Progress in Flaps Down Flight Reynolds Number Testing Techniques at the NTF

A series of NASA/Boeing cooperative low speed wind tunnel tests was conducted in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) between 2003 and 2004 using a semi-span high lift model representative of the 777-200 aircraft. The objective of this work was to develop the capability to acquire high quality, low speed (flaps down) wind tunnel data at up to flight Reynolds numbers in a facility originally optimized for high speed full span models. In the course of testing, a number of facility and procedural improvements were identified and implemented. The impact of these improvements on key testing metrics data quality, productivity, and so forth - was significant, and is discussed here, together with the relevance of these metrics as applied to cryogenic wind tunnel testing in general. Details of the improvements at the NTF are discussed in AIAA-2006-0508 (Recent Improvements in Semi-span Testing at the National Transonic Facility). The development work at the NTF culminated with validation testing of a 787-8 semi-span model at full flight Reynolds number in the first quarter of 2006

Parental agency, identity and knowledge: mothers of children with dyslexia

This is a postprint of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in the Oxford Review of Education© 2004 Copyright Taylor & Francis; Oxford Review of Education is available online at http://www.informaworld.comIn this paper we report and analyse findings from part of a two-year evaluation project which focuses on parent-professional communications over the issues of learning difficulties arising from dyslexia. The key concepts in this study are dyslexia friendly schools and parental partnership, which are discussed in the current policy interest in inclusive education and parent partnership. A conceptual framework has been derived from the study which focuses on parental strategies to ensure adequate provision for their children, knowledge about dyslexia and identity, in particular that of the mother of the child with dyslexia. Excerpts from in-depth interviews of parents are then presented to illustrate the framework. The significance of the findings is examined in relation to other studies of parent partnership. Implications for a more inclusive version of extended professionalism are also considered

Improving the quality of general practice services in the UK: Surveying the activities of GPs and practice managers (abstract & commentary).

Improving the quality of general practice services has risen in priority as primary care has taken on an increasingly important role in National Health Service policy. In 2015 the Royal College of General Practitioners issued a guide to quality improvement (RCGP, 2015) and a new on-line resource in early 2017 called Quality Now (http://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/our-programmes/quality-improvement.aspx). However, there has been little research on the levers for improvement and a recent King’s Fund report (The King’s Fund, 2011) was unable to establish the nature and quantity of quality improvement work happening in practices. This is the first study of both General Practitioners and practice managers, across the UK, which looks at the range of improvement work going on, what motivates it, who is involved in this work and the barriers and facilitators practices face. It is important to understand these issues in order to focus training and better disseminate good practice and innovation across different countries

The impact of a visual arts program on quality of life, communication, and well-being of people living with dementia: a mixed-methods longitudinal investigation

Background: Research reviews highlight methodological limitations and gaps in the evidence base for the arts in dementia care. In response, we developed a 12-week visual art program and evaluated the impact on people living with dementia through a mixed-methods longitudinal investigation. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five people living with mild to severe dementia were recruited across three research settings in England and Wales (residential care homes, a county hospital, and community venues). Quantitative and qualitative data on quality of life (QoL), communication and perceptions of the program were obtained through interviews and self-reports with participants and their carers. Eight domains of well-being were measured using a standardized observation tool, and data compared to an alternative activity with no art. Results: Across all sites, scores for the well-being domains of interest, attention, pleasure, self-esteem, negative affect, and sadness were significantly better in the art program than the alternative condition. Proxy-reported QoL significantly improved between baseline and 3-month follow-up, but no improvements in QoL were reported by the participants with dementia. This was contrasted by their qualitative accounts, which described a stimulating experience important for social connectedness, well-being, and inner-strength. Communication deteriorated between baseline and follow-up in the hospital setting, but improved in the residential care setting. Conclusions: The findings highlight the potential for creative aging within dementia care, the benefits of art activities and the influence of the environment. We encourage dementia care providers and arts and cultural services to work toward embedding art activities within routine care provision

Dyslexia-friendly schools and parent partnership: inclusion and home-school relationships

This is a postprint of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in the European Journal of Special Needs Education© 2005 Copyright Taylor & Francis; European Journal of Special Needs Education is available online at http://www.informaworld.comThis paper summarizes an action research project in five local areas in the south-west of England which aimed to support parents of children with dyslexic difficulties who were experiencing problems in obtaining appropriate provision in mainstream schools. It was based on the importance of effective parental partnership and quality inclusive practice for children having dyslexic difficulties. A development officer worked over two years in the five participating LEAs that were selected to represent a range of professional practice with a mix of urban and rural populations. As part of the evaluation, the authors also examined longitudinally the educational experiences of a sample of parents. The paper includes a conceptual framework of parental agency in this field in terms of knowledge, identity and parental strategies, and the conditions under which parents escalate their strategies to secure appropriate provision for their children. The support provided by the development officer is analysed in terms of the kinds of support requests received, the kinds of support offered and qualitative evidence of the impact of this support. This research is theorized in terms of current ideas about parent-partnership and theories about parent-teacher relations in terms of the diversity of parents. It highlights the significance of thinking about inclusive schooling and parent-school relations in terms of the interconnections between general systems for all, for those with special educational needs and those with specific difficulties. The policy and practice implications are interpreted in terms of the importance of a system of extended professionalism, which is inclusive of parents with learning difficulties and disabilities.The research project this paper summarises was funded by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and the Buttle Trust

Past, present and future: perspectives on an oral history of intellectual disability nursing

Thirty-one participants engaged in this oral history research study aimed at exploring the lived experience of intellectual disability nurses and healthcare assistants’ knowledge of the trajectory of intellectual disability nursing over the last 30 years in the Republic of Ireland and England. This paper documents some of these experiences offering perspectives on intellectual disability nursing and what is important for the future. Findings from Ireland consider the nature of intellectual disability services and the registered nurse in intellectual disability. Findings from England focus on opportunities and restrictions in intellectual disability nursing, shared visions, the changing context within which work took place and also the internal and external supports that impacted their roles. It is evident that intellectual disability nurses must be responsive to the changing landscape of service provision and also the requirements for contemporary new roles to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disabilities

Refurbishing the UK's 'hard to treat' dwelling stock: understanding challenges and constraints

Project CALEBRE (Consumer Appealing Low Energy technologies for Building REtrofitting) is a four year £2 million E.ON/RCUK funded project that is investigating technologies and developing solutions for the UK’s solid-wall houses to offer energy demand reduction, energy efficient heat generation and energy management combined with user appeal. Understanding how technical solutions can be aligned with householder lifestyles is central to the CALEBRE project. The technologies include: vacuum glazing to achieve exceptionally low U-values whilst being capable of retrofit in existing window frames; advanced gas and electric air source heat pumps that operate at the temperatures needed for integration with existing domestic radiator systems; innovative surface materials for buffering moisture, humidity and temperature; retrofit mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) to manage ventilation and its associated heat loss. The technologies are being trialled in facilities that include the University of Nottingham E.ON 2016 House, a highly instrumented replica construction of a1930s dwelling. Alongside development and trialling, business case modelling of technologies is being conducted to establish mass roll-out strategies, as well as modelling to identify bespoke packages of measures for house refurbishment. This paper introduces Project CALEBRE, its content and scope, and reports some of its initial findings to highlight the challenges and constraints involved in the process of refurbishing the UK’s domestic stock

A suggested new bacteriophage genus: “Viunalikevirus”

We suggest a bacteriophage genus, “Viunalikevirus”, as a new genus within the family Myoviridae. To date, this genus includes seven sequenced members: Salmonella phages ViI, SFP10 and ΦSH19; Escherichia phages CBA120 and PhaxI; Shigella phage phiSboM-AG3; and Dickeya phage LIMEstone1. Their shared myovirus morphology, with comparable head sizes and tail dimensions, and genome organization are considered distinguishing features. They appear to have conserved regulatory sequences, a horizontally acquired tRNA set and the probable substitution of an alternate base for thymine in the DNA. A close examination of the tail spike region in the DNA revealed four distinct tail spike proteins, an arrangement which might lead to the umbrella-like structures of the tails visible on electron micrographs. These properties set the suggested genus apart from the recently ratified subfamily Tevenvirinae, although a significant evolutionary relationship can be observed. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00705-012-1360-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

‘Intellectual disability nursing, the Cinderella relation of nursing’: marginality explored through the oral histories of intellectual disability nurses.

This paper draws on work undertaken for an oral history project during 2018 - 2020, which sought to explore the careers of 31 intellectual disability nurses from England, UK and the Republic of Ireland, with at least thirty years experience. In both jurisdictions some participants had worked within long-stay institutions built in previous centuries, which have now all but closed; being replaced with smaller living configurations. Few practising intellectual disability nurses have experience of working in such institutions, and this makes it apposite to hear their important stories. Their narratives provide new insights into how these nurses have been marginalised from their professional group by a complex interplay of hegemonic tensions, parallel stigmatisation, recruitment issues, and emotional labour