Electrical grounding bracket

Device serves as common grounding point for shielded wires of multipin electrical connector and permits addition or removal of ground leads without disturbing other grounded wires

A direct-execution parallel architecture for the Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL)

A direct-execution parallel architecture for the Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL) is presented which overcomes the traditional disadvantages of simulations executed on a digital computer. The incorporation of parallel processing allows the mapping of simulations into a digital computer to be done in the same inherently parallel manner as they are currently mapped onto an analog computer. The direct-execution format maximizes the efficiency of the executed code since the need for a high level language compiler is eliminated. Resolution is greatly increased over that which is available with an analog computer without the sacrifice in execution speed normally expected with digitial computer simulations. Although this report covers all aspects of the new architecture, key emphasis is placed on the processing element configuration and the microprogramming of the ACLS constructs. The execution times for all ACLS constructs are computed using a model of a processing element based on the AMD 29000 CPU and the AMD 29027 FPU. The increase in execution speed provided by parallel processing is exemplified by comparing the derived execution times of two ACSL programs with the execution times for the same programs executed on a similar sequential architecture

Glucocorticoid therapy for adrenal insufficiency: nonadherence, concerns and dissatisfaction with information

Objective: Appropriate self‐management of glucocorticoid therapy (GC) is crucial for patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). We aimed to describe patients’ self‐reported nonadherence to GC, evaluate perceived doubts about need for GC, concerns about adverse effects, and dissatisfaction with information received about GC. Design: Cross‐sectional survey. Patients: Patients prescribed GC for AI (n = 81) from five European countries. Measurements: Online survey including the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire© (BMQ Specific, adapted for AI) and Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale© (Prof Rob Horne; SIMS). Results: Most patients (85·2%) reported a degree of nonadherence to GC. The most frequent types of nonadherence concerned changing the timing of GC doses, for example taking a dose later in the day than advised (37·0%). Few patients doubted their personal need for daily GC, but most reported high concerns about GC including potential weight gain (50·6%), osteoporosis (53·6%) and the continuing risk of adrenal crisis (50·6%). Dissatisfaction with information about GC was frequent, with participants particularly dissatisfied with the amount of information they had received about potential problems with GC. People who expressed dissatisfaction with information about GC, and concerns about its adverse effects were also more likely to report nonadherence (P < 0·05). Conclusions: Nonadherence to treatment, concerns about potential adverse effects and dissatisfaction with the information provided about treatment were frequently reported by this European sample of AI patients. Many AI patients may need additional information about their GC and support to address concerns about GC and facilitate adherence

Modeling of Euclidean braided fiber architectures to optimize composite properties

Three-dimensional braided fiber reinforcements are a very effective toughening mechanism for composite materials. The integral yarn path inherent to this fiber architecture allows for effective multidirectional dispersion of strain energy and negates delamination problems. In this paper a geometric model of Euclidean braid fiber architectures is presented. This information is used to determine the degree of geometric isotropy in the braids. This information, when combined with candidate material properties, can be used to quickly generate an estimate of the available load-carrying capacity of Euclidean braids at any arbitrary angle

Outcomes of an Evidence-Based, Data Driven-Model Fieldwork Experience for Occupational Therapy Students

Over the past decade, there has been an increased emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP) and the use of outcome measurement in clinical practice, however, the implementation of evidence into practice remains challenging and irregular. During fieldwork, students often experience a disconnect between the emphasis on EBP in the classroom and lack of use in the clinic. Recognizing the need to develop high-quality, evidence-based and data-driven models of practice for student training, we partnered with local fieldwork educators to develop an innovative program that guides students and simultaneously trains fieldwork educators (FWE) in the use of a systematic data driven decision making (DDDM) process to infuse evidence into practice. Using a pre-post quasi-experimental design, we evaluated the impact of this program on students’ perceived knowledge and skills in use of EBP and DDDM. A focus group with participating fieldwork educators captured their knowledge and attitudes in the use of EBP and DDDM in their clinical sites. Eleven FWEs and twenty four students participated. Results revealed significant change in students’ knowledge and skill in use of EBP and DDDM. FWEs reported the program clarified the role of occupational therapy, enhanced communication, and validated the value of occupational therapy in their clinical site. This program serves as a model for training students to implement evidence and data driven approaches in clinical practice, thus bridging the gap between classroom and clinic

Buoyant Venus station mission feasibility study for 1972 and 1973 launch opportunities. Volume 3 - Configuration definition. Part 1 - Configuration Final report

Configuration definitions for buoyant Venus station missions for 1972 - 1973 launch perio

The association between life events, social support, and antibody status following thymus-dependent and thymus-independent vaccinations in healthy young adults

This study determined whether stressful life events and social support were related to antibody status following both thymus-dependent and thymus-independent vaccinations. Life events in the previous year and customary social support were measured in 57 healthy students at baseline. Antibody status was also assessed at baseline and at five weeks and five months following vaccination with the trivalent influenza vaccine and the meningococcal A+C polysaccharide vaccine. Taking into account baseline antibody titre, high life events scores prior to vaccination were associated with lower responses to the B/Shangdong influenza strain at both five weeks and five months and meningococcal C at five weeks. Life events scores were not associated with response to the other two influenza viral strains nor response to meningococcal A. Those with high social support scores had stronger 5-week and 5-month antibody responses to the A/Panama influenza strain, but not to any of the other strains. These associations could not be accounted for by demographic or health behaviour factors, and also emerged from analyses comparing those who exhibited a four-fold increase in antibody titre from baseline with those who did not. Life events and social support were related to antibody status following influenza vaccination in distinctive ways that may be partly determined by vaccine novelty and prior naturalistic exposure. Life events also predicted poor antibody response to meningococcal C polysaccharide vaccination after previous meningococcal C conjugate vaccination. Neither psychosocial factor was associated with response to primary meningococcal A polysaccharide vaccination

Photovoltaic module encapsulation design and materials selection, volume 1

Encapsulation material system requirements, material selection criteria, and the status and properties of encapsulation materials and processes available are presented. Technical and economic goals established for photovoltaic modules and encapsulation systems and their status are described. Available encapsulation technology and data are presented to facilitate design and material selection for silicon flat plate photovoltaic modules, using the best materials available and processes optimized for specific power applications and geographic sites. The operational and environmental loads that encapsulation system functional requirements and candidate design concepts and materials that are identified to have the best potential to meet the cost and performance goals for the flat plate solar array project are described. Available data on encapsulant material properties, fabrication processing, and module life and durability characteristics are presented

Identification of blood biomarkers for use in point of care diagnosis tool for Alzheimer's disease.

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is widely regarded as necessary to allow treatment to be started before irreversible damage to the brain occur and for patients to benefit from new therapies as they become available. Low-cost point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic tools that can be used to routinely diagnose AD in its early stage would facilitate this, but such tools require reliable and accurate biomarkers. However, traditional biomarkers for AD use invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and/or expensive neuroimaging techniques together with neuropsychological assessments. Blood-based PoC diagnostics tools may provide a more cost and time efficient way to assess AD to complement CSF and neuroimaging techniques. However, evidence to date suggests that only a panel of biomarkers would provide the diagnostic accuracy needed in clinical practice and that the number of biomarkers in such panels can be large. In addition, the biomarkers in a panel vary from study to study. These issues make it difficult to realise a PoC device for diagnosis of AD. An objective of this paper is to find an optimum number of blood biomarkers (in terms of number of biomarkers and sensitivity/specificity) that can be used in a handheld PoC device for AD diagnosis. We used the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database to identify a small number of blood biomarkers for AD. We identified a 6-biomarker panel (which includes A1Micro, A2Macro, AAT, ApoE, complement C3 and PPP), which when used with age as covariate, was able to discriminate between AD patients and normal subjects with a sensitivity of 85.4% and specificity of 78.6%

Solitary waves and atomic population transfer via the continuum

Exact analytic results are presented that represent a pair of solitary waves that can propagate through an atomic medium with their shapes invariant while producing transfer of atoms or molecules from one bound state to another via a continuum. The speed of the waves and the amount of population transfer are given in terms of the wave amplitudes. A general ~not solitary wave! solution for the case of a single wave is presented, together with a nonlinear Beer’s law of absorption