User interfaces for microcomputer-based neonatal monitoring systems

From 1980 a Loughborough University, St George's Hospital and All Saints' Hospital research group developed a microcomputer-based neonatal monitoring system. During the course of their research it was apparent that most of its users could be characterized as "naive" computer users. Because of the restraints of the physical environment within a neonatal unit careful consideration had to be given to ascertaining an ideal user interface. The aim of this research was to investigate the most suitable user interface which would enable the naive user to input data and make use of the vast amount of data automatically collected by the monitoring system. An analysis of existing computer based medical monitoring systems was carried out but none were found to be as sophisticated as that being developed by the Loughborough research group. It was also apparent that very little effort had been dedicated to user interfaces for this application. [Continues.]</p

Rotating biological contactors for wastewater treatment - A review

Rotating biological contactors (RBCs) for wastewater treatment began in the 1970s. Removal of organic matter has been targeted within organic loading rates of up to 120 g m−2 d−1 with an optimum at around 15 g m−2 d−1 for combined BOD and ammonia removal. Full nitrification is achievable under appropriate process conditions with oxidation rates of up to 6 g m−2 d−1 reported for municipal wastewater. The RBC process has been adapted for denitrification with reported removal rates of up to 14 g m−2 d−1 with nitrogen rich wastewaters. Different media types can be used to improve organic/nitrogen loading rates through selecting for different bacterial groups. The RBC has been applied with only limited success for enhanced biological phosphorus removal and attained up to 70% total phosphorus removal. Compared to other biofilm processes, RBCs had 35% lower energy costs than trickling filters but higher demand than wetland systems. However, the land footprint for the same treatment is lower than these alternatives. The RBC process has been used for removal of priority pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The RBC system has been shown to eliminate 99% of faecal coliforms and the majority of other wastewater pathogens. Novel RBC reactors include systems for energy generation such as algae, methane production and microbial fuel cells for direct current generation. Issues such as scale up remain challenging for the future application of RBC technology and topics such as phosphorus removal and denitrification still require further research. High volumetric removal rate, solids retention, low footprint, hydraulic residence times are characteristics of RBCs. The RBC is therefore an ideal candidate for hybrid processes for upgrading works maximising efficiency of existing infrastructure and minimising energy consumption for nutrient removal. This review will provide a link between disciplines and discuss recent developments in RBC research and comparison of recent process designs are provided (Section 2). The microbial features of the RBC biofilm are highlighted (Section 3) and topics such as biological nitrogen removal and priority pollutant remediation are discussed (Sections 4 and 5). Developments in kinetics and modelling are highlighted (Section 6) and future research themes are mentioned

The Mechanics of Motorised Momentum Exchange Tethers when applied to Active Debris Removal from LEO

The concept of momentum exchange when applied to space tethers for propulsion is well established, and a considerable body of literature now exists on the on-orbit modelling, the dynamics, and also the control of a large range of tether system applications. The authors consider here a new application for the Motorised Momentum Exchange Tether by highlighting three key stages of development leading to a conceptualisation that can subsequently be developed into a technology for Active Debris Removal. The paper starts with a study of the on-orbit mechanics of a full sized motorised tether in which it is shown that a laden and therefore highly massasymmetrical tether can still be forced to spin, and certainly to librate, thereby confirming its possible usefulness for active debris removal (ADR). The second part of the paper concentrates on the modelling of the centripetal deployment of a symmetrical MMET in order to get it initialized for debris removal operations, and the third and final part of the paper provides an entry into scale modelling for low cost mission design and testing. It is shown that the motorised momentum exchange tether offers a potential solution to the removal of large pieces of orbital debris, and that dynamic methodologies can be implemented to in order to optimise the emergent design

The Mechanics of Motorised Momentum Exchange Tethers when applied to Active Debris Removal from LEO

The concept of momentum exchange when applied to space tethers for propulsion is well established, and a considerable body of literature now exists on the on-orbit modelling, the dynamics, and also the control of a large range of tether system applications. The authors consider here a new application for the Motorised Momentum Exchange Tether by highlighting three key stages of development leading to a conceptualisation that can subsequently be developed into a technology for Active Debris Removal. The paper starts with a study of the on-orbit mechanics of a full sized motorised tether in which it is shown that a laden and therefore highly massasymmetrical tether can still be forced to spin, and certainly to librate, thereby confirming its possible usefulness for active debris removal (ADR). The second part of the paper concentrates on the modelling of the centripetal deployment of a symmetrical MMET in order to get it initialized for debris removal operations, and the third and final part of the paper provides an entry into scale modelling for low cost mission design and testing. It is shown that the motorised momentum exchange tether offers a potential solution to the removal of large pieces of orbital debris, and that dynamic methodologies can be implemented to in order to optimise the emergent design

Remediation of bromate contaminated groundwater

Bromate (BrO3") is a by-product formed at concentrations of 0.4 - 60 µg L'' during potable water ozonation. Following World Health Organisation designation as a 'possible human' carcinogen, a 10 pg L" drinking water limit was introduced in England and Wales. Discovery of bromate contamination within a UK aquifer highlighted a knowledge gap, addressed by this project, relating to environmental behaviour and groundwater remediation. Following selection of an anion analysis strategy utilising Ion Chromatography (IC), bromate behaviour in wastewater was investigated as contaminated groundwater ingress to treatment processes was deemed possible. Respiration of wastewater biomass was unaffected by spiking of 1000 pg L" hr t. An alteration in microbial composition was noted over this period, from a denitrifying 'co-metabolic' culture to predomination of 'high-rate' specific bromate degraders. Operational parameters including pH, temperature, carbon source, influent bromate and glucose, and retention times were investigated, with all parameters apart from pH shown to affect bromate reduction rates. For example increased bromate influent enhanced reduction rate, although potentially toxic effects were noted with an influent > 75 - 80 mg L"'. Batch studies suggested glucose was rapidly fermented ( 90% of a 1.1 mg L"1 bromate influent within unspiked contaminated groundwater. Plating studies were successful in producing a range of isolates from the mixed chemostat culture. Overall the project demonstrated, for the first time, continuous remediation of bromate groundwater contamination within a bioreactor system.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Kripke Semantics for Martin-L\"of's Extensional Type Theory

It is well-known that simple type theory is complete with respect to non-standard set-valued models. Completeness for standard models only holds with respect to certain extended classes of models, e.g., the class of cartesian closed categories. Similarly, dependent type theory is complete for locally cartesian closed categories. However, it is usually difficult to establish the coherence of interpretations of dependent type theory, i.e., to show that the interpretations of equal expressions are indeed equal. Several classes of models have been used to remedy this problem. We contribute to this investigation by giving a semantics that is standard, coherent, and sufficiently general for completeness while remaining relatively easy to compute with. Our models interpret types of Martin-L\"of's extensional dependent type theory as sets indexed over posets or, equivalently, as fibrations over posets. This semantics can be seen as a generalization to dependent type theory of the interpretation of intuitionistic first-order logic in Kripke models. This yields a simple coherent model theory, with respect to which simple and dependent type theory are sound and complete

Self-Adjuvanting Glycopeptide Conjugate Vaccine against Disseminated Candidiasis

Our research on pathogenesis of disseminated candidiasis led to the discovery that antibodies specific for Candida albicans cell surface β-1, 2–mannotriose [β-(Man)3] protect mice. A 14 mer peptide Fba, which derived from the N-terminal portion of the C. albicans cytosolic/cell surface protein fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, was used as the glycan carrier and resulted in a novel synthetic glycopeptide vaccine β-(Man)3-Fba. By a dendritic cell-based immunization approach, this conjugate induced protective antibody responses against both the glycan and peptide parts of the vaccine. In this report, we modified the β-(Man)3-Fba conjugate by coupling it to tetanus toxoid (TT) in order to improve immunogenicity and allow for use of an adjuvant suitable for human use. By new immunization procedures entirely compatible with human use, the modified β-(Man)3-Fba-TT was administered either alone or as a mixture made with alum or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvants and given to mice by a subcutaneous (s.c.) route. Mice vaccinated with or, surprisingly, without adjuvant responded well by making robust antibody responses. The immunized groups showed a high degree of protection against a lethal challenge with C. albicans as evidenced by increased survival times and reduced kidney fungal burden as compared to control groups that received only adjuvant or DPBS buffer prior to challenge. To confirm that induced antibodies were protective, sera from mice immunized against the β-(Man)3-Fba-TT conjugate transferred protection against disseminated candidiasis to naïve mice, whereas C. albicans-absorbed immune sera did not. Similar antibody responses and protection induced by the β-(Man)3-Fba-TT vaccine was observed in inbred BALB/c and outbred Swiss Webster mice. We conclude that addition of TT to the glycopeptide conjugate results in a self-adjuvanting vaccine that promotes robust antibody responses without the need for additional adjuvant, which is novel and represents a major step forward in vaccine design against disseminated candidiasis

In situ remediation of atrazine contaminated groundwater

The natural attenuation of groundwater pesticides by biological degradation, is widely accepted to occur at concentrations > 1 mg 1-1. However from observations of groundwater monitoring data it can be indicated that the occurrence of pesticides in groundwater is primarily at trace μg 1-1 concentrations, with 45 % of UK groundwater samples that failed the EC Drinking Water Directives PV of 0.1 μg 1-1 between 1995 – 2000, accounting for an average concentration of 64 μg 1-1. However, there are limited directed studies of in situ biological degradation of pesticides at μg concentrations. Therefore, this work was designed provided an insight as to whether any prevalent microbial adaptation can occur to degrade atrazine at μg 1-1 concentrations in groundwater. Laboratory batch studies were performed using a groundwater exposed to 0.2 μg 1-1 of the herbicide atrazine, for an excess of 10 years. Bacterial enrichment using a glucose minimal salts medium resulted in no biological degradation of atrazine, when amended at concentrations between 10 μg to 50 mg 1-1. Batch studies using the atrazine degrader Pseudomonas sp. Strain ADP as a positive control, indicated a capability to degrade atrazine within sterilised groundwater, at 50 mg 1-1 (0.92 mg 1-1 day-1) and 1 mg 1-1 (0.14 mg 1-1 day-1), but no degradation of atrazine at 100 or 10 μg 1-1. Therefore, biological degradation of trace μg 1-1 concentrations of atrazine by groundwater in situ bacteria does not readily occur. It is expected that changes in atrazine groundwater concentrations, are resulting purely from dilution, sorption or chemical degradation. Consequently, it cannot be assumed that microbial adaptation can occur to degrade atrazine at μg 1-1 concentrations in groundwaters even if in situ bioaugmentation methods are applied.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Kenyan palliative care providers’ and leaders’ perceptions of palliative care research needs and support to facilitate rigorous research

Background: Palliative care (PC) can reduce symptom distress and improve quality of life for patients and their families experiencing life-threatening illness. While the need for PC in Kenya is high, PC service delivery and research is limited. Qualitative research is needed to explore potential areas for PC research and support needed to enable that research. This insight is critical for informing a national PC research agenda and mobilizing limited resources for conducting rigorous PC research in Kenya. Objectives: To explore perceptions of priority areas for PC research and support needed to facilitate rigorous research from the perspective of Kenyan PC providers and leaders. Methods: Focus groups (FGs) were conducted in November and December of 2018 using a semi-structured interview guide. FGs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach. Results: Three FGs were conducted (n = 22 participants). Ten themes related to PC research emerged, including research on: 1) beliefs about death, disease, and treatment to inform PC; 2) awareness about PC, 3) integration of PC within the health system; 4) understanding caregiver experiences and needs; 5) community health volunteers (CHVs) and volunteer programs; 6) evaluation of costs and benefits of PC; 7) treatment approaches, including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and advanced diagnostics at end of life; 8) other suggestions for research, 9) populations in need of PC research; and 10) resources for enabling research. Conclusions: Kenyan PC providers and leaders identified key areas requiring increased scientific inquiry and critical resources needed to enable this research. These findings can help to focus future PC research in Kenya and encourage funding agencies to prioritize the issues identified