Aircraft Vertical Profile Implementation using Directed-Graph Methods

Aircraft Vertical Profile Simulation is Realized using a Demand-Driven Minimal-Calculation Directed Graph Structure to Reduce Calculation Time and to Force Synchronization of the Performance Measurement Functions with the System State Variables. Performance-Directed Model Adaptation Makes Dynamic Vertical Profile Path Corrections, in the Presence of Fixed Drag Variations, Possible. Drag Variations Ranging from + 10 Percent to - 10 Percent Yielded Fuel Consumption Improvements of Less Than 1 Percent in the Majority of the Cases. Calculation Time Improvement for Path Simulation Ranges from a Factor of 1.19 in the Worst Case to 1.5 in the Best Case. © 1988 IEE

Human resource management: the promise, the performance, the consequences

Purpose – The dominant focus of HRM research has been that of “strategic HRM”, that is a focus on the impact of HRM on firm performance. The authors argue that not only are the cumulative results of this “dominant research orthodoxy” disappointing in terms of their external validity, but also they are of limited practical value. Further, it has failed not only in terms of its narrow firm performance-oriented agenda, but also the tenets of its agenda have contributed to serious levels of employee dissatisfaction and to the failure to deal with pressing global issues. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In order to assess the contribution of the dominant research orthodoxy the authors analyse the 16 most cited journal articles in the field of HRM. Findings – The authors find a predominance of US-centric studies and therefore a questionable cross-national generalizability of the dominant research orthodoxy. The use of cross-sectional data means that long-term effects cannot be gauged. The authors observe a lack of consensus on how to operationalize HRM and firm performance. National context is generally absent. Practical implications – The authors show that for HRM to realize its potential for governments, media, or philanthropic agencies, HRM must abandon its restricted scope and mono-dimensional sources of inspiration. Originality/value – The authors not only point to the shortcomings of the dominant research orthodoxy within HRM, but the authors point to how HRM could become significantly more “centre-staged” by addressing the actors searching for contributions to the big questions of the world – the governments, media, and philanthropic agencies

The Experiences of Practice Educator Facilitators and Academics Supporting Adult Nursing Students Completing a Paid Placement During the COVID-19

The first phase of the COVID-19 global pandemic had a significant impact on nursing students studying in the United Kingdom, heralding changes to every aspect of their lives. Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs) and academics had to respond quickly and work in close collaboration with their wider system partners, Health Education England (HEE) and the Department of Health (DH). Changes in emergency measures implemented by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) provided nursing students in their final six months of study with the opportunity of completing a paid placement. The objectives of this study were to explore the experiences of academics and PEFs supporting the nursing students and to identify examples of good practice. A phenomenological approach was used seeking to understand the lived experience of PEFs and academics within one case study site. A purposeful sample of ten participants was chosen using semi-structured interviews and focus groups to collect the data via a virtual platform. The results highlighted three themes: communication, innovative learning opportunities and the importance of support mechanisms. PEFs and academics reported how they had increased their competence and confidence in using virtual platforms. They suggested that changes they implemented during the pandemic to support staff and students would become embedded in their future practice. This study provides insights into how PEFs and academics transformed their practice to support students and clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having robust virtual platforms for the development of continuing learning opportunities and enhanced communication approaches across health and academic environments was essential to this success.  

Flash LIDAR Emulator for HIL Simulation

No abstract availabl

Flash LIDAR Emulator for HIL Simulation

NASA's Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) project is building a system for detecting hazards and automatically landing controlled vehicles safely anywhere on the Moon. The Flash Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) sensor is used to create on-the-fly a 3D map of the unknown terrain for hazard detection. As part of the ALHAT project, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation testbed was developed to test the data processing, guidance, and navigation algorithms in real-time to prove their feasibility for flight. Replacing the Flash LIDAR camera with an emulator in the testbed provided a cheaper, safer, more feasible way to test the algorithms in a controlled environment. This emulator must have the same hardware interfaces as the LIDAR camera, have the same performance characteristics, and produce images similar in quality to the camera. This presentation describes the issues involved and the techniques used to create a real-time flash LIDAR emulator to support HIL simulation

Increasing physical activity in older adults using STARFISH, an interactive smartphone application (app); a pilot study

Background:Increasing physical activity in older adults has preventative and therapeutic health benefits. We have developed STARFISH, a smartphone application, to increase physical activity. This paper describes the features of STARFISH, presents the views of older users on the acceptability and usability of the app and reports the results of a six week pilot study of the STARFISH app in older adults. Methods:The operationalisation of the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) within the STARFISH app was mapped against the BCT Taxonomy of Michie et al. Sixteen healthy older adults (eight women and eight men; age 71.1 ± 5.2 years) used the app, in groups of four, for six weeks. Focus groups explored the user experience and objective measure of steps per day recorded. Results:Participants were very positive about using the STARFISH app, in particular the embedded BCTs of self-monitoring, feedback and social support (in the form of group rewards). Objective step data, available for eight participants, showed that step counts increased by an average of 14% (p = 0.077, d = 0.56). Conclusion:The STARFISH app was acceptable and straightforward to use for older adults. STARFISH has potential to increase physical activity in older adults; however, a fully powered randomised controlled trial is required

Genotypic and functional properties of early infant HIV-1 envelopes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Understanding the properties of HIV-1 variants that are transmitted from women to their infants is crucial to improving strategies to prevent transmission. In this study, 162 full-length <it>envelope </it>(<it>env</it>) clones were generated from plasma RNA obtained from 5 HIV-1 Clade B infected mother-infant pairs. Following extensive genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, 35 representative clones were selected for functional studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Infant quasispecies were highly homogeneous and generally represented minor maternal variants, consistent with transmission across a selective bottleneck. Infant clones did not differ from the maternal in <it>env </it>length, or glycosylation. All infant variants utilized the CCR5 co-receptor, but were not macrophage tropic. Relatively high levels (IC₅₀≥ 100 μg/ml) of autologous maternal plasma IgG were required to neutralize maternal and infant viruses; however, all infant viruses were neutralized by pooled sera from HIV-1 infected individuals, implying that they were not inherently neutralization-resistant. All infant viruses were sensitive to the HIV-1 entry inhibitors Enfuvirtide and soluble CD4; none were resistant to Maraviroc. Sensitivity to human monoclonal antibodies 4E10, 2F5, b12 and 2G12 varied.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides extensive characterization of the genotypic and functional properties of HIV-1 <it>env </it>shortly after transmission. We present the first detailed comparisons of the macrophage tropism of infant and maternal <it>env </it>variants and their sensitivity to Maraviroc, the only CCR5 antagonist approved for therapeutic use. These findings may have implications for improving approaches to prevent mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission.</p

Calciphylaxis following kidney transplantation: a case report

Introduction: Calciphylaxis occurring after kidney transplantation is rare and rarely reported. It results in chronic non-healing wounds and is associated with a poor prognosis and is often fatal. We present a case of proximal lower limb calciphylaxis that occurred early after kidney transplantation. The patient had no classic associated risk factors. He had previously had a total parathyroidectomy but had normal serum calcium-phosphate product and parathyroid hormone levels. The clinical outcome of this case was favorable and highlights some fundamental issues relating to management. Case prsentation: A 70-year-old British Caucasian man with end-stage renal failure secondary to IgA nephropathy presented six months post kidney transplantation with cutaneous calciphylaxis lesions involving the medial aspect of the thigh bilaterally. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of rapid onset cutaneous calciphylaxis occurring soon after kidney transplantation that was associated with a favorable outcome. Cutaneous calciphylaxis lesions should be promptly managed with meticulous wound care, antimicrobial therapy and the correction of calcium-phosphate product where indicated