Sample records for significant technical limitations

  1. Technical variations in low-input RNA-seq methodologies.

    PubMed

    Bhargava, Vipul; Head, Steven R; Ordoukhanian, Phillip; Mercola, Mark; Subramaniam, Shankar

    2014-01-14

    Recent advances in RNA-seq methodologies from limiting amounts of mRNA have facilitated the characterization of rare cell-types in various biological systems. So far, however, technical variations in these methods have not been adequately characterized, vis-à-vis sensitivity, starting with reduced levels of mRNA. Here, we generated sequencing libraries from limiting amounts of mRNA using three amplification-based methods, viz. Smart-seq, DP-seq and CEL-seq, and demonstrated significant technical variations in these libraries. Reduction in mRNA levels led to inefficient amplification of the majority of low to moderately expressed transcripts. Furthermore, noise in primer hybridization and/or enzyme incorporation was magnified during the amplification step resulting in significant distortions in fold changes of the transcripts. Consequently, the majority of the differentially expressed transcripts identified were either high-expressed and/or exhibited high fold changes. High technical variations ultimately masked subtle biological differences mandating the development of improved amplification-based strategies for quantitative transcriptomics from limiting amounts of mRNA.

  2. Current limitations into the application of virtual reality to mental health research.

    PubMed

    Huang, M P; Alessi, N E

    1998-01-01

    Virtual Reality (VR) environments have significant potential as a tool in mental health research, but are limited by technical factors and by mental health research factors. Technical difficulties include cost and complexity of virtual environment creation. Mental health research difficulties include current inadequacy of standards to specify needed details for virtual environment design. Technical difficulties are disappearing with technological advances, but the mental health research difficulties will take a concerted effort to overcome. Some of this effort will need to be directed at the formation of collaborative projects and standards for how such collaborations should proceed.

  3. Engineering Technical Support Center Annual Report Fiscal Year 2014; Technical Support and Innovative Research for Contaminated Sites

    EPA Science Inventory

    This report highlights significant projects that the ETSC has supported throughout fiscal year 2014. Projects have addressed an array of environmental scenarios, including but not limited to remote mining contamination, expansive landfill waste, sediment remediation by capping, ...

  4. The potential for land sparing to offset greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lamb, Anthony; Green, Rhys; Bateman, Ian; Broadmeadow, Mark; Bruce, Toby; Burney, Jennifer; Carey, Pete; Chadwick, David; Crane, Ellie; Field, Rob; Goulding, Keith; Griffiths, Howard; Hastings, Astley; Kasoar, Tim; Kindred, Daniel; Phalan, Ben; Pickett, John; Smith, Pete; Wall, Eileen; Zu Ermgassen, Erasmus K. H. J.; Balmford, Andrew

    2016-05-01

    Greenhouse gas emissions from global agriculture are increasing at around 1% per annum, yet substantial cuts in emissions are needed across all sectors. The challenge of reducing agricultural emissions is particularly acute, because the reductions achievable by changing farming practices are limited and are hampered by rapidly rising food demand. Here we assess the technical mitigation potential offered by land sparing--increasing agricultural yields, reducing farmland area and actively restoring natural habitats on the land spared. Restored habitats can sequester carbon and can offset emissions from agriculture. Using the UK as an example, we estimate net emissions in 2050 under a range of future agricultural scenarios. We find that a land-sparing strategy has the technical potential to achieve significant reductions in net emissions from agriculture and land-use change. Coupling land sparing with demand-side strategies to reduce meat consumption and food waste can further increase the technical mitigation potential--however, economic and implementation considerations might limit the degree to which this technical potential could be realized in practice.

  5. Advances in addressing technical challenges of point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings

    PubMed Central

    Wang, ShuQi; Lifson, Mark A.; Inci, Fatih; Liang, Li-Guo; Sheng, Ye-Feng; Demirci, Utkan

    2016-01-01

    The striking prevalence of HIV, TB and malaria, as well as outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, such as influenza A (H7N9), Ebola and MERS, poses great challenges for patient care in resource-limited settings (RLS). However, advanced diagnostic technologies cannot be implemented in RLS largely due to economic constraints. Simple and inexpensive point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, which rely less on environmental context and operator training, have thus been extensively studied to achieve early diagnosis and treatment monitoring in non-laboratory settings. Despite great input from material science, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology for developing POC diagnostics, significant technical challenges are yet to be overcome. Summarized here are the technical challenges associated with POC diagnostics from a RLS perspective and the latest advances in addressing these challenges are reviewed. PMID:26777725

  6. The Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition in Higher Plants: Available Approaches, Critical Limitations, and Technical Requirements.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Peng; Sun, Meng-Xiang

    2015-01-01

    Fertilization marks the turnover from the gametophyte to sporophyte generation in higher plants. After fertilization, sporophytic development undergoes genetic turnover from maternal to zygotic control: the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). The MZT is thought to be critical for early embryogenesis; however, little is known about the time course or developmental impact of the MZT in higher plants. Here, we discuss what is known in the field and focus on techniques used in relevant studies and their limitations. Some significant questions and technical requirements for further investigations are also discussed. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. An acceptable role for computers in the aircraft design process

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gregory, T. J.; Roberts, L.

    1980-01-01

    Some of the reasons why the computerization trend is not wholly accepted are explored for two typical cases: computer use in the technical specialties and computer use in aircraft synthesis. The factors that limit acceptance are traced in part, to the large resources needed to understand the details of computer programs, the inability to include measured data as input to many of the theoretical programs, and the presentation of final results without supporting intermediate answers. Other factors are due solely to technical issues such as limited detail in aircraft synthesis and major simplifying assumptions in the technical specialties. These factors and others can be influenced by the technical specialist and aircraft designer. Some of these factors may become less significant as the computerization process evolves, but some issues, such as understanding large integrated systems, may remain issues in the future. Suggestions for improved acceptance include publishing computer programs so that they may be reviewed, edited, and read. Other mechanisms include extensive modularization of programs and ways to include measured information as part of the input to theoretical approaches.

  8. Bioelectronic retinal prosthesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weiland, James D.

    2016-05-01

    Retinal prosthesis have been translated to clinical use over the past two decades. Currently, two devices have regulatory approval for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and one device is in clinical trials for treatment of age-related macular degeneration. These devices provide partial sight restoration and patients use this improved vision in their everyday lives to navigate and to detect large objects. However, significant vision restoration will require both better technology and improved understanding of the interaction between electrical stimulation and the retina. In particular, current retinal prostheses do not provide peripheral visions due to technical and surgical limitations, thus limiting the effectiveness of the treatment. This paper reviews recent results from human implant patients and presents technical approaches for peripheral vision.

  9. [MicroPerc: Fashion or reality.

    PubMed

    Cepeda, Marcos; Amón, José H

    2017-01-01

    Miniaturization in percutaneous surgery has seen its zenith in microperc. Technological advances have enabled us to treat renal lithiasis through a 4.8 Ch. caliper percutaneous access. According to published literature, the technique is reproducible and when applied to small and medium size renal lithiasis has a high success rate keepin a low complication rate. Its main advantage is the absence of tract dilatation, diminishing the bleeding risk inherent to percutaneous access, postoperative pain and hospital stay. Nevertheless, it presents a series of technical limitations: low maneuverability and versatility, impossible extraction of significant fragments, limited vision and high intrarenal pressure. Does microperc have a place among proven techniques such as SWL, flexible ureteroscopy or minipercutaneous surgery? In our article we try to answer this question by reviewing the available literature, and review all technical features, advantages and limitations of the procedure at the same time.

  10. Engineering Technical Support Center Annual Report Fiscal Year 2016

    EPA Science Inventory

    This report highlights significant projects that the ETSC supported in fiscal year 2016. These projects have addressed an array of environmental scenarios, including, but not limited to remote mining contamination, expansive landfill waste, cumulative impacts from multiple contam...

  11. Two methods for proteomic analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue result in differential protein identification, data quality, and cost.

    PubMed

    Luebker, Stephen A; Wojtkiewicz, Melinda; Koepsell, Scott A

    2015-11-01

    Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is a rich source of clinically relevant material that can yield important translational biomarker discovery using proteomic analysis. Protocols for analyzing FFPE tissue by LC-MS/MS exist, but standardization of procedures and critical analysis of data quality is limited. This study compared and characterized data obtained from FFPE tissue using two methods: a urea in-solution digestion method (UISD) versus a commercially available Qproteome FFPE Tissue Kit method (Qkit). Each method was performed independently three times on serial sections of homogenous FFPE tissue to minimize pre-analytical variations and analyzed with three technical replicates by LC-MS/MS. Data were evaluated for reproducibility and physiochemical distribution, which highlighted differences in the ability of each method to identify proteins of different molecular weights and isoelectric points. Each method replicate resulted in a significant number of new protein identifications, and both methods identified significantly more proteins using three technical replicates as compared to only two. UISD was cheaper, required less time, and introduced significant protein modifications as compared to the Qkit method, which provided more precise and higher protein yields. These data highlight significant variability among method replicates and type of method used, despite minimizing pre-analytical variability. Utilization of only one method or too few replicates (both method and technical) may limit the subset of proteomic information obtained. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Regional shipping and port development strategies under a changing maritime environment

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2002-02-01

    It has become increasingly clear that there are no insurmountable technical barriers to the future increase in size of containerships. The limits to growth, if there are any, will be market-determined. Nevertheless, there is a significant divergence ...

  13. Membrane Desalination: Where Are We, and What Can We Learn from Fundamentals?

    PubMed

    Imbrogno, Joseph; Belfort, Georges

    2016-06-07

    Although thermal desalination technology provides potable water in arid regions (e.g., Israel and the Gulf), its relatively high cost has limited application to less arid regions with large populations (e.g., California). Energy-intensive distillation is currently being replaced with less costly pressure- and electrically driven membrane-based processes. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a preferred membrane technology owing to process and pre- and posttreatment improvements that have significantly reduced energy requirements and cost. Further technical advances will require a deeper understanding of the fundamental science underlying RO. This includes determining the mechanism for water selectivity; elucidating the behavior of molecular water near polar and apolar surfaces, as well as the advantages and limitations of hydrophobic versus hydrophilic pores; learning the rules of selective water transport from nature; and designing synthetic analogs for selective water transport. Molecular dynamics simulations supporting experiments will play an important role in advancing these efforts. Finally, future improvements in RO are limited by inherent technical mass transfer limitations.

  14. Advancing Commercialization of Algal Biofuel through Increased Biomass Productivity and Technical Integration

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

    Anton, David

    The proposed project built on the foundation of over several years years of intensive and ground-breaking R&D work at Cellana's Kona Demonstration Facility (KDF). Phycological and engineering solutions were provided to tackle key cultivation issues and technical barriers limiting algal biomass productivity identified through work conducted outdoors at industrial (1 acre) scale. The objectives of this project were to significantly improve algal biomass productivity and reduce operational cost in a seawater-based system, using results obtained from two top-performing algal strains as the baseline while technically advancing and more importantly, integrating the various unit operations involved in algal biomass production, processing,more » and refining.« less

  15. The Real World and Virtual Worlds.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glaser, Stan

    1997-01-01

    Discusses some of the limitations of virtual reality (VR) with reference to socio-technical systems, i.e., the interaction of people with technology. Points to a significant opportunity for VR technology to be used in strategic partnership marketing and supply chain management. (Author/LRW)

  16. 75 FR 37738 - 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid; Time-Limited Tolerance, Technical Correction

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-30

    ...-Naphthaleneacetic Acid; Time-Limited Tolerance, Technical Correction AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA..., ethylene oxide, fenvalerate, et al.; tolerance actions. Today's rule restores the time-limited tolerance...-3) establishing a time-limited tolerance for residues of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid ethyl ester in or...

  17. 21st century locomotive technology: quarterly technical status report 26

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

    Lembit Salasoo; Ramu Chandra

    2009-08-24

    Parasitic losses due to hybrid sodium battery thermal management do not significantly reduce the fuel saving benefits of the hybrid locomotive. Optimal thermal management trajectories were converted into realizable algorithms which were robust and gave excellent performance to limit thermal excusions and maintain fuel savings.

  18. Technical interventions to increase adenoma detection rate in colonoscopy.

    PubMed

    Rondonotti, Emanuele; Andrealli, Alida; Amato, Arnaldo; Paggi, Silvia; Conti, Clara Benedetta; Spinzi, Giancarlo; Radaelli, Franco

    2016-12-01

    Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is the most robust colonoscopy quality metric and clinical studies have adopted it as the ideal method to assess the impact of technical interventions. Areas covered: We reviewed papers focusing on the impact of colonoscopy technical issues on ADR, including withdrawal time and technique, second evaluation of the right colon, patient positional changes, gastrointestinal assistant participation during colonoscopy, water-aided technique, optimization of bowel preparation and antispasmodic administration. Expert commentary: Overall, technical interventions are inexpensive, available worldwide and easy to implement. Some of them, such as the adoption of split dose regimen and slow scope withdrawal to allow a careful inspection, have been demonstrated to significantly improve ADR. Emerging data support the use of water-exchange colonoscopy. According to published studies, other technical interventions seem to provide only marginal benefit to ADR. Unfortunately, the available evidence has methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, the inclusion of expert endoscopists only and the evaluation of single technical interventions. Additionally, larger studies are needed to clarify whether these interventions might have a higher benefit on low adenoma detectors and whether the implementation of a bundle of them, instead of a single technical maneuver, might have a greater impact on ADR.

  19. Predictive value of background experiences and visual spatial ability testing on laparoscopic baseline performance among residents entering postgraduate surgical training.

    PubMed

    Louridas, Marisa; Quinn, Lauren E; Grantcharov, Teodor P

    2016-03-01

    Emerging evidence suggests that despite dedicated practice, not all surgical trainees have the ability to reach technical competency in minimally invasive techniques. While selecting residents that have the ability to reach technical competence is important, evidence to guide the incorporation of technical ability into selection processes is limited. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether background experiences and 2D-3D visual spatial test results are predictive of baseline laparoscopic skill for the novice surgical trainee. First-year residents were studied. Demographic data and background surgical and non-surgical experiences were obtained using a questionnaire. Visual spatial ability was evaluated using the PicSOr, cube comparison (CC) and card rotation (CR) tests. Technical skill was assessed using the camera navigation (LCN) task and laparoscopic circle cut (LCC) task. Resident performance on these technical tasks was compared and correlated with the questionnaire and visual spatial findings. Previous experience in observing laparoscopic procedures was associated with significantly better LCN performance, and experience in navigating the laparoscopic camera was associated with significantly better LCC task results. Residents who scored higher on the CC test demonstrated a more accurate LCN path length score (r s(PL) = -0.36, p = 0.03) and angle path (r s(AP) = -0.426, p = 0.01) score when completing the LCN task. No other significant correlations were found between the visual spatial tests (PicSOr, CC or CR) and LCC performance. While identifying selection tests for incoming surgical trainees that predict technical skill performance is appealing, the surrogate markers evaluated correlate with specific metrics of surgical performance related to a single task but do not appear to reliably predict technical performance of different laparoscopic tasks. Predicting the acquisition of technical skills will require the development of a series of evidence-based tests that measure a number of innate abilities as well as their inherent interactions.

  20. 10 CFR 50.36 - Technical specifications.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ..., or component that is part of the primary success path and which functions or actuates to mitigate a... significant safety functions. Where a limiting safety system setting is specified for a variable on which a... the automatic safety system does not function as required, the licensee shall take appropriate action...

  1. Initial assessment of strategic plans for improving the performance of veterinary services in developing countries: a review of OIE PVS gap analysis reports.

    PubMed

    Weaver, J; Leon, E; Edan, M; D'Alessio, F

    2012-08-01

    The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) carries out Gap Analysis missions (if a country so wishes) as part of its programme to assess and improve the Performance of Veterinary Services (the 'PVS Pathway') in Member Countries. These Gap Analysis missions have found that many national Veterinary Services comply to only a limited extent with the international standards established by the OIE and that their competence is compromised by poor governance. This failure threatens animal and public health not only nationally but also internationally. The OIE PVS Gap Analysis reports reviewed found that all the Veterinary Services have a strong vision and commitmentto improvement but are held back by a weak chain of command, inadequate and outdated legislation, insufficient funding, weak technical competencies, compromised technical independence, poor communications and limited joint programmes. There are weaknesses across all the core technical areas of trade, animal health, veterinary public health and veterinary laboratories and also in the overall management of the Veterinary Services. The OIE PVS Gap Analysis missions recommend significant increases in budget in all countries.

  2. 78 FR 3893 - Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership; Notice of Technical Conference

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-17

    ... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IS13-17-000] Enbridge Energy... Energy, Limited Partnership's proposed revision to its downstream Nomination Verification Procedure. \\1\\ Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, 141 FERC ] 61,246 (2012). Take notice that a technical conference...

  3. Funding California Schools: The Revenue Limit System. Technical Appendices

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Weston, Margaret

    2010-01-01

    This document presents the technical appendices accompanying the report, "Funding California Schools: The Revenue Limit System." Included are: (1) Revenue Limit Calculation and Decomposition; (2) Data and Methods; and (3) Base Funding Alternative Simulation Results. (Contains 5 tables and 26 footnotes.) [For the main report,…

  4. Repeated Kicking Actions in Karate: Effect on Technical Execution in Elite Practitioners.

    PubMed

    Quinzi, Federico; Camomilla, Valentina; Di Mario, Alberto; Felici, Francesco; Sbriccoli, Paola

    2016-04-01

    Training in martial arts is commonly performed by repeating a technical action continuously for a given number of times. This study aimed to investigate if the repetition of the task alters the proper technical execution, limiting the training efficacy for the technical evaluation during competition. This aim was pursued analyzing lower-limb kinematics and muscle activation during repeated roundhouse kicks. Six junior karate practitioners performed continuously 20 repetitions of the kick. Hip and knee kinematics and sEMG of vastus lateralis, biceps (BF), and rectus femoris were recorded. For each repetition, hip abduction-adduction and flexion-extension and knee flexion-extension peak angular displacements and velocities, agonist and antagonist muscle activation were computed. Moreover, to monitor for the presence of myoelectric fatigue, if any, the median frequency of the sEMG was computed. All variables were normalized with respect to their individual maximum observed during the sequence of kicks. Linear regressions were fitted to each normalized parameter to test its relationship with the repetition number. Linear-regression analysis showed that, during the sequence, the athletes modified their technique: Knee flexion, BF median frequency, hip abduction, knee-extension angular velocity, and BF antagonist activation significantly decreased. Conversely, hip flexion increased significantly. Since karate combat competitions require proper technical execution, training protocols combining severe fatigue and technical actions should be carefully proposed because of technique adaptations. Moreover, trainers and karate masters should consider including specific strength exercises for the BF and more generally for knee flexors.

  5. 48 CFR 3419.870 - Acquisition of technical requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... competition to submit written technical proposals. Otherwise, ED holds oral discussions with the participating... participating in a limited technical competition based on the written technical proposals or oral discussions... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Acquisition of technical...

  6. Transforming Education Research through Open Video Data Sharing

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gilmore, Rick O.; Adolph, Karen E.; Millman, David S.; Gordon, Andrew

    2016-01-01

    Open data sharing promises to accelerate the pace of discovery in the developmental and learning sciences, but significant technical, policy, and cultural barriers have limited its adoption. As a result, most research on learning and development remains shrouded in a culture of isolation. Data sharing is the rare exception (Gilmore, 2016). Many…

  7. Fractional flow reserve based on computed tomography: an overview.

    PubMed

    Secchi, Francesco; Alì, Marco; Faggiano, Elena; Cannaò, Paola Maria; Fedele, Marco; Tresoldi, Silvia; Di Leo, Giovanni; Auricchio, Ferdinando; Sardanelli, Francesco

    2016-04-28

    Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a technique proved to provide high sensitivity and negative predictive value for the identification of anatomically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared with invasive X-ray coronary angiography. While the CTCA limitation of a ionizing radiation dose delivered to patients is substantially overcome by recent technical innovations, a relevant limitation remains the only anatomical assessment of coronary stenoses in the absence of evaluation of their functional haemodynamic significance. This limitation is highly important for those stenosis graded as intermediate at the anatomical assessment. Recently, non-invasive methods based on computational fluid dynamics were developed to calculate vessel-specific fractional flow reserve (FFR) using data routinely acquired by CTCA [computed tomographic fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR)]. Here we summarize methods for CT-FFR and review the evidence available in the literature up to June 26, 2016, including 16 original articles and one meta-analysis. The perspective of CT-FFR may greatly impact on CAD diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and treatment decision-making. The aim of this review is to describe technical characteristics and clinical applications of CT-FFR, also in comparison with catheter-based invasive FFR, in order to make a cost-benefit balance in terms of clinical management and patient's health.

  8. 31 CFR 21.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services...

  9. 14 CFR 1271.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Professional and technical services. 1271...

  10. 40 CFR 34.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 34...

  11. 24 CFR 87.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... technical services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 24 Housing and Urban Development 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Professional and technical services...

  12. 22 CFR 712.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Professional and technical services. 712.300...

  13. 22 CFR 311.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... technical services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Professional and technical services. 311.300...

  14. 45 CFR 604.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 604.300...

  15. Factors influencing private health providers' technical quality of care for acute respiratory infections among under-five children in rural West Bengal, India.

    PubMed

    Chakraborty, Sarbani; Frick, Kevin

    2002-11-01

    In many developing countries, private health practitioners provide a significant portion of curative care for diseases which are of public health importance. Currently, health sector reform efforts in these countries are fostering increased participation of private providers in the delivery of health services, including those of public health importance. Guaranteeing good technical quality of care is critical to the process. However, little is known about private providers' technical quality of care (disease management practices) and the factors influencing these services. The purpose of this study was to contribute information on this topic. The study was conducted among private providers in rural West Bengal, India and focused on providers' disease management practices for acute respiratory infections (ARI) among under-five children. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for ARI case management were used as the expected standard of care. Observations of patient-provider encounters and interviews with the providers and mothers were the main sources of data. The study found that private health providers in rural West Bengal have inadequate technical quality of care. The problem was related both to low levels of performance (limited potential) and inconsistency in performance (within-provider variation). Limited potential for good technical quality for ARI among the providers was related to lack of knowledge (technical incompetence). One of the important factors influencing within-provider variation was patient load. Since rural private providers operate on a fee-for-service payment system, there are incentives related to seeing many patients. The study concluded that to bring about sustainable improvements in private providers' ARI disease management practices, training programs and interventions that improved compliance were necessary.

  16. Task 2 - Limits for High-Frequency Conducted Susceptibility Testing - CS114 (NRC-HQ-60-14-D-0015)

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

    Wood, Richard Thomas; Ewing, Paul D.; Moses, Rebecca J.

    2015-09-01

    A principal focus of Task 2 under this project was for ORNL to evaluate the basis for susceptibility testing against high-frequency conducted interference and to establish recommendations to resolve concerns about the severity of test limits for the conducted susceptibility (CS) test, CS114, from MIL-STD-461. The primary concern about the test limit has been characterized by the EPRI EMI Working Group in the following terms: Demonstrating compliance with the CS114 test limits recommended in TR-102323 has proven to be problematic, even for components that have been tested to commercial standards and demonstrated proper operation in industrial applications [6]. Specifically, EPRImore » notes that the CS114 limits approved in regulatory documents are significantly higher than those invoked by the US military and similar commercial standards in the frequency range below 200 kHz. For this task, ORNL evaluated the original approach to establishing the test limit, EPRI technical findings from a review of the limit, and the regulatory basis through which the currently approved limits were accepted. Based on this analysis, strategies have been developed regarding changes to the CS114 limit that can resolve the technical concerns raised by the industry. Guided by the principles that reasonable assurance of safety must not be compromised but excessive conservatism should be reduced, recommendations on a suitable basis for a revised limit have been developed and can be incorporated into the planned Revision 2 of RG 1.180.« less

  17. Towards reconstitution of membrane fusion mediated by SNAREs and other synaptic proteins

    PubMed Central

    Brunger, Axel T.; Cipriano, Daniel J.; Diao, Jiajie

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Proteoliposomes have been widely used for in vitro studies of membrane fusion mediated by synaptic proteins. Initially, such studies were made with large unsynchronized ensembles of vesicles. Such ensemble assays limited the insights into the SNARE-mediated fusion mechanism that could be obtained from them. Single particle microscopy experiments can alleviate many of these limitations but they pose significant technical challenges. Here we summarize various approaches that have enabled studies of fusion mediated by SNAREs and other synaptic proteins at a single-particle level. Currently available methods are described and their advantages and limitations are discussed. PMID:25788028

  18. 76 FR 2573 - Technical Corrections: Matters Subject to Protest and Various Protest Time Limits

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-14

    ... 174 [CBP Dec. 11-02] Technical Corrections: Matters Subject to Protest and Various Protest Time Limits..., in pertinent part, the types of matters subject to protest, the time required for allowing or denying an application for further review of a protest, and various other protest time limits. This document...

  19. 29 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... technical services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 29 Labor 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 93.300 Section 93.300...

  20. 40 CFR 35.4005 - What is a Technical Assistance Grant?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Technical Assistance Grant? A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for your group to obtain... technical advisors to help you interpret and comment on site-related information and decisions. Examples of how a technical advisor can help your group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary...

  1. 40 CFR 35.4005 - What is a Technical Assistance Grant?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... Technical Assistance Grant? A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for your group to obtain... technical advisors to help you interpret and comment on site-related information and decisions. Examples of how a technical advisor can help your group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary...

  2. 40 CFR 35.4005 - What is a Technical Assistance Grant?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Technical Assistance Grant? A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for your group to obtain... technical advisors to help you interpret and comment on site-related information and decisions. Examples of how a technical advisor can help your group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary...

  3. 40 CFR 35.4005 - What is a Technical Assistance Grant?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... Technical Assistance Grant? A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for your group to obtain... technical advisors to help you interpret and comment on site-related information and decisions. Examples of how a technical advisor can help your group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary...

  4. Technical Stability and Biological Variability in MicroRNAs from Dried Blood Spots: A Lung Cancer Therapy-Monitoring Showcase.

    PubMed

    Kahraman, Mustafa; Laufer, Thomas; Backes, Christina; Schrörs, Hannah; Fehlmann, Tobias; Ludwig, Nicole; Kohlhaas, Jochen; Meese, Eckart; Wehler, Thomas; Bals, Robert; Keller, Andreas

    2017-09-01

    Different work flows have been proposed to use miRNAs as blood-borne biomarkers. In particular, the method used for collecting blood from patients can considerably influence the diagnostic results. We explored whether dried blood spots (DBSs) facilitate stable miRNA measurements and compared its technical stability with biological variability. First, we tested the stability of DBS samples by generating from 1 person 18 whole-genome-wide miRNA profiles of DBS samples that were exposed to different temperature and humidity conditions. Second, we investigated technical reproducibility by performing 7 replicates of DBS again from 1 person. Third, we investigated DBS samples from 53 patients with lung cancer undergoing different therapies. Across these 3 stages, 108 genome-wide miRNA profiles from DBS were generated and evaluated biostatistically. In the stability analysis, we observed that temperature and humidity had an overall limited influence on the miRNomes (average correlation between the different conditions of 0.993). Usage of a silica gel slightly diminished DBS' technical reproducibility. The 7 technical replicates had an average correlation of 0.996. The correlation with whole-blood PAXGene miRNomes of the same individual was remarkable (correlation of 0.88). Finally, evaluation of the samples from the 53 patients with lung cancer exposed to different therapies showed that the biological variations exceeded the technical variability significantly ( P < 0.0001), yielding 51 dysregulated miRNAs. We present a stable work flow for profiling of whole miRNomes on the basis of samples collected from DBS. Biological variations exceeded technical variations significantly. DBS-based miRNA profiles will potentially further the translational character of miRNA biomarker studies. © 2017 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

  5. Achieving Effective Risk Management Reduction Throughout Decommissioning at the Columbus Closure Project

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

    Anderson, K.D.

    2006-07-01

    Nuclear facility decontamination, dismantlement, and demolition activities provide a myriad of challenges along the path to reaching a safe, effective, and compliant decommissioning. Among the challenges faced during decommissioning, is the constant management and technical effort to eliminate, mitigate, or minimize the potential of risks of radiation exposures and other hazards to the worker, the surrounding community, and the environment. Management strategies to eliminate, mitigate, or minimize risks include incorporating strong safety and As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principles into an integrated work planning process. Technical and operational strategies may include utilizing predictive risk analysis tools to establish contaminationmore » limits for demolition and using remote handling equipment to reduce occupational and radiation exposures to workers. ECC and E2 Closure Services, LLC (Closure Services) have effectively utilized these management and technical tools to eliminate, mitigate, and reduce radiation exposures under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the decontamination and decommissioning Columbus Closure Project (CCP). In particular, Closure Services achieved significant dose reduction during the dismantling, decontamination, and demolition activities for Building JN-1. Management strategies during the interior dismantlement, decontamination, and demolition of the facility demanded an integrated work planning processes that involved project disciplines. Integrated planning processes identified multiple opportunities to incorporate the use of remote handling equipment during the interior dismantling and demolition activities within areas of high radiation. Technical strategies employed predictive risk analysis tools to set upper bounding contamination limits, allowed for the radiological demolition of the building without exceeding administrative dose limits to the worker, general public, and the environment. Adhering to management and technical strategies during the dismantlement, decontamination, and demolition of Building JN-1 enabled Closure Services to achieve strong ALARA performance, maintain absolute compliance under the regulatory requirements and meeting licensing conditions for decommissioning. (authors)« less

  6. 48 CFR 209.505-4 - Obtaining access to proprietary information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ...) For contractors accessing third party proprietary technical data or computer software, non-disclosure... limited rights technical data, commercial technical data, or restricted rights computer software. The...

  7. Spatial Visualization ability improves with and without studying Technical Drawing.

    PubMed

    Contreras, María José; Escrig, Rebeca; Prieto, Gerardo; Elosúa, M Rosa

    2018-03-27

    The results of several studies suggest that spatial ability can be improved through direct training with tasks similar to those integrated in the tests used to measure the ability. However, there is a greater interest in analyzing the effectiveness of indirect training such as games or of learning subjects that involve spatial processes to a certain extent. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze whether the indirect training in Technical Drawing improved the Spatial Visualization ability of Architecture students. For this purpose, a group of students enrolled in Fundamentals of Architecture were administered two tests, a Spatial Visualization task and an Abstract Reasoning task, at the beginning and the end of a semester, after having received training through the subjects "Technical Drawing I: Geometry and Perception" and "Projects I." The results of this group were compared with those of a control group of students enrolled in a Mathematics degree, who were also pre-post evaluated but had not received the training in Technical Drawing. The study showed a significant pre-post improvement in both, Visualization and reasoning. However, this improvement occurred in both groups, thereby concluding that this improvement was not due to indirect training. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between men and women in any of the groups or conditions. These results clarify those of an earlier study where improvement in Visualization after training in Technical Drawing was found but did not include a comparison with a control condition. The control condition has proved to be important in order to consider the limitations of the effect of Technical Drawing on said improvement.

  8. 28 CFR 69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly and... 28 Judicial Administration 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 69...

  9. 44 CFR 18.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... 44 Emergency Management and Assistance 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Professional and technical...

  10. 38 CFR 45.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... technical services. 45.300 Section 45.300 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS...

  11. 38 CFR 45.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional... provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the... technical services. 45.205 Section 45.205 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS...

  12. 44 CFR 18.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... 44 Emergency Management and Assistance 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Professional and technical...

  13. 38 CFR 45.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... technical services. 45.300 Section 45.300 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS...

  14. 45 CFR 1230.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 1230.300...

  15. 45 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 45 Public Welfare 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 93.300...

  16. 45 CFR 93.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 45 Public Welfare 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 93.205...

  17. 15 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly and... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Professional and technical services...

  18. 13 CFR 146.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Professional and technical...

  19. 32 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or... and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or... 32 National Defense 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 28.300...

  20. 32 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional... provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the... 32 National Defense 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 28.205...

  1. 43 CFR 18.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly and... 43 Public Lands: Interior 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 18...

  2. 28 CFR 69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 28 Judicial Administration 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 69...

  3. 45 CFR 1230.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... section, “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying... this section unless they provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical... 45 Public Welfare 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 1230.205...

  4. 41 CFR 105-69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... section, “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying... this section unless they provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical... technical services. 105-69.205 Section 105-69.205 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property...

  5. 32 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ..., “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional... provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the... 32 National Defense 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 28.205...

  6. 41 CFR 105-69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ..., “professional and technical services” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional... provide advice and analysis directly applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the... technical services. 105-69.300 Section 105-69.300 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property...

  7. 15 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Professional and technical services...

  8. 31 CFR 21.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services...

  9. 40 CFR 34.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 34...

  10. 14 CFR 1271.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Professional and technical services. 1271...

  11. 40 CFR 35.4005 - What is a Technical Assistance Grant?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... public participation in decision making at eligible sites. A TAG allows your group to procure independent... Technical Assistance Grant? A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for your group to obtain... how a technical advisor can help your group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary...

  12. Vocational-Technical Education Financial Study. Executive Summary.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Indiana State Board of Vocational and Technical Education, Indianapolis.

    A review of Indiana's current system of financing public vocational-technical education was limited to these concerns: the resource needs of vocational-technical education to keep the current delivery system up-to-date and the resources necessary to expand vocational-technical education services to those not being served. Although the current…

  13. 48 CFR 1052.201-70 - Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) Designation and Authority.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... in writing. The term “technical direction” includes, without limitation, direction to the contractor... the actions of the contractor's employees. (d) Technical direction may be oral or in writing. The COTR... Technical Representative (COTR) Designation and Authority. 1052.201-70 Section 1052.201-70 Federal...

  14. 22 CFR 712.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Professional and technical services. 712.205...

  15. 45 CFR 604.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Professional and technical services. 604.205...

  16. 40 CFR 34.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... applying their professional or technical expertise and unless the advice or analysis is rendered directly... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Professional and technical services. 34...

  17. Use of Dynamic Visualizations for Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, and Science Education Students: Implications on Ability to Correctly Create a Sectional View Sketch

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Katsioloudis, Petros; Dickerson, Daniel; Jovanovic, Vukica; Jones, Mildred V.

    2016-01-01

    Spatial abilities, specifically visualization, play a significant role in the achievement in a wide array of professions including, but not limited to, engineering, technical, mathematical, and scientific professions. However, there is little correlation between the advantages of spatial ability as measured through the creation of a sectional-view…

  18. Paying It Forward: A Technical Assistance Guide for Developing and Implementing Performance-Based Scholarships. The Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Welbeck, Rashida; Ware, Michelle; Cerna, Oscar; Valenzuela, Ireri

    2014-01-01

    Difficulties in paying for college and in maintaining good academic performance are two major hurdles to college graduation for low-income students. In recent years, state and federal budgets for postsecondary education have been cut significantly, limiting the options policymakers, education leaders, and communities have to improve rates of…

  19. Effects of two commercial diets and technical feed treatment on stomach lesions and immune system of fattening pigs.

    PubMed

    Liermann, W; Berk, A; Frahm, J; Böschen, V; Dänicke, S

    2017-10-01

    The impact of technical feed treatment and diet on stomach lesions and traits of the local and systemic immune system were investigated in fattening pigs. Feeding groups differed in technical feed treatment (standard ground meal vs. finely ground and pelleted feed) and diet (soya bean meal vs. rapeseed meal/DDGS/soya beans). Pigs were fattened approximately 10 weeks by ad libitum feeding and slaughtered subsequently. Gastric alterations were assessed by a macroscopic scoring system [macroscopic stomach score (MSC) 0 =  normal to 4 =  severe lesions]. For immunological investigations, lymphocytes from blood and jejunal tissues were isolated. T-cell phenotyping was carried out by staining intestinal lymphocytes with monoclonal antibodies for CD4 and CD8 and flow cytometric measurements. MSC was higher in animals fed finely ground and pelleted feed compared with their counterparts. Significant interactions between diet and feed treatment considering the MSC were observed (p = 0.027). There was no effect of diet or technical feed treatment on T cells of blood, Lymphonodi gastrici or lamina propria (LP) and intraepithelial cells. However, technical feed treatment significantly affected subsets of CD4 + , CD8 + , CD8 low , CD4/CD8 double-positive T cells, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD4 + T cells and the ratio of CD8 low /CD8 high T cells in Peyer's patches (PP). All named parameters were reduced in PP of animals fed finely ground and pelleted feed compared with animals fed standard ground meal. Furthermore, significant differences between T cells of lymph nodes and LP were observed between animals with middle MSC (MSC = 1-2.5) and animals with high MSC (MSC = 3-4). Significant alterations in T cells of PP were observed between animals of low (MSC = 0-0.5) and high MSC. The observed effects provide the evidence that the impact of technical feed treatment is not limited on the stomach lesions. Possible stimuli and consequences of the immune system should be studied in more detail. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  20. U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2015

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chullen, Cinda; Oliva, Vladenka R.

    2016-01-01

    The NASA U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture (SKC) Program continues to capture, share, and archive significant spacesuit-related knowledge with engineers and other technical staff and invested entities. Since its 2007 inception, the SKC Program has hosted and recorded more than 75 events. By the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, 40 of these were processed and uploaded to a publically accessible NASA Web site where viewers can expand their knowledge about the spacesuit's evolution, known capabilities and limitations, and lessons learned. Sharing this knowledge with entities beyond NASA can increase not only more people's understanding of the technical effort and importance involved in designing a spacesuit, it can also expand the interest and support in this valuable program that ensures significant knowledge is retained and accessible. This paper discusses the FY 2015 SKC events, the release and accessibility of the approved events, and the program's future plans.

  1. U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2015

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chullen, Cinda; Oliva, Vladenka R.

    2016-01-01

    The NASA U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture (SKC) Program continues to capture, share, and archive significant spacesuit-related knowledge with engineers and other technical staff and invested entities. Since its 2007 inception, the SKC Program has hosted and recorded more than 65 events. By the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, 40 of these were processed and uploaded to a publically accessible NASA Web site where viewers can expand their knowledge about the spacesuit's evolution, known capability and limitations, and lessons learned. Sharing this knowledge with entities beyond NASA can increase not only more people's understanding of the technical effort and importance involved in designing a spacesuit, it can also expand the interest and support in this valuable program that ensures significant knowledge is retained and accessible. This paper discusses the FY 2015 SKC events, the release and accessibility of the approved events, and the program's future plans.

  2. Technical Limitations in Merging Secular and Sacred Functions in Monumental Churches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piatkowska, Ksenia

    2017-10-01

    The abandonment of churches and their adaptation for secular purposes is a current subject in Europe and worldwide. Most cases involve objects that were desacralized and then rebuilt as a whole object for alternative functions. Thus far, the merging of secular and sacred functions in one monumental Catholic church has not raised any issues. The paper describes the case of St. Catherine’s Church in Gdansk, Poland, where sacred function exists parallel to the new secular function being implemented. The study is based on the authentic, professional experience of the author. It describes the technical limitations arising from the need to ensure destinies for the optimal conditions of both sacred and secular function, while avoiding undesirable interference between them. The author further identifies architectural solutions most relevant to current requirements for protection of sacred zones in the church, for preservation of the monument, and for optimal function of a modern science museum. Significant design issues include: the inviolability of the sacred zone, preservation of the historical value of the monument, proper operation of new secular zones in compliance with contemporary standards of safety, performance of the assumed mission and profitability. The research indicates specific areas where the highest probability of collision exists between the sacred and profane and where technical problems are likely to occur.

  3. Feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage: a prospective study.

    PubMed

    Yane, Kei; Maguchi, Hiroyuki; Katanuma, Akio; Takahashi, Kuniyuki; Osanai, Manabu; Kin, Toshifumi; Takaki, Ryo; Matsumoto, Kazuyuki; Gon, Katsushige; Matsumori, Tomoaki; Tomonari, Akiko; Nojima, Masanori

    2015-03-01

    Several studies have shown the useful-ness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to eval-uate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were ex-cluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited suc-cess rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications. (Gut Liver, 2015;9239-246).

  4. 75 FR 20358 - Intra-Agency Appeal Process: Guidelines for Appeals of Material Supervisory Determinations and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-19

    ... decisional deadline for written decisions by the SARC. Also, both the SARC Guidelines and the AAC Guidelines have been amended to make additional, limited technical clarifying and conforming amendments. Both sets... action or decision, and to make limited technical amendments. (73 FR 54822 (Sept. 23, 2008)). Although...

  5. Development of a Situated Spectrum Analyzer Learning Platform for Enhancing Student Technical Skills

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chuang, Chien-Pen; Jou, Min; Lin, Yen-Ting; Lu, Cheng-Tien

    2015-01-01

    Electronic engineering industries require technical specialists to operate precision electronic instruments. However, limitations in course designs and equipment availability mean that only a few students are able to use the equipment in practical lessons within a limited timeframe. Also, instruction of techniques and skills are still mostly…

  6. Limited License Legal Technician. Washington's Community and Technical Colleges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, 2014

    2014-01-01

    A landmark state Supreme Court rule that promises to create new jobs and expand public access to legal help is coming to life at Washington's community and technical colleges. Four colleges--Highline, Edmonds, Tacoma, and Spokane--started training students to become "Limited License Legal Technicians" (LLLTs) in 2014. The state Supreme…

  7. A Comparative Study of Students’ Track and Field Technical Performance in Sport Education and in a Direct Instruction Approach

    PubMed Central

    Pereira, José; Hastie, Peter; Araújo, Rui; Farias, Cláudio; Rolim, Ramiro; Mesquita, Isabel

    2015-01-01

    This study examined students’ technical performances improvements in three track and field events (hurdles, shot put, and long jump) following either a Sport Education season or a Direct Instruction unit. An experienced Physical Education teacher taught two classes totalling 47 sixth-grade students (25 boys and 22 girls, aged between 10 and 13 years old) in 20, 45-minute lessons over 10 weeks. The students’ technical performances were analysed and evaluated through systematic observation of videos. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare scores at three time points (pre-test, post-test and retention), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the differences within each instructional model at each assessment moment, as well as by gender and skill level. The impact of each instructional model in student learning was markedly distinct. While in Sport Education students of both genders and skill levels improved significantly in all events, in Direct Instruction, evidence of significant improvements was limited to boys and students of higher skill level. Key points The impact of each teaching approach in student learning was distinct. While in Sport Education the technical performance improvements spread throughout students of both genders and skill levels, in Direct Instruction significant improvements were exclusive to boys and students of higher skill level. The extended analysis in the current study, taking into account student gender and skill level, permitted a more comprehensive measure of the learning impact of the two approaches. More sophisticated analyses of the tasks and instructional strategies of each approach are encouraged. PMID:25729299

  8. A survey-based cross-sectional study of doctors' expectations and experiences of non-technical skills for Out of Hours work.

    PubMed

    Brown, Michael; Shaw, Dominick; Sharples, Sarah; Jeune, Ivan Le; Blakey, John

    2015-02-16

    The skill set required for junior doctors to work efficiently and safely Out of Hours (OoH) in hospitals has not been established. This is despite the OoH period representing 75% of the year and it being the time of highest mortality. We set out to explore the expectations of medical students and experiences of junior doctors of the non-technical skills needed to work OoH. Survey-based cross-sectional study informed by focus groups. Online survey with participants from five large teaching hospitals across the UK. 300 Medical Students and Doctors Participants ranked the importance of non-technical skills, as identified by literature review and focus groups, needed for OoH care. The focus groups revealed a total of eight non-technical skills deemed to be important. In the survey 'Task Prioritisation' (mean rank 1.617) was consistently identified as the most important non-technical skill. Stage of training affected the ranking of skills, with significant differences for 'Communication with Senior Doctors', 'Dealing with Clinical Isolation', 'Task Prioritisation' and 'Communication with Patients'. Importantly, there was a significant discrepancy between the medical student expectations and experiences of doctors undertaking work. Our findings suggest that medical staff particularly value task prioritisation skills; however, these are not routinely taught in medical schools. The discrepancy between expectations of students and experience of doctors reinforces the idea that there is a gap in training. Doctors of different grades place different importance on specific non-technical skills with implications for postgraduate training. There is a pressing need for medical schools and deaneries to review non-technical training to include more than communication skills. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  9. 48 CFR 209.505-4 - Obtaining access to proprietary information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ...) Non-disclosure requirements for contractors accessing third party proprietary technical data or... may be required to enter into non-disclosure agreements directly with the third party asserting restrictions on limited rights technical data, commercial technical data, or restricted rights computer...

  10. 48 CFR 742.1170-2 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... policies, procedures, and limitations of this section do not apply to technical reports, studies, papers... section applies to USAID non-personal, professional/technical services contracts exceeding the simplified... FAR 48 CFR subpart 42.11 are compatible with the types of technical assistance contracts usually...

  11. 48 CFR 742.1170-2 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... policies, procedures, and limitations of this section do not apply to technical reports, studies, papers... section applies to USAID non-personal, professional/technical services contracts exceeding the simplified... FAR 48 CFR subpart 42.11 are compatible with the types of technical assistance contracts usually...

  12. 48 CFR 742.1170-2 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... policies, procedures, and limitations of this section do not apply to technical reports, studies, papers... section applies to USAID non-personal, professional/technical services contracts exceeding the simplified... FAR 48 CFR subpart 42.11 are compatible with the types of technical assistance contracts usually...

  13. 48 CFR 942.270-1 - Contracting Officer's Representatives.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... performing certain technical functions in administering a contract. These functions include, but are not limited to, technical monitoring, inspection, approval of shop drawings, testing, and approval of samples. The COR acts solely as a technical representative of the contracting officer and is not authorized to...

  14. Improving technical information use: what can be learnt from a manager's perspective?

    PubMed

    Jacobson, C; Lisle, A; Carter, R W; Hockings, M T

    2013-07-01

    Conservation practice reportedly suffers from low use of technical information. Understanding of factors that affect the influence of technical information on management decision-making is limited. We sought to identify leverage points for improved technical information dissemination in the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia, given the significant recent investments in monitoring and evaluation that had been made. We did so by exploring the inter-relationships between factors affecting the influence of different information types on management decisions. Results indicate that managers have a high inclination toward adaptive behavior, given they operate in an information poor environment. The most influential types of information were those that enabled interaction between information provider and recipient (e.g., staff experience and expertise). An analysis of the concordance in individuals' responses for different information types showed that neither accessibility nor organizational expectation of use was aligned with influence on decision-making. Alignment of responses also varied by work area. Raising expectations of information use or increasing access to particular types of information is therefore unlikely to result in an increase in influence on management decision-making. Rather than focussing on matching accessibility and expected use of particular information types, our results indicate that technical information uptake is best supported through existing peer networks tailored to specific work areas.

  15. 75 FR 51035 - Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Notice of Panel Meeting and Technical Conference Details

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-08-18

    ... understand the matters in dispute. The Panel will limit all input that it receives to the specific studies or... constraints, the Panel may, at its discretion, limit the speaking time for each participant. Technical... Castleton Road, Darlington, Maryland. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010-20459 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45...

  16. Closed-ecology life support systems /CELSS/ for long-duration, manned missions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Modell, M.; Spurlock, J. M.

    1979-01-01

    Studies were conducted to scope the principal areas of technology that can contribute to the development of closed-ecology life support systems (CELSS). Such systems may be required for future space activities, such as space stations, manufacturing facilities, or colonies. A major feature of CELSS is the regeneration of food from carbon in waste materials. Several processes, using biological and/or physico-chemical components, have been postulated for closing the recycle loop. At the present time, limits of available technical information preclude the specification of an optimum scheme. Nevertheless, the most significant technical requirements can be determined by way of an iterative procedure of formulating, evaluating and comparing various closed-system scenario. The functions features and applications of this systems engineering procedure are discussed.

  17. Technical aspects and limitations of fractional flow reserve measurement.

    PubMed

    Jerabek, Stepan; Kovarnik, Tomas

    2018-02-27

    The only indication for coronary revascularization is elimination of ischaemia. Invasive hemodynamic methods (fractional flow reserve - FFR and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are superior to coronary angiography in detection of lesions causing myocardial ischaemia. Current European guidelines for myocardial revascularization recommend using of FFR for detection of functional assessment of lesions severity in category IA and number of these procedures increases. However, routine usage of these methods requires knowledge of technical requirements and limitations. The aim of the study is to summarise good clinical practice for FFR and iFR measurements with explanation of possible technical challenges, that are necessary for increasing of measurement accuracy. Authors describe frequent technical mistakes and malpractice during invasive assessment of lesion severity in coronary arteries.

  18. Technical knowledge and skills development in the informal sector in Kenya: The case of custom tailors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Apunda, Edwinah Amondi; de Klerk, Helena M.; Ogina, Teresa

    2017-06-01

    Custom tailors working in the informal sector in Nairobi, Kenya, mainly acquire technical skills through undertaking traditional apprenticeships (TAs). However, most of these tailors are semi-skilled, produce low-quality products and are often poorer than their formally trained counterparts. This qualitative case study explores the aspects of technical skills and knowledge which tailoring apprentices develop, and the factors which influence these outcomes. The findings show that apprentices do acquire basic technical skills for immediate application to ongoing tailoring activities (such as how to take body measurements, draft patterns, and cut, sew and finish constructed garments). However, apprentices do not acquire the technical knowledge that underpins the trade. Most master tailors who have completed TAs lack technical knowledge and have no access to technical skills upgrading. This perpetuates the cycle of basic and limited technical skills transfer to apprentices, poor performance and poverty among tailors. Both apprentices and master tailors expressed concern over knowledge limitations in TAs and a need to access further training to improve skills and acquire knowledge of the trade. The authors of this article argue that, technically and pedagogically, skilled master tailors are critical to improving training quality. Complementary training in theoretical knowledge is also important in improving apprentices' technical skills and understanding of the trade. Inclusion of TAs in government policy may help ensure sustainable improvement of skills.

  19. 32 CFR 250.2 - Applicability and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...) MISCELLANEOUS WITHHOLDING OF UNCLASSIFIED TECHNICAL DATA FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE § 250.2 Applicability and scope. (a) This part applies to: (1) All unclassified technical data with military or space application in... application of this part is limited only to such technical data that disclose critical technology with...

  20. 32 CFR 250.2 - Applicability and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...) MISCELLANEOUS WITHHOLDING OF UNCLASSIFIED TECHNICAL DATA FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE § 250.2 Applicability and scope. (a) This part applies to: (1) All unclassified technical data with military or space application in... application of this part is limited only to such technical data that disclose critical technology with...

  1. 32 CFR 250.2 - Applicability and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...) MISCELLANEOUS WITHHOLDING OF UNCLASSIFIED TECHNICAL DATA FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE § 250.2 Applicability and scope. (a) This part applies to: (1) All unclassified technical data with military or space application in... application of this part is limited only to such technical data that disclose critical technology with...

  2. 32 CFR 250.2 - Applicability and scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...) MISCELLANEOUS WITHHOLDING OF UNCLASSIFIED TECHNICAL DATA FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE § 250.2 Applicability and scope. (a) This part applies to: (1) All unclassified technical data with military or space application in... application of this part is limited only to such technical data that disclose critical technology with...

  3. 48 CFR 227.7103-7 - Use and non-disclosure agreement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... release, disclosure, or authorized use of technical data or computer software subject to special license... (b) of this subsection, technical data or computer software delivered to the Government with..., display, or disclose technical data subject to limited rights or computer software subject to restricted...

  4. Identification of usual interstitial pneumonia pattern using RNA-Seq and machine learning: challenges and solutions.

    PubMed

    Choi, Yoonha; Liu, Tiffany Ting; Pankratz, Daniel G; Colby, Thomas V; Barth, Neil M; Lynch, David A; Walsh, P Sean; Raghu, Ganesh; Kennedy, Giulia C; Huang, Jing

    2018-05-09

    We developed a classifier using RNA sequencing data that identifies the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We addressed significant challenges, including limited sample size, biological and technical sample heterogeneity, and reagent and assay batch effects. We identified inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity, particularly within the non-UIP group. The models classified UIP on transbronchial biopsy samples with a receiver-operating characteristic area under the curve of ~ 0.9 in cross-validation. Using in silico mixed samples in training, we prospectively defined a decision boundary to optimize specificity at ≥85%. The penalized logistic regression model showed greater reproducibility across technical replicates and was chosen as the final model. The final model showed sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 88% in the test set. We demonstrated that the suggested methodologies appropriately addressed challenges of the sample size, disease heterogeneity and technical batch effects and developed a highly accurate and robust classifier leveraging RNA sequencing for the classification of UIP.

  5. 76 FR 43136 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Kentucky; Disapproval of Interstate...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-20

    ... supported by an adequate technical analysis. Second, EPA recommended the various types of information that... technical analysis, including, but not limited to, information concerning emissions in the state...: ``* * * without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not believe that states can sufficiently address the...

  6. 76 FR 33332 - Announcement of Funding Awards for the Technical Assistance and Capacity Building under the...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-06-08

    ... of key Departmental objectives, including but not limited to, energy efficiency and green building... Awards for the Technical Assistance and Capacity Building under the Transformation Initiative Program...) for the Technical Assistance and Capacity Building under the Transformation Initiative program for...

  7. Burton Richter, Storage Rings, and the J/psi Particle

    Science.gov Websites

    [SLAC's] Technical Director, [Richter] became Director ... from 1984 through 1999. During his tenure, SLAC Limits of Quantum Electro-dynamics, DOE Technical Report, June 1959 Design Considerations for High Energy Electron -- Positron Storage Rings, DOE Technical Report, November 1966 Inclusive Yields of pi+, pi-, K

  8. Small physician practices in new york needed sustained help to realize gains in quality from use of electronic health records.

    PubMed

    Ryan, Andrew M; Bishop, Tara F; Shih, Sarah; Casalino, Lawrence P

    2013-01-01

    The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spurred adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in the United States, through such measures as financial incentives to providers through Medicare and Medicaid and regional extension centers, which provide ongoing technical assistance to practices. Yet the relationship between EHR adoption and quality of care remains poorly understood. We evaluated the early effects on quality of the Primary Care Information Project, which provides subsidized EHRs and technical assistance to primary care practices in underserved neighborhoods in New York City, using the regional extension center model. We found that just general participation in, or exposure to, the project was not enough to improve quality of care. It took sustained exposure on the part of these practices and technical assistance to them before they demonstrated improvement on measures of care most likely to be affected by the use of electronic health records, such as cancer screenings and care for patients with diabetes. Participating in the Primary Care Information Project for nine or more months was associated with significantly improved quality, but only for this limited group of quality measures and only for physicians receiving extensive technical assistance.

  9. On the Necessity of Changes in the Strategy of Utilization Ship Boiler Technical Condition Maintenance in the Aspect of LNG Applied as Fuel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adamkiewicz, Andrzej; Zeńczak, Wojciech

    2017-03-01

    Heavy oils (HFO fuels) used on ships play a part in degradation of technical condition of heat exchange surfaces of utilization boilers especially on the exhaust gas side. Presence of sulphur in these fuels is the main factor favouring degradation. The upper limit for sulphur content in the fuel used outside the SECA areas equal to 3.5% is currently in force, at least until the year 2020 or 2025. The recommended by classification societies overhauls of utilization boilers are, therefore characterized by a specially chosen strategy thanks to which it is possible to maintain their appropriate technical condition. The requirement to use fuels with low sulphur content (LSFO), which are significantly more expensive than MDO fuels, in the areas of controlled sulphur emissions also led to a further introduction of alternative fuels, such as methanol and above all liquefied natural gas (LNG), onto ships. That is especially valid for the ship owners whose vessels e.g. ferries sail mainly within SCECA This article analyses the consequences of the introduced fuel change on utilization boiler maintenance. A change in the technical condition maintenance strategy for utilization boilers has been suggested.

  10. Site-directed nucleases: a paradigm shift in predictable, knowledge-based plant breeding.

    PubMed

    Podevin, Nancy; Davies, Howard V; Hartung, Frank; Nogué, Fabien; Casacuberta, Josep M

    2013-06-01

    Conventional plant breeding exploits existing genetic variability and introduces new variability by mutagenesis. This has proven highly successful in securing food supplies for an ever-growing human population. The use of genetically modified plants is a complementary approach but all plant breeding techniques have limitations. Here, we discuss how the recent evolution of targeted mutagenesis and DNA insertion techniques based on tailor-made site-directed nucleases (SDNs) provides opportunities to overcome such limitations. Plant breeding companies are exploiting SDNs to develop a new generation of crops with new and improved traits. Nevertheless, some technical limitations as well as significant uncertainties on the regulatory status of SDNs may challenge their use for commercial plant breeding. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Study of Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) and Velocity-vector Based Command Augmentation System (V-CAS) on Pilot Performance

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Liu, Dahai; Goodrich, Ken; Peak, Bob

    2006-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of synthetic vision system (SVS) concepts and advanced flight controls on single pilot performance (SPP). Specifically, we evaluated the benefits and interactions of two levels of terrain portrayal, guidance symbology, and control-system response type on SPP in the context of lower-landing minima (LLM) approaches. Performance measures consisted of flight technical error (FTE) and pilot perceived workload. In this study, pilot rating, control type, and guidance symbology were not found to significantly affect FTE or workload. It is likely that transfer from prior experience, limited scope of the evaluation task, specific implementation limitations, and limited sample size were major factors in obtaining these results.

  12. Exploring the Mismatch between Skills and Jobs for Women in Saudi Arabia in Technical and Vocational Areas: The Views of Saudi Arabian Private Sector Business Managers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Calvert, John R.; Al-Shetaiwi, A. S.

    2002-01-01

    Gives an overview of women in both general and technical-vocational education and employment in Saudi Arabia. Reports on a survey of 220 private business managers: 83% indicated that Saudi women had limited participation in technical jobs; 63% suggested that vocational-technical education did not promote women's participation. (Contains 51…

  13. 14 CFR 1213.100 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... include, but are not limited to, press releases, media advisories, news features, and Web postings. Not included under this definition are scientific and technical reports, Web postings designed for technical or...

  14. The influence of supervision on manual adherence and therapeutic processes.

    PubMed

    Anderson, Timothy; Crowley, Mary Ellen J; Patterson, Candace L; Heckman, Bernadette D

    2012-09-01

    To identify the effectiveness of psychotherapy supervision on therapists' immediate (next session) and long-term (1 year) adherence to time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP). Sixteen therapists from the Vanderbilt II psychotherapy project were assigned new cases in pretraining, training, and booster/posttraining year-long cohorts. Technical adherence to the manual, as well as general therapeutic relational processes, were rated for clinical supervisory sessions in which the third therapy session was discussed. The therapy sessions immediately before and after the supervisory sessions were also rated for technical adherence and relational processes. Postsupervision adherence increased from the presupervision session during the training cohort. In supervision, therapists' discussion of techniques and strategies from the manual in supervision was significantly related to technical adherence in the session prior to (but not after) supervision. However, supervisors' discussion of specific techniques predicted therapists' total technical adherence in the therapy session after (but not before) supervision. In terms of the type of techniques, supervisors' influenced postsupervision therapy adherence on TLDP's unique approach to formulation, the cyclical maladaptive pattern, but did not influence technical adherence on the therapeutic relationship. In supervision, therapists tend to focus on how they adhered to techniques from the previous session, whereas supervisors' comments about specific techniques predicted how the therapist would adhere to techniques in the next therapy session. The findings provide support for the immediate effects of supervision in shaping therapist techniques as well as highlighting the challenges of altering common relational processes through technical training. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Technical Errors May Affect Accuracy of Torque Limiter in Locking Plate Osteosynthesis.

    PubMed

    Savin, David D; Lee, Simon; Bohnenkamp, Frank C; Pastor, Andrew; Garapati, Rajeev; Goldberg, Benjamin A

    2016-01-01

    In locking plate osteosynthesis, proper surgical technique is crucial in reducing potential pitfalls, and use of a torque limiter makes it possible to control insertion torque. We conducted a study of the ways in which different techniques can alter the accuracy of torque limiters. We tested 22 torque limiters (1.5 Nm) for accuracy using hand and power tools under different rotational scenarios: hand power at low and high velocity and drill power at low and high velocity. We recorded the maximum torque reached after each torque-limiting event. Use of torque limiters under hand power at low velocity and high velocity resulted in significantly (P < .0001) different mean (SD) measurements: 1.49 (0.15) Nm and 3.73 (0.79) Nm. Use under drill power at controlled low velocity and at high velocity also resulted in significantly (P < .0001) different mean (SD) measurements: 1.47 (0.14) Nm and 5.37 (0.90) Nm. Maximum single measurement obtained was 9.0 Nm using drill power at high velocity. Locking screw insertion with improper technique may result in higher than expected torque and subsequent complications. For torque limiters, the most reliable technique involves hand power at slow velocity or drill power with careful control of insertion speed until 1 torque-limiting event occurs.

  16. 76 FR 43167 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; North Carolina; Disapproval of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-20

    ... stated that the state's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. Second, EPA... revision must be supported by an adequate technical analysis, including, but not limited to, information... disapproval where the Agency states: ``* * * without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not believe that...

  17. 40 CFR 412.31 - Effluent limitations attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... supporting technical analysis and any other relevant information and data that would support such site... event. The technical analysis of the discharge of pollutants must include: (A) All daily inputs to the... the supporting technical analysis, including inspection of the CAFO. (3) The CAFO shall attain the...

  18. 78 FR 66375 - Announcement of Funding Awards for the OneCPD Plus: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-11-05

    ... of key Departmental objectives, including but not limited to, energy efficiency and green building... Awards for the OneCPD Plus: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Under the Transformation... Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the OneCPD Plus: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building...

  19. 40 CFR 412.31 - Effluent limitations attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... supporting technical analysis and any other relevant information and data that would support such site... event. The technical analysis of the discharge of pollutants must include: (A) All daily inputs to the... the supporting technical analysis, including inspection of the CAFO. (3) The CAFO shall attain the...

  20. Central Radar System, Over-the-Horizon Backscatter

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-03-09

    1,2-Dibromo-3- chloropropane (DBCP) 0.3 TABLE 41-6 (Continued). MINNESOTA RECOMMENDED ALLOWABLE LIMITS (RAL) FOR DRINKING WATER WELLS Compound RAL (ug/ 1 ...TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS PROCESS OVERVIEW ............ TECHNICAL STUDY 1 FACILITIES...TECHNICAL STUDY 10 0 TECHNICAL STUDY 1 CENTRAL RADAR SYSTEM OVER-THE-HORIZON BACKSCATTER RADAR PROGRAM 0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  1. New York City Bilingual Technical Assistance Center (BETAC), 1987-88. OREA Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Berney, Tomi D.; Sjostrom, Barbara R.

    The New York City Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Center provided technical assistance and training to members of the instructional and administrative staffs working with limited-English-proficient (LEP) students throughout the city's 32 community school districts and the division of high schools. Specifically, in 1987-88 the program…

  2. Optical biosensors: where next and how soon?

    PubMed

    Cooper, Matthew A

    2006-12-01

    From a direct comparison of the technical benefits of labelled reporter assays with the benefits of label-free assays, label-free appears to have significant advantages. Faster assay development times; accurate, high information content data; and less interference from labels. However, optical label-free platforms have not yet made a major impact in the drug discovery technology markets; are often viewed as having poor throughput, limited application; and are difficult to learn and use effectively.

  3. 47 CFR 51.327 - Notice of network changes: Content of notice.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ..., but is not limited to, references to technical specifications, protocols, and standards regarding transmission, signaling, routing, and facility assignment as well as references to technical standards that...

  4. 47 CFR 51.327 - Notice of network changes: Content of notice.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ..., but is not limited to, references to technical specifications, protocols, and standards regarding transmission, signaling, routing, and facility assignment as well as references to technical standards that...

  5. 47 CFR 51.327 - Notice of network changes: Content of notice.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ..., but is not limited to, references to technical specifications, protocols, and standards regarding transmission, signaling, routing, and facility assignment as well as references to technical standards that...

  6. Multiparametric prostate MRI: technical conduct, standardized report and clinical use.

    PubMed

    Manfredi, Matteo; Mele, Fabrizio; Garrou, Diletta; Walz, Jochen; Fütterer, Jurgen J; Russo, Filippo; Vassallo, Lorenzo; Villers, Arnauld; Emberton, Mark; Valerio, Massimo

    2018-02-01

    Multiparametric prostate MRI (mp-MRI) is an emerging imaging modality for diagnosis, characterization, staging, and treatment planning of prostate cancer (PCa). The technique, results reporting, and its role in clinical practice have been the subject of significant development over the last decade. Although mp-MRI is not yet routinely used in the diagnostic pathway, almost all urological guidelines have emphasized the potential role of mp-MRI in several aspects of PCa management. Moreover, new MRI sequences and scanning techniques are currently under evaluation to improve the diagnostic accuracy of mp-MRI. This review presents an overview of mp-MRI, summarizing the technical applications, the standardized reporting systems used, and their current roles in various stages of PCa management. Finally, this critical review also reports the main limitations and future perspectives of the technique.

  7. 28 CFR 69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  8. 6 CFR 9.23 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  9. 15 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  10. 15 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  11. 43 CFR 18.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  12. 6 CFR 9.23 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  13. 6 CFR 9.23 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  14. 6 CFR 9.23 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  15. 15 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  16. 43 CFR 18.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  17. 28 CFR 69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  18. 28 CFR 69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  19. 15 CFR 28.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  20. 28 CFR 69.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For example... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  1. Technical Packages in Injury and Violence Prevention to Move Evidence into Practice: Systematic Reviews and Beyond

    PubMed Central

    Haegerich, Tamara M.; David-Ferdon, Corinne; Noonan, Rita K.; Manns, Brian J.; Billie, Holly C.

    2016-01-01

    Injury and violence prevention strategies have greater potential for impact when they are based on scientific evidence. Systematic reviews of the scientific evidence can contribute key information about which policies and programs might have the greatest impact when implemented. However, systematic reviews have limitations, such as lack of implementation guidance and contextual information, that can limit the application of knowledge. “Technical packages,” developed by knowledge brokers such as the federal government, nonprofit agencies, and academic institutions, have the potential to be an efficient mechanism for making information from systematic reviews actionable. Technical packages provide information about specific evidence-based prevention strategies, along with the estimated costs and impacts, and include accompanying implementation and evaluation guidance to facilitate adoption, implementation, and performance measurement. We describe how systematic reviews can inform the development of technical packages for practitioners, provide examples of technical packages in injury and violence prevention, and explain how enhancing review methods and reporting could facilitate the use and applicability of scientific evidence. PMID:27604301

  2. e-Assessment in a Limited-Resources Dental School Using an Open-Source Learning Management System.

    PubMed

    El Tantawi, Maha M A; Abdelsalam, Maha M; Mourady, Ahmed M; Elrifae, Ismail M B

    2015-05-01

    e-Assessment provides solutions to some problems encountered in dental students' evaluation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience of a limited-resources dental school with e-assessment provided through an open-source learning management system (LMS). Data about users' access and types of e-assessment activities at the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Egypt, were obtained from the web-based LMS Moodle. A questionnaire developed to assess students' perceptions of the e-assessment was also sent to students registered in two courses (undergraduate and postgraduate) with the same instructor. The results showed that most e-courses at the school had one form of e-assessment (82%) and, of these, 16.7% had summative assessment activities. There were significant differences among departments in the number of e-courses with e-assessment. One-quarter of e-courses with e-assessment used Moodle quizzes. Of 285 students registered in the two courses that included the questionnaire, 170 responded (response rate=59.6%). The responding students positively perceived the impact of e-assessment on learning and its reliability and security, whereas technical issues and related stresses were negatively perceived. This study suggests that e-assessment can be used at minimal cost in dental schools with limited resources and large class sizes with the least demands on faculty members and teaching staff time. For these schools, an open-source LMS such as Moodle provides formative e-assessment not available otherwise and accommodates various question formats and varying levels of instructors' technical skills. These students seemed to have a positive impression of the e-assessment although technical problems and related stresses are issues that need to be addressed.

  3. 43 CFR 18.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  4. 28 CFR 69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  5. 6 CFR 9.15 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  6. 13 CFR 146.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  7. 15 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  8. 45 CFR 604.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  9. 18 CFR 1315.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  10. 18 CFR 1315.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  11. 45 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  12. 45 CFR 604.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  13. 13 CFR 146.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  14. 28 CFR 69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  15. 13 CFR 146.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  16. 31 CFR 21.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  17. 6 CFR 9.15 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  18. 18 CFR 1315.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  19. 22 CFR 712.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  20. 40 CFR 34.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  1. 28 CFR 69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  2. 43 CFR 18.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  3. 22 CFR 712.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  4. 15 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  5. 40 CFR 34.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  6. 31 CFR 21.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  7. 45 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  8. 45 CFR 93.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  9. 14 CFR 1271.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  10. 45 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  11. 13 CFR 146.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  12. 31 CFR 21.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  13. 15 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  14. 45 CFR 604.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  15. 43 CFR 18.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  16. 14 CFR 1271.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  17. 6 CFR 9.15 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  18. 40 CFR 34.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  19. 15 CFR 28.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  20. 18 CFR 1315.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  1. 28 CFR 69.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  2. 45 CFR 93.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  3. 13 CFR 146.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  4. 13 CFR 146.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  5. 6 CFR 9.15 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  6. 45 CFR 93.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  7. 22 CFR 712.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  8. 45 CFR 93.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  9. 45 CFR 93.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  10. 13 CFR 146.300 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... services shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline... influence made by an engineer providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a...

  11. 14 CFR 1271.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  12. 31 CFR 21.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  13. 13 CFR 146.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  14. Understanding a technical language: A schema-based approach

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Falzon, P.

    1984-01-01

    Workers in many job categories tend to develop technical languages, which are restricted subjects of natural language. A better knowledge of these retrictions provides guidelines for the design of the restricted languages of interactive systems. Accordingly, a technical language used by air-traffic controllers in their communications with pilots was studied. A method of analysis is presented that allows the schemata underlying each category of messages to be identified. This schematic knowledge was implemented in programs, which assume that the goal-oriented aspect of technical languages (and particularly the restricted domain of discourse) limits the processes and the data necessary in order to understand the messages (monosemy, limited vocabulary, evocation of the schemata by some command words, absence of syntax). The programs can interpret, and translate into sequences of action, the messages emitted by the controllers.

  15. 44 CFR 70.3 - Right to submit technical information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... FOR MAP CORRECTION Mapping Deficiencies Unrelated to Community-Wide Elevation Determinations § 70.3.../AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V Zones on a FHBM or a FIRM, may submit scientific or technical...) Scientific and technical information for the purpose of this part may include, but is not limited to the...

  16. 44 CFR 70.3 - Right to submit technical information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... FOR MAP CORRECTION Mapping Deficiencies Unrelated to Community-Wide Elevation Determinations § 70.3.../AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V Zones on a FHBM or a FIRM, may submit scientific or technical...) Scientific and technical information for the purpose of this part may include, but is not limited to the...

  17. 14 CFR § 1271.205 - Professional and technical services.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ...” shall be limited to advice and analysis directly applying any professional or technical discipline. For... providing an engineering analysis prior to the preparation or submission of a bid or proposal are not...

  18. Do failures in non-technical skills contribute to fatal medical accidents in Japan? A review of the 2010-2013 national accident reports.

    PubMed

    Uramatsu, Masashi; Fujisawa, Yoshikazu; Mizuno, Shinya; Souma, Takahiro; Komatsubara, Akinori; Miki, Tamotsu

    2017-02-16

    We sought to clarify how large a proportion of fatal medical accidents can be considered to be caused by poor non-technical skills, and to support development of a policy to reduce number of such accidents by making recommendations about possible training requirements. Summaries of reports of fatal medical accidents, published by the Japan Medical Safety Research Organization, were reviewed individually. Three experienced clinicians and one patient safety expert conducted the reviews to determine the cause of death. Views of the patient safety expert were given additional weight in the overall determination. A total of 73 summary reports of fatal medical accidents were reviewed. These reports had been submitted by healthcare organisations across Japan to the Japan Medical Safety Research Organization between April 2010 and March 2013. The cause of death in fatal medical accidents, categorised into technical skills, non-technical skills and inevitable progress of disease were evaluated. Non-technical skills were further subdivided into situation awareness, decision making, communication, team working, leadership, managing stress and coping with fatigue. Overall, the cause of death was identified as non-technical skills in 34 cases (46.6%), disease progression in 33 cases (45.2%) and technical skills in two cases (5.5%). In two cases, no consensual determination could be achieved. Further categorisation of cases of non-technical skills were identified as 14 cases (41.2%) of problems with situation awareness, eight (23.5%) with team working and three (8.8%) with decision making. These three subcategories, or combinations of them, were identified as the cause of death in 33 cases (97.1%). Poor non-technical skills were considered to be a significant cause of adverse events in nearly half of the fatal medical accidents examined. Improving non-technical skills may be effective for reducing accidents, and training in particular subcategories of non-technical skills may be especially relevant. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  19. How to Overcome Information Anxiety: Assignment and Use of DoD Distribution Statements for Technical Documents. Volume 1. Facilitor Guide

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-05-01

    distribution limitations recommended if public release is not approved. The ASD(PA) shall also process appeals when public release denial is based upon...Rules of Evidence, and all other applicable laws. An interlocutory appeal by the United States shall lie from a decision or order of a district court... limitations ; document markings; document preparation; scientific and technical information; STINFO; information security; security training

  20. 44 CFR 70.3 - Right to submit technical information.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    .../AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V Zones on a FHBM or a FIRM, may submit scientific or technical...) Scientific and technical information for the purpose of this part may include, but is not limited to the following: (1) An actual copy of the recorded plat map bearing the seal of the appropriate recordation...

  1. Author-Editor Guide to Technical Publications Preparation. Revision

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-01-01

    meteorology, climatology, military technical publications. ( ") <- 15: Number of Pages: 68 17. Security Classification of Report: Unclassified 1... Security Classification of this Page: Unclassified 19. Security Classification of Abstract: Unclassified 20. Limitation of Abstract: UL Standard Form 298...34 There are, however, February 1983. numerous exceptions. Although some technical material may not be classified in accordance with security AFR 83-2, Air

  2. Randomized clinical trial to evaluate mental practice in enhancing advanced laparoscopic surgical performance.

    PubMed

    Louridas, M; Bonrath, E M; Sinclair, D A; Dedy, N J; Grantcharov, T P

    2015-01-01

    Mental practice, the cognitive rehearsal of a task without physical movement, is known to enhance performance in sports and music. Investigation of this technique in surgery has been limited to basic operations. The purpose of this study was to develop mental practice scripts, and to assess their effect on advanced laparoscopic skills and surgeon stress levels in a crisis scenario. Twenty senior surgical trainees were randomized to either conventional training or mental practice groups, the latter being trained by an expert performance psychologist. Participants' skills were assessed while performing a porcine laparoscopic jejunojejunostomy as part of a crisis scenario in a simulated operating room, using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) and bariatric OSATS (BOSATS) instruments. Objective and subjective stress parameters were measured, as well as non-technical skills using the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons rating tool. An improvement in OSATS (P = 0.003) and BOSATS (P = 0.003) scores was seen in the mental practice group compared with the conventional training group. Seven of ten trainees improved their technical performance during the crisis scenario, whereas four of the ten conventionally trained participants deteriorated. Mental imagery ability improved significantly following mental practice training (P = 0.011), but not in the conventional group (P = 0.083). No differences in objective or subjective stress levels or non-technical skills were evident. Mental practice improves technical performance for advanced laparoscopic tasks in the simulated operating room, and allows trainees to maintain or improve their performance despite added stress. © 2014 BJS Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  3. FRATIS concept of operations : assess test readiness of FRATIS (task 4).

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2012-08-01

    This technical memorandum presents a concise assessment of the key technical and nontechnical issues and limitations related to field-testing the Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA) bundle and its...

  4. A system for respiratory motion detection using optical fibers embedded into textiles.

    PubMed

    D'Angelo, L T; Weber, S; Honda, Y; Thiel, T; Narbonneau, F; Luth, T C

    2008-01-01

    In this contribution, a first prototype for mobile respiratory motion detection using optical fibers embedded into textiles is presented. The developed system consists of a T-shirt with an integrated fiber sensor and a portable monitoring unit with a wireless communication link enabling the data analysis and visualization on a PC. A great effort is done worldwide to develop mobile solutions for health monitoring of vital signs for patients needing continuous medical care. Wearable, comfortable and smart textiles incorporating sensors are good approaches to solve this problem. In most of the cases, electrical sensors are integrated, showing significant limits such as for the monitoring of anaesthetized patients during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). OFSETH (Optical Fibre Embedded into technical Textile for Healthcare) uses optical sensor technologies to extend the current capabilities of medical technical textiles.

  5. New Frameworks for Detecting and Minimizing Information Leakage in Anonymized Network Data

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-10-01

    researcher the exact extent to which a particular utility is affected by the anonymization. For instance, Karr et al.’s use of the Kullback - Leibler ...technical, legal, policy, and privacy issues limit the ability of operators to produce data sets for information security testing . In an effort to...technical, legal, policy, and privacy issues limit the ability of operators to produce datasets for information security testing . In an effort to help

  6. Technical Packages in Injury and Violence Prevention to Move Evidence Into Practice: Systematic Reviews and Beyond.

    PubMed

    Haegerich, Tamara M; David-Ferdon, Corinne; Noonan, Rita K; Manns, Brian J; Billie, Holly C

    2016-09-07

    Injury and violence prevention strategies have greater potential for impact when they are based on scientific evidence. Systematic reviews of the scientific evidence can contribute key information about which policies and programs might have the greatest impact when implemented. However, systematic reviews have limitations, such as lack of implementation guidance and contextual information, that can limit the application of knowledge. "Technical packages," developed by knowledge brokers such as the federal government, nonprofit agencies, and academic institutions, have the potential to be an efficient mechanism for making information from systematic reviews actionable. Technical packages provide information about specific evidence-based prevention strategies, along with the estimated costs and impacts, and include accompanying implementation and evaluation guidance to facilitate adoption, implementation, and performance measurement. We describe how systematic reviews can inform the development of technical packages for practitioners, provide examples of technical packages in injury and violence prevention, and explain how enhancing review methods and reporting could facilitate the use and applicability of scientific evidence. © The Author(s) 2016.

  7. 77 FR 34784 - Removal of Six Month Line Check Requirement for Pilots Over Age 60; Technical Amendment

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-12

    ...-0486; Amdt. No. 121-359] Removal of Six Month Line Check Requirement for Pilots Over Age 60; Technical... years of age that applied to air carriers engaged in part 121 operations. This technical amendment... December 13, 2007. This legislation raised the upper age limit for pilots in part 121 from age 60 to age 65...

  8. An Assessment of the Support Service Needs of Career and Technical Education Teachers and Their Students with Limited English Proficiency in Selected Pennsylvania AVTS's

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wichowski, Chester P.; Nunez, Frances

    2005-01-01

    A survey was conducted among a population of 350 Career and Technical Education, CTE, teachers from 12 Career Technical Education Centers, CTC, sites in seven counties throughout Pennsylvania (return rate = 64%). The participating schools demographic settings, which were selected by the respondents, were closely divided between rural (37.9%) and…

  9. Final Finding of No Significant Impact: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Technology Center Acquisition Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-04-18

    accommodate current and anticipated aircraft modification workload. The range of reasonable alternatives must also meet essential technical...matter equal to or less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), and lead . The primary NAAQS set limits to protect public health, including...disease; asthmatics and those with emphysema or bronchitis are the most sensitive to SO2 exposure. SO2 also contributes to acid rain, which can lead

  10. STEM integration in middle school career and technical education programs: A Delphi design study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu-Rorrer, Billy Ray

    The purpose of this qualitative method study with a Delphi research design sought to determine how STEM programs can be effectively integrated into middle school career and technical education programs by local, state, and national educators, administrators, directors, specialists, and curriculum writers. The significance of the study is to provide leaders in CTE with a greater awareness, insight, and strategies about how CTE programs can more effectively integrate academics into career and technical education programs through STEM-related programming. The findings will increase the limited amount of available literature providing best practice strategies for the integration of STEM curriculum into middle school CTE programs. One basic question has guided this research: How can STEM programs be effectively integrated into middle school career and technical education programs? A total of twelve strategies were identified. The strategies of real-world applications and administrative buy-in were the two predominant strategies consistently addressed throughout the review of literature and all three sub-questions in the research study. The Delphi design study consisted of pilot round and three rounds of data collection on barriers, strategies, and professional development for STEM integration in middle school career and technical education programs. Four panelists participated in the pilot round, and 16 panel members not involved in the pilot round participated in the three rounds of questioning and consensus building. In the future, more comprehensive studies can build upon this foundational investigation of middle school CTE programs.

  11. 47 CFR 27.55 - Power strength limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Power strength limits. 27.55 Section 27.55 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Technical Standards § 27.55 Power strength limits. (a) Field strength limits. For the...

  12. Contextual Sensing: Integrating Contextual Information with Human and Technical Geo-Sensor Information for Smart Cities

    PubMed Central

    Sagl, Günther; Resch, Bernd; Blaschke, Thomas

    2015-01-01

    In this article we critically discuss the challenge of integrating contextual information, in particular spatiotemporal contextual information, with human and technical sensor information, which we approach from a geospatial perspective. We start by highlighting the significance of context in general and spatiotemporal context in particular and introduce a smart city model of interactions between humans, the environment, and technology, with context at the common interface. We then focus on both the intentional and the unintentional sensing capabilities of today’s technologies and discuss current technological trends that we consider have the ability to enrich human and technical geo-sensor information with contextual detail. The different types of sensors used to collect contextual information are analyzed and sorted into three groups on the basis of names considering frequently used related terms, and characteristic contextual parameters. These three groups, namely technical in situ sensors, technical remote sensors, and human sensors are analyzed and linked to three dimensions involved in sensing (data generation, geographic phenomena, and type of sensing). In contrast to other scientific publications, we found a large number of technologies and applications using in situ and mobile technical sensors within the context of smart cities, and surprisingly limited use of remote sensing approaches. In this article we further provide a critical discussion of possible impacts and influences of both technical and human sensing approaches on society, pointing out that a larger number of sensors, increased fusion of information, and the use of standardized data formats and interfaces will not necessarily result in any improvement in the quality of life of the citizens of a smart city. This article seeks to improve our understanding of technical and human geo-sensing capabilities, and to demonstrate that the use of such sensors can facilitate the integration of different types of contextual information, thus providing an additional, namely the geo-spatial perspective on the future development of smart cities. PMID:26184221

  13. Contextual Sensing: Integrating Contextual Information with Human and Technical Geo-Sensor Information for Smart Cities.

    PubMed

    Sagl, Günther; Resch, Bernd; Blaschke, Thomas

    2015-07-14

    In this article we critically discuss the challenge of integrating contextual information, in particular spatiotemporal contextual information, with human and technical sensor information, which we approach from a geospatial perspective. We start by highlighting the significance of context in general and spatiotemporal context in particular and introduce a smart city model of interactions between humans, the environment, and technology, with context at the common interface. We then focus on both the intentional and the unintentional sensing capabilities of today's technologies and discuss current technological trends that we consider have the ability to enrich human and technical geo-sensor information with contextual detail. The different types of sensors used to collect contextual information are analyzed and sorted into three groups on the basis of names considering frequently used related terms, and characteristic contextual parameters. These three groups, namely technical in situ sensors, technical remote sensors, and human sensors are analyzed and linked to three dimensions involved in sensing (data generation, geographic phenomena, and type of sensing). In contrast to other scientific publications, we found a large number of technologies and applications using in situ and mobile technical sensors within the context of smart cities, and surprisingly limited use of remote sensing approaches. In this article we further provide a critical discussion of possible impacts and influences of both technical and human sensing approaches on society, pointing out that a larger number of sensors, increased fusion of information, and the use of standardized data formats and interfaces will not necessarily result in any improvement in the quality of life of the citizens of a smart city. This article seeks to improve our understanding of technical and human geo-sensing capabilities, and to demonstrate that the use of such sensors can facilitate the integration of different types of contextual information, thus providing an additional, namely the geo-spatial perspective on the future development of smart cities.

  14. Airborne incidents : an econometric analysis of severity, December 31, 2014 : technical summary

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2014-12-31

    This is a technical summary of the Airborne Incidents: An Econometric Analysis of Severity main report. : Airborne loss of separation incidents occur when an aircraft breaches the defined separation limit (vertical and/or horizontal) with anoth...

  15. Implications of Metaphors in Defining Technical Communication.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Beck, Charles E.

    1991-01-01

    Identifies four metaphors that appear dominant in current studies in the field of technical communication: transmitter, channel, balance, and bridge. Suggests limitations upon each of the metaphors. Discusses the alternative metaphors of lock, translator, transformer, synthesizer, conductor, and orchestrator. Proposes orchestration as a fruitful…

  16. Signal-to-noise enhancement techniques for quantum cascade absorption spectrometers employing optimal filtering and other approaches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Disselkamp, R. S.; Kelly, J. F.; Sams, R. L.; Anderson, G. A.

    Optical feedback to the laser source in tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS) is known to create intensity modulation noise due to elatoning and optical feedback (i.e. multiplicative technical noise) that usually limits spectral signal-to-noise (S/N). The large technical noise often limits absorption spectroscopy to noise floors 100-fold greater than the Poisson shot noise limit due to fluctuations in the laser intensity. The high output powers generated from quantum cascade (QC) lasers, along with their high gain, makes these injection laser systems especially susceptible to technical noise. In this article we discuss a method of using optimal filtering to reduce technical noise. We have observed S/N enhancements ranging from 20% to a factor of 50. The degree to which optimal filtering enhances S/N depends on the similarity between the Fourier components of the technical noise and those of the signal, with lower S/N enhancements observed for more similar Fourier decompositions of the signal and technical noise. We also examine the linearity of optimal filtered spectra in both time and intensity. This was accomplished by creating a synthetic spectrum for the species being studied (CH4, N2O, CO2 and H2O in ambient air) utilizing line positions and linewidths with an assumed Voigt profile from a commercial database (HITRAN). Agreement better than 0.036% in wavenumber and 1.64% in intensity (up to a 260-fold intensity ratio employed) was observed. Our results suggest that rapid ex post facto digital optimal filtering can be used to enhance S/N for routine trace gas detection.

  17. A combined teamwork training and work standardisation intervention in operating theatres: controlled interrupted time series study.

    PubMed

    Morgan, Lauren; Pickering, Sharon P; Hadi, Mohammed; Robertson, Eleanor; New, Steve; Griffin, Damian; Collins, Gary; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Catchpole, Ken; McCulloch, Peter

    2015-02-01

    Teamwork training and system standardisation have both been proposed to reduce error and harm in surgery. Since the approaches differ markedly, there is potential for synergy between them. Controlled interrupted time series with a 3 month intervention and observation phases before and after. Operating theatres conducting elective orthopaedic surgery in a single hospital system (UK Hospital Trust). Teamwork training based on crew resource management plus training and follow-up support in developing standardised operating procedures. Focus of subsequent standardisation efforts decided by theatre staff. Paired observers watched whole procedures together. We assessed non-technical skills using NOTECHS II, technical performance using glitch rate and compliance with WHO checklist using a simple quality tool. We measured complication and readmission rates and hospital stay using hospital administrative records. Before/after change was compared in the active and control groups using two-way ANOVA and regression models. 1121 patients were operated on before and 1100 after intervention. 44 operations were observed before and 50 afterwards. Non-technical skills (p=0.002) and WHO compliance (p<0.001) improved significantly after the intervention in the active versus the control group. Glitch count improved in both groups and there was no significant effect on clinical outcomes. Combined training in teamwork and system improvement causes marked improvements in team behaviour and WHO performance, but not technical performance or outcome. These findings are consistent with the synergistic hypothesis, but larger controlled studies with a strong implementation strategy are required to test potential outcome effects. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  18. Technical and physical determinants of soccer match-play performance in elite youth soccer players.

    PubMed

    Rowat, Owain; Fenner, Jonathan; Unnithan, Viswanath

    2017-04-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate whether physical performance characteristics could be a better predictor than technical skills in determining the technical level of county soccer players in a match situation. With institutional ethics approval, 25 male youth soccer players aged 16-18.5 years from a professional soccer academy in South East Asia were selected and height and body mass were recorded. Players were tested for sexual maturity (pubertal development scale [PDS] self-assessment), aerobic capacity (yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 [YYIR1]), repeated sprint ability (7 x 35 m sprints) acceleration (15 m sprint) and four soccer skills tests (dribble with pass, dribbling speed, passing and shooting accuracy). Players' technical ability during match play was assessed in small-sided games of soccer (5 v 5) using a novel game technical scoring chart (scoring chart completed by coaches to assess technical performance in a match situation) developed from criteria (e.g., first touch, dribbling and two footedness) used by youth soccer coaches for talent identification. A Spearman's rank correlation showed the YYIR1 test and 15 m sprint test were limited in predicting technical match performance (r=0.03, P=0.88, r=-0.23, P=0.32 respectively). A Pearson product moment correlation showed that the repeated sprint test was also limited in predicting technical match performance (r=-0.34, P=0.14). A dribbling skill with a pass was found to be the best determinant of a player's technical ability in a match (r=-0.57, P=0.00). Talent identification and selection programs in Asian youth soccer should include a dribbling skill performed with a pass.

  19. Review of the technical bases of 40 CFR Part 190.

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

    Kelly, John E.; McMahon, Kevin A.; Siegel, Malcolm Dean

    2010-07-01

    The dose limits for emissions from the nuclear fuel cycle were established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 40 CFR Part 190 in 1977. These limits were based on assumptions regarding the growth of nuclear power and the technical capabilities of decontamination systems as well as the then-current knowledge of atmospheric dispersion and the biological effects of ionizing radiation. In the more than thirty years since the adoption of the limits, much has changed with respect to the scale of nuclear energy deployment in the United States and the scientific knowledge associated with modeling health effects from radioactivity release. Sandiamore » National Laboratories conducted a study to examine and understand the methodologies and technical bases of 40 CFR 190 and also to determine if the conclusions of the earlier work would be different today given the current projected growth of nuclear power and the advances in scientific understanding. This report documents the results of that work.« less

  20. The impact of nontechnical skills on technical performance in surgery: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Hull, Louise; Arora, Sonal; Aggarwal, Rajesh; Darzi, Ara; Vincent, Charles; Sevdalis, Nick

    2012-02-01

    Failures in nontechnical and teamwork skills frequently lie at the heart of harm and near-misses in the operating room (OR). The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the impact of nontechnical skills on technical performance in surgery. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO databases were searched, and 2,041 articles were identified. After limits were applied, 341 articles were retrieved for evaluation. Of these, 28 articles were accepted for this review. Data were extracted from the articles regarding sample population, study design and setting, measures of nontechnical skills and technical performance, study findings, and limitations. Of the 28 articles that met inclusion criteria, 21 articles assessed the impact of surgeons' nontechnical skills on their technical performance. The evidence suggests that receiving feedback and effectively coping with stressful events in the OR has a beneficial impact on certain aspects of technical performance. Conversely, increased levels of fatigue are associated with detriments to surgical skill. One article assessed the impact of anesthesiologists' nontechnical skills on anesthetic technical performance, finding a strong positive correlation between the 2 skill sets. Finally, 6 articles assessed the impact of multiple nontechnical skills of the entire OR team on surgical performance. A strong relationship between teamwork failure and technical error was empirically demonstrated in these studies. Evidence suggests that certain nontechnical aspects of performance can enhance or, if lacking, contribute to deterioration of surgeons' technical performance. The precise extent of this effect remains to be elucidated. Copyright © 2012 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Modified Ride-on Toy Cars for Early Power Mobility: A Technical Report

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Hsiang-han; Galloway, James C

    2012-01-01

    Background and Purpose Children with significantly decreased mobility have limited opportunities to explore their physical and social environment. A variety of assistive technologies are available to increase mobility, however no single device provides the level of functional mobility that typically developing children enjoy. The purpose of this technical report is to formally introduce a new power mobility option - the modified ride-on toy car. Key Points This report will provide a) an overview of toy car features, b) examples of basic electrical and mechanical modifications and c) a brief clinical case. Clinical Implications With creative use and customized modifications, toy cars function as a “general learning environment” for use in the clinic, home and school. As such, we anticipate that these cars will become a multi-use clinical tool to address not only mobility goals but also goals involving body function and structure such as posture and movement impairments. PMID:22466382

  2. Modified ride-on toy cars for early power mobility: a technical report.

    PubMed

    Huang, Hsiang-Han; Galloway, James C

    2012-01-01

    Children with significantly decreased mobility have limited opportunities to explore their physical and social environment. A variety of assistive technologies are available to increase mobility; however, no single device provides the level of functional mobility that children developing typically enjoy. The purpose of this technical report is to formally introduce a new power mobility option--the modified ride-on toy car. This report will provide (a) an overview of toy car features, (b) examples of basic electrical and mechanical modifications, and (c) a brief clinical case. With creative use and customized modifications, toy cars can function as a "general learning environment" for use in the clinic, home, and school. As such, we anticipate that these cars will become a multiuse clinical tool to address not only mobility goals but also goals involving body function and structure such as posture and movement impairments.

  3. 48 CFR 227.7103-7 - Use and non-disclosure agreement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... recipient shall not, for example, enhance, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the software; time... (b) of this subsection, technical data or computer software delivered to the Government with..., display, or disclose technical data subject to limited rights or computer software subject to restricted...

  4. 48 CFR 227.7103-7 - Use and non-disclosure agreement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... recipient shall not, for example, enhance, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the software; time... (b) of this subsection, technical data or computer software delivered to the Government with..., display, or disclose technical data subject to limited rights or computer software subject to restricted...

  5. 48 CFR 227.7103-7 - Use and non-disclosure agreement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... recipient shall not, for example, enhance, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the software; time... (b) of this subsection, technical data or computer software delivered to the Government with..., display, or disclose technical data subject to limited rights or computer software subject to restricted...

  6. 48 CFR 227.7103-7 - Use and non-disclosure agreement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... recipient shall not, for example, enhance, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer the software; time... (b) of this subsection, technical data or computer software delivered to the Government with..., display, or disclose technical data subject to limited rights or computer software subject to restricted...

  7. 7 CFR 1944.407 - Limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) HOUSING Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants § 1944.407 Limitations. The amount of... typical needed repairs, and the cost savings between self-help and contractor rehabilitation and repair...

  8. 49 CFR 130.5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Copies may be.... Maximum extent practicable means the limits of available technology and the practical and technical limits...

  9. 49 CFR 130.5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Copies may be.... Maximum extent practicable means the limits of available technology and the practical and technical limits...

  10. Rationale for a Threshold Limit Value (TLV)R for JP-4/Jet B Wide Cut Aviation Turbine Fuel.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-04-01

    Additional copies may be purchased from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 Government agencies...Cameron Station Alexandria, Virginia 22314 This report has been reviewed by the Public Affairs Office and is releasable to the National Technical...Information Service (NTIS). At NTIS, it will be available to the general public, including foreign nations . This technical report has been reviewed and is

  11. 47 CFR 27.55 - Power strength limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Power strength limits. 27.55 Section 27.55... COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Technical Standards § 27.55 Power strength limits. (a) Field strength limits. For the following bands, the predicted or measured median field strength at any location on the geographical border...

  12. Endovascular Recanalization of Chronically Occluded Native Arteries After Failed Bypass Surgery in Patients with Critical Ischemia.

    PubMed

    Yin, Minyi; Wang, Wei; Huang, Xintian; Hong, Biao; Liu, Xiaobing; Li, Weimin; Lu, Xinwu; Lu, Min; Jiang, Mier

    2015-12-01

    The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcome of endovascular recanalization of native chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and lower extremities bypass graft failure. A retrospective review of CLI patients with failed lower limb grafts (>30 days after surgery) that underwent recanalization of native CTO was conducted in two institutions from January 2010 to June 2014. Twenty-eight patients (28 limbs) were included in the study, and all had limited surgical revascularization options. Demographics, procedural data, technical success, complications, vessel patency, limb salvage rates, and survival rates were analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 12.8 months. The technical success rate was 92.9% (26/28 limbs). The combined ipsilateral antegrade-retrograde approach was performed in nine limbs (32.1%). Major periprocedural (<30 days) complications included two myocardial infarctions (7.1%) and two stent thromboses (7.1%), resulting in one amputation. The ankle brachial index before discharge was significantly improved after recanalization (0.78 ± 0.08 vs. 0.31 ± 0.10, p < 0.01). The primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates at 12 months were 52.2, 65.8, and 82.2%, respectively. The limb salvage rate and amputation-free survival rate at 12 months were 91.6 and 87.0%, respectively. Endovascular recanalization of native CTO in patients with graft failure-related CLI is a feasible, safe, and effective procedure, with reasonable technical success, vessel patency, and limb salvage rates. The technique should be attempted before amputation in patients with limited surgical revascularization options.

  13. Occupational-Technical Curriculum Development TV Study.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McClure, Lyndon

    Section I of this report provides a brief review of various experiments and studies conducted in the United States and abroad on the effectiveness of televised occupational-technical courses. Issues discussed include the packaging of televised instruction; the need for preproduction testing; the limitations of television teaching; teacher and…

  14. 75 FR 69986 - Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-16

    ..., technical experts, and members of the public through a public meeting and written submissions. Following the... request for input to gather technical expertise pertaining to the U.S. Catalog of Federal Domestic...-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for students from birth through grade 12, including limited-English...

  15. Uganda's National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure Project: Technical Challenges and the Way Forward

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bulega, T.; Kyeyune, A.; Onek, P.; Sseguya, R.; Mbabazi, D.; Katwiremu, E.

    2011-10-01

    Several publications have identified technical challenges facing Uganda's National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure project. This research addresses the technical limitations of the National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure project, evaluates the goals of the project, and compares the results against the technical capability of the backbone. The findings of the study indicate a bandwidth deficit, which will be addressed by using dense wave division multiplexing repeaters, leasing bandwidth from private companies. Microwave links for redundancy, a Network Operation Center for operation and maintenance, and deployment of wireless interoperability for microwave access as a last-mile solution are also suggested.

  16. Presurgical motor, somatosensory and language fMRI: Technical feasibility and limitations in 491 patients over 13 years.

    PubMed

    Tyndall, Anthony J; Reinhardt, Julia; Tronnier, Volker; Mariani, Luigi; Stippich, Christoph

    2017-01-01

    To analyse the long-term feasibility and limitations of presurgical fMRI in a cohort of tumour and epilepsy patients with different MR-scanners at 1.5 and 3.0 T. Four hundred and ninety-one consecutive patients undergoing presurgical fMRI between 2000 and 2012 on five different MR-scanners using established paradigms and semi-automated data processing were included. Success rates of task performance and BOLD-activation were determined for motor and somatosensory somatotopic mapping and language localisation. Procedural success, failures and imaging artifacts were analysed. MR-field strengths were compared. Two thousand three hundred fifteen of 2348 (98.6 %) attempted paradigms (1033 motor, 1220 speech, 95 somatosensory) were successfully performed. 100 paradigms (4.3 %) were repetition runs. 23 speech, 6 motor and 2 sensory paradigms failed for non-compliance and technical issues. Most language paradigm failures were noted in overt sentence generation. Average significant BOLD-activation was higher for motor than language paradigms (95.8 vs. 81.6 %). Most language paradigms showed significantly higher activation rates at 3 T compared to 1.5 T, whereas no significant difference was found for motor paradigms. fMRI proved very robust for the presurgical localisation of the different motor and somatosensory body representations, as well as Broca's and Wernicke's language areas across different MR-scanners at 1.5 and 3.0 T over 13 years. • Standardised presurgical motor and language fMRI is robust across various MRI platforms. • Motor fMRI is less dependent on field strength than language fMRI. • fMRI task failures are relatively low and are reduced by paradigm repetition.

  17. 47 CFR 87.139 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Emission limitations. 87.139 Section 87.139 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES AVIATION SERVICES Technical Requirements § 87.139 Emission limitations. (a) Except for ELTs and when using single sideband...

  18. 47 CFR 101.111 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Emission limitations. 101.111 Section 101.111 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.111 Emission limitations. (a) The mean power of emissions must be...

  19. 47 CFR 101.111 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Emission limitations. 101.111 Section 101.111 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.111 Emission limitations. (a) The mean power of emissions must be...

  20. 47 CFR 101.111 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Emission limitations. 101.111 Section 101.111 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.111 Emission limitations. (a) The mean power of emissions must be...

  1. 47 CFR 101.111 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Emission limitations. 101.111 Section 101.111 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.111 Emission limitations. (a) The mean power of emissions must be...

  2. 78 FR 63271 - Request for Public Comments to Compile the Report on Technical Barriers to Trade

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-10-23

    ... on Technical Barriers to Trade AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION... 2014 a Report on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Report) identifying and analyzing significant... requesting interested persons to submit written comments to assist it in identifying significant standards...

  3. [Radical prostatectomy - pro robotic].

    PubMed

    Gillitzer, R

    2012-05-01

    Anatomical radical prostatectomy was introduced in the early 1980s by Walsh and Donker. Elucidation of key anatomical structures led to a significant reduction in the morbidity of this procedure. The strive to achieve similar oncological and functional results to this gold standard open procedure but with further reduction of morbidity through a minimally invasive access led to the establishment of laparoscopic prostatectomy. However, this procedure is complex and difficult and is associated with a long learning curve. The technical advantages of robotically assisted surgery coupled with the intuitive handling of the device led to increased precision and shortening of the learning curve. These main advantages, together with a massive internet presence and aggressive marketing, have resulted in a rapid dissemination of robotic radical prostatectomy and an increasing patient demand. However, superiority of robotic radical prostatectomy in comparison to the other surgical therapeutic options has not yet been proven on a scientific basis. Currently robotic-assisted surgery is an established technique and future technical improvements will certainly further define its role in urological surgery. In the end this technical innovation will have to be balanced against the very high purchase and running costs, which remain the main limitation of this technology.

  4. Technical and Economic Aspects of Designing an Efficient Room Air-Conditioner Program in India

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

    Abhyankar, Nikit; Shah, Nihar; Phadke, Amol

    Several studies have projected a massive increase in the demand for air conditioners (ACs) over the next two decades in India. By 2030, room ACs could add 140 GW to the peak load, equivalent to over 30% of the total projected peak load. Therefore, there is significant interest among policymakers, regulators, and utilities in managing room AC demand by enhancing energy efficiency. Building on the historical success of the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s star-labeling program, Energy Efficiency Services Limited recently announced a program to accelerate the sale of efficient room ACs using bulk procurement, similar to their successful UJALAmore » light-emitting diode (LED) bulk procurement program. This report discusses some of the key considerations in designing a bulk procurement or financial incentive program for enhancing room AC efficiency in India. We draw upon our previous research to demonstrate the overall technical potential and price impact of room AC efficiency improvement and its technical feasibility in India. We also discuss the importance of using low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and smart AC equipment that is demand response (DR) ready.« less

  5. 0.75 atoms improve the clock signal of 10,000 atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kruse, I.; Lange, K.; Peise, J.; Lücke, B.; Pezzè, L.; Arlt, J.; Ertmer, W.; Lisdat, C.; Santos, L.; Smerzi, A.; Klempt, C.

    2017-02-01

    Since the pioneering work of Ramsey, atom interferometers are employed for precision metrology, in particular to measure time and to realize the second. In a classical interferometer, an ensemble of atoms is prepared in one of the two input states, whereas the second one is left empty. In this case, the vacuum noise restricts the precision of the interferometer to the standard quantum limit (SQL). Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel clock configuration that surpasses the SQL by squeezing the vacuum in the empty input state. We create a squeezed vacuum state containing an average of 0.75 atoms to improve the clock sensitivity of 10,000 atoms by 2.05 dB. The SQL poses a significant limitation for today's microwave fountain clocks, which serve as the main time reference. We evaluate the major technical limitations and challenges for devising a next generation of fountain clocks based on atomic squeezed vacuum.

  6. Improvement of an Atomic Clock using Squeezed Vacuum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kruse, I.; Lange, K.; Peise, J.; Lücke, B.; Pezzè, L.; Arlt, J.; Ertmer, W.; Lisdat, C.; Santos, L.; Smerzi, A.; Klempt, C.

    2016-09-01

    Since the pioneering work of Ramsey, atom interferometers are employed for precision metrology, in particular to measure time and to realize the second. In a classical interferometer, an ensemble of atoms is prepared in one of the two input states, whereas the second one is left empty. In this case, the vacuum noise restricts the precision of the interferometer to the standard quantum limit (SQL). Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel clock configuration that surpasses the SQL by squeezing the vacuum in the empty input state. We create a squeezed vacuum state containing an average of 0.75 atoms to improve the clock sensitivity of 10000 atoms by 2.05-0.37 +0 .34 dB . The SQL poses a significant limitation for today's microwave fountain clocks, which serve as the main time reference. We evaluate the major technical limitations and challenges for devising a next generation of fountain clocks based on atomic squeezed vacuum.

  7. The Iodine Satellite (iSat) Project Development Towards Critical Design Review

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dankanich, John W.; Calvert, Derek; Kamhawi, Hani; Hickman, Tyler; Szabo, James; Byrne, Lawrence

    2015-01-01

    Despite the prevalence of small satellites in recent years, the systems flown to date have very limited propulsion capability. SmallSats are typically secondary payloads and have significant constraints for volume, mass, and power in addition to limitations on the use of hazardous propellants or stored energy. These constraints limit the options for SmallSat maneuverability. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate approved the iodine Satellite flight project for a rapid demonstration of iodine Hall thruster technology in a 12U (cubesat units) configuration under the Small Spacecraft Technology Program. The mission is a partnership between NASA MSFC, NASA GRC, and Busek Co, Inc., with the Air Force supporting the propulsion technology maturation. The team is working towards the critical design review in the final design and fabrication phase of the project. The current design shows positive technical performance margins in all areas. The iSat project is planned for launch readiness in the spring of 2017.

  8. High Performance Asynchronous Limited Sensing Algorithms for CSMA and CSMA-CD Channels.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-03-01

    for CSM and CSMA-CD Channels" M. Geargiopoulos L. Merakos P. Papantoni-Kazakos- Technical Report UCT/ DEECS /TR-85-2 Mrh1985 iDISTRIBUTION STAEmEN 2j C...Perforance Asynchronous Limited Sensing Algoit~5 forCSMAandCSMA-CD Channels" M1. Georgiop0 ul 0 5 L. Merakos P. PaPantoni-.Kazakos Technical Report UCT/ DEECS ...SCHEDULE unlimited. 4 PERFORMING ORGANiZATION REPORT NUMBERIS) 5. MONITORING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBERIS" UCT/ DEECS /TR-85-2 SR-TR. 85-0 398 6& NAME OF

  9. Deployment Area Selection and Land Withdrawal/Acquisition. M-X/MPS (M-X/Multiple Protective Shelter) Environmental Technical Report. Nye County, Nevada.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-10-02

    captures the environ- mental data and analysis in the document that was nearing com- pletion when the President decided to deploy the system in a...environmental technical " data from the Congress, federal agencies and the states involved, we have published limited copies of the document for their use...Land Withdrawal/Acquisition Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and its associated Environmental Technical Reports (ETRs). The data tables

  10. Point-of-care diagnostics: extending the laboratory network to reach the last mile.

    PubMed

    Drain, Paul K; Rousseau, Christine

    2017-03-01

    More point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests are becoming available for HIV diagnosis and treatment in resource-limited settings. These novel technologies have the potential to foster decentralized HIV care and treatment for the benefit of clinical laboratories, HIV clinics, and HIV-infected patients. There continue to be many business, technological, and operational challenges that limit product development and regulatory approval, which limits products available for the required operational and cost-effectiveness studies and delays policy adoption and implementation. Although the rapid HIV diagnostic test has been widely successful, the pathways for POC CD4 cell count and HIV viral load assay analyzers have been more challenging. We describe significant hurdles for product development, approval, and implementation, which include the business case, technical development, clinical impact, and integrating laboratory and clinical networks. The objective of this review is to highlight the obstacles for developing and implementing appropriate strategies for POC HIV testing assays to improve the clinical services for HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings.

  11. 48 CFR 252.204-7014 - Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Information by Litigation Support Contractors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    .... Computer software does not include computer data bases or computer software documentation. Litigation... includes technical data and computer software, but does not include information that is lawfully, publicly available without restriction. Technical data means recorded information, regardless of the form or method...

  12. 77 FR 66194 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-02

    ... Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Make Technical Change to SPY Position Limit Pilot Program and Representation Regarding Timing of Submission of Pilot Report October 26, 2012. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of... technical amendment to Interpretation and Policy [[Page 66195

  13. Methodology in Seeking Stakeholder Perceptions of Effective Technical Oral Presentations: An Exploratory Pilot Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bhattacharyya, Ena; Patil, Arun; Sargunan, Rajeswary Appacutty

    2010-01-01

    Engineering communication studies indicate the importance of oral presentations as an indispensable component of workplace oral communication activities; however, since there is limited literature regarding stakeholder perceptions of effective presentation skills and attributes in technical oral presentations or final year engineering project…

  14. 24 CFR 570.402 - Technical assistance awards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... (24 CFR part 571); and the Special Purpose Grants for Insular Areas, Community Development Work Study... the assistance is limited to conferences/workshops attended by more than one unit of government. (d... section include: (1) In the case of technical assistance for States, the cost of carrying out the...

  15. 24 CFR 570.402 - Technical assistance awards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... (24 CFR part 571); and the Special Purpose Grants for Insular Areas, Community Development Work Study... the assistance is limited to conferences/workshops attended by more than one unit of government. (d... section include: (1) In the case of technical assistance for States, the cost of carrying out the...

  16. 24 CFR 570.402 - Technical assistance awards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... (24 CFR part 571); and the Special Purpose Grants for Insular Areas, Community Development Work Study... the assistance is limited to conferences/workshops attended by more than one unit of government. (d... section include: (1) In the case of technical assistance for States, the cost of carrying out the...

  17. Design Software Gives Rocketry a Boost in the Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wilson, Spencer C.

    2005-01-01

    Building and launching model rockets makes a great activity for a technology education class. A model rocket curriculum provides a valuable tool for improving students' technical skills that includes, but is not limited to, following technical instructions and procedures while learning about aerospace technology. This article describes a way that…

  18. Development of Cooperative Planning for Technical-Vocational Programs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cisco Junior Coll., TX.

    During the past decade vocational-technical education in Texas has grown so rapidly that now attention must be given to enrollments, employment projections, and more efficient utilization of the limited resources available. Cisco and Ranger Junior Colleges serve essentially the same population and a plan for close cooperation and coordination is…

  19. SI (Metric) handbook

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Artusa, Elisa A.

    1994-01-01

    This guide provides information for an understanding of SI units, symbols, and prefixes; style and usage in documentation in both the US and in the international business community; conversion techniques; limits, fits, and tolerance data; and drawing and technical writing guidelines. Also provided is information of SI usage for specialized applications like data processing and computer programming, science, engineering, and construction. Related information in the appendixes include legislative documents, historical and biographical data, a list of metric documentation, rules for determining significant digits and rounding, conversion factors, shorthand notation, and a unit index.

  20. Management methodology for pressure equipment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bletchly, P. J.

    Pressure equipment constitutes a significant investment in capital and a major proportion of potential high-risk plant in many operations and this is particularly so in an alumina refinery. In many jurisdictions pressure equipment is also subject to statutory regulation that imposes obligations on Owners of the equipment with respect to workplace safety. Most modern technical standards and industry codes of practice employ a risk-based approach to support better decision making with respect to pressure equipment. For a management system to be effective it must demonstrate that risk is being managed within acceptable limits.

  1. Microsecond Resolution of Single-Molecule Rotation Catalyzed by Molecular Motors

    PubMed Central

    Hornung, Tassilo; Martin, James; Spetzler, David; Ishmukhametov, Robert; Frasch, Wayne D.

    2017-01-01

    Single-molecule measurements of rotation catalyzed by the F1-ATPase or the FoF1 ATP synthase have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the F1 and Fo molecular motors. We recently developed a method to record ATPase-driven rotation of F1 or FoF1 in a manner that solves several technical limitations of earlier approaches that were significantly hampered by time and angular resolution, and restricted the duration of data collection. With our approach it is possible to collect data for hours and obtain statistically significant quantities of data on each molecule examined with a time resolution of up to 5 μs at unprecedented signal-to-noise. PMID:21809213

  2. Dye bias correction in dual-labeled cDNA microarray gene expression measurements.

    PubMed Central

    Rosenzweig, Barry A; Pine, P Scott; Domon, Olen E; Morris, Suzanne M; Chen, James J; Sistare, Frank D

    2004-01-01

    A significant limitation to the analytical accuracy and precision of dual-labeled spotted cDNA microarrays is the signal error due to dye bias. Transcript-dependent dye bias may be due to gene-specific differences of incorporation of two distinctly different chemical dyes and the resultant differential hybridization efficiencies of these two chemically different targets for the same probe. Several approaches were used to assess and minimize the effects of dye bias on fluorescent hybridization signals and maximize the experimental design efficiency of a cell culture experiment. Dye bias was measured at the individual transcript level within each batch of simultaneously processed arrays by replicate dual-labeled split-control sample hybridizations and accounted for a significant component of fluorescent signal differences. This transcript-dependent dye bias alone could introduce unacceptably high numbers of both false-positive and false-negative signals. We found that within a given set of concurrently processed hybridizations, the bias is remarkably consistent and therefore measurable and correctable. The additional microarrays and reagents required for paired technical replicate dye-swap corrections commonly performed to control for dye bias could be costly to end users. Incorporating split-control microarrays within a set of concurrently processed hybridizations to specifically measure dye bias can eliminate the need for technical dye swap replicates and reduce microarray and reagent costs while maintaining experimental accuracy and technical precision. These data support a practical and more efficient experimental design to measure and mathematically correct for dye bias. PMID:15033598

  3. Vehicle Integrated Performance Analysis, the VIPA Experience: Reconnecting with Technical Integration

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McGhee, David S.

    2005-01-01

    Today's NASA is facing significant challenges and changes. The Exploration initiative indicates a large increase in projects with limited increase in budget. The Columbia report has criticized NASA for its lack of insight and technical integration impacting its ability to provide safety. The Aldridge report is advocating NASA find new ways of doing business. Very early in the Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program a small team of engineers at MSFC were asked to propose a process for performing a system level assessment of a launch vehicle. The request was aimed primarily at providing insight and making NASA a "smart buyer." Out of this effort the VIPA team was created. The difference between the VIPA effort and many integration attempts is that VIPA focuses on using experienced people from various disciplines and a process which focuses them on a technically integrated assessment. Most previous attempts have focused on developing an all encompassing software tool. In addition, VIPA anchored its process formulation in the experience of its members and in early developmental Space Shuttle experience. The primary reference for this is NASA-TP-2001-210092, "Launch Vehicle Design Process: Characterization, Technical Integration, and Lessons Learned," and discussions with its authors. The foundations of VIPA's process are described. The VIPA team also recognized the need to drive detailed analysis earlier in the design process. Analyses and techniques typically done in later design phases, are brought forward using improved computing technology. The intent is to allow the identification of significant sensitivities, trades, and design issues much earlier in the program. This process is driven by the T-model for Technical Integration described in the aforementioned reference. VIPA's approach to performing system level technical integration is discussed in detail. Proposed definitions are offered to clarify this discussion and the general systems integration dialog. VIPA's capabilities and process can now be used to significantly enhance the development and monitoring of realizable project requirements. This is done through the use of VIPA's V-model. Starting with a given concept, VIPA's assessment validates the concept's stated performance, identifies significant issues either with the concept or the requirements, and then re-integrates these issues to determine impacts. This process is discussed along with a description of how it may be integrated into a program's insight and review process. The VIPA process has been employed successfully on several projects including SLI, Orbital Space Plane (OSP), and several heavy lift concepts for Exploration. It has also been proposed for use on the Jupiter Icy Moon (JIMO) spacecraft. The VIPA process has gained favor with both engineering and project organizations for being responsive and insightful. Selected results from these assessments will be presented.

  4. Education, Technical Progress, and Economic Growth: The Case of Taiwan.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lin, T.-C.

    2003-01-01

    Investigates the effect of education and the role of technical progress on economic growth in Taiwan from 1965-2000. Finds that education has a positive and significant effect on growth, but the role of technical progress does not appear to be extraordinarily important. Furthermore, no markedly significant relationships exist between capital and…

  5. EXTRAPOLATION TECHNIQUES EVALUATING 24 HOURS OF AVERAGE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EMITTED BY RADIO BASE STATION INSTALLATIONS: SPECTRUM ANALYZER MEASUREMENTS OF LTE AND UMTS SIGNALS.

    PubMed

    Mossetti, Stefano; de Bartolo, Daniela; Veronese, Ivan; Cantone, Marie Claire; Cosenza, Cristina; Nava, Elisa

    2017-04-01

    International and national organizations have formulated guidelines establishing limits for occupational and residential electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure at high-frequency fields. Italian legislation fixed 20 V/m as a limit for public protection from exposure to EMFs in the frequency range 0.1 MHz-3 GHz and 6 V/m as a reference level. Recently, the law was changed and the reference level must now be evaluated as the 24-hour average value, instead of the previous highest 6 minutes in a day. The law refers to a technical guide (CEI 211-7/E published in 2013) for the extrapolation techniques that public authorities have to use when assessing exposure for compliance with limits. In this work, we present measurements carried out with a vectorial spectrum analyzer to identify technical critical aspects in these extrapolation techniques, when applied to UMTS and LTE signals. We focused also on finding a good balance between statistically significant values and logistic managements in control activity, as the signal trend in situ is not known. Measurements were repeated several times over several months and for different mobile companies. The outcome presented in this article allowed us to evaluate the reliability of the extrapolation results obtained and to have a starting point for defining operating procedures. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  6. [Do laymen understand information about hospital quality? An empirical verification using risk-adjusted mortality rates as an example].

    PubMed

    Sander, Uwe; Kolb, Benjamin; Taheri, Fatemeh; Patzelt, Christiane; Emmert, Martin

    2017-11-01

    The effect of public reporting to improve quality in healthcare is reduced by the limited intelligibility of information about the quality of healthcare providers. This may result in worse health-related choices especially for older people and those with lower levels of education. There is, as yet, little information as to whether laymen understand the concepts behind quality comparisons and if this comprehension is correlated with hospital choices. An instrument with 20 items was developed to analyze the intelligibility of five technical terms which were used in German hospital report cards to explain risk-adjusted death rates. Two online presentations of risk-adjusted death rates for five hospitals in the style of hospital report cards were developed. An online survey of 353 volunteers tested the comprehension of the risk-adjusted mortality rates and included an experimental hospital choice. The intelligibility of five technical terms was tested: risk-adjusted, actual and expected death rate, reference range and national average. The percentages of correct answers for the five technical terms were in the range of 75.0-60.2%. Between 23.8% and 5.1% of the respondents were not able to answer the question about the technical term itself. The least comprehensible technical terms were "risk-adjusted death rate" and "reference range". The intelligibility of the 20 items that were used to test the comprehension of the risk-adjusted mortality was between 89.5% and 14.2%. The two items that proved to be least comprehensible were related to the technical terms "risk-adjusted death rate" and "reference range". For all five technical terms it was found that a better comprehension correlated significantly with better hospital choices. We found a better than average intelligibility for the technical terms "actual and expected death rate" and for "national average". The least understandable were "risk-adjusted death rate" and "reference range". Since the self-explanatory technical terms "actual and expected death rate" and "national average" are easy to understand and the comprehension is correlated with hospitals choices, we recommend using them for the presentation of measures which contain risk-adjusted mortality. The technical terms "risk-adjusted death rate" and "reference range" should stay in the background, since comprehension problems can be expected and explanations would have to be provided. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

  7. How Low Can You Go? The Importance of Quantifying Minimum Generation Levels for Renewable Integration

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

    Denholm, Paul L; Brinkman, Gregory L; Mai, Trieu T

    One of the significant limitations of solar and wind deployment is declining value caused by the limited correlation of renewable energy supply and electricity demand as well as limited flexibility of the power system. Limited flexibility can result from thermal and hydro plants that cannot turn off or reduce output due to technical or economic limits. These limits include the operating range of conventional thermal power plants, the need for process heat from combined heat and power plants, and restrictions on hydro unit operation. To appropriately analyze regional and national energy policies related to renewable deployment, these limits must bemore » accurately captured in grid planning models. In this work, we summarize data sources and methods for U.S. power plants that can be used to capture minimum generation levels in grid planning tools, such as production cost models. We also provide case studies for two locations in the U.S. (California and Texas) that demonstrate the sensitivity of variable generation (VG) curtailment to grid flexibility assumptions which shows the importance of analyzing (and documenting) minimum generation levels in studies of increased VG penetration.« less

  8. Open-source point-of-care electronic medical records for use in resource-limited settings: systematic review and questionnaire surveys

    PubMed Central

    Bru, Juan; Berger, Christopher A

    2012-01-01

    Background Point-of-care electronic medical records (EMRs) are a key tool to manage chronic illness. Several EMRs have been developed for use in treating HIV and tuberculosis, but their applicability to primary care, technical requirements and clinical functionalities are largely unknown. Objectives This study aimed to address the needs of clinicians from resource-limited settings without reliable internet access who are considering adopting an open-source EMR. Study eligibility criteria Open-source point-of-care EMRs suitable for use in areas without reliable internet access. Study appraisal and synthesis methods The authors conducted a comprehensive search of all open-source EMRs suitable for sites without reliable internet access. The authors surveyed clinician users and technical implementers from a single site and technical developers of each software product. The authors evaluated availability, cost and technical requirements. Results The hardware and software for all six systems is easily available, but they vary considerably in proprietary components, installation requirements and customisability. Limitations This study relied solely on self-report from informants who developed and who actively use the included products. Conclusions and implications of key findings Clinical functionalities vary greatly among the systems, and none of the systems yet meet minimum requirements for effective implementation in a primary care resource-limited setting. The safe prescribing of medications is a particular concern with current tools. The dearth of fully functional EMR systems indicates a need for a greater emphasis by global funding agencies to move beyond disease-specific EMR systems and develop a universal open-source health informatics platform. PMID:22763661

  9. 47 CFR 78.115 - Modulation limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Modulation limits. 78.115 Section 78.115... SERVICE Technical Regulations § 78.115 Modulation limits. (a) If amplitude modulation is employed, negative modulation peaks shall not exceed 100 percent modulation. [37 FR 3292, Feb. 12, 1972, as amended...

  10. Optimizing the analysis of routing oversize/overweight loads to provide efficient freight corridors : technical summary.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2012-07-01

    The subject of this report is limited specifically to Kansas highways. Current features of the State Highway System were looked at to determine corridors that do not limit Oversize/Overweight (OS/OW) vehicles, or that limit loads to varying degree...

  11. C-arm Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A New Tool in the Interventional Suite.

    PubMed

    Raj, Santhosh; Irani, Farah Gillan; Tay, Kiang Hiong; Tan, Bien Soo

    2013-11-01

    C-arm Cone Beam CT (CBCT) is a technology that is being integrated into many of the newer angiography systems in the interventional suite. Due to its ability to provide cross sectional imaging, it has opened a myriad of opportunities for creating new clinical applications. We review the technical aspects, current reported clinical applications and potential benefits of this technology. Searches were made via PubMed using the string "CBCT", "Cone Beam CT", "Cone Beam Computed Tomography" and "C-arm Cone Beam Computed Tomography". All relevant articles in the results were reviewed. CBCT clinical applications have been reported in both vascular and non-vascular interventions. They encompass many aspects of a procedure including preprocedural planning, intraprocedural guidance and postprocedural assessment. As a result, they have allowed the interventionalist to be safer and more accurate in performing image guided procedures. There are however several technical limitations. The quality of images produced is not comparable to conventional computed tomography (CT). Radiation doses are also difficult to quantify when compared to CT and fluoroscopy. CBCT technology in the interventional suite has contributed significant benefits to the patient despite its current limitations. It is a tool that will evolve and potentially become an integral part of imaging guidance for intervention.

  12. 16 CFR 1402.4 - Requirements to provide performance and technical data by labeling and instructions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... technical data by labeling and instructions. 1402.4 Section 1402.4 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT... instructions. (a) Notice to purchasers. Manufacturers of CB base station antennas, TV antennas, and antenna... Charts, which display the desired color within the tolerance limits. (ii) Instructions. CB base station...

  13. 48 CFR 252.227-7025 - Limitations on the use or disclosure of government-furnished information marked with restrictive...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Software and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation clause of this contract. (3) For Small Business... Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program clause of this contract. (b) Technical data or computer software provided to the Contractor as...

  14. Building Interest in Math and Science for Rural and Underserved Elementary School Children Using Robots

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Matson, Eric; DeLoach, Scott; Pauly, Robyn

    2004-01-01

    The "Robot Roadshow Program" is designed to increase the interest of elementary school children in technical disciplines, specifically math and science. The program focuses on children from schools categorized as rural or underserved, which often have limited access to advanced technical resources. We developed the program using robots…

  15. 78 FR 17993 - Defense Trade Advisory Group; Notice of Open Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-25

    ... policies, regulations, and technical issues affecting defense trade. The purpose of the meeting will be to... discussed: review of the current definitions of technical data, as well as the control language applied in... statement to the committee in writing. As seating is limited to 125 persons, those wishing to attend the...

  16. Final report on technical work accomplished under contract NASw-2953

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fredricks, R. W.

    1977-01-01

    A report is given on the technical work accomplished in the area of plasma physics. The subjects covered are: (1) oblique whistler instabilities, (2) current-limited electron beam injection, (3) three-dimensional ion sound turbulence, (4) theoretical aspects of sounder antenna operation and (5) whistler modes in bow shock structures.

  17. 7 CFR 636.18 - Technical services provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... affiliated with USDA. 636.18 Section 636.18 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture... USDA. (a) NRCS may use the services of qualified TSPs in performing its responsibilities for technical... provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA may include, but are not limited to, conservation...

  18. 7 CFR 636.18 - Technical services provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... affiliated with USDA. 636.18 Section 636.18 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture... USDA. (a) NRCS may use the services of qualified TSPs in performing its responsibilities for technical... provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA may include, but are not limited to, conservation...

  19. 7 CFR 636.18 - Technical services provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... affiliated with USDA. 636.18 Section 636.18 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture... USDA. (a) NRCS may use the services of qualified TSPs in performing its responsibilities for technical... provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA may include, but are not limited to, conservation...

  20. 7 CFR 636.18 - Technical services provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... affiliated with USDA. 636.18 Section 636.18 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture... USDA. (a) NRCS may use the services of qualified TSPs in performing its responsibilities for technical... provided by qualified personnel not affiliated with USDA may include, but are not limited to, conservation...

  1. 77 FR 35691 - Update to Electronic Common Technical Document Module 1

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-14

    ... Electronic Common Technical Document (eCTD) Module 1, which is used for electronic submission of... they are received with a limit of 350. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The eCTD is an International... Research (CBER) have been receiving submissions in the eCTD format since 2003, and the eCTD has been the...

  2. Teaching the History of Technical Communication: A Lesson with Franklin and Hoover.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Todd, Jeff

    2003-01-01

    Provides and defends four guidelines as a foundation to study ways to incorporate history into classroom lessons: maintain a continued research interest in teaching history; limit to technical rather than scientific discourse; focus on English-language texts; and focus on American texts, authors, and practices. Works within the guidelines to show…

  3. Public Safety Core. Integrated Academic and Technical Competencies (ITAC).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ohio State Dept. of Education, Columbus. Div. of Career-Technical and Adult Education.

    This document, which lists the public safety core competencies that are part of the Integrated Academic and Technical Competencies (ITAC) in Ohio, is intended to assist individuals and organizations develop a course to provide students with knowledge and skills applicable to public safety careers, including but not limited to firefighter,…

  4. Emerging ethical perspectives in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats genome-editing debate

    PubMed Central

    Camporesi, Silvia; Cavaliere, Giulia

    2016-01-01

    This paper provides an overview of the ethical issues in the international clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing debate from March 2015 to September 2016. We present the regulatory framework for embryo research in the UK, and explain why CRISPR is not a significant break with the past. We discuss the ethical issues arising from CRISPR applications beyond human embryos, namely the use of gene drive-engineered mosquitoes to eradicate diseases, engineering nonhuman animals to harvest organs for human transplant and engineering crops. We discuss the experiments that have demonstrated the technical feasibility of cultivating embryos in vitro for up to 14 days, and possibly beyond this limit, and the ethical issues arising from the proposal to extend the limit beyond 14 days. PMID:28757883

  5. Emerging ethical perspectives in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats genome-editing debate.

    PubMed

    Camporesi, Silvia; Cavaliere, Giulia

    2016-11-01

    This paper provides an overview of the ethical issues in the international clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing debate from March 2015 to September 2016. We present the regulatory framework for embryo research in the UK, and explain why CRISPR is not a significant break with the past. We discuss the ethical issues arising from CRISPR applications beyond human embryos, namely the use of gene drive-engineered mosquitoes to eradicate diseases, engineering nonhuman animals to harvest organs for human transplant and engineering crops. We discuss the experiments that have demonstrated the technical feasibility of cultivating embryos in vitro for up to 14 days, and possibly beyond this limit, and the ethical issues arising from the proposal to extend the limit beyond 14 days.

  6. Contraband detection using acoustic technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    George, Robert D.; Gauthier, Ronald D.; Denslow, Kayte D.; Cinson, Anthony M.; Diaz, Aaron A.; Griffin, Molly

    2008-03-01

    Maritime security personnel have a need for advanced technologies to address issues such as identification, confirmation or classification of substances and materials in sealed containers, both non-invasively and nondestructively in field and first response operations. Such substances include items such as hazardous/flammable liquids, drugs, contraband, and precursor chemicals used in the fabrication of illicit materials. Our initial efforts focused specifically on a commercial portable acoustic detector technology that was evaluated under operational conditions in a maritime environment. Technical/operational limitations were identified and enhancements were incorporated that would address these limitations. In this paper, application-specific improvements and performance testing/evaluation results will be described. Such enhancements will provide personnel/users of the detector a significantly more reliable method of screening materials for contraband items that might be hidden in cargo containers.

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

    Tsipis, K.

    A method for verifying a cruise-missile agreement that would be acceptable to the military, industrial, and intelligence communities in both nations must be as unintrusive as possible, while remaining immune to cheating of any significance. This is the goal of the technical solutions outlined here. The elements of a verification regime described do not require routine, intrusive, on-site visits to naval vessels, aircraft, air bases, or weapons magazines where missiles may be stored. They do not interfere with the operational readiness of the missiles, and they protect legitimate military secrets of the inspected nation. If supported by competent national technicalmore » means of verification such as those both sides already employ, with a small number of on-site challenge inspections, a combination of technical solutions and procedures such as these could be effective. They would adequately safeguard the national security and sovereignty of the participating nations while providing policymakers with the option of a treaty that limits the number of long-range nuclear cruise missiles or eliminates them completely. As discussed, there are problems that remain to be addressed, but they should not be allowed to block a U.S.-Soviet agreement significantly reducing strategic nuclear arsenals.« less

  8. Toolboxes for cyanobacteria: Recent advances and future direction.

    PubMed

    Sun, Tao; Li, Shubin; Song, Xinyu; Diao, Jinjin; Chen, Lei; Zhang, Weiwen

    2018-05-03

    Photosynthetic cyanobacteria are important primary producers and model organisms for studying photosynthesis and elements cycling on earth. Due to the ability to absorb sunlight and utilize carbon dioxide, cyanobacteria have also been proposed as renewable chassis for carbon-neutral "microbial cell factories". Recent progresses on cyanobacterial synthetic biology have led to the successful production of more than two dozen of fuels and fine chemicals directly from CO 2 , demonstrating their potential for scale-up application in the future. However, compared with popular heterotrophic chassis like Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where abundant genetic tools are available for manipulations at levels from single gene, pathway to whole genome, limited genetic tools are accessible to cyanobacteria. Consequently, this significant technical hurdle restricts both the basic biological researches and further development and application of these renewable systems. Though still lagging the heterotrophic chassis, the vital roles of genetic tools in tuning of gene expression, carbon flux re-direction as well as genome-wide manipulations have been increasingly recognized in cyanobacteria. In recent years, significant progresses on developing and introducing new and efficient genetic tools have been made for cyanobacteria, including promoters, riboswitches, ribosome binding site engineering, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease (CRISPR/Cas) systems, small RNA regulatory tools and genome-scale modeling strategies. In this review, we critically summarize recent advances on development and applications as well as technical limitations and future directions of the genetic tools in cyanobacteria. In addition, toolboxes feasible for using in large-scale cultivation are also briefly discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Technical writing in America: A historical perspective

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Connaughton, M. E.

    1981-01-01

    The standard distinction between poetic and referential language, the gulf between science and the humanities, and the distress many teachers of English feel when faced for the first time with the prospect of teaching technical writing are discussed. In the introduction of many technical writing textbooks. Technical communication is divorced from other forms of linguistic experience by making language limiting and reductive rather than creative and expansive. The emphasis on technical/scientific writing as radically different had blinded people to those traits it has in common with all species of composition and has led to a neglect of research, on fundamental rhetorical issues. A complete rhetorical theory of technical discourse should include information about the attitudes and motives of writers, the situations which motivate (or coerce) them to write, definitive features of technical style and form, interrelationship of expression and creativity, and functions of communication in shaping and preserving scientific networds and institutions. The previous areas should be explored with respect to contemporary practice and within an historical perspective.

  10. Involvement of Technical Reasoning More Than Functional Knowledge in Development of Tool Use in Childhood

    PubMed Central

    Remigereau, Chrystelle; Roy, Arnaud; Costini, Orianne; Osiurak, François; Jarry, Christophe; Le Gall, Didier

    2016-01-01

    It is well-known that even toddlers are able to manipulate tools in an appropriate manner according to their physical properties. The ability of children to make novel tools in order to solve problems is, however, surprisingly limited. In adults, mechanical problem solving (MPS) has been proposed to be supported by “technical reasoning skills,” which are thought to be involved in every situation requiring the use of a tool (whether conventional or unusual). The aim of this study was to investigate the typical development of real tool use (RTU) skills and its link with technical reasoning abilities in healthy children. Three experimental tasks were adapted from those used with adults: MPS (three different apparatus), RTU (10 familiar tool-object pairs), and functional knowledge (FK; 10 functional picture matching with familiar tools previously used). The tasks were administered to 85 healthy children divided into six age groups (from 6 to 14 years of age). The results revealed that RTU (p = 0.01) and MPS skills improve with age, even if this improvement differs according to the apparatus for the latter (p < 0.01 for the Hook task and p < 0.05 for the Sloping task). Results also showed that MPS is a better predictor of RTU than FK, with a significant and greater weight (importance weight: 0.65; Estimate ± Standard Error: 0.27 ± 0.08). Ours findings suggest that RTU and technical reasoning develop jointly in children, independently from development of FK. In addition, technical reasoning appears partially operative from the age of six onward, even though the outcome of these skills depends of the context in which they are applied (i.e., the type of apparatus). PMID:27877141

  11. The Influence of Security Statement, Technical Protection, and Privacy on Satisfaction and Loyalty; A Structural Equation Modeling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peikari, Hamid Reza

    Customer satisfaction and loyalty have been cited as the e-commerce critical success factors and various studies have been conducted to find the antecedent determinants of these concepts in the online transactions. One of the variables suggested by some studies is perceived security. However, these studies have referred to security from a broad general perspective and no attempts have been made to study the specific security related variables. This paper intends to study the influence on security statement and technical protection on satisfaction, loyalty and privacy. The data was collected from 337 respondents and after the reliability and validity tests, path analysis was applied to examine the hypotheses. The results suggest that loyalty is influenced by satisfaction and security statement and no empirical support was found for the influence on technical protection and privacy on loyalty. Moreover, it was found that security statement and technical protection have a positive significant influence on satisfaction while no significant effect was found for privacy. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that security statement have a positive significant influence on technical protection while technical protection was found to have a significant negative impact on perceived privacy.

  12. A Program of Technical Assistance to Industry in Twenty-Six Mississippi Counties and the Choctaw Indian Reservation. Final Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Phillips, Jane; Sewell, Charles

    A broad technical assistance program has been established in 25 EDA (Economic Development Administration) contract counties and on the Choctaw Indian Reservation Nashoba County) to stimulate new job opportunities by solving operational problems which limit the expansion and diversification of existing industry; professional services in evaluating…

  13. Ames Research Center Publications: A Continuing Bibliography

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1981-01-01

    The Ames Research Center Publications: A Continuing Bibliography contains the research output of the Center indexed during 1981 in Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (STAR), Limited Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (LSTAR), International Aerospace Abstracts (IAA), and Computer Program Abstracts (CPA). This bibliography is published annually in an attempt to effect greater awareness and distribution of the Center's research output.

  14. Introduction of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Technical University Education in Ghana: Challenges and the Way Forward

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Acquah, Prince C.; Asamoah, Jack N.; Konadu, Daniel D.

    2017-01-01

    Geographic Information System (GIS) continue to play very important role in improving spatial thinking skills of graduates from higher educational institutions. However, teaching and learning of GIS at the technical university level in Ghana remains very limited due to some implementation challenges. This paper reviews the implementation of GIS in…

  15. Technical Adequacy and Acceptability of Curriculum-Based Measurement and the Measures of Academic Progress

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    January, Stacy-Ann A.; Ardoin, Scott P.

    2015-01-01

    Curriculum-based measurement in reading (CBM-R) and the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are assessment tools widely employed for universal screening in schools. Although a large body of research supports the validity of CBM-R, limited empirical evidence exists supporting the technical adequacy of MAP or the acceptability of either measure for…

  16. LANGUAGE LABORATORY FACILITIES, TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR THE SELECTION, PURCHASE, USE, AND MAINTENANCE, STUDY 4--NEW MEDIA FOR INSTRUCTION.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    HAYES, ALFRED S.

    THE MANY POSSIBLE VARIATIONS OF LANGUAGE LABORATORY SYSTEMS WERE DESCRIBED, AND RELATIVE ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF EACH WERE DISCUSSED. DETAILED GUIDANCE ON PURCHASING LANGUAGE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT WAS PROVIDED THROUGH (1) DEFINITION OF HIGH-QUALITY SPEECH REPRODUCTION, (2) DISCUSSION OF TECHNICAL FACTORS WHICH AFFECT ITS ACHIEVEMENT, AND (3)…

  17. Assembling a Career: Labor Market Outcomes for Manufacturing Program Students in Two-Year Technical Colleges

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Matheny, Christopher J.; Chan, Hsun-yu; Wang, Xueli

    2015-01-01

    Objective: Research on labor market outcomes for individuals who enroll in technical colleges is limited, with even less attention to the effects of short-term certificates than associate degrees. Also, despite the importance of manufacturing programs, there is a lack of research on employment outcomes for individuals who enroll in these programs…

  18. Why and How to Advance Technical Copywriting.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Henson, Leigh

    1996-01-01

    States that promotional writing for industrial/high-tech products, or technical copywriting, is gaining more attention in technical communication, although it is neglected in higher education. Testifies to the significance of technical copywriting. Suggests that dialogical audience analysis and an emphasis on rational appeal will contribute to…

  19. Evaluating Simulation Methodologies to Determine Best Strategies to Maximize Student Learning.

    PubMed

    Scherer, Yvonne K; Foltz-Ramos, Kelly; Fabry, Donna; Chao, Ying-Yu

    2016-01-01

    Limited evidence exists as to the most effective ways to provide simulation experiences to maximize student learning. This quasi-experimental study investigated 2 different strategies repeated versus 1 exposure and participation versus observation on student outcomes following exposure to a high-fidelity acute asthma exacerbation of asthma scenario. Immediate repeated exposure resulted in significantly higher scores on knowledge, student satisfaction and self-confidence, and clinical performance measures than a single exposure. Significant intergroup differences were found on participants' satisfaction and self-confidence as compared with observers. Implications for nurse educators include expanding the observer role when designing repeated exposure to simulations and integrating technical, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes as a way for faculty to evaluate students' clinical performance. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  20. 77 FR 30585 - Operating Limitations at New York LaGuardia Airport; Technical Amendment

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-23

    ... limiting operations at LaGuardia Airport until the final Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia Airport... this Order contact: Patricia Bynum, System Operations Services, Air Traffic Organization, Federal... Limiting Operations at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA).\\1\\ As a result of the extension, the Order remains...

  1. 47 CFR 80.211 - Emission limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Emission limitations. 80.211 Section 80.211... MARITIME SERVICES General Technical Standards § 80.211 Emission limitations. The emissions must be attenuated according to the following schedule. (a) The mean power when using emissions H3E, J3E and R3E: (1...

  2. 47 CFR 27.50 - Power limits and duty cycle.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Power limits and duty cycle. 27.50 Section 27... MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Technical Standards § 27.50 Power limits and duty cycle. (a) The... duty cycle must not exceed 38 percent; for WCS CPE using FDD technology, the duty cycle must not exceed...

  3. Contribution to applications of EBW in instrument techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hrabovsky, Miroslav

    1999-07-01

    The electron beam welding belongs to so-called physical methods of welding and it is utilized to welding of most materials, that can be arc welded. It is of use there, where one taxing welding technics and structure technologyableless heavily. As a rule, the quality of weld is better than at most first-rate welds being done by inert gas shielded arc welding (WIG, Argoarc). In plant instrumentation, where the limitation of any welded material distortion is of extraordinary importance, this way of welding is significant at welding of thermal-treated Cu-Be alloys, used in measurement technics, structural members from Ti alloys and stainless steels in branches of biomedicine and cryotechnics. This technology positives, especially high weld purity, narrow and deep root penetration, high welding rate, together with low energy consumption, lead to applications and verification of optimum operating mode at welding of frequent materials. In the contribution the results of this proofs of selected welded materials from viewpoint of weld quality, their physical-mechanic properties and microhardness, are presented.

  4. Developing Human Resources for the Technical Workforce: A Comparative Study of Korea and Thailand

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hawley, Joshua D.; Paek, Jeeyon

    2005-01-01

    Asian countries face significant and growing shortages of technically skilled workers. Vocational-technical systems are key components of national human resource development. Using labor market data from Thailand and Korea, this paper analyzes the economic payoff for individual investment in vocational-technical education, and subsequent…

  5. The Physics Performance Of The Front Steering Launcher For The ITER ECRH Upper Port

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

    Henderson, M.; Chavan, R.; Nikkola, P.

    2005-09-26

    The capability of any given e.m.-wave plasma heating system to be utilized for physics applications depends strongly on the technical properties of the launching antenna (or launcher). An effective ECH launcher must project a small mm-wave beam spot size far into the plasma and 'steer' the beam across a large fraction of the plasma cross section (along the resonance surface). Thus the choice in the launcher concept and design may either severely limit or enhance the capability of a heating system to be effectively applied for physics applications, such as sawtooth stabilization, control of the Neoclassical Tearing Mode (NTM), Edgemore » Localized Mode (ELM) control, etc. Presently, two antenna concepts are under consideration for the ITER upper port ECH launcher: front steering (FS) and remote steering (RS) launchers. The RS launcher has the technical advantage of easier maintenance access to the steering mirror, which is isolated from the torus vacuum. The FS launcher places the steering mirror near the plasma increasing the technical challenges, but significantly enhancing the focusing and steering capabilities of the launcher, offering a threefold increase in NTM stabilization efficiency over the RS launcher as well as the potential for application to other critical physics issues such as ELM or sawtooth control.« less

  6. EPA waiver of ground water cleanup standards in NY

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

    Hess, A.A.

    1995-11-01

    EPA may invoke a technical impracticability (TI) waiver at a site when the Agency determines that it is technically impracticable from an engineering perspective to attain cleanup standards within a reasonable time period. The October 6, 1994 TI waiver of ground water cleanup standards at the G.E./Moreau Superfund Site in New York is the first post-Record of Decision (ROD) TI waiver granted by EPA since issuance of the September 1993 guidance on technical impracticability of ground water restoration. In the 1987 ROD, EPA selected natural gradient flushing and treatment as the ground water remedy and estimated that TCE-contaminated ground watermore » within the unconsolidated aquifer at the Site would be restored to drinking water quality within decades. EPA`s subsequent reevaluation showed that cleanup of the ground water would take 200 years or more, regardless of the remedial technology employed, due to the presence of site-specific physical and chemical factors that limit the effectiveness of ground water remediation technologies. Following public participation activities, EPA issued the TI waiver as an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) to the ROD. The ESD revised the time frame expected for ground water restoration but did not reduce or change any of the required cleanup actions.« less

  7. Endoscopic non-technical skills team training: the next step in quality assurance of endoscopy training.

    PubMed

    Matharoo, Manmeet; Haycock, Adam; Sevdalis, Nick; Thomas-Gibson, Siwan

    2014-12-14

    To investigate whether novel, non-technical skills training for Bowel Cancer Screening (BCS) endoscopy teams enhanced patient safety knowledge and attitudes. A novel endoscopy team training intervention for BCS teams was developed and evaluated as a pre-post intervention study. Four multi-disciplinary BCS teams constituting BCS endoscopist(s), specialist screening practitioners, endoscopy nurses and administrative staff (A) from English BCS training centres participated. No patients were involved in this study. Expert multidisciplinary faculty delivered a single day's training utilising real clinical examples. Pre and post-course evaluation comprised participants' patient safety awareness, attitudes, and knowledge. Global course evaluations were also collected. Twenty-three participants attended and their patient safety knowledge improved significantly from 43%-55% (P ≤ 0.001) following the training intervention. 12/41 (29%) of the safety attitudes items significantly improved in the areas of perceived patient safety knowledge and awareness. The remaining safety attitude items: perceived influence on patient safety, attitudes towards error management, error management actions and personal views following an error were unchanged following training. Both qualitative and quantitative global course evaluations were positive: 21/23 (91%) participants strongly agreed/agreed that they were satisfied with the course. Qualitative evaluation included mandating such training for endoscopy teams outside BCS and incorporating team training within wider endoscopy training. Limitations of the study include no measure of increased patient safety in clinical practice following training. A novel comprehensive training package addressing patient safety, non-technical skills and adverse event analysis was successful in improving multi-disciplinary teams' knowledge and safety attitudes.

  8. Endoscopic non-technical skills team training: The next step in quality assurance of endoscopy training

    PubMed Central

    Matharoo, Manmeet; Haycock, Adam; Sevdalis, Nick; Thomas-Gibson, Siwan

    2014-01-01

    AIM: To investigate whether novel, non-technical skills training for Bowel Cancer Screening (BCS) endoscopy teams enhanced patient safety knowledge and attitudes. METHODS: A novel endoscopy team training intervention for BCS teams was developed and evaluated as a pre-post intervention study. Four multi-disciplinary BCS teams constituting BCS endoscopist(s), specialist screening practitioners, endoscopy nurses and administrative staff (A) from English BCS training centres participated. No patients were involved in this study. Expert multidisciplinary faculty delivered a single day’s training utilising real clinical examples. Pre and post-course evaluation comprised participants’ patient safety awareness, attitudes, and knowledge. Global course evaluations were also collected. RESULTS: Twenty-three participants attended and their patient safety knowledge improved significantly from 43%-55% (P ≤ 0.001) following the training intervention. 12/41 (29%) of the safety attitudes items significantly improved in the areas of perceived patient safety knowledge and awareness. The remaining safety attitude items: perceived influence on patient safety, attitudes towards error management, error management actions and personal views following an error were unchanged following training. Both qualitative and quantitative global course evaluations were positive: 21/23 (91%) participants strongly agreed/agreed that they were satisfied with the course. Qualitative evaluation included mandating such training for endoscopy teams outside BCS and incorporating team training within wider endoscopy training. Limitations of the study include no measure of increased patient safety in clinical practice following training. CONCLUSION: A novel comprehensive training package addressing patient safety, non-technical skills and adverse event analysis was successful in improving multi-disciplinary teams’ knowledge and safety attitudes. PMID:25516665

  9. Engineering education in Bangladesh - an indicator of economic development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chowdhury, Harun; Alam, Firoz

    2012-05-01

    Developing nations including Bangladesh are significantly lagging behind the millennium development target due to the lack of science, technology and engineering education. Bangladesh as a least developing country has only 44 engineers per million people. Its technological education and gross domestic product growth are not collinear. Although limited progress was made in humanities, basic sciences, agriculture and medical sciences, a vast gap is left in technical and engineering education. This paper describes the present condition of engineering education in the country and explores ways to improve engineering education in order to meet the national as well as global skills demand.

  10. Multi-objective Optimization on Helium Liquefier Using Genetic Algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, H. R.; Xiong, L. Y.; Peng, N.; Meng, Y. R.; Liu, L. Q.

    2017-02-01

    Research on optimization of helium liquefier is limited at home and abroad, and most of the optimization is single-objective based on Collins cycle. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization is conducted using genetic algorithm (GA) on the 40 L/h helium liquefier developed by Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Science (TIPC, CAS), steady solutions are obtained in the end. In addition, the exergy loss of the optimized system is studied in the case of with and without liquid nitrogen pre-cooling. The results have guiding significance for the future design of large helium liquefier.

  11. Technical Support for Contaminated Sites | Science Inventory ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), Office of Land and Emergency Management, and EPA Regional waste management offices established the Technical Support Project. The creation of the Technical Support Project enabled ORD to provide effective technical assistance by ensuring ORD scientists and engineers were accessible to the Agency’s Office and Regional decision makers, including Remedial Project Managers, On-Scene Coordinators, and corrective action staff. Five ORD Technical Support Centers (TSCs) were created to facilitate this technical assistance. Three of the five TSCs are supported by the Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program, and are summarized in the poster being presented:• Engineering Technical Support Center (ETSC) in Cincinnati, Ohio• Ground Water Technical Support Center (GWTSC) in Ada, Oklahoma• Site Characterization and Monitoring Technical Support Center (SCMTSC) in Atlanta, GeorgiaOver the past 29 years, the Technical Support Centers have provided numerous influential products to its internal Agency clients and to those at the State level (through the EPA Regions). These products include, but are not limited to the following: Annual TSC reports from the three Centers, a hard-rock mining conference every other year, PRO-UCL software development for site characterization statistics, groundwater modeling using state-of-the-art modeling software, numerical mo

  12. Evaluation of a computer-guided curriculum using animation, visual images, and voice cues to train patients for peritoneal dialysis.

    PubMed

    Bernardini, Judith; Davis, Diane J

    2014-01-01

    Training patients to perform peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home is key to good patient outcomes. Currently, no validated curriculum based on education concepts is available in the public domain, and training is not standardized. Few nurses are prepared to be effective trainers. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of PD training using a new cycler designed with animation, visual images, and voice cues and provided by a qualified PD nurse with a standardized script to guide the trainer. ♢ The study recruited 40 participants, including individuals naive to dialysis and current automated PD (APD) patients. Participants with visual, hearing, or touch impairments were purposely included to reflect the disabilities common to the general APD population. The participants encompassed a range of self-reported computer and technical experience and education levels. Experienced training nurses trained each participant, one on one, for 4 - 8 hours during a single day; the nurses followed the standardized script as the participants progressed through the cycler training curriculum. The pace of training was adjusted to meet individual abilities and needs. Participants were evaluated by the training nurse at the end of the training session for their proficiency in meeting the learning objectives. ♢ All 40 participants completed the 1-day training and successfully met all task objectives by the end of the day. Participant ages ranged from 23 to 73 years (mean: 53.8 ± 11 years), with the women (50 ± 12 years) being significantly younger than the men (57 ± 9 years, p = 0.05). Among the participants, 90% had visual impairments; 40%, hearing impairments; and 45%, touch impairments. Twenty-nine participants (73%) had multiple impairments. Median training time was 7 ± 0.13 hours, with a range of 5 - 8.25 hours. We found no correlation between the number of hours needed for successful training and age (r = 0.30). Training time did not differ significantly by sex, disability, computer or technical experience, or education level. The required training time was less for participants with previous PD experience (6.5 ± 0.7 hours) than for those naive to dialysis (7 ± 0.8 h), but at p = 0.056, the difference just missed being statistically significant. ♢ The most striking finding is that, despite a variety of barriers to learning, all 40 participants were able to meet all the stated objectives of the study with 4 - 8 hours of training. Ability to meet the study objectives was not less for participants with limited education or limited technical or computer experience than for those with more education or more advanced technical and computer skills. Thus, the highly technical aspect of the new cycler is able to promote learning for a wide range of learners. The cycler provides automated instruction using audio, video, and animation, and those features, combined with a qualified training nurse using a standardized script, appear to be both efficient and effective.

  13. Integrating technical and non-technical skills coaching in an acute trauma surgery team training: Is it too much?

    PubMed

    Alken, Alexander; Luursema, Jan-Maarten; Weenk, Mariska; Yauw, Simon; Fluit, Cornelia; van Goor, Harry

    2017-08-25

    Research on effective integration of technical and non-technical skills in surgery team training is sparse. In a previous study we found that surgical teachers predominantly coached on technical and hardly on non-technical skills during the Definitive Surgical and Anesthetic Trauma Care (DSATC) integrated acute trauma surgery team training. This study aims to investigate whether the priming of teachers could increase the amount of non-technical skills coaching during such a training. Coaching activities of 12 surgical teachers were recorded on audio and video. Six teachers were primed on non-technical skills coaching prior to the training. Six others received no priming and served as controls. Blind observers reviewed the recordings of 2 training scenario's and scored whether the observed behaviors were directed on technical or non-technical skills. We compared the frequency of the non-technical skills coaching between the primed and the non-primed teachers and analyzed for differences according to the trainees' level of experience. Surgical teachers coached trainees during the highly realistic DSATC integrated acute trauma surgery team training. Trainees performed damage control surgery in operating teams on anesthetized porcine models during 6 training scenario's. Twelve experienced surgical teachers participated in this study. Coaching on non-technical skills was limited to about 5%. The primed teachers did not coach more often on non-technical skills than the non-primed teachers. We found no differences in the frequency of non-technical skills coaching based on the trainees' level of experience. Priming experienced surgical teachers does not increase the coaching on non-technical skills. The current DSATC acute trauma surgery team training seems too complex for integrating training on technical and non-technical skills. Patient care, Practice based learning and improvement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. 7 CFR 1944.407 - Limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) HOUSING Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants § 1944.407 Limitations. The amount of... Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL HOUSING SERVICE, RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE... typical needed repairs, and the cost savings between self-help and contractor rehabilitation and repair...

  15. 10 CFR 605.16 - Indirect cost limitations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 4 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Indirect cost limitations. 605.16 Section 605.16 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS THE OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.../technical meetings will not include payment for indirect costs. ...

  16. 12 CFR 1805.402 - Assistance limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Banks and Banking COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FUND, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM Investment Instruments § 1805.402 Assistance limits. (a..., more than $5 million, in the aggregate, in financial and technical assistance to an Awardee and its...

  17. Technical options for processing additional light tight oil volumes within the United States

    EIA Publications

    2015-01-01

    This report examines technical options for processing additional LTO volumes within the United States. Domestic processing of additional LTO would enable an increase in petroleum product exports from the United States, already the world’s largest net exporter of petroleum products. Unlike crude oil, products are not subject to export limitations or licensing requirements. While this is one possible approach to absorbing higher domestic LTO production in the absence of a relaxation of current limitations on crude exports, domestic LTO would have to be priced at a level required to encourage additional LTO runs at existing refinery units, debottlenecking, or possible additions of processing capacity.

  18. Endovascular Management of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

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

    Fattori, Rossella, E-mail: rossella.fattori@unibo.it; Russo, Vincenzo; Lovato, Luigi

    The overall survival of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) has improved significantly in the past few years. Endovascular treatment, proposed as an alternative to surgery, has been considered a therapeutic innovation because of its low degree of invasiveness, which allows the treatment of even high-surgical risk patients with limited complications and mortality. A major limitation is the lack of adequate evidence regarding long-term benefit and durability because follow-up has been limited to just a few years even in the largest series. The combination of endovascular exclusion with visceral branch revascularization for the treatment of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms involving themore » visceral aorta has also been attempted. As an alternative, endografts with branches represent a technological evolution that allows treatment of complex anatomy. Even if only small numbers of patients and short follow-up are available, this technical approach, which has with limited mortality (<10%) and paraplegia rates, to expand endovascular treatment to TAA seems feasible. With improved capability to recognize proper anatomy and select clinical candidates, the choice of endovascular stent-graft placement may offer a strategy to optimize management and improve prognosis.« less

  19. Equity Issues in Public Examinations in Developing Countries. World Bank Technical Paper Number 272. Asia Technical Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Greaney, Vincent; Kellaghan, Thomas

    Public examinations in developing countries play a critical role in the selection of students for participation in the educational system. The examinations tend to be highly academic, bearing little reference to the everyday lives of students, limited to paper-and-pencil tests, and geared toward discriminating among high achieving students.…

  20. Constraints on the Participation of Women in Technical Cooperation Training Due to Lack of English Language Skills.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Threlfall, Monica; Langley, Gail

    A study examined the impact of limited English competence on participation of foreign female students in technical cooperation training (TCT). Questionnaires were sent to British Council offices and embassies in all 107 countries with TCT programs and completed by 55 (30.9%) of the countries (including 17 of the 22 largest). Responses indicated…

  1. The Plain Dealer High School Newspaper Workshop Program. John F. Kennedy and West Technical High Schools, 1994-1995.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cleveland Public Schools, OH.

    The Plain Dealer High School Newspaper Workshop was a pilot program created to introduce minority high school students (although not limited to minority students) to career opportunities in the newspaper business. Forty-four students from the Cleveland Public Schools' John F. Kennedy and West Technical High School participated in the 9-week…

  2. Applied Reading Test--Forms A and B, Interim Manual, and Answer Sheets.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Australian Council for Educational Research, Hawthorn.

    Designed for use in the selection of apprentices, trainees, technical and trade personnel, and any other persons who need to read and understand text of a technical nature, this Applied Reading Test specimen set contains six passages and 32 items, has a 30-minute time limit, and is presented in a reusable multiple choice test booklet. The specimen…

  3. A Regulatory Framework for Nanotechnology

    DTIC Science & Technology

    informed by a map of the regulatory landscape of nanotechnology and a review of the regulatory frameworks for the aviation and biotechnology industries...aviation and biotechnology and maps the regulatory landscape in the United States by examining stakeholders, regulatory entities, and applicable legislation...state of nanotechnology if the limitations of technical expertise are addressed. This expertise can be provided by advisory committees of technical

  4. An Interdisciplinary Program in Technical Communications: Problems Encountered.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Eckman, Martha

    The need for experts in technical communication is growing significantly while the number of college graduates in the field accounts for less than one percent of the need. Three major types of problems should be considered in trying to establish a technical communication program: those involving society's need for better technical communicators,…

  5. 78 FR 79074 - Technical Report Evaluating Seat Belt Pretensioners and Load Limiters

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-27

    ... effectiveness of pretensioners and load limiters for seat belts in the front seats of passenger cars and LTVs... cars and LTVs sold in the United States were equipped with pretensioners and load limiters at the... at those seats. In passenger cars, CUVs, and minivans, a belted driver or right-front passenger has...

  6. Investigation of Truck Size and Weight Limits - Technical Supplement. Vol. 1. Analysis of Truck Payloads Under Various Limits of Size, Weight and Configuration

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1981-02-01

    This volume documents the results of an analysis of the impact that various truck size and weight limits have on the carrier equipment selection process as a result of changes, in the design payload and design density of individual trucks. An analysi...

  7. 47 CFR 25.216 - Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations... Technical Standards § 25.216 Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service. (a) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in...

  8. 47 CFR 25.216 - Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations... Technical Standards § 25.216 Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service. (a) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in...

  9. 47 CFR 25.216 - Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations... Technical Standards § 25.216 Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service. (a) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in...

  10. 47 CFR 25.216 - Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations... Technical Standards § 25.216 Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service. (a) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in...

  11. 48 CFR 27.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to.... For computer software it means data identifying source, functional characteristics, and performance... the software. Limited rights means the rights of the Government in limited rights data as set forth in...

  12. 48 CFR 27.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to.... For computer software it means data identifying source, functional characteristics, and performance... the software. Limited rights means the rights of the Government in limited rights data as set forth in...

  13. 48 CFR 27.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to.... For computer software it means data identifying source, functional characteristics, and performance... the software. Limited rights means the rights of the Government in limited rights data as set forth in...

  14. 48 CFR 27.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to.... For computer software it means data identifying source, functional characteristics, and performance... the software. Limited rights means the rights of the Government in limited rights data as set forth in...

  15. 48 CFR 27.401 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to.... For computer software it means data identifying source, functional characteristics, and performance... the software. Limited rights means the rights of the Government in limited rights data as set forth in...

  16. Development document for proposed effluent-limitations guidelines and standards for shipbuilding and repair. Point-source category

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

    Not Available

    1979-12-01

    The document contains a discussion of the technical rationale for effluent limitations guidelines for the Shipbuilding and Repair Point Source Category, and the control and treatment technologies which form the basis for these guidelines.

  17. 47 CFR 18.307 - Conduction limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Conduction limits. 18.307 Section 18.307 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GENERAL INDUSTRIAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT Technical... outside of the frequency bands specified in § 18.301. (f) For ultrasonic equipment, compliance with the...

  18. Lake States regional forest resources assessment: technical papers.

    Treesearch

    Henry H. Webster; J. Michael Vasievich

    1997-01-01

    Contains 21 technical working papers prepared for the Lake States regional forest resources assessment, Lake States Forestry Alliance 1995. They represent significant contributions from many individuals and organizations and form the technical background for the assessment.

  19. Burns education: The emerging role of simulation for training healthcare professionals.

    PubMed

    Sadideen, Hazim; Goutos, Ioannis; Kneebone, Roger

    2017-02-01

    Burns education appears to be under-represented in UK undergraduate curricula. However current postgraduate courses in burns education provide formal training in resuscitation and management. Simulation has proven to be a powerful modality to advance surgical training in both technical and non-technical skills. We present a literature review that summarises the format of current burns education, and provides detailed insight into historic, current and novel advances in burns simulation for both technical and non-technical skills, that can be used to augment surgical training. Addressing the economic and practical limitations of current immersive surgical simulation is important, and this review proposes future directions for integration of innovative simulation strategies into training curricula. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  20. Does Technical Success of Angioplasty in Dysfunctional Hemodialysis Accesses Correlate with Access Patency?

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

    Sidhu, Arshdeep; Tan, Kong T.; Noel-Lamy, Maxime

    2016-10-15

    PurposeTo study if <30 % residual stenosis post angioplasty (PTA) correlates with primary access circuit patency, and if any variables predict technical success.Materials and MethodsA prospective observational study was performed between January 2009 and December 2012, wherein 76 patients underwent 154 PTA events in 56 prosthetic grafts (AVG) and 98 autogenous fistulas (AVF). Data collected included patient age, gender, lesion location and laterality, access type and location, number of prior interventions, and transonic flow rates pre- and postintervention. Impact of technical outcome on access patency was assessed. Univariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of variables on technical success withmore » significant factors assessed with a multiple variable model.ResultsTechnical success rates of PTA in AVFs and AVGs were 79.6 and 76.7 %, respectively. Technical failures of PTA were associated with an increased risk of patency loss among circuits with AVFs (p < 0.05), but not with AVGs (p = 0.7). In AVFs, primary access patency rates between technical successes and failures at three and 6 months were 74.4 versus 61.9 % (p = 0.3) and 53.8 versus 23.8 % (p < 0.05), respectively. In AVGs, primary access patency rates between technical successes and failures at three and six months were 72.1 versus 53.9 % (p = 0.5) and 33.6 versus 38.5 % (p = 0.8), respectively. Transonic flow rates did not significantly differ among technically successful or failed outcomes at one or three months.ConclusionTechnical failures of PTA had a significant impact on access patency among AVFs with a trend toward poorer access patency within AVGs.« less

  1. Does Technical Success of Angioplasty in Dysfunctional Hemodialysis Accesses Correlate with Access Patency?

    PubMed

    Sidhu, Arshdeep; Tan, Kong T; Noel-Lamy, Maxime; Simons, Martin E; Rajan, Dheeraj K

    2016-10-01

    To study if <30 % residual stenosis post angioplasty (PTA) correlates with primary access circuit patency, and if any variables predict technical success. A prospective observational study was performed between January 2009 and December 2012, wherein 76 patients underwent 154 PTA events in 56 prosthetic grafts (AVG) and 98 autogenous fistulas (AVF). Data collected included patient age, gender, lesion location and laterality, access type and location, number of prior interventions, and transonic flow rates pre- and postintervention. Impact of technical outcome on access patency was assessed. Univariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of variables on technical success with significant factors assessed with a multiple variable model. Technical success rates of PTA in AVFs and AVGs were 79.6 and 76.7 %, respectively. Technical failures of PTA were associated with an increased risk of patency loss among circuits with AVFs (p < 0.05), but not with AVGs (p = 0.7). In AVFs, primary access patency rates between technical successes and failures at three and 6 months were 74.4 versus 61.9 % (p = 0.3) and 53.8 versus 23.8 % (p < 0.05), respectively. In AVGs, primary access patency rates between technical successes and failures at three and six months were 72.1 versus 53.9 % (p = 0.5) and 33.6 versus 38.5 % (p = 0.8), respectively. Transonic flow rates did not significantly differ among technically successful or failed outcomes at one or three months. Technical failures of PTA had a significant impact on access patency among AVFs with a trend toward poorer access patency within AVGs.

  2. Development document for final best conventional technology effluent limitations guidelines for the pharmaceutical manufacturing point source category. Final report

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

    O'Farrell, T.; Hund, F.

    1986-12-01

    The document presents the technical rationale for best conventional technology (BCI) effluent limitations guidelines for the pharmaceutical manufacturing point-source category as required by the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-217, the Act). The document describes the technologies considered as the bases for BCT limitations. Section II of this document summarizes the rulemaking process. Sections III through V describe the technical data and engineering analyses used to develop the regulatory technology options. The costs and removals associated with each technology option for each plant and the application of the BCT cost test methodology are presented in Section VI. BCI limitationsmore » bases on the best conventional pollutant control technology are to be achieved by existing direct-discharging facilities.« less

  3. Biosensor technology: technology push versus market pull.

    PubMed

    Luong, John H T; Male, Keith B; Glennon, Jeremy D

    2008-01-01

    Biosensor technology is based on a specific biological recognition element in combination with a transducer for signal processing. Since its inception, biosensors have been expected to play a significant analytical role in medicine, agriculture, food safety, homeland security, environmental and industrial monitoring. However, the commercialization of biosensor technology has significantly lagged behind the research output as reflected by a plethora of publications and patenting activities. The rationale behind the slow and limited technology transfer could be attributed to cost considerations and some key technical barriers. Analytical chemistry has changed considerably, driven by automation, miniaturization, and system integration with high throughput for multiple tasks. Such requirements pose a great challenge in biosensor technology which is often designed to detect one single or a few target analytes. Successful biosensors must be versatile to support interchangeable biorecognition elements, and in addition miniaturization must be feasible to allow automation for parallel sensing with ease of operation at a competitive cost. A significant upfront investment in research and development is a prerequisite in the commercialization of biosensors. The progress in such endeavors is incremental with limited success, thus, the market entry for a new venture is very difficult unless a niche product can be developed with a considerable market volume.

  4. Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography in patients with MRI contraindications.

    PubMed

    Richter, Vivien; Hatterman, Valerie; Preibsch, Heike; Bahrs, Sonja D; Hahn, Markus; Nikolaou, Konstantin; Wiesinger, Benjamin

    2017-01-01

    Background Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a novel breast imaging technique providing comparable diagnostic accuracy to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Purpose To show that CESM in patients with MRI contraindications is feasible, accurate, and useful as a problem-solving tool, and to highlight its limitations. Material and Methods A total of 118 patients with MRI contraindications were examined by CESM. Histology was obtained in 94 lesions and used as gold standard for diagnostic accuracy calculations. Imaging data were reviewed retrospectively for feasibility, accuracy, and technical problems. The diagnostic yield of CESM as a problem-solving tool and for therapy response evaluation was reviewed separately. Results CESM was more accurate than mammography (MG) for lesion categorization (r = 0.731, P < 0.0001 vs. r = 0.279, P = 0.006) and for lesion size estimation (r = 0.738 vs. r = 0.689, P < 0.0001). Negative predictive value of CESM was significantly higher than of MG (85.71% vs. 30.77%, P < 0.0001). When used for problem-solving, CESM changed patient management in 2/8 (25%) cases. Superposition artifacts and timing problems affected diagnostic utility in 3/118 (2.5%) patients. Conclusion CESM is a feasible and accurate alternative for patients with MRI contraindications, but it is necessary to be aware of the method's technical limitations.

  5. Transnasal endoscopy: Technical considerations, advantages and limitations.

    PubMed

    Atar, Mustafa; Kadayifci, Abdurrahman

    2014-02-16

    Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) is an upper endoscopy method which is performed by the nasal route using a thin endoscope less than 6 mm in diameter. The primary goal of this method is to improve patient tolerance and convenience of the procedure. TNE can be performed without sedation and thus eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia. In this way, TNE decreases the cost and total duration of endoscopic procedures, while maintaining the image quality of standard caliber endoscopes, providing good results for diagnostic purposes. However, the small working channel of the ultra-thin endoscope used for TNE makes it difficult to use for therapeutic procedures except in certain conditions which require a thinner endoscope. Biopsy is possible with special forceps less than 2 mm in diameter. Recently, TNE has been used for screening endoscopy in Far East Asia, including Japan. In most controlled studies, TNE was found to have better patient tolerance when compared to unsedated endoscopy. Nasal pain is the most significant symptom associated with endoscopic procedures but can be reduced with nasal pretreatment. Despite the potential advantage of TNE, it is not common in Western countries, usually due to a lack of training in the technique and a lack of awareness of its potential advantages. This paper briefly reviews the technical considerations as well as the potential advantages and limitations of TNE with ultra-thin scopes.

  6. Transnasal endoscopy: Technical considerations, advantages and limitations

    PubMed Central

    Atar, Mustafa; Kadayifci, Abdurrahman

    2014-01-01

    Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) is an upper endoscopy method which is performed by the nasal route using a thin endoscope less than 6 mm in diameter. The primary goal of this method is to improve patient tolerance and convenience of the procedure. TNE can be performed without sedation and thus eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia. In this way, TNE decreases the cost and total duration of endoscopic procedures, while maintaining the image quality of standard caliber endoscopes, providing good results for diagnostic purposes. However, the small working channel of the ultra-thin endoscope used for TNE makes it difficult to use for therapeutic procedures except in certain conditions which require a thinner endoscope. Biopsy is possible with special forceps less than 2 mm in diameter. Recently, TNE has been used for screening endoscopy in Far East Asia, including Japan. In most controlled studies, TNE was found to have better patient tolerance when compared to unsedated endoscopy. Nasal pain is the most significant symptom associated with endoscopic procedures but can be reduced with nasal pretreatment. Despite the potential advantage of TNE, it is not common in Western countries, usually due to a lack of training in the technique and a lack of awareness of its potential advantages. This paper briefly reviews the technical considerations as well as the potential advantages and limitations of TNE with ultra-thin scopes. PMID:24567791

  7. A systematic review of evidence for education and training interventions in microsurgery.

    PubMed

    Ghanem, Ali M; Hachach-Haram, Nadine; Leung, Clement Chi Ming; Myers, Simon Richard

    2013-07-01

    Over the past decade, driven by advances in educational theory and pressures for efficiency in the clinical environment, there has been a shift in surgical education and training towards enhanced simulation training. Microsurgery is a technical skill with a steep competency learning curve on which the clinical outcome greatly depends. This paper investigates the evidence for educational and training interventions of traditional microsurgical skills courses in order to establish the best evidence practice in education and training and curriculum design. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases was performed to identify randomized control trials looking at educational and training interventions that objectively improved microsurgical skill acquisition, and these were critically appraised using the BestBETs group methodology. The databases search yielded 1,148, 1,460, and 2,277 citations respectively. These were then further limited to randomized controlled trials from which abstract reviews reduced the number to 5 relevant randomised controlled clinical trials. The best evidence supported a laboratory based low fidelity model microsurgical skills curriculum. There was strong evidence that technical skills acquired on low fidelity models transfers to improved performance on higher fidelity human cadaver models and that self directed practice leads to improved technical performance. Although there is significant paucity in the literature to support current microsurgical education and training practices, simulated training on low fidelity models in microsurgery is an effective intervention that leads to acquisition of transferable skills and improved technical performance. Further research to identify educational interventions associated with accelerated skill acquisition is required.

  8. Can virtual reality simulation be used for advanced bariatric surgical training?

    PubMed

    Lewis, Trystan M; Aggarwal, Rajesh; Kwasnicki, Richard M; Rajaretnam, Niro; Moorthy, Krishna; Ahmed, Ahmed; Darzi, Ara

    2012-06-01

    Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a safe and effective way of treating morbid obesity. However, the operations are technically challenging and training opportunities for junior surgeons are limited. This study aims to assess whether virtual reality (VR) simulation is an effective adjunct for training and assessment of laparoscopic bariatric technical skills. Twenty bariatric surgeons of varying experience (Five experienced, five intermediate, and ten novice) were recruited to perform a jejuno-jejunostomy on both cadaveric tissue and on the bariatric module of the Lapmentor VR simulator (Simbionix Corporation, Cleveland, OH). Surgical performance was assessed using validated global rating scales (GRS) and procedure specific video rating scales (PSRS). Subjects were also questioned about the appropriateness of VR as a training tool for surgeons. Construct validity of the VR bariatric module was demonstrated with a significant difference in performance between novice and experienced surgeons on the VR jejuno-jejunostomy module GRS (median 11-15.5; P = .017) and PSRS (median 11-13; P = .003). Content validity was demonstrated with surgeons describing the VR bariatric module as useful and appropriate for training (mean Likert score 4.45/7) and they would highly recommend VR simulation to others for bariatric training (mean Likert score 5/7). Face and concurrent validity were not established. This study shows that the bariatric module on a VR simulator demonstrates construct and content validity. VR simulation appears to be an effective method for training of advanced bariatric technical skills for surgeons at the start of their bariatric training. However, assessment of technical skills should still take place on cadaveric tissue. Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc.

  9. Follow-up of negative MRI-targeted prostate biopsies: when are we missing cancer?

    PubMed

    Gold, Samuel A; Hale, Graham R; Bloom, Jonathan B; Smith, Clayton P; Rayn, Kareem N; Valera, Vladimir; Wood, Bradford J; Choyke, Peter L; Turkbey, Baris; Pinto, Peter A

    2018-05-21

    Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has improved clinicians' ability to detect clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Combining or fusing these images with the real-time imaging of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) allows urologists to better sample lesions with a targeted biopsy (Tbx) leading to the detection of greater rates of csPCa and decreased rates of low-risk PCa. In this review, we evaluate the technical aspects of the mpMRI-guided Tbx procedure to identify possible sources of error and provide clinical context to a negative Tbx. A literature search was conducted of possible reasons for false-negative TBx. This includes discussion on false-positive mpMRI findings, termed "PCa mimics," that may incorrectly suggest high likelihood of csPCa as well as errors during Tbx resulting in inexact image fusion or biopsy needle placement. Despite the strong negative predictive value associated with Tbx, concerns of missed disease often remain, especially with MR-visible lesions. This raises questions about what to do next after a negative Tbx result. Potential sources of error can arise from each step in the targeted biopsy process ranging from "PCa mimics" or technical errors during mpMRI acquisition to failure to properly register MRI and TRUS images on a fusion biopsy platform to technical or anatomic limits on needle placement accuracy. A better understanding of these potential pitfalls in the mpMRI-guided Tbx procedure will aid interpretation of a negative Tbx, identify areas for improving technical proficiency, and improve both physician understanding of negative Tbx and patient-management options.

  10. RASSP Benchmark 4 Technical Description.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-01-09

    be carried out. Based on results of the study, an implementation of all, or part, of the system described in this benchmark technical description...validate interface and timing constraints. The ISA level of modeling defines the limit of detail expected in the VHDL virtual prototype. It does not...develop a set of candidate architectures and perform an architecture trade-off study. Candidate proces- sor implementations must then be examined for

  11. Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Bilingual Academic and Technical Education for Youth Program. O.E.E. Evaluation Report, 1982-1983.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Keyes, Jose Luis; Collins, Carla

    The Bilingual Academic and Technical Education for Youth (BATEY) Program completed its third and final year of funding at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Bronx, New York. In 1982-83, the program offered bilingual instruction and support services to approximately 300 Hispanic students of limited English proficiency in grades 9-12. Although the…

  12. Operation Manual for the Intensity Based Interrogation of Fibre Bragg Grating Arrays on Vibrating Structures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-01-01

    based demodulation approach for the measurement of strains, induced by structural vibrations, using Fiber Bragg Gratings ( FBG ). This companion...provide the Frequency Response Functions from a series of FBG arrays attached to a vibrating structure. RELEASE LIMITATION Approved for... FBG arrays attached to a vibrating structure. Both this technical note and its companion technical report are formal contributions to an

  13. The Possibilities for Career and Technology Centers when Academic Standards and Accountability Requirements Are Integrated into Competency Based Curricula

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Damon, Toni

    2010-01-01

    As with other fields in education, career and technical education (CTE) has experienced a dramatic transformation since its inception in the 19th century. Since the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, there has been limited research on the impact, or possibilities, that recent legislation has had on…

  14. 78 FR 38226 - Sulfoxaflor; Pesticide Tolerances; Technical Correction

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-26

    ... and removing Sec. 180.670. This document additionally removes the time-limited tolerances for cotton, undelinted seed; cotton, gin byproducts; and cotton, hulls as the tolerances have been superseded by...-limited tolerances for cotton, undelinted seed; cotton, gin byproducts; and cotton, hulls contained in...

  15. 47 CFR Alphabetical Index - Part 78

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... of towers 78.63 Modulation limits 78.115 Monitors and Measurements, Frequency 78.113 N [Reserved] O... SERVICE Technical Regulations Modulation limits. Pt. 78, Index Alphabetical Index—Part 78 A Antenna... Changes in equipment 78.109 Conditions for license 78.27 Coordination, frequencies 78.36 Cross reference...

  16. 47 CFR 101.133 - Limitations on use of transmitters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.133 Limitations on use of transmitters. (a...) Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave stations authorized in this service may communicate...-point microwave licenses may use the same transmitting equipment under the following terms and...

  17. 47 CFR 101.133 - Limitations on use of transmitters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.133 Limitations on use of transmitters. (a...) Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave stations authorized in this service may communicate...-point microwave licenses may use the same transmitting equipment under the following terms and...

  18. 47 CFR 101.133 - Limitations on use of transmitters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.133 Limitations on use of transmitters. (a...) Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave stations authorized in this service may communicate...-point microwave licenses may use the same transmitting equipment under the following terms and...

  19. 47 CFR 101.133 - Limitations on use of transmitters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.133 Limitations on use of transmitters. (a...) Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave stations authorized in this service may communicate...-point microwave licenses may use the same transmitting equipment under the following terms and...

  20. 47 CFR 101.133 - Limitations on use of transmitters.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SERVICES FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES Technical Standards § 101.133 Limitations on use of transmitters. (a...) Private operational fixed point-to-point microwave stations authorized in this service may communicate...-point microwave licenses may use the same transmitting equipment under the following terms and...

  1. A Health Assessment of Technical Grade Dinitrotoluene ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Technical grade dinitrotoluene (tgDNT) is a mixture of dinitrotoluene isomers. It is composed of 76% 2,4 DNT and 19% 2,6 DNT with the remaining 5% a combination of the other four dinitrotoluene isomers (2,3 , 2,5 , 3,4 , and 3,5 DNT). The toxicological effects of tgDNT were reviewed and the critical effects were identified by evaluating available human occupational and animal studies mainly via inhalation and oral exposure routes. In occupational studies of workers from DNT manufacturing plants, tgDNT exposure (predominately via the inhalation route) associates with clinical symptoms, adverse reproductive effects, and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. However, these occupational studies are limited due to co-exposure to other known and/or unknown chemicals and lack of useful exposure information. Oral studies in F344 rats showed that tgDNT has a broad toxicity profile in both males and females including significantly increased reticulocytes and Heinz bodies, increased relative liver weight and kidney weight, spleen hemosiderin and extramedullary hematopoiesis, increased incidence of chronic interstitial nephritis, and hepatotoxicity characterized by increased incidences of hepatocyte necrosis, hyperbasophilic hepatocytes, and hepatocyte megalocytosis . The incidence of testicular degeneration in male rats is also significantly increased by tgDNT. In order to identify the most sensitive non-cancer effect(s), all toxicological endpoints from subchron

  2. Technical Note: Millimeter precision in ultrasound based patient positioning: Experimental quantification of inherent technical limitations

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

    Ballhausen, Hendrik, E-mail: hendrik.ballhausen@med.uni-muenchen.de; Hieber, Sheila; Li, Minglun

    2014-08-15

    Purpose: To identify the relevant technical sources of error of a system based on three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) for patient positioning in external beam radiotherapy. To quantify these sources of error in a controlled laboratory setting. To estimate the resulting end-to-end geometric precision of the intramodality protocol. Methods: Two identical free-hand 3D US systems at both the planning-CT and the treatment room were calibrated to the laboratory frame of reference. Every step of the calibration chain was repeated multiple times to estimate its contribution to overall systematic and random error. Optimal margins were computed given the identified and quantified systematicmore » and random errors. Results: In descending order of magnitude, the identified and quantified sources of error were: alignment of calibration phantom to laser marks 0.78 mm, alignment of lasers in treatment vs planning room 0.51 mm, calibration and tracking of 3D US probe 0.49 mm, alignment of stereoscopic infrared camera to calibration phantom 0.03 mm. Under ideal laboratory conditions, these errors are expected to limit ultrasound-based positioning to an accuracy of 1.05 mm radially. Conclusions: The investigated 3D ultrasound system achieves an intramodal accuracy of about 1 mm radially in a controlled laboratory setting. The identified systematic and random errors require an optimal clinical tumor volume to planning target volume margin of about 3 mm. These inherent technical limitations do not prevent clinical use, including hypofractionation or stereotactic body radiation therapy.« less

  3. Technical efficiency in milk production in underdeveloped production environment of India*.

    PubMed

    Bardhan, Dwaipayan; Sharma, Murari Lal

    2013-12-01

    The study was undertaken in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state of India with the objective of estimating technical efficiency in milk production across different herd-size category households and factors influencing it. Total of 60 farm households having representation from different herd-size categories drawn from six randomly selected villages of plain and hilly regions of the division constituted the ultimate sampling units of the study. Stochastic frontier production function analysis was used to estimate the technical efficiency in milk production. Multivariate regression equations were fitted taking technical efficiency index as the regressand to identify the factors significantly influencing technical efficiency in milk production. The study revealed that variation in output across farms in the study area was due to difference in their technical efficiency levels. However, it was interesting to note that smallholder producers were more technically efficient in milk production than their larger counterparts, especially in the plains. Apart from herd size, intensity of market participation had significant and positive impact on technical efficiency in the plains. This provides definite indication that increasing the level of commercialization of dairy farms would have beneficial impact on their production efficiency.

  4. Recreational technical diving part 1: an introduction to technical diving methods and activities.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Simon J; Doolette, David J

    2013-06-01

    Technical divers use gases other than air and advanced equipment configurations to conduct dives that are deeper and/or longer than typical recreational air dives. The use of oxygen-nitrogen (nitrox) mixes with oxygen fractions higher than air results in longer no-decompression limits for shallow diving, and faster decompression from deeper dives. For depths beyond the air-diving range, technical divers mix helium, a light non-narcotic gas, with nitrogen and oxygen to produce 'trimix'. These blends are tailored to the depth of intended use with a fraction of oxygen calculated to produce an inspired oxygen partial pressure unlikely to cause cerebral oxygen toxicity and a nitrogen fraction calculated to produce a tolerable degree of nitrogen narcosis. A typical deep technical dive will involve the use of trimix at the target depth with changes to gases containing more oxygen and less inert gas during the decompression. Open-circuit scuba may be used to carry and utilise such gases, but this is very wasteful of expensive helium. There is increasing use of closed-circuit 'rebreather' devices. These recycle expired gas and potentially limit gas consumption to a small amount of inert gas to maintain the volume of the breathing circuit during descent and the amount of oxygen metabolised by the diver. This paper reviews the basic approach to planning and execution of dives using these methods to better inform physicians of the physical demands and risks.

  5. 48 CFR 8.405-6 - Limited sources justification and approval.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Limited sources... and belief. (x) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or... ordering activity contracting officer's knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher...

  6. Evaluation of variable speed limits on I-270/I-255 in St. Louis.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-10-01

    In May of 2008, MoDOT installed a Variable Speed Limit (VSL) system along the I270/I255 corridor in St. Louis. This project evaluated the VSL system and its potential impacts and benefits to the transportation users. The technical system ...

  7. Technical Challenges for a Comprehensive Test Ban: A historical perspective to frame the future (Invited)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wallace, T. C.

    2013-12-01

    In the summer of 1958 scientists from the Soviet block and the US allies met in Geneva to discuss what it would take to monitor a forerunner to a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty at the 'Conference of Experts to Study the Possibility of Detecting Violations of a Possible Agreement on Suspension of Nuclear Tests'. Although armed with a limited resume of observations, the conference recommended a multi-phenomenology approach (air sampling, acoustics, seismic and electromagnetic) deployed it a network of 170 sites scattered across the Northern Hemisphere, and hypothesized a detection threshold of 1kt for atmospheric tests and 5kt for underground explosions. The conference recommendations spurred vigorous debate, with strong disagreement with the stated detection hypothesis. Nevertheless, the technical challenges posed lead to a very focused effort to improve facilities, methodologies and, most importantly, research and development on event detection, location and identification. In the ensuing 50 years the various challenges arose and were eventually 'solved'; these included quantifying yield determination to enter a Limited Threshold Test Ban, monitoring broad areas of emerging nuclear nations, and after the mid-1990s lowering the global detection threshold to sub-kiloton levels for underground tests. Today there is both an international monitoring regime (ie, the International Monitoring System, or IMS) and a group of countries that have their own national technical means (NTM). The challenges for the international regime are evolving; the IMS has established itself as a very credible monitoring system, but the demand of a CTBT to detect and identify a 'nuclear test' of diminished size (zero yield) poses new technical hurdles. These include signal processing and understanding limits of resolution, location accuracy, integration of heterogeneous data, and accurately characterizing anomalous events. It is possible to extrapolate past technical advances to predict what should be available by 2020; detection of coupled explosions to 100s of tons for all continental areas, as well as a probabilistic assessment of event identification.

  8. The composing process of technical writers: A preliminary study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mair, D.; Roundy, N.

    1981-01-01

    The assumption that technical writers compose as do other writers is tested. The literature on the composing process, not limited to the pure or applied sciences, was reviewed, yielding three areas of general agreement. The composing process (1) consists of several stages, (2) is reflexive, and (3) may be mastered by means of strategies. Data on the ways technical writers compose were collected, and findings were related to the three areas of agreement. Questionnaires and interviews surveying 70 writers were used. The disciplines represented by these writers included civil, chemical, agricultural, geological, mechanical, electrical, and petroleum engineering, chemistry, hydrology, geology, and biology. Those providing consulting services, or performing research. No technical editors or professional writers were surveyed, only technicians, engineers, and researchers whose jobs involved composing reports. Three pedagogical implications are included.

  9. Ultrathin endoscope-assisted self-expandable metallic stent placement following initial unsuccessful attempt in malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction.

    PubMed

    Park, Se Woo; Lee, Hyuk; Park, Jun Chul; Shin, Sung Kwan; Lee, Sang Kil; Lee, Yong Chan

    2014-03-01

    Conventional endoscopy for self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement may be technically limited in long and tortuous strictures. Therefore, we analyzed the feasibility, safety and usefulness of ultrathin endoscopy (UTE)-guided SEMS placement. This study involved 24 patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction and unsuccessful initial attempts to place SEMS using conventional endoscopy. After completely passing a UTE across the stricture, the UTE was withdrawn, leaving a guidewire placed via the working channel. Through-the-scope SEMS placement was done using a conventional endoscope inserted along the guidewire. The primary endpoints were assessed by technical/clinical success and stent patency duration. Stents were successfully placed at target locations in all but one case with a long tortuous stricture, with 95.8% (23/24) technical success. One week after stent placement, mean gastricoutlet obstruction score improved significantly from baseline (1.74 ± 0.62 and 0.33 ± 0.48, respectively; P < 0.001). Stent migration, restenosis, and fracture occurred in four (17.4%), six (26.1%), and one (4.3%) of 23 stents, respectively. Median stent patency duration was 79 days. Mean stent patency was significantly longer in patients who received palliative chemotherapy than in those who did not (122.9 ± 11.0 and 38.3 ± 4.6, respectively; P < 0.001). UTE guidance SEMS delivery can be a feasible and safe rescue treatment method for malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction in cases of failed attempts to place SEMS using conventional endoscopy. Our result warrants a further study to define the efficacy of this method in difficult SEMS placement cases. © 2013 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2013 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.

  10. Application of fiber-reinforced bismaleimide materials to aircraft nacelle structures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Peros, Vasilios; Ruth, John; Trawinski, David

    1992-01-01

    Existing aircraft engine nacelle structures employ advanced composite materials to reduce weight and thereby increase overall performance. Use of advanced composite materials on existing aircraft nacelle structures includes fiber-reinforced epoxy structures and has typically been limited to regions furthest away from the hot engine core. Portions of the nacelle structure that are closer to the engine require materials with a higher temperature capability. In these portions, existing nacelle structures employ aluminum sandwich construction and skin/stringer construction. The aluminum structure is composed of many detail parts and assemblies and is usually protected by some form of ablative, insulator, or metallic thermal shield. A one-piece composite inner cowl for a new-generation engine nacelle structure has been designed using fiber-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) materials and honeycomb core in a sandwich construction. The new composite design has many advantages over the existing aluminum structure. Multiple details were integrated into the one-piece composite design, thereby significantly reducing the number of detail parts and fasteners. The use of lightweight materials and the reduction of the number of joints result in a significant weight reduction over the aluminum design; manufacturing labor and the overall number of tools required have also been reduced. Several significant technical issues were addressed in the development of a BMI composite design. Technical evaluation of the available BMI systems led to the selection of a toughened BMI material which was resistant to microcracking under thermal cyclic loading and enhanced the damage tolerance of the structure. Technical evaluation of the degradation of BMI materials in contact with aluminum and other metals validated methods for isolation of the various materials. Graphite-reinforced BMI in contact with aluminum and some steels was found to degrade in salt spray testing. Isolation techniques such as those used for graphite-reinforced epoxy structures were shown to provide adequate protection. The springback and producibility of large BMI structures were evaluated by manufacturing prototype hardware which had the full-scale cross section of the one-piece composite structure.

  11. Evaluation of Google Glass Technical Limitations on Their Integration in Medical Systems.

    PubMed

    Martinez-Millana, Antonio; Bayo-Monton, Jose-Luis; Lizondo, Aroa; Fernandez-Llatas, Carlos; Traver, Vicente

    2016-12-15

    Google Glass is a wearable sensor presented to facilitate access to information and assist while performing complex tasks. Despite the withdrawal of Google in supporting the product, today there are multiple applications and much research analyzing the potential impact of this technology in different fields of medicine. Google Glass satisfies the need of managing and having rapid access to real-time information in different health care scenarios. Among the most common applications are access to electronic medical records, display monitorizations, decision support and remote consultation in specialties ranging from ophthalmology to surgery and teaching. The device enables a user-friendly hands-free interaction with remote health information systems and broadcasting medical interventions and consultations from a first-person point of view. However, scientific evidence highlights important technical limitations in its use and integration, such as failure in connectivity, poor reception of images and automatic restart of the device. This article presents a technical study on the aforementioned limitations (specifically on the latency, reliability and performance) on two standard communication schemes in order to categorize and identify the sources of the problems. Results have allowed us to obtain a basis to define requirements for medical applications to prevent network, computational and processing failures associated with the use of Google Glass.

  12. Evaluation of Google Glass Technical Limitations on Their Integration in Medical Systems

    PubMed Central

    Martinez-Millana, Antonio; Bayo-Monton, Jose-Luis; Lizondo, Aroa; Fernandez-Llatas, Carlos; Traver, Vicente

    2016-01-01

    Google Glass is a wearable sensor presented to facilitate access to information and assist while performing complex tasks. Despite the withdrawal of Google in supporting the product, today there are multiple applications and much research analyzing the potential impact of this technology in different fields of medicine. Google Glass satisfies the need of managing and having rapid access to real-time information in different health care scenarios. Among the most common applications are access to electronic medical records, display monitorizations, decision support and remote consultation in specialties ranging from ophthalmology to surgery and teaching. The device enables a user-friendly hands-free interaction with remote health information systems and broadcasting medical interventions and consultations from a first-person point of view. However, scientific evidence highlights important technical limitations in its use and integration, such as failure in connectivity, poor reception of images and automatic restart of the device. This article presents a technical study on the aforementioned limitations (specifically on the latency, reliability and performance) on two standard communication schemes in order to categorize and identify the sources of the problems. Results have allowed us to obtain a basis to define requirements for medical applications to prevent network, computational and processing failures associated with the use of Google Glass. PMID:27983691

  13. Magellan aerobraking periapse corridor design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cook, Richard A.; Lyons, Daniel T.

    1992-01-01

    One extended mission idea for the Magellan project uses aerobraking techniques to circularize the current orbit. A major technical issue in this proposal is the design of the periapse altitude corridor. Aerobraking would cause a number of significant side effects on both the spacecraft and ground system. Heating and aerodynamic torques on the spacecraft are key issues, as are the corridor control maneuver frequency and aerobrake duration. Spacecraft and ground systems operational limits have been identified in an attempt to constrain the corridor design. A simulation program has been developed to model the aerobraking corridor control process. This paper presents study results using this program which relate to the feasibility of this aerobraking concept.

  14. National Transonic Facility: A review of the operational plan

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Liepmann, H. W.; Black, R. E.; Dietz, R. O.; Kirchner, M. E.; Sears, W. R.

    1980-01-01

    The proposed National Transonic Facility (NTF) operational plan is reviewed. The NTF will provide an aerodynamic test capability significantly exceeding that of other transonic regime wind tunnels now available. A limited number of academic research program that might use the NTF are suggested. It is concluded that the NTF operational plan is useful for management, technical, instrumentation, and model building techniques available in the specialized field of aerodynamic analysis and simulation. It is also suggested that NASA hold an annual conference to discuss wind tunnel research results and to report on developments that will further improve the utilization and cost effectiveness of the NTF and other wind tunnels.

  15. Chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy using a directly modulated quantum cascade laser

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

    Hangauer, Andreas, E-mail: hangauer@princeton.edu; Nikodem, Michal; Wysocki, Gerard, E-mail: gwysocki@princeton.edu

    2013-11-04

    Chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS) utilizing direct modulation of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) is presented. By controlling the laser bias nearly single- and dual-sideband CLaDS operation can be realized in an extremely simplified optical setup with no external optical modulators. Capability of direct single-sideband modulation is a unique feature of QCLs that exhibit a low linewidth enhancement factor. The developed analytical model shows excellent agreement with the experimental, directly modulated CLaDS spectra. This method overcomes major technical limitations of mid-infrared CLaDS systems by allowing significantly higher modulation frequencies and eliminating optical fringes introduced by external modulators.

  16. A New Flow Control Technique Using Diluted Epinephrine in the N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate Embolization of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms Secondary to Chronic Pancreatitis

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

    Morishita, Hiroyuki, E-mail: hmorif@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp; Yamagami, Takuji; Takeuchi, Yoshito

    2012-08-15

    Although n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) has been used as an effective liquid embolization material, its indication for pseudoaneurysms has seemingly been limited because of the technical difficulties of using NBCA, such as reflux to the parent artery and causing significant infarction. Thus, considerable skill in using NBCA or a device to control blood flow during its polymerization is required to achieve embolization without severe complications. We report our new technique for controlling blood flow using diluted epinephrine in transcatheter arterial NBCA embolization of five pseudoaneurysms in four cases secondary to hemosuccus pancreaticus.

  17. Gaseous fuel reactors for power systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kendall, J. S.; Rodgers, R. J.

    1977-01-01

    Gaseous-fuel nuclear reactors have significant advantages as energy sources for closed-cycle power systems. The advantages arise from the removal of temperature limits associated with conventional reactor fuel elements, the wide variety of methods of extracting energy from fissioning gases, and inherent low fissile and fission product in-core inventory due to continuous fuel reprocessing. Example power cycles and their general performance characteristics are discussed. Efficiencies of gaseous fuel reactor systems are shown to be high with resulting minimal environmental effects. A technical overview of the NASA-funded research program in gaseous fuel reactors is described and results of recent tests of uranium hexafluoride (UF6)-fueled critical assemblies are presented.

  18. Guidelines for the planning and preparation of illustrated technical talks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hubbard, H. H.

    1975-01-01

    Guidelines are presented for the preparation of illustrated talks which are audience oriented and which are aimed at the efficient transfer of technical information. Early decisions concerning the required number of slides are helpful in initial planning for a good quality talk. Detailed considerations are: the establishment of limited objectives, selection of appropriate slide material, development of a text which is well coordinated with the slides, and accurate timing.

  19. Word Lists to Limit Vocabulary in Technical Information.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-02-01

    COMPOSITE adjective COMPACTING verb COMPOSITES noun " COMPACTS verb COMPOSITION noun COMPANIES noun COMPOSITIONS noun COMPANY noun COMPOUND adj/verb...COMPARE verb COMPOUNDED * verb COMPARED* verb COMPOUNDING verb . COMPARES verb COMPOUNDS noun/verb - COMPARING verb COMPRESS noun/verb COMPARISON noun...34 DID* verb DIRECTS verb DIE verb DIRT noun DIED* verb DIRTIED * verb BOLDFACE a Root Word ’ a Past Participle A-28 . .. Technical Report 164 COMMON WORD

  20. Mischel Technique; Technical Report 12. Disadvantaged Children and Their First School Experiences. ETS-Head Start Longitudinal Study. Technical Report Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lindstrom, David R.; Shipman, Virginia C.

    An adaptation of a technique devised by Mischel (1958) was used in the longitudinal study to measure delay of gratification. Adaptations involved (1) asking the child to identify the larger of two pieces of candy to facilitate comprehension of the rewards, (2) specifying a standard time limit for receipt of the delayed reward which would be…

  1. The 1979 Ames Research Center Publications: A continuing bibliography

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1979-01-01

    This bibliography lists formal NASA publications, journal articles, books, chapters of books, patents, and contractor reports issued by Ames Research Center which were indexed by Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, Limited Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, and International Aerospace Abstracts in 1979. Citations are arranged by directorate, type of publication, and NASA accession numbers. Subject, Personal Author, Corporate Source, Contract Number, and Report/Accession Number Indexes are provided.

  2. Ames Research Center publications: A continuing bibliography, 1978

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1980-01-01

    This bibliography lists formal NASA publications, journal articles, books, chapters of books, patents and contractor reports issued by Ames Research Center which were indexed by Scientific and Technical Aerospace Abstracts, Limited Scientific and Technical Aerospace Abstracts, and International Aerospace Abstracts in 1978. Citations are arranged by directorate, type of publication and NASA accession numbers. Subject, personal author, corporate source, contract number, and report/accession number indexes are provided.

  3. Intraarticular Sacroiliac Joint Injection Under Computed Tomography Fluoroscopic Guidance: A Technical Note to Reduce Procedural Time and Radiation Dose

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

    Paik, Nam Chull, E-mail: pncspine@gmail.com

    2016-07-15

    PurposeA technique for computed tomography fluoroscopy (CTF)-guided intraarticular (IA) sacroiliac joint (SIJ) injection was devised to limit procedural time and radiation dose.MethodsOur Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective analysis and waived the requirement for informed consent. Overall, 36 consecutive diagnostic or therapeutic IA SIJ injections (unilateral, 20; bilateral, 16) performed in 34 patients (female, 18; male, 16) with a mean age of 45.5 years (range 20–76 years) under CTF guidance were analyzed, assessing technical success (i.e., IA contrast spread), procedural time, and radiation dose.ResultsAll injections were successful from a technical perspective and were free of serious complications. Respective median proceduralmore » times and effective doses of SIJ injection were as follows: unilateral, 5.28 min (range 3.58–8.00 min) and 0.11 millisievert (mSv; range 0.07–0.24 mSv); and bilateral, 6.72 min (range 4.17–21.17 min) and 0.11 mSv (range 0.09–0.51 mSv).ConclusionsGiven the high rate of technical success achieved in limited time duration and with little radiation exposure, CTF-guided IA SIJ injection is a practical and low-risk procedure.« less

  4. Robotics in Orthopedics: A Brave New World.

    PubMed

    Parsley, Brian S

    2018-02-16

    Future health-care projection projects a significant growth in population by 2020. Health care has seen an exponential growth in technology to address the growing population with the decreasing number of physicians and health-care workers. Robotics in health care has been introduced to address this growing need. Early adoption of robotics was limited because of the limited application of the technology, the cumbersome nature of the equipment, and technical complications. A continued improvement in efficacy, adaptability, and cost reduction has stimulated increased interest in robotic-assisted surgery. The evolution in orthopedic surgery has allowed for advanced surgical planning, precision robotic machining of bone, improved implant-bone contact, optimization of implant placement, and optimization of the mechanical alignment. The potential benefits of robotic surgery include improved surgical work flow, improvements in efficacy and reduction in surgical time. Robotic-assisted surgery will continue to evolve in the orthopedic field. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Gender, Technology, and the History of Technical Communication.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Durack, Katherine T.

    1997-01-01

    Considers why women have been absent from the history of technical communication. Discusses research from the history of technology suggesting that notions of "technology,""work," and "workplace" may be gendered terms. Concludes with several suggestions for defining technical communication so that significant works of…

  6. Global hexachlorocyclohexane use trends and their impact on the Arctic atmospheric environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Y. F.; Bidleman, T. F.; Barrie, L. A.; McConnell, L. L.

    The relationship between the global technical HCH use trends and their impact on the arctic atmospheric environment has been studied. Two significant drops in global technical HCH usage were identified. In 1983, China banned the use of technical HCH. This represented the largest drop ever in global use rates. In 1990 India stopped technical HCH usage in agriculture and the former Soviet Union banned the use of technical HCH. Since 1990, India has been the biggest user of technical HCH in the world. Significant drops in atmospheric α-HCH in the arctic were observed between 1982 and 1983, and again between 1990 and 1992. The rapid response in atmospheric concentrations to usage is encouraging; however, since α-HCH concentrations in the arctic waters have remained relatively unchanged, the decline in atmospheric α-HCH has reversed the net direction of air-sea gas flux. The accumulated mass in oceans and large lakes may represent a new source of HCH to the arctic atmosphere.

  7. Operational Interventions to Maintenance Error

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kanki, Barbara G.; Walter, Diane; Dulchinos, VIcki

    1997-01-01

    A significant proportion of aviation accidents and incidents are known to be tied to human error. However, research of flight operational errors has shown that so-called pilot error often involves a variety of human factors issues and not a simple lack of individual technical skills. In aircraft maintenance operations, there is similar concern that maintenance errors which may lead to incidents and accidents are related to a large variety of human factors issues. Although maintenance error data and research are limited, industry initiatives involving human factors training in maintenance have become increasingly accepted as one type of maintenance error intervention. Conscientious efforts have been made in re-inventing the team7 concept for maintenance operations and in tailoring programs to fit the needs of technical opeRAtions. Nevertheless, there remains a dual challenge: 1) to develop human factors interventions which are directly supported by reliable human error data, and 2) to integrate human factors concepts into the procedures and practices of everyday technical tasks. In this paper, we describe several varieties of human factors interventions and focus on two specific alternatives which target problems related to procedures and practices; namely, 1) structured on-the-job training and 2) procedure re-design. We hope to demonstrate that the key to leveraging the impact of these solutions comes from focused interventions; that is, interventions which are derived from a clear understanding of specific maintenance errors, their operational context and human factors components.

  8. Reduction of Maintenance Error Through Focused Interventions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kanki, Barbara G.; Walter, Diane; Rosekind, Mark R. (Technical Monitor)

    1997-01-01

    It is well known that a significant proportion of aviation accidents and incidents are tied to human error. In flight operations, research of operational errors has shown that so-called "pilot error" often involves a variety of human factors issues and not a simple lack of individual technical skills. In aircraft maintenance operations, there is similar concern that maintenance errors which may lead to incidents and accidents are related to a large variety of human factors issues. Although maintenance error data and research are limited, industry initiatives involving human factors training in maintenance have become increasingly accepted as one type of maintenance error intervention. Conscientious efforts have been made in re-inventing the "team" concept for maintenance operations and in tailoring programs to fit the needs of technical operations. Nevertheless, there remains a dual challenge: to develop human factors interventions which are directly supported by reliable human error data, and to integrate human factors concepts into the procedures and practices of everyday technical tasks. In this paper, we describe several varieties of human factors interventions and focus on two specific alternatives which target problems related to procedures and practices; namely, 1) structured on-the-job training and 2) procedure re-design. We hope to demonstrate that the key to leveraging the impact of these solutions comes from focused interventions; that is, interventions which are derived from a clear understanding of specific maintenance errors, their operational context and human factors components.

  9. Preschool Cookbook of Computer Programming Topics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Morgado, Leonel; Cruz, Maria; Kahn, Ken

    2010-01-01

    A common problem in computer programming use for education in general, not simply as a technical skill, is that children and teachers find themselves constrained by what is possible through limited expertise in computer programming techniques. This is particularly noticeable at the preliterate level, where constructs tend to be limited to…

  10. Getting Limits off the Ground via Sequences

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gass, Frederick

    2006-01-01

    Most beginning calculus courses spend little or no time on a technical definition of the limit concept. In most of the remaining courses, the definition presented is the traditional epsilon-delta definition. An alternative approach that bases the definition on infinite sequences has occasionally appeared in commercial textbooks but has not yet…

  11. 30 CFR 7.98 - Technical requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... with the exhaust gas cooling efficiency test in § 7.102. A sensor shall be provided that activates the... response to signals from sensors indicating— (1) The coolant temperature limit specified in paragraph (b) of this section; (2) The exhaust gas temperature limit specified in paragraph (s)(4) of this section...

  12. 30 CFR 7.98 - Technical requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... with the exhaust gas cooling efficiency test in § 7.102. A sensor shall be provided that activates the... response to signals from sensors indicating— (1) The coolant temperature limit specified in paragraph (b) of this section; (2) The exhaust gas temperature limit specified in paragraph (s)(4) of this section...

  13. 77 FR 75766 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-21

    ... offeror's ingenuity in proposing a technical approach or solution based on limitations of the existing... solution. Another respondent expressed concern that the rule would limit offerors' ability to craft innovative solutions to Government requirements. Response: Under the SCA, the successor contractor must pay...

  14. Appendices : evaluation of variable speed limits on I-270/I-255 in St. Louis.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-10-01

    In May of 2008, MoDOT installed a Variable Speed Limit (VSL) system along the I-270/I-255 corridor in : St. Louis. This project evaluated the VSL system and its potential impacts and benefits to the : transportation users. The technical system ...

  15. Language Variation and Limits to Communication. Technical Report No. 3.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Simons, Gary Francis

    Strategies are developed for understanding how language variation limits communication. Methods of measuring communication are discussed, including an intelligibility measure used in the Solomon Islands. The analysis of data gathered using communication measurement is discussed. The result of the analysis is a determination of the number of…

  16. Exposure to infrasonic noise in agriculture.

    PubMed

    Bilski, Bartosz

    2017-03-21

    Although exposure to audible noise has been examined in many publications, the sources of infrasound in agriculture have not been fully examined and presented. The study presents the assessment of exposure to infrasound from many sources at workplaces in agriculture with examples of possible ergonomic and health consequences caused by such exposure. Workers'-perceived infrasonic noise levels were examined for 118 examples of moving and stationary agricultural machines (modern and old cab-type tractors, old tractors without cabins, small tractors, grinders, chargers, forage mixers, grain cleaners, conveyors, bark sorters and combine-harvesters). Measurements of infrasound were taken with the use of class 1 instruments (digital sound analyzer DSA-50 digital and acoustic calibrator). Noise level measurements were performed in accordance with PN-Z-01338:2010, PN-EN ISO 9612:2011 and ISO 9612:2009. The most intense sources of infrasound in the study were modern and old large size types agricultural machinery (tractors, chargers and combined-harvesters, and stationary forage mixers with ventilation). The G-weighted infrasound levels were significant and at many analyzed workplaces stayed within or exceeded the occupational exposure limit (LG eq, 8h = 102 dB) when the duration of exposure is longer than 22 min./8-hours working day (most noisy - modern cab-type tractors), 46 min./8 hours working day (most noisy - old type cab-tractors), 73 min./8 hours working day (most noisy - old tractors without cabins), 86 min./8-hours working day (most noisy - combine-harvesters) and 156 min./8 hours working day (most noisy - stationary forage mixers with ventilation). All measured machines generated infrasonic noise exceeded the value LG eq, Te = 86 dB (occupational exposure limit for workplaces requiring maintained mental concentration). A very important harmful factor is infrasound exposure for pregnant women and adolescents at workplaces in agriculture. Very valuable work can be technical limiting exposure to infrasound from new and used agricultural machinery. The technical limitation of infrasound caused by both old and new agricultural machinery can be invaluable from the work point of view.

  17. Addressing Barriers to the Development and Adoption of Rapid Diagnostic Tests in Global Health.

    PubMed

    Miller, Eric; Sikes, Hadley D

    Immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have demonstrated significant potential for use as point-of-care diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings. Most notably, RDTs for malaria have reached an unparalleled level of technological maturity and market penetration, and are now considered an important complement to standard microscopic methods of malaria diagnosis. However, the technical development of RDTs for other infectious diseases, and their uptake within the global health community as a core diagnostic modality, has been hindered by a number of extant challenges. These range from technical and biological issues, such as the need for better affinity agents and biomarkers of disease, to social, infrastructural, regulatory and economic barriers, which have all served to slow their adoption and diminish their impact. In order for the immunochromatographic RDT format to be successfully adapted to other disease targets, to see widespread distribution, and to improve clinical outcomes for patients on a global scale, these challenges must be identified and addressed, and the global health community must be engaged in championing the broader use of RDTs.

  18. Addressing Barriers to the Development and Adoption of Rapid Diagnostic Tests in Global Health

    PubMed Central

    Miller, Eric; Sikes, Hadley D.

    2015-01-01

    Immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have demonstrated significant potential for use as point-of-care diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings. Most notably, RDTs for malaria have reached an unparalleled level of technological maturity and market penetration, and are now considered an important complement to standard microscopic methods of malaria diagnosis. However, the technical development of RDTs for other infectious diseases, and their uptake within the global health community as a core diagnostic modality, has been hindered by a number of extant challenges. These range from technical and biological issues, such as the need for better affinity agents and biomarkers of disease, to social, infrastructural, regulatory and economic barriers, which have all served to slow their adoption and diminish their impact. In order for the immunochromatographic RDT format to be successfully adapted to other disease targets, to see widespread distribution, and to improve clinical outcomes for patients on a global scale, these challenges must be identified and addressed, and the global health community must be engaged in championing the broader use of RDTs. PMID:26594252

  19. Technical and scale efficiency in the delivery of child health services in Zambia: results from data envelopment analysis.

    PubMed

    Achoki, Tom; Hovels, Anke; Masiye, Felix; Lesego, Abaleng; Leufkens, Hubert; Kinfu, Yohannes

    2017-01-05

    Despite tremendous efforts to scale up key maternal and child health interventions in Zambia, progress has not been uniform across the country. This raises fundamental health system performance questions that require further investigation. Our study investigates technical and scale efficiency (SE) in the delivery of maternal and child health services in the country. The study focused on all 72 health districts of Zambia. We compiled a district-level database comprising health outcomes (measured by the probability of survival to 5 years of age), health outputs (measured by coverage of key health interventions) and a set of health system inputs, namely, financial resources and human resources for health, for the year 2010. We used data envelopment analysis to assess the performance of subnational units across Zambia with respect to technical and SE, controlling for environmental factors that are beyond the control of health system decision makers. Nationally, average technical efficiency with respect to improving child survival was 61.5% (95% CI 58.2% to 64.8%), which suggests that there is a huge inefficiency in resource use in the country and the potential to expand services without injecting additional resources into the system. Districts that were more urbanised and had a higher proportion of educated women were more technically efficient. Improved cooking methods and donor funding had no significant effect on efficiency. With the pressing need to accelerate progress in population health, decision makers must seek efficient ways to deliver services to achieve universal health coverage. Understanding the factors that drive performance and seeking ways to enhance efficiency offer a practical pathway through which low-income countries could improve population health without necessarily seeking additional resources. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  20. Effectiveness of facilitated introduction of a standard operating procedure into routine processes in the operating theatre: a controlled interrupted time series.

    PubMed

    Morgan, Lauren; New, Steve; Robertson, Eleanor; Collins, Gary; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Catchpole, Ken; Pickering, Sharon P; Hadi, Mohammed; Griffin, Damian; McCulloch, Peter

    2015-02-01

    Standard operating procedures (SOPs) should improve safety in the operating theatre, but controlled studies evaluating the effect of staff-led implementation are needed. In a controlled interrupted time series, we evaluated three team process measures (compliance with WHO surgical safety checklist, non-technical skills and technical performance) and three clinical outcome measures (length of hospital stay, complications and readmissions) before and after a 3-month staff-led development of SOPs. Process measures were evaluated by direct observation, using Oxford Non-Technical Skills II for non-technical skills and the 'glitch count' for technical performance. All staff in two orthopaedic operating theatres were trained in the principles of SOPs and then assisted to develop standardised procedures. Staff in a control operating theatre underwent the same observations but received no training. The change in difference between active and control groups was compared before and after the intervention using repeated measures analysis of variance. We observed 50 operations before and 55 after the intervention and analysed clinical data on 1022 and 861 operations, respectively. The staff chose to structure their efforts around revising the 'whiteboard' which documented and prompted tasks, rather than directly addressing specific task problems. Although staff preferred and sustained the new system, we found no significant differences in process or outcome measures before/after intervention in the active versus the control group. There was a secular trend towards worse outcomes in the postintervention period, seen in both active and control theatres. SOPs when developed and introduced by frontline staff do not necessarily improve operative processes or outcomes. The inherent tension in improvement work between giving staff ownership of improvement and maintaining control of direction needs to be managed, to ensure staff are engaged but invest energy in appropriate change. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  1. Integration of role-playing into technical skills training: a randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Nikendei, C; Kraus, B; Schrauth, M; Weyrich, P; Zipfel, S; Herzog, W; Jünger, J

    2007-11-01

    Recently, efforts have been undertaken to enhance the face validity of technical skills training by introducing role-plays and standardised patients. Since little is known about the effects of role-playing with respect to the realism of a training situation and students' objective performance, we performed a randomized controlled trial. 36 medical students participated in videotaped small group skills-lab sessions on the topics of Doppler sonography and gastric tube insertion. One half of the students participated in role-plays and the other half practised without role-playing. Realism of the training situation was analysed by means of post-intervention self-selected student survey evaluations. Technical performance and patient-physician communication were assessed by independent ratings of the videotaped sessions. The physician's role was regarded to be significantly more realistic when performing role-plays. Assessment of videotaped sessions showed that practising technical skills by performing role-plays resulted in significantly better patient-physician communication whereas students' technical performance did not differ between groups. Introducing role-plays enhances the realism of technical skills training and leads to better patient-physician communication. Students do not seem to be overstrained by practising clinical technical skills using role-plays. We conclude that role-playing is a valuable method in practising technical skills.

  2. Final report : for the period of December 1999 through November 30, 2000 : Florida Transit Training Program (1999/2000) : Florida Technical Assistance Program (1999/2000)

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2000-01-01

    The following progress report is intended to highlight the significant activities of the Florida Transit Training Program and Florida Technical Assistant Program. The following progress report is intended to highlight the significant activities of th...

  3. Effectiveness of Web-Based Courses on Technical Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lam, Monica

    2009-01-01

    The author investigated the effectiveness of Web-based courses on technical learning. The regression results show that the delivery format (Web-based or traditional classroom courses) has no significant effect on student performance. However, although gender is a significant predictor in traditional classroom courses, its effect disappears in…

  4. 76 FR 2853 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware; Infrastructure State...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-18

    ... technical analysis submitted for parallel-processing by DNREC on December 9, 2010, to address significant... technical analysis submitted by DNREC for parallel-processing on December 9, 2010, to satisfy the... consists of a technical analysis that provides detailed support for Delaware's position that it has...

  5. Web-based technical assistance and training to promote community tobacco control policy change.

    PubMed

    Young, Walter F; Montgomery, Debbie; Nycum, Colleen; Burns-Martin, Lavon; Buller, David B

    2006-01-01

    In 1998 the tobacco industry was released of claims that provided monetary relief for states. A significant expansion of tobacco control activity in many states created a need to develop local capacity. Technical assistance and training for new and experienced staff became a significant challenge for tobacco control leadership. In Colorado, this challenge was addressed in part through the development of a technical assistance and training Web site designed for local tobacco control staff and coalition members. Researchers, technical Web site development specialists, state health agency, and state tobacco control coalition staff collaborated to develop, promote, and test the efficacy of this Web site. The work group embodied a range of skills including tobacco control, Web site technical development, marketing, training, and project management. Persistent marketing, updating of Web site content, and institutionalizing it as a principal source of information and training were key to use by community coalition members.

  6. The effect of teamwork training on team performance and clinical outcome in elective orthopaedic surgery: a controlled interrupted time series study.

    PubMed

    Morgan, Lauren; Hadi, Mohammed; Pickering, Sharon; Robertson, Eleanor; Griffin, Damian; Collins, Gary; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Catchpole, Ken; McCulloch, Peter; New, Steve

    2015-04-20

    To evaluate the effectiveness of aviation-style teamwork training in improving operating theatre team performance and clinical outcomes. 3 operating theatres in a UK district general hospital, 1 acting as a control group and the other 2 as the intervention group. 72 operations (37 intervention, 35 control) were observed in full by 2 trained observers during two 3-month observation periods, before and after the intervention period. A 1-day teamwork training course for all staff, followed by 6 weeks of weekly in-service coaching to embed learning. We measured team non-technical skills using Oxford NOTECHS II, (evaluating the whole team and the surgical, anaesthetic and nursing subteams, and evaluated technical performance using the Glitch count. We evaluated compliance with the WHO checklist by recording whether time-out (T/O) and sign-out (S/O) were attempted, and whether T/O was fully complied with. We recorded complications, re-admissions and duration of hospital stay using hospital administrative data. We compared the before-after change in the intervention and control groups using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression modelling. Mean NOTECHS II score increased significantly from 71.6 to 75.4 in the active group but remained static in the control group (p=0.047). Among staff subgroups, the nursing score increased significantly (p=0.006), but the anaesthetic and surgical scores did not. The attempt rate for WHO T/O procedures increased significantly in both active and control groups, but full compliance with T/O improved only in the active group (p=0.003). Mean glitch rate was unchanged in the control group but increased significantly (7.2-10.2/h, p=0.002) in the active group. Teamwork training was associated with improved non-technical skills in theatre teams but also with a rise in operative glitches. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  7. Ames Research Center publications: A continuing bibliography, 1980

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1981-01-01

    This bibliography lists formal NASA publications, journal articles, books, chapters of books, patents, contractor reports, and computer programs that were issued by Ames Research Center and indexed by Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, Limited Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, International Aerospace Abstracts, and Computer Program Abstracts in 1980. Citations are arranged by directorate, type of publication, and NASA accession numbers. Subject, personal author, corporate source, contract number, and report/accession number indexes are provided.

  8. Management of pancreatic collections with a novel endoscopically placed fully covered self-expandable metal stent: a national experience (with videos).

    PubMed

    Chandran, Sujievvan; Efthymiou, Marios; Kaffes, Arthur; Chen, John Wei; Kwan, Vu; Murray, Michael; Williams, David; Nguyen, Nam Quoc; Tam, William; Welch, Christine; Chong, Andre; Gupta, Saurabh; Devereaux, Ben; Tagkalidis, Peter; Parker, Frank; Vaughan, Rhys

    2015-01-01

    Recent medical literature on novel lumen-apposing stents for the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) is limited by small numbers, solo operators, and single-center experience. To evaluate a recently developed lumen-apposing, fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) in the management of PFCs. Retrospective case series. Thirteen tertiary and private health care centers across Australia. Forty-seven patients (median age 51 years) who underwent endoscopic management of PFCs. Insertion of FCSEMS after PFC puncture under EUS guidance. A subgroup of 9 patients underwent direct endoscopic necrosectomy. Technical and clinical success rate, adverse event rate. The technical success rate was 53 of 54 patients (98.1%), and the initial clinical success rate was 36 of 47 (76.6%), which was sustained for more than 6 months in 34 of 36 (94.4%). Early adverse events included 4 cases (7.4%) of stent migration during direct endoscopic necrosectomy, 4 cases (7.4%) of sepsis, 1 case (1.9%) of bleeding, and 1 case (1.9%) of stent migration into the fistula tract. Late adverse events were 6 (11.1%) spontaneous stent migrations, 3 (5.6%) recurrent stent occlusions, 3 (5.6%) tissue ingrowth/overgrowth, and 2 (3.7%) bleeding into PFC. The majority of stents inserted (48 of 54, 88.9%) and removed (31 of 35, 88.6%) in our study were described by the operator as superior to pigtail stents with regard to ease of use. Retrospective study. Although FCSEMSs are technically easier to insert and remove compared with traditional pigtail stents, there are significant limitations to the widespread use of FCSEMSs in the management of PFCs. These include cost, adverse events, and lower-than-expected resolution rates. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Technical- and environmental-efficiency analysis of irrigated cotton-cropping systems in Punjab, Pakistan using data envelopment analysis.

    PubMed

    Ullah, Asmat; Perret, Sylvain R

    2014-08-01

    Cotton cropping in Pakistan uses substantial quantities of resources and adversely affects the environment with pollutants from the inputs, particularly pesticides. A question remains regarding to what extent the reduction of such environmental impact is possible without compromising the farmers' income. This paper investigates the environmental, technical, and economic performances of selected irrigated cotton-cropping systems in Punjab to quantify the sustainability of cotton farming and reveal options for improvement. Using mostly primary data, our study quantifies the technical, cost, and environmental efficiencies of different farm sizes. A set of indicators has been computed to reflect these three domains of efficiency using the data envelopment analysis technique. The results indicate that farmers are broadly environmentally inefficient; which primarily results from poor technical inefficiency. Based on an improved input mix, the average potential environmental impact reduction for small, medium, and large farms is 9, 13, and 11 %, respectively, without compromising the economic return. Moreover, the differences in technical, cost, and environmental efficiencies between small and medium and small and large farm sizes were statistically significant. The second-stage regression analysis identifies that the entire farm size significantly affects the efficiencies, whereas exposure to extension and training has positive effects, and the sowing methods significantly affect the technical and environmental efficiencies. Paradoxically, the formal education level is determined to affect the efficiencies negatively. This paper discusses policy interventions that can improve the technical efficiency to ultimately increase the environmental efficiency and reduce the farmers' operating costs.

  10. Training experiences immediately after medical school.

    PubMed

    Roche, A M; Sanson-Fisher, R W; Cockburn, J

    1997-01-01

    Trainees in all teaching hospitals in New South Wales were surveyed using a self-completion, postal questionnaire to assess perceptions of the quality and extent of training received for interactional and technical skills. The response rate was 67.1%. Mean age was 25.4 years and 38.8% were female. Overall, training was found to be generally poor in terms of time and educational strategies used. Interactional skills were found to receive lower levels of training than technical skills both prior to and during the intern year with significantly fewer (P < 0.000) educational strategies reported for training received in interactional skills than for technical skills. Trainees' perceptions of the adequacy of training was significantly more negative for interactional than technical skills (P < 0.001). Assessment of competence was also significantly lower for interactional than technical skills (P < 0.001). On average, fewer than one in three trainees considered themselves to be competent in interactional skills compared to two-thirds who reported themselves as competent for technical skills. The findings of this study highlight the need for improved efforts with regard to both the quality and quantity of training provided during the intern year. Considerable scope exists for improved educational experiences for both interactional and technical skill areas, but particularly for interactional skills. Overall, greater use of a range of basic educational strategies such as the provision of 'observation' and 'critical feedback' is indicated. Efforts also need to be directed toward the training of clinical educators to optimize the potential of the preregistration period.

  11. Technical Assistance and Changes in Nutrition and Physical Activity Practices in the National Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project, 2015-2016.

    PubMed

    Chiappone, Alethea; Smith, Teresa M; Estabrooks, Paul A; Rasmussen, Cristy Geno; Blaser, Casey; Yaroch, Amy L

    2018-04-26

    The National Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project (ECELC) aims to improve best practices in early care and education (ECE) programs in topic areas of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment in Child Care (NAP SACC). Technical assistance is a component of the ECELC, yet its effect on outcomes is unclear. Beyond dose and duration of technical assistance, limited research exists on characteristics of technical assistance that contribute to outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify and describe technical assistance characteristics and explore associations with NAP SACC outcomes. We collected data from 10 collaboratives comprising 84 ECE programs in 2 states in 2015-2016. The objective of technical assistance was to support programs in improving best practices. Technical assistance was provided to programs via on-site, telephone, or email and was tailored to program needs. We used a mixed-methods design to examine associations between technical assistance and NAP SACC outcomes. We used multiple regression analysis to assess quantitative data and qualitative comparative analysis to determine necessary and sufficient technical assistance conditions supporting NAP SACC outcomes. We also conducted a document review to describe technical assistance that referred conditions identified by the qualitative comparative analysis. Regression analyses detected an inverse relationship between changes in NAP SACC scores and hours of technical assistance. No clear pattern emerged in the qualitative comparative analysis, leaving no necessary and sufficient conditions. However, the qualitative comparative analysis identified feedback as a potentially important component of technical assistance, whereas resource sharing and frequent email were characteristics that seemed to reduce the likelihood of improved outcomes. Email and resource sharing were considered primarily general information rather than tailored technical assistance. Technical assistance may be used in programs and made adaptable to program needs. The inclusion and evaluation of technical assistance, especially tailored approaches, is warranted for environmental interventions, including ECE settings.

  12. The lived experiences of operating theatre scrub nurses learning technical scrub skills 'I'm doing this right, aren't I? Am I doing this right?'

    PubMed

    Radford, Eleanor J; Fotis, Theo

    2018-01-01

    Operating theatre scrub nurses (OTSNs) are not required to have undertaken a secondary or specialist post-registration theatre qualification to work in the operating theatre (OT) setting in the UK. From the systematic review there is only very limited literature or research in how technical scrub skills are acquired. This study explores the lived experiences of OTSNs learning technical scrub skills. The study employed the qualitative methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data was collected from six participating OTSNs using semi-structured interviews. Four superordinate themes emerged: How technical scrub skills are established, Gatekeepers, How the learner feels whilst learning and, Reflections of the experienced scrub nurse. The study found that the experiences of OTSNs learning technical scrub skills are varied and a variety of teaching and learning methods are utilised. These experiences were influenced by the team, mentor and surgeon within the OT environment. Lived experiences were also influenced by organisational structure and service pressures within the NHS.

  13. Technical review of the da Vinci surgical telemanipulator.

    PubMed

    Freschi, C; Ferrari, V; Melfi, F; Ferrari, M; Mosca, F; Cuschieri, A

    2013-12-01

    The da Vinci robotic surgical telemanipulator has been utilized in several surgical specialties for varied procedures, and the users' experiences have been widely published. To date, no detailed system technical analyses have been performed. A detailed review was performed of all publications and patents about the technical aspects of the da Vinci robotic system. Published technical literature on the da Vinci system highlight strengths and weaknesses of the robot design. While the system facilitates complex surgical operations and has a low malfunction rate, the lack of haptic (especially tactile) feedback and collisions between the robotic arms remain the major limitations of the system. Accurate, preplanned positioning of access ports is essential. Knowledge of the technical aspects of the da Vinci robot is important for optimal use. We confirmed the excellent system functionality and ease of use for surgeons without an engineering background. Research and development of the surgical robot has been predominant in the literature. Future trends address robot miniaturization and intelligent control design. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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

    VANNONI, MICHAEL G.; BIRINGER, KENT L.; TROST, LAWRENCE C.

    Missiles are attractive weapon systems because of their flexibility, survivability, and relatively low cost. Consequently, many nations are seeking to build missile forces resulting in regional arms races. Missile forces can be both stabilizing (e.g., providing a survivable force for deterrence) and destabilizing (e.g., creating strategic asymmetries). Efforts to control missile proliferation must account for these effects. A number of strategies to control the destabilizing effects of missiles were developed during the Cold War. Some of these strategies are applicable to regional missile control but new approaches, tailored to regional geographic and security conditions, are needed. Regional missile nonproliferation canmore » be pursued in a variety of ways: Reducing the demand for missiles by decreasing the perception of national threats; Restricting the export of missiles and associated equipment by supplier countries; Restricting information describing missile technology; Limiting missile development activities such as flight or engine tests; Restricting the operational deployment of existing missile forces; and Reducing existing missile forces by number and/or type. Even when development is complete, limits on deployment within range of potential targets or limits on operational readiness can help stabilize potential missile confrontations. Implementing these strategies often involves the collection and exchange of information about activities related to missile development or deployment. Monitoring is the process of collecting information used to for subsequent verification of commitments. A systematic approach to implementing verification is presented that identifies areas where monitoring could support missile nonproliferation agreements. The paper presents both non-technical and technical techniques for monitoring. Examples of non-technical techniques are declarations about planned test launches or on-site inspections. Examples of technical monitoring include remote monitoring (i.e., a sensor that is physically present at a facility) and remote sensing (i.e., a sensor that records activity without being physically present at a facility).« less

  15. Housing, health and master planning: rules of engagement.

    PubMed

    Harris, P; Haigh, F; Thornell, M; Molloy, L; Sainsbury, P

    2014-04-01

    Knowledge about health focussed policy collaboration to date has been either tactical or technical. This article focusses on both technical and tactical issues to describe the experience of cross-sectoral collaboration between health and housing stakeholders across the life of a housing master plan, including but not limited to a health impact assessment (HIA). A single explanatory case study of collaboration on a master plan to regenerate a deprived housing estate in Western Sydney was developed to explain why and how the collaboration worked or did not work. Data collection included stakeholder interviews, document review, and reflections by the health team. Following a realist approach, data was analysed against established public policy theory dimensions. Tactically we did not know what we were doing. Despite our technical knowledge and skills with health focussed processes, particularly HIA, we failed to appreciate complexities inherent in master planning. This limited our ability to provide information at the right points. Eventually however the HIA did provide substantive connections between the master plan and health. We use our analysis to develop technical and tactical rules of engagement for future cross-sectoral collaboration. This case study from the field provides insight for future health focussed policy collaboration. We demonstrate the technical and tactical requirements for future intersectoral policy and planning collaborations, including HIAs, with the housing sector on master planning. The experience also suggested how HIAs can be conducted flexibly alongside policy development rather than at a specific point after a policy is drafted. Copyright © 2014 The Royal Society for Public Health. All rights reserved.

  16. NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 25: The impact of language and culture on technical communication in Japan

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kohl, John R.; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Pinelli, Thomas E.; Keene, Michael L.; Kennedy, John M.

    1993-01-01

    One of the most significant developments in the field of technical communication during the 1980's and 1990's has been a growing interest in international technical communication, including technical communication in Japan. This article provides insights into aspects of the Japanese language and culture that affect Japanese technical communication practices. These insights are then used to interpret and report the results of a survey of Japanese aerospace engineers and scientists concerning the kinds of communication products they produce, the kinds they use, and the specific recommendation they would offer to designers of academic programs in technical communication.

  17. NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. XXV - The impact of language and culture on technical communication in Japan

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kohl, John R.; Barclay, Rebecca O.; Pinelli, Thomas E.; Keene, Michael L.; Kennedy, John M.

    1993-01-01

    One of the most significant developments in the field of technical communication during the 1980s and 1990s has been a growing interest in international technical communication, including technical communication in Japan. This article provides insights into aspects of the Japanese language and culture that affect Japanese technical communication practices. The authors then use these insights to interpret and report the results of a survey of Japanese aerospace engineers and scientists concerning the kinds of communication products they produce, the kinds they use, and the specific recommendations they would offer to designers of academic programs in technical communication.

  18. PETROCLEAN™

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent is suitable for use in oil cleanups on hard surfaces with limited permeability such as concrete, permeable surfaces such as sand, and fresh or salt water.

  19. 47 CFR 90.205 - Power and antenna height limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Power and antenna height limits. 90.205 Section... SERVICES PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES General Technical Standards § 90.205 Power and antenna height.... (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT...

  20. 47 CFR 90.205 - Power and antenna height limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Power and antenna height limits. 90.205 Section... SERVICES PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES General Technical Standards § 90.205 Power and antenna height.... (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT...

  1. 47 CFR 90.205 - Power and antenna height limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Power and antenna height limits. 90.205 Section... SERVICES PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES General Technical Standards § 90.205 Power and antenna height.... (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT...

  2. 47 CFR 90.205 - Power and antenna height limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Power and antenna height limits. 90.205 Section... SERVICES PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES General Technical Standards § 90.205 Power and antenna height.... (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT...

  3. 47 CFR 90.205 - Power and antenna height limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 47 Telecommunication 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Power and antenna height limits. 90.205 Section... SERVICES PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES General Technical Standards § 90.205 Power and antenna height.... (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT...

  4. 77 FR 26245 - Household Water Well System Grant Program Announcement of Application Deadlines and Funding

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-03

    ... facilities to Rural Americans in greatest need. Central water systems may not be the only or best solution to... Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency. '' For information on limited English proficiency... that require solutions. Demonstrate the well owners' need for financial and technical assistance...

  5. Aviation Weather Observations for Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (SAWRS) and Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS). Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 9.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.

    This handbook provides instructions for observing, identifying, and recording aviation weather at Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS) and Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (SAWRS). Official technical definitions, meteorological and administrative procedures are outlined. Although this publication is intended for use…

  6. Enhancing Teaching and Learning Wi-Fi Networking Using Limited Resources to Undergraduates

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sarkar, Nurul I.

    2013-01-01

    Motivating students to learn Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) wireless networking to undergraduate students is often difficult because many students find the subject rather technical and abstract when presented in traditional lecture format. This paper focuses on the teaching and learning aspects of Wi-Fi networking using limited hardware resources. It…

  7. Necessity and Contention of Education on Engineer Ethics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takeda, Kunihiko; Ishikawa, Tomoyuki

    Using examples of major accidents caused by technical technology are effective when teaching engineering ethics in undergraduate courses because almost all students have had no actual experience in technical problems or accidents in their lives. The typical accidents that have been selected in the past for this purpose by lecturers are limited in Japanese colleges or in textbooks. Some examples are the Minamata disease, the Kanemi oil PCB contamination, the space shuttle “Challenger” accident, the Ford “Pinto” design problem, Mitsubishi Motor's scandal and the unclear power plant accident at Tokai. However, it is difficult to decide whether or not these typical accidents are suitable for the teaching of engineering ethics. The responsibility of an engineer in Japan is strictly limited because he has no authority to finally decide upon the problem of ethics even if the item is purely technical and he is the best person to make the decision. The reason is discussed focusing on 1) the concept of the “profession” of medical doctors and engineers and 2) the relationships between the treatment, position, honor and responsibility of engineers in Japanese society.

  8. Foodborne disease surveillance in the Pacific: perspectives for the future.

    PubMed

    Chiller, Tom; Yan, Hannah; Tu'uau-Potoi, Nuku'alofa; O'Leary, Michael; Garin, Benoit; Singh, Marinara; Magno, Theodora; Dunn, John; Hazzard, Tony; Pryor, Jan

    2005-09-01

    Foodborne diseases are an important cause of gastrointestinal illness in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). They are known to have significant health and economic consequences, however, reliable data on the various causes and the foodborne sources associated with specific disease are limited. This lack of data limits our understanding about foodborne diseases in the PICTs, their burden and impact on public health, and possible ways to improve food safety. There is an urgent need for better surveillance data. Improving country surveillance systems and the capacity for outbreak investigations will help address these limitations. This paper is the outcome of individual research and a four-day meeting of technical experts convened to develop practical options that PICTs might consider to enhance foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance systems. It is anticipated that the content and recommendations outlined herein will assist in establishing a regional strategy for Pacific FBD surveillance. It gives a framework on how to develop and enhance FBD surveillance for both the regional and national levels and provides examples that countries in the Pacific may consider to enhance their foodborne disease surveillance systems.

  9. Comparison of Technical and Clinical Outcome of Transjugular Portosystemic Shunt Placement Between a Bare Metal Stent and a PTFE-Stentgraft Device.

    PubMed

    Lauermann, J; Potthoff, A; Mc Cavert, M; Marquardt, S; Vaske, B; Rosenthal, H; von Hahn, T; Wacker, F; Meyer, B C; Rodt, Thomas

    2016-04-01

    To analyse technical and clinical success of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with portal hypertension and compare a stent and a stentgraft with regard to clinical and technical outcome and associated costs. 170 patients (56 ± 12 years, 32.9% females) treated with TIPS due to portal hypertension were reviewed. 80 patients received a stent (group 1) and 83 a stentgraft (group 2), and seven interventions were unsuccessful. Technical data, periprocedural imaging, follow-up ultrasound and clinical data were analysed with focus on technical success, patency, clinical outcome and group differences. Cost analysis was performed. Portal hypertension was mainly caused by ethyltoxic liver cirrhosis with ascites as dominant symptom (80%). Technical success was 93.5% with mean portosystemic gradient decrease from 16.1 ± 4.8 to 5.1 ± 2.1 mmHg. No significant differences in technical success and portosystemic gradient decrease between the groups were observed. Kaplan-Meier analysis yielded significant differences in primary patency after 14 days, 6 months and 2 years in favour of the stentgraft. Both groups showed good clinical results without significant difference in 1-year survival and hepatic encephalopathy rate. Costs to establish TIPS and to manage 2-year follow-up with constant patency and clinical success were 8876 € (group 1) and 9394 € (group 2). TIPS is a safe and effective procedure to manage portal hypertension. Stent and stentgraft enabled good technical and clinical results with a low complication rate. Primary patency rates are clearly in favour of the stentgraft, whereas the stent was more cost effective with similar clinical results in both groups.

  10. Comparison of Technical and Clinical Outcome of Transjugular Portosystemic Shunt Placement Between a Bare Metal Stent and a PTFE-Stentgraft Device

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

    Lauermann, J., E-mail: jostlauermann@gmail.com; Potthoff, A.; Mc Cavert, M.

    PurposeTo analyse technical and clinical success of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with portal hypertension and compare a stent and a stentgraft with regard to clinical and technical outcome and associated costs.Materials and Methods170 patients (56 ± 12 years, 32.9 % females) treated with TIPS due to portal hypertension were reviewed. 80 patients received a stent (group 1) and 83 a stentgraft (group 2), and seven interventions were unsuccessful. Technical data, periprocedural imaging, follow-up ultrasound and clinical data were analysed with focus on technical success, patency, clinical outcome and group differences. Cost analysis was performed.ResultsPortal hypertension was mainly caused by ethyltoxicmore » liver cirrhosis with ascites as dominant symptom (80 %). Technical success was 93.5 % with mean portosystemic gradient decrease from 16.1 ± 4.8 to 5.1 ± 2.1 mmHg. No significant differences in technical success and portosystemic gradient decrease between the groups were observed. Kaplan–Meier analysis yielded significant differences in primary patency after 14 days, 6 months and 2 years in favour of the stentgraft. Both groups showed good clinical results without significant difference in 1-year survival and hepatic encephalopathy rate. Costs to establish TIPS and to manage 2-year follow-up with constant patency and clinical success were 8876 € (group 1) and 9394 € (group 2).ConclusionTIPS is a safe and effective procedure to manage portal hypertension. Stent and stentgraft enabled good technical and clinical results with a low complication rate. Primary patency rates are clearly in favour of the stentgraft, whereas the stent was more cost effective with similar clinical results in both groups.« less

  11. A New Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein (mac25) and its Role in Breast Cancer and Cell Growth Control

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-08-01

    UNCLASSIFIED AD NUMBER ADB264626 NEW LIMITATION CHANGE TO Approved for public release, distribution unlimited FROM Distribution authorized to U.S...THAT MAY RELATE TO THEM. LIMITED RIGHTS LEGEND Award Number: DAMD17-96-1-6247 Organization: University of Washington Location of Limited Rights Data...Pages): Those portions of the technical data contained in this report marked as limited rights data shall not, without the written permission of the

  12. Introducing Heuristics of Cultural Dimensions into the Service-Level Technical Communication Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schafer, Robert

    2009-01-01

    A significant problem for practitioners of technical communication is to gain the skills to compete in a global, multicultural work environment. Instructors of technical communication can provide future practitioners with the tools to compete and excel in this global environment by introducing heuristics of cultural dimensions into the…

  13. Now Is the Time to Advocate for CTE

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Baxter, Jamie

    2011-01-01

    This year has been a very frustrating year for career and technical education (CTE) advocates across the country. They have experienced significant funding reductions for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins), not to mention the cuts in state and local CTE funding. The Association for Career and Technical Education…

  14. Similarities and Differences between Public and Proprietary Postsecondary 2-Year Technical Institutions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Miller, Debra K.; Mupinga, Davison M.

    2006-01-01

    Private and public 2-year technical colleges survive side-by-side within the same communities. However, little is known about their characteristics, similarities and differences. The question is whether the 2-year technical institutions are duplicating each other, or are they significantly different in their missions, admission requirements,…

  15. Enhancing Non-Technical Skills by a Multidisciplinary Engineering Summer School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Larsen, Peter Gorm; Kristiansen, Erik Lasse; Bennedsen, Jens; Bjerge, Kim

    2017-01-01

    In general engineering studies focus on the technical skills in their own discipline. However, in their subsequent industrial careers, a significant portion of their time needs to be devoted to non-technical skills. In addition, in an increasingly globalised world collaboration in teams across cultures and disciplines is paramount to the creation…

  16. Analysis of the U.S. and Soviet Crisis Management Experiences. Technical Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-01-01

    past and present performance. The current limitations on the use of these techniques are in large part technical -- there is no SPSS for the AT community...STOESSINGER, J.G. (1976) Henry Kissinger: The Anguish of Power. New York: Norton. 4-6 " Presidential books and memoirs, " State Department bulletins and...Policy and Third World Nations. Arlington, VA: Center for Naval Analyses, Professional Paper 155. STOESSINGER, J.G. (1976) Henry Kissinger: The Anguish

  17. Results from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Volume I: Summary of National Findings [and] Volume II: Technical Appendices and Selected Data Tables [and] Volume III: Detailed Tables.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS), Rockville, MD. Office of Applied Studies.

    This document presents the technical appendices and selected data tables from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Included are a description of the survey; statistical methods and limitations of the data; effects of changes in survey protocol on trend measurement; key definitions for the 1999-2001 survey years; and other sources of…

  18. PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES, REPLY LEGAL BRIEF, AND TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC DATA, BEFORE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE FACILITIES BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, DOCKET 16495.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ford Foundation, New York, NY.

    THE THREE PARTS OF THIS FORD FUNDATION SUBMISSION PROVIDE INFORMATION ON BROAD ISSUES OF ORGANIZATION AND PUBLIC POLICY AS THEY RELATE TO SATELLITE MODEL SYSTEMS BNS-3 AND BNS-4, ON LEGAL PROBLEMS OF AUTHORIZATION AND CONTROL, AND ON THE TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS, COSTS, AND BROADCAST SPECTRUM LIMITATIONS OF EACH SYSTEM. VOLUME I OUTLINES…

  19. Applications and limitations of radiomics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yip, Stephen S. F.; Aerts, Hugo J. W. L.

    2016-07-01

    Radiomics is an emerging field in quantitative imaging that uses advanced imaging features to objectively and quantitatively describe tumour phenotypes. Radiomic features have recently drawn considerable interest due to its potential predictive power for treatment outcomes and cancer genetics, which may have important applications in personalized medicine. In this technical review, we describe applications and challenges of the radiomic field. We will review radiomic application areas and technical issues, as well as proper practices for the designs of radiomic studies.

  20. A Survey of Laser Lightning Rod Techniques

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-08-21

    impossibility of the LLR concept. 4 REFERENCES 1. Hagen, 1969: "Diffraction-limited high irradiance Nd- glass laser system, J. Appl. Phys., 40, 511-516. 2. Greig...study", Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory,, Technical Report AFFDL-TR-78-60. AD A063 847. 8. Schubert, C.N., Jr. and J.R. Lippert , 1979...pp. 132-135. 9. Lippert , J.R.,1978: "Laser-Induced Lightning Concept Exper- iment", Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Technical Report AFFDL-TR

  1. Technical opportunities to reduce global anthropogenic emissions of nitrous oxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Winiwarter, Wilfried; Höglund-Isaksson, Lena; Klimont, Zbigniew; Schöpp, Wolfgang; Amann, Markus

    2018-01-01

    We describe a consistent framework developed to quantify current and future anthropogenic emissions of nitrous oxide and the available technical abatement options by source sector for 172 regions globally. About 65% of the current emissions derive from agricultural soils, 8% from waste, and 4% from the chemical industry. Low-cost abatement options are available in industry, wastewater, and agriculture, where they are limited to large industrial farms. We estimate that by 2030, emissions can be reduced by about 6% ±2% applying abatement options at a cost lower than 10 €/t CO2-eq. The largest abatement potential at higher marginal costs is available from agricultural soils, employing precision fertilizer application technology as well as chemical treatment of fertilizers to suppress conversion processes in soil (nitrification inhibitors). At marginal costs of up to 100 €/t CO2-eq, about 18% ±6% of baseline emissions can be removed and when considering all available options, the global abatement potential increases to about 26% ±9%. Due to expected future increase in activities driving nitrous oxide emissions, the limited technical abatement potential available means that even at full implementation of reduction measures by 2030, global emissions can be at most stabilized at the pre-2010 level. In order to achieve deeper reductions in emissions, considerable technological development will be required as well as non-technical options like adjusting human diets towards moderate animal protein consumption.

  2. Pencilbeam irradiation technique for whole brain radiotherapy: technical and biological challenges in a small animal model.

    PubMed

    Schültke, Elisabeth; Trippel, Michael; Bräuer-Krisch, Elke; Renier, Michel; Bartzsch, Stefan; Requardt, Herwig; Döbrössy, Máté D; Nikkhah, Guido

    2013-01-01

    We have conducted the first in-vivo experiments in pencilbeam irradiation, a new synchrotron radiation technique based on the principle of microbeam irradiation, a concept of spatially fractionated high-dose irradiation. In an animal model of adult C57 BL/6J mice we have determined technical and physiological limitations with the present technical setup of the technique. Fifty-eight animals were distributed in eleven experimental groups, ten groups receiving whole brain radiotherapy with arrays of 50 µm wide beams. We have tested peak doses ranging between 172 Gy and 2,298 Gy at 3 mm depth. Animals in five groups received whole brain radiotherapy with a center-to-center (ctc) distance of 200 µm and a peak-to-valley ratio (PVDR) of ∼ 100, in the other five groups the ctc was 400 µm (PVDR ∼ 400). Motor and memory abilities were assessed during a six months observation period following irradiation. The lower dose limit, determined by the technical equipment, was at 172 Gy. The LD50 was about 1,164 Gy for a ctc of 200 µm and higher than 2,298 Gy for a ctc of 400 µm. Age-dependent loss in motor and memory performance was seen in all groups. Better overall performance (close to that of healthy controls) was seen in the groups irradiated with a ctc of 400 µm.

  3. Technical Quality of Complete Dentures: Influence on Masticatory Efficiency and Quality of Life.

    PubMed

    Tôrres, Ana Clara Soares Paiva; Maciel, Amanda de Queiroz; de Farias, Danielle Bezerra; de Medeiros, Annie Karoline Bezerra; Vieira, Flávia Patrícia Tavares Veras; Carreiro, Adriana da Fonte Porto

    2017-11-09

    To evaluate the effect of the technical quality of conventional complete dentures (CD) on masticatory efficiency and quality of life (QoL) of denture wearers during a 1-year follow-up. A prospective clinical trial with 32 edentulous patients (mean age of 60.2 years) wearing mandibular and maxillary dentures was conducted. All patients were evaluated wearing their preexisting dentures and after 3, 6, and 12 months postinsertion of new dentures. A reproducible method for objective evaluation of the technical quality of CDs was employed. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated by the colorimetric method using beads as artificial testing food. The oral health impact on patient QoL was measured using the OHIP-EDENT (Oral Health Impact Profile in Edentulous Adults) questionnaire. The nonparametric Wilcoxon test was applied to reveal any differences in technical quality between the preexisting and new dentures. The Friedman test was used to detect differences in masticatory efficiency and oral health impact on QoL. Spearman's correlation was applied to reveal correlation between the variables. Comparing preexisting and new dentures, significant improvement was found in technical quality between the dentures (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in masticatory efficiency. A significant decrease was found in the total OHIP-EDENT scores after denture replacement. A positive correlation was found between technical quality and OHIP in the new denture wearers (p = 0.011). According to the results of this study, denture quality significantly improved patients' oral health-related QoL; however, insertion of new dentures did not influence masticatory efficiency. © 2017 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

  4. Intra-operative disruptions, surgeon's mental workload, and technical performance in a full-scale simulated procedure.

    PubMed

    Weigl, Matthias; Stefan, Philipp; Abhari, Kamyar; Wucherer, Patrick; Fallavollita, Pascal; Lazarovici, Marc; Weidert, Simon; Euler, Ekkehard; Catchpole, Ken

    2016-02-01

    Surgical flow disruptions occur frequently and jeopardize perioperative care and surgical performance. So far, insights into subjective and cognitive implications of intra-operative disruptions for surgeons and inherent consequences for performance are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the effect of surgical flow disruption on surgeon's intra-operative workload and technical performance. In a full-scale OR simulation, 19 surgeons were randomly allocated to either of the two disruption scenarios (telephone call vs. patient discomfort). Using a mixed virtual reality simulator with a computerized, high-fidelity mannequin, all surgeons were trained in performing a vertebroplasty procedure and subsequently performed such a procedure under experimental conditions. Standardized measures on subjective workload and technical performance (trocar positioning deviation from expert-defined standard, number, and duration of X-ray acquisitions) were collected. Intra-operative workload during simulated disruption scenarios was significantly higher compared to training sessions (p < .01). Surgeons in the telephone call scenario experienced significantly more distraction compared to their colleagues in the patient discomfort scenario (p < .05). However, workload tended to be increased in surgeons who coped with distractions due to patient discomfort. Technical performance was not significantly different between both disruption scenarios. We found a significant association between surgeons' intra-operative workload and technical performance such that surgeons with increased mental workload tended to perform worse (β = .55, p = .04). Surgical flow disruptions affect surgeons' intra-operative workload. Increased mental workload was associated with inferior technical performance. Our simulation-based findings emphasize the need to establish smooth surgical flow which is characterized by a low level of process deviations and disruptions.

  5. Analysis of Physiological, Technical, and Tactical Analysis during a Friendly Football Match of Elite U19.

    PubMed

    Ortega, Juan Ignacio; Evangelio, Carlos; Clemente, Filipe Manuel; Martins, Fernando Manuel Lourenço; González-Víllora, Sixto

    2016-06-16

    The main objective was to analyze a friendly match of youth elite soccer players identifying the variance of tactical and physiological response parameters during the game. In addition, detecting the impact of both halves on player performance. For the purposes of this study twenty-two U19 players were analyzed playing 11v11. Activity profile, heart rate (HR and HRmax), grouped in five different zones were analyzed via Bluetooth technology, technical performance was analyzed by the Team Sport Assessment Procedure (TSAP), and tactical performance was measured by Social Network Analysis. A comparison of heart rate responses showed significant main effects in the halves (p = 0.001; η p 2 = 0.623). A comparison between tactical position and technical performance had significant main effects (p = 0.001; η p 2 = 0.390). Tactical position showed statistically significant effects on tactical prominence (p = 0.002; η p 2 = 0.296). Therefore, fatigue is a component distinguished in technical/tactical parameters, such as volume of play and efficiency index. Results suggest that fatigue effects may constrain technical performance and, for that reason, the use of instruments to monitor the fatigue effect during matches may be suggested.

  6. Analysis of Physiological, Technical, and Tactical Analysis during a Friendly Football Match of Elite U19

    PubMed Central

    Ortega, Juan Ignacio; Evangelio, Carlos; Clemente, Filipe Manuel; Martins, Fernando Manuel Lourenço; González-Víllora, Sixto

    2016-01-01

    The main objective was to analyze a friendly match of youth elite soccer players identifying the variance of tactical and physiological response parameters during the game. In addition, detecting the impact of both halves on player performance. For the purposes of this study twenty-two U19 players were analyzed playing 11v11. Activity profile, heart rate (HR and HRmax), grouped in five different zones were analyzed via Bluetooth technology, technical performance was analyzed by the Team Sport Assessment Procedure (TSAP), and tactical performance was measured by Social Network Analysis. A comparison of heart rate responses showed significant main effects in the halves (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.623). A comparison between tactical position and technical performance had significant main effects (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.390). Tactical position showed statistically significant effects on tactical prominence (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.296). Therefore, fatigue is a component distinguished in technical/tactical parameters, such as volume of play and efficiency index. Results suggest that fatigue effects may constrain technical performance and, for that reason, the use of instruments to monitor the fatigue effect during matches may be suggested. PMID:29910283

  7. Simulated linear test applied to quantitative proteomics.

    PubMed

    Pham, T V; Jimenez, C R

    2016-09-01

    Omics studies aim to find significant changes due to biological or functional perturbation. However, gene and protein expression profiling experiments contain inherent technical variation. In discovery proteomics studies where the number of samples is typically small, technical variation plays an important role because it contributes considerably to the observed variation. Previous methods place both technical and biological variations in tightly integrated mathematical models that are difficult to adapt for different technological platforms. Our aim is to derive a statistical framework that allows the inclusion of a wide range of technical variability. We introduce a new method called the simulated linear test, or the s-test, that is easy to implement and easy to adapt for different models of technical variation. It generates virtual data points from the observed values according to a pre-defined technical distribution and subsequently employs linear modeling for significance analysis. We demonstrate the flexibility of the proposed approach by deriving a new significance test for quantitative discovery proteomics for which missing values have been a major issue for traditional methods such as the t-test. We evaluate the result on two label-free (phospho) proteomics datasets based on ion-intensity quantitation. Available at http://www.oncoproteomics.nl/software/stest.html : t.pham@vumc.nl. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  8. Energy Efficiency Potential in the U.S. Single-Family Housing Stock

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

    Wilson, Eric J.; Christensen, Craig B.; Horowitz, Scott G.

    Typical approaches for assessing energy efficiency potential in buildings use a limited number of prototypes, and therefore suffer from inadequate resolution when pass-fail cost-effectiveness tests are applied, which can significantly underestimate or overestimate the economic potential of energy efficiency technologies. This analysis applies a new approach to large-scale residential energy analysis, combining the use of large public and private data sources, statistical sampling, detailed building simulations, and high-performance computing to achieve unprecedented granularity - and therefore accuracy - in modeling the diversity of the single-family housing stock. The result is a comprehensive set of maps, tables, and figures showing themore » technical and economic potential of 50 plus residential energy efficiency upgrades and packages for each state. Policymakers, program designers, and manufacturers can use these results to identify upgrades with the highest potential for cost-effective savings in a particular state or region, as well as help identify customer segments for targeted marketing and deployment. The primary finding of this analysis is that there is significant technical and economic potential to save electricity and on-site fuel use in the single-family housing stock. However, the economic potential is very sensitive to the cost-effectiveness criteria used for analysis. Additionally, the savings of particular energy efficiency upgrades is situation-specific within the housing stock (depending on climate, building vintage, heating fuel type, building physical characteristics, etc.).« less

  9. ACT TERRA FIRMA

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent is suitable for use in oil cleanups on hard surfaces with limited permeability such as concrete, permeable surfaces such as sand, and fresh or salt water.

  10. Efficiency of private and public primary health facilities accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority in Ghana.

    PubMed

    Alhassan, Robert Kaba; Nketiah-Amponsah, Edward; Akazili, James; Spieker, Nicole; Arhinful, Daniel Kojo; Rinke de Wit, Tobias F

    2015-01-01

    Despite improvements in a number of health outcome indicators partly due to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Ghana is unlikely to attain all its health-related millennium development goals before the end of 2015. Inefficient use of available limited resources has been cited as a contributory factor for this predicament. This study sought to explore efficiency levels of NHIS-accredited private and public health facilities; ascertain factors that account for differences in efficiency and determine the association between quality care and efficiency levels. The study is a cross-sectional survey of NHIS-accredited primary health facilities (n = 64) in two regions in southern Ghana. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to estimate technical efficiency of sampled health facilities while Tobit regression was employed to predict factors associated with efficiency levels. Spearman correlation test was performed to determine the association between quality care and efficiency. Overall, 20 out of the 64 health facilities (31 %) were optimally efficient relative to their peers. Out of the 20 efficient facilities, 10 (50 %) were Public/government owned facilities; 8 (40 %) were Private-for-profit facilities and 2 (10 %) were Private-not-for-profit/Mission facilities. Mission (Coef. = 52.1; p = 0.000) and Public (Coef. = 42.9; p = 0.002) facilities located in the Western region (predominantly rural) had higher odds of attaining the 100 % technical efficiency benchmark than those located in the Greater Accra region (largely urban). No significant association was found between technical efficiency scores of health facilities and many technical quality care proxies, except in overall quality score per the NHIS accreditation data (Coef. = -0.3158; p < 0.05) and SafeCare Essentials quality score on environmental safety for staff and patients (Coef. = -0.2764; p < 0.05) where the association was negative. The findings suggest some level of wastage of health resources in many healthcare facilities, especially those located in urban areas. The Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders should undertake more effective need analysis to inform resource allocation, distribution and capacity building to promote efficient utilization of limited resources without compromising quality care standards.

  11. Environmental and technical assessments of the potential utilization of sewage sludge ashes (SSAs) as secondary raw materials in construction

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

    Chen, Maozhe; Blanc, Denise, E-mail: denise.blanc-biscarat@insa-lyon.fr; Gautier, Mathieu

    2013-05-15

    Highlights: ► We used sewage sludge ashes in ready-mix concrete recipe. ► SSAs were used as a substitution of cement. ► Compressive strength of ready-mix concrete incorporating SSAs were similar as blank one. ► Contaminants leaching from concrete monoliths were above threshold limits. - Abstract: Ashes produced by thermal treatments of sewage sludge exhibit common properties with cement. For example, major elements present in SSA are the same of major elements of cement. Hydraulic properties of SSA are quite the same of cement ones. They may therefore be used to substitute part of cement in concrete or other cementitious materials,more » provided that technical prescriptions are satisfied and that environmental risks are not significantly increased. The objective of the present study was to determine the appropriate substitution ratios to satisfy both technical and environmental criteria. In a first step, the elemental composition and particle size distribution of the ashes were measured. Then the ashes were used along with Portland cement and sand at different ratios of substitution to produce mortar and concrete which were cured for up to 90 days into parallelepipedic or cylindrical monoliths. The mechanical properties of the monoliths were measured using standard procedures for flexural and compressive strengths, and compared to blanks containing no ashes. The environmental criteria were assessed using leaching tests conducted according to standard protocols both on the ashes and the monoliths, and compared to the blanks. Results showed that the characteristics of the ashes ranged between those of cement and sand because of their larger particle size and higher content in SiO{sub 2} as compared to cement. The monoliths made with the highest substitution ratios exhibited a significant decrease in flexural and compressive strengths. However, when the ashes were used in partial substitution of cement at appropriate ratios, the concrete monoliths exhibited similar compressive strengths as the blank samples. The most appropriate ratios were found to be 10% substitution of cement and 2% substitution of sand. The leaching tests conducted on the ashes in their powdery form revealed that amongst the potential contaminants analyzed only Mo and Se were leached at concentrations above the threshold limits considered. The leaching tests conducted on concrete monoliths showed however that none of the contaminants monitored, including Mo and Se, were leached above the limits. In addition, whether concrete recipe incorporated ashes or not, similar concentrations were measured for each potential contaminant in the leachates. This result indicated that mixing ash with cement and sand to produce mortar or concrete induced a stabilization of Mo and Se and thereby constituted in itself a good treatment of the ashes.« less

  12. Energy. Application of solar energy in dwellings: A technical and economical analysis for the European community

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1980-03-01

    The technical possibilities and economical limitations of solar heating systems for the application in swimming pools, hot water preparation, space heating and air conditioning were investigated. This analysis was performed for dwellings with special consideration of the climatic differences in each community. The computer program, which was used for solar system calculations, and all mathematical models, for technical and economical analysis were elucidated. In the technical and economical analysis, the most suitable solar system sizes for each community was determined. Four types of solar collectors were investigated. The single glass selective collector proved to be the most cost effective collector in all the above applications, provided the the additional cost for the selective coating is not more than 20DM/cu. From the results of the analysis certain recommendations were derived, which can improve the rapid implementation of solar heating systems into the market.

  13. Technical discussions on Emissions and Atmospheric Modeling (TEAM)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frost, G. J.; Henderson, B.; Lefer, B. L.

    2017-12-01

    A new informal activity, Technical discussions on Emissions and Atmospheric Modeling (TEAM), aims to improve the scientific understanding of emissions and atmospheric processes by leveraging resources through coordination, communication and collaboration between scientists in the Nation's environmental agencies. TEAM seeks to close information gaps that may be limiting emission inventory development and atmospheric modeling and to help identify related research areas that could benefit from additional coordinated efforts. TEAM is designed around webinars and in-person meetings on particular topics that are intended to facilitate active and sustained informal communications between technical staff at different agencies. The first series of TEAM webinars focuses on emissions of nitrogen oxides, a criteria pollutant impacting human and ecosystem health and a key precursor of ozone and particulate matter. Technical staff at Federal agencies with specific interests in emissions and atmospheric modeling are welcome to participate in TEAM.

  14. Seaworthy Quantum Key Distribution Design and Validation (SEAKEY)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-05-26

    shot noise limited performance for the homodyne receiver, which includes the stable CW local oscillator and balanced detector. TECHNICAL RESULTS...each piece of equipment that limited the performance of the receiver from achieving the shot noise limit. • Balanced detector: Thorlabs PDB450C o...Issue: This detector had specification for linearity to 5 mW of laser power on each detector of the pair. Upon calling the company, we were informed

  15. Handbook of Methods for the Evaluation of Water Conservation for Municipal and Industrial Water Supply.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-10-01

    complex process of data collection, selection and application of analysis methodologies, identification and evaluation of technical, socio -econmic and...area and political subdivision data. Two solutions are available: (a) disaggregate demographic and socio -econanic data to the service area (this...century. with this as an example, and data limitations can extend from the limits of knowledge of climate to limits of data on socio -econamic

  16. An efficient start-up circuitry for de-energized ultra-low power energy harvesting systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hörmann, Leander B.; Berger, Achim; Salzburger, Lukas; Priller, Peter; Springer, Andreas

    2015-05-01

    Cyber-physical systems often include small wireless devices to measure physical quantities or control a technical process. These devices need a self-sufficient power supply because no wired infrastructure is available. Their operational time can be enhanced by energy harvesting systems. However, the convertible power is often limited and discontinuous which requires the need of an energy storage unit. If this unit (and thus the whole system) is de-energized, the start-up process may take a significant amount of time because of an inefficient energy harvesting process. Therefore, this paper presents a system which enables a safe and fast start-up from the de-energized state.

  17. Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Automated Quality Assurance Process Design.

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

    Dockter, Randy E.

    2017-07-31

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in DOE O 435.1 Chg. 1, Radioactive Waste Management, requires the preparation and maintenance of a composite analysis (CA). The primary purpose of the CA is to provide a reasonable expectation that the primary public dose limit is not likely to be exceeded by multiple source terms that may significantly interact with plumes originating at a low-level waste disposal facility. The CA is used to facilitate planning and land use decisions that help assure disposal facility authorization will not result in long-term compliance problems; or, to determine management alternatives, corrective actions, or assessment needsmore » if potential problems are identified.« less

  18. X-ray light curves of active galactic nuclei are phase incoherent

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Krolik, Julian; Done, Chris; Madejski, Grzegorz

    1993-01-01

    We compute the Fourier phase spectra for the light curves of five low-luminosity active galactic nuclei observed by EXOSAT. There is no statistically significant phase coherence in any of them. This statement is equivalent, subject to a technical caveat, to a demonstration that their fluctuation statistics are Gaussian. Models in which the X-ray output is controlled wholly by a unitary process undergoing a nonlinear limit cycle are therefore ruled out, while models with either a large number of randomly excited independent oscillation modes or nonlinearly interacting spatially dependent oscillations are favored. We also demonstrate how the degree of phase coherence in light curve fluctuations influences the application of causality bounds on internal length scales.

  19. Genetic correction using engineered nucleases for gene therapy applications.

    PubMed

    Li, Hongmei Lisa; Nakano, Takao; Hotta, Akitsu

    2014-01-01

    Genetic mutations in humans are associated with congenital disorders and phenotypic traits. Gene therapy holds the promise to cure such genetic disorders, although it has suffered from several technical limitations for decades. Recent progress in gene editing technology using tailor-made nucleases, such as meganucleases (MNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) and, more recently, CRISPR/Cas9, has significantly broadened our ability to precisely modify target sites in the human genome. In this review, we summarize recent progress in gene correction approaches of the human genome, with a particular emphasis on the clinical applications of gene therapy. © 2013 The Authors Development, Growth & Differentiation © 2013 Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists.

  20. Hourly temporal distribution of wind

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deligiannis, Ilias; Dimitriadis, Panayiotis; Koutsoyiannis, Demetris

    2016-04-01

    The wind process is essential for hydrometeorology and additionally, is one of the basic renewable energy resources. Most stochastic forecast models are limited up to daily scales disregarding the hourly scale which is significant for renewable energy management. Here, we analyze hourly wind timeseries giving emphasis on the temporal distribution of wind within the day. We finally present a periodic model based on statistical as well as hydrometeorological reasoning that shows good agreement with data. Acknowledgement: This research is conducted within the frame of the undergraduate course "Stochastic Methods in Water Resources" of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). The School of Civil Engineering of NTUA provided moral support for the participation of the students in the Assembly.

  1. Accessible virtual reality therapy using portable media devices.

    PubMed

    Bruck, Susan; Watters, Paul A

    2010-01-01

    Simulated immersive environments displayed on large screens are a valuable therapeutic asset in the treatment of a range of psychological disorders. Permanent environments are expensive to build and maintain, require specialized clinician training and technical support and often have limited accessibility for clients. Ideally, virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) could be accessible to the broader community if we could use inexpensive hardware with specifically designed software. This study tested whether watching a handheld non-immersive media device causes nausea and other cybersickness responses. Using a repeated measure design we found that nausea, general discomfort, eyestrain, blurred vision and an increase in salivation significantly increased in response to handheld non-immersive media device exposure.

  2. Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Atmospheric Transport Modeling.

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

    Sun, B.; Lehman, L. L.

    2017-10-02

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in DOE O 435.1 Chg. 1, Radioactive Waste Management, requires the preparation and maintenance of a composite analysis (CA). The primary purpose of the CA is to provide a reasonable expectation that the primary public dose limit is not likely to be exceeded by multiple source terms that may significantly interact with plumes originating at a low-level waste disposal facility. The CA is used to facilitate planning and land use decisions that help assure disposal facility authorization will not result in long-term compliance problems; or, to determine management alternatives, corrective actions or assessment needs,more » if potential problems are identified.« less

  3. Hyperspectral data compression using a Wiener filter predictor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Villeneuve, Pierre V.; Beaven, Scott G.; Stocker, Alan D.

    2013-09-01

    The application of compression to hyperspectral image data is a significant technical challenge. A primary bottleneck in disseminating data products to the tactical user community is the limited communication bandwidth between the airborne sensor and the ground station receiver. This report summarizes the newly-developed "Z-Chrome" algorithm for lossless compression of hyperspectral image data. A Wiener filter prediction framework is used as a basis for modeling new image bands from already-encoded bands. The resulting residual errors are then compressed using available state-of-the-art lossless image compression functions. Compression performance is demonstrated using a large number of test data collected over a wide variety of scene content from six different airborne and spaceborne sensors .

  4. Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Waste Form Release.

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

    Hardie, S.; Paris, B.; Apted, M.

    2017-09-14

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in DOE O 435.1 Chg. 1, Radioactive Waste Management, requires the preparation and maintenance of a composite analysis (CA). The primary purpose of the CA is to provide a reasonable expectation that the primary public dose limit is not likely to be exceeded by multiple source terms that may significantly interact with plumes originating at a low-level waste disposal facility. The CA is used to facilitate planning and land use decisions that help assure disposal facility authorization will not result in long-term compliance problems; or, to determine management alternatives, corrective actions or assessment needs,more » if potential problems are identified.« less

  5. Technological innovations for a sustainable business model in the semiconductor industry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Levinson, Harry J.

    2014-09-01

    Increasing costs of wafer processing, particularly for lithographic processes, have made it increasingly difficult to achieve simultaneous reductions in cost-per-function and area per device. Multiple patterning techniques have made possible the fabrication of circuit layouts below the resolution limit of single optical exposures but have led to significant increases in the costs of patterning. Innovative techniques, such as self-aligned double patterning (SADP) have enabled good device performance when using less expensive patterning equipment. Other innovations have directly reduced the cost of manufacturing. A number of technical challenges must be overcome to enable a return to single-exposure patterning using short wavelength optical techniques, such as EUV patterning.

  6. Hanford Site Composite Analysis Technical Approach Description: Integrated Computational Framework.

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

    Smith, K. J.

    2017-09-14

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in DOE O 435.1 Chg. 1, Radioactive Waste Management, requires the preparation and maintenance of a composite analysis (CA). The primary purpose of the CA is to provide a reasonable expectation that the primary public dose limit is not likely to be exceeded by multiple source terms that may significantly interact with plumes originating at a low-level waste disposal facility. The CA is used to facilitate planning and land use decisions that help assure disposal facility authorization will not result in long-term compliance problems; or, to determine management alternatives, corrective actions, or assessment needsmore » if potential problems are identified.« less

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

    Jansen, F.

    The use of integrated PET/MRI systems in clinical applications can best benefit from understanding their technological advances and limitations. The currently available clinical PET/MRI systems have their own characteristics. Thorough analyses of existing technical data and evaluation of necessary performance metrics for quality assurances could be conducted to optimize application-specific PET/MRI protocols. This Symposium will focus on technical advances and limitations of clinical PET/MRI systems, and how this exciting imaging modality can be utilized in applications that can benefit from both PET and MRI. Learning Objectives: To understand the technological advances of clinical PET/MRI systems To correctly identify clinical applicationsmore » that can benefit from PET/MRI To understand ongoing work to further improve the current PET/MRI technology Floris Jansen is a GE Healthcare employee.« less

  8. The back squat: A proposed assessment of functional deficits and technical factors that limit performance

    PubMed Central

    Myer, Gregory D.; Kushner, Adam M.; Brent, Jensen L.; Schoenfeld, Brad J.; Hugentobler, Jason; Lloyd, Rhodri S.; Vermeil, Al; Chu, Donald A.; Harbin, Jason; McGill, Stuart M.

    2014-01-01

    Fundamental movement competency is essential for participation in physical activity and for mitigating the risk of injury, which are both key elements of health throughout life. The squat movement pattern is arguably one of the most primal and critical fundamental movements necessary to improve sport performance, to reduce injury risk and to support lifelong physical activity. Based on current evidence, this first (1 of 2) report deconstructs the technical performance of the back squat as a foundation training exercise and presents a novel dynamic screening tool that incorporates identification techniques for functional deficits that limit squat performance and injury resilience. The follow-up report will outline targeted corrective methodology for each of the functional deficits presented in the assessment tool. PMID:25506270

  9. Maneuverability and mobility in palm-sized legged robots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kohut, Nicholas J.; Birkmeyer, Paul M.; Peterson, Kevin C.; Fearing, Ronald S.

    2012-06-01

    Palm sized legged robots show promise for military and civilian applications, including exploration of hazardous or difficult to reach places, search and rescue, espionage, and battlefield reconnaissance. However, they also face many technical obstacles, including- but not limited to- actuator performance, weight constraints, processing power, and power density. This paper presents an overview of several robots from the Biomimetic Millisystems Laboratory at UC Berkeley, including the OctoRoACH, a steerable, running legged robot capable of basic navigation and equipped with a camera and active tail; CLASH, a dynamic climbing robot; and BOLT, a hybrid crawling and flying robot. The paper also discusses, and presents some preliminary solutions to, the technical obstacles listed above plus issues such as robustness to unstructured environments, limited sensing and communication bandwidths, and system integration.

  10. 40 CFR 421.222 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... technical grade molybdenum plus vanadium plus pure grade molybdenum produced Arsenic 40.778 18.145 Chromium... vanadium plus pure grade molybdenum produced Arsenic 121.720 54.162 Chromium 25.625 10.483 Lead 24.460 11... times. (c) Vanadium decomposition wet air pollution control. BPT Limitations for the Secondary...

  11. 48 CFR 252.204-7013 - Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Information by Litigation Support Solicitation Offerors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... this provision: Computer software, litigation information, litigation support, sensitive information, and technical data, are defined in the clause at DFARS 252.204-7014, Limitations on the Use or... Offeror, and against any person to whom the Offeror has released or disclosed such data or software, for...

  12. 47 CFR 25.208 - Power flux density limits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... COMMUNICATIONS Technical Standards § 25.208 Power flux density limits. (a) In the band 3650-4200 MHz, the power flux density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station for all conditions and... and 10.7-11.7 GHz for NGSO FSS space stations, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced...

  13. Technical Limitations of Electronic Health Records in Community Health Centers: Implications on Ambulatory Care Quality

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    West, Christopher E.

    2010-01-01

    Research objectives: This dissertation examines the state of development of each of the eight core electronic health record (EHR) functionalities as described by the IOM and describes how the current state of these functionalities limit quality improvement efforts in ambulatory care settings. There is a great deal of literature describing both the…

  14. 75 FR 18497 - Guidance on Simultaneous Transmission Import Limit Studies for the Northwest Region; Notice of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-04-12

    ... Conference ``Guidance on Simultaneous Transmission Import Limit Studies.'' To view the archive of the...?ID=5001&CalType=%20&CalendarID=116&Date=12/16/2009&View=Listview and click on ``free live webcast.'' To view the slides from that technical conference, click on ``Staff Presentation'' at the same...

  15. Probability of Failure of Damaged Ship Structures - Phase 3

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-04-01

    U. Akpan, B. Yuen, T. S. Koko , F. Lin, J. Wallace Martec Limited Prepared By: Martec Limited Suite 400, 1888 Brunswick St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J...3J8 Martec Technical Report TR-13-15 Contract Project Manager: T.S. Koko , 902-425-5101 CSA: Malcolm J. Smith, Group Leader/ NPSS, 902-426-3100 ext 383

  16. The Roots of Technical Learning and Thinking: Situating TLT in Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hansen, Ron

    2008-01-01

    Technical thinking is defined as an aptitude, ingenuity, and affliction for solving practical problems through experience. From the beginning of civilization such thinking has been a significant part of human existence. Learning associated with it is a natural instinct for most people, young and old, who work in a technical field, pursue a…

  17. The Potential of Experiential Learning Models and Practices in Career and Technical Education and Career and Technical Teacher Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clark, Robert W.; Threeton, Mark D.; Ewing, John C.

    2010-01-01

    Since inception, career and technical education programs have embraced experiential learning as a true learning methodology for students to obtain occupational skills valued by employers. Programs have integrated classroom instruction with laboratory experiences to provide students a significant opportunity to learn. However, it is questionable as…

  18. Does service integration improve technical quality of care in low-resource settings? An evaluation of a model integrating HIV care into family planning services in Kenya

    PubMed Central

    Mutemwa, Richard; Mayhew, Susannah H; Warren, Charlotte E; Abuya, Timothy; Ndwiga, Charity; Kivunaga, Jackline

    2017-01-01

    Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate association between HIV and family planning integration and technical quality of care. The study focused on technical quality of client–provider consultation sessions. The cross-sectional study observed 366 client–provider consultation sessions and interviewed 37 health care providers in 12 public health facilities in Kenya. Multilevel random intercept and linear regression models were fitted to the matched data to investigate relationships between service integration and technical quality of care as well as associations between facility-level structural and provider factors and technical quality of care. A sensitivity analysis was performed to test for hidden bias. After adjusting for facility-level structural factors, HIV/family planning integration was found to have significant positive effect on technical quality of the consultation session, with average treatment effect 0.44 (95% CI: 0.63–0.82). Three of the 12 structural factors were significantly positively associated with technical quality of consultation session including: availability of family planning commodities (9.64; 95% CI: 5.07–14.21), adequate infrastructure (5.29; 95% CI: 2.89–7.69) and reagents (1.48; 95% CI: 1.02–1.93). Three of the nine provider factors were significantly positively associated with technical quality of consultation session: appropriate provider clinical knowledge (3.14; 95% CI: 1.92–4.36), job satisfaction (2.02; 95% CI: 1.21–2.83) and supervision (1.01; 95% CI: 0.35–1.68), while workload (−0.88; 95% CI: −1.75 to − 0.01) was negatively associated. Technical quality of the client–provider consultation session was also determined by duration of the consultation and type of clinic visit and appeared to depend on whether the clinic visit occurred early or later in the week. Integration of HIV care into family planning services can improve the technical quality of client–provider consultation sessions as measured by both health facility structural and provider factors. PMID:29194543

  19. Does service integration improve technical quality of care in low-resource settings? An evaluation of a model integrating HIV care into family planning services in Kenya.

    PubMed

    Mutemwa, Richard; Mayhew, Susannah H; Warren, Charlotte E; Abuya, Timothy; Ndwiga, Charity; Kivunaga, Jackline

    2017-11-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate association between HIV and family planning integration and technical quality of care. The study focused on technical quality of client-provider consultation sessions. The cross-sectional study observed 366 client-provider consultation sessions and interviewed 37 health care providers in 12 public health facilities in Kenya. Multilevel random intercept and linear regression models were fitted to the matched data to investigate relationships between service integration and technical quality of care as well as associations between facility-level structural and provider factors and technical quality of care. A sensitivity analysis was performed to test for hidden bias. After adjusting for facility-level structural factors, HIV/family planning integration was found to have significant positive effect on technical quality of the consultation session, with average treatment effect 0.44 (95% CI: 0.63-0.82). Three of the 12 structural factors were significantly positively associated with technical quality of consultation session including: availability of family planning commodities (9.64; 95% CI: 5.07-14.21), adequate infrastructure (5.29; 95% CI: 2.89-7.69) and reagents (1.48; 95% CI: 1.02-1.93). Three of the nine provider factors were significantly positively associated with technical quality of consultation session: appropriate provider clinical knowledge (3.14; 95% CI: 1.92-4.36), job satisfaction (2.02; 95% CI: 1.21-2.83) and supervision (1.01; 95% CI: 0.35-1.68), while workload (-0.88; 95% CI: -1.75 to - 0.01) was negatively associated. Technical quality of the client-provider consultation session was also determined by duration of the consultation and type of clinic visit and appeared to depend on whether the clinic visit occurred early or later in the week. Integration of HIV care into family planning services can improve the technical quality of client-provider consultation sessions as measured by both health facility structural and provider factors. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

  20. Serum-free light-chain assay: clinical utility and limitations.

    PubMed

    Bhole, Malini V; Sadler, Ross; Ramasamy, Karthik

    2014-09-01

    In the last decade, the introduction of the serum-free light-chain (sFLC) assay has been an important advance in the diagnosis and management of plasma cell dyscrasias, particularly monoclonal light-chain diseases. The immunoassay was developed to detect free light chains in serum by using anti-FLC antibodies which specifically recognised epitopes on light chains that were 'hidden' in intact immunoglobulins. Since its introduction in 2001, there have been several publications in the English language literature discussing the clinical utility as well as analytical limitations of the sFLC assay. These studies have highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the assay particularly with regard to its sensitivity and specificity and the technical challenges that can affect its performance. The contribution and significance of the sFLC assay in the management of light-chain myeloma, primary amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis and non-secretory myeloma are well recognised and will be addressed in this review. The aim of this article is to also review the published literature with a view to providing a clear understanding of its utility and limitations in the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of plasma dyscrasias including intact immunoglobulin multiple myeloma (MM) and monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). The increasing interest in using this assay in other haematological conditions will also be briefly discussed. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

  1. Technical and economic evaluation of controlled disposal options for very low level radioactive wastes

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

    Robinson, P.J.; Vance, J.N.

    1990-08-01

    Over the past several years, there has been considerable interest by the nuclear industry in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) explicitly defined an activity level in plant waste materials at which the radiological impacts would be so low as to be considered Below Regulatory Concern (BRC). In January 1989, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) completed an extensive industry research effort to develop the technical bases for establishing criteria for the disposal of very low activity wastes in ordinary disposal facilities. The Nuclear Management and Resources Council (NUMARC), with assistance from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Electric Power Researchmore » Institute (EPRI), drafted a petition titled: Petition for Rulemaking Regarding Disposal of Below Regulatory Concern Radioactive Wastes from Commercial Nuclear Power Plants.'' Subsequent to the industry making a final decision for submittal of the drafted BRC petition, EPRI was requested to evaluate the technical and economic impact of six BRC options. These options are: take no action in pursuing a BRC waste exemption, petition the NRC for authorization to disposal of any BRC waste in any ordinary disposal facility, limit disposal of BRC waste to the nuclear power plant site, limit disposal of BRC waste to the nuclear power plant site and other utility owned property, petition for a mixed waste exemption, and petition for single waste stream exemptions in sequence (i.e. soil, followed by sewage sludge, etc.). The petition and technical bases were written to support the disposal of any BRC waste type in any ordinary disposal facility. These documents do not provide all of the technical and economic information needed to completely assessment the BRC options. This report provides the technical and economic basis for a range of options concerning disposal of very low activity wastes. 3 figs., 20 tabs.« less

  2. EUS-directed Transgastric ERCP (EDGE) Versus Laparoscopy-assisted ERCP (LA-ERCP) for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Anatomy: A Multicenter Early Comparative Experience of Clinical Outcomes.

    PubMed

    Kedia, Prashant; Tarnasky, Paul R; Nieto, Jose; Steele, Stephen L; Siddiqui, Ali; Xu, Ming-Ming; Tyberg, Amy; Gaidhane, Monica; Kahaleh, Michel

    2018-04-17

    The standard of care for managing pancreaticobiliary disease in altered Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients is laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (LA-ERCP), but is limited by cost and adverse events. Recently a minimally invasive, completely endoscopic approach using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) has been described. We aim to compare EDGE to LA-ERCP in this study. Patients from May 2005 to June 2017 with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy having undergone LA-ERCP or EDGE at 4 tertiary centers were captured in a registry. Patient demographics, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were measured for each group. Seventy-two patients (n=29 EDGE, n=43 LA-ERCP) were included in this study. There was no significant difference in the technical success of EDGE gastrogastric fistula (96.5%) versus LA-gastrostomy creation (100%). The success rate of achieving therapeutic ERCP (EDGE 96.5% vs. LA-ERCP 97.7%) and number of ERCP (EDGE 1.2 vs. LA-ERCP 1.02) needed to achieve clinical resolution was similar between both groups. Adverse event rate for EDGE, 24% (7/29) and LA-ERCP, 19% (8/43) was similar. The total procedure time (73 vs. 184 min) and length of hospital stay (0.8 vs. 2.65 d) was significantly shorter for EDGE compared to LA-ERCP. The overall weight change after EDGE was -6.6 lbs at an average 28-week follow-up. This study suggests that the EDGE procedure has similar technical success and adverse events compared with LA-ERCP with the benefit of significantly shorter procedure times and hospital stay. EDGE may offer a minimally invasive, effective option, with less resource utilization, and without significant weight gain.

  3. Implementation Guidance Document: Properties and Types of Significant Photothermal Retinal Lesion Injuries

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-04-17

    if ii does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 12...NUMBER Risk of Significant Injury Technical Working Group : Wesley Burgei, Shannon Foley, Matt Pandullo, Melissa Nass-Flores, George L. Fischer, Hugh...14. ABSTRACT The RSI Technical Working Group (TWG) developed a recommendation defining the properties and types of significant photothennal retinal

  4. Maze Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation, From History to Practice.

    PubMed

    Kik, Charles; Bogers, Ad J J C

    2011-10-01

    Atrial fibrillation may result in significant symptoms, (systemic) thrombo-embolism, as well as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy with cardiac failure, and consequently be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Nowadays symptomatic atrial fibrillation can be treated with catheter-based ablation, surgical ablation or hybrid approaches. In this setting a fairly large number of surgical approaches and procedures are described and being practised. It should be clear that the Cox-maze procedure resulted from building up evidence and experience in different steps, while some of the present surgical approaches and techniques are being based only on technical feasibility with limited experience, rather than on a process of consequent methodology. Some of the issues still under debate are whether or not the maze procedure can be limited to the left atrium or even to isolation of the pulmonary veins or that bi-atrial procedures are indicated, whether or not cardiopulmonary bypass is to be applied and which route of exposure facilitates an optimal result. In addition, maze procedures are not procedures guide by electrophysiological mapping. At least in theory not in all patients all lesions of the maze procedures are necessary. A history and aspects of current practise in surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation is presented.

  5. Maze Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation, From History to Practice

    PubMed Central

    Kik, Charles; Bogers, Ad J.J.C.

    2011-01-01

    Atrial fibrillation may result in significant symptoms, (systemic) thrombo-embolism, as well as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy with cardiac failure, and consequently be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Nowadays symptomatic atrial fibrillation can be treated with catheter-based ablation, surgical ablation or hybrid approaches. In this setting a fairly large number of surgical approaches and procedures are described and being practised. It should be clear that the Cox-maze procedure resulted from building up evidence and experience in different steps, while some of the present surgical approaches and techniques are being based only on technical feasibility with limited experience, rather than on a process of consequent methodology. Some of the issues still under debate are whether or not the maze procedure can be limited to the left atrium or even to isolation of the pulmonary veins or that bi-atrial procedures are indicated, whether or not cardiopulmonary bypass is to be applied and which route of exposure facilitates an optimal result. In addition, maze procedures are not procedures guide by electrophysiological mapping. At least in theory not in all patients all lesions of the maze procedures are necessary. A history and aspects of current practise in surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation is presented. PMID:28357007

  6. Systematic Design of Trypsin Cleavage Site Mutated Exendin4-Cysteine 1, an Orally Bioavailable Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist.

    PubMed

    Sai, Wenbo; Tian, Hong; Yang, Kangmin; Tang, Daoqi; Bao, Jinxiao; Ge, Yang; Song, Xiaoda; Zhang, Yu; Luo, Cheng; Gao, Xiangdong; Yao, Wenbing

    2017-03-08

    Exendin-4 is a strong therapeutic candidate for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Related receptor agonist drugs have been on the market since 2005. However, technical limitations and the pain caused by subcutaneous injection have severely limited patient compliance. The goal of the study is to investigate a biologically active exendin-4 analog could be administered orally. Using intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests, we discovered that exendin4-cysteine administered by oral gavage had a distinct hypoglycemic effect in C57BL/6J mice. Using Rosetta Design and Amber, we designed and screened a series of exendin4-cysteine analogs to identify those that retained biological activity while resisting trypsin digestion. Trypsin Cleavage Site Mutated Exendin4-cysteine 1 (TSME-1), an analog whose bioactivity was similar to exendin-4 and was almost completely resistant to trypsin, was screened out. In addition, TSME-1 significantly normalized the blood glucose levels and the availability of TSME-1 was significantly higher than that of exendin-4 and exendin4-cysteine. Collectively orally administered TSME-1, a trypsin-resistant exendin-4 analog obtained by the system, is a strong candidate for future treatments of type 2 diabetes.

  7. Development and technical basis of simplified guidelines for emergency triage assessment and treatment in developing countries. WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) Referral Care Project.

    PubMed

    Gove, S; Tamburlini, G; Molyneux, E; Whitesell, P; Campbell, H

    1999-12-01

    Simplified guidelines for the emergency care of children have been developed to improve the triage and rapid initiation of appropriate emergency treatments for children presenting to hospitals in developing countries. The guidelines are part of the effort to improve referral level paediatric care within the World Health Organisation/Unicef strategy integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), based on evidence of significant deficiencies in triage and emergency care. Existing emergency guidelines have been modified according to resource limitations and significant differences in the epidemiology of severe paediatric illness and preventable death in developing countries with raised infant and child mortality rates. In these settings, it is important to address the emergency management of diarrhoea with severe dehydration, severe malaria, severe malnutrition, and severe bacterial pneumonia, and to focus attention on sick infants younger than 2 months of age. The triage assessment relies on a few clinical signs, which can be readily taught so that it can be used by health workers with limited clinical background. The assessment has been designed so that it can be carried out quickly if negative, making it functional for triaging children in queues.

  8. Does integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services improve technical efficiency in Kenya and Swaziland? An application of a two-stage semi parametric approach incorporating quality measures

    PubMed Central

    Obure, Carol Dayo; Jacobs, Rowena; Guinness, Lorna; Mayhew, Susannah; Vassall, Anna

    2016-01-01

    Theoretically, integration of vertically organized services is seen as an important approach to improving the efficiency of health service delivery. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the effect of integration on the technical efficiency of health service delivery. Furthermore, where technical efficiency has been assessed, there have been few attempts to incorporate quality measures within efficiency measurement models particularly in sub-Saharan African settings. This paper investigates the technical efficiency and the determinants of technical efficiency of integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services using data collected from 40 health facilities in Kenya and Swaziland for 2008/2009 and 2010/2011. Incorporating a measure of quality, we estimate the technical efficiency of health facilities and explore the effect of integration and other environmental factors on technical efficiency using a two-stage semi-parametric double bootstrap approach. The empirical results reveal a high degree of inefficiency in the health facilities studied. The mean bias corrected technical efficiency scores taking quality into consideration varied between 22% and 65% depending on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model specification. The number of additional HIV services in the maternal and child health unit, public ownership and facility type, have a positive and significant effect on technical efficiency. However, number of additional HIV and STI services provided in the same clinical room, proportion of clinical staff to overall staff, proportion of HIV services provided, and rural location had a negative and significant effect on technical efficiency. The low estimates of technical efficiency and mixed effects of the measures of integration on efficiency challenge the notion that integration of HIV and SRH services may substantially improve the technical efficiency of health facilities. The analysis of quality and efficiency as separate dimensions of performance suggest that efficiency may be achieved without sacrificing quality. PMID:26803655

  9. Does integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services improve technical efficiency in Kenya and Swaziland? An application of a two-stage semi parametric approach incorporating quality measures.

    PubMed

    Obure, Carol Dayo; Jacobs, Rowena; Guinness, Lorna; Mayhew, Susannah; Vassall, Anna

    2016-02-01

    Theoretically, integration of vertically organized services is seen as an important approach to improving the efficiency of health service delivery. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the effect of integration on the technical efficiency of health service delivery. Furthermore, where technical efficiency has been assessed, there have been few attempts to incorporate quality measures within efficiency measurement models particularly in sub-Saharan African settings. This paper investigates the technical efficiency and the determinants of technical efficiency of integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services using data collected from 40 health facilities in Kenya and Swaziland for 2008/2009 and 2010/2011. Incorporating a measure of quality, we estimate the technical efficiency of health facilities and explore the effect of integration and other environmental factors on technical efficiency using a two-stage semi-parametric double bootstrap approach. The empirical results reveal a high degree of inefficiency in the health facilities studied. The mean bias corrected technical efficiency scores taking quality into consideration varied between 22% and 65% depending on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model specification. The number of additional HIV services in the maternal and child health unit, public ownership and facility type, have a positive and significant effect on technical efficiency. However, number of additional HIV and STI services provided in the same clinical room, proportion of clinical staff to overall staff, proportion of HIV services provided, and rural location had a negative and significant effect on technical efficiency. The low estimates of technical efficiency and mixed effects of the measures of integration on efficiency challenge the notion that integration of HIV and SRH services may substantially improve the technical efficiency of health facilities. The analysis of quality and efficiency as separate dimensions of performance suggest that efficiency may be achieved without sacrificing quality. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  10. Measurement of the magnetically-induced QED birefringence of the vacuum and an improved search for laboratory axions: Technical report. Project definition study of the use of assets and facilities of the Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory

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

    Lee, S.A.; Fairbank, W.M. Jr.; Toki, W.H.

    1994-10-31

    The Colorado State Collaboration has studied the feasibility of a high sensitivity QED birefringence/axion search measurement. The objective of this work is to measure, for the first time, the birefringence induced in the vacuum on a light beam travelling in a powerful magnetic field. The same experimental setup also allows a highly sensitive search for axion or axion-like particles. The experiment would combined custom-designed optical heterodyne interferometry with a string of six SSC prototype superconducting dipole magnets at the N-15 site of the SSC Laboratory. With these powerful laser tools, sensitivity advances of 10{sup 7} to 10{sup 9} over previousmore » optical experiments will be possible. The proposed experiment will be able to measure the QED light-by-light scattering effect with a 0.5% accuracy. The increased sensitivity for the axion-two photon interaction will result in a bound on this process rivaling the results based on astrophysical arguments. In the technical report the authors address the scientific significance of these experiments and examine the limiting technical parameters which control their feasibility. The proposed optical/electronic scheme is presented in the context of a background of the known and projected systematic problems which will confront any serious attempt to make such measurements.« less

  11. Single plane angiography: Current applications and limitations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Falsetti, H. L.; Carroll, R. J.

    1975-01-01

    Technical errors in measurement of one plane cineangiography are identified. Examples of angiographic estimates of left ventricular geometry are given. These estimates of contractility are useful in evaluating myocardial performance.

  12. 21 CFR 178.3300 - Corrosion inhibitors used for steel or tinplate.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... technical effect: (1) Corrosion inhibitors (active ingredients) used in packaging materials for the packaging of steel or tinplate or articles fabricated therefrom: List of substances Limitations...

  13. 21 CFR 178.3300 - Corrosion inhibitors used for steel or tinplate.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... technical effect: (1) Corrosion inhibitors (active ingredients) used in packaging materials for the packaging of steel or tinplate or articles fabricated therefrom: List of substances Limitations...

  14. Surgeons' and trainees' perceived self-efficacy in operating theatre non-technical skills.

    PubMed

    Pena, G; Altree, M; Field, J; Thomas, M J W; Hewett, P; Babidge, W; Maddern, G J

    2015-05-01

    An important factor that may influence an individual's performance is self-efficacy, a personal judgement of capability to perform a particular task successfully. This prospective study explored newly qualified surgeons' and surgical trainees' self-efficacy in non-technical skills compared with their non-technical skills performance in simulated scenarios. Participants undertook surgical scenarios challenging non-technical skills in two simulation sessions 6 weeks apart. Some participants attended a non-technical skills workshop between sessions. Participants completed pretraining and post-training surveys about their perceived self-efficacy in non-technical skills, which were analysed and compared with their performance in surgical scenarios in two simulation sessions. Change in performance between sessions was compared with any change in participants' perceived self-efficacy. There were 40 participants in all, 17 of whom attended the non-technical skills workshop. There was no significant difference in participants' self-efficacy regarding non-technical skills from the pretraining to the post-training survey. However, there was a tendency for participants with the highest reported self-efficacy to adjust their score downwards after training and for participants with the lowest self-efficacy to adjust their score upwards. Although there was significant improvement in non-technical skills performance from the first to second simulation sessions, a correlation between participants' self-efficacy and performance in scenarios in any of the comparisons was not found. The results suggest that new surgeons and surgical trainees have poor insight into their non-technical skills. Although it was not possible to correlate participants' self-belief in their abilities directly with their performance in a simulation, in general they became more critical in appraisal of their abilities as a result of the intervention. © 2015 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  15. Surface Observation Climatic Summaries for Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-02-01

    UNLIMITED DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, OR BY THE DEFENSE TECHNICAL INMFOM ON CENTER (DTIC) TO THE fiATICVAL TECHNICAL INFOAm9... THE oNANDER Distribution I Availability Codes SCITEN A. - .4MDist Avail andIor SCMTECHNICAL I Dt Special 2 8 S ;E 1992 d.I USA MTAC/D8--92/269 - Page...PRODUCT REPLACED TWO USAFETAC DOCUMENTS FORMERLY NNONN AS THE REVISED UNIFORM SUM=RY OF SURFACE OBSERVATIONS (RUSSTO) AND THE LIMITED SURFACE

  16. Environmental effects of dredging. Documentation of the settle module for ADDAMS: Design of confined disposal facilities for solids retention and initial storage. Technical notes

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

    Hayes, D.F.; Schroeder, P.R.

    This technical note documents the SETTLE computer program which facilitates the design of a confined disposal facility (CDF) to retain solids, provide initial storage, and meet effluent discharge limitations for suspended solids during a dredged matenal disposal operation. Detailed information can be found in Engineer Manual 1110-2-5027, Confined Dredged Material Disposal. SETTLE is a part of the Automated Dredging and Disposal Alternatives Management System (ADDAMS).

  17. Networks Technology Conference

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tasaki, Keiji K. (Editor)

    1993-01-01

    The papers included in these proceedings represent the most interesting and current topics being pursued by personnel at GSFC's Networks Division and supporting contractors involved in Space, Ground, and Deep Space Network (DSN) technical work. Although 29 papers are represented in the proceedings, only 12 were presented at the conference because of space and time limitations. The proceedings are organized according to five principal technical areas of interest to the Networks Division: Project Management; Network Operations; Network Control, Scheduling, and Monitoring; Modeling and Simulation; and Telecommunications Engineering.

  18. An introduction to g methods.

    PubMed

    Naimi, Ashley I; Cole, Stephen R; Kennedy, Edward H

    2017-04-01

    Robins' generalized methods (g methods) provide consistent estimates of contrasts (e.g. differences, ratios) of potential outcomes under a less restrictive set of identification conditions than do standard regression methods (e.g. linear, logistic, Cox regression). Uptake of g methods by epidemiologists has been hampered by limitations in understanding both conceptual and technical details. We present a simple worked example that illustrates basic concepts, while minimizing technical complications. © The Author 2016; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

  19. Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC) Introductory, General Information and Quota Control Notes. Volume 1. Revision.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-01-01

    allowed BAQ on a case by case basis. S3 NAVAL TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER DETACHMENT FORT DEVENS , MA.5 1. SHORT TITLE: NAVTECHTRACENDET FT DEVENS , MA 2...ADDRESS: Chief Petty Officer in Charge, Naval Technical Training Center Detachment, MacArthur Ave., Building 688, Fort Devens , MA 01433-6301 3. TELEPHONE...units are scarce with a high cost of living. 5. AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION: Worcester is only 25 to 30 miles from Fort Devens with limited air

  20. Voluntary medical male circumcision scale-up in Nyanza, Kenya: evaluating technical efficiency and productivity of service delivery.

    PubMed

    Omondi Aduda, Dickens S; Ouma, Collins; Onyango, Rosebella; Onyango, Mathews; Bertrand, Jane

    2015-01-01

    Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) service delivery is complex and resource-intensive. In Kenya's context there is still paucity of information on resource use vis-à-vis outputs as programs scale up. Knowledge of technical efficiency, productivity and potential sources of constraints is desirable to improve decision-making. To evaluate technical efficiency and productivity of VMMC service delivery in Nyanza in 2011/2012 using data envelopment analysis. Comparative process evaluation of facilities providing VMMC in Nyanza in 2011/2012 using output orientated data envelopment analysis. Twenty one facilities were evaluated. Only 1 of 7 variables considered (total elapsed operation time) significantly improved from 32.8 minutes (SD 8.8) in 2011 to 30 minutes (SD 6.6) in 2012 (95%CI = 0.0350-5.2488; p = 0.047). Mean scale technical efficiency significantly improved from 91% (SD 19.8) in 2011 to 99% (SD 4.0) in 2012 particularly among outreach compared to fixed service delivery facilities (CI -31.47959-4.698508; p = 0.005). Increase in mean VRS technical efficiency from 84% (SD 25.3) in 2011 and 89% (SD 25.1) in 2012 was not statistically significant. Benchmark facilities were #119 and #125 in 2011 and #103 in 2012. Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) at fixed facilities declined by 2.5% but gained by 4.9% at outreach ones by 2012. Total factor productivity improved by 83% (p = 0.032) in 2012, largely due to progress in technological efficiency by 79% (p = 0.008). Significant improvement in scale technical efficiency among outreach facilities in 2012 was attributable to accelerated activities. However, ongoing pure technical inefficiency requires concerted attention. Technological progress was the key driver of service productivity growth in Nyanza. Incorporating service-quality dimensions and using stepwise-multiple criteria in performance evaluation enhances comprehensiveness and validity. These findings highlight site-level resource use and sources of variations in VMMC service productivity, which are important for program planning.

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