7,086 research outputs found
A revolutionary and operational tethered aerostat system illustrating new LTA technology
An operational tethered aerostat system, which demonstrates utility of LTA systems, is described. It was made possible by development of a reliable tethered aerostat that is used to support broadcast equipment at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Two elements of the TCOM system, the aerostat and mooring station, are particularly relevant to the LTA Workshop. They demonstrate the feasibility of using LTA vehicles in real, operational, all-weather applications and, in addition, illustrate an advance in the overall technology base of LTA. The aerostat and the mooring station, including their technical design features and demonstrated performance characteristics, are described
A FULL SYSTEM CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY OF A CONDUCTED EMISSIONS MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards for an accredited test laboratory require that the measurement uncertainty of the measuring instruments be characterized. The CISPR 16-4 standard gives guidance to the magnitude of this uncertainty, but no method of characterization. This thesis describes a method to perform this characterization on a conducted emissions measurement system, taking advantage of full system analysis techniques to reduce the uncertainty to exceptionally low levels. In addition, a framework is introduced whereby uncertainty can decomposed into its constituent parts such that the laboratory operator can identify methods to improve the systems performance
Illness perceptions of leprosy-cured individuals in Surinam with residual disfigurements – “I am cured, but still I am ill”
Objective Leprosy has rarely been the subject of health psychology research despite its substantial impact. Our aim was to explore illness perceptions in patients and their health care providers in Surinam. The Common Sense Model (CSM) was the guiding theoretical model. Design Patients with biomedically cured leprosy and their health care providers completed the B-IPQ and took part in semi-structured interviews. The literature on illness perceptions in patients with leprosy was reviewed. Main outcome measures Patients’ B-IPQ scores were compared with samples of patients with other (chronic) illnesses, and with health care providers completing the questionnaire as if they were visibly disfigured patients. Quotations from the semi-structured interviews were used to contextualise the illness perceptions. Results Patients’ B-IPQ scores reflected the chronic nature of leprosy and were comparable with those with other chronic illnesses. Health care providers perceived leprosy to have a greater negative impact than did the patients. Perceived understanding of causes differed considerably between patients and health care providers. Conclusion Leprosy continues to be experienced as an illness with major psychological and social consequences such as stigmatisation, even after biomedical cure. Interventions that target patients, health care providers, and society at large may help reduce perceived shame and stigma. The CSM is a helpful theoretical model in studying this population. </jats:sec
Associations Between Maternal Maltreatment-Specific Shame, Maternal-Infant Interactions, And Infant Emotion Regulation
The current study focuses on maltreatment-specific shame as a potential mechanism by which mothers\u27 histories of childhood maltreatment might influence parenting and infant emotion regulation. Shame is a common reaction to childhood maltreatment, and the persistence of maltreatment-specific shame is associated with psychopathology and other psychosocial problems long after the abuse ends (Andrews, Brewin, Rose, & Kirk, 2000; Feiring, Taska, & Lewis, 2002a; Feiring & Taska, 2005). Despite being associated with psychopathology (e.g., depression, PTSD), shame is a conceptually distinct abuse-specific reaction that can interfere with self and interpersonal development (Feiring, Cleland & Simon, 2010; Feiring, Simon, Cleland, 2009; Feiring, Simon, Cleland & Barrett, 2013). Remarkably little is known about whether and how maltreatment-specific shame might affect women\u27s postpartum adjustment, parenting, and infant emotion regulation. The current study begins to address this gap in the literature by (1) identifying factors associated with maltreatment-specific shame during the postpartum period, and (2) examining associations between mothers\u27 maltreatment-specific shame with parenting (as measured by maternal hostility and maternal positive affect) and infants\u27 emotion regulation during an interactional stressor at 6-months postpartum. These associations were also explored with depression, to compare the outcomes and understand the distinct effects of shame with parenting and infant emotion regulation.
Results indicate that maltreatment-specific shame is predicted by multi-maltreatment, but not any other socio-demographic or maltreatment characteristics. Additionally, maltreatment-specific shame predicts maternal hostility, but not maternal positive affect during maternal-child interactions. Depression predicts both maternal positive affect and maternal hostility. Evidence did not support indirect relationships between shame and infant emotion regulation via parenting behaviors. The relationships between shame, parenting, and infant emotion regulation may be better understood by exploring the long-term associations between depression symptoms and shame with parenting behavior and infant emotion regulation. The current study provides evidence in support of theories that maltreatment-specific shame is related to increased hostile parenting behaviors
Guanosine nucleotides regulate B2 kinin receptor affinity of agonists but not of antagonists: Discussion of a model proposing receptor precoupling to G protein
The effect of nucleotides on binding of the B2 kinin (BK) receptor agonist {[}H-3]BK and the antagonist {[}H-3]NPC17731 to particulate fractions of human foreskin fibroblasts was studied. At 0 degrees C, particulate fractions exhibited a single class of binding sites with a Kd of 2.3 nM for {[}H-3]BK and a K-d Of 3.8 nM for the antagonist {[}H-3]NPC17731. Incubation with radioligands at 37 degrees C for 5 min gave a reduction of agonist, as well as antagonist, binding that was between 0-40% depending on the preparation, even in the absence of guanosine nucleotides. As shown by Scatchard analysis, this reduction in specific binding was due to a shift in the affinity of at least a fraction of the receptors. The presence at 37 degrees C of the guanine nucleotides GTP, GDP and their poorly hydrolyzable analogs left {[}H-3]-NPC17731 binding unaffected, but reduced the receptor affinity for {[}H-3]BK to a K-d Of about 15 nM. The maximal number of receptors, however, was unchanged. This affinity change was strongly dependent on the presence of bivalent cations, in particular Mg2+. It was reversed by incubation at 0 degrees C, The rank order of the guanosine nucleotides for {[}H-3]BK binding reduction was GTP{[}gamma S] = Gpp{[}NH]p > GTP = GDP > GDP{[}beta S]. GMP, ATP, ADP and AMP showed no influence on agonist binding. A model for the interaction of the B2 kinin receptor with G proteins is discussed
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