3,168 research outputs found
RT_BUILD: An expert programmer for implementing and simulating Ada real-time control software
The RT BUILD is an expert control system programmer that creates real-time Ada code from block-diagram descriptions of control systems. Since RT BUILD embodies substantial knowledge about the implementation of real-time control systems, it can perform many, if not most of the functions normally performed by human real-time programmers. Though much basic research was done in automatic programming, RT BUILD appears to be the first application of this research to an important problem in flight control system development. In particular, RT BUILD was designed to directly increase productivity and reliability for control implementations of large complex systems
Large-amplitude chirped coherent phonons in tellurium mediated by ultrafast photoexcited carrier diffusion
We report femtosecond time-resolved reflectivity measurements of coherent
phonons in tellurium performed over a wide range of temperatures (3K to 296K)
and pump laser intensities. A totally symmetric A coherent phonon at 3.6
THz responsible for the oscillations in the reflectivity data is observed to be
strongly positively chirped (i.e, phonon time period decreases at longer
pump-probe delay times) with increasing photoexcited carrier density, more so
at lower temperatures. We show for the first time that the temperature
dependence of the coherent phonon frequency is anomalous (i.e, increasing with
increasing temperature) at high photoexcited carrier density due to
electron-phonon interaction. At the highest photoexcited carrier density of
1.4 10cm and the sample temperature of 3K, the
lattice displacement of the coherent phonon mode is estimated to be as high as
0.24 \AA. Numerical simulations based on coupled effects of optical
absorption and carrier diffusion reveal that the diffusion of carriers
dominates the non-oscillatory electronic part of the time-resolved
reflectivity. Finally, using the pump-probe experiments at low carrier density
of 6 10 cm, we separate the phonon anharmonicity to
obtain the electron-phonon coupling contribution to the phonon frequency and
linewidth.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, submitted to PR
Analysis and Survey of FPGA Based PROFIBUS Board
Fieldbus system has been established as a communication network, used to connect field devices such as sensors, transduser,controller,man machine interface.Currently a large number of global fieldbus standards are available for consumers.Citation of different types of field bus present an analytical review of various fieldbus systemthat how to gather the data from various equipment distributed far away from each other in the field with reduced wiring and cabling requirement, those are the basic components of communication system.
This work also discuss about FPGA based PROFIBUS communication board. It proposes the alternative solution to complexity of communication system and devise it more reliable, high integral and transmission efficient
Initiation of Psychotropic Medication after Partner Bereavement: A Matched Cohort Study
Background
Recent changes to diagnostic criteria for depression in DSM-5 remove the bereavement exclusion, allowing earlier diagnosis following bereavement. Evaluation of the potential effect of this change requires an understanding of existing psychotropic medication prescribing by non-specialists after bereavement.
Aims
To describe initiation of psychotropic medication in the first year after partner bereavement.
Methods
In a UK primary care database, we identified 21,122 individuals aged 60 and over with partner bereavement and no psychotropic drug use in the previous year. Prescribing (anxiolytic/hypnotic, antidepressant, antipsychotic) after bereavement was compared to age, sex and practice matched controls.
Results
The risks of receiving a new psychotropic prescription within two and twelve months of bereavement were 9.5% (95% CI 9.1 to 9.9%) and 17.9% (17.3 to 18.4%) respectively; an excess risk of initiation in the first year of 12.4% compared to non-bereaved controls. Anxiolytic/hypnotic and antidepressant initiation rates were highest in the first two months. In this period, the hazard ratio for initiation of anxiolytics/hypnotics was 16.7 (95% CI 14.7 to 18.9) and for antidepressants was 5.6 (4.7 to 6.7) compared to non-bereaved controls. 13.3% of those started on anxiolytics/hypnotics within two months continued to receive this drug class at one year. The marked variation in background family practice prescribing of anxiolytics/hypnotics was the strongest determinant of their initiation in the first two months after bereavement.
Conclusion
Almost one in five older people received a new psychotropic drug prescription in the year after bereavement. The early increase and trend in antidepressant use after bereavement suggests some clinicians did not adhere to the bereavement exclusion, with implications for its recent removal in DSM-5. Family practice variation in use of anxiolytics/hypnotics suggests uncertainty over their role in bereavement with the potential for inappropriate long term use
Health characteristics and consultation patterns of people with intellectual disability: a cross-sectional database study in English general practice.
BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disability (ID) are a group with high levels of healthcare needs; however, comprehensive information on these needs and service use is very limited. AIM: To describe chronic disease, comorbidity, disability, and general practice use among people with ID compared with the general population. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of a primary care database including 408 English general practices in 2012. METHOD: A total of 14 751 adults with ID, aged 18-84 years, were compared with 86 221 age-, sex- and practice-matched controls. Depending on the outcome, prevalence (PR), risk (RR), or odds (OR) ratios comparing patients with ID with matched controls are shown. RESULTS: Patients with ID had a markedly higher prevalence of recorded epilepsy (18.5%, PR 25.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.29 to 27.57), severe mental illness (8.6%, PR 9.10, 95% CI = 8.34 to 9.92), and dementia (1.1%, PR 7.52, 95% CI = 5.95 to 9.49), as well as moderately increased rates of hypothyroidism and heart failure (PR>2.0). However, recorded prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and cancer was approximately 30% lower than the general population. The average annual number of primary care consultations was 6.29 for patients with ID, compared with 3.89 for matched controls. Patients with ID were less likely to have longer doctor consultations (OR 0.73, 95% CI = 0.69 to 0.77), and had lower continuity of care with the same doctor (OR 0.77, 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.82). CONCLUSION: Compared with the general population, people with ID have generally higher overall levels of chronic disease and greater primary care use. Ensuring access to high-quality chronic disease management, especially for epilepsy and mental illness, will help address these greater healthcare needs. Continuity of care and longer appointment times are important potential improvements in primary care
Statistical process control for high precision deep drawn sheet metal parts
In today\u27s world, industrial expertise has come to be judged in terms of the quality of the product. Good quality has become the ultimate aim in a manufacturing environment, which leads to many innovations for ease in the inspection of parts. In considering a metal working company like Hudson Tool & Die Company, a study of the various operations and the application of Statistical Process Control to the forming operations is performed using STORM software. Important characteristics have been carefully studied with regards to metal forming like uniform metal thickness, radius of the bend, depth of the drawing operation. In-depth analysis was performed on the pattern, and the cause of the variations. Various control charts such as average chart, range chart and p chart were obtained and different processes were studied. Computer aided quality control is fast becoming a standard in the manufacturing world. Non-contact gaging, coordinate measuring machines, and automatic conversion of the data into useful information are noteworthy and hence have been mentioned
EVALUATE THE ANTIFERTILITY POTENTIAL OF FICUS RACEMOSA LINN BARK IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS
Objective: The present study was formulated in order to Evaluate the Antifertility Potential of Ficus Racemosa Linn on Female Wistar Rats.Methods: Effects of Ficus Racemosa bark extract was studied on physicochemical parameters, successive solvent extraction and phytochemical screening and antifertility activity. After acute oral toxicity study, antifertility activity in proven fertile female Wistar Rats at the doses 500mg/kg b.wt./day for 30 days. Effects on dimensions of Reproductive outcome, Anti-implantation, Abortifacient, Estrogenic and Antiestrogenic activity were observed.Results: Phytochemical studies of Ficus Racemosa bark shown positive test for Alkaloids, Steroid, Flavonoids, Terpene, Carbohydrates and Tannin. The extract of Ficus Racemosa has anti-fertility effect the control rats showed good number of litters. Treatment of animal with different extracts, resulted a significant (P< 0.05, P< 0.01). antifertility activity (56.5% and 40.3%) was exhibited by AFR and WFR respectively. After 21 days of the extracts free period, the antifertility effect of the extracts was reversed. The extract treatments with AFR, an increase in the resorption index (%) by the extract is an indication of failure in the development of the embryo. The mean percentage of anti-implantation and percent resorption (abortifacient) were found to be highest for AFR-41.21%, WFR 28.07, and AFR-32.56%, WFR-20.76% respectively. The decrement in implantation caused by the extracts may be due to estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. However, along with standard AFR exhibiting more potent estrogenic and less potent anti-estrogenic when compared with standard.Conclusion: The above results revealed the potential, reversible Female antifertility effect of alcoholic extract F. Racemosa bark.Â
Using Peptoids to Build Robust, Efficient Microarray Systems
Recent studies have shown microarrays to be indispensable for various biological applications, allowing for high-throughput processing and screening of biological samples such as RNA, DNA, proteins and peptides using a small sample volume (\u3c 1 µL). Peptoids (poly-N-substituted glycine oligomers) can be used as a substitute for antibodies as capture molecules, as well as coatings for slides in antibody microarrays. The ease of synthesis of peptoids, high customizability with desired bioactivity, and speed of synthesis allows us to build a diagnostic system with a large dynamic range that can detect biomolecules from a minimal sample size. In this study, peptoid-based antibody mimics are designed to have both structural and functional features similar to those of antibodies, including a stable constant region (scaffolding) and a variable region for protein recognition. Peptoids previously screened via combinatorial library synthesis to be specific to bind Mdm-2 (mouse double minute 2 homolog) and GST (gluthathione S-transferase), have been synthesized. The protein recognition peptoids have been conjugated to PEG (polyethylene glycol) molecules with modified end groups; an amine group on one end that allows for immobilization and orientation on the slide, and an azide group on the other end that will allow for attachment to the peptoid through “click chemistry”. The number of capture molecules printed on the slides can be increased by making the available surface area of the slide larger via coating with microspheres. We have determined that partially water soluble peptoids that are also helical, can self-assemble into microspheres. Sequences have been developed that can consistently produce uniform microsphere coatings on slides that increase the overall surface area. A high surface area corresponds to a higher number of binding sites, and therefore a more sensitive system. The work done has shown that slides may be successfully coated in order to potentially improve the detection system
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