of a stable communications network, accessible maintenance services, and regulatory policies. Policy makers and program managers should consider predisposing characteristics and needs of patients and providers as well as the necessary enabling resources prior to the introduction of an mHealth intervention. Researchers would benefit from placing greater attention on the context in which mHealth interventions are being implemented instead of focusing (too strongly) on the technical aspects of these interventions.

Parental and Child Characteristics Related to Early-Onset Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Larsen, Pernille Stemann; Strandberg-Larsen, Katrine; Micali, Nadia; Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo

2015-01-01

After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to: Evaluate the evidence regarding parental and child characteristics related to early-onset disordered eating. Eating disorders are rare in children, but disordered eating is common. Understanding the phenomenology of disordered eating in childhood can aid prevention of full-blown eating disorders. The purpose of this review is to systematically extract and synthesize the evidence on parental and child characteristics related to early-onset disordered eating. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycInfo using the following search terms: eating disorder, disordered eating, problem eating, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, child, preadolescent, and early onset. Studies published from 1990 to 2013 addressing parental and child characteristics of disordered eating in children aged 6 to 12 years were eligible for inclusion. The search was restricted to studies with cross-sectional, case-control, or longitudinal designs, studies in English, and with abstracts available. Forty-four studies fit these criteria. Most studies were based on community samples with a cross-sectional design. The included studies varied considerably in size, instruments used to assess early-onset disordered eating, and parental and child characteristics investigated. Important determinants included the following: higher body weight, previously reported disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, depression, parental disordered eating, and parental comments/concerns about child's weight and eating. The findings were inconsistent for sex, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, self-esteem/worth, and parental body weight. In conclusion, characteristics related to early-onset disordered eating have mainly been explored with a cross-sectional design. Full understanding of causal pathways will require good-quality longitudinal studies designed to address the influence of parental eating behaviors, mental and physical health, family interactions, and child growth patterns.

Sulforaphane as a potential protective phytochemical against neurodegenerative diseases.

PubMed

Tarozzi, Andrea; Angeloni, Cristina; Malaguti, Marco; Morroni, Fabiana; Hrelia, Silvana; Hrelia, Patrizia

2013-01-01

A wide variety of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including ischemic/traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, share common characteristics such as oxidative stress, misfolded proteins, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and neuronal loss. As no drugs are available to prevent the progression of these neurological disorders, intervention strategies using phytochemicals have been proposed as an alternative form of treatment. Among phytochemicals, isothiocyanate sulforaphane, derived from the hydrolysis of the glucosinolate glucoraphanin mainly present in Brassica vegetables, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several in vitro and in vivo studies. In particular, evidence suggests that sulforaphane beneficial effects could be mainly ascribed to its peculiar ability to activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Therefore, sulforaphane appears to be a promising compound with neuroprotective properties that may play an important role in preventing neurodegeneration.

Sulforaphane as a Potential Protective Phytochemical against Neurodegenerative Diseases

PubMed Central

Tarozzi, Andrea; Angeloni, Cristina; Malaguti, Marco; Morroni, Fabiana; Hrelia, Silvana; Hrelia, Patrizia

2013-01-01

A wide variety of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including ischemic/traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, share common characteristics such as oxidative stress, misfolded proteins, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and neuronal loss. As no drugs are available to prevent the progression of these neurological disorders, intervention strategies using phytochemicals have been proposed as an alternative form of treatment. Among phytochemicals, isothiocyanate sulforaphane, derived from the hydrolysis of the glucosinolate glucoraphanin mainly present in Brassica vegetables, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several in vitro and in vivo studies. In particular, evidence suggests that sulforaphane beneficial effects could be mainly ascribed to its peculiar ability to activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Therefore, sulforaphane appears to be a promising compound with neuroprotective properties that may play an important role in preventing neurodegeneration. PMID:23983898

A Review of Optical NDT Technologies

PubMed Central

Zhu, Yong-Kai; Tian, Gui-Yun; Lu, Rong-Sheng; Zhang, Hong

2011-01-01

Optical non-destructive testing (NDT) has gained more and more attention in recent years, mainly because of its non-destructive imaging characteristics with high precision and sensitivity. This paper provides a review of the main optical NDT technologies, including fibre optics, electronic speckle, infrared thermography, endoscopic and terahertz technology. Among them, fibre optics features easy integration and embedding, electronic speckle focuses on whole-field high precision detection, infrared thermography has unique advantages for tests of combined materials, endoscopic technology provides images of the internal surface of the object directly, and terahertz technology opens a new direction of internal NDT because of its excellent penetration capability to most of non-metallic materials. Typical engineering applications of these technologies are illustrated, with a brief introduction of the history and discussion of recent progress. PMID:22164045

A Study on Characteristics and Competencies Needed by Teachers of the Mentally Retarded.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Hua-Kuo

This study assessed the characteristics of 134 teachers of the mentally retarded in Taiwan, and surveyed 321 teachers of the retarded concerning desirable teacher characteristics and competencies. Four main conclusions were drawn: (1) outstanding teachers of the retarded were highly rated for such characteristics as "flexibility of…

Energy characteristics of Darrieus rotor ( review)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorelov, D. N.

2010-09-01

Presented below is the review of the results of experimental studies of energy characteristics of Darrieus rotor with vertical rotation axis. Influence of main geometry parameters of the rotor on its energy characteristics has been analyzed. It is shown that Darrieus rotor may have the higher level of energy characteristics than the best propeller wind turbines.

Velocardiofacial syndrome in Mexican patients: Unusually high prevalence of congenital heart disease.

PubMed

Márquez-Ávila, Candy Sue; Vizcaíno-Alarcón, Alfredo; García-Delgado, Constanza; Núñez-Martínez, Paulina María; Flores-Ramírez, Francisco; Reyes-de la Rosa, Alejandra del Pilar; Mendelsberg-Fishbein, Paola; Ibarra-Grajeda, Diana; Medina-Bravo, Patricia; Balderrábano-Saucedo, Norma; Esteva-Solsona, Salvador; Márquez-Quiróz, Luz del Carmen; Flores-Cuevas, Arturo; Sánchez-Urbina, Rocío; Morales-Jiménez, Ariadna Berenice; Garibay-Nieto, Nayely; Del Bosque-Garza, Jesús; Pietropaolo-Cienfuegos, Dino; Gutiérrez-Camacho, Claudia; García-Morales, Leticia; Morán-Barroso, Verónica Fabiola

2015-11-01

Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome with an incidence of 1:4000 live births. Its phenotype is highly variable with facial, velopharyngeal, cardiac, endocrine, immunologic and psychiatric abnormalities. It is caused by a microdeletion in chromosome 22q11.2. We present 7 years of experience evaluating patients with VCFS regarding their main clinical characteristics. The patients included were multidisciplinary evaluated and had a positive FISH analysis for del22q11.2. A total of 62 patients were assessed, a 34 female/28 male ratio was observed with ages ranging from 9 days to 16 years, all but one patient had typical facial features. A diagnosis of congenital heart disease was established in 97% of the patients; other clinical characteristics were identified with different percentages such as cleft palate, and hypocalcaemia. Three cases had a familial presentation. While the clinical findings of this study were in general terms in keeping with the literature, it is interesting the unexpectedly high percentage of congenital heart disease identified in Mexican children with VCFS that also was the main cause for clinical referral. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characteristics of extreme dust events observed over two urban areas in Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bidokhti, Abbas-Ali A.; Gharaylou, Maryam; Pegahfar, Nafiseh; Sabetghadam, Samaneh; Rezazadeh, Maryam

2016-03-01

Determination of dust loading in the atmosphere is important not only from the public health point of view, but also for regional climate changes. The present study focuses on the characteristics of two major dust events for two urban areas in Iran, Kermanshah and Tehran, over the period of 4 years from 2006 to 2009. To detect extreme dust outbreaks, various datasets including synoptic data, dust concentration, reanalysis data and numerical results of WRF and HYSPLIT models were used. The weather maps demonstrate that for these events dusts are mainly generated when wind velocity is high and humidity is low in the lower troposphere and the region is under the influence of a thermal low. The event lasts until the atmospheric stability prevails and the surface wind speed weakens. The thermal low nature of the synoptic conditions of these major events is also responsible for deep boundary layer development with its thermals affecting the vertical dust flux over the region. Trajectory studies show that the dust events originated from deserts in Iraq and Syria and transported towards Iran. The main distinction between the two types of mobilizations seems to affect the dust concentrations in the Tehran urban area.

Radar Interferometry for Monitoring the Vibration Characteristics of Buildings and Civil Structures: Recent Case Studies in Spain.

PubMed

Luzi, Guido; Crosetto, Michele; Fernández, Enric

2017-03-24

The potential of a coherent microwave sensor to monitor the vibration characteristics of civil structures has been investigated in the past decade, and successful case studies have been published by different research teams. This remote sensing technique is based on the interferometric processing of real aperture radar acquisitions. Its capability to estimate, simultaneously and remotely, the displacement of different parts of the investigated structures, with high accuracy and repeatability, is its main advantage with respect to conventional sensors. A considerable amount of literature on this technique is available, including various case studies aimed at testing the ambient vibration of bridges, buildings, and towers. In the last years, this technique has been used in Spain for civil structures monitoring. In this paper, three examples of such case studies are described: the monitoring of the suspended bridge crossing the Ebro River at Amposta, the communications tower of Collserola in Barcelona, and an urban building located in Vilafranca del Penedès, a small town close to Barcelona. This paper summarizes the main outcomes of these case studies, underlining the advantages and limitations of the sensors currently available, and concluding with the possible improvements expected from the next generation of sensors.

Methodological characteristics and treatment effect sizes in oral health randomised controlled trials: Is there a relationship? Protocol for a meta-epidemiological study

PubMed Central

Saltaji, Humam; Armijo-Olivo, Susan; Cummings, Greta G; Amin, Maryam; Flores-Mir, Carlos

2014-01-01

Introduction It is fundamental that randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are properly conducted in order to reach well-supported conclusions. However, there is emerging evidence that RCTs are subject to biases which can overestimate or underestimate the true treatment effect, due to flaws in the study design characteristics of such trials. The extent to which this holds true in oral health RCTs, which have some unique design characteristics compared to RCTs in other health fields, is unclear. As such, we aim to examine the empirical evidence quantifying the extent of bias associated with methodological and non-methodological characteristics in oral health RCTs. Methods and analysis We plan to perform a meta-epidemiological study, where a sample size of 60 meta-analyses (MAs) including approximately 600 RCTs will be selected. The MAs will be randomly obtained from the Oral Health Database of Systematic Reviews using a random number table; and will be considered for inclusion if they include a minimum of five RCTs, and examine a therapeutic intervention related to one of the recognised dental specialties. RCTs identified in selected MAs will be subsequently included if their study design includes a comparison between an intervention group and a placebo group or another intervention group. Data will be extracted from selected trials included in MAs based on a number of methodological and non-methodological characteristics. Moreover, the risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Effect size estimates and measures of variability for the main outcome will be extracted from each RCT included in selected MAs, and a two-level analysis will be conducted using a meta-meta-analytic approach with a random effects model to allow for intra-MA and inter-MA heterogeneity. Ethics and dissemination The intended audiences of the findings will include dental clinicians, oral health researchers, policymakers and graduate students. The aforementioned will be introduced to the findings through workshops, seminars, round table discussions and targeted individual meetings. Other opportunities for knowledge transfer will be pursued such as key dental conferences. Finally, the results will be published as a scientific report in a dental peer-reviewed journal. PMID:24568962

Study on the electromagnetic radiation characteristics of discharging excimer laser system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Duliang; Liang, Xu; Fang, Xiaodong; Wang, Qingsheng

2016-10-01

Excimer laser in condition of high voltage, large current and fast discharge will produce strong electromagnetic pulse radiation and electromagnetic interference on the around electrical equipment. The research on characteristics and distribution of excimer laser electromagnetic radiation could provide important basis for electromagnetic shielding and suppressing electromagnetic interference, and further improving the electromagnetic compatibility of system. Firstly, electromagnetic radiation source is analyzed according to the working principle of excimer laser. The key test points of the electromagnetic radiation, hydrogen thyratron, main discharge circuit and laser outlet, are determined by the mechanical structure and the theory of electromagnetic radiation. Secondly, characteristics of electromagnetic field were tested using a near field probe on the key positions of the vertical direction at 20, 50, and 80 cm, respectively. The main radiation frequencies and the radiation field characteristics in the near field are obtained. The experimental results show that the main radiation frequencies distribute in 47, 65, and 130 MHz for electric field and the main radiation frequencies distribute in 34, 100, and 165 MHz for magnetic field. The intensity of electromagnetic field decreases rapidly with the increase of test distance. The higher the frequency increases, the faster the amplitude attenuate. Finally, several electromagnetic interference suppression measurement methods are proposed from the perspective of electromagnetic compatibility according to the test results.

Clinical epidemiology of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: results from a nationwide survey in Japan.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yosuke; Nomura, Takashi; Kabashima, Kenji; Miyachi, Yoshiki

2015-01-01

No epidemiological study has examined the clinical characteristics, including medication use, of patients with eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF). To describe the clinical characteristics for EPF and to examine the factors associated with the effectiveness of oral indomethacin for EPF. A cross-sectional study was performed of patients with EPF who visited the dermatology departments of the 67 main teaching facilities in Japan. We documented the patient characteristics and examined factors associated with the effectiveness of oral indomethacin. A total of 145 patients with EPF were enrolled; 62.8% were prescribed oral indomethacin. A multivariable analysis revealed that female patients were more likely to exhibit complete response to oral indomethacin after adjustment for confounders (adjusted proportion ratio = 1.93, p = 0.04). Oral indomethacin has been accepted as a first-line treatment in EPF. Our results suggest that there is a sex difference in the treatment response to oral indomethacin. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Validity of Basic Electronic 1 Module Integrated Character Value Based on Conceptual Change Teaching Model to Increase Students Physics Competency in STKIP PGRI West Sumatera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidayati, A.; Rahmi, A.; Yohandri; Ratnawulan

2018-04-01

The importance of teaching materials in accordance with the characteristics of students became the main reason for the development of basic electronics I module integrated character values based on conceptual change teaching model. The module development in this research follows the development procedure of Plomp which includes preliminary research, prototyping phase and assessment phase. In the first year of this research, the module is validated. Content validity is seen from the conformity of the module with the development theory in accordance with the demands of learning model characteristics. The validity of the construct is seen from the linkage and consistency of each module component developed with the characteristic of the integrated learning model of character values obtained through validator assessment. The average validation value assessed by the validator belongs to a very valid category. Based on the validator assessment then revised the basic electronics I module integrated character values based on conceptual change teaching model.

Systematic comparative content analysis of 17 psychosocial work environment questionnaires using a new taxonomy.

PubMed

Kop, Jean-Luc; Althaus, Virginie; Formet-Robert, Nadja; Grosjean, Vincent

2016-04-01

Many questionnaires have been developed to measure how psychosocial characteristics are perceived in a work environment. But the content validity of these questionnaires has rarely been questioned due to the absence of a reference taxonomy for characteristics of work environments. To propose an exhaustive taxonomy of work environment characteristics involved in psychosocial risks and to apply this taxonomy to questionnaires on workplace psychosocial factors. The taxonomy was developed by categorizing factors present in the main theoretical models of the field. Questionnaire items most frequently cited in scientific literature were retained for classification. The taxonomy was structured into four hierarchical levels and comprises 53 categories. The 17 questionnaires analyzed included 927 items: 59 from the "physical environment" category, 116 from the "social environment" category, 236 from the "work activity" category, 255 from the "activity management" category, and 174 from the "organizational context" category. There are major content differences among analyzed questionnaires. This study offers a means for selecting a scale on the basis of content.

Landscape Analysis of Drone Congregation Areas of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

PubMed Central

Galindo-Cardona, Alberto; Monmany, A. Carolina; Moreno-Jackson, Rafiné; Rivera-Rivera, Carlos; Huertas-Dones, Carlos; Caicedo-Quiroga, Laura; Giray, Tugrul

2012-01-01

Male honey bees fly and gather at Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), where drones and queens mate in flight. DCAs occur in places with presumably characteristic features. Using previously described landscape characteristics and observations on flight direction of drones in nearby apiaries, 36 candidate locations were chosen across the main island of Puerto Rico. At these locations, the presence or absence of DCAs was tested by lifting a helium balloon equipped with queen-sex-pheromone-impregnated bait, and visually determining the presence of high numbers of drones. Because of the wide distribution of honey bees in Puerto Rico, it was expected that most of the potential DCAs would be used as such by drones and queens from nearby colonies. Eight DCAs were found in the 36 candidate locations. Locations with and without DCAs were compared in a landscape analysis including characteristics that were described to be associated with DCAs and others. Aspect (direction of slope) and density of trails were found to be significantly associated with the presence of DCAs. PMID:23451901

Characteristics of oily sludge combustion in circulating fluidized beds.

PubMed

Zhou, Lingsheng; Jiang, Xiumin; Liu, Jianguo

2009-10-15

Incineration of oily sludge in circulating fluidized beds may be an effective way for its management in some cases. The objective of the present paper is to investigate combustion characteristics of oily sludge, which would be helpful and useful for the design and simulation of a circulating fluidized bed. Firstly, the pyrolysis and combustion of oily sludge were studied through some thermal analyses, which included the thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and the differential thermal analytical (DTA) analysis. It was found that the combustion of oily sludge might be the combustion of its pyrolysis products. Secondly, an experiment for measuring of main components of the volatile from oily sludge pyrolysis was carried out. Some mathematic correlations about the compositions of volatile from oily sludge devolatilization were achieved from the experimental results. Finally, the combustion characteristics of oily sludge was studied in a lab-scale circulating fluidized bed, which could obtain some information about the location of release and combustion of the volatiles.

Do job demands and job control affect problem-solving?

PubMed

Bergman, Peter N; Ahlberg, Gunnel; Johansson, Gun; Stoetzer, Ulrich; Aborg, Carl; Hallsten, Lennart; Lundberg, Ingvar

2012-01-01

The Job Demand Control model presents combinations of working conditions that may facilitate learning, the active learning hypothesis, or have detrimental effects on health, the strain hypothesis. To test the active learning hypothesis, this study analysed the effects of job demands and job control on general problem-solving strategies. A population-based sample of 4,636 individuals (55% women, 45% men) with the same job characteristics measured at two times with a three year time lag was used. Main effects of demands, skill discretion, task authority and control, and the combined effects of demands and control were analysed in logistic regressions, on four outcomes representing general problem-solving strategies. Those reporting high on skill discretion, task authority and control, as well as those reporting high demand/high control and low demand/high control job characteristics were more likely to state using problem solving strategies. Results suggest that working conditions including high levels of control may affect how individuals cope with problems and that workplace characteristics may affect behaviour in the non-work domain.

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in foreign-born persons living in San Francisco.

PubMed

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G; Grinsdale, Jennifer A; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L Masae; Hopewell, Philip C; Kato-Maeda, Midori

2013-05-01

In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions.

Limno-reservoirs as a new landscape, environmental and touristic resource: Pareja Limno-reservoir as a case of study (Guadalajara, Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díaz-Carrión, I.; Sastre-Merlín, A.; Martínez-Pérez, S.; Molina-Navarro, E.; Bienes-Allas, R.

2012-04-01

A limno-reservoir is a hydrologic infrastructure with the main goal of generating a body of water with a constant level in the riverine zone of a reservoir, building a dam that makes de limno-reservoir independent from the main body of water. This dam can be built in the main river supplying the reservoir or any tributary as well flowing into it. Despite its novel conception and design, around a dozen are already operative in some Spanish reservoirs. This infrastructure allows the new water body to be independent of the main reservoir management, so the water level stability is its main distinctive characteristic. It leads to the development of environmental, sports and cultural initiatives; which may be included in a touristic exploitation in a wide sense. An opinion poll was designed in 2009 to be carried out the Pareja Limno-reservoir (Entrepeñas reservoir area, Tajo River Basin, central Spain). The results showed that for both, Pareja inhabitants and occasional visitors, the limno-reservoir has become an important touristic resource, mainly demanded during summer season. The performance of leisure activities (especially swimming) are being the main brand of this novel hydraulic and environmental infrastructure, playing a role as corrective and/or compensatory action which is needed to apply in order to mitigate the environmental impacts of the large hydraulic constructions.

Economic Culture and Trading Behaviors in Information Markets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alhayyan, Khalid N.

2012-01-01

There are four main components for influencing traders' behaviors in an information market context: trader characteristics, organizational characteristics, market design, and external information. This dissertation focuses on investigating the impact of individual trader characteristics on trading behaviors. Two newly-developed constructs,…

Internet addiction and problematic Internet use: A systematic review of clinical research

PubMed Central

Kuss, Daria J; Lopez-Fernandez, Olatz

2016-01-01

AIM: To provide a comprehensive overview of clinical studies on the clinical picture of Internet-use related addictions from a holistic perspective. A literature search was conducted using the database Web of Science. METHODS: Over the last 15 years, the number of Internet users has increased by 1000%, and at the same time, research on addictive Internet use has proliferated. Internet addiction has not yet been understood very well, and research on its etiology and natural history is still in its infancy. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association included Internet Gaming Disorder in the appendix of the updated version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as condition that requires further research prior to official inclusion in the main manual, with important repercussions for research and treatment. To date, reviews have focused on clinical and treatment studies of Internet addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder. This arguably limits the analysis to a specific diagnosis of a potential disorder that has not yet been officially recognised in the Western world, rather than a comprehensive and inclusive investigation of Internet-use related addictions (including problematic Internet use) more generally. RESULTS: The systematic literature review identified a total of 46 relevant studies. The included studies used clinical samples, and focused on characteristics of treatment seekers and online addiction treatment. Four main types of clinical research studies were identified, namely research involving (1) treatment seeker characteristics; (2) psychopharmacotherapy; (3) psychological therapy; and (4) combined treatment. CONCLUSION: A consensus regarding diagnostic criteria and measures is needed to improve reliability across studies and to develop effective and efficient treatment approaches for treatment seekers. PMID:27014605

Breast cancer patients survival and associated factors: reported outcomes from the Southern Cancer Registry in Portugal.

PubMed

André, Maria Rosario; Amaral, Sandra; Mayer, Alexandra; Miranda, Ana

2014-01-01

Although the breast cancer incidence in Portugal is lower than the European average, it is the most frequent cancer in women. Overall, mortality rates are heterogeneous throughout Portugal. Implicated factors may include demographic and socioeconomic aspects, tumor biological characteristics, and access to medical care. The aim of this study is to detect survival differences in female breast cancer and identify the main associated factors. We have conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study with follow-up. Incident breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2005 of residents in the southern region of Portugal were included. Data was collected from the Southern Portugal Cancer Registry (ROR-Sul) database and completed with clinical chart information. A total of 1 354 patients were included in this study. Observed geographical variations were as follows: for age distribution, with an aging population in Alentejo; for tumor sub-types, there was a higher incidence of HER2-positive tumors in the Algarve and a higher incidence of HER2-negative tumors in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Reported estimated 5-year overall survival was 80%, with significant association with tumor stage, hormone receptor and HER2 status. No survival differences were identified among women from distinct geographical regions. Although we found differences in age and tumor sub-type distribution between geographical regions, our study does not support the existence of discrepancies in breast cancer survival between these regions. Tumor biological characteristics seem to be the main associated factor with breast cancer survival in our population. Our study confirms the association between patient survival and tumor stage, hormone receptor and HER2 status. However, no differences in patient survival were observed among different regions of residence.

Sources of uncertanity as a basis to fill the information gap in a response to flood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kekez, Toni; Knezic, Snjezana

2016-04-01

Taking into account uncertainties in flood risk management remains a challenge due to difficulties in choosing adequate structural and/or non-structural risk management options. Despite stated measures wrong decisions are often being made when flood occurs. Parameter and structural uncertainties which include model and observation errors as well as lack of knowledge about system characteristics are the main considerations. Real time flood risk assessment methods are predominantly based on measured water level values and vulnerability as well as other relevant characteristics of flood affected area. The goal of this research is to identify sources of uncertainties and to minimize information gap between the point where the water level is measured and the affected area, taking into consideration main uncertainties that can affect risk value at the observed point or section of the river. Sources of uncertainties are identified and determined using system analysis approach and relevant uncertainties are included in the risk assessment model. With such methodological approach it is possible to increase response time with more effective risk assessment which includes uncertainty propagation model. Response phase could be better planned with adequate early warning systems resulting in more time and less costs to help affected areas and save human lives. Reliable and precise information is necessary to raise emergency operability level in order to enhance safety of citizens and reducing possible damage. The results of the EPISECC (EU funded FP7) project are used to validate potential benefits of this research in order to improve flood risk management and response methods. EPISECC aims at developing a concept of a common European Information Space for disaster response which, among other disasters, considers the floods.

Clinical characteristics of a sample of patients with cat eye syndrome.

PubMed

Rosa, Rafael Fabiano Machado; Mombach, Rômulo; Zen, Paulo Ricardo Gazzola; Graziadio, Carla; Paskulin, Giorgio Adriano

2010-01-01

Cat eye syndrome is considered a rare chromosome disease with a highly variable phenotype. The objective of this paper was to describe the clinical characteristics of a sample of patients with cat eye syndrome who were seen at our service. This is a retrospective analysis of a sample of six patients with diagnoses of cat eye syndrome. All of these patients’ karyotypes exhibited the presence of an additional marker chromosome, inv dup(22)(pter->q11.2::q11.2->pter). One patient also exhibited mosaicism with a lineage that had a normal chromosomal constitution. Clinical and follow-up data were collected from the patients’ medical records. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the frequencies observed in our study with figures given in the literature (P<0.05). The main abnormalities observed were preauricular tags and/or pits and anal atresia (both observed in 83% of cases). Coloboma of the iris, an important finding with this syndrome, was observed in two cases (33%). Congenital heart disease was detected in four patients (67%) and the main defect found was interatrial communication (75%). Uncommon findings included hemifacial microsomia combined with unilateral microtia and biliary atresia. Just one of these patients died, from chylothorax and sepsis. The phenotype observed in cat eye syndrome is highly variable and may be superimposed on the phenotype of the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum. Although these patients usually have good prognosis, including from a neurological point of view, we believe that all patients with the syndrome should be assessed very early on for the presence of cardiac, biliary and anorectal malformations, which may avoid possible complications in the future, including patient deaths.

Interventions to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA: a systematic review.

PubMed

Clifford, Anton; McCalman, Janya; Bainbridge, Roxanne; Tsey, Komla

2015-04-01

This article describes the characteristics and reviews the methodological quality of interventions designed to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. A total of 17 electronic databases and 13 websites for the period of 2002-13. Studies were included if they evaluated an intervention strategy designed to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Canada. Information on the characteristics and methodological quality of included studies was extracted using standardized assessment tools. Sixteen published evaluations of interventions to improve cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples were identified: 11 for Indigenous peoples of the USA and 5 for Indigenous Australians. The main types of intervention strategies were education and training of the health workforce, culturally specific health programs and recruitment of an Indigenous health workforce. Main positive outcomes reported were improvements in health professionals' confidence, and patients' satisfaction with and access to health care. The methodological quality of evaluations and the reporting of key methodological criteria were variable. Particular problems included weak study designs, low or no reporting of consent rates, confounding and non-validated measurement instruments. There is a lack of evidence from rigorous evaluations on the effectiveness of interventions for improving cultural competency in health care for Indigenous peoples. Future evaluations should employ more rigorous study designs and extend their measurement of outcomes beyond those relating to health professionals, to those relating to the health of Indigenous peoples. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press in association with the International Society for Quality in Health Care; all rights reserved.

Somatotype in high performance female netball players may influence player position and the incidence of lower limb and back injuries

PubMed Central

Hopper, Diana M

1997-01-01

Aims To investigate the relation between somatotype, performance characteristics, and the incidence of injury during the Australian Netball Championships. Method Two hundred and forty high performance netball players competed at the Australian Netball Championships in which 213 (89%) were measured using the Heath-Carter somatotype scale. During these championships, in conjunction with the injury assessments, data analysis included a three factor analysis of variance (level of competition, playing position, and injury) for the dependent somatoype variables (endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectopmorphy), and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Results For the three dependent somatotype variables, there were no main effects between endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectopmorphy and the incidence of injury. However, for the mesomorphy and ectomorphy variables, significant main effects for the playing position were found. No main effects existed between the somatotype variables and levels of competition. Conclusion The somatotype variables did not influence the incidence of injury, but mesomorphy and ectopmorphy did influence the different playing positions. PMID:9298552

Continuum and discrete approach in modeling biofilm development and structure: a review.

PubMed

Mattei, M R; Frunzo, L; D'Acunto, B; Pechaud, Y; Pirozzi, F; Esposito, G

2018-03-01

The scientific community has recognized that almost 99% of the microbial life on earth is represented by biofilms. Considering the impacts of their sessile lifestyle on both natural and human activities, extensive experimental activity has been carried out to understand how biofilms grow and interact with the environment. Many mathematical models have also been developed to simulate and elucidate the main processes characterizing the biofilm growth. Two main mathematical approaches for biomass representation can be distinguished: continuum and discrete. This review is aimed at exploring the main characteristics of each approach. Continuum models can simulate the biofilm processes in a quantitative and deterministic way. However, they require a multidimensional formulation to take into account the biofilm spatial heterogeneity, which makes the models quite complicated, requiring significant computational effort. Discrete models are more recent and can represent the typical multidimensional structural heterogeneity of biofilm reflecting the experimental expectations, but they generate computational results including elements of randomness and introduce stochastic effects into the solutions.

Two types of geomagnetic storms and relationship between Dst and AE indexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shadrina, Lyudmila P.

2017-10-01

The study of the relationship between Dst and AE indices of the geomagnetic field and its manifestation in geomagnetic storms in the XXIII solar cycle was carried out. It is shown that geomagnetic storms are divided into two groups according to the ratio of the amplitude of Ds index decrease to the sum of the AE index during the main phase of the storm. For the first group it is characteristic that for small depressions of the Dst index, significant amounts of the AE index are observed. Most often these are storms with a gradual beginning and a long main phase associated with recurrent solar wind streams. Storms of the second group differ in large amplitudes of Dst index decrease, shorter duration of main phase and small amounts of AE-index. Usually these are sporadic geomagnetic storms with a sudden commencement caused by interplanetary disturbances of the CME type. The storms of these two types differ also in their geoeffects, including the effect on human health.

Investigation on the energy spectrums of electrons in atmospheric pressure argon plasma jets and their dependences on the applied voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xinxian; Tan, Zhenyu; Liu, Yadi; Li, Xiaotong; Pan, Jie; Wang, Xiaolong

2017-08-01

This work presents a systematical investigation on the spatiotemporal evolution of the energy spectrum of electrons in atmospheric pressure argon plasma jets and its dependence on the applied voltage. The investigations are carried out by means of the numerical simulation based on a particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collision model. The characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of the energy spectrum of electrons (ESE) in the discharge space have been presented, and especially the mechanisms of inducing these characteristics have also been revealed. The present work shows the following conclusions. In the evolution of ESE, there is a characteristic time under each applied voltage. Before the characteristic time, the peak value of ESE decreases, the peak position shifts toward high energy, and the distribution of ESE becomes wider and wider, but the reverse is true after the characteristic time. The formation of these characteristics can be mainly attributed to the transport of electrons toward a low electric field as well as a balance between the energy gained from the electric field including the effect of space charges and the energy loss due to inelastic collisions in the process of electron transport. The characteristic time decreases with the applied voltage. In addition, the average energy of electrons at the characteristic time can be increased by enhancing the applied voltage. The results presented in this work are of importance for regulating and controlling the energy of electrons in the plasma jets applied to plasma medicine.

Magnitude and frequency of floods in Arkansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hodge, Scott A.; Tasker, Gary D.

1995-01-01

Methods are presented for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak discharges of streams in Arkansas. Regression analyses were developed in which a stream's physical and flood characteristics were related. Four sets of regional regression equations were derived to predict peak discharges with selected recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 years on streams draining less than 7,770 square kilometers. The regression analyses indicate that size of drainage area, main channel slope, mean basin elevation, and the basin shape factor were the most significant basin characteristics that affect magnitude and frequency of floods. The region of influence method is included in this report. This method is still being improved and is to be considered only as a second alternative to the standard method of producing regional regression equations. This method estimates unique regression equations for each recurrence interval for each ungaged site. The regression analyses indicate that size of drainage area, main channel slope, mean annual precipitation, mean basin elevation, and the basin shape factor were the most significant basin and climatic characteristics that affect magnitude and frequency of floods for this method. Certain recommendations on the use of this method are provided. A method is described for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak discharges of streams for urban areas in Arkansas. The method is from a nationwide U.S. Geeological Survey flood frequency report which uses urban basin characteristics combined with rural discharges to estimate urban discharges. Annual peak discharges from 204 gaging stations, with drainage areas less than 7,770 square kilometers and at least 10 years of unregulated record, were used in the analysis. These data provide the basis for this analysis and are published in the Appendix of this report as supplemental data. Large rivers such as the Red, Arkansas, White, Black, St. Francis, Mississippi, and Ouachita Rivers have floodflow characteristics that differ from those of smaller tributary streams and were treated individually. Regional regression equations are not applicable to these large rivers. The magnitude and frequency of floods along these rivers are based on specific station data. This section is provided in the Appendix and has not been updated since the last Arkansas flood frequency report (1987b), but is included at the request of the cooperator.

Using aquatic macroinvertebrate species traits to build test batteries for sediment toxicity assessment: accounting for the diversity of potential biological responses to toxicants.

PubMed

Ducrot, Virginie; Usseglio-Polatera, Philippe; Péry, T Alexandre R R; Mouthon, Jacques; Lafont, Michel; Roger, Marie-Claude; Garric, Jeanne; Férard, Jean-François

2005-09-01

An original species-selection method for the building of test batteries is presented. This method is based on the statistical analysis of the biological and ecological trait patterns of species. It has been applied to build a macroinvertebrate test battery for the assessment of sediment toxicity, which efficiently describes the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate biological responses to toxicants in a large European lowland river. First, 109 potential representatives of benthic communities of European lowland rivers were selected from a list of 479 taxa, considering 11 biological traits accounting for the main routes of exposure to a sediment-bound toxicant and eight ecological traits providing an adequate description of habitat characteristics used by the taxa. Second, their biological and ecological trait patterns were compared using coinertia analysis. This comparison allowed the clustering of taxa into groups of organisms that exhibited similar life-history characteristics, physiological and behavioral features, and similar habitat use. Groups exhibited various sizes (7-35 taxa), taxonomic compositions, and biological and ecological features. Main differences among group characteristics concerned morphology, substrate preferendum and habitat utilization, nutritional features, maximal size, and life-history strategy. Third, the best representatives of the mean biological and ecological characteristics of each group were included in the test battery. The final selection was composed of Chironomus riparius (Insecta: Diptera), Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae), Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta: Lumbriculidae), Valvata piscinalis (Gastropoda: Valvatidae), and Sericostoma personatum (Trichoptera: Sericostomatidae). This approach permitted the biological and ecological variety of the battery to be maximized. Because biological and ecological traits of taxa determine species sensitivity, such maximization should permit the battery to better account for the sensitivity range within a community.

Causes and Characteristics of Death in Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

PubMed

Orban, Jean-Christophe; Walrave, Yannick; Mongardon, Nicolas; Allaouchiche, Bernard; Argaud, Laurent; Aubrun, Frédéric; Barjon, Geneviève; Constantin, Jean-Michel; Dhonneur, Gilles; Durand-Gasselin, Jacques; Dupont, Hervé; Genestal, Michèle; Goguey, Chloé; Goutorbe, Philippe; Guidet, Bertrand; Hyvernat, Hervé; Jaber, Samir; Lefrant, Jean-Yves; Mallédant, Yannick; Morel, Jerôme; Ouattara, Alexandre; Pichon, Nicolas; Guérin Robardey, Anne-Marie; Sirodot, Michel; Theissen, Alexandre; Wiramus, Sandrine; Zieleskiewicz, Laurent; Leone, Marc; Ichai, Carole

2017-05-01

Different modes of death are described in selected populations, but few data report the characteristics of death in a general intensive care unit population. This study analyzed the causes and characteristics of death of critically ill patients and compared anticipated death patients to unexpected death counterparts. An observational multicenter cohort study was performed in 96 intensive care units. During 1 yr, each intensive care unit was randomized to participate during a 1-month period. Demographic data, characteristics of organ failures (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment subscore greater than or equal to 3), and organ supports were collected on all patients who died in the intensive care unit. Modes of death were defined as anticipated (after withdrawal or withholding of treatment or brain death) or unexpected (despite engagement of full-level care or sudden refractory cardiac arrest). A total of 698 patients were included during the study period. At the time of death, 84% had one or more organ failures (mainly hemodynamic) and 89% required at least one organ support (mainly mechanical ventilation). Deaths were considered unexpected and anticipated in 225 and 473 cases, respectively. Compared to its anticipated counterpart, unexpected death occurred earlier (1 day vs. 5 days; P< 0.001) and had fewer organ failures (1 [1 to 2] vs. 1 [1 to 3]; P< 0.01) and more organ supports (2 [2 to 3] vs. 1 [1 to 2]; P< 0.01). Withdrawal or withholding of treatments accounted for half of the deaths. In a general intensive care unit population, the majority of patients present with at least one organ failure at the time of death. Anticipated and unexpected deaths represent two different modes of dying and exhibit profiles reflecting the different pathophysiologic underlying mechanisms.

Characteristics of Known Triple Asteroid Systems in the Main Belt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchis, Franck; Berthier, J.; Burns, K. J.; Descamps, P.; Durech, J.; Emery, J. P.; Enriquez, J. E.; Lainey, V.; Reiss, A. E.; Vachier, F.

2010-10-01

Since the discovery of "Sylvia Remus II” [1], around the binary asteroid (87) Sylvia [2] using the VLT/NACO instrument, the number of known triple systems increased significantly. Using the same instrument, a second moonlet was discovered around the binary (45) Eugenia [3] in 2007 [4]. Using an improved W.M. Keck II AO system, [5] announced the discovery of two 3 & 5-km moons orbiting the M-type asteroid (216) Kleopatra and more recently, [6] revealed the presence of two tiny 4-km moons around the C-type (93) Minerva. 3749 Balam is a different triple asteroid system whose existence was suggested by combining lightcurves and AO observations [7]. The properties of these triple systems have been derived individually and published recently [1, 8,9,10]. We will review and contrast their characteristics, including the orbital parameters of the satellite orbits, the size and shape of the primary and the satellites, their taxonomic classes, their bulk densities, and their ages. The goal of this study is to uncover clues concerning the formation and evolution of these mini-planetary systems. The National Science Foundation supported this research under award number AAG-0807468. 1. Marchis et al. Nature 2005 2. Brown et al., IAU 7588, 2001 3. Merline et al. Nature 401, 1999 4. Marchis et al. IAU 1073, 2007 5. Marchis et al. IAU 8980, 2008 6. Marchis et al., IAU 9069, 2009 7. Marchis et al., IAU 8928, 2008 8. Marchis et al., A Dynamical Solution of the Triple Asteroid System (45) Eugenia , Icarus in press, 2010 9. Descamps et al, Triplicity and Physical Characteristics of Asteroid 216 Kleopatra Icarus, in revision, 2010 10. Marchis et al., Triplicity and Physical Characteristics of the main-belt Asteroid (93) Minerva, Icarus submitted 2010

Predictors of Maternal Trust in Doctors About Advice on Infant Care Practices: The SAFE Study.

PubMed

Hwang, Sunah S; Rybin, Denis V; Kerr, Stephen M; Heeren, Timothy C; Colson, Eve R; Corwin, Michael J

To determine predictors of maternal trust in doctors about advice on infant care practices. Using probability sampling methods, we recruited mothers from 32 US maternity hospitals. Mothers completed a survey 2 to 6 months postpartum that included questions about maternal trust in doctors regarding 6 infant care practices and physician characteristics (doctor asked mother's opinion, doctor is qualified, infant sees 1 main doctor who is/is not of the same ethnicity/race). Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for maternal trust in physician advice for each infant care practice. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the independent association of maternal and physician characteristics and trust for each infant care practice, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Of the 3983 mothers enrolled from January 2011 to March 2014, 3297 (83%) completed the follow-up survey. Maternal trust in the doctor varied according to infant care practice with highest trust for vaccination (89%) and lowest trust for pacifier use (56%). In the adjusted analyses, for all infant care practices, mothers were more likely to trust their doctors if they reported that the doctors were qualified (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], >3.0 for all practices) or if the doctor had asked their opinion (AOR, 1.76-2.43). For mothers who reported seeing 1 main doctor, white mothers were more likely to trust physicians for almost all infant care practices if they reported the doctor was the same race (AOR, 1.54-2.19). Physician characteristics and ways of communication were significantly associated with maternal trust in doctors about advice on infant care practices. Copyright © 2017 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Reasons for first-consultation in nephrology in the health area 5 of Britanny during the year 2014].

PubMed

Prévot, Jeanne; Bayat-Makoei, Sahar; Vigneau, Cécile

2017-04-01

In France, the coordinated healthcare circuit means that patients should be referred to specialists, for example nephrologists, by another physician. However, there are no recommendations concerning the reasons justifying the referral to a nephrologist. The main purpose of our study is to describe the motif of first consultations in nephrology in the health area 5 of Brittany. We retrospectively collected medical reports of first consultations by 17 nephrologists in the 4 centers of the study area, during the year 2014. In these letters, we noted the consultation motif, the specialty of the physician who refers the patient, and main characteristics of patients. We included 662 first consultations. The main reason for consultations was chronic kidney disease (68.7%), including chronic renal insufficiency (56.9%), proteinuria (7.3%), microscopic hematuria (3.3%) and searching for chronic kidney disease in the presence of risk factor (1.2%). Other frequent reasons were the follow-up consultation after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia (9.5%), urinary lithiasis (5.7%), hypertension (3.8%) and hydroelectrolytic disorder (3.5%). Non-nephrology reasons represent 3.2% of first consultations. Almost all patients have been referred by a physician (99.7%), mainly a general practitioner (71.9%). Nephrology first consultations are realized according to the coordinated healthcare circuit since almost all are requested by another physician. The reasons are adapted to the specialty. The main reason is chronic kidney disease, often already associated with renal insufficiency chronic. Copyright © 2016 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Modeling of rolling element bearing mechanics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenhill, L. M.

1991-01-01

Roller element bearings provide the primary mechanical interface between rotating and nonrotating components in the high performance turbomachinery of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). Knowledge of bearing behavior under various loading and environmental conditions is essential to predicting and understanding the overall behavior of turbopumps, including rotordynamic stability, critical speeds and bearing life. The objective is to develop mathematical models and computer programs to describe the mechanical behavior of ball and cylinder roller bearings under the loading and environmental conditions encountered in the SSME and future high performance rocket engines. This includes characteristics such as nonlinear load/motion relationships, stiffness and damping, rolling element loads for life prediction, and roller and cage stability.

Geostatistical Methods For Determination of Roughness, Topography, And Changes of Antarctic Ice Streams From SAR And Radar Altimeter Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herzfeld, Ute C.

2002-01-01

The central objective of this project has been the development of geostatistical methods fro mapping elevation and ice surface characteristics from satellite radar altimeter (RA) and Syntheitc Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The main results are an Atlas of elevation maps of Antarctica, from GEOSAT RA data and an Atlas from ERS-1 RA data, including a total of about 200 maps with 3 km grid resolution. Maps and digital terrain models are applied to monitor and study changes in Antarctic ice streams and glaciers, including Lambert Glacier/Amery Ice Shelf, Mertz and Ninnis Glaciers, Jutulstraumen Glacier, Fimbul Ice Shelf, Slessor Glacier, Williamson Glacier and others.

Characteristics of chitinase isolated from different part of snakehead fish (Channa striata) digestive tract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baehaki, A.; Lestari, S. D.; Wahidman, Y.; Gofar, N.

2018-01-01

Naturally, snakehead fish (Channa striata) is a prodigious carnivore feeding mainly on live animals, including small shrimp. Based on its feeding habits, the digestrive tracts of snakehead is considered as auspicious source of various enzumes including chitinase. The purpose of this study was to partially characterize chitinase enzyme isolated from digestive tract of snakehead fish. Two parts of digestive tract, stomach and intestine were used as enzymes’ source. The results showed that chitinase activity from the stomach was higher than chitinase activity from the intestine. The pH and temperature optimum of chitinase activity from digestive tract (the stomach and the intestine) were 6.0 and 70 °C, respectively.

A Literature Review on the Study of Moisture in Polymers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Trautschold, Olivia Carol

2016-05-25

This literature review covers the main chemical and physical interactions between moisture and the polymer matrix. Fickian versus Non-Fickian diffusion behaviors are discussed in approximating the characteristics of moisture sorption. Also, bound water and free water sorbed in polymers are distinguished. Methods to distinguish between bound and free water include differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The difference between moisture sorption and water sorption is considered, as well as the difficulties associated with preventing moisture sorption. Furthermore, specific examples of how moisture sorption influences polymers include natural fiber-polymer composites, starch-based biodegradable thermoplastics, and thermoset polyurethanemore » and epoxies.« less

Urban and peri-urban family-based pig-keeping in Cambodia: Characteristics, management and perceived benefits and constraints

PubMed Central

Andersson Djurfeldt, Agnes; Boqvist, Sofia; Albihn, Ann; Sokerya, Seng; San, Sorn; Davun, Holl; Magnusson, Ulf

2017-01-01

Keeping pigs in urban and peri-urban areas may not only provide many benefits for the urban households, but may also be challenging and a potential health hazard. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe household characteristics and to evaluate perceived benefits and constraints among pig-keepers in the urban and peri-urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The study included 204 households and a structured questionnaire was used to interview the household member responsible for taking care of the pigs. Descriptive analyses showed that most households kept between 5 and 15 pigs and that all households kept their pigs in confinement. About 97% of the households owned the pigs themselves and the pigs were generally managed by female household members (43%). Pigs were mainly kept for commercial purposes and more than 60% of the households stated that income from pig-keeping was the main or one of the main sources of revenue for the household. More than 82% reported that they had experienced disease outbreaks among their pigs during the past three years and disease outbreaks were more commonly reported in households with lower socio-economic position (P = 0.025). Disease outbreaks were considered one of the main constraints, along with expensive feed and low payment prices for the slaughter pigs, but few households considered sanitary or other public health issues problematic. Thus, pig-keeping makes an important contribution to the livelihoods of urban and peri-urban households, but many households face external constraints on their production, such as diseases and low revenues, which may have a negative impact on their livelihoods. PMID:28813530

[Standard algorithm of molecular typing of Yersinia pestis strains].

PubMed

Eroshenko, G A; Odinokov, G N; Kukleva, L M; Pavlova, A I; Krasnov, Ia M; Shavina, N Iu; Guseva, N P; Vinogradova, N A; Kutyrev, V V

2012-01-01

Development of the standard algorithm of molecular typing of Yersinia pestis that ensures establishing of subspecies, biovar and focus membership of the studied isolate. Determination of the characteristic strain genotypes of plague infectious agent of main and nonmain subspecies from various natural foci of plague of the Russian Federation and the near abroad. Genotyping of 192 natural Y. pestis strains of main and nonmain subspecies was performed by using PCR methods, multilocus sequencing and multilocus analysis of variable tandem repeat number. A standard algorithm of molecular typing of plague infectious agent including several stages of Yersinia pestis differentiation by membership: in main and nonmain subspecies, various biovars of the main subspecies, specific subspecies; natural foci and geographic territories was developed. The algorithm is based on 3 typing methods--PCR, multilocus sequence typing and multilocus analysis of variable tandem repeat number using standard DNA targets--life support genes (terC, ilvN, inv, glpD, napA, rhaS and araC) and 7 loci of variable tandem repeats (ms01, ms04, ms06, ms07, ms46, ms62, ms70). The effectiveness of the developed algorithm is shown on the large number of natural Y. pestis strains. Characteristic sequence types of Y. pestis strains of various subspecies and biovars as well as MLVA7 genotypes of strains from natural foci of plague of the Russian Federation and the near abroad were established. The application of the developed algorithm will increase the effectiveness of epidemiologic monitoring of plague infectious agent, and analysis of epidemics and outbreaks of plague with establishing the source of origin of the strain and routes of introduction of the infection.

Sediment grain-size characteristics and relevant correlations to the aeolian environment in China's eastern desert region.

PubMed

Zhang, Chunlai; Shen, Yaping; Li, Qing; Jia, Wenru; Li, Jiao; Wang, Xuesong

2018-06-15

To identify characteristics of aeolian activity and the aeolian environment in China's eastern desert region, this study collected surface sediment samples from the main desert and sandy lands in this region: the Hobq Desert and the Mu Us, Otindag, Horqin, and Hulunbuir sandy lands. We analyzed the grain-size characteristics and their relationships to three key environmental indicators: drift potential, the dune mobility index, and vegetation cover. The main sediment components are fine to medium sands, with poor (Hulunbuir) to moderate (all other areas) sorting, of unimodal to bimodal distribution. This suggests that improved sorting is accomplished by the loss of both relatively coarser and finer grains. Since 2000, China's eastern desert region has generally experienced low wind energy environmental conditions, resulting in decreased dune activity. In the Hobq Desert, however, the dry climate and sparse vegetation, in conjunction with the most widely distributed mobile dune area in the eastern desert region, have led to frequent and intense aeolian activity, including wind erosion, sand transport, and deposition, resulting in conditions for good sediment sorting. In the Mu Us, Otindag, and Horqin sandy lands, mosaic distribution has resulted from wind erosion-dominated and deposition-dominated aeolian environments. In the Hulunbuir Sandy Land, high precipitation, low temperatures, and steppe vegetation have resulted in well-developed soils; however, strong winds and flat terrain have created an aeolian environment dominated by wind erosion. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis of dysfunctional family processes related to alcoholism.

PubMed

Mangueira, Suzana de Oliveira; Lopes, Marcos Venícios de Oliveira

2016-10-01

To evaluate the clinical validity indicators for the nursing diagnosis of dysfunctional family processes related to alcohol abuse. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that negatively affects family relationships. Studies on the nursing diagnosis of dysfunctional family processes are scarce in the literature. This diagnosis is currently composed of 115 defining characteristics, hindering their use in practice and highlighting the need for clinical validation. This was a diagnostic accuracy study. A sample of 110 alcoholics admitted to a reference centre for alcohol treatment was assessed during the second half of 2013 for the presence or absence of the defining characteristics of the diagnosis. Operational definitions were created for each defining characteristic based on concept analysis and experts evaluated the content of these definitions. Diagnostic accuracy measures were calculated from latent class models with random effects. All 89 clinical indicators were found in the sample and a set of 24 clinical indicators was identified as clinically valid for a diagnostic screening for family dysfunction from the report of alcoholics. Main clinical indicators with high specificity included sexual abuse, disturbance in academic performance in children and manipulation. The main indicators that showed high sensitivity values were distress, loss, anxiety, low self-esteem, confusion, embarrassment, insecurity, anger, loneliness, deterioration in family relationships and disturbance in family dynamics. Eighteen clinical indicators showed a high capacity for diagnostic screening for alcoholics (high sensitivity) and six indicators can be used for confirmatory diagnosis (high specificity). © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lower limb alignment characteristics are not associated with running injuries in runners: Prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Hespanhol Junior, Luiz Carlos; de Carvalho, Aline Carla Araújo; Costa, Leonardo Oliveira Pena; Lopes, Alexandre Dias

2016-11-01

There is conflicting evidence on the association between lower limb alignment characteristics and the incidence of running-related injury (RRI). Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between lower limb alignment characteristics and the incidence proportion of RRI in a convenience sample of recreational runners. A total of 89 recreational runners were included in this prospective cohort study. These participants had been running for at least six months and were injury-free at baseline. Lower limb alignment measurements were conducted in order to calculate lower limb discrepancy, Q-angle, subtalar angle and plantar index. All participants also answered a baseline and biweekly online surveys about their running routine, history of RRI and newly developed RRI over a period of 12 weeks. The prevalence of previous RRI and the 12-week incidence proportion of new RRI were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between lower limb length discrepancy, Q-angle, subtalar angle and plantar ach index with the incidence proportion of RRI. The prevalence of previous RRI was 55.1% (n = 49). The 12-week incidence proportion of new RRI was 27.0% (n = 24). Muscle injuries and tendinopathies were the main types of RRI identified. The lower leg and the knee were the main anatomical regions affected. We did not find significant associations between lower limb length discrepancy, Q-angle, subtalar angle and plantar arch index and injury occurrence.

Determination of Functional Capabilities, the Level of Physical Performance and the State of Main Physiological Body Systems in the First Hours after the Accomplishment of Long-term Space Flights ("Field Test")

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kozlovskaya, Inesa; Tomilovskaya, Elena; Rukavishnikov, Ilya; Kitov, Vladimir; Reschke, Millard; Kofman, Igor

2014-01-01

Long-term stay in weightlessness is accompanied by alterations in the activity of main physiological body systems including sensory-motor, skeletal-muscular disturbances and cardiovascular deconditioning. However, up to now, there are no data on the state and level of functional performance of cosmonauts/astronauts directly after flight, nor are there data to help define the dynamic recovery of functional characteristics and work efficiency which are greatly needed to provide the safety and planning of their activity once they reach space objects. The Russian and American scientists are currently engaged in a joint experiment known as the "Field Test" with the goal of studying the functional performance and the state of main physiological body systems directly after landing and their temporal recovery dynamics. The functional performance is identified during the test by temporal characteristics of the movements of spatial translation, the stability of the vertical stance for 3.5 min, and the kinematic characteristics of walking - non-complicated and complicated. The following characteristics are identified as physiological characteristics of the test: a) orthostatic tolerance during stand test, b) back muscle tone; c) vertical stability - by characteristics of the correction responses to unexpected perturbations of the vertical stance, and d) support reactions during the performance of the full battery of tests. To date, a pilot version of the "Field Test" has been conducted with participation from four Russian cosmonauts. The results of studies have shown that in 1 - 5 hours after landing the functional abilities of the cosmonauts are considerably reduced. All the test movements at this time are considerably slower than preflight and the more complicated the task is, the greater significant reduction in orthostatic tolerance: during the first test that occurs 1 - 5 hours after landing. two of four cosmonauts declined to continue the task after the orthostatic test (one of them did not wear the anti-G suit "Centaurus" during testing). Blood pressure during moving out of prone posture to vertical stance in one of the cosmonauts and of sitting to standing position in the other dropped to the precollapse level. The results of the studies have confirmed the feasibility, the usefulness and the safety of conducting tests as close as possible to the landing. The program of "Field Test" experiment will be continued and extended.

Smooth time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve estimators.

PubMed

Martínez-Camblor, Pablo; Pardo-Fernández, Juan Carlos

2018-03-01

The receiver operating characteristic curve is a popular graphical method often used to study the diagnostic capacity of continuous (bio)markers. When the considered outcome is a time-dependent variable, two main extensions have been proposed: the cumulative/dynamic receiver operating characteristic curve and the incident/dynamic receiver operating characteristic curve. In both cases, the main problem for developing appropriate estimators is the estimation of the joint distribution of the variables time-to-event and marker. As usual, different approximations lead to different estimators. In this article, the authors explore the use of a bivariate kernel density estimator which accounts for censored observations in the sample and produces smooth estimators of the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves. The performance of the resulting cumulative/dynamic and incident/dynamic receiver operating characteristic curves is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, the influence of the choice of the required smoothing parameters is explored. Finally, two real-applications are considered. An R package is also provided as a complement to this article.

[Anterograde declarative memory and its models].

PubMed

Barbeau, E-J; Puel, M; Pariente, J

2010-01-01

Patient H.M.'s recent death provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of his contribution to a better understanding of the anterograde amnesic syndrome. The thorough study of this patient over five decades largely contributed to shape the unitary model of declarative memory. This model holds that declarative memory is a single system that cannot be fractionated into subcomponents. As a system, it depends mainly on medial temporal lobes structures. The objective of this review is to present the main characteristics of different modular models that have been proposed as alternatives to the unitary model. It is also an opportunity to present different patients, who, although less famous than H.M., helped make signification contribution to the field of memory. The characteristics of the five main modular models are presented, including the most recent one (the perceptual-mnemonic model). The differences as well as how these models converge are highlighted. Different possibilities that could help reconcile unitary and modular approaches are considered. Although modular models differ significantly in many aspects, all converge to the notion that memory for single items and semantic memory could be dissociated from memory for complex material and context-rich episodes. In addition, these models converge concerning the involvement of critical brain structures for these stages: Item and semantic memory, as well as familiarity, are thought to largely depend on anterior subhippocampal areas, while relational, context-rich memory and recollective experiences are thought to largely depend on the hippocampal formation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Exploring the characteristics, global distribution and reasons for retraction of published articles involving human research participants: a literature survey.

PubMed

Li, Guowei; Kamel, Mariam; Jin, Yanling; Xu, Michael Kuan; Mbuagbaw, Lawrence; Samaan, Zainab; Levine, Mitchell Ah; Thabane, Lehana

2018-01-01

Article retraction is a measure taken by journals or authors where there is evidence of research misconduct or error, redundancy, plagiarism or unethical research. Recently, the retraction of scientific publications has been on the rise. In this survey, we aimed to describe the characteristics and distribution of retracted articles and the reasons for retractions. We searched retracted articles on the PubMed database and Retraction Watch website from 1980 to February 2016. The primary outcomes were the characteristics and distribution of retracted articles and the reasons for retractions. The secondary outcomes included how article retractions were handled by journals and how to improve the journal practices toward article retractions. We included 1,339 retracted articles. Most retracted articles had six authors or fewer. Article retraction was most common in the USA (26%), Japan (11%) and Germany (10%). The main reasons for article retraction were misconduct (51%, n = 685) and error (14%, n = 193). There were 66% (n = 889) of retracted articles having male senior or corresponding authors. Of the articles retracted after August 2010, 63% (n = 567) retractions were reported on Retraction Watch. Large discrepancies were observed in the ways that different journals handled article retractions. For instance, articles were completely withdrawn from some journals, while in others, articles were still available with no indication of retraction. Likewise, some retraction notices included a detailed account of the events that led to article retraction, while others only consisted of a statement indicating the article retraction. The characteristics, geographic distribution and reasons for retraction of published articles involving human research participants were examined in this survey. More efforts are needed to improve the consistency and transparency of journal practices toward article retractions.

Exploring the characteristics, global distribution and reasons for retraction of published articles involving human research participants: a literature survey

PubMed Central

Li, Guowei; Kamel, Mariam; Jin, Yanling; Xu, Michael Kuan; Mbuagbaw, Lawrence; Samaan, Zainab; Levine, Mitchell AH; Thabane, Lehana

2018-01-01

Aim Article retraction is a measure taken by journals or authors where there is evidence of research misconduct or error, redundancy, plagiarism or unethical research. Recently, the retraction of scientific publications has been on the rise. In this survey, we aimed to describe the characteristics and distribution of retracted articles and the reasons for retractions. Methods We searched retracted articles on the PubMed database and Retraction Watch website from 1980 to February 2016. The primary outcomes were the characteristics and distribution of retracted articles and the reasons for retractions. The secondary outcomes included how article retractions were handled by journals and how to improve the journal practices toward article retractions. Results We included 1,339 retracted articles. Most retracted articles had six authors or fewer. Article retraction was most common in the USA (26%), Japan (11%) and Germany (10%). The main reasons for article retraction were misconduct (51%, n = 685) and error (14%, n = 193). There were 66% (n = 889) of retracted articles having male senior or corresponding authors. Of the articles retracted after August 2010, 63% (n = 567) retractions were reported on Retraction Watch. Large discrepancies were observed in the ways that different journals handled article retractions. For instance, articles were completely withdrawn from some journals, while in others, articles were still available with no indication of retraction. Likewise, some retraction notices included a detailed account of the events that led to article retraction, while others only consisted of a statement indicating the article retraction. Conclusion The characteristics, geographic distribution and reasons for retraction of published articles involving human research participants were examined in this survey. More efforts are needed to improve the consistency and transparency of journal practices toward article retractions. PMID:29403283

Research and demonstration results for a new "Double-Solution" technology for municipal solid waste treatment.

PubMed

Erping, Li; Haoyun, Chen; Yanyang, Shang; Jun, Pan; Qing, Hu

2017-11-01

In this paper, the pyrolysis characteristics of six typical components in municipal solid waste (MSW) were investigated through a TG-FTIR combined technique and it was concluded that the main pyrolysis process of the biomass components (including food residues, sawdust and paper) occurred at 150-600°C. The main volatiles were multi-component gas including H 2 O, CO 2 , and CO. The main pyrolysis temperatures of three artificial products (PP, PVC and leather) was ranged from 200to 500°C. The wavelength of small molecule gases (CH 4 , CO 2 and CO) and the the chemical bonds (CO and CC) were observed in the infrared spectrum Based on the pyrolysis temperature interval and volatile constituent, a new "double-solution" process of pyrolysis and oxygen-enrichment decomposition MSW was designed. To achieve this process, a double-solution project was built for the direct treatment of MSW (10t/d). The complete setup of equipment and analysis of the byproducts has been reported in this paper to indicate the performance of this process. Energy balance and economic benefits were analysed for the process supporting. It was successfully demonstrated that the double-solution process was the environmentally friendly alternative method for MSW treatment in Chinese rural areas. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bankfull characteristics of Ohio streams and their relation to peak streamflows

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sherwood, James M.; Huitger, Carrie A.

2005-01-01

Regional curves, simple-regression equations, and multiple-regression equations were developed to estimate bankfull width, bankfull mean depth, bankfull cross-sectional area, and bankfull discharge of rural, unregulated streams in Ohio. The methods are based on geomorphic, basin, and flood-frequency data collected at 50 study sites on unregulated natural alluvial streams in Ohio, of which 40 sites are near streamflow-gaging stations. The regional curves and simple-regression equations relate the bankfull characteristics to drainage area. The multiple-regression equations relate the bankfull characteristics to drainage area, main-channel slope, main-channel elevation index, median bed-material particle size, bankfull cross-sectional area, and local-channel slope. Average standard errors of prediction for bankfull width equations range from 20.6 to 24.8 percent; for bankfull mean depth, 18.8 to 20.6 percent; for bankfull cross-sectional area, 25.4 to 30.6 percent; and for bankfull discharge, 27.0 to 78.7 percent. The simple-regression (drainage-area only) equations have the highest average standard errors of prediction. The multiple-regression equations in which the explanatory variables included drainage area, main-channel slope, main-channel elevation index, median bed-material particle size, bankfull cross-sectional area, and local-channel slope have the lowest average standard errors of prediction. Field surveys were done at each of the 50 study sites to collect the geomorphic data. Bankfull indicators were identified and evaluated, cross-section and longitudinal profiles were surveyed, and bed- and bank-material were sampled. Field data were analyzed to determine various geomorphic characteristics such as bankfull width, bankfull mean depth, bankfull cross-sectional area, bankfull discharge, streambed slope, and bed- and bank-material particle-size distribution. The various geomorphic characteristics were analyzed by means of a combination of graphical and statistical techniques. The logarithms of the annual peak discharges for the 40 gaged study sites were fit by a Pearson Type III frequency distribution to develop flood-peak discharges associated with recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. The peak-frequency data were related to geomorphic, basin, and climatic variables by multiple-regression analysis. Simple-regression equations were developed to estimate 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year flood-peak discharges of rural, unregulated streams in Ohio from bankfull channel cross-sectional area. The average standard errors of prediction are 31.6, 32.6, 35.9, 41.5, 46.2, and 51.2 percent, respectively. The study and methods developed are intended to improve understanding of the relations between geomorphic, basin, and flood characteristics of streams in Ohio and to aid in the design of hydraulic structures, such as culverts and bridges, where stability of the stream and structure is an important element of the design criteria. The study was done in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

The Effect of Work Characteristics on Dermatologic Symptoms in Hairdressers

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Objectives Hairdressers in Korea perform various tasks and are exposed to health risk factors such as chemical substances or prolonged duration of wet work. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive statistics on the demographics and work characteristics of hairdressers in Korea and to identify work-related risk factors for dermatologic symptoms in hairdressers. Methods 1,054 hairdressers were selected and analyzed for this study. Independent variables were exposure to chemical substances, the training status of the hairdressers, and the main tasks required of them, and the dependent variable was the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. The relationships between work characteristics and dermatologic symptoms were evaluated by estimating odds ratios using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 1,054 study subjects, 212 hairdressers (20.1%) complained of dermatologic symptoms, and the symptoms were more prevalent in younger, unmarried or highly educated hairdressers. The main tasks that comprise the majority of the wet work were strictly determined by training status, since 96.5% of staff hairdressers identified washing as their main task, while only 1.5% and 2.0% of master and designer hairdressers, respectively, identified this as their main task. Multiple logistic regressions was performed to estimate odds ratios. While exposure to hairdressing chemicals showed no significant effect on the odds ratio for the incidence of dermatologic symptoms, higher odds ratios of dermatologic symptoms were shown in staff hairdressers (2.70, 95% CI: 1.32 - 5.51) and in hairdressers who perform washing as their main task (2.03, 95% CI: 1.22 - 3.37), after adjusting for general and work characteristics. Conclusions This study showed that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are closely related to each other and that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are related to the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. This suggests that in the future, regulations on working conditions and health management guidelines for hairdressers should be established. PMID:25028609

Equity and practice issues in colorectal cancer screening

PubMed Central

Buchman, Sandy; Rozmovits, Linda; Glazier, Richard H.

2016-01-01

Abstract Objective To investigate overall colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, patterns in the use of types of CRC screening, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with CRC screening; and to gain insight into physicians’ perceptions about and use of fecal occult blood testing [FOBT] and colonoscopy for patients at average risk of CRC. Design Mixed-methods study using cross-sectional administrative data on patient sociodemographic characteristics and semistructured telephone interviews with physicians. Setting Toronto, Ont. Participants Patients aged 50 to 74 years and physicians in family health teams in the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network. Main outcome measures Rates of CRC screening by type; sociodemographic characteristics associated with CRC screening; thematic analysis using constant comparative method for semistructured interviews. Main findings Ontario administrative data on CRC screening showed lower overall screening rates among those who were younger, male patients, those who had lower income, and recent immigrants. Colonoscopy rates were especially low among those with lower income and those who were recent immigrants. Semistructured interviews revealed that physician opinions about CRC screening for average-risk patients were divided: one group of physicians accepted the evidence and recommendations for FOBT and the other group of physicians strongly supported colonoscopy for these patients, believing that the FOBT was an inferior screening method. Physicians identified specialist recommendations and patient expectations as factors that influenced their decisions regarding CRC screening type. Conclusion There was considerable variation in CRC screening by sociodemographic characteristics. A key theme that emerged from the interviews was that physicians were divided in their preference for FOBT or colonoscopy; factors that influenced physician preference included the health care system, recommendations by other specialists, and patient characteristics. Providing an informed choice of screening method to patients might result in higher screening rates and fewer disparities. Changes in policy and physician attitudes might be needed in order for this to occur. PMID:27618142

Characteristics and experience of the patient in psychotherapy and the psychotherapy's effectiveness. A structural approach.

PubMed

Szymańska, Agnieszka; Dobrenko, Kamila; Grzesiuk, Lidia

2017-08-29

The study concerns the relationship between three groups of variables presenting the patient's perspective: (1) "patient's characteristics" before psychotherapy, including "expectations of the therapy"; (2) "experience in the therapy", including the "psychotherapeutic relationship"; and (3) "assessment of the direct effectiveness of the psychotherapy". Data from the literature are the basis for predicting relationships between all of these variables. Measurement of the variables was conducted using a follow-up survey. The survey was sent to a total of 1,210 former patients of the Academic Center for Psychotherapy (AOP) in which the therapy is conducted mainly with the students and employees of the University of Warsaw. Responses were received from 276 people. 55% of the respondents were women and 45% were men, under 30 years of age. The analyses were performed using structural equations. Two models emerged from an analysis of the relationship between the three above-mentioned groups of variables. One concerns the relationship between (1) the patient's characteristics (2) the course of psychotherapy, in which -from the perspective of the patient - there is a good relationship with the psychotherapist and (3) psychotherapy is effective. The second model refers to (2) the patient's experience of poor psychotherapeutic relationship and (3) ineffective psychotherapy. Patient's expectations of the psychotherapy (especially "the expectation of support") proved to be important moderating variablesin the models-among the characteristics of the patient. The mathematical model also revealed strong correlation of variables measuring "the relationship with the psychotherapist" and "therapeutic interventions".

Discharge characteristics of embankment-shaped weirs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kindsvater, Carl E.

1964-01-01

An embankment-shaped weir is an embankment overtopped by flood waters. Among the engineering problems frequently resulting from. this occurrence is the need to compute the peak discharge from postflood yield observations. The research described in this. report was concerned with the theoretical and experimental bases for the computation procedure. The research had two main objectives. One was to determine the relationship between embankment form and roughness and some of the more important discharge characteristics. The second was to define, theoretically and experimentally, the relationship between free-flow discharge and the boundary layer on the roadway. The first objective was accomplished with the experimental determination of coefficients of discharge and other significant flow characteristics for a variety of boundary and flow conditions. The second objective was accomplished with the development and experimental verification of a discharge equation which involved the boundary layer displacement thickness. This phase of the research included a general investigation of boundary layer growth on the roadway. It is included that both free- and submerged-flow discharge are virtually independent of the influence of embankment shape and relative height. The influence of boundary resistance is appreciable only for smaller heads. The most practical solution for discharge is one which is based on. the simple weir equation and experimentally determined coefficients. A completely analytical equation of discharge is impractical. The report contains the results of 936 experiments on the discharge characteristics of 17 different models; plus 106 boundary-layer velocity traverses on 4 different models. The data are summarized in both graphical and tabular form.

[Acoustic characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia].

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Wang, Li-Ping

2008-06-01

To explore the acoustic characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia. The acoustic characteristics, including acoustic signal of recorded voice, three-dimensional sonogram patterns and subjective assessment of voice, between 10 patients (7 women, 3 men) with adductor spasmodic dysphonia and 10 healthy volunteers (5 women, 5 men), were compared. The main clinical manifestation of adductor spasmodic dysphonia included the disorders of sound quality, rhyme and fluency. It demonstrated the tension dysphonia when reading, acoustic jitter, momentary fluctuation of frequency and volume, voice squeezing, interruption, voice prolongation, and losing normal chime. Among 10 patients, there were 1 mild dysphonia (abnormal syllable number < 25%), 6 moderate dysphonia (abnormal syllable number 25%-49%), 1 severe dysphonia (abnormal syllable number 50%-74%) and 2 extremely severe dysphonia (abnormal syllable number > or = 75%). The average reading time in 10 patients was 49 s, with reading time extension and aphasia area interruption in acoustic signals, whereas the average reading time in health control group was 30 s, without voice interruption. The aphasia ratio averaged 42%. The respective symptom syllable in different patients demonstrated in the three-dimensional sonogram. There were voice onset time prolongation, irregular, interrupted and even absent vowel formants. The consonant of symptom syllables displayed absence or prolongation of friction murmur in the block-friction murmur occasionally. The acoustic characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia is the disorders of sound quality, rhyme and fluency. The three-dimensional sonogram of the symptom syllables show distinctive changes of proportional vowels or consonant phonemes.

Satellite Data for Geomagnetic Field Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langel, R. A.; Baldwin, R. T.

1992-01-01

Satellite measurements of the geomagnetic fields began with the launch of Sputnik 3 in May of 1958 and have continued sporadically. Spacecraft making significant contributions to main field geomagnetism will be reviewed and the characteristics of their data discussed, including coverage, accuracy, resolution and data availability. Of particular interest are Vanguard 3; Cosmos 49, Ogo's -2, -4, and -6; Magsat; DE-2; and POGS. Spacecraft make measurements on a moving platfrom above the ionosphere as opposed to measurements from fixed observatories and surveys, both below the ionosphere. Possible future missions, such as Aristoteles and GOS are reviewed.

Almaz

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viter, V.

1993-01-01

The basic data of the automatic space station ALMAZ-1B is overviewed, including the orbit parameters and maximum power. The principal technical characteristics of its remote sensing equipment is listed for the synthetic aperture and side-looking radar, optoelectronic equipment for stereophotography, high-resolution electronic scanner, middle-resolution optomechanical scanner, spectroradiometer for ocean satellite monitoring, and information transmission and reception. The main objectives and uses of the ALMAZ-1B information are cartography, land monitoring, geology, ecological monitoring, oceanology, pilotage, fishery, and information supply during an emergency such as controlling situation in natural disasters.

PubMed Central

Lang, Jean-Yves

1983-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue, affecting many organs of the body. The cause of SLE remains unknown, but the results of recent immunologic research have enlighted the characteristics of this disease and have contributed to improve the prognosis over the years. The renal and central nervous system involvement, as well as infection, remain high in the list of mortality causes. The usual treatment includes acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), antimalarials and corticosteroids. Main factors known to induce SLE are: sun exposures, pregnancy, therapeutic abortion, infection and several drugs. PMID:21283476

The construction of bilingual teaching of optoelectronic technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yang; Zhao, Enming; Yang, Fan; Li, Qingbo; Zhu, Zheng; Li, Cheng; Sun, Peng

2017-08-01

This paper combines the characteristics of optoelectronic technology with that of bilingual teaching. The course pays attention to integrating theory with practice, and cultivating learners' ability. Reform and exploration have been done in the fields of teaching materials, teaching content, teaching methods, etc. The concrete content mainly includes five parts: selecting teaching materials, establishing teaching syllabus, choosing suitable teaching method, making multimedia courseware and improving the test system, which can arouse students' interest in their study and their autonomous learning ability to provide beneficial references for improving the quality of talents of optoelectronic bilingual courses.

[Classification and organization technologies in public health].

PubMed

Filatov, V B; Zhiliaeva, E P; Kal'fa, Iu I

2000-01-01

The authors discuss the impact and main characteristics of organization technologies in public health and the processes of their development and evaluation. They offer an original definition of the notion "organization technologies" with approaches to their classification. A system of logical bases is offered, which can be used for classification. These bases include the level of organization maturity and stage of development of organization technology, its destination to a certain level of management, type of influence and concentration of trend, mechanism of effect, functional group, and methods of development.

Upgrade of ROV Super GNOME Pro for Underwater Monitoring in the Caspian Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozman, B. Ya.; Elkin, A. V.; Kaptsov, A. S.; Ermakov, I. D.; Ermakov, D. I.; Krasnov, V. G.; Kondrashov, L. S.

2018-01-01

A description and characteristics of the small-size remotely operated underwater vehicle Super GNOME pro are given. The main technical innovations and upgrades of the vehicle are considered along with the reasons and aims of these improvements. The innovations were evaluated during expedition work in northern Caspian Sea in 2016, which demonstrated good results. Further upgrades include installation of a sediment-penetrating thermometer for measuring the thermal background of benthonic soil and an underwater dosimeter/radiometer for assessing the radiation background of water areas.

Modeling and Simulation of U-tube Steam Generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Mingming; Fu, Zhongguang; Li, Jinyao; Wang, Mingfei

2018-03-01

The U-tube natural circulation steam generator was mainly researched with modeling and simulation in this article. The research is based on simuworks system simulation software platform. By analyzing the structural characteristics and the operating principle of U-tube steam generator, there are 14 control volumes in the model, including primary side, secondary side, down channel and steam plenum, etc. The model depends completely on conservation laws, and it is applied to make some simulation tests. The results show that the model is capable of simulating properly the dynamic response of U-tube steam generator.

Helicopter noise in hover: Computational modelling and experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopiev, V. F.; Zaytsev, M. Yu.; Vorontsov, V. I.; Karabasov, S. A.; Anikin, V. A.

2017-11-01

The aeroacoustic characteristics of a helicopter rotor are calculated by a new method, to assess its applicability in assessing rotor performance in hovering. Direct solution of the Euler equations in a noninertial coordinate system is used to calculate the near-field flow around the spinning rotor. The far-field noise field is calculated by the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) method using permeable control surfaces that include the blade. For a multiblade rotor, the signal obtained is duplicated and shifted in phase for each successive blade. By that means, the spectral characteristics of the far-field noise may be obtained. To determine the integral aerodynamic characteristics of the rotor, software is written to calculate the thrust and torque characteristics from the near-field flow solution. The results of numerical simulation are compared with experimental acoustic and aerodynamic data for a large-scale model of a helicopter main rotor in an open test facility. Two- and four-blade configurations of the rotor are considered, in different hover conditions. The proposed method satisfactorily predicts the aerodynamic characteristics of the blades in such conditions and gives good estimates for the first harmonics of the noise. That permits the practical use of the proposed method, not only for hovering but also for forward flight.

The accessory parotid gland and facial process of the parotid gland on computed tomography

PubMed Central

Ahn, Dongbin; Yeo, Chang Ki; Han, Soon Yong

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of an anterior extension of the parotid gland, such as an accessory parotid gland (APG) or facial process (FP) and to evaluate its characteristics on computed tomography (CT) scans. We reviewed CT scans of 1,600 parotid glands from 800 patients. An APG on CT was defined as a soft-tissue mass of the same density as the main parotid gland, located at the anterior part of the main parotid gland, and completely separate from the main parotid gland. An FP was defined as a lobe of the parotid gland protruding anteriorly over the anterior edge of the ramus of the mandible on CT and showing continuity with the main gland. The overall incidence rates and characteristics of APGs and FPs were evaluated according to age, sex, and side. The incidence rates of APGs and FPs were 10.2% (163/1,600) and 28.3% (452/1,600), respectively. The mean size of an APG was 15.8 mm × 5.0 mm and the mean distance from the main parotid gland was 10.5 mm. The FP reached anteriorly between the anterior edge of the mandibular ramus and the anterior border of the masseter muscle in 405 (89.6%) cases, while it extended over the anterior border of the masseter muscle in 47 (10.4%) cases. The incidence rates of APGs and FPs decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing age, showing significant linear correlations. However, the incidence of an anterior extension of the parotid gland (either an APG or an FP) was similar across all age groups. The present study showed that CT might be helpful in identifying anterior extensions of the parotid gland including APGs and FPs. The anatomical information gained from this study contributes to a better understanding of APGs and FPs and how their incidence changes with age. PMID:28915265

An historical account of the first year of operation of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patterson, James Charles

The purpose of this study was to describe the first school year of operation for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. Specific areas included in the study were: student residential life and support services, curriculum design, faculty characteristics, administrative structure and guidelines and a formative evaluation design. A comparison was made to a synthesis of characteristics derived from the literature review on the ten public, statewide, residential schools who are members of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. The Maine School of Science and Mathematics is a statewide public, residential, charter high school designed for highly motivated and high achieving students from across the state. The enabling legislation that created the school was passed in 1994 with a projected start-up in the Fall of 1995. A new independent governor took office in January, 1995 and announced that the appropriation to educate the first students would be delayed until a later date due to an ongoing economic recession. A staff of three full-time MSSM employees worked with the Maine Legislature and a initial start-up appropriation was finally enacted on June 30, 1995 just sixty days from the projected opening date of this new, public, school of choice. During July and August 1995, a teaching faculty, residential life supervisors and a support staff had to be hired and trained. Major policy and program decisions had to be made regarding curriculum, students life/discipline, program evaluation, student transportation, recreation programs, textbook selection, equipment and supply purchases. Students selected to be in the entering class had to make their final decisions to attend this unknown and controversial new charter high school. Finally, as the Maine School of Science and Mathematics was to share the former Limestone High School with the Limestone School Department, space and cost allocations had to be negotiated.

A Single Test Combining Blood Markers and Elastography is More Accurate Than Other Fibrosis Tests in the Main Causes of Chronic Liver Diseases.

PubMed

Ducancelle, Alexandra; Leroy, Vincent; Vergniol, Julien; Sturm, Nathalie; Le Bail, Brigitte; Zarski, Jean Pierre; Nguyen Khac, Eric; Salmon, Dominique; de Ledinghen, Victor; Calès, Paul

2017-08-01

International guidelines suggest combining a blood test and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) to stage liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, we compared the accuracies of these tests between the main etiologies of chronic liver diseases. Overall, 1968 patients were included in 5 etiologies: CHC: 698, chronic hepatitis B: 152, human immunodeficiency virus/CHC: 628, NAFLD: 225, and alcoholic liver disease (ALD): 265. Sixteen tests [13 blood tests, LSM (Fibroscan), 2 combined: FibroMeters] were evaluated. References were Metavir staging and CHC etiology. Accuracy was evaluated mainly with the Obuchowski index (OI) and accessorily with area under the receiver operating characteristics (F≥2, F≥3, cirrhosis). OIs in CHC were: FibroMeters: 0.812, FibroMeters: 0.785 to 0.797, Fibrotest: 0.762, CirrhoMeters: 0.756 to 0.771, LSM: 0.754, Hepascore: 0.752, FibroMeter: 0.750, aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index: 0.742, Fib-4: 0.741. In other etiologies, most tests had nonsignificant changes in OIs. In NAFLD, CHC-specific tests were more accurate than NAFLD-specific tests. The combined FibroMeters had significantly higher accuracy than their 2 constitutive tests (FibroMeters and LSM) in at least 1 diagnostic target in all etiologies, except in ALD where LSM had the highest OI, and in 3 diagnostic targets (OIs and 2 area under the receiver operating characteristics) in CHC and NAFLD. Some tests developed in CHC outperformed other tests in their specific etiologies. Tests combining blood markers and LSM outperformed single tests, validating recent guidelines and extending them to main etiologies. Noninvasive fibrosis evaluation can thus be simplified in the main etiologies by using a unique test: either LSM alone, especially in ALD, or preferably combined to blood markers.

Personality Characteristics, Job Stressors, and Job Satisfaction: Main and Interaction Effects on Psychological and Physical Health Conditions of Italian Schoolteachers.

PubMed

Zurlo, Maria Clelia; Pes, Daniela; Capasso, Roberto

2016-08-01

The study proposed an application of the transactional model of stress in teaching elaborated by Travers and Cooper in 1996, and aimed to investigate the influence of personality characteristics (coping strategies, type A behaviors), situational characteristics (sources of pressure), and perceived job satisfaction in the prediction of teachers' psychophysical health conditions. The Italian version of the Teacher Stress Questionnaire was administered to 621 teachers. Logistic regression was used to evaluate significant main and interaction effects of personality characteristics, situational characteristics, and perceived job satisfaction on teachers' self-reported psychophysical health conditions. The findings highlighted specific coping strategies (focused on the problem, on innovation, and on hobbies and pastimes) and dimensions of job satisfaction (related to intrinsic aspects of job and to employee relations) buffering the negative effects of several job stressors. Type A behaviors and coping strategies focused on mobilized social support, suppression of stress, and not confronting the situation had main and interactions with negative effects on psychophysical health. Findings confirmed the necessity to run multi-factor research to analyze the different combinations of individual and situational variables implicated in negative health outcomes and to highlight the most significant buffering or increasing associations. © The Author(s) 2016.

Characteristics of the Japanese Diet Described in Epidemiologic Publications: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

PubMed

Suzuki, Nozomu; Goto, Yoshihito; Ota, Haruka; Kito, Kumiko; Mano, Fumika; Joo, Erina; Ikeda, Kaori; Inagaki, Nobuya; Nakayama, Takeo

2018-01-01

International interest in the Japanese diet has grown in recent years. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and organize the Japanese diet and dietary characteristics from an epidemiological perspective, mainly focusing on the nutritional and dietary elements. PubMed, Web of Science, Japan Medical Abstracts Society, JDream III, and CiNii databases were searched. The eligibility criteria included research with an epidemiological study design that was either cross-sectional, cohort, or case-control-based that defined the dietary patterns of the Japanese diet using dietary pattern analysis. A total of 39 research articles that described the Japanese diet were included. The data that were extracted included the following: implementing country, location, study design, participant characteristics, key outcomes, methods used in the analysis of dietary patterns, and descriptions of the Japanese diet. As a result of the systematic review analyzing the descriptions of the Japanese diet from 39 selected articles, we were able to aggregate the descriptions into 16 categories from 33 factors. After performing a content analysis using a further aggregation of categories, we found that the top three applicable categories were soybeans/soybean-derived products, seafood, and vegetables; these were followed by rice and miso soup. The Japanese dietary content was found to be diverse based on an examination of epidemiological studies; however, we were able to aggregate the content into 16 categories. The Japanese diet is considered to be a dietary pattern that contains a combination of factors: the dietary staple, side dishes, and soup.

Methodological Challenges When Comparing Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of International Observational Registries.

PubMed

Verstappen, Suzanne M M; Askling, Johan; Berglind, Niklas; Franzen, Stefan; Frisell, Thomas; Garwood, Christopher; Greenberg, Jeffrey D; Holmqvist, Marie; Horne, Laura; Lampl, Kathy; Michaud, Kaleb; Nyberg, Fredrik; Pappas, Dimitrios A; Reed, George; Symmons, Deborah P M; Tanaka, Eiichi; Tran, Trung N; Yamanaka, Hisashi; Ho, Meilien

2015-12-01

Comparisons of data from different registries can be helpful in understanding variations in many aspects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study aim was to assess and improve the comparability of demographic, clinical, and comorbidity data from 5 international RA registries. Using predefined definitions, 2 subsets of patients (main cohort and subcohort) from 5 international observational registries (Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America Registry [CORRONA], the Swedish Rheumatology Quality of Care Register [SRR], the Norfolk Arthritis Register [NOAR], the Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort [IORRA], and CORRONA International) were evaluated and compared. Patients ages >18 years with RA, and present in or recruited to the registry from January 1, 2000, were included in the main cohort. Patients from the main cohort with positive rheumatoid factor and/or erosive RA who had received ≥1 synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), and switched to or added another DMARD, were included in the subcohort at time of treatment switch. Age and sex distributions were fairly similar across the registries. The percentage of patients with a high Disease Activity Score in 28 joints score varied between main cohorts (17.5% IORRA, 18.9% CORRONA, 24.7% NOAR, 27.7% CORRONA International, and 36.8% SRR), with IORRA, CORRONA, and CORRONA International including more prevalent cases of RA; the differences were smaller for the subcohort. Prevalence of comorbidities varied across registries (e.g., coronary artery disease ranged from 1.5% in IORRA to 7.9% in SRR), partly due to the way comorbidity data were captured and general cultural differences; the pattern was similar for the subcohorts. Despite different inclusion criteria for the individual RA registries, it is possible to improve the comparability and interpretability of differences across RA registries by applying well-defined cohort definitions. © 2015, American College of Rheumatology.

Impact of SiNx capping on the formation of source/drain contact for In-Ga-Zn-O thin film transistor with self-aligned gate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Himchan; Pi, Jae-Eun; Hwang, Chi-Sun; Kwon, Oh-Sang

2017-12-01

Self-aligned gate structures are preferred for faster operation and scaling down of thin film transistors by reducing the overlapped region between source/drain and gate electrodes. Doping on source/drain regions is essential to fabricate such a self-aligned gate thin film transistor. For oxide semiconductors such as In-Ga-Zn-O, SiNx capping readily increases their carrier concentration. We report that the SiNx deposition temperature and thickness significantly affect the device properties, including threshold voltage, field effect mobility, and contact resistance. The reason for these variations in device characteristics mainly comes from the extension of the doped region to the gated area after the SiNx capping step. Analyses on capacitance-voltage and transfer length characteristics support this idea.

[Selection criteria of mobile lifters in the hospital setting].

PubMed

Ferriero, G; Ottonello, M; Franchignoni, F

2002-01-01

The manual handling of patients with limited mobility represents the major cause of musculoskeletal injury to the spine in paramedical health care workers. Within the hospital, the more complex procedures of patient transfer often require the use of mobile hoists. The aim of this paper is to describe the basic criteria for the selection of such hoists. The main characteristics of a hoist are its stability, the sling attachment, the speed of operation, range of movement of the spreader bar, safety of the operation being performed, patient comfort, the physical effort required on the part of the health care worker, manoeuvrability and simplicity of use. Important organizational-structural features to evaluate include: the type of patient normally present in the unit concerned, the specific movement to be performed, the structural characteristics of the environment, and the work organization of the personnel.

Systems and methods of varying charged particle beam spot size

DOEpatents

Chen, Yu-Jiuan

2014-09-02

Methods and devices enable shaping of a charged particle beam. A modified dielectric wall accelerator includes a high gradient lens section and a main section. The high gradient lens section can be dynamically adjusted to establish the desired electric fields to minimize undesirable transverse defocusing fields at the entrance to the dielectric wall accelerator. Once a baseline setting with desirable output beam characteristic is established, the output beam can be dynamically modified to vary the output beam characteristics. The output beam can be modified by slightly adjusting the electric fields established across different sections of the modified dielectric wall accelerator. Additional control over the shape of the output beam can be excreted by introducing intentional timing de-synchronization offsets and producing an injected beam that is not fully matched to the entrance of the modified dielectric accelerator.

Charge delocalization characteristics of regioregular high mobility polymers

DOE PAGES

Coughlin, J. E.; Zhugayevych, A.; Wang, M.; ...

2017-01-01

Controlling the regioregularity among the structural units of narrow bandgap conjugated polymer backbones has led to improvements in optoelectronic properties, for example in the mobilities observed in field effect transistor devices. To investigate how the regioregularity affects quantities relevant to hole transport, regioregular and regiorandom oligomers representative of polymeric structures were studied using density functional theory. Several structural and electronic characteristics of the oligomers were compared, including chain planarity, cation spin density, excess charges on molecular units and internal reorganizational energy. The main difference between the regioregular and regiorandom oligomers is found to be the conjugated backbone planarity, while themore » reorganizational energies calculated are quite similar across the molecular family. Lastly, this work constitutes the first step on understanding the complex interplay of atomistic changes and an oligomer backbone structure toward modeling the charge transport properties.« less

[Socio-demographic characteristics, subjective well-being, and homophobia experienced by a sample of gay men from three cities in Chile].

PubMed

Barrientos-Delgado, Jaime; Cárdenas-Castro, Manuel; Gómez-Ojeda, Fabiola

2014-06-01

This article describes the socio-demographic characteristics of a sample of gay men in three cities in Chile, as well as experience with homophobia and subjective well-being. Snowball sampling was used to interview 325 gay men. The main findings included high levels of perceived discrimination and victimization, but interviewees reported higher levels of social well-being compared to studies elsewhere in the country. Age was related to differences in levels of social well-being, but not other variables. Individuals with university education reported higher levels of victimization and greater impact of discrimination on their lives. Gay men in Santiago reported a higher relative impact from incidents of aggression, but better levels of social well-being and happiness compared to those in other regions of Chile.

Seismogeodynamics of lineament structures in the mountainous regions bordering the Scythian-Turan plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulomov, V. I.; Danilova, T. I.; Medvedeva, N. S.; Polyakova, T. P.

2006-07-01

The Scythian-Turan platform, together with the Alpine Iran-Caucasus-Anatolia and Hercynian Central Tien Shan orogenic structures adjacent to it, represents a coherent seismogeodynamic system responsible for regional seismicity features in the territory under consideration. Investigations of the spatiotemporal and energy evolution of seismogeodynamic processes along the main lineament structures of the orogen reveal characteristic features directly related to the prediction of seismic hazard in this region, as well as in southern European Russia. These characteristics primarily include kinematic features in the sequences of seismic events of various magnitudes and an ordered migration of seismic activation, enabling the more or less reliable determination of the occurrence time intervals (years) and areas of forthcoming large earthquakes (magnitudes of 7.0 ± 0.2, 7.5 ± 0.2, and 8.0 ± 0.2).

[Identifying dry-weather flow and pollution load sources of separate storm sewer systems with different degrees of illicit discharge].

PubMed

Meng, Ying-ying; Feng, Cang; Li, Tian; Wang, Ling

2009-12-01

Dry-weather flow quantity and quality of three representative separate storm sewer systems in Shanghai-H, G, N were studied. Based on survey of operating status of the pumping stations as well as characteristics of the drainage systems, it was obtained that the interception sewage volumes per unit area in the three systems were 3610 m3/(km2 x d), 1550 m3/(km2 x d), 2970 m3/(km2 x d) respectively; the sanitary wastewater included accounted for 25%, 85% and 71% respectively; the interception volume of H was mainly composed of infiltrated underground water, so the dry-weather flow pollution was slighter, and the interception volumes of G, N were both mainly composed of sanitary wastewater, so the dry-weather which were flow pollution was relatively serious. The water characteristics of potential illicit discharge sources of dry-weather which were flow-grey water, black water and underground water were preliminarily explored, so that treating three parameters-LAS/ NH4+ -N, NH4+ -N/K, Mg/K as tracer parameters of grey water, black water and underground water was put forward. Moreover, the water characteristics of grey water and sanitary wastewater including black water were summarized: the feature of grey water was LAS/NH4+ -N > 0.2, NH4+ -N/K <1, and sanitary wastewater was LAS/NH4+ -N < 0.2, NH4+ -N/K >1. Based on the above, the applications of flow chart method and CMBM method in dry-weather flow detection of monitored storm systems were preliminarily discussed, and the results were basically same as that obtained in flow quantity and quality comprehensive analysis. The research results and methods can provide guidance for analysis and diagnosis of dry-weather flow sources and subsequent reconstruction projects in similar separate storm sewer systems at home.

Dan Goldin Presentation: Pathway to the Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

In the "Path to the Future" presentation held at NASA's Langley Center on March 31, 1999, NASA's Administrator Daniel S. Goldin outlined the future direction and strategies of NASA in relation to the general space exploration enterprise. NASA's Vision, Future System Characteristics, Evolutions of Engineering, and Revolutionary Changes are the four main topics of the presentation. In part one, the Administrator talks in detail about NASA's vision in relation to the NASA Strategic Activities that are Space Science, Earth Science, Human Exploration, and Aeronautics & Space Transportation. Topics discussed in this section include: space science for the 21st century, flying in mars atmosphere (mars plane), exploring new worlds, interplanetary internets, earth observation and measurements, distributed information-system-in-the-sky, science enabling understanding and application, space station, microgravity, science and exploration strategies, human mars mission, advance space transportation program, general aviation revitalization, and reusable launch vehicles. In part two, he briefly talks about the future system characteristics. He discusses major system characteristics like resiliencey, self-sufficiency, high distribution, ultra-efficiency, and autonomy and the necessity to overcome any distance, time, and extreme environment barriers. Part three of Mr. Goldin's talk deals with engineering evolution, mainly evolution in the Computer Aided Design (CAD)/Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) systems. These systems include computer aided drafting, computerized solid models, virtual product development (VPD) systems, networked VPD systems, and knowledge enriched networked VPD systems. In part four, the last part, the Administrator talks about the need for revolutionary changes in communication and networking areas of a system. According to the administrator, the four major areas that need cultural changes in the creativity process are human-centered computing, an infrastructure for distributed collaboration, rapid synthesis and simulation tools, and life-cycle integration and validation. Mr. Goldin concludes his presentation with the following maxim "Collaborate, Integrate, Innovate or Stagnate and Evaporate." He also answers some questions after the presentation.

Optimisation of support stiffness at railway crossings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grossoni, Ilaria; Bezin, Yann; Neves, Sergio

2018-07-01

Turnouts are a key element of the railway system. They are also the part of the system with the highest number of degradation modes and associated failures. There are a number of reasons for this, including high dynamic loads resulting from non-uniform rail geometry and track support stiffness. The main aim of this study is to propose a methodology to optimise the pad stiffness along a crossing panel in order to achieve a decrease in the indicators of the most common failure modes. A three-dimensional vehicle/track interaction model has been established, considering a detailed description of the crossing panel support structure. A genetic algorithm has been applied to two main types of constructions, namely direct and indirect fixing, to find the optimum combinations of resilient pad characteristics for various cases of travelling direction, travelling speed and support conditions.

Direction selective structural-acoustic coupled radiator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Hee-Seon; Kim, Yang-Hann

2005-04-01

This paper presents a method of designing a structural-acoustic coupled radiator that can emit sound in the desired direction. The structural-acoustic coupled system is consisted of acoustic spaces and wall. The wall composes two plates and an opening, and the wall separates one space that is highly reverberant and the other that is unbounded without any reflection. An equation is developed that predicts energy distribution and energy flow in the two spaces separated by the wall, and its computational examples are presented including near field acoustic characteristics. To design the directional coupled radiator, Pareto optimization method is adapted. An objective is selected to maximize radiation power on a main axis and minimize a side lobe level and a subjective is selected direction of the main axis and dimensions of the walls geometry. Pressure and intensity distribution of the designed radiator is also presented.

International transferability of accident modification functions for horizontal curves.

PubMed

Elvik, Rune

2013-10-01

Studies of the relationship between characteristics of horizontal curves and accident rate have been reported in several countries. The characteristic most often studied is the radius of a horizontal curve. Functions describing the relationship between the radius of horizontal curves and accident rate have been developed in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States. Other characteristics of horizontal curves that have been studied include deflection angle, curve length, the presence of transition curves, super-elevation in curves and distance to adjacent curves. This paper assesses the international transferability of mathematical functions (accident modification functions) that have been developed to relate the radius of horizontal curves to their accident rate. The main research problem is whether these functions are similar, which enhances international transferability, or dissimilar, which reduces international transferability. Accident modification functions for horizontal curve radius developed in the countries listed above are synthesised. The sensitivity of the functions to other characteristics of curves than radius is examined. Accident modification functions developed in different countries have important similarities. The functions diverge with respect to accident rate in the sharpest curves. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Snap-lock bags with red band: A study of manufacturing characteristics, thermal and chemical properties.

PubMed

Sim, Yvonne Hui Ying; Koh, Alaric C W; Lim, Shing Min; Yew, Sok Yee

2015-10-01

Drug packaging is commonly submitted to the Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory of the Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, for examination. The drugs seized are often packaged in plastic bags. These bags are examined for linkages to provide law enforcement with useful associations between the traffickers and drug abusers. The plastic bags submitted may include snap-lock bags, some with a red band located above the snap-lock closure and some without. Current techniques for examination involve looking at the physical characteristics (dimensions, thickness and polarising patterns) and manufacturing marks of these bags. In cases where manufacturing marks on the main body of the bags are poor or absent, the manufacturing characteristics present on the red band can be examined. A study involving approximately 1000 bags was conducted to better understand the variations in the manufacturing characteristics of the red band. This understanding is crucial in helping to determine associations/eliminations between bags. Two instrumental techniques, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were explored to evaluate the effectiveness of examining the chemical composition to discriminate the bags. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immunological characteristics and response to lipopolysaccharide of mouse lines selectively bred with natural and acquired immunities.

PubMed

Narahara, Hiroki; Sakai, Eri; Katayama, Masafumi; Ohtomo, Yukiko; Yamamoto, Kanako; Takemoto, Miki; Aso, Hisashi; Ohwada, Shyuichi; Mohri, Yasuaki; Nishimori, Katsuhiko; Isogai, Emiko; Yamaguchi, Takahiro; Fukuda, Tomokazu

2012-05-01

Genetic improvement of resistance to infectious diseases is a challenging goal in animal breeding. Infection resistance involves multiple immunological characteristics, including natural and acquired immunity. In the present study, we developed an experimental model based on genetic selection, to improve immunological phenotypes. We selectively established three mouse lines based on phagocytic activity, antibody production and the combination of these two phenotypes. We analyzed the immunological characteristics of these lines using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is one of the main components of Gram-negative bacteria. An intense immunological reaction was induced in each of the three mouse lines. Severe loss of body weight and liver damage were observed, and a high level of cytokine messenger RNA was detected in the liver tissue. The mouse line established using a combination of the two selection standards showed unique characteristics relative to the mouse lines selected on the basis of a single phenotype. Our results indicate that genetic selection and breeding is effective, even for immunological phenotypes with a relatively low heritability. Thus, it may be possible to improve resistance to infectious diseases by means of genetic selection. © 2011 The Authors. Animal Science Journal © 2011 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Research on the laser transmission characteristics simulation and comprehensive test in complex channel environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Qiang; Liu, Jianhua; Wang, Xiaoman; Jiang, Huilin; Liu, Zhi

2014-12-01

The laser transmission characteristics affected in the complex channel environment, which limits the performance of laser equipment and engineering application severely. The article aim at the influence of laser transmission in atmospheric and seawater channels, summarizes the foreign researching work of the simulation and comprehensive test regarding to the laser transmission characteristics in complex environment. And researched the theory of atmospheric turbulence effect, water attenuation features, and put forward the corresponding theoretical model. And researched the simulate technology of atmospheric channel and sea water channel, put forward the analog device plan, adopt the similar theory of flowing to simulate the atmosphere turbulence .When the flowing has the same condition of geometric limits including the same Reynolds, they must be similar to each other in the motivation despite of the difference in the size, speed, and intrinsic quality. On this basis, set up a device for complex channel simulation and comprehensive testing, the overall design of the structure of the device, Hot and Cold Air Convection Simulation of Atmospheric Turbulence, mainly consists of cell body, heating systems, cooling systems, automatic control system. he simulator provides platform and method for the basic research of laser transmission characteristics in the domestic.

Examining the Relationship between Learning Organization Characteristics and Change Adaptation, Innovation, and Organizational Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kontoghiorghes, Constantine; Awbre, Susan M.; Feurig, Pamela L.

2005-01-01

The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between certain learning organization characteristics and change adaptation, innovation, and bottom-line organizational performance. The following learning organization characteristics were found to be the strongest predictors of rapid change adaptation, quick product or…

Survey of Maine Citizens Who Have Not Attained a College Degree. Report Prepared for the Maine Community College System (MCCS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maine Community College System, 2006

2006-01-01

In March 2006, the Maine Community College System (MCCS) commissioned the marketing research and consulting firm Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) to conduct a quantitative research study to investigate the reasons why some Maine citizens have not pursued a college degree and identify the characteristics of an educational environment that would…

Health Professionals Facing Burnout: What Do We Know about Nursing Managers?

PubMed

Heeb, Jean-Luc; Haberey-Knuessi, Véronique

2014-01-01

Objective. To address the degree of burnout in nursing managers in hospitals of Western Switzerland, including comparison with medical managers, and its relationship with personal, work-related, and organizational characteristics. Methods. Statistical analysis of the scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey from 257 nursing managers who answered a standardized electronic questionnaire. Results. Nursing managers showed a low degree of burnout, which was similar to that of medical managers. Most of them had a low level of emotional exhaustion and a low level of depersonalization, while personal accomplishment was contrasted. Only 2.3% had a high degree of burnout. These findings challenge the hypothesis of high stress being associated with high burnout, as nursing managers can be supposed to have a highly demanding job due to their intermediary position within the hospital hierarchy. Variations of burnout by personal, work-related, and organizational characteristics mainly concerned emotional exhaustion. Conclusion. Though nursing managers face a highly demanding job, they may benefit from resources (including coping strategies and empowerment) which help counterbalance job stress. Unequal distribution of resources may play a central role when facing burnout.

Health Professionals Facing Burnout: What Do We Know about Nursing Managers?

PubMed Central

Haberey-Knuessi, Véronique

2014-01-01

Objective. To address the degree of burnout in nursing managers in hospitals of Western Switzerland, including comparison with medical managers, and its relationship with personal, work-related, and organizational characteristics. Methods. Statistical analysis of the scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey from 257 nursing managers who answered a standardized electronic questionnaire. Results. Nursing managers showed a low degree of burnout, which was similar to that of medical managers. Most of them had a low level of emotional exhaustion and a low level of depersonalization, while personal accomplishment was contrasted. Only 2.3% had a high degree of burnout. These findings challenge the hypothesis of high stress being associated with high burnout, as nursing managers can be supposed to have a highly demanding job due to their intermediary position within the hospital hierarchy. Variations of burnout by personal, work-related, and organizational characteristics mainly concerned emotional exhaustion. Conclusion. Though nursing managers face a highly demanding job, they may benefit from resources (including coping strategies and empowerment) which help counterbalance job stress. Unequal distribution of resources may play a central role when facing burnout. PMID:24804090

Improving Health Care Management in Primary Care for Homeless People: A Literature Review.

PubMed

Jego, Maeva; Abcaya, Julien; Ștefan, Diana-Elena; Calvet-Montredon, Céline; Gentile, Stéphanie

2018-02-10

Homeless people have poorer health status than the general population. They need complex care management, because of associated medical troubles (somatic and psychiatric) and social difficulties. We aimed to describe the main characteristics of the primary care programs that take care of homeless people, and to identify which could be most relevant. We performed a literature review that included articles which described and evaluated primary care programs for homeless people. Most of the programs presented a team-based approach, multidisciplinary and/or integrated care. They often proposed co-located services between somatic health services, mental health services and social support services. They also tried to answer to the specific needs of homeless people. Some characteristics of these programs were associated with significant positive outcomes: tailored primary care organizations, clinic orientation, multidisciplinary team-based models which included primary care physicians and clinic nurses, integration of social support, and engagement in the community's health. Primary health care programs that aimed at taking care of the homeless people should emphasize a multidisciplinary approach and should consider an integrated (mental, somatic and social) care model.

Quality of life in breast cancer sufferers.

PubMed

Shouman, Ahmed Essmat; Abou El Ezz, Nahla Fawzy; Gado, Nivine; Ibrahim Goda, Amal Mahmoud

2016-08-08

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to measure health-related quality of life (QOL) among patients with early stage cancer breast under curative treatment at department of oncology and nuclear medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals. Identify factors affecting QOL among these patients. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-sectional study measured QOL among early stage female breast cancer (BC) patients and determined the main factors affecting their QOL. Three interviewer administered questionnaires were used. Findings - The physical domain mostly affected in BC patients and the functional domain least. Socio-demographic factors that significantly affected BC patients QOL scores were patient age, education, having children and family income. Specific patient characteristics include caregiver presence - a factor that affected different QOL scores. Age at diagnosis, affection in the side of the predominant hand, post-operative chemotherapy and difficulty in obtaining the medication were the disease-related factors that affected QOL scores. Originality/value - The final model predicting QOL for early stage female BC patients included age, education and difficulty in obtaining the medication as determinants for total QOL score. Carer presence was the specific patient characteristic that affected different QOL scores.

An electronic atlas on the oceanography of the South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rostov, I. D.; Moroz, V. V.; Rudykh, N. I.; Rostov, V. I.

2009-12-01

The digital atlas on CD ROM includes a set of generalized data on the South China Sea oceanography. The data is presented in the form of spreadsheets, graphics, and text. The atlas contains a brief annotated description of the main physical-geographical characteristics and the particularities of the hydrological regime, water masses, tidal phenomena, and water mass circulation. The atlas is an interactive information-reference system including elements of dynamic data visualization. It contains a body of data on the long-term observations of the temperature and salinity; gridded blocks of the average annual, seasonal, and monthly data at the standard depth horizons; and data on the hydrochemical characteristics and water currents obtained by automatic buoy stations (ABS). A list of existing open access data bases and web sites is given where additional online and archived information on a range of special issues and problems related to regional studies and exploitation is provided. The system allows for fast access to specifically selected online or generalized reference information (via the Internet) and for its imaging.

[Clinical and histopathological features of myositis associated with anti-mitochondrial antibodies].

PubMed

Shimizu, Jun

2013-01-01

Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are known to be characteristic markers of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The association of PBC with myositis has been reported mainly as case reports, and comprehensive studies of the clinical and histopathological features of patients with myositis and AMAs or PBC have not been conducted thus far. We retrospectively reviewed 212 patients with inflammatory myopathies in our laboratory and found 24 patients with AMA-positive myositis (11%) (seven patients with PBC and 17 patients without PBC). The analysis of clinical and histopathological features revealed that myositis associated with AMAs frequently include patients with a clinically chronic disease course, muscle atrophy, cardiopulmonary involvement and granulomatous inflammation, regardless of the presence or absence of PBC. We also reviewed and analyzed the clinical features of previously reported patients. The analysis of 75 patients, which have been described in previous case reports including the ones of meeting abstracts, also showed the similar results about clinical features of myositis associated with AMAs and supported our findings. Our study suggests that myositis associated with AMAs form a characteristic subgroup.

Mixing Characteristics of Coaxial Injectors at High Gas to Liquid Momentum Ratios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strakey, P. A.; Talley, D. G.; Hutt, J. J.

1999-01-01

A study of the spray of a swirl coaxial gas-liquid injector operating at high gas to liquid momentum ratios is reported. Mixing and droplet size characteristics of the swirl injector are also compared to a shear coaxial injector, currently being used in the Space Shuttle Main Engine fuel preburner. The injectors were tested at elevated chamber pressures using water as a LOX simulant and nitrogen and helium as gaseous hydrogen simulants. The elevated chamber pressure allowed for matching of several of the preburner injector conditions including; gas to liquid momentum ratio, density ratio and Mach number. Diagnostic techniques used to characterize the spray included; strobe back-light imaging, laser sheet spray imaging, mechanical patternation, and a phase Doppler interferometry. Results thus far indicate that the radial spreading of the swirl coaxial spray is much less than was reported in previous studies of swirl injectors operating at atmospheric back-pressure. The swirl coaxial spray does, however, exhibit a smaller overall droplet size which may be interpreted as an increase in local mixing.

The characteristics of a good clinical teacher as perceived by resident physicians in Japan: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Kikukawa, Makoto; Nabeta, Hiromi; Ono, Maiko; Emura, Sei; Oda, Yasutomo; Koizumi, Shunzo; Sakemi, Takanobu

2013-07-25

It is not known whether the characteristics of a good clinical teacher as perceived by resident physicians are the same in Western countries as in non-Western countries including Japan. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of a good clinical teacher as perceived by resident physicians in Japan, a non-Western country, and to compare the results with those obtained in Western countries. Data for this qualitative research were collected using semi-structured focus group interviews. Focus group transcripts were independently analyzed and coded by three authors. Residents were recruited by maximum variation sampling until thematic saturation was achieved. Twenty-three residents participated in five focus group interviews regarding the perceived characteristics of a good clinical teacher in Japan. The 197 descriptions of characteristics that were identified were grouped into 30 themes. The most commonly identified theme was "provided sufficient support", followed by "presented residents with chances to think", "provided feedback", and "provided specific indications of areas needing improvement". Using Sutkin's main categories (teacher, physician, and human characteristics), 24 of the 30 themes were categorized as teacher characteristics, 6 as physician characteristics, and none as human characteristics. "Medical knowledge" of teachers was not identified as a concern of residents, and "clinical competence of teachers" was not emphasized, whereas these were the two most commonly recorded themes in Sutkin's study. Our results suggest that Japanese and Western resident physicians place emphasis on different characteristics of their teachers. We speculate that such perceptions are influenced by educational systems, educational settings, and culture. Globalization of medical education is important, but it is also important to consider differences in educational systems, local settings, and culture when evaluating clinical teachers.

Psychosocial work characteristics predicting daytime sleepiness in day and shift workers.

PubMed

Takahashi, Masaya; Nakata, Akinori; Haratani, Takashi; Otsuka, Yasumasa; Kaida, Kosuke; Fukasawa, Kenji

2006-01-01

Characteristics of work organization other than working time arrangements may contribute importantly to daytime sleepiness. The present study was designed to identify the psychosocial factors at work that predict daytime sleepiness in a sample of day and shift workers. Participants working at a pulp and chemical factory completed an annual questionnaire regarding psychosocial factors at work using the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (i.e., quantitative workload, variance in workload, job control, support from supervisor, coworkers, or family/friends, job satisfaction, and depressive symptoms), as well as daytime sleepiness (through the Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) and sleep disturbances for three years starting in 2002 (response rates, 94.6-99.0%). The present analysis included 55 day workers (11 women) and 57 shift workers (all men) who participated in all three years of the study, worked under the same work schedule throughout the study period, and had no missing data on any of the daytime sleep items. A repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the effects of work schedule (day vs. shift work) and psychosocial factors at work in 2002 on the ESS scores in subsequent years, with sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, chronic diseases, and sleepiness levels at baseline as covariates. Given significant and near-significant interactions of work schedules with psychosocial factor or study year, the ANCOVA, with the factors of psychosocial work characteristics and study year, was performed by type of work schedule. The results indicated a significant main effect of psychosocial work characteristics (p = 0.010, partial eng2 = 0.14) and an almost significant main effect of study year (p = 0.067, partial eng2 = 0.06) and interaction between psychosocial work characteristics and study year (p = 0.085, partial eng2 = 0.06) for variance in workload among the day work group. The day workers reporting high variance in workload in 2002 exhibited significantly higher ESS scores in 2003 and 2004 than did those reporting low variance in workload. The ANCOVA for the shift work group showed a main effect of psychosocial work characteristics for job satisfaction (p = 0.026, partial eng2 = 0.10) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.094, partial eng2 = 0.06) with the interaction between psychosocial work characteristics and study year for job satisfaction (p = 0.172, partial eng2 = 0.04) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.035, partial eng2 = 0.07). The shift workers with low job satisfaction and high symptoms of depression in 2002 showed significantly greater ESS scores in 2003 and/or 2004 than did those with opposite characteristics. These results may suggest a potential predictive value of variance in workload for day workers as well as job satisfaction and depressive symptoms for shift workers with respect to daytime sleepiness. The present findings may imply that redesigning these aspects of work environment would be of help in managing daytime sleepiness.

Hyperplasia of Pericytes Is One of the Main Characteristics of Microvascular Architecture in Malignant Glioma

PubMed Central

Sun, Huiqin; Guo, Deyu; Su, Yongping; Yu, Dongmei; Wang, Qingliang; Wang, Tao; Zhou, Qing; Ran, Xinze; Zou, Zhongmin

2014-01-01

Objectives To investigate the role of pericytes in constructing the malformed microvessels (MVs) and participating microvascular architecture heterogeneity of glioma. Methods Forty human glioma tissue samples (WHO grade II-IV) were included in present study. Observation of blood vessel patterns, quantitative analysis of endothelial cells (ECs)- and pericyte-labeled MVs and comparison between malignant grades based on single- or double-immunohistochemical staining. The MV number density (MVND), microvascular pericyte number density (MPND), and microvascular pericyte area density (MPAD) were calculated. The expression of PDGFβ was also scored after immunostaining. Results In grade II glioma, most of tumor MVs were the thin-wall CD34+ vessels with near normal morphology. In addition to thin-wall CD34+ MVs, more thick-wall MVs were found in grade III glioma, which often showed α-SMA positive. Most of MVs in grade IV glioma were in the form of plexus, curled cell cords and glomeruloid microvascular proliferation while the α-SMA+ cells were the main components. The MVs usually showed disordered arrangement, loose connection and active cell proliferation as shown by Ki67 and α-SMA coexpression. With the increase of glioma grades, the α-SMA+ MVND, CD34+ MVND and MPND were significantly augmented although the increase of CD34+ MVND but not MPAD was statistically insignificant between grade III and IV. It was interesting that some vessel-like structures only consist of α-SMA+ cells, assuming the guiding role of pericytes in angiogenesis. The expression level of PDGFβ was upregulated and directly correlated with the MPND in different glioma grades. Conclusion Hyperplasia of pericytes was one of the significant characteristics of malignant glioma and locally proliferated pericytes were the main constituent of MVs in high grade glioma. The pathological characteristics of pericytes could be used as indexes of malignant grades of glioma. PMID:25478951

Benthic ecological status of Algerian harbours.

PubMed

Dauvin, J C; Bakalem, A; Baffreau, A; Grimes, S

2017-12-15

This work is an overview of all available benthic data collected in the Algerian harbours between 1983 and 2001. So, total of 571 stations were reported in the 10 major Algerian harbours along the Algerian coast (1200km). Two main categories of harbours were distinguished according to their hydrodynamic regime and volume of water exchange between inner harbour basins and the entrance of the harbours. Univariate, multivariate, benthic indices and Biological Traits of Life approaches were applied on stations sampled in the late 1990s and long-term observations in six out of these ten harbours. These approaches assessed the main characteristics and ecological statuses from these south Mediterranean harbours. One of the main characteristics of the Algerian harbours was the very high species diversity (847 species). Although all the fauna was dominated by pollution-tolerant species; some harbours such as Bethioua and Djendjen hosted normal benthic communities as found in the open sea, but also included some pollution indicator species typical of a slight polluted system. On the contrary, the newly constructed port of Skikda showed perturbed benthic communities in relation to hydrocarbon pollution. Biological Traits of Life analysis reinforced the separation of benthic species along a gradient reflecting their sensitivity or tolerance to pollution. This response was related to an increase in organic matter content, probably associated with a general organic and metal contamination, from the entrance of the harbour to the innermost basins in areas with weak circulation, high sedimentation rate and concentrations of pollutants. Except for Oran harbour, where the poor to moderate ecological status remained unchanged with time, the other harbours showed an improvement or a slight degradation. A strategy of long-term monitoring should be promoted, based on a restricted and selected number of stations characteristic of the different basins and water masses occupying the harbours. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Summary travel characteristics : Maine

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-09-29

The Summary Travel Characteristics publication series contains summary tables of travel statistics for census regions and divisions, States, and metropolitan areas. The tables in this report provide an overview of the findings of the American Travel ...

The Statistic Results of the ISUAL Lightning Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chuang, Chia-Wen; Bing-Chih Chen, Alfred; Liu, Tie-Yue; Lin, Shin-Fa; Su, Han-Tzong; Hsu, Rue-Ron

2017-04-01

The ISUAL (Imager for Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning) onboard FORMOSAT-2 is the first science payload dedicated to the study of the lightning-induced transient luminous events (TLEs). Transient events, including TLEs and lightning, were recorded by the intensified imager, spectrophotometer (SP), and array photometer (AP) simultaneously while their light variation observed by SP exceeds a programmed threshold. Therefore, ISUAL surveys not only TLEs but also lightning globally with a good spatial, temporal and spectral resolution. In the past 12 years (2004-2016), approximately 300,000 transient events were registered, and only 42,000 are classified as TLEs. Since the main mission objective is to explore the distribution and characteristics of TLEs, the remaining transient events, mainly lightning, can act as a long-term global lightning survey. These huge amount of events cannot be processed manually as TLEs do, therefore, a data pipeline is developed to scan lightning patterns and to derive their geolocation with an efficient algorithm. The 12-year statistic results including occurrence rate, global distribution, seasonal variation, and the comparison with the LIS/OTD survey are presented in this report.

Separation and quantification of monoclonal-antibody aggregates by hollow-fiber-flow field-flow fractionation.

PubMed

Fukuda, Jun; Iwura, Takafumi; Yanagihara, Shigehiro; Kano, Kenji

2014-10-01

Hollow-fiber-flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) separates protein molecules on the basis of the difference in the diffusion coefficient, and can evaluate the aggregation ratio of proteins. However, HF5 is still a minor technique because information on the separation conditions is limited. We examined in detail the effect of different settings, including the main-flow rate, the cross-flow rate, the focus point, the injection amount, and the ionic strength of the mobile phase, on fractographic characteristics. On the basis of the results, we proposed optimized conditions of the HF5 method for quantification of monoclonal antibody in sample solutions. The HF5 method was qualified regarding the precision, accuracy, linearity of the main peak, and quantitation limit. In addition, the HF5 method was applied to non-heated Mab A and heat-induced-antibody-aggregate-containing samples to evaluate the aggregation ratio and the distribution extent. The separation performance was comparable with or better than that of conventional methods including analytical ultracentrifugation-sedimentation velocity and asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation.

Age and effects of the Odessa meteorite impact, western Texas, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holliday, Vance T.; Kring, David A.; Mayer, James H.; Goble, Ronald J.

2005-12-01

The Odessa meteorite craters (Texas, United States) include a main crater (˜160 m diameter, ˜30 m deep) plus four smaller meteorite craters. The main crater was sampled by coring (to 22 m depth) to better understand its origin and history. Dating by optically stimulated luminescence indicates that it was produced immediately prior to ca. 63.5 ± 4.5 ka. Sediment filling the crater includes impact breccias produced at the time of impact; wind-dominated silts with minor amounts of pond sediments deposited ca. 63.5 ka, probably just after the impact, and ca. 53 ± 2 ka; wind-dominated silt ca. 38 ± 1.7 ka; and playa muds with a wind-blown silt component younger than 36 ka. The environment was arid or semiarid at the time of impact based on characteristics of soils on the surrounding landscape. The impact caused severe damage within 2 km and produced >1000 km/hr winds and thermal pulse. Animals within a 1 1.5-km-diameter area were probably killed. This is only the second well-dated Pleistocene hypervelocity impact crater in North America.

Phylogenomic analysis of proteins that are distinctive of Archaea and its main subgroups and the origin of methanogenesis

PubMed Central

Gao, Beile; Gupta, Radhey S

2007-01-01

Background The Archaea are highly diverse in terms of their physiology, metabolism and ecology. Presently, very few molecular characteristics are known that are uniquely shared by either all archaea or the different main groups within archaea. The evolutionary relationships among different groups within the Euryarchaeota branch are also not clearly understood. Results We have carried out comprehensive analyses on each open reading frame (ORFs) in the genomes of 11 archaea (3 Crenarchaeota – Aeropyrum pernix, Pyrobaculum aerophilum and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius; 8 Euryarchaeota – Pyrococcus abyssi, Methanococcus maripaludis, Methanopyrus kandleri, Methanococcoides burtonii, Halobacterium sp. NCR-1, Haloquadratum walsbyi, Thermoplasma acidophilum and Picrophilus torridus) to search for proteins that are unique to either all Archaea or for its main subgroups. These studies have identified 1448 proteins or ORFs that are distinctive characteristics of Archaea and its various subgroups and whose homologues are not found in other organisms. Six of these proteins are unique to all Archaea, 10 others are only missing in Nanoarchaeum equitans and a large number of other proteins are specific for various main groups within the Archaea (e.g. Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, Sulfolobales and Desulfurococcales, Halobacteriales, Thermococci, Thermoplasmata, all methanogenic archaea or particular groups of methanogens). Of particular importance is the observation that 31 proteins are uniquely present in virtually all methanogens (including M. kandleri) and 10 additional proteins are only found in different methanogens as well as A. fulgidus. In contrast, no protein was exclusively shared by various methanogen and any of the Halobacteriales or Thermoplasmatales. These results strongly indicate that all methanogenic archaea form a monophyletic group exclusive of other archaea and that this lineage likely evolved from Archaeoglobus. In addition, 15 proteins that are uniquely shared by M. kandleri and Methanobacteriales suggest a close evolutionary relationship between them. In contrast to the phylogenomics studies, a monophyletic grouping of archaea is not supported by phylogenetic analyses based on protein sequences. Conclusion The identified archaea-specific proteins provide novel molecular markers or signature proteins that are distinctive characteristics of Archaea and all of its major subgroups. The species distributions of these proteins provide novel insights into the evolutionary relationships among different groups within Archaea, particularly regarding the origin of methanogenesis. Most of these proteins are of unknown function and further studies should lead to discovery of novel biochemical and physiological characteristics that are unique to either all archaea or its different subgroups. PMID:17394648

Ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, December 2016 to March 2017: characteristics and challenges

PubMed Central

Grammens, Tine; Schirvel, Carole; Leenen, Sylvie; Shodu, Nathalie; Hutse, Veronik; Mendes da Costa, Elise; Sabbe, Martine

2017-01-01

We describe characteristics of an ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, and difficulties in control measures implementation. As at 12 March 2017, 177 measles cases were notified, of which 50% were 15 years and older, 49% female. Atypical clinical presentation and severe complications, mainly among adults, in combination with late notification, low or unknown vaccination coverage of contacts, infected healthcare workers and increased workload due to contact tracing, are the main concerns for outbreak management. PMID:28488998

20 kHz main inverter unit. [for space station power supplies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hussey, S.

1989-01-01

A proof-of-concept main inverter unit has demonstrated the operation of a pulse-width-modulated parallel resonant power stage topology as a 20-kHz ac power source driver, showing simple output regulation, parallel operation, power sharing and short-circuit operation. The use of a two-stage dc input filter controls the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characteristics of the dc power bus, and the use of an ac harmonic trap controls the EMC characteristics of the 20-kHz ac power bus.

[Resources and application of She's nationality wild medicinal plants].

PubMed

Lei, Hou-Xing; Li, Jian-Liang; Zheng, Song-Ming; Fan, Li-Hua; Li, Shui-Fu; Cheng, Wen-Liang; Hua, Jin-Wei; Yu, Hua-Li; Dai, De-Xiong; Xie, Yuan-Wei

2014-08-01

To make a thorough investigation of the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in our country, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and the endemic medicinal plant species, Field surveyed was conducted with 25 She people mainly lived area (county, district or city) throughout the country, the folk prescription and treatment cases provided by She's medical personnel, the drug usage and dosage, the commonly used traditional She's medicine and drug samples were collected. And the distribution, growing environment of these plants were investigated, their characteristics, photographs, GPS data and track were record , and the fresh wax leaf or plants specimens were collected. In total 1 600 varieties of folk medicine of She's nationality, 450 disease names and 1 016 prescriptions were collected. 520 kinds of these medicinal plants were commonly used, growing mainly distributed in the southeastern China, about 200 meters above sea level to 1 500 meters. There are 5 First-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), 15 second-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), and 11 She characteristic medicinal plants in our study, they belong to 144 families, 312 genera 494 species, 2 subspecies, 17 varieties, 3 forms and 1 cultivated varieties of She's nationality. Folk medicine usage is different from the traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicine. This survey finds out the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in China, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and commonly used drugs, and found the rare and endangered medicinal plants and the She's nationality endemic medicinal plants, which provides a basis for further development and use the traditional She's medicine resources.

Demographics of Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Single Institution Experience

PubMed Central

Kitanova, Martina; Dzhenkov, Deyan L; Ghenev, Peter; Sapundzhiev, Nikolay

2017-01-01

Introduction Head and neck cancer (HNC) comprises a diverse group of oncological entities, originating from various tissue types and organ localizations, situated in the topographical regions of the head and neck (H&N). This single institution retrospective study was aimed at establishing the HNC patient demographics and categorizing the individual incidence of H&N malignancies, regarding their organ of origin and main histopathological type. Materials and methods All histologically verified cases of HNC from a single tertiary referral center were reviewed in a descriptive retrospective manner. Data sampling period was 47 months. Results Male to female ratio of the registered HNC cases was 3.24:1. The mean age of diagnosis was 63.84 ± 12.65 years, median 65 years. The most common HNC locations include the larynx 30.37% (n = 188), lips and oral cavity 29.08% (n = 180), pharynx 20.03% (n = 124) and salivary glands 10.94% (n = 68), with other locations such as the external nose, nasal cavity and sinuses and auricle and external ear canal harboring a minority of the cases. The main histopathological groups include squamous cell carcinoma 76.74% (n = 475) and adenocarcinoma 6.14% (n = 38), with other malignant entries such as other epithelial malignancies, primary tonsillar, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue or parenchymal lymphomas, connective tissue neoplasias, neuroendocrine and vascular malignancies diagnosed in a minority of cases. Conclusion Considered to be relatively rare, HNC represents a diverse group of oncological entities with individual and specific demographic characteristics. The reported single institution results appear representative of the national incidence and characteristics of HNC. PMID:28875091

[Bicycle accidents treated in emergency departments. A multicentre study].

PubMed

González Pacheco, N; Marañón Pardillo, R; Storch de Gracia Calvo, P; Campos Calleja, C; Mojica Muñoz, E; Rodríguez Sáez, M J; Crespo Rupérez, E; Panzino Occhiuzzo, F; Díez Sáez, C; Barea Martínez-Páis, V; Hernández González, A; Estopiñá Ferrer, G; Yagüe Torcal, F; Pociello Almiñana, N; García Peleteiro, P; Pizà Oliveras, A

2014-04-01

To describe epidemiological characteristics, types of injury, prognosis and medical management of bicycle-related Paediatric Emergency Department (ED) visits and to identify potential preventive measures. This multicentred, observational prospective study included all children between 3 and 16 years of age treated for bicycle-related injuries in the Emergency Departments of 15 Spanish Hospitals belonging to the «Unintentional Paediatric Injury Workshop» of the Spanish Paediatric Emergency Society between the 1(st) of June 2011 and the 31(st) of May 2012. Characteristics of all ED visits, as well as epidemiological data and accident-related information, were collected. A total of 846 patients were included in the study, with a male predominance (72.9%) and a median age of 9.6 ± 3.6 years. Head injury was the third most common injury (22.3%) and the main cause of admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) (68.4%). More than three-quarters (77.9%) of the patients did not wear a helmet, which was significantly associated to a higher incidence of head injury and admission to PICU. Older children (OR 1.063) and bicycle injuries involving motor vehicles (OR 2.431) were identified as independent risk factors for worse outcomes. Since helmet use reduces up to 88% of central nervous system lesions secondary to head injury, promotion of its use should be the main preventive measure, followed by restriction of bike-riding to cycling areas. Copyright © 2013 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Priapism in Sickle Cell Disease.

PubMed

Arduini, Giovanna A O; Trovó de Marqui, Alessandra B

2018-05-10

Priapism is a pathological condition of persistent penile erection in the absence of sexual arousal or desire. It is an urological emergency and its identification is important as lack of prompt treatment can result in erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to estimate and describe the characteristics (number of episodes, duration, time of occurrence and evolution) of priapism in patients with sickle cell disease. A bibliographical research was carried out in PubMed, searching for papers published in the last 5 years. Thirteen scientific articles were included in this review. The main results were: 1) the highest prevalence of priapism in males reported was 48.0% and the lowest 0.67%; 2) six studies were carried out on the African Continent (46.1%), three in America (23.1%), two in Europe (15.4%) and two in Asia (15.4%); 3) the main goal of ∼50.0% of the studies was to determine the rate of priapism in patients with sickle cell disease; 4) there was predominance of sickle cell anemia patients [homozygous Hb S (HBB: c.20A>T) genotype]; 5) the minimum age of patients with priapism was 7 years old and the maximum 30 years. In general, the episodes of priapism occurred during sleep, were recurrent and had variable duration. The prevalence of priapism are not real and the explanations include underreporting by patients, lack of awareness by physicians and lack of proper prospective studies. Priapism is a complication that deserves close attention due to its significant impact on the life of the patient with sickle cell disease and, therefore, should be further clarified.

Changes to indoor air quality as a result of relocating families from slums to public housing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgos, Soledad; Ruiz, Pablo; Koifman, Rosalina

2013-05-01

One largely unstudied benefit of relocating families from slums to public housing is the potential improvement in indoor air quality (IAQ). We compared families that moved from slums to public housing with those that remained living in slums in Santiago, Chile in terms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as main indicator of change. A cross-sectional study of 98 relocated families and 71 still living in slums was carried out, obtaining indoor and outdoor samples by a Personal Environmental Monitor. Home characteristics, including indoor air pollution sources were collected through questionnaires. Multivariate regression models included the intervention (public housing or slum), indoor pollution sources, outdoor PM2.5 and family characteristics as predictors. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations were higher in slums (77.8 μg m-3 [SD = 35.7 μg m-3]) than in public housing (55.7 μg m-3 [SD = 34.6 μg m-3], p < 0.001). Differences between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were significant only in the slum houses. The multivariate analysis showed that housing intervention significantly decreased indoor PM2.5 (10.4 μg m-3) after adjusting by the other predictors. Outdoor PM2.5 was the main predictor of indoor PM2.5. Other significant factors were water heating fuels and indoor smoking. Having infants 1-23 months was associated with a lowering of indoor PM2.5. Our results suggest that a public housing program that moves families from slums to public housing improves indoor air quality directly and also indirectly through air pollution sources.

Traditional Chinese medicine injection for angina pectoris: an overview of systematic reviews.

PubMed

Luo, Jing; Shang, Qinghua; Han, Mei; Chen, Keji; Xu, Hao

2014-01-01

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injection is widely used to treat angina pectoris in China. This overview aims to systematically summarize the general characteristics of systematic reviews (SRs) on TCM injection in treating angina, and assess the methodological and reporting quality of these reviews. We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and four Chinese databases from inception until March 2013. Data were extracted according to a preset form. The AMSTAR and PRISMA checklists were used to explore the methodological quality and reporting characteristics of included reviews, respectively. All data analyses were descriptive. 46 SRs involving over 57,463 participants with angina reviewing 23 kinds of TCM injections were included. The main outcomes evaluated in the reviews were symptoms (43/46, 93.5%), surrogate outcomes (42/46, 91.3%) and adverse events (41/46, 87.0%). Few reviews evaluated endpoints (7/46, 15.2%) and quality of life (1/46, 2.2%). One third of the reviews (16/46, 34.8%) drew definitely positive conclusions while the others (30/46, 65.2%) suggested potential benefits mainly in symptoms, electrocardiogram and adverse events. With many serious flaws such as lack of a protocol and inappropriate data synthesis, the overall methodological and reporting quality of the reviews was limited. While many SRs of TCM injection on the treatment of angina suggested potential benefits or definitely positive effects, stakeholders should not accept the findings of these reviews uncritically due to the limited methodological and reporting quality. Future SRs should be appropriately conducted and reported according to international standards such as AMSTAR and PRISMA, rather than published in large numbers.

Analysis on the Chinese medicine syndromes and demographic characteristics of patients with influenza-like illness in clinics of China.

PubMed

Ou, Ai-hua; Lu, Chuan-jian; Li, Ji-qiang; Li, Xiao-yan; Wen, Ze-huai; Deng, Hua; Xue, Su-qin; Ouyang, Wen-wei

2014-02-01

To investigate Chinese medicine (CM) patterns and epidemiological characters of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) syndromes in clinics in China. A prospective multi-center observational epidemiology survey on the clinical CM patterns of ILI and its prevalence was conducted from September 2009 to April 2010. A unified survey questionnaire was developed for data collection of ILI symptoms and CM patterns. Totally 45 hospitals from 22 provinces, municipality cities and autonomous regions of China participated this study. The collected data were input by EPI-data v3.1 and analyzed by SPSS 18.0, which included descriptive analysis and Chi-square test for group comparison. A total of 5,967 ILI patients were included in the study. The proportion of the 18-34 aged group (56.2%) was the largest; students (41.0%) were more than other occupations. Majority of the patients had the wind-heat invading Lung (Fei) syndrome (76%), while in Southwest China mainly wind-heat invading Lung syndrome and wind-cold tightening the exterior syndrome occurred. The typical symptoms of ILI were ranked as fatigue (80.9%), cough (72.2%), sore throat (67.2%), muscular soreness (67.1%), headache (65.4%), aversion to cold (60.1%), thirst (55.1%) and nasal obstruction (48.1%). The ILI patients in clinics were mainly teenagers and young adults. In regard to CM syndrome, wind-heat invading Lung syndrome prevailed in all regions except the Southwest China. The characteristics of CM syndrome of ILI patients may be relevant to age and region distribution.

[Data-mining characteristics of adverse drug reactions and pharmacovi-gilance of Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum herbs].

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Meng; Li, Fan; Zhang, Bing; Chen, Xiao-Fen; Piao, Jing-Zhu

2018-01-01

The common Aconitum herbs in clinical application mainly include Aconiti Radix(Chuanwu), Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia(Fuzi), all of which have toxicity. Therefore, the safety of using Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum herbs has become an hot topic in clinical controversy. Based on the data-mining methods, this study explored the characteristics and causes of adverse drug reactions/events (ADR/ADE) of the Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum, in order to provide pharmacovigilance and rational drug use suggestions for clinical application. The detailed ADR/ADE reports about the Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum herbs were retrieved in the domestic literature databases since 1984 to now. The information extraction and data-mining were conducted based on the platforms of Microsoft office Excel 2016, Clementine 12.0 and Cytoscape 3.3.0. Finally, 78 detailed ADR/ADE reports involving a total of 30 varieties were included. 92.31% ADR/ADE were surely or likely led by the Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum, mostly involving multiple system/organ damages with good prognosis, and even 1 case of death. The incidence of included ADRs/ADEs was associated with various factors such as the patient idiosyncratic, drug toxicity, as well as clinical medication. The patient age was most closely related to ADR/ADEs, and those aged from 60 to 69 were more easily suffered from the ADRs/ADEs of Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum. The probability of ADR/ADEs for the drugs including Chuanwu or Caowu was greater than that of Fuzi, and the using beyond the instructions dose was the most important potential safety hazard in the clinical medication process. For the regular and characteristics of ADR/ADEs led by Chinese patent drugs including Aconitum, special attention shall be paid to the elder patients or with the patients with allergies; strictly control the dosage and course of treatment, strengthen the safety medication education to public, and avoid misuse or abuse to ensure rational drug use. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Academic Staff's Perceptions of Characteristics of Learning Organization in a Higher Learning Institution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ali, Ali Khamis

2012-01-01

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to examine academic staff's perceptions of the characteristics of a learning organization within higher education: in this instance, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The study also examined the relationship between the characteristics of a learning organization and satisfaction…

Decomposing Inequalities in Performance Scores: The Role of Student Background, Peer Effects and School Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mostafa, Tarek

2010-01-01

This paper analyses the mechanisms of stratification and inequalities in educational achievements. The main objective is to determine how stratification leads to unequal educational outcomes and how inequalities are channelled through student characteristics, school characteristics and peer effects. This analysis is undertaken in five countries…

Teacher Characteristics as Correlates of Students Achievement in Social Studies: A Case Study in Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Enwelim, Samuel Chiedu

2016-01-01

The study on teacher characteristics and students achievement in social Studies in Nigeria is geared towards investigating and determining the relationship between teachers' characteristics and students achievement in social studies in Nigeria. The main purpose of the study is to determine if there is relationship between certain teacher…

Unbalance response of a two spool gas turbine engine with squeeze film bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gunter, E. J.; Barrett, L. E.; Li, D. F.

1981-01-01

This paper presents a dynamic analysis of a two-spool gas turbine helicopter engine incorporating intershaft rolling element bearings between the gas generator and power turbine rotors. The analysis includes the nonlinear effects of a squeeze film bearing incorporated on the gas generator rotor. The analysis includes critical speeds and forced response of the system and indicates that substantial dynamic loads may be imposed on the intershaft bearings and main bearing supports with an improperly designed squeeze film bearing. A comparison of theoretical and experimental gas generator rotor response is presented illustrating the nonlinear characteristics of the squeeze film bearing. It was found that large intershaft bearing forces may occur even though the engine is not operating at a resonant condition.

The development of the advanced cryogenic radiometer facility at NRC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gamouras, A.; Todd, A. D. W.; Côté, É.; Rowell, N. L.

2018-02-01

The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has established a next generation facility for the primary realization of optical radiant power. The main feature of this facility is a new cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer with a closed-cycle helium cryocooler. A monochromator-based approach allows for detector calibrations at any desired wavelength. A custom-designed motion apparatus includes two transfer standard radiometer mounting ports which has increased our measurement capability by allowing the calibration of two photodetectors in one measurement cycle. Measurement uncertainties have been improved through several upgrades, including newly designed and constructed transimpedance amplifiers for the transfer standard radiometers, and a higher power broadband light source. The most significant improvements in uncertainty arise from the enhanced characteristics of the new cryogenic radiometer including its higher cavity absorptance and reduced non-equivalence effects.

On finite element implementation and computational techniques for constitutive modeling of high temperature composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saleeb, A. F.; Chang, T. Y. P.; Wilt, T.; Iskovitz, I.

1989-01-01

The research work performed during the past year on finite element implementation and computational techniques pertaining to high temperature composites is outlined. In the present research, two main issues are addressed: efficient geometric modeling of composite structures and expedient numerical integration techniques dealing with constitutive rate equations. In the first issue, mixed finite elements for modeling laminated plates and shells were examined in terms of numerical accuracy, locking property and computational efficiency. Element applications include (currently available) linearly elastic analysis and future extension to material nonlinearity for damage predictions and large deformations. On the material level, various integration methods to integrate nonlinear constitutive rate equations for finite element implementation were studied. These include explicit, implicit and automatic subincrementing schemes. In all cases, examples are included to illustrate the numerical characteristics of various methods that were considered.

Assessment of railway wagon suspension characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soukup, Josef; Skočilas, Jan; Skočilasová, Blanka

2017-05-01

The article deals with assessment of railway wagon suspension characteristics. The essential characteristics of a suspension are represented by the stiffness constants of the equivalent springs and the eigen frequencies of the oscillating movements in reference to the main central inertia axes of a vehicle. The premise of the experimental determination of these characteristic is the knowledge of the gravity center position and the knowledge of the main central inertia moments of the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame performs the general spatial movement when the vehicle moves. An analysis of the frame movement generally arises from Euler's equations which are commonly used for the description of the spherical movement. This solution is difficult and it can be simplified by applying the specific assumptions. The eigen frequencies solutions and solutions of the suspension stiffness are presented in the article. The solutions are applied on the railway and road vehicles with the simplifying conditions. A new method which assessed the characteristics is described in the article.

Vibration characteristics of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite rectangular plates on Pasternak foundation with arbitrary boundary conditions and internal line supports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Rui; Wang, Qingshan; Tang, Jinyuan; Shuai, Cijun; Liang, Qian

2018-02-01

This paper presents the first known vibration characteristics of moderately thick functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite rectangular plates on Pasternak foundation with arbitrary boundary conditions and internal line supports on the basis of the firstorder shear deformation theory. Different distributions of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) along the thickness are considered. Uniform and other three kinds of functionally graded distributions of carbon nanotubes along the thickness direction of plates are studied. The solutions carried out using an enhanced Ritz method mainly include the following three points: Firstly, create the Lagrange energy function by the energy principle; Secondly, as the main innovation point, the modified Fourier series are chosen as the basic functions of the admissible functions of the plates to eliminate all the relevant discontinuities of the displacements and their derivatives at the edges; Lastly, solve the natural frequencies as well as the associated mode shapes by means of the Ritz-variational energy method. In this study, the influences of the volume fraction of CNTs, distribution type of CNTs, boundary restrain parameters, location of the internal line supports, foundation coefficients on the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the FG-CNT reinforced composite rectangular plates are presented.

Clinical and Molecular Characteristics of Squamous Cell Carcinomas From Fanconi Anemia Patients

PubMed Central

van Zeeburg, Hester J. T.; Snijders, Peter J. F.; Wu, Thijs; Gluckman, Eliane; Soulier, Jean; Surralles, Jordi; Castella, Maria; van der Wal, Jacqueline E.; Wennerberg, Johan; Califano, Joseph; Velleuer, Eunike; Dietrich, Ralf; Ebell, Wolfram; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Joenje, Hans; Leemans, C. René

2008-01-01

Fanconi anemia is a recessively inherited disease that is characterized by congenital abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and a predisposition to develop cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in the head and neck and anogenital regions. Previous studies of Fanconi anemia SCCs, mainly from US patients, revealed the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in 21 (84%) of 25 tumors analyzed. We examined a panel of 21 SCCs mainly from European Fanconi anemia patients (n = 19 FA patients; 16 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [HNSCCs], 2 esophageal SCCs, and 3 anogenital SCCs) for their clinical and molecular characteristics, including patterns of allelic loss, TP53 mutations, and the presence of HPV DNA by GP5+/6+ polymerase chain reaction. HPV DNA was detected in only two (10%) of 21 tumors (both anogenital SCCs) but in none of the 16 HNSCCs. Of the 18 tumors analyzed, 10 contained a TP53 mutation. The patterns of allelic loss were comparable to those generally found in sporadic SCCs. Our data show that HPV does not play a major role in squamous cell carcinogenesis in this cohort of Fanconi anemia patients and that the Fanconi anemia SCCs are genetically similar to sporadic SCCs despite having a different etiology. PMID:19001603

Automatic non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy screening system based on color fundus image.

PubMed

Xiao, Zhitao; Zhang, Xinpeng; Geng, Lei; Zhang, Fang; Wu, Jun; Tong, Jun; Ogunbona, Philip O; Shan, Chunyan

2017-10-26

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. Automatic detection of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is significant for clinical diagnosis, early screening and course progression of patients. This paper introduces the design and implementation of an automatic system for screening non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy based on color fundus images. Firstly, the fundus structures, including blood vessels, optic disc and macula, are extracted and located, respectively. In particular, a new optic disc localization method using parabolic fitting is proposed based on the physiological structure characteristics of optic disc and blood vessels. Then, early lesions, such as microaneurysms, hemorrhages and hard exudates, are detected based on their respective characteristics. An equivalent optical model simulating human eyes is designed based on the anatomical structure of retina. Main structures and early lesions are reconstructed in the 3D space for better visualization. Finally, the severity of each image is evaluated based on the international criteria of diabetic retinopathy. The system has been tested on public databases and images from hospitals. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves high accuracy for main structures and early lesions detection. The results of severity classification for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy are also accurate and suitable. Our system can assist ophthalmologists for clinical diagnosis, automatic screening and course progression of patients.

Magnetic Ripples Observed by Low-altitude Satellites and their Relation to Micro-barometric and Ground Magnetic Variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyemori, T.; Aoyama, T.; Nakanishi, K.; Odagi, Y.; Sanoo, Y.; Yokoyama, Y.; Yamada, A.

2017-12-01

The `magnetic ripples' are small scale magnetic fluctuations observed in upper ionosphere by low altitude satellites such as CHAMP or Swarm, and they are spatial structure of field-aligned currents along satellite orbit. They are observed almost always in mid- and low-latitudes. From their geographical and seasonal characteristics, they are supposed to be caused by the atmospheric waves which propagates from lower atmosphere to the ionosphere. Although the global distribution and its local time or seasonal variation of the amplitude of magnetic ripples, or the correlation with meteorological phenomena such as typhoons strongly suggest the cumulus convection as the main origin, we need to clarify which mode of atmospheric waves, i.e., acoustic wave or internal gravity wave, mainly contributes to the magnetic ripples and what meteorological condition correspond them. For those purposes, we analyze ground based magnetic and micro-barometric variations. We try to make quantitative estimation of the contribution from both acoustic and internal mode of gravity waves, acoustic resonance, etc. by calculating PSD (power spectral density) of pressure and ground magnetic variations. In this paper, we present their basic characteristics and discuss the relation with magnetic ripples. [Acknowledgments]: The ground observations have been supported by many people including students at our graduate school and by the collaboration with other institutions.

Psychosocial profile of institutionalised street children in Alexandria, Egypt: a comparative study with school children.

PubMed

Attia, Medhat S; Tayel, Kholoud Y; Shata, Zeinab N; Othman, Sally S

2017-09-01

The phenomenon of street children in Egypt constitutes a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of institutionalised street children in Alexandria, to compare the prevalence of substance abuse and conduct disorder between street children and school children, and to identify predictors of these mental health outcomes among street children. Institutionalised street children (n = 102) participated in a cross-sectional comparative study with a matched group of school children (n = 156). An interviewing questionnaire was used to assess demographic characteristics and substance use. Conduct disorder was measured using the Revised Ontario Child Health study scale. Poverty, family breakdown, and domestic violence were the main reasons for street children having left home. Street children recorded significantly higher rates of substance use (9.8%) and conduct disorder (35.3%) compared to school children. In street children, smoking was a significant predictor of substance use and conduct disorder. Other predictors of conduct disorder included physical illness and having 5 to 7 siblings. Substance abuse and conduct disorder were present among institutionalised street children at higher rates than school children. Absence of basic life needs and disrupted families constituted the main reasons for leaving home. Interventions at the governmental and non-governmental levels are needed.

[Characteristics of particle size structure of plankton community in turbidity zone of near-shore waters, Liaoning Province of Northeast China].

PubMed

Song, Lun; Wang, Nian-bin; Song, Yong-Gang; Li, Nan

2013-04-01

Estuary and nearshore waters have complicated environment, where plankton community has a frequent feedback regulation and a very unstable particle size structure. In this paper, an investigation was made on the particle size structure of plankton in the turbidity zone of nearshore and port area waters in Liaoning Province of Northeast China. In the waters with high concentration inorganic nitrogen, phytoplankton biomass was mainly of small particle sizes, with the equivalent sphere diameter (ESD) being primarily 20-100 micro m, while in low nutrient waters, the phytoplankton biomass was mainly of larger size particles, with the ESD>100 micro m, indicating that the phytoplankton feedback regulation caused the phytoplankton community to be comprised of small sized organisms as part of the biological responses to high concentration suspended solids, which reduced the individual number of larger organisms such as Coscinodiscus. sp. and other species, and in turn, directly affected the fisheries resources, including a variety of fish and shrimp larvae fed on phytoplankton. A normalized biomass size spectrum with the characteristics of nearshore shallow aquatic oceanic ecosystems exhibiting eutrophication was constructed. The spectrum slope indicated that the plankton community biomass would gradually increase in size. The feasibility of using dinoflagellates and cladocerans as the bio-indicators for eutrophication was discussed.

Canopy management in rainfed vineyards (cv. Tempranillo) for optimising water use and enhancing wine quality.

PubMed

Pascual, Miquel; Romero, María-Paz; Rufat, Josep; Villar, Josep M

2015-12-01

Rainfed viticulture, mainly in semi-arid environments, is limited by environmental variability, particularly precipitation and its seasonal distribution, and soil water availability, thus ultimately determining the final quality of grape and wine. Studies on the feasibility of practices such as canopy management to adapt plant growth and yield to soil water availability open up possibilities to preserve wine quality and reinforce the characteristics of the terroir. Principal components analysis was used to identify the relationships between a large set of variables, including soil, plant, canopy management, and wine characteristics. Canopy management was found to have a predominant influence on plant response to soil water by modifying plant water status, changing the amino acid profile in berries and, concomitantly, altering the sensorial attributes of the wine obtained. Grapevine canopy management strategies, such as reiterate shoot trimming to restrict growth during early phases, are effective in adapting plant response to soil water availability. Such strategies affect berry and wine quality, mainly the amino acid profile and sensorial attributes of the wine, without changing yield or grape harvest quality control parameters. Also, in such conditions, nitrogen does not make a significant contribution to grapevine growth or yield or to grape quality. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Radar Interferometry for Monitoring the Vibration Characteristics of Buildings and Civil Structures: Recent Case Studies in Spain

PubMed Central

Luzi, Guido; Crosetto, Michele; Fernández, Enric

2017-01-01

The potential of a coherent microwave sensor to monitor the vibration characteristics of civil structures has been investigated in the past decade, and successful case studies have been published by different research teams. This remote sensing technique is based on the interferometric processing of real aperture radar acquisitions. Its capability to estimate, simultaneously and remotely, the displacement of different parts of the investigated structures, with high accuracy and repeatability, is its main advantage with respect to conventional sensors. A considerable amount of literature on this technique is available, including various case studies aimed at testing the ambient vibration of bridges, buildings, and towers. In the last years, this technique has been used in Spain for civil structures monitoring. In this paper, three examples of such case studies are described: the monitoring of the suspended bridge crossing the Ebro River at Amposta, the communications tower of Collserola in Barcelona, and an urban building located in Vilafranca del Penedès, a small town close to Barcelona. This paper summarizes the main outcomes of these case studies, underlining the advantages and limitations of the sensors currently available, and concluding with the possible improvements expected from the next generation of sensors. PMID:28338604

A Procedure for Determining Tire-Road Friction Characteristics Using a Modification of the Magic Formula Based on Experimental Results

PubMed Central

Pérez, Javier; Velasco, Juan M.; Guerra, Antonio J.; Hernández, Pedro

2018-01-01

Knowledge of tire-road friction characteristics is essential for the proper performance of most relevant vehicle active safety systems. Therefore, its determination is necessary to improve the effectiveness of these systems and to avoid or reduce the consequences of traffic accidents. For this reason, there is a great deal of literature concerning methods and devices for measuring and modeling tire-road friction. Most of these methods have focused on determining the road friction resistance, taking only road composition and making measurements in wet conditions into account. However, friction forces are also dependent on the tire type, since the contact is established between the tire and the road in real driving conditions. Thus, the type and characteristics of the tire have to be considered in the study of the interaction between the vehicle and the road. The aim of this work is to unify the study of the friction coefficient, taking into consideration the two existing bodies involved in the contact, i.e., the tire and road and the main factors that influence the forces in the contact. To this end, a modification of the Pacejka Magic Formula is proposed to include the effects of the main parameters that influence the contact, such as road composition and its state, tire type, vehicle speed, and slip between the tire and the road. To do so, real tests have been conducted on several roads and with different operating conditions. As a result, a more accurate tire-road friction model has been obtained. PMID:29562623

A Procedure for Determining Tire-Road Friction Characteristics Using a Modification of the Magic Formula Based on Experimental Results.

PubMed

Cabrera, Juan A; Castillo, Juan J; Pérez, Javier; Velasco, Juan M; Guerra, Antonio J; Hernández, Pedro

2018-03-17

Knowledge of tire-road friction characteristics is essential for the proper performance of most relevant vehicle active safety systems. Therefore, its determination is necessary to improve the effectiveness of these systems and to avoid or reduce the consequences of traffic accidents. For this reason, there is a great deal of literature concerning methods and devices for measuring and modeling tire-road friction. Most of these methods have focused on determining the road friction resistance, taking only road composition and making measurements in wet conditions into account. However, friction forces are also dependent on the tire type, since the contact is established between the tire and the road in real driving conditions. Thus, the type and characteristics of the tire have to be considered in the study of the interaction between the vehicle and the road. The aim of this work is to unify the study of the friction coefficient, taking into consideration the two existing bodies involved in the contact, i.e., the tire and road and the main factors that influence the forces in the contact. To this end, a modification of the Pacejka Magic Formula is proposed to include the effects of the main parameters that influence the contact, such as road composition and its state, tire type, vehicle speed, and slip between the tire and the road. To do so, real tests have been conducted on several roads and with different operating conditions. As a result, a more accurate tire-road friction model has been obtained.

Methods, procedures, and contextual characteristics of health technology assessment and health policy decision making: comparison of health technology assessment agencies in Germany, United Kingdom, France, and Sweden.

PubMed

Schwarzer, Ruth; Siebert, Uwe

2009-07-01

The objectives of this study were (i) to develop a systematic framework for describing and comparing different features of health technology assessment (HTA) agencies, (ii) to identify and describe similarities and differences between the agencies, and (iii) to draw conclusions both for producers and users of HTA in research, policy, and practice. We performed a systematic literature search, added information from HTA agencies, and developed a conceptual framework comprising eight main domains: organization, scope, processes, methods, dissemination, decision, implementation, and impact. We grouped relevant items of these domains in an evidence table and chose five HTA agencies to test our framework: DAHTA@DIMDI, HAS, IQWiG, NICE, and SBU. Item and domain similarity was assessed using the percentage of identical characteristics in pairwise comparisons across agencies. RESULTS were interpreted across agencies by demonstrating similarities and differences. Based on 306 included documents, we identified 90 characteristics of eight main domains appropriate for our framework. After applying the framework to the five agencies, we were able to show 40 percent similarities in "dissemination," 38 percent in "scope," 35 percent in "organization," 29 percent in "methods," 26 percent in "processes," 23 percent in "impact," 19 percent in "decision," and 17 percent in "implementation." We found considerably more differences than similarities of HTA features across agencies and countries. Our framework and comparison provides insights and clarification into the need for harmonization. Our findings could serve as descriptive database facilitating communication between producers and users.

[Urbanization expanding process and its spatial characteristics in changping district of Beijing, China].

PubMed

Zhang, Feng; Zhang, Xinshi

2005-06-01

Urbanization is a massive and unplanned experiment that already affects large acreages worldwide, and has profound social and ecological consequences for both urban and rural residents. Therefore, to comprehensively quantify the urbanization process and to investigate its ecological consequences become the central issues in urban ecological studies. Combining urbanization expanding index with landscape metrics, this paper quantified the urbanization expanding process and the urbanization spatial characteristics in Changping District of Beijing. The results showed that there were three main urbanization models, i. e., urban fringe belt-expending model, main transportation routes line-expending model, and satellite city panel-expending model. The urbanization expansion index showed that urbanization mainly took place during the period from 1989 to 1996, and the urban landscape metrics indicated that there were urban patches isolated expanding and new urban patches emerged from 1989 to 1996, mainly amalgamated expanding from 1996 to 2001 in urban fringe belt-expanding region. In transportation routes line-expanding region, the urban patches isolated expanding, amalgamated expanding and new urban patches emerging took place simultaneously, and mainly urban patches amalgamated expanding during the former period, and new urban patches constantly turning up around satellite city during the latter in satellite city panel-expanding region. This study showed that urbanization expansion integrating landscape metrics might reveal the urbanization expanding process and its spatial characteristics, and would be a good example for the application of landscape metrics.

Characteristics of soils in selected maize growing sites along altitudinal gradients in East African highlands

PubMed Central

Njuguna, Elijah; Gathara, Mary; Nadir, Stanley; Mwalusepo, Sizah; Williamson, David; Mathé, Pierre-Etienne; Kimani, Jackson; Landmann, Tobias; Juma, Gerald; Ong’amo, George; Gatebe, Erastus; Ru, Bruno Le; Calatayud, Paul-andré

2015-01-01

Maize is the main staple crop in the East African Mountains. Understanding how the edaphic characteristics change along altitudinal gradients is important for maximizing maize production in East African Highlands, which are the key maize production areas in the region. This study evaluated and compared the levels of some macro and micro-elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and P) and other soil parameters (pH, organic carbon content, soil texture [i.e. % Sand, % Clay and % Silt], cation exchange capacity [CEC], electric conductivity [EC], and water holding capacity [HC]). Soil samples were taken from maize plots along three altitudinal gradients in East African highlands (namely Machakos Hills, Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro) characterized by graded changes in climatic conditions. For all transects, pH, Ca, K and Mg decreased with the increase in altitude. In contrast, % Silt, organic carbon content, Al and water holding capacity (HC) increased with increasing altitude. The research provides information on the status of the physical–chemical characteristics of soils along three altitudinal ranges of East African Highlands and includes data available for further research. PMID:26509187

Drying kinetics and characteristics of combined infrared-vacuum drying of button mushroom slices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salehi, Fakhreddin; Kashaninejad, Mahdi; Jafarianlari, Ali

2017-05-01

Infrared-vacuum drying characteristics of button mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus) were evaluated in a combined dryer system. The effects of drying parameters, including infrared radiation power (150-375 W), system pressure (5-15 kPa) and time (0-160 min) on the drying kinetics and characteristics of button mushroom slices were investigated. Both the infrared lamp power and vacuum pressure influenced the drying time of button mushroom slices. The rate constants of the nine different kinetic's models for thin layer drying were established by nonlinear regression analysis of the experimental data which were found to be affected mainly by the infrared power level while system pressure had a little effect on the moisture ratios. The regression results showed that the Page model satisfactorily described the drying behavior of button mushroom slices with highest R value and lowest SE values. The effective moisture diffusivity increases as power increases and range between 0.83 and 2.33 × 10-9 m2/s. The rise in infrared power has a negative effect on the ΔE and with increasing in infrared radiation power it was increased.

Hospital consultants breaking bad news with simulated patients: an analysis of communication using the Roter Interaction Analysis System.

PubMed

Vail, Laura; Sandhu, Harbinder; Fisher, Joanne; Cooke, Heather; Dale, Jeremy; Barnett, Mandy

2011-05-01

To explore how experienced clinicians from wide ranging specialities deliver bad news, and to investigate the relationship between physician characteristics and patient centredness. Consultations involving 46 hospital consultants from 22 different specialties were coded using the Roter Interaction Analysis System. Consultants mainly focussed upon providing biomedical information and did not discuss lifestyle and psychosocial issues frequently. Doctor gender, age, place of qualification, and speciality were not significantly related to patient centredness. Hospital consultants from wide ranging specialities tend to adopt a disease-centred approach when delivering bad news. Consultant characteristics had little impact upon patient centredness. Further large-scale studies are needed to examine the effect of doctor characteristics on behaviour during breaking bad news consultations. It is possible to observe breaking bad news encounters by video-recording interactions between clinicians and simulated patients. Future training programmes should focus on increasing patient-centred behaviours which include actively involving patients in the consultation, initiating psychosocial discussion, and providing patients with opportunities to ask questions. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Systematic comparative content analysis of 17 psychosocial work environment questionnaires using a new taxonomy

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Background Many questionnaires have been developed to measure how psychosocial characteristics are perceived in a work environment. But the content validity of these questionnaires has rarely been questioned due to the absence of a reference taxonomy for characteristics of work environments. Objectives To propose an exhaustive taxonomy of work environment characteristics involved in psychosocial risks and to apply this taxonomy to questionnaires on workplace psychosocial factors. Methods The taxonomy was developed by categorizing factors present in the main theoretical models of the field. Questionnaire items most frequently cited in scientific literature were retained for classification. Results The taxonomy was structured into four hierarchical levels and comprises 53 categories. The 17 questionnaires analyzed included 927 items: 59 from the “physical environment” category, 116 from the “social environment” category, 236 from the “work activity” category, 255 from the “activity management” category, and 174 from the “organizational context” category. Conclusions There are major content differences among analyzed questionnaires. This study offers a means for selecting a scale on the basis of content. PMID:27367232

Real time recognition of explosophorous group and explosive material using laser induced photoacoustic spectroscopy associated with novel algorithm for time and frequency domain analysis.

PubMed

El-Sharkawy, Yasser H; Elbasuney, Sherif

2018-06-07

Energy-rich bonds such as nitrates (NO 3 - ) and percholorates (ClO 4 - ) have an explosive nature; they are frequently encountered in high energy materials. These bonds encompass two highly electronegative atoms competing for electrons. Common explosive materials including urea nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium percholorates were subjected to photoacoustic spectroscopy. The captured signal was processed using novel digital algorithm designed for time and frequency domain analysis. Frequency domain analysis offered not only characteristic frequencies for NO 3 - and ClO 4 - groups; but also characteristic fingerprint spectra (based on thermal, acoustical, and optical properties) for different materials. The main outcome of this study is that phase-shift domain analysis offered an outstanding signature for each explosive material, with novel discrimination between explosive and similar non-explosive material. Photoacoustic spectroscopy offered different characteristic signatures that can be employed for real time detection with stand-off capabilities. There is no two materials could have the same optical, thermal, and acoustical properties. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Change of optical properties of the breast tissues under the influence of pharmacological agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naumov, Sergey A.; Vovk, Sergey M.; Pushkarev, Sergey V.; Volovodenko, Vitaly A.

2001-05-01

The influence of vasoactive pharmacological agents (VPhA) on the spectral characteristics of the breast tissues in vivo has been studied. The effect of adrenaline and its antagonist dibazole on the character of diffuse reflection spectra of the breast registered during puncture biopsy were investigated. Adrenaline and dibazole were injected both locally, i.e. to the examined breast tissue and subcutaneously to the shoulder. The choice of this or that VPhA was caused by the functional condition of an examinee. It has been shown that the main functional units of the stroma of parenchymatous organs and their tumors responsible for the state of spectral characteristics in vivo are considered to be the vessels. The cancerous tissue has a lesser pronounced response compared to the normal one that is indicative of the functional inferiority of the tumor vessels and it is confirmed by the results of morphological examinations including the ultrastructural level. Thus, using VPhA it is possible to have an influence on characteristics of diffuse reflection spectra of the examined tissues in vivo and make diagnostics more effectively.

Suicidal behaviour characteristics and factors associated with mortality in the hospital setting.

PubMed

Sendra-Gutiérrez, Juan Manuel; Esteban-Vasallo, María; Domínguez-Berjón, M Felicitas

2016-04-29

Suicide is a major public health problem worldwide, and an approach is necessary due to its high potential for prevention. This paper examines the main characteristics of people admitted to hospitals in the Community of Madrid (Spain) with suicidal behaviour, and the factors associated with their hospital mortality. A study was conducted on patients with E950-E959 codes of suicide and self-inflicted injuries of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, contained in any diagnostic field of the minimum basic data set at hospital discharge between 2003 and 2013. Sociodemographic, clinical and health care variables were assessed by uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis in the evaluation of factors associated with hospital mortality. Hospital suicidal behaviour predominates in women (58.7%) and in middle-age. Hospital mortality is 2.2% (1.6% in women and 3.2% in men), increasing with age. Mental disorders are detected 3-4 times more in secondary diagnoses. The main primary diagnosis (>74%) is poisoning with substances, with lower mortality (∼1%) than injury by hanging and jumping from high places (≥12%), which have the highest numbers. Other factors associated with increased mortality include different medical comorbidities and severity of the injury, while length of stay and mental disorders are protective factors. Type of hospital, poisoning, and Charlson index are associated differently with mortality in men and women. Hospitalised suicidal acts show a low mortality, mainly related to comorbidities and the severity of injuries. Copyright © 2016 SEP y SEPB. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

[Carbon density distribution characteristics and influencing factors in aerially seeded Pinus massoniana plantations].

PubMed

Pan, Ping; Han, Tian Yi; OuYang, Xun Zhi; Liu, Yuan Qiu; Zang, Hao; Ning, Jin Kui; Yang, Yang

2017-12-01

The distribution characteristics of carbon density under aerially seeded Pinus massoniana plantations in Ganzhou City of Jiangxi Province were studied. Total 15 factors, including site, stand, understory vegetation, litter and so on were selected to establish a relationship model between stand carbon density and influencing factors, and the main influencing factors were also screened. The results showed that the average carbon density was 98.29 t·hm -2 at stand level with soil layer (49.58 t·hm -2 ) > tree layer (45.25 t·hm -2 ) > understory vegetation layer (2.23 t·hm -2 ) > litter layer (1.23 t·hm -2 ). Significantly positive correlations were found among the tree, litter and soil layers, but not among the other layers. The main factors were tree density, avera-ge diameter at breast height (DBH), soil thickness, slope position, stand age and canopy density to affect carbon density in aerially seeded P. massoniana plantations. The partial correlation coefficients of the six main factors ranged from 0.331 to 0.434 with significance by t test. The multiple correlation coefficient of quantitative model I reached 0.796 with significance by F test (F=9.28). For stand density, the best tree density and canopy density were 1500-2100 plants·hm -2 and 0.4-0.7, respectively. The moderate density was helpful to improve ecosystem carbon sequestration. The carbon density increased with increasing stand age, DBH and soil thickness, and was higher in lower than middle and upper slope positions.

Genotypic Diversity and Virulence Characteristics of Clinical and Environmental Vibrio vulnificus Isolates from the Baltic Sea Region

PubMed Central

Bier, Nadja; Bechlars, Silke; Diescher, Susanne; Klein, Florian; Hauk, Gerhard; Duty, Oliver; Strauch, Eckhard

2013-01-01

The genetic diversity of Vibrio vulnificus isolates from clinical and environmental sources originating from the Baltic Sea region was evaluated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and possible relationships between MLST clusters, potential genotypic and phenotypic traits associated with pathogenicity, and source of isolation were investigated. The studied traits included genotyping of polymorphic loci (16S rRNA, vcg, and pilF), presence/absence of potential virulence genes, including nanA, nab, and genes of pathogenicity regions, metabolic features, hemolytic activity, resistance to human serum, and cytotoxicity to human intestinal cells. MLST generated 35 (27 new) sequence types and divided the 53 isolates (including four reference strains) into two main clusters, with cluster I containing biotype 1 and 2 isolates of mainly environmental origin and cluster II containing biotype 1 isolates of mainly clinical origin. Cluster II isolates were further subdivided into two branches. Branch IIB included isolates from recent cases of wound infections that were acquired at the German Baltic Sea coastline between 2010 and 2011 and isolates from seawater samples of the same regions isolated between 1994 and 2010. Comparing the MLST data with the results of genotyping and phenotyping showed that strains of MLST cluster II possess a number of additional pathogenicity-associated traits compared to cluster I strains. Rapid microbiological methods such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry combined with typing of selected virulence-associated traits (e.g., serum resistance, mannitol fermentation, nanA, and pathogenicity region XII) could be used for risk assessment purposes regarding V. vulnificus strains isolated from the Baltic Sea region. PMID:23542621

Three Dimensional Explicit Model for Cometary Tail Ions Interactions with Solar Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al Bermani, M. J. F.; Alhamed, S. A.; Khalaf, S. Z.; Ali, H. Sh.; Selman, A. A.

2009-06-01

The different interactions between cometary tail and solar wind ions are studied in the present paper based on three-dimensional Lax explicit method. The model used in this research is based on the continuity equations describing the cometary tail-solar wind interactions. Three dimensional system was considered in this paper. Simulation of the physical system was achieved using computer code written using Matlab 7.0. The parameters studied here assumed Halley comet type and include the particle density rho, the particles velocity v, the magnetic field strength B, dynamic pressure p and internal energy E. The results of the present research showed that the interaction near the cometary nucleus is mainly affected by the new ions added to the plasma of the solar wind, which increases the average molecular weight and result in many unique characteristics of the cometary tail. These characteristics were explained in the presence of the IMF.

Subjective field study of response to impulsive helicopter noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, C. A.

1981-01-01

Subjects, located outdoors and indoors, judged the noisiness and other subjective noise characteristics of flyovers of two helicopters and a propeller driven airplane as part of a study of the effects of impulsiveness on the subjective response to helicopter noise. In the first experiment, the impulsive characteristics of one helicopter was controlled by varying the main rotor speed while maintaining a constant airspeed in level flight. The second experiment which utilized only the helicopters, included descent and level flight operations. The more impulsive helicopter was consistently judged less noisy than the less impulsive helicopter at equal effective perceived noise levels (EPNL). The ability of EPNL to predict noisiness was not improved by the addition of either of two proposed impulse corrections. A subjective measure of impulsiveness, however, which was not significantly related to the proposed impulse corrections, was found to improve the predictive ability of EPNL.

Osteomyelitis: a descriptive study.

PubMed

Prieto-Pérez, Laura; Pérez-Tanoira, Ramón; Petkova-Saiz, Elizabet; Pérez-Jorge, Concepción; Lopez-Rodriguez, Cristina; Alvarez-Alvarez, Beatriz; Polo-Sabau, Jorge; Esteban, Jaime

2014-03-01

To analyze the incidence and clinical-microbiological characteristics of osteomyelitis (OM) in a tertiary Spanish hospital. All cases diagnosed with OM between January 2007 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The variables examined include epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, affected bone, radiographic changes, histology, microbiological culture results, antibiotic treatment, and the need for surgery. Sixty-three cases of OM were diagnosed. Twenty-six patients (41.3%) had acute OM whereas 37 patients (58.7%) were classified as chronic OM. OM may result from haematogenous or contiguous microbial seeding. In this group, 49 patients (77.8%) presented with OM secondary to a contiguous source of infection and 14 patients had hematogenous OM (22.2%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly found microorganism. OM mainly affected patients with risk factors related to the presence of vascular diseases. Antibiotic treatment must be guided by susceptibility patterns of individual microorganisms, although it must be performed together with surgery in most of the cases.

Towards an Ecological Understanding of Dinoflagellate Cyst Functions

PubMed Central

Bravo, Isabel; Figueroa, Rosa Isabel

2014-01-01

The life cycle of many dinoflagellates includes at least one nonflagellated benthic stage (cyst). In the literature, the different types of dinoflagellate cysts are mainly defined based on morphological (number and type of layers in the cell wall) and functional (long- or short-term endurance) differences. These characteristics were initially thought to clearly distinguish pellicle (thin-walled) cysts from resting (double-walled) dinoflagellate cysts. The former were considered short-term (temporal) and the latter long-term (resting) cysts. However, during the last two decades further knowledge has highlighted the great intricacy of dinoflagellate life histories, the ecological significance of cyst stages, and the need to clarify the functional and morphological complexities of the different cyst types. Here we review and, when necessary, redefine the concepts of resting and pellicle cysts, examining both their structural and their functional characteristics in the context of the life cycle strategies of several dinoflagellate species. PMID:27694774

Geography and culture matter for malnutrition in Bolivia.

PubMed

Morales, Rolando; Aguilar, Ana María; Calzadilla, Alvaro

2004-12-01

The prevalence of health problems and malnutrition in Bolivia is exceptionally high, even in comparison to other underdeveloped countries. This study analyzes the relationship between a two measures of child health--height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores--and a set of physical and cultural determinants of child nutrition, including mother's characteristics, household assets and access to public services. The ultimate aim is to identify the most important determinants of child health and to measure the relative impact of each factor on the height and weight z-scores. A sequential strategy was adopted in order to estimate a two-equation linear model with correlated error terms. A major finding points to geographical and cultural variables as main causes of nutritional status and highlights the role of mother's anthropometrical characteristics. This study uses data on over 3000 children gathered from a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).

[Medical degree earned with a thesis in medical schools of Lima, 2011: characteristics, motivations and perceptions].

PubMed

Mejia, Christian R; Inga-Berrospi, Fiorella; Mayta-Tristán, Percy

2014-01-01

We surveyed physicians who obtained their medical degree with a thesis in 2011 from the seven medical schools in Lima to know the characteristics of the degree by thesis process, as well as participants’ motivations and perceptions of that process. We included 98 students who did a thesis (87% of total); 99% conducted observational thesis, 30% did so in groups of three. The main motivation was that it was good for their curriculum vitae (94%). At the university where the thesis is compulsory, the process began with the choice of topic and adviser. Perceived “greatest” and “least” difficulty in the process was the completion of administrative procedures (53%) and selection of their advisor (11%), respectively. Administrative timeliness and processes should be reviewed so as not to impede the completion of thesis, since the new University Act requires the completion of a thesis to graduate.

Sustaining simulation training programmes--experience from maternity care.

PubMed

Ayres-de-Campos, D; Deering, S; Siassakos, D

2011-11-01

There is little scientific evidence to support the majority of simulation-based maternity training programmes, but some characteristics appear to be associated with sustainability. Among these are a clear institutional-level commitment to the course, strong leadership in course organisation, a curriculum relevant to clinical practice, a nonthreatening learning environment, the establishment of multiprofessional training and the use of simulators appropriate to the learning objectives. There is still some debate on whether simulation-based sessions should be carried out in dedicated training time outside normal working hours or in ad-hoc drills that are run during clinical sessions, whether they should be located in clinical areas, simulation centres, or both, and whether or not they should include standardised generic teamwork training sessions. In this review, we discuss the main characteristics that appear to make a simulation-based training programme a sustainable initiative. © 2011 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 RCOG.

Dipolar eddies in a decaying stratified turbulent flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voropayev, S. I.; Fernando, H. J. S.; Morrison, R.

2008-02-01

Laboratory experiments on the evolution of dipolar (momentum) eddies in a stratified fluid in the presence of random background motions are described. A turbulent jet puff was used to generate the momentum eddies, and a decaying field of ambient random vortical motions was generated by a towed grid. Data on vorticity/velocity fields of momentum eddies, those of background motions, and their interactions were collected in the presence and absence of the other, and the main characteristics thereof were parametrized. Similarity arguments predict that dipolar eddies in stratified fluids may preserve their identity in decaying grid-generated stratified turbulence, which was verified experimentally. Possible applications of the results include mushroomlike currents and other naturally/artificially generated large dipolar eddies in strongly stratified layers of the ocean, the longevity of which is expected to be determined by the characteristics of the eddies and random background motions.

[The relationship between the family structure and characteristics of the stress reaction in adolescent addicts].

PubMed

Ovchinnikov, A A; Sultanova, A N; Sycheva, T Yu; Mamedov, T N

2018-01-01

To study the relationship between the family structure and characteristics of the response to stress in adolescent addicts. The study included 65 patients who used psychoactive substances and 42 healthy controls. A set of psychological methods was used. In the group of adolescent addicts, a low result was revealed on the scale 'family cohesion'. A high level of development of such mechanisms of psychological defense as denial, suppression, repression, compensation, substitution, intellectualization and reactive education was diagnosed in both groups. Significant differences were revealed only in repression. Such stress coping strategies as self-control, escape-avoidance and problem-solving were more often used in the main group while confrontational coping, distancing, seeking social support, accepting responsibility and positive reassessment were used in the control group. Lower indices of resilience in adolescent addicts compared to the control group.

Characteristics of natural mentoring relationships from the perspectives of homeless youth.

PubMed

Dang, Michelle T; Miller, Elizabeth

2013-11-01

Homeless youth experience high risks for poor mental health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the characteristics of natural mentoring relationships among homeless youth and to identify possible mechanisms that can enhance social support for this population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 homeless youth aged 14-21 who had natural mentors. The interviews focused on how youth met their natural mentors, the function of these relationships, and how natural mentoring relationships differed from other relationships in the youth's social networks. Main themes that emerged from the interviews included parental absence, natural mentors as surrogate parents, and social support from mentors. Findings suggest that social supports provided by mentors enhance youth's adaptive functioning and may promote resilience, thus the use of natural mentors may be an important untapped asset in designing interventions to improve outcomes for homeless youth. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characteristics of Natural Mentoring Relationships from the Perspectives of Homeless Youth

PubMed Central

Dang, Michelle T.; Miller, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

PROBLEM Homeless youth experience high risks for poor mental health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the characteristics of natural mentoring relationships among homeless youth and to identify possible mechanisms that can enhance social support for this population. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 homeless youth aged 14 to 21 who had natural mentors. The interviews focused on how youth met their natural mentors, the function of these relationships, and how natural mentoring relationships differed from other relationships in the youth’s social networks. FINDINGS Main themes that emerged from the interviews included parental absence, natural mentors as surrogate parents, and social support from mentors. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that social supports provided by mentors enhance youth’s adaptive functioning and may promote resilience, thus the use of natural mentors may be an important untapped asset in designing interventions to improve outcomes for homeless youth. PMID:24180604

Light, sound, chemistry… action: state of the art optical methods for animal imaging.

PubMed

Ripoll, Jorge; Ntziachristos, Vasilis

2011-01-01

During recent years, macroscopic optical methods have been promoted from backstage to main actors in biological imaging. Many possible forms of energy conservation have been explored that involve light, including fluorescence emission, sound generated through absorption and bioluminescence, that is light generated through a chemical reaction. These physicochemical approaches for contrast generation have resulted in optical imaging methods that come with potent performance characteristics over simple epi-illumination optical imaging approaches of the past, and can play a central role in imaging applications in vivo as it pertains to modern biological and drug discovery, pre-clinical imaging and clinical applications. This review focuses on state of the art optical and opto-acoustic (photo-acoustic) imaging methods and discusses key performance characteristics that convert optical imaging from a qualitative modality to a powerful high-resolution and quantitative volumetric interrogation tool for operation through several millimeters of tissue depth.: © 2011 Elsevier Ltd . All rights reserved.

Full-Scale Investigation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Typical Single-Sotor Helicopter in Forward Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dingeldein, Richard C; Schaefer, Raymond F

1948-01-01

As part of the general helicopter research program being undertaken by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to provide designers with fundamental rotor information, the forward-flight performance characteristics of a typical single-rotor helicopter, which is equipped with main and tail rotors, have been investigated in the Langley full-scale tunnel. The test conditions included operation of tip-speed ratios from 0.10 to 0.27 and at thrust coefficients from 0.0030 to 0.0060. Results obtained with production rotor were compared with those for an alternate set of blades having closer rib spacing and a smoother and more accurately contoured surface in order to evaluate the performance gains that are available by the use of rotor blades having an improved surface condition. The wind tunnel results are shown to be in fair agreement with the results of both flight tests and theoretical predictions.

Analysis of natural raindrop characteristics in Zhengzhou city

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Zhenzhou; Yao, Wenyi; Xiao, Peiqing; Li, Mian

2018-02-01

Raindrop characteristics, including velocity and size of raindrops, in Zhengzhou city of Yellow River basin were analyzed through a natural rainfall on the loess slope. Results showed that the process of natural rainfall and counts, size and terminal velocity would increase with rising rainfall intensities. Besides, the size and terminal velocity of natural raindrops were relatively scattered; In the process of individual rainfall, the terminal velocity and its peak value were mainly focused between 1.0-4.2 m/s and 1.4-3.4 m/s, respectively. Sizes of raindrop were -found to be between 0.125-0.5 mm. The terminal velocity of raindrops with sizes of 0.125 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.375 mm and 0.5 mm were primarily 1.0-3.4 m/s, 1.0-4.2 m/s, 1.0-3.4 m/s and 1.0-3.4 m/s, respectively.

Advances in fruit aroma volatile research.

PubMed

El Hadi, Muna Ahmed Mohamed; Zhang, Feng-Jie; Wu, Fei-Fei; Zhou, Chun-Hua; Tao, Jun

2013-07-11

Fruits produce a range of volatile compounds that make up their characteristic aromas and contribute to their flavor. Fruit volatile compounds are mainly comprised of esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, lactones, terpenoids and apocarotenoids. Many factors affect volatile composition, including the genetic makeup, degree of maturity, environmental conditions, postharvest handling and storage. There are several pathways involved in volatile biosynthesis starting from lipids, amino acids, terpenoids and carotenoids. Once the basic skeletons are produced via these pathways, the diversity of volatiles is achieved via additional modification reactions such as acylation, methylation, oxidation/reduction and cyclic ring closure. In this paper, we review the composition of fruit aroma, the characteristic aroma compounds of several representative fruits, the factors affecting aroma volatile, and the biosynthetic pathways of volatile aroma compounds. We anticipate that this review would provide some critical information for profound research on fruit aroma components and their manipulation during development and storage.

Self-shielded electron linear accelerators designed for radiation technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belugin, V. M.; Rozanov, N. E.; Pirozhenko, V. M.

2009-09-01

This paper describes self-shielded high-intensity electron linear accelerators designed for radiation technologies. The specific property of the accelerators is that they do not apply an external magnetic field; acceleration and focusing of electron beams are performed by radio-frequency fields in the accelerating structures. The main characteristics of the accelerators are high current and beam power, but also reliable operation and a long service life. To obtain these characteristics, a number of problems have been solved, including a particular optimization of the accelerator components and the application of a variety of specific means. The paper describes features of the electron beam dynamics, accelerating structure, and radio-frequency power supply. Several compact self-shielded accelerators for radiation sterilization and x-ray cargo inspection have been created. The introduced methods made it possible to obtain a high intensity of the electron beam and good performance of the accelerators.

A high-fidelity weather time series generator using the Markov Chain process on a piecewise level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hersvik, K.; Endrerud, O.-E. V.

2017-12-01

A method is developed for generating a set of unique weather time-series based on an existing weather series. The method allows statistically valid weather variations to take place within repeated simulations of offshore operations. The numerous generated time series need to share the same statistical qualities as the original time series. Statistical qualities here refer mainly to the distribution of weather windows available for work, including durations and frequencies of such weather windows, and seasonal characteristics. The method is based on the Markov chain process. The core new development lies in how the Markov Process is used, specifically by joining small pieces of random length time series together rather than joining individual weather states, each from a single time step, which is a common solution found in the literature. This new Markov model shows favorable characteristics with respect to the requirements set forth and all aspects of the validation performed.

[Analysis on preparation and characterization of asiaticoside-loaded flexible nanoliposomes].

PubMed

Ren, Yan; He, Xing-Dong; Shang, Bei-Cheng; Bao, Xiu-Kun; Wang, Yan-Fang; Ma, Ji-Sheng

2013-10-01

Asiaticoside is a compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Centella asiatica, and mainly used in wound healing and scar repair in clinical, with notable efficacy. However, its poor transdermal absorption and short action time restrict its wide application. In this experiment, the reserve-phase-extrusion-lyophilization method was conducted to prepare the lyophilized asiaticoside-loaded flexible nanoliposomes (LAFL). Its characteristics including electron microscope structure, particle size, Zeta potential, entrapment rate, drug-loading rate, stability and drug release were determined with the intelligent transdermal absorption instrument. LAFL were white spheroids, with pH, particle size and zeta potential of 7. 03, 70. 14 nm and - 36. 5 mV, respectively. The average entrapment rate of the 3 batch samples were 31. 43% , and the average asiaticoside content in 1 mg lyophilized simple was 0. 134 mg. The results indicated that LAFL have good physicochemical properties and pharmaceutical characteristics, with an improved transdermal performance.

Pathogenic features and characteristics of food borne pathogens biofilm: Biomass, viability and matrix.

PubMed

Lin, Shiqi; Yang, Ling; Chen, Gu; Li, Bing; Chen, Dingqiang; Li, Lin; Xu, Zhenbo

2017-10-01

Biofilm is a ubiquitous growth pattern of bacterial species survival but is notorious for its threat on public health and food contamination. Extensive studies of the biofilm structure, formation, quantification, quorum sensing system and underlying control strategies have been reported during the past decades. Insightful elucidation of the pathogenic features and characteristic of bacterial biofilm can facilitate in devising appropriate control strategies for biofilm eradication. Therefore, this review mainly summarized the pathogenic features of biofilms from food borne microorganisms, including the biomass (which could be quantified using crystal violet and fluorogenic dye Syto9 assays), viability (which could be determined by tetrazolium salts, fluorescein diacetate, resazurin staining and alamar blue assays) and matrix (which are commonly detected by dimethyl methylene blue and wheat germ agglutinin assays). In addition, three features were further compared with its particular benefits in specific application. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of butterfly tree seed oil (Bauhinia purpurea L)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soetjipto, H.; Riyanto, C. A.; Victoria, T.

2018-04-01

Butterfly tree (Kachnar) in Indonesia is only used as ornamental plants in garden, park, and roadsides. The seed of Butterfly tree was extracted with n-hexane and physicochemical properties were determined based on Standard Nasional Indonesia (SNI) 01-3555-1998 while the oil chemical composition was determined using GC-MS. The result showed that yield of the oil as 57.33±1.14 % (w/w) and the chemical characteristic of seed oil include acid value (13.7.8±0.23 mg KOH/g) saponification value (153.32±1.85 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (43.51±0.57. mg KOH/g). The butterfly tree seed oil showed that linoleic acid (28.11 %), palmitic acid (29.2%), oleic acid (19.82%) and stearic acid (10.7.4 %) were the main fatty acids in the crude seed oils. Minor amounts of neophytadiena and arachidic acid were also identified.

Tea production characteristics of tea growers (plantations and smallholdings) and livelihood dimensions of tea workers in Assam, India.

PubMed

Biggs, Eloise M; Gupta, Niladri; Saikia, Sukanya D; Duncan, John M A

2018-04-01

This article provides summary data regarding tea production in Assam, India. Questionnaires were completed by tea producers and focus group discussions undertaken with tea workers. These data are presented for the four main tea growing regions of the state (Cachar, North Bank, South Bank and Upper Assam). Tables detail tea production characteristics of the tea plantations for both large- (> 10 ha) and small- (< 10 ha) holders. Figures provide supplementary information for research by Biggs et al. [1] regarding fertilizer application, landscape management strategies, healthcare provisioning and educational facilities within plantations, as well as detailing the livelihood dimensions of tea workers. The questions posed to producers are also included. For further context underpinning the research for which these data were collated, see 'The tea landscape of Assam: multi-stakeholder insights into sustainable livelihoods under a changing climate' by Biggs et al. [1].

[Characteristics of systematic reviews about the impact of pharmacists].

PubMed

Tanguay, C; Guérin, A; Bussières, J-F

2014-11-01

The pharmacists' role is varied and numerous articles evaluate the outcomes of pharmaceutical interventions. The main objectives of this study were to establish the characteristics of systematic reviews about pharmacists' interventions that were published in the last five years. A literature search was performed on Pubmed for French and English articles published between 01-01-2008 and 31-05-2013. Systematic reviews that presented the role, the interventions and the impact of pharmacists were selected by two research assistants. A total of 46 systematic reviews was identified, amongst which one third (n=15/46, 33 %) were meta-analyses. A quarter of systematic reviews did not evaluate the quality of included articles (n=13/46, 28 %). Twelve themes were identified. A median [min-max] of 16 [2-298] articles was included per systematic review. The most frequent pharmaceutical activities were patient counseling (n=41 systematic reviews), patient chart review (n=29), pharmacotherapy evaluation (n=27) and recommendations (n=26). The least frequent activities were teaching others than patients (n=12) and medical rounds participation (n=7). Many elements can influence the completion of pharmacy practice research projects; however, there exists no link between the presence of systematic reviews and the importance of pharmacists in a given healthcare program. This study presents the characteristics of 46 systematic reviews about pharmacists interventions published since 2008. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Sensory properties and consumer acceptance of imported and domestic sliced black ripe olives.

PubMed

Lee, Soh Min; Kitsawad, Kamolnate; Sigal, Abdulkadir; Flynn, Dan; Guinard, Jean-Xavier

2012-12-01

Table olives are healthy and nutritious products with high contents of monounsaturated fatty acids, phenolics, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Understanding sensory cues affecting consumer preferences would enable the increase of olive consumption. The objectives of this study were to characterize the sensory properties of commercial sliced black ripe olives from different regions, including California, Egypt, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, and to examine the preferences of California consumers for sliced black ripe olives. Sensory profiles and preferences for 20 sliced olive samples were determined using descriptive analysis with a trained panel and a consumer test with 104 users and likers of table olives. Aroma and flavor characteristics separated the olives according to country of origin, and were the main determinants of consumer preferences for sliced olives, even though the biggest differences among the samples were in appearance and texture. Total of 2 consumer segments were identified with 51 and 53 consumers, respectively, that both liked Californian products, but differed in the olives they disliked. Negative drivers of liking for both segments included alcohol, oak barrel, and artificial fruity/floral characteristics; however, consumers from Cluster 1 were further negatively influenced by rancid, gassy, and bitter characteristics. This study stresses the need for sound and appealing flavor quality for table olives to gain wider acceptance among U.S. consumers. © 2012 Institute of Food Technologists®

Modeling of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers: The role of temperature and operating field strength on the laser performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousefvand, Hossein Reza

2017-07-01

In this paper a self-consistent numerical approach to study the temperature and bias dependent characteristics of mid-infrared (mid-IR) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) is presented which integrates a number of quantum mechanical models. The field-dependent laser parameters including the nonradiative scattering times, the detuning and energy levels, the escape activation energy, the backfilling excitation energy and dipole moment of the optical transition are calculated for a wide range of applied electric fields by a self-consistent solution of Schrodinger-Poisson equations. A detailed analysis of performance of the obtained structure is carried out within a self-consistent solution of the subband population rate equations coupled with carrier coherent transport equations through the sequential resonant tunneling, by taking into account the temperature and bias dependency of the relevant parameters. Furthermore, the heat transfer equation is included in order to calculate the carrier temperature inside the active region levels. This leads to a compact predictive model to analyze the temperature and electric field dependent characteristics of the mid-IR QCLs such as the light-current (L-I), electric field-current (F-I) and core temperature-electric field (T-F) curves. For a typical mid-IR QCL, a good agreement was found between the simulated temperature-dependent L-I characteristic and experimental data, which confirms validity of the model. It is found that the main characteristics of the device such as output power and turn-on delay time are degraded by interplay between the temperature and Stark effects.

Nucleus Characterization of Main-Belt Comet P/Garradd

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsieh, Henry H.; Kaluna, Heather; Meech, Karen J.

2012-02-01

We seek SOAR time to physically characterize the nucleus of main- belt comet (MBC) P/2008 R1 (Garradd). Our primary objectives include determination of P/Garradd's rotation period, shape, and colors. MBCs are mysterious objects that exhibit cometary activity yet are dynamically indistinguishable from main-belt asteroids. Studying these apparently icy objects so close to the Sun is important for understanding the distribution of volatile material in our solar system as well as the origin of Earth's water. Five MBCs are currently known: only two have well-characterized nuclei, while the others have only been partially characterized. With so little known about this population, it is crucial to obtain the best possible physical characterizations for as many of the few currently known MBCs as possible. This information will aid us in developing a global understanding of the population's characteristics, such as the level of diversity as well as any commonalities. This will then help answer larger scientific questions such as how abundant MBCs may be and what they can tell us about the past and present distribution of ice in the inner solar system.

Optimization of Turbine Rim Seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagner, J. H.; Tew, D. E.; Stetson, G. M.; Sabnis, J. S.

2006-01-01

Experiments are being conducted to gain an understanding of the physics of rim scale cavity ingestion in a turbine stage with the high-work, single-stage characteristics envisioned for Advanced Subsonic Transport (AST) aircraft gas turbine engines fo the early 21st century. Initial experimental measurements to be presented include time-averaged turbine rim cavity and main gas path static pressure measurements for rim seal coolant to main gas path mass flow ratios between 0 and 0.02. The ultimate objective of this work is develop improved rim seal design concepts for use in modern high-work, single sage turbines n order to minimize the use of secondary coolant flow. Toward this objective the time averaged and unsteady data to be obtained in these experiments will be used to 1) Quantify the impact of the rim cavity cooling air on the ingestion process. 2) Quantify the film cooling benefits of the rim cavity purge flow in the main gas path. 3) Quantify the impact of the cooling air on turbine efficiency. 4) Develop/evaluate both 3D CFD and analytical models of the ingestion/cooling process.

Service user involvement in care planning: the mental health nurse's perspective.

PubMed

Anthony, P; Crawford, P

2000-10-01

A dissonance between espoused values of consumerism within mental health care and the 'reality' of clinical practice has been firmly established in the literature, not least in terms of service user involvement in care planning. In order to begin to minimize such dissonance, it is vital that mental health nurse perceptions of service user involvement in the core activity of care planning are better understood. The main findings of this qualitative study, which uses semistructured interviews, suggest that mental health nurses value the concept of user involvement but consider it to be problematic in certain circumstances. The study reveals that nurses hold similar views about the 'meaning' of patient involvement in care planning but limited resources, individual patients characteristics and limitations in nursing care are the main inhibiting factors. Factors perceived as promoting and increasing user involvement included: provision of accurate information, 'user-friendly' documentation, mechanisms for gaining service user feedback, and high staff morale.

Maternal Filicide among Women Admitted to Forensic Psychiatric Institutions in Malaysia: Case Series.

PubMed

Razali, S; Salleh, R M; Yahya, B; Ahmad, S H

2015-06-01

To examine the characteristics of maternal filicide and describe the adverse life events experienced by women who have committed filicide and been hospitalised in forensic psychiatric institutions in Malaysia. Registration records from 2000 through 2012 of female patients from 2 main forensic psychiatric institutions in Malaysia were reviewed. The medical records of patients who had committed maternal filicide were selected and descriptively evaluated. A total of 18 cases of maternal filicide were identified. Family dysfunction that presented with marital discord, domestic violence, or husband with substance abuse was the main stress experienced by the women. Three social circumstances, including an adolescent who became a victim of date rape; immigrants who experienced sexual abuse; and filicide-suicide precipitated by financial difficulties were highlighted. Women who committed filicide had experienced various difficulties in their life. The presence of such life events might alert mental health professionals to investigate the possibility of filicide among their patients.

[Safety in the Microbiology laboratory].

PubMed

Rojo-Molinero, Estrella; Alados, Juan Carlos; de la Pedrosa, Elia Gómez G; Leiva, José; Pérez, José L

2015-01-01

The normal activity in the laboratory of microbiology poses different risks - mainly biological - that can affect the health of their workers, visitors and the community. Routine health examinations (surveillance and prevention), individual awareness of self-protection, hazard identification and risk assessment of laboratory procedures, the adoption of appropriate containment measures, and the use of conscientious microbiological techniques allow laboratory to be a safe place, as records of laboratory-acquired infections and accidents show. Training and information are the cornerstones for designing a comprehensive safety plan for the laboratory. In this article, the basic concepts and the theoretical background on laboratory safety are reviewed, including the main legal regulations. Moreover, practical guidelines are presented for each laboratory to design its own safety plan according its own particular characteristics. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

Multimode marine engine room simulation system based on field bus technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Huayao; Deng, Linlin; Guo, Yi

2003-09-01

Developing multi mode MER (Marine Engine Room) Labs is the main work in Marine Simulation Center, which is the key lab of Communication Ministry of China. It includes FPP (Fixed Pitch Propeller) and CPP (Controllable Pitch Propeller) mode MER simulation systems, integrated electrical propulsion mode MER simulation system, physical mode MER lab, etc. FPP mode simulation system, which was oriented to large container ship, had been completed since 1999, and got second level of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technical Progress award. This paper mainly introduces the recent development and achievements of Marine Simulation Center. Based on the Lon Works field bus, the structure characteristics and control strategies of completely distributed intelligent control network are discussed. The experiment mode of multi-nodes field bus detection and control system is described. Besides, intelligent fault diagnosis technology about some mechatronics integration control systems explored is also involved.

An Investigation into the Characteristics of Iranian EFL Teachers of Senior Secondary Schools and Language Institutes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afshar, Hassan Soodmand; Hamzavi, Raouf

2017-01-01

The present study explored the characteristics of 147 Iranian EFL teachers teaching at senior secondary schools (N = 62) and those teaching in private language institutes (N = 85). Data were collected through a Likert-scale teacher characteristics questionnaire mainly adapted from Borg (2006). Also, for data triangulation purposes, 20 teachers…

The quest for novel modes of excitation in exotic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paar, N.

2010-06-01

This paper provides an insight into several open problems in the quest for novel modes of excitation in nuclei with isospin asymmetry, deformation and finite-temperature characteristics in stellar environments. Major unsolved problems include the nature of pygmy dipole resonances, the quest for various multipole and spin-isospin excitations both in neutron-rich and proton drip-line nuclei mainly driven by loosely bound nucleons, excitations in unstable deformed nuclei and evolution of their properties with the shape phase transition. Exotic modes of excitation in nuclei at finite temperatures characteristic of supernova evolution present open problems with a possible impact in modeling astrophysically relevant weak interaction rates. All these issues challenge self-consistent many-body theory frameworks at the frontiers of on-going research, including nuclear energy density functionals, both phenomenological and constrained by the strong interaction physics of QCD, models based on low-momentum two-nucleon interaction Vlow-k and correlated realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction VUCOM, supplemented by three-body force, as well as two-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions derived from the chiral effective field theory. Joined theoretical and experimental efforts, including research with radioactive isotope beams, are needed to provide insight into dynamical properties of nuclei away from the valley of stability, involving the interplay of isospin asymmetry, deformation and finite temperature.

Electrical Conductivity and Barrier Properties of Lithium Niobate Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gudkov, S. I.; Baklanova, K. D.; Kamenshchikov, M. V.; Solnyshkin, A. V.; Belov, A. N.

2018-04-01

The thin-film structures made of LiNbO3 and obtained via laser ablation and magnetron sputtering are studied with volt-farad and volt-ampere characteristics. A potential barrier on the Si-LiNbO3 interface was found for both types of the films with the capacitance-voltage characteristics. The current-voltage characteristics showed that there are several conduction mechanisms in the structures studied. The Poole-Frenkel effect and the currents limited by a space charge mainly contribute to the electrical conductivity in the LiNbO3 film produced with the laser ablation method. The currents limited by a space charge contribute to the main mechanism in the film heterostructure obtained with the magnetron sputtering method.

Traditional Chinese medicine for knee osteoarthritis: An overview of systematic review.

PubMed

Yang, Min; Jiang, Li; Wang, Qing; Chen, Hao; Xu, Guihua

2017-01-01

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been accepted as a complementary therapy for knee osteoarthritis. However, the efficacy and safety of the intervention were still conflicting and uncertain. Meanwhile, the quality of methodology and evidence in the field was unknown. To summarize the characteristics and critically evaluate the quality of methodology, as well as the evidence of systematic reviews (SRs) on TCM for knee osteoarthritis. Five electronic databases were searched from inception to April 2016. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by AMSTAR and ROBIS. The quality of the evidence was determined using the GRADE approach. Ten SRs were included. The conclusions suggest that TCM provides potential benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis. These benefits include pain relief, functional improvement, and presence of few adverse events. Limitations of the methodological quality mainly included the lack of a-priori protocol or protocol registration and incomprehensive literature search. A list of excluded studies was also not provided. The overall quality of evidence in the SRs was poor, ranging from "very low" to "low," mainly because of the serious risk of bias of original trials, inconsistencies, and imprecision in the outcomes. TCM generally appears to be effective for knee osteoarthritis treatment. However, the evidence is not robust enough because of the methodological flaws in SRs. Hence, these conclusions on available SRs should be treated with caution for clinical practice.

Geochemical typing of crude oils from the Gulf of Thailand and the Natuna Sea

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shiefelbein, C.; Haven, H.L.T.

The geochemical characteristics of approximately thirty oils from the Gulf of Thailand and Natuna Sea have been measured, viz., sulfur, vanadium and nickel content, density, [sup 13]C isotopes of the isolated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions, capillary gas chromatography of the whole oil, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis included the classical monitoring of specific ions (SIM mode) as well as sophisticated multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) measurements (MRM mode). These latter analyses are of key importance for the detection of 24-propylsteranes, a prerequisite for the discrimination between lacustrine/deltaic oils vs. marine crude oils. Classification of the different typesmore » of oil families encountered in this region was based on visual inspection of the data, supported by multivariate statistical analysis. In the Gulf of Thailand, which includes oils from the Pattani trough and the northern part of the Malay basin, essentially three different types are recognized, generated by lacustrine, resinous, and carbonate source rocks. The situation encountered in the Natuna sea, including oils from the southern part of the Malay basin (Indonesia), the Penyu basin, and the west and east Natuna basins is almost similar to the same suite of different oil types. Although the geochemical characteristics of the resinous-derived oils are more or less similar in all basins, the lacustrine-derived oils exhibit large variations especially expressed in their isotopic signature. Interestingly, the carbonate-sourced oils from the east Natuna basin show characteristics that resemble those of the main oil family found offshore northwest Palawan.« less

Upper Paleozoic Marine Shale Characteristics and Exploration Prospects in the Northwestern Guizhong Depression, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zhenhong; Yao, Genshun; Lou, Zhanghua; Jin, Aimin; Zhu, Rong; Jin, Chong; Chen, Chao

2018-05-01

Multiple sets of organic-rich shales developed in the Upper Paleozoic of the northwestern Guizhong Depression in South China. However, the exploration of these shales is presently at a relatively immature stage. The Upper Paleozoic shales in the northwestern Guizhong Depression, including the Middle Devonian Luofu shale, the Nabiao shale, and the Lower Carboniferous Yanguan shale, were investigated in this study. Mineral composition analysis, organic matter analysis (including total organic carbon (TOC) content, maceral of kerogen and the vitrinite reflection (Ro)), pore characteristic analysis (including porosity and permeability, pore type identification by SEM, and pore size distribution by nitrogen sorption), methane isothermal sorption test were conducted, and the distribution and thickness of the shales were determined, Then the characteristics of the two target shales were illustrated and compared. The results show that the Upper Paleozoic shales have favorable organic matter conditions (mainly moderate to high TOC content, type I and II1 kerogen and high to over maturity), good fracability potential (brittleness index (BI) > 40%), multiple pore types, stable distribution and effective thickness, and good methane sorption capacity. Therefore, the Upper Paleozoic shales in the northern Guizhong Depression have good shale gas potential and exploration prospects. Moreover, the average TOC content, average BI, thickness of the organic-rich shale (TOC > 2.0 wt%) and the shale gas resources of the Middle Devonian shales are better than those of the Lower Carboniferous shale. The Middle Devonian shales have better shale gas potential and exploration prospects than the Lower Carboniferous shales.

[Research progress on identification and quality evaluation of glues medicines].

PubMed

Li, Hui-Hu; Ren, Gang; Chen, Li-Min; Zhong, Guo-Yue

2018-01-01

Glues medicines is a special kind of traditional Chinese medicine.As the market demand is large, the raw materials are in short supply and lacks proper quality evaluation technology, which causes inconsistent quality of products on the market. Its authentic identification and evaluation stay a problem to be solved. In this paper, the research progress of the methods and techniques of the evaluation of the identification and quality of glues medicines were reviewed. The researches of medicinal glue type identification and quality evaluation mainly concentrated in four aspects of medicinal materials of physical and chemical properties, trace elements, organic chemicals and biological genetic methods and techniques. The methods of physicochemical properties include thermal analysis, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy, gel exclusion chromatography, and circular dichroism. The methods including atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, plasma emission spectrometry and visible spectrophotometry were used for the study of the trace elements of glues medicines. The organic chemical composition was studied by methods of composition of amino acids, content detection, odor detection, lipid soluble component, organic acid detection. Methods based on the characteristics of biogenetics include DNA, polypeptide and amino acid sequence difference analysis. Overall, because of relative components similarity of the glues medicines (such as amino acids, proteins and peptides), its authenticity and quality evaluation index is difficult to judge objectively, all sorts of identification evaluation methods have different characteristics, but also their limitations. It indicates that further study should focus on identification of evaluation index and various technology integrated application combining with the characteristics of the production process. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Summary of NASA landing-gear research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fisher, B. D.; Sleeper, R. K.; Stubbs, S. M.

1978-01-01

This paper presents a brief summary of the airplane landing gear research underway at NASA. The technology areas include: ground handling simulator, antiskid braking systems, space shuttle nose-gear shimmy, active control landing gear, wire brush skid landing gear, air cushion landing systems, tire/surface friction characteristics, tire mechanical properties, tire-tread materials, powered wheels for taxiing, and crosswind landing gear. This paper deals mainly with the programs on tire-tread materials, powered wheel taxiing, air cushion landing systems, and crosswind landing gear research with particular emphasis on previously unreported results of recently completed flight tests. Work in the remaining areas is only mentioned.

Impact of work pressure, work stress and work-family conflict on firefighter burnout.

PubMed

Smith, Todd D; DeJoy, David M; Dyal, Mari-Amanda Aimee; Huang, Gaojian

2017-10-25

Little research has explored burnout and its causes in the American fire service. Data were collected from career firefighters in the southeastern United States (n = 208) to explore these relationships. A hierarchical regression model was tested to examine predictors of burnout including sociodemographic characteristics (model 1), work pressure (model 2), work stress and work-family conflict (model 3) and interaction terms (model 4). The main findings suggest that perceived work stress and work-family conflict emerged as the significant predictors of burnout (both p < .001). Interventions and programs aimed at these predictors could potentially curtail burnout among firefighters.

Two-dimensional simulations of stimulated Brillouin scattering in laser produced plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amin, M. R.; Capjack, C. E.; Frycz, P.; Rozmus, W.; Tikhonchuk, V. T.

1993-07-01

A system of electromagnetic and ion acoustic wave equations coupled via the ponderomotive force are solved numerically in a two-dimensional planar geometry. The competition between forward, side, and backward Brillouin scattering of the finite size laser beam is studied for the first time without the standard paraxial optics approximation. Simulations reveal a strong dependence of the scattered light characteristics on the geometry of the interaction region, the shape of the pump beam, and the ion acoustic wave damping. The main effects include side and forward scattering enhancement and a stimulation of collimated backward scattered radiation.

Health Behavior Change for Obesity Management

PubMed Central

Teixeira, Pedro J.; Marques, Marta M.

2018-01-01

Health behavior change is central in obesity management. Due to its complexity, there has been a growing body of research on: i) the factors that predict the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors, ii) the development and testing of theories that conceptualize relationships among these factors and with health behaviors, and iii) how these factors can be implemented in effective behavior change interventions, considering characteristics of the content (techniques) and delivery. This short review provides an overview of advances in behavior change science theories and methods, focusing on obesity management, and includes a discussion of the main challenges imposed by this research field. PMID:29237167

Development, qualification, and delivery of a hydrogen burnoff igniter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, D.

1981-01-01

The hydrogen burnoff igniter, a pyrotechnic device used to burn off excess hydrogen gas near the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) nozzle, was designed, fabricated, and qualified. Characteristics of the burnoff igniter include a function time of 8 + or - 2 seconds, a minimum three foot flame length at maximum output, and hot particles projected 15 feet when fired directly into or perpendicular to a 34.5 knot wind. The three foot flame length was considered to be of questionable importance, since the hot particles are the media for igniting the hydrogen. Flame temperature is greater than 1500 F.

Telemedicine optoelectronic biomedical data processing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prosolovska, Vita V.

2010-08-01

The telemedicine optoelectronic biomedical data processing system is created to share medical information for the control of health rights and timely and rapid response to crisis. The system includes the main blocks: bioprocessor, analog-digital converter biomedical images, optoelectronic module for image processing, optoelectronic module for parallel recording and storage of biomedical imaging and matrix screen display of biomedical images. Rated temporal characteristics of the blocks defined by a particular triggering optoelectronic couple in analog-digital converters and time imaging for matrix screen. The element base for hardware implementation of the developed matrix screen is integrated optoelectronic couples produced by selective epitaxy.

KBGIS-2: A knowledge-based geographic information system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, T.; Peuquet, D.; Menon, S.; Agarwal, P.

1986-01-01

The architecture and working of a recently implemented knowledge-based geographic information system (KBGIS-2) that was designed to satisfy several general criteria for the geographic information system are described. The system has four major functions that include query-answering, learning, and editing. The main query finds constrained locations for spatial objects that are describable in a predicate-calculus based spatial objects language. The main search procedures include a family of constraint-satisfaction procedures that use a spatial object knowledge base to search efficiently for complex spatial objects in large, multilayered spatial data bases. These data bases are represented in quadtree form. The search strategy is designed to reduce the computational cost of search in the average case. The learning capabilities of the system include the addition of new locations of complex spatial objects to the knowledge base as queries are answered, and the ability to learn inductively definitions of new spatial objects from examples. The new definitions are added to the knowledge base by the system. The system is currently performing all its designated tasks successfully, although currently implemented on inadequate hardware. Future reports will detail the performance characteristics of the system, and various new extensions are planned in order to enhance the power of KBGIS-2.

'Everyone's talking Jadelle': the experiences and attitudes of service providers regarding the use of the contraceptive implant, Jadelle in young people in New Zealand.

PubMed

Sandle, Meghan; Tuohy, P

2017-04-28

The contraceptive implant Jadelle, along with other types of long-acting reversible contraception, is thought to be an ideal choice for young people wanting to avoid pregnancy, however, uptake is low. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and experiences of health professionals regarding the use of Jadelle in teenagers. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with professionals providing contraceptive services to young people. Sampling was by identifying key informants and subsequent snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed and main themes identified. Ten interviews were done with service providers, including midwives, doctors and nurses. Five main themes were identified: characteristics of young people, contraceptive services, positive features of Jadelle, barriers to contraception and individual choice. Jadelle was seen as a good option due to its effectiveness, discreetness and user independence. Barriers for young people obtaining Jadelle included cost, access, fear of procedure and lack of appropriate services. Health professionals had a range of experiences using the contraceptive implant Jadelle. Most felt that Jadelle was a good choice for young people. Improvements to access were identified, including reduced cost and more youth-friendly services, which may lead to increased Jadelle uptake and a subsequent reduction in unintended teenage pregnancies.

Patient characteristics as predictors of primary health care preferences: a systematic literature analysis

PubMed Central

Jung, Hans Peter; Baerveldt, Cor; Olesen, Frede; Grol, Richard; Wensing, Michel

2003-01-01

Abstract Objective To identify associations between various cultural and demographic factors and patients’ primary health care preferences. Search strategy Searches were performed in MEDLINE (1966–December 2000), PsycINFO (1977–May 2001) and Sociological Abstracts (1963–December 2000). Identified papers were checked for more papers. Inclusion criteria Studies with a focus on primary health care or health care in general, asking patients about preferences with regard to health care, reporting quantitative results and examining the relations between specific patient characteristics and patient preferences. Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted from studies using a scoring form to register what methods were used, which patient characteristics were analysed and which patient characteristics significantly influenced patients’ preferences with regard to different aspects of health care (P < 0.05). Main results A total of 145 studies were included with 2276 comparisons between subgroups of patients. Of all the comparisons, 607 (27%) showed a significant association between patient characteristics and preferences with regard to primary health care. Age and economic status significantly related to patient preferences in 38 and 33% of the comparisons, respectively. Education, health status, family situation, sex, and utilization of health care related significantly to patient preferences in less than 25% of the comparisons. Conclusions This review of the literature showed patient characteristics to be an important determinant of preferences regarding many aspects of primary health care defined as general practice care or health care, in general. All of the patient characteristics examined here showed at least some significant associations with preferences for primary health care. PMID:12752744

[The muzzle and biochemical genetic markers as supplementary breed characteristics in cattle].

PubMed

Tarasiuk, S I; Glazko, V I; Trofimenko, A L

1997-01-01

The comparative analysis of characteristics of three different cattle breeds (Brown Carpathian, Pinzgauer, Red Polish) on the 5 molecular-genetic markers and 5 muzzle dermatoglyphic types was carried out. It was indicated, that one characteristic can not be use as a breed-specific one but only their complex. The main aspect of search of this complex is the use of characteristics which mark different structure-functional systems of whole organism.

Ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, December 2016 to March 2017: characteristics and challenges.

PubMed

Grammens, Tine; Schirvel, Carole; Leenen, Sylvie; Shodu, Nathalie; Hutse, Veronik; Mendes da Costa, Elise; Sabbe, Martine

2017-04-27

We describe characteristics of an ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, and difficulties in control measures implementation. As at 12 March 2017, 177 measles cases were notified, of which 50% were 15 years and older, 49% female. Atypical clinical presentation and severe complications, mainly among adults, in combination with late notification, low or unknown vaccination coverage of contacts, infected healthcare workers and increased workload due to contact tracing, are the main concerns for outbreak management. This article is copyright of The Authors, 2017.

Fluid mass and thermal loading effects on the modal characteristics of space shuttle main engine liquid oxygen inlet splitter vanes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panossian, H. V.; Boehnlein, J. J.

1987-01-01

An analysis and evaluation of experimental modal survey test data on the variations of modal characteristics induced by pressure and thermal loading events are presented. Extensive modal survey tests were carried out on a Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) test article using liquid nitrogen under cryogenic temperatures and high pressures. The results suggest that an increase of pressure under constant cryogenic temperature or a decrease of temperature under high pressure induces an upward shift of frequencies of various modes of the structures.

Convergent Plate Boundary Processes in the Archean: Evidence from Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polat, A.

2014-12-01

The structural, magmatic and metamorphic characteristics of Archean greenstone belts and associated TTG (tonalite, trondhjemite and granodiorite) gneisses in southern West Greenland are comparable to those of Phanerozoic convergent plate margins, suggesting that Archean continents grew mainly at subduction zones. These greenstone belts are composed mainly of tectonically juxtaposed fragments of oceanic crust including mafic to ultramafic rocks, with minor sedimentary rocks. Volcanic rocks in the greenstone belts are characterized mainly by island arc tholeiitic basalts, picrites, and boninites. The style of deformation and geometry of folds in 10 cm to 5 m wide shear zones are comparable to those occur on 1 to 50 km scale in the greenstone belts and TTG gneisses, suggesting that compressional tectonic processes operating at convergent plate boundaries were the driving force of Archean crustal accretion and growth. Field observations and trace element data suggest that Archean continental crust grew through accretion of mainly island arcs and melting of metamorphosed mafic rocks (amphibolites) in thickened arcs during multiple tectonothermal events. Fold patterns on cm to km scale are consistent with at least three phases of deformation and multiple melting events generating TTG melts that intruded mainly along shear zones in accretionary prism and magmatic arcs. It is suggested that Archean TTGs were produced by three main processes: (1) melting of thickened oceanic island arcs; (2) melting of subducted oceanic crust; and (3) differentiation of basaltic melts originating from metasomatized sub-arc mantle wedge peridotites.

Aeroacoustic Study of a High-Fidelity Aircraft Model. Part 2; Unsteady Surface Pressures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khorrami, Mehdi R.; Neuhart, Danny H.

2012-01-01

In this paper, we present unsteady surface pressure measurements for an 18%-scale, semi-span Gulfstream aircraft model. This high-fidelity model is being used to perform detailed studies of airframe noise associated with main landing gear, flap components, and gear-flap interaction noise, as well as to evaluate novel noise reduction concepts. The aerodynamic segment of the tests, conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel, was completed in November 2010. To discern the characteristics of the surface pressure fluctuations in the vicinity of the prominent noise sources, unsteady sensors were installed on the inboard and outboard flap edges, and on the main gear wheels, struts, and door. Various configurations were tested, including flap deflections of 0?, 20?, and 39?, with and without the main landing gear. The majority of unsteady surface pressure measurements were acquired for the nominal landing configuration where the main gear was deployed and the flap was deflected 39?. To assess the Mach number variation of the surface pressure amplitudes, measurements were obtained at Mach numbers of 0.16, 0.20, and 0.24. Comparison of the unsteady surface pressures with the main gear on and off shows significant interaction between the gear wake and the inboard flap edge, resulting in higher amplitude fluctuations when the gear is present.

Properties of Lightning Strike Protection Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gagne, Martin

Composite materials are being increasingly used by many industries. In the case of aerospace companies, those materials are installed on their aircraft to save weight, and thus, fuel costs. These aircraft are lighter, but the loss of electrical conductivity makes aircraft vulnerable to lightning strikes, which hit commercial aircrafts on average once per year. This makes lightning strike protection very important, and while current metallic expanded copper foils offer good protection, they increase the weight of composites. Therefore, under the CRIAQ COMP-502 project, a team of industrial partners and academic researchers are investigating new conductive coatings with the following characteristics: High electromagnetic protection, high mechanical resistance, good environmental protection, manufacturability and moderate cost. The main objectives of this thesis, as part of this project, was to determine the main characteristics, such as electrical and tribomechanical properties, of conductive coatings on composite panels. Their properties were also to be tested after destructive tests such as current injection and environmental testing. Bombardier Aerospace provided the substrate, a composite of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy matrix, and the current commercial product, a surfacing film that includes an expanded copper foil used to compare with the other coatings. The conductive coatings fabricated by the students are: silver nanoparticles inside a binding matrix (PEDOT:PSS or a mix of Epoxy and PEDOT:PSS), silvered carbon nanofibers embedded in the surfacing film, cold sprayed tin, graphene oxide functionalized with silver nanowires, and electroless plated silver. Additionally as part of the project and thesis, magnetron sputtered aluminum coated samples were fabricated. There are three main types of tests to characterize the conductive coatings: electrical, mechanical and environmental. Electrical tests consist of finding the sheet resistance and specific resistivity of conductive coatings. Mechanical tests include adhesion, scratch, hardness and Young's modulus of the coatings. The environmental tests are temperature cycling and salt spray cycling. These basic characteristics were investigated first, but further tests also combine the categories, such as electrical tests before, during and after environmental tests, and the effects on the sample's mechanical properties after high electrical current injections. The electrical properties of the conductive coatings have improved and are very close to that of current expanded metallic foil or within an order of magnitude. The mechanical properties of most of these coatings are also good. They exhibit good adhesion, hardness, and no significant loss of flexion properties after current injections. The environmental tests are more mitigated, with some conductive coatings losing their surface conductivity, others having a small increase in specific resistivity, and some were simply unaffected. Tests such as thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope analysis of scratch tests, and optical microscope observations are included to provide additional analysis of the results of the conductive coatings. The conductive coatings were characterized and tested as part of the CRIAQ project. Lightning strike tests are required to gather further information on these conductive coatings. The main application for these coatings is for lightning strike protection of aircraft, but they can also be used for ground based lightning strike protection and general electromagnetic shielding.

Signal Separation of Helicopter Radar Returns Using Wavelet-Based Sparse Signal Optimisation

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

RR–0436 ABSTRACT A novel wavelet-based sparse signal representation technique is used to separate the main and tail rotor blade components of a...helicopter from the composite radar returns. The received signal consists of returns from the rotating main and tail rotor blades , the helicopter body...component signal com- prising of returns from the main body, the main and tail rotor hubs and blades . Temporal and Doppler characteristics of these

[Cutaneous adverse drug reaction: prospective study of 118 cases].

PubMed

Chaabane, Hend; Masmoudi, Abderrahmen; Amouri, Meriem; Ghorbel, Sonda; Boudaya, Sonia; Hammami, Serriya; Zghal, Khaled; Turki, Hamida

2013-01-01

Few prospective studies are available on the incidence and analysis of the characteristics of adverse cutaneous drug reactions. To describe the adverse cutaneous reactions, their epidemiologic characteristics as well as the different causative drugs through a prospective hospital study. A 12-month prospective study was managed in our department of dermatology of the teaching hospital Hedi Chaker of Sfax. Requested information included patient characteristics (associated disorders), drug intake (list and chronology of the drug intake during the 3 weeks preceding the adverse reaction) and characteristics of the skin reaction (type, course). The diagnosis was based on a beam of clinical and anamnestic arguments. The drug imputability was evaluated according to the Begaud's French method. One hundred eighteen cases were collected. A prevalence of 1.08/100 among patients consulting in dermatology department was estimated. The macular and papular exanthema represented the most frequent clinical aspects (42 cases) followed by acute urticaria (23 cases), photosensitivity (19 cases) and fixed drug eruption (15 cases). Principal imputable drugs were antibiotics, mainly penicillins followed by analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. Although it was monocentric, this study revealed a high frequency of drug-induced dermatitis with different clinical presentation. The high incidence of drug-induced dermatitis induced by antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory is due to their widespread use, often in self-medication.

Upregulation of mitochondrial NAD+ levels impairs the clonogenicity of SSEA1+ glioblastoma tumor-initiating cells.

PubMed

Son, Myung Jin; Ryu, Jae-Sung; Kim, Jae Yun; Kwon, Youjeong; Chung, Kyung-Sook; Mun, Seon Ju; Cho, Yee Sook

2017-06-09

Emerging evidence has emphasized the importance of cancer therapies targeting an abnormal metabolic state of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) in which they retain stem cell-like phenotypes and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) metabolism. However, the functional role of NAD + metabolism in regulating the characteristics of TICs is not known. In this study, we provide evidence that the mitochondrial NAD + levels affect the characteristics of glioma-driven SSEA1 + TICs, including clonogenic growth potential. An increase in the mitochondrial NAD + levels by the overexpression of the mitochondrial enzyme nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) significantly suppressed the sphere-forming ability and induced differentiation of TICs, suggesting a loss of the characteristics of TICs. In addition, increased SIRT3 activity and reduced lactate production, which are mainly observed in healthy and young cells, appeared following NNT-overexpressed TICs. Moreover, in vivo tumorigenic potential was substantially abolished by NNT overexpression. Conversely, the short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of NNT facilitated the maintenance of TIC characteristics, as evidenced by the increased numbers of large tumor spheres and in vivo tumorigenic potential. Our results demonstrated that targeting the maintenance of healthy mitochondria with increased mitochondrial NAD + levels and SIRT3 activity could be a promising strategy for abolishing the development of TICs as a new therapeutic approach to treating aging-associated tumors.

Using an interdisciplinary approach to identify factors that affect clinicians' compliance with evidence-based guidelines.

PubMed

Gurses, Ayse P; Marsteller, Jill A; Ozok, A Ant; Xiao, Yan; Owens, Sharon; Pronovost, Peter J

2010-08-01

Our objective was to identify factors that affect clinicians' compliance with the evidence-based guidelines using an interdisciplinary approach and develop a conceptual framework that can provide a comprehensive and practical guide for designing effective interventions. A literature review and a brainstorming session with 11 researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines were used to identify theoretical and conceptual models describing clinicians' guideline compliance. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the bibliographies of the papers identified were used as data sources for identifying the relevant theoretical and conceptual models. Thirteen different models that originated from various disciplines including medicine, rural sociology, psychology, human factors and systems engineering, organizational management, marketing, and health education were identified. Four main categories of factors that affect compliance emerged from our analysis: clinician characteristics, guideline characteristics, system characteristics, and implementation characteristics. Based on these findings, we developed an interdisciplinary conceptual framework that specifies the expected interrelationships among these four categories of factors and their impact on clinicians' compliance. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to improve clinicians' compliance with evidence-based guidelines. The conceptual framework from this research can provide a comprehensive and systematic guide to identify barriers to guideline compliance and design effective interventions to improve patient safety.

SPRUCE Small Differences in Ombrotrophy Control Regional-Scale Variation in Methane Cycling among Sphagnum-Dominated Peatlands: Supporting Data

DOE Data Explorer

Zalman, C.; Keller, J.K.; Tfaily, M.; Kolton, M.; Pfeifer-Meister, L.; Wilson, R.M.; Lin, X.; Chanton, J.; Kostka, J.E.; Gill, A.; Finzi, A.; Hopple, A. M.; Bohanna, B.J.M.; Bridgham, S.D.

2018-01-01

These data are provided in support of the SPRUCE publication: Small Differences in Ombrotrophy Control Regional-Scale Variation in Methane Cycling among Sphagnum-Dominated Peatlands (Zalman et al., 2018) Reports the examination of the mechanisms controlling C cycling rates and greenhouse gas emissions using a combination of biogeochemical and microbial approaches in three low pH, Sphagnum-dominated peatlands in northern Minnesota. In particular, we investigated biogeochemical parameters (CH4 and CO2 production potentials, porewater and gas CH4 and CO2 concentrations and associated isotopic signatures), soil chemistry (organic acids and phenolics), and microbial community characteristics (quantification of methanogen and methanotroph abundance and activity) over a 1-year period in these three peatlands. The objective of this intensive study was to analyze biogeochemical and microbial characteristics of three outwardly similar low pH, Sphagnum-dominated peatlands to determine key characteristics that could explain differences in anaerobic C cycling and net CH4 flux despite their close geographical proximity and similar soil pH and plant communities. The supporting data provided include the measurement data for samples from the Minnesota locations, site characteristics, and the summarized and aggregated data used to generate the figures in the main text of the paper and the supplementary data figures for the Minnesota locations.

Diversity characteristics and the experiences of nursing students' during clinical placements: A qualitative study of students and supervisors views.

PubMed

Koch, Jane; Everett, Bronwyn; Phillips, Jane; Davidson, Patricia M

2014-11-10

Abstract Background: Little is known about which diversity characteristics if any, impact on nursing students' clinical placements or how these may affect the quality of their learning experiences. There is therefore a need to better understand these effects not only from the student's perspective but also from the perspective of the staff who supervise them, in order to ensure students obtain maximal benefit from their placements. Aim: To describe the clinical experiences of nursing students and the diversity characteristics that affect this learning experience. Methods: Data were collected from a series of open-ended questions embedded within a larger anonymous web-based survey, from August 2011 to March 2012. Participants included first, second and third year undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing students (N=704) and faculty members involved in the clinical learning environment (N = 165) from seven Australian universities. Findings: Qualitative findings were clustered into three main themes, differences, difficulty and discrimination, each with three subthemes. Conclusion: Findings suggest a need to offer appropriate support for nursing students who feel different because of diversity characteristics. Whilst some of the participant perceptions are confronting they provide valuable insights for universities developing curricula and the clinical placement facilities where students obtain their experience.

Diversity characteristics and the experiences of nursing students during clinical placements: A qualitative study of student, faculty and supervisors' views.

PubMed

Koch, Jane; Everett, Bronwyn; Phillips, Jane; Davidson, Patricia M

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: Little is known about which diversity characteristics if any, impact on nursing students' clinical placements or how these may affect the quality of their learning experiences. There is therefore a need to better understand these effects not only from the student's perspective but also from the perspective of the staff who supervise them, in order to ensure students obtain maximal benefit from their placements. To describe the clinical experiences of nursing students and the diversity characteristics that affect this learning experience. Data were collected from a series of open-ended questions embedded within a larger anonymous web-based survey, from August 2011 to March 2012. Participants included first, second and third year undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing students (N = 704) and faculty members involved in the clinical learning environment (N = 165) from seven Australian universities. Qualitative findings were clustered into three main themes: differences, difficulty and discrimination, each with three sub-themes. FINDINGS suggest a need to offer appropriate support for nursing students who feel different because of diversity characteristics. Whilst some of the participant perceptions are confronting they provide valuable insights for universities developing curricula and the clinical placement facilities where students obtain their experience.

Nature and tectonic implications of uneven sedimentary filling of the South China Sea oceanic basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Shaoru; Li, Jiabiao; Ding, Weiwei; Fang, Yinxia

2017-04-01

The IODP Expedition 349 in 2014, for the first time, illustrated significant differences of sediment rate and lithology in the central South China Sea (SCS) oceanic basin. Based on seismic reflection profiles tied to IODP349 drilling data, we investigated characteristics of sedimentary filling of the whole SCS oceanic basin, and examined their implications for tectonics. Results show that sediments fill the SCS oceanic basin mainly in three depositional patterns. Firstly, during the Oligocene to middle Miocene, sediments amassed almost solely and then connected like a band parallel to the continent in a low average sediment rate (<10 m/Myr) in the northern oceanic basin. These sediments were deposited mainly in the form of submarine fans and mass transport deposits. Sediments were predominately supplied by the Red and Pearl Rivers and the Dongsha Islands. The sedimentary characteristics likely reflect the latest early Miocene end of seafloor spreading of the SCS and the first-phase rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Secondly, during the late Miocene, deposition mainly occurred in the Northwest Sub-basin and extended southeastward with a middle average sediment rate ( 30 m/Myr). Sediments were mostly transported by the Red River and Xisha Trough and deposited in the form of submarine fans. The abnormal increase of sediment rate in the Northwest Sub-basin reflects late Miocene slip reversal of the Red River Fault. Finally, since the Pliocene, sediments gradually propagated northeastward in the Southwestern Sub-basin, and accumulated rapidly in the southeastern and northeastern basin, especially in the northern Manila Trench during the Quaternary, in an average sediment rate about 60-80 m/Myr. These sediments were transported mainly by submarine canyons and settled in the form of submarine fans and canyon-overbank deposition. Sediments came from four major sources, including Taiwan, Dongsha Islands, Mekong River, and northern Palawan. The Pliocene to Quaternary explosion of uneven sedimentary filling in the SCS oceanic basin points to the combined action of local and regional tectonics, including the two-phase rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, the Pliocene to Quaternary increased northwestward movement of the Philippine Sea plate and Dongsha event. This study exhibits hitherto most completed observation of sedimentary filling of the SCS oceanic basin and provides new geophysical evidences for the local and regional important tectonics.

[Characteristics of marketing complex formation in rendering of sanatorium resort services].

PubMed

Kemalov, R F

2006-01-01

Basic positions in sanatorium resort marketing and its evolution with description of its main components are considered. Marketing research management in sanatorium resort institutions, marketing theory, analysis of services market, characteristics of marketing complex formation are presented.

In situ evaluation of the fruit and oil characteristics of the main Lebanese olive germplasm.

PubMed

Chehade, Ali; Bitar, Ahmad El; Kadri, Aline; Choueiri, Elia; Nabbout, Rania; Youssef, Hiyam; Smeha, Maha; Awada, Ali; Chami, Ziad Al; Dubla, Eustachio; Trani, Antonio; Mondelli, Donato; Famiani, Franco

2016-05-01

Very little information is available on the characteristics of the Lebanese olive germplasm. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the fruit and oil characteristics of the main Lebanese olive varieties (Aayrouni, Abou chawkeh, Baladi, Del and Soury) from two successive crop seasons (2010-2011). All of the genotypes had medium-high oil content in the fruit, indicating their suitability for oil production; Aayrouni had particularly high values. The variety Abou chawkeh also had a high pulp/pit ratio, which is a very desirable trait in table olives. For all the varieties the values of free fatty acids, peroxide values, absorbances in ultraviolet, fatty acid composition, sterol content and composition and erythrodiol + uvaol content of the oils were within the requirements of the International Olive Council's Trade Standard for extra virgin olive oil. The only exception was for the values of Δ-7-stigmastenol in 2011 in Soury and, especially, in Baladi, which were higher than 0.5%. In some cases, stearic and arachidic acids fluctuated around the maximum values allowed. The findings of this study provide a first picture of the main characteristics of olives and oils currently produced in Lebanon. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characteristics of Low-Wage Workers in Ontario. Employment Information Series No. 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hird, H. Richard

The report presents the results of a 1973-74 survey conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Labor to identify the characteristics of low-wage workers in Ontario. Its primary purpose is to discuss the survey methodology and present some of the main characteristics of low-wage earners and of the labor market. The data source was the Master Registration…

JPRS Report, China.

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-27

in the world will be able to compare with the United IV. Basic Characteristics of the Future Multipolar States and the USSR in military strength...main characteristic of the bipolar age was two and strike capabilities. They were also the earliest to antithetical superpowers, formulation of a...over the adversary. By military expenditures, totaling $950 billion. Third, the comparison with the foregoing characteristics , the mul- United States

Floristic characteristics of alien invasive seed plant species in China.

PubMed

Wang, Congyan; Liu, Jun; Xiao, Hongguang; Zhou, Jiawei; DU, Daolin

2016-01-01

This study aims to determine the floristic characteristics of alien invasive seed plant species (AISPS) in China. There are a total of five hundred and thirteen AISPS, belonging to seventy families and two hundred and eighty-three genera. Seventy families were classified into nine areal types at the family level, and "Cosmopolitan" and "Pantropic" are the two main types. Two hundred and eighty-three genera were classified into twelve areal types at the genus level, and "Pantropic", "Trop. Asia & Amer. disjuncted", and "Cosmopolitan" are the three main types. These results reveal a certain degree of diversity among AISPS in China. The floristic characteristics at the family level exhibit strong pantropic characteristics. Two possible reasons for this are as follows. Firstly, southeastern China is heavily invaded by alien invasive plant species and this region has a mild climate. Secondly, southeastern China is more disturbed by human activities than other regions in China. The floristic characteristics at the genus level display strong pantropic but with abundant temperate characteristics. This may be due to that China across five climatic zones and the ecosystems in which the most alien invasive plant species occur have the same or similar climate with their natural habitat.

[Complexity of care: meanings and interpretation].

PubMed

Cologna, Marina; Zanolli, Daniela; Saiani, Luisa

2010-01-01

Although the concept of complexity of care is widely used and discussed, its meaning is blurred and its characteristics are not well defined. To identify the words used to define the concept of complexity in the literature and its meaning. A literature search was performed on the following databases: Pubmed, Medline, Ebsco, Cinahl and Cochrane. No temporal limits were set; publications written in English and Italian were included. Several terms are used to define the concept of complexity, often interchangeably notwithstanding their different meaning. Three main concepts were identified: nursing intensity that includes the concepts of dependency, severity and complexity of patients care; nursing workload that comprises the concept of nursing intensity and all the activities not patient-related; and the patient acuity that includes the severity of illness and the caring intensity. A common definition is needed to be able to use the concept of complexity of care to allocate nursing resources.

Resistivity method contribution in determining of fault zone and hydro-geophysical characteristics of carbonate aquifer, eastern desert, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ammar, A. I.; Kamal, K. A.

2018-03-01

Determination of fault zone and hydro-geophysical characteristics of the fractured aquifers are complicated, because their fractures are controlled by different factors. Therefore, 60 VESs were carried out as well as 17 productive wells for determining the locations of the fault zones and the characteristics of the carbonate aquifer at the eastern desert, Egypt. The general curve type of the recorded rock units was QKH. These curves were used in delineating the zones of faults according to the application of the new assumptions. The main aquifer was included at end of the K-curve type and front of the H-curve type. The subsurface layers classified into seven different geoelectric layers. The fractured shaly limestone and fractured limestone layers were the main aquifer and their resistivity changed from low to medium (11-93 Ω m). The hydro-geophysical properties of this aquifer such as the areas of very high, high, and intermediate fracture densities of high groundwater accumulations, salinity, shale content, porosity distribution, and recharging and flowing of groundwater were determined. The statistical analysis appeared that depending of aquifer resistivity on the water salinities (T.D.S.) and water resistivities add to the fracture density and shale content. The T.D.S. increasing were controlled by Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, and then (SO4)2-, respectively. The porosity was calculated and its average value was 19%. The hydrochemical analysis of groundwater appeared that its type was brackish and the arrangements of cation concentrations were Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and anion concentrations were Cl- > (SO4)2- > HCO3 - > CO3 -. The groundwater was characterized by sodium-bicarbonate and sodium-sulfate genetic water types and meteoric in origin. Hence, it can use the DC-resistivity method in delineating the fault zone and determining the hydro-geophysical characteristics of the fractured aquifer with taking into account the quality of measurements and interpretation.

A review of the distribution coefficients of trace elements in soils: influence of sorption system, element characteristics, and soil colloidal properties.

PubMed

Shaheen, Sabry M; Tsadilas, Christos D; Rinklebe, Jörg

2013-12-01

Knowledge about the behavior and reactions of separate soil components with trace elements (TEs) and their distribution coefficients (Kds) in soils is a key issue in assessing the mobility and retention of TEs. Thus, the fate of TEs and the toxic risk they pose depend crucially on their Kd in soil. This article reviews the Kd of TEs in soils as affected by the sorption system, element characteristics, and soil colloidal properties. The sorption mechanism, determining factors, favorable conditions, and competitive ions on the sorption and Kd of TEs are also discussed here. This review demonstrates that the Kd value of TEs does not only depend on inorganic and organic soil constituents, but also on the nature and characteristics of the elements involved as well as on their competition for sorption sites. The Kd value of TEs is mainly affected by individual or competitive sorption systems. Generally, the sorption in competitive systems is lower than in mono-metal sorption systems. More strongly sorbed elements, such as Pb and Cu, are less affected by competition than mobile elements, such as Cd, Ni, and Zn. The sorption preference exhibited by soils for elements over others may be due to: (i) the hydrolysis constant, (ii) the atomic weight, (iii) the ionic radius, and subsequently the hydrated radius, and (iv) its Misono softness value. Moreover, element concentrations in the test solution mainly affect the Kd values. Mostly, values of Kd decrease as the concentration of the included cation increases in the test solution. Additionally, the Kd of TEs is controlled by the sorption characteristics of soils, such as pH, clay minerals, soil organic matter, Fe and Mn oxides, and calcium carbonate. However, more research is required to verify the practical utilization of studying Kd of TEs in soils as a reliable indicator for assessing the remediation process of toxic metals in soils and waters. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent development of ionic liquid stationary phases for liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Shi, Xianzhe; Qiao, Lizhen; Xu, Guowang

2015-11-13

Based on their particular physicochemical characteristics, ionic liquids have been widely applied in many fields of analytical chemistry. Many types of ionic liquids were immobilized on a support like silica or monolith as stationary phases for liquid chromatography. Moreover, different approaches were developed to bond covalently ionic liquids onto the supporting materials. The obtained ionic liquid stationary phases show multi-mode mechanism including hydrophobic, hydrophilic, hydrogen bond, anion exchange, π-π, and dipole-dipole interactions. Therefore, they could be used in different chromatographic modes including ion-exchange, RPLC, NPLC and HILIC to separate various classes of compounds. This review mainly summarizes the immobilized patterns and types of ionic liquid stationary phases, their retention mechanisms and applications in the recent five years. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Developing and utilizing an Euler computational method for predicting the airframe/propulsion effects for an aft-mounted turboprop transport. Volume 2: User guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, H. C.; Neback, H. E.; Kao, T. J.; Yu, N. Y.; Kusunose, K.

1991-01-01

This manual explains how to use an Euler based computational method for predicting the airframe/propulsion integration effects for an aft-mounted turboprop transport. The propeller power effects are simulated by the actuator disk concept. This method consists of global flow field analysis and the embedded flow solution for predicting the detailed flow characteristics in the local vicinity of an aft-mounted propfan engine. The computational procedure includes the use of several computer programs performing four main functions: grid generation, Euler solution, grid embedding, and streamline tracing. This user's guide provides information for these programs, including input data preparations with sample input decks, output descriptions, and sample Unix scripts for program execution in the UNICOS environment.

Instance Search Retrospective with Focus on TRECVID

PubMed Central

Awad, George; Kraaij, Wessel; Over, Paul; Satoh, Shin’ichi

2017-01-01

This paper presents an overview of the Video Instance Search benchmark which was run over a period of 6 years (2010–2015) as part of the TREC Video Retrieval (TRECVID) workshop series. The main contributions of the paper include i) an examination of the evolving design of the evaluation framework and its components (system tasks, data, measures); ii) an analysis of the influence of topic characteristics (such as rigid/non rigid, planar/non-planar, stationary/mobile on performance; iii) a high-level overview of results and best-performing approaches. The Instance Search (INS) benchmark worked with a variety of large collections of data including Sound & Vision, Flickr, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Rushes for the first 3 pilot years and with the small world of the BBC Eastenders series for the last 3 years. PMID:28758054

Misconduct as the main cause for retraction. A descriptive study of retracted publications and their authors.

PubMed

Campos-Varela, Isabel; Ruano-Raviña, Alberto

2018-06-05

To analyze the causes of retracted publications and the main characteristics of their authors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed including all retracted publications from January 1st, 2013-December 31st, 2016 indexed in PubMed. The causes of retraction were classified as: data management, authorship issues, plagiarism, unethical research, journal issues, review process, conflict of interest, other causes, and unknown reasons. Then, misbehaviour was classified as misconduct, suspicion of misconduct or no misconduct suspicion. 1,082 retracted publications were identified. The retraction rate for the period was 2.5 per 10,000 publications. The main cause of retraction was misconduct (65.3%), and the leading reasons were plagiarism, data management and compromise of the review process. The highest proportion of retracted publications corresponded to Iran (15.52 per 10,000), followed by Egypt and China (11.75 and 8.26 per 10,000). Currently, misconduct is the main cause of retraction. Specific strategies to limit this phenomenon must be implemented. It would be useful to standardize reasons and procedures for retraction. The development of a standard retraction form to be permanently indexed in a database might be relevant. Copyright © 2018 SESPAS. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Endocarditis associated with vertebral osteomyelitis and septic arthritis of the axial skeleton.

PubMed

Murillo, Oscar; Grau, Imma; Gomez-Junyent, Joan; Cabrera, Celina; Ribera, Alba; Tubau, Fe; Peña, Carmen; Ariza, Javier; Pallares, Roman

2018-04-01

The relationship between infective endocarditis (IE) and osteoarticular infections (OAIs) are not well known. We aimed to study the characteristics of patients with IE and OAIs, and the interactions between these two infections. An observational study (1993-2014) which includes two cohorts: (1) patients with IE (n = 607) and (2) patients with bacteremic OAIs (n = 458; septic arthritis of peripheral and axial skeleton, and vertebral and peripheral osteomyelitis). These two cohorts were prospectively collected, and we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and microbiological variables. There were 70 cases of IE with concomitant OAIs, representing 11.5% of IE cases and 15% of bacteremic OAI cases. Among cases with IE, the associated OAIs mainly involved the axial skeleton (n = 54, 77%): 43 were vertebral osteomyelitis (61%), mainly caused by "less virulent" bacteria (viridans and bovis streptococci, enterococci, and coagulase-negative staphylococci), and 15 were septic arthritis of the axial skeleton (21%), which were mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. OAIs with involvement of the axial skeleton were associated with IE (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.3) independently of age, sex, and microorganisms. Among patients with IE, the associated OAIs mainly involve the axial skeleton. Transesophageal echocardiography should be carefully considered in patients presenting with these bacteremic OAIs.

GPs' considerations in multimorbidity management: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Luijks, Hilde D; Loeffen, Maartje J W; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine L; van Weel, Chris; Lucassen, Peter L; Schermer, Tjard R

2012-07-01

Scientific evidence on how to manage multimorbidity is limited, but GPs have extensive practical experience with multimorbidity management. To explore GPs' considerations and main objectives in the management of multimorbidity and to explore factors influencing their management of multimorbidity. Focus group study of Dutch GPs; with heterogeneity in characteristics such as sex, age and urbanisation. The moderator used an interview guide in conducting the interviews. Two researchers performed the analysis as an iterative process, based on verbatim transcripts and by applying the technique of constant comparative analysis. Data collection proceeded until saturation was reached. Five focus groups were conducted with 25 participating GPs. The main themes concerning multimorbidity management were individualisation, applying an integrated approach, medical considerations placed in perspective, and sharing decision making and responsibility. A personal patient-doctor relationship was considered a major factor positively influencing the management of multimorbidity. Mental-health problems and interacting conditions were regarded as major barriers in this respect and participants experienced several practical problems. The concept of patient-centredness overarches the participants' main objectives. GPs' main objective in multimorbidity management is applying a patient-centred approach. This approach is welcomed since it counteracts some potential pitfalls of multimorbidity. Further research should include a similar design in a different setting and should aim at developing best practice in multimorbidity management.

The evaluation of rainfall influence on combined sewer overflows characteristics: the Berlin case study.

PubMed

Sandoval, S; Torres, A; Pawlowsky-Reusing, E; Riechel, M; Caradot, N

2013-01-01

The present study aims to explore the relationship between rainfall variables and water quality/quantity characteristics of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), by the use of multivariate statistical methods and online measurements at a principal CSO outlet in Berlin (Germany). Canonical correlation results showed that the maximum and average rainfall intensities are the most influential variables to describe CSO water quantity and pollutant loads whereas the duration of the rainfall event and the rain depth seem to be the most influential variables to describe CSO pollutant concentrations. The analysis of partial least squares (PLS) regression models confirms the findings of the canonical correlation and highlights three main influences of rainfall on CSO characteristics: (i) CSO water quantity characteristics are mainly influenced by the maximal rainfall intensities, (ii) CSO pollutant concentrations were found to be mostly associated with duration of the rainfall and (iii) pollutant loads seemed to be principally influenced by dry weather duration before the rainfall event. The prediction quality of PLS models is rather low (R² < 0.6) but results can be useful to explore qualitatively the influence of rainfall on CSO characteristics.

[Phonological characteristics and rehabilitation training of abnormal velar in children with functional articulation disorders].

PubMed

Lina, Xu; Feng, Li; Yanyun, Zhang; Nan, Gao; Mingfang, Hu

2016-12-01

To explore the phonological characteristics and rehabilitation training of abnormal velar in patients with functional articulation disorders (FAD). Eighty-seven patients with FAD were observed of the phonological characteristics of velar. Seventy-two patients with abnormal velar accepted speech training. The correlation and simple linear regression analysis were carried out on abnormal velar articulation and age. The articulation disorder of /g/ mainly showed replacement by /d/, /b/ or omission. /k/ mainly showed replacement by /d/, /t/, /g/, /p/, /b/. /h/ mainly showed replacement by /g/, /f/, /p/, /b/ or omission. The common erroneous articulation forms of /g/, /k/, /h/ were fronting of tongue and replacement by bilabial consonants. When velar combined with vowels contained /a/ and /e/, the main error was fronting of tongue. When velar combined with vowels contained /u/, the errors trended to be replacement by bilabial consonants. After 3 to 10 times of speech training, the number of erroneous words decreased to (6.24±2.61) from (40.28±6.08) before the speech training was established, the difference was statistically significant (Z=-7.379, P=0.000). The number of erroneous words was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.691, P=0.000). The result of simple linear regression analysis showed that the determination coefficient was 0.472. The articulation disorder of velar mainly shows replacement, varies with the vowels. The targeted rehabilitation training hereby established is significantly effective. Age plays an important role in the outcome of velar.

Subsurface structure around Omi basin using borehole database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitada, N.; Ito, H.; Takemura, K.; Mitamura, M.

2015-12-01

Kansai Geo-informatics Network (KG-NET) is organized as a new system of management of GI-base in 2005. This organization collects the geotechnical and geological information of borehole data more than 60,000 data. GI-base is the database system of the KG-NET and platform to use these borehole data. Kansai Geo-informatics Research Committee (KG-R) is tried to explain the geotechnical properties and geological environment using borehole database in Kansai area. In 2014, KG-R established the 'Shin-Kansai Jiban Omi plain', and explain the subsurface geology and characteristics of geotechnical properties. In this study we introduce this result and consider the sedimental environment and characteristics in this area. Omi Basin is located in the central part of Shiga Prefecture which includes the largest lake in Japan called Lake Biwa. About 15,000 borehole data are corrected to consider the subsurface properties. The outline of topographical and geological characteristics of the basin is divided into west side and east side. The west side area is typical reverse fault called Biwako-Seigan fault zone along the lakefront. From Biwako-Seigan fault, the Omi basin is tilting down from east to west. Otherwise, the east areas distribute lowland and hilly area comparatively. The sedimentary facies are also complicate and difficult to be generally evaluated. So the discussion has been focused about mainly the eastern and western part of Lake Biwa. The widely dispersed volcanic ash named Aira-Tn (AT) deposited before 26,000-29,000 years ago (Machida and Arai, 2003), is sometimes interbedded the humic layers in the low level ground area. However, because most of the sediments are comprised by thick sand and gravels whose deposit age could not be investigated, it is difficult to widely identify the boundary of strata. Three types of basement rocks are distributed mainly (granite, sediment rock, rhyolite), and characteristics of deposit are difference of each backland basement rock. Therefore, we considered the characteristics of area deposit as each riverine system. Otherwise, lakeside area are distributes many humic layers and sandy beach ridge. The results of each distinctive trend are useful to estimate of seismic properties and zonation.

Reconnaissance of the Sturgeon River, a cold-water river in the north-central part of Michigan's southern peninsula

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hendrickson, G.E.; Doonan, C.J.

1971-01-01

The cold-water streams of the northern states provide unique recreational values to the American people (wilderness or semi-wilderness atmosphere, fast-water canoeing, trout fishing), but the expanding recreational needs must be balanced against the growing demand of water for public and industrial supplies, for irrigation, and for the dilution of sewage and other wastes. In order to make intelligent decisions regarding use and management of the water resources for recreation and other demands, analysis of the hydrologic factors related to recreational values is essential.The Sturgeon River north of Gaylord, one of the best brown trout streams in Michigan, is located in the north-central part of the southern peninsula of Michigan with headwaters just north of Gaylord. The Sturgeon flows northward, generally paralleling Interstate Highway 75. The West Branch of the Sturgeon, which joins the main stem at Wolverine, was not included in this study. Exits from Interstate 75 at Gaylord, Vanderbilt, Wolverine, and Indian River provide easy access to the Sturgeon. The recreational value of a river depends on the hydrologic characteristics of the river-the streamflow, water quality, and character of bed and banks. The purpose of this atlas is to describe these characteristics and to show how they relate to recreational uses. Much of the information presented here was derived from basic records of the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Resources Division. Additional information was obtained in a reconnaissance survey in May and June, 1966. The area of field study is limited to the channel, bed, and banks of the main stem from source to mouth. The study was made in cooperation with the Michigan Geological Survey, Gerald E. Eddy, Chief. Advice and assistance were also obtained from other sections of the Michigan Conservation Department. Sheet 1 of this atlas presents information on streamflow characteristics and water quality. Sheet 2 describes the physical characteristics of the stream channel and bed and banks, and shows how these physical characteristics relate to streamflow, water quality, and recreational use.

Characterization of backyard poultry production systems and disease risk in the central zone of Chile.

PubMed

Hamilton-West, C; Rojas, H; Pinto, J; Orozco, J; Hervé-Claude, L P; Urcelay, S

2012-08-01

Backyard poultry production systems (BPS) are an important and widespread form of poultry production. There is a common perception that biosecurity standards in BPS are generally poor and BPS are usually associated with animal diseases and zoonoses. In this study BPS were identified in the vicinity of six wetlands, having these a higher risk of presenting and introducing avian diseases such as HPAI and Newcastle disease, as defined by the national veterinary services, in to Chile's main poultry production area. BPS were characterized through a field questionnaire and the main areas covered by the survey were BPS structure, biosecurity and value chain. The BPS identified in this study share most characteristics on biosecurity, poultry management and product commercialization, but it was possible to identify a certain degree of variation within and among the study sites. BPS in Chile are similar to those in other regions, with a relatively small flock size (average 37 birds), a low level of biosecurity measures and lack of poultry disease management. Management findings include that most farmers used mixed/partial confinement, with low or no biosecurity and disease control measures in place. Eggs were the main output and were used mainly for home consumption or sale at local markets. Sick birds' treatment with drugs approved for other species or for human use could represent a risk to human health, owing to the possible presence of drug residues in poultry products. Despite the different structures of the poultry sector worldwide, BPS can play a major role in disease maintenance and spread because its management conditions characteristics and the lack of animal health services adapted to these production systems. This should be an alert message to the veterinary authorities to improve coverage of veterinary assistance and surveillance activities in backyard poultry production. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of feasibility studies for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trials: protocol for a review of impact and scope

PubMed Central

Kristunas, Caroline A; Hemming, Karla; Eborall, Helen C; Gray, Laura J

2017-01-01

Introduction The stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial (SW-CRT) is a complex design, for which many decisions about key design parameters must be made during the planning. These include the number of steps and the duration of time needed to embed the intervention. Feasibility studies are likely to be useful for informing these decisions and increasing the likelihood of the main trial's success. However, the number of feasibility studies being conducted for SW-CRTs is currently unknown. This review aims to establish the number of feasibility studies being conducted for SW-CRTs and determine which feasibility issues are commonly investigated. Methods and analysis Fully published feasibility studies for SW-CRTs will be identified, according to predefined inclusion criteria, from searches conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and PsycINFO. To also identify and gain information on unpublished feasibility studies the following will be contacted: authors of published SW-CRTs (identified from the most recent systematic reviews); contacts for registered SW-CRTs (identified from clinical trials registries); lead statisticians of UK registered clinical trials units and researchers known to work in the area of SW-CRTs. Data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers. For the fully published feasibility studies, data will be extracted on the study characteristics, the rationale for the study, the process for determining progression to a main trial, how the study informed the main trial and whether the main trial went ahead. The researchers involved in the unpublished feasibility studies will be contacted to elicit the same information. A narrative synthesis will be conducted and provided alongside a descriptive analysis of the study characteristics. Ethics and dissemination This review does not require ethical approval, as no individual patient data will be used. The results of this review will be published in an open-access peer-reviewed journal. PMID:28765139

The use of feasibility studies for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trials: protocol for a review of impact and scope.

PubMed

Kristunas, Caroline A; Hemming, Karla; Eborall, Helen C; Gray, Laura J

2017-08-01

The stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial (SW-CRT) is a complex design, for which many decisions about key design parameters must be made during the planning. These include the number of steps and the duration of time needed to embed the intervention. Feasibility studies are likely to be useful for informing these decisions and increasing the likelihood of the main trial's success. However, the number of feasibility studies being conducted for SW-CRTs is currently unknown. This review aims to establish the number of feasibility studies being conducted for SW-CRTs and determine which feasibility issues are commonly investigated. Fully published feasibility studies for SW-CRTs will be identified, according to predefined inclusion criteria, from searches conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and PsycINFO. To also identify and gain information on unpublished feasibility studies the following will be contacted: authors of published SW-CRTs (identified from the most recent systematic reviews); contacts for registered SW-CRTs (identified from clinical trials registries); lead statisticians of UK registered clinical trials units and researchers known to work in the area of SW-CRTs.Data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers. For the fully published feasibility studies, data will be extracted on the study characteristics, the rationale for the study, the process for determining progression to a main trial, how the study informed the main trial and whether the main trial went ahead. The researchers involved in the unpublished feasibility studies will be contacted to elicit the same information.A narrative synthesis will be conducted and provided alongside a descriptive analysis of the study characteristics. This review does not require ethical approval, as no individual patient data will be used. The results of this review will be published in an open-access peer-reviewed journal. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.