Profile of a cell test database and a corresponding reliability database

The development of computerized control, and data retrieval for aerospace cell testing affords an excellent opportunity to incorporate three specific concepts to both manage the test area and to track product performance on a real-time basis. The adoption and incorporation of precepts fostered by this total quality management (TQM) initiative are critical to us for retaining control of our business while substantially reducing the separate quality control inspection activity. Test discrepancies are all 'equally bad' in cell acceptance testing because, for example, we presently do not discriminate between 1 or 25 mV for an overvoltage condition. We must take leadership in classifying such discrepancies in order to expedite their clearance and redirect our resources for prevention activities. The development and use of engineering alerts (or guardbanding) which more closely match our product capabilities and are toleranced tighter than the required customer specification are paramount to managing the test unit in order to remain both quality and cost effective

Anesthesia for cystotomy in a dog with pancreatitis and a portosystemic shunt

A 21-month-old Cocker spaniel with a portosystemic shunt, a moderate thrombocytopenia and a history of pancreatitis, was anesthetized for a cystotomy to remove bladder polyps and stones. The portosystemic shunt had been treated conservatively with lactulose, ampicillin and a special diet. After premedication with methadone 0.2 mg/kg, by intramuscular (IM) injection, anesthesia was induced with propofol 4 mg/kg intravenously (IV) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Additionally, 2 mL lidocaine 2% and 0.1 mg/kg morphine were injected in the lumbosacral epidural space and 0:1 mg/kg meloxicam was administered intravenously. Except for a moderate decrease in arterial pressure after the epidural injection and the need for intermittent positive pressure ventilation during surgery, anesthesia and recovery were uneventful. Postoperative analgesia was provided with methadone (0.2 mg/kg every 4 hours initially, then 0.1 mg/kg every 6 hours IM) and oral meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg the first day, 0.05 mg/kg during 4 days)

Student attitudes regarding the educational value and welfare implications in the use of model eyes and live dogs in teaching practical fundus examination: evaluation of responses from 40 students

This study sought to document student opinions on the educational value and welfare implications of use of artificial model eyes and live dogs in the training of veterinary students in examination of the canine fundus. Forty students who had undertaken a practical class on canine fundoscopy involving both use of artificial model eyes and live dogs were asked to complete a short questionnaire using a Likert scale to gauge their opinion on whether the use of live dogs and artificial eyes was very valuable (scoring 2), valuable (1), a neutral response (0), not particularly valuable (-1) or not at all valuable (-2) and to write a free text response on their views of the educational value and welfare implications of using artificial model eyes or live dogs in training for ophthalmic examination of the canine ocular fundus. Likert responses were 1.84±0.37 for using live greyhounds and 0.58±0.79 for using simulator eyes (p<0.0001). Thematic analysis of the written responses showed that while the artificial eyes were considered somewhat valuable in initial training, the live dogs were significantly preferred for their realism and the opportunity to examine the eye while handling a live animal. In conclusion, while model eyes are valuable initial training in use of the ophthalmoscope for funduscopic examination, students consider that examining the eye in the live dog is significantly more valuable and that the welfare of dogs thus used is not in their view unduly compromised

Mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-M/PCK2), phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and muscle cell growth

Our group reported upregulation of a novel group of genes was associated with beta-adrenergic agonist (BA)-induced muscle hypertrophy in pigs. The aim of this PhD was to investigate the expression of these genes, and particularly the role of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-M/PCK2) and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), in muscle cell growth. A significant (p<0.01) increase in mRNA transcript abundance was detected at day 2 of differentiation in C2C12 cells for PEPCK-M, PHGDH, phosphoserine aminotransferase-1, phosphoserine phosphatase, asparagine synthetase, sestrin-2 and activating transcription factor-5. This novel peak coincided with the peak in myogenin mRNA, connecting these genes with a crucial point of myogenic differentiation. Hypertrophy was induced in C2C12 myotubes treated with dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP), mimicking the BA response in vivo, however mRNA expression of these genes were unaffected. The porcine myosin heavy chain (MyHC)-IIB promoter-reporter C2C12 cell assay demonstrated similar in vivo responses to known anabolic and catabolic agents. Thus, C2C12 cells were utilised to determine the role of PEPCK-M and PHGDH in myogenic differentiation. Firstly, C2C12 cells were treated with a PEPCK inhibitor, 3-Mercaptopicolinic acid (3-MPA). 3-MPA induced differentiation, resulting in a hypertrophic response comparable to dbcAMP treatment. However, it was unclear whether 3-MPA inhibited PEPCK-M enzyme activity as 3-MPA interfered with the in vitro assay. Next, C2C12 cells were transfected with either PCK2 or PHGDH overexpression construct. No obvious phenotype was observed, but PHGDH and PEPCK-M overexpression both increased MyHC-IIB mRNA. The reoccurring induction of the same group of genes along with MyHC-IIB supports the hypothesis that co-ordinated upregulation of these genes may drive hypertrophic growth. To conclude, PEPCK-M, along with other genes upregulated with BA-induced hypertrophy and C2C12 differentiation, show co-ordinate regulation in times of high biosynthetic demand. PEPCK-M appears to sit at an intersection that allows metabolic flux to be largely altered by diverting intermediates during energy metabolism

Vertical flow in the Southern Ocean estimated from individual moorings

In this study, we demonstrate that oceanic vertical velocities can be estimated from individual mooring measurements, even for non-stationary flow. This result is obtained under three assumptions: i. weak diffusion (Péclet number ≫1), ii. weak friction (Reynolds number ≫1), and iii. small inertial terms (Rossby number ≪1). The theoretical framework is applied to a set of 4 moorings located in the Southern Ocean. For this site, the diagnosed vertical velocities are highly variable in time, their standard deviation being one-to-two orders of magnitude greater than their mean. We demonstrate that the time-averaged vertical velocities are largely induced by geostrophic flow, and can be estimated from the time-averaged density and horizontal velocities. This suggests that local time-mean vertical velocities are primarily forced by the time-mean ocean dynamics, rather than by e.g. transient eddies or internal waves. We also show that, in the context of these four moorings, the time-mean vertical flow is consistent with stratified Taylor column dynamics in the presence of a topographic obstacle

What is the contribution of physician associates in hospital care in England? A mixed methods, multiple case study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the deployment of physician associates (PAs); the factors supporting and inhibiting their employment and their contribution and impact on patients' experience and outcomes and the organisation of services. DESIGN: Mixed methods within a case study design, using interviews, observations, work diaries and documentary analysis. SETTING: Six acute care hospitals in three regions of England in 2016-2017. PARTICIPANTS: 43 PAs, 77 other health professionals, 28 managers, 28 patients and relatives. RESULTS: A key influencing factor supporting the employment of PAs in all settings was a shortage of doctors. PAs were found to be acceptable, appropriate and safe members of the medical/surgical teams by the majority of doctors, managers and nurses. They were mainly deployed to undertake inpatient ward work in the medical/surgical team during core weekday hours. They were reported to positively contribute to: continuity within their medical/surgical team, patient experience and flow, inducting new junior doctors, supporting the medical/surgical teams' workload, which released doctors for more complex patients and their training. The lack of regulation and attendant lack of authority to prescribe was seen as a problem in many but not all specialties. The contribution of PAs to productivity and patient outcomes was not quantifiable separately from other members of the team and wider service organisation. Patients and relatives described PAs positively but most did not understand who and what a PA was, often mistaking them for doctors. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers new insights concerning the deployment and contribution of PAs in medical and surgical specialties in English hospitals. PAs provided a flexible addition to the secondary care workforce without drawing from existing professions. Their utility in the hospital setting is unlikely to be completely realised without the appropriate level of regulation and authority to prescribe medicines and order ionising radiation within their scope of practice

My heart is racing! Psychophysiological dynamics of skilled racecar drivers

Our purpose was to test the multi-action plan (MAP) model assumptions in which athletes’ psychophysiological patterns differ among optimal and suboptimal performance experiences. Nine professional drivers competing in premier race categories (e.g., Formula 3, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge) completed the study. Data collection involved monitoring the drivers’ perceived hedonic tone, accuracy on core components of action, posture, skin temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate responses during a 40-lap simulated race. Time marks, gathered at three standardized sectors, served as the performance variable. The A1GP racing simulator (Allinsport, Modena) established a realistic race platform. Specifically, the Barcelona track was chosen due to its inherently difficult nature characterized by intermittent deceleration points. Idiosyncratic analyses showed large individual differences in the drivers’ psychophysiological profile, as well as distinct patterns in regards to optimal and suboptimal performance experiences. Limitations and future research avenues are discussed. Action (e.g., attentional control) and emotion (e.g., biofeedback training) centered applied sport psychology implications are advanced

Associations and within-group differences in physical characteristics and golf performance data in high-level amateur players

The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between a comprehensive physical testing battery and golf performance, as quantified through a variety of previously determined usable metrics from launch monitor data. Twenty-six high level, amateur golfers undertook a series of physical assessments, including: anthropometry measurements, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), isometric bench press, countermovement jump (CMJ), seated medicine ball throws for distance, and a seated thoracic rotation test. In addition, golf shot data was recorded in an indoor biomechanics laboratory, with a driver and 6-iron to quantify clubhead speed (CHS), ball speed, carry distance, and smash factor. Pearson’s r associative analysis showed that the strongest relationships between golf shot data was with the isometric bench press for the upper body (r values up to 0.76), and countermovement jump for the lower body (r values up to 0.82). In addition, median split analysis for physical performance data revealed that players who were able to exhibit greater maximal and explosive strength capabilities in the IMTP, isometric bench press and CMJ assessments, had significantly greater CHS (g range = 1.09-1.28; p < 0.05), ball speed (g range = 1.18-1.41; p < 0.05), carry distance (g range = 1.06-1.53; p < 0.05), and smash factor (g range = 0.81-1.17; p < 0.05). These data underscore the importance of superior physical capacity for golfers, especially for maximal force production in both the lower and upper body, as well as explosive force production for the lower body