Some Comments on Our Experience as a Constitutional Society

Some Comments on Our Experience as a Constitutional Societ

A study of the adsorption of radioactive zirconium, niobium, cesium, and barium on alumina, silica gels and clays

The purpose of this investigation was: (1) search the literature and review various methods investigated for the safe storage of radioactive waste products, (2) study the possible methods for the recovery, of useful radioactive isotopes by selective adsorption, (3) perform laboratory tests to determine the capacity of various adsorbents for radioactive isotopes, (4) evaluate the data and correlate it with the findings reported in the literature, (5) make recommendations of the feasibility of using these adsorbents for removal or storage of the radioactive products, and (6) make recommendations for further investigations. The adsorption of radioactive zirconium, niobium, cesium and barium on alumina, silica gel, and clay was investigated. The adsorbents were contacted with aqueous solutions of the pure isotopes for two hours. Tests at pH values from one through seven were made for each adsorbent. The activities before and after adsorption were determined and from these data the activities removed were calculated. The data from the tests were tabulated so that a comparison of the activity removed by each adsorbent could be made. The data from the tests also enabled comparisons of the effect or pH on each adsorbent to be made. The batch method using agitation was employed rather than a fixed bed in a column, because it was believed that this method would give more thorough mixing and result in a better determination of adsorption capacity --Introduction, page 4

A national facilitation project to improve primary palliative care : impact of the Gold Standards Framework on process and self-ratings of quality

Background: Improving quality of end-of-life care is a key driver of UK policy. The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) for Palliative Care aims to strengthen primary palliative care through facilitating implementation of systematic clinical and organisational processes. Objectives: To describe the general practices that participated in the GSF programme in 2003–5 and the changes in process and perception of quality that occurred in the year following entry into the programme, and to identify factors associated with the extent of change. Methods: Participating practices completed a questionnaire at baseline and another approximately 12 months later. Data were derived from categorical questions about the implementation of 35 organisational and clinical processes, and self-rated assessments of quality, associated with palliative care provision. Participants: 1305 practices (total registered population almost 10 million). Follow-up questionnaire completed by 955 (73.2%) practices (after mean (SD) 12.8 (2.8) months; median 13 months). Findings: Mean increase in total number of processes implemented (maximum = 35) was 9.6 (95% CI 9.0 to 10.2; p<0.001; baseline: 15.7 (SD 6.4), follow-up: 25.2 (SD 5.2)). Extent of change was largest for practices with low baseline scores. Aspects of process related to coordination and communication showed the greatest change. All dimensions of quality improved following GSF implementation; change was highest for the "quality of palliative care for cancer patients" and "confidence in assessing, recording and addressing the physical and psychosocial areas of patient care". Conclusion: Implementation of the GSF seems to have resulted in substantial improvements in process and quality of palliative care. Further research is required of the extent to which this has enhanced care (physical, practical and psychological outcomes) for patients and carers

The Teaching Librarian\u27s Toolkit

Engaging students is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of information literacy sessions. But when you\u27re faced with heavy teaching loads, back-to-back sessions, and balancing your other professional responsibilities, it can seem that there\u27s never enough time to develop effective, engaging, and creative classroom activities. Enter the Teaching Librarian\u27s Toolkit - flexible, modular activities that can be mixed and matched to align with student learning outcomes and enhance your information literacy sessions. In this interactive workshop, you\u27ll participate in sample activities, share your strategies, and develop a sample lesson plan to use or adapt in your teaching

Melioidosis: refining management of a tropical time bomb

10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62143-1The Lancet3839919762-764LANC

Computation of wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using a low-order panel method

A technique for determining wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using the low-order, three dimensional panel method PMARC (Panel Method Ames Research Center) has been developed. Initial validation of the technique was performed using lift-coefficient data in the linear lift range from tests of a large-scale STOVL fighter model in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) facility. The data from these tests served as an ideal database for validating the technique because the same model was tested in two wind tunnel test sections with widely different dimensions. The lift-coefficient data obtained for the same model configuration in the two test sections were different, indicating a significant influence of the presence of the tunnel walls and mounting hardware on the lift coefficient in at least one of the two test sections. The wind tunnel wall effects were computed using PMARC and then subtracted from the measured data to yield corrected lift-coefficient versus angle-of-attack curves. The corrected lift-coefficient curves from the two wind tunnel test sections matched very well. Detailed pressure distributions computed by PMARC on the wing lower surface helped identify the source of large strut interference effects in one of the wind tunnel test sections. Extension of the technique to analysis of wind tunnel wall effects on the lift coefficient in the nonlinear lift range and on drag coefficient will require the addition of boundary-layer and separated-flow models to PMARC

Neuromuscular adaptations to different set configurations during a periodized power training block in elite junior Judokas

Although the impacts of traditional sets (TS) versus cluster (CL) sets resistance training have been broadly explored among recreationally trained populations, no studies have previously compared these set configurations among elite Judokas. Twenty-two elite male and female Judokas (age = 17.5 ± 1.2 years) performed identical periodized 4-week hypertrophy and strength blocks (8 weeks in total). Following this, for the final 4-week power training block, the cohort was separated into either TS (n = 11) or CL (n = 11) set structures. CL were prescribed by including 45-second intra-set rest every two repetitions. One-repetition maximum (1RM) and peak barbell velocities of the back squat and bench press, and countermovement (CMJ) jump height were assessed before and following each 4-week mesocycle. Significant strength and power improvements were observed after the 4-week hypertrophy training block (1RM bench press = Δ 3.82 kg, ES [95 % CI] = 1.34 [0.76, 1.93], p \u3c 0.001; 1RM squat = Δ 4.71 kg, ES = 0.52 [0.07, 0.96], p = 0.024; CMJ height = Δ 0.54 cm, ES = 0.62 [0.16, 1.07], p = 0.008) and after the 4-week maximal strength training block (1RM bench press = Δ 1.5 kg, ES = 0.68 [0.21, 1.41], p = 0.004; 1RM squat = Δ 5.47 kg, ES = 0.61 [0.15, 1.06], p = 0.010; CMJ height = Δ 0.45 cm, ES = 0.71 [0.23, 1.17], p = 0.003). However, no time × group differences were observed between the TS and CL groups following the 4-week power training block. Though traditional periodized resistance training improved neuromuscular qualities of elite junior Judokas, no between-group neuromuscular differences using either TS or CL suggests that both methods may be used as part of periodized training programs

Automatic Detection of Seizures with Applications

There are an estimated two million people with epilepsy in the United States. Many of these people do not respond to anti-epileptic drug therapy. Two devices can be developed to assist in the treatment of epilepsy. The first is a microcomputer-based system designed to process massive amounts of electroencephalogram (EEG) data collected during long-term monitoring of patients for the purpose of diagnosing seizures, assessing the effectiveness of medical therapy, or selecting patients for epilepsy surgery. Such a device would select and display important EEG events. Currently many such events are missed. A second device could be implanted and would detect seizures and initiate therapy. Both of these devices require a reliable seizure detection algorithm. A new algorithm is described. It is believed to represent an improvement over existing seizure detection algorithms because better signal features were selected and better standardization methods were used