Genetic algorithms for adaptive real-time control in space systems

Genetic Algorithms that are used for learning as one way to control the combinational explosion associated with the generation of new rules are discussed. The Genetic Algorithm approach tends to work best when it can be applied to a domain independent knowledge representation. Applications to real time control in space systems are discussed

Optical monitoring of protein crystal growth

The possibility of using various optical techniques for detecting the onset of nucleation in protein crystal growth was investigated. Direct microscopy, general metrologic techniques, light scattering, ultraviolet absorption, and interferometry are addressed along with techniques for determining pH value. The necessity for collecting basic data on the optical properties of the growth solution as a prerequisite to the evaluation of monitoring techniques is pointed out

Software development for avionics SSME control and diagnostics

A study was made of software to integrate data from about 500 sensors that monitor the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) and to make decisions for real-time control. Such software is expected to be applicable to other distributed systems as well. This study investigated the use of pattern recognition and other techniques to detect trends that could lead to major damage to the SSME and which would allow an orderly shutdown of the SSME before such damage could occur

Systematic review into factors associated with the recruitment crisis in psychiatry in the UK: students', trainees' and consultants' views.

Aims and method To review the literature to examine the factors that may be affecting recruitment into psychiatry in the UK. We systematically searched four databases to identify studies from 1974 to 2016 and identified 27 papers that met the specified inclusion criteria. Results Most papers (n = 24) were based on questionnaire surveys. The population in all studies comprised of 1879 psychiatrists, 6733 students and 220 746 trainees. About 4-7% of students opt for a career in psychiatry. Enrichment activities helped to attract students more towards psychiatry than just total time spent in the specialty. Job content in terms of the lack of scientific basis, poor prognosis and stigma towards psychiatry, work-related stress and problems with training jobs were common barriers highlighted among students and trainees, affecting recruitment. Job satisfaction and family-friendly status of psychiatry was rated highly by students, with lifestyle factors appearing to be important for trainees who tend to choose psychiatry. Clinical implications Negative attitudes and stigma towards psychiatry continue to persist. Teaching and training in psychiatry needs rethinking to improve student experience and recruitment into the specialty

Adherence to medication in the community: audit cycle of interventions to improve the assessment of adherence

Aims and method To investigate whether medication adherence is monitored during follow-up in out-patient reviews. A retrospective audit was carried out with a sample of 50 follow-up patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Following this, interventions were made prior to the re-audit (including text messaging clinicians and prompt sheets in the out-patient department to encourage adherence discussions). Results There was an improvement on all the standards set for this audit following the interventions. More doctors had discussed medication adherence (62% second cycle v. 50% first cycle) with their patient and there was increased discussion and documentation regarding medication side-effects (60% second cycle v. 30% first cycle). More clinicians discussed the response to medication (60% second cycle v. 46% first cycle). Clinical implications Treatment adherence is not regularly monitored or recorded in clinical notes in routine psychiatric out-patient appointments. This highlights the need for regular training to improve practice

NGOs, social movements and anti-APEC activism : a study in power, knowledge and struggle

This thesis analyzes political struggles over power and knowledge within networks of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social movements contesting neoliberal globalization. Existing studies tend to obscure tensions, contradictions and differences among organizations and movements engaged in resistance and contest of neoliberalism. Situating 'globalization' as a contemporary manifestation of older processes of colonialism and imperialism, this work draws upon and extends institutional ethnography/political activist ethnography methodologies to explicate how 'anti-globalization' practice is socially organized. Starting from a standpoint in an everyday world of activist practice, this work examines NGO, activist and official documents, and insights from the author's 'insider' status as an activist/researcher in NGO conferences and campaigns. It explicates tensions and asymmetries of power within networks throughout the Asia-Pacific that mobilized to contest the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the 1990s. Combining a dual interdisciplinary academic and activist theoretical framework, it innovatively weaves knowledge and theory produced within social movements and activist milieus with academic scholarship. This work draws upon Marxist political economy and critical adult education traditions, critiques of dominant social movement theory, non-Western approaches to epistemologies of knowledge, organizational analysis, social history and other critical historiographies. It identifies and questions hegemonic NGO practices, arguing that hierarchies of power and knowledge within 'alternative' milieus often reproduce, rather than challenge dominant practices and power relations, and serve elite interests rather than those of constituencies which these organizations claim to represent. This thesis troubles the NGOization of political struggles, NGO claims of representation, and the privileging of professionalized NGO and academic knowledge at the expense of voices and histories from below. In so doing, it offers new conceptual resources for future scholarship on social movements and 'civil society', as well as tools to inform activism

Percus-Yevick and Hypernetted-Chain Approximations

Percus-Yevick and hypernetted-chain models connecting the structure factor S(k) with effective pair potential φ(r) have been studied in detail. Recent neutron-scattering data of Yarnell et al., for liquid argon at 85°K, have been employed to generate these potentials. Using 0.01 uncertainty in the experimental data, the uncertainty in the pair potentials has been computed. Having developed a general method of error propagation analysis, the effect of experimental errors in S(k) on Percus-Yevick and hypernetted-chain potentials is investigated and the resulting potentials are compared with Lennard-Jones and Barker, Fisher, and Watts potentials

Clinical scoring system: a valuable tool for decision making in cases of acute appendicitis

Objective: Decision making in cases of acute appendicitis poses a clinical challenge specially in developing countries where advanced radiological investigations do not appear cost effective and so clinical parameters remain the mainstay of diagnosis. The aim of our study was to devise a scoring system from our local database and test its accuracy in the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Methods: Clinical data from 401 patients having undergone appendectomy were collected to identify predictive factors that distinguished those with appendicitis from those who had a negative appendectomy. Ten such factors were identified and using Bayesian probability a weight was assigned to each and the results summated to get an overall score. A cut-off point was identified to separate patients for surgery and those for observation. The scoring system was then retrospectively applied to a second population of 99 patients in order to compare suggested actions (derived from the scoring system) to those actually taken by surgeons. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the level of decision was then calculated.Results: Of the 99 patients, the method suggested immediate surgery for 65 patients, 63 of whom had acute appendicitis (3.1% diagnostic error rate). Of the 33 patients in whom the score suggested active observation, 18 had appendicitis. The accuracy of our scoring system was 82%. The method had a sensitivity of 78%, specificity 89% and a positive predictive value of 97%. The negative appendectomy rate determined by our study was 7% and the perforation rate 13%.CONCLUSION: Scoring system developed from a local database can work effectively in routine practice as an adjunct to surgical decision making in questionable cases of appendicitis

Almanac 2012: cell therapy in cardiovascular disease. The national society journals present selected research that has driven recent advances in clinical cardiology.

Brz prijelaz iz laboratorija do bolesničke postelje koji se dogodio kod primjene regenerativne medicine u kardiologiji doveo je do uzbudljivih novih napredaka u našem razumijevanju nekih od osnovnih mehanizama ljudske biologije. Prva generacija stanica, koja je korištena u prvoj i drugoj fazi kliničkih ispitivanja (uglavnom mononuklearne matične stanice koštane srži), sada ulazi u treću fazu kliničkih ispitivanja, čiji je cilj proizvesti terapeutik koji se temelji na terapiji stanicama te bi mogao utjecati na ishod liječenja bolesti srca. Terapija stanicama prve generacije je bila usmjerena na praćenje sigurnosti primjene, kao i prikaz djelovanja te terapije, što je objavljeno u brojnim meta-analizama. Zahvaljujući dosadašnjem stečenom znanju, napredujemo prema sljedećoj generaciji stanica – stanice dobivene inženjeringom – koje su razvijene tako da daju fenotip koji će još više poboljšati proces obnavljanja/spašavanja miokarda. Ovaj pregledni članak donosi pregled najnovijih temeljnih znanstvenih istraživanja koja bi uskoro mogla biti primijenjena na ljudima te rezultata najnovijih kliničkih studija.The rapid translation from bench to bedside that has been seen in the application of regenerative medicine to cardiology has led to exciting new advances in our understanding of some of the fundamental mechanisms related to human biology. The first generation of cells used in phase I-II trials (mainly bone marrow mononuclear cells) are now entering phase III clinical trials with the goal of producing a cell based therapeutic that can change the outcome of cardiac disease. First generation cell therapy appears to have addressed safety concerns as well as showing \u27activity\u27 in numerous published meta- analyses. With the knowledge gained to date, the field is moving towards the next generation of cells-the \u27engineered\u27 cell-that have been developed to display a phenotype that will further enhance the myocardial repair/salvage process. This almanac review covers the latest basic research that may soon have application to humans as well as the results of the latest clinical trials

Thrombus Embolisation: Prevention is Better than Cure.

Thrombus embolisation complicating primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction is associated with an increase in adverse outcomes. However, there are currently no proven recommendations for intervention in the setting of large thrombus burden. In this review, we discuss the clinical implications of thrombus embolisation and angiographic predictors of embolisation, and provide an update of current evidence for some preventative strategies, both pharmacological and mechanical, in this setting