19,102 research outputs found
Integrated controls/structures study of advanced space systems
A cost tradeoff is postulated for a stiff structure utilizing minimal controls (and control expense) to point and stabilize the vehicle. Extra costs for a stiff structure are caused by weight, packaging size, etc. Likewise, a more flexible vehicle should result in reduced structural costs but increased costs associated with additional control hardware and data processing required for vibration control of the structure. This tradeoff occurs as the ratio of the control bandwidth required for the mission to the lowest (significant) bending mode of the vehicle. The cost of controlling a spacecraft for a specific mission and the same basic configuration but varying the flexibility is established
Restoration of eucalypt grassy woodland: effects of experimental interventions on ground-layer vegetation
We report on the effects of broad-scale restoration treatments on the ground layer of eucalypt grassy woodland in south-eastern Australia. The experiment was conducted in two conservation reserves from which livestock grazing had previously been removed. Changes in biomass, species diversity, ground-cover attributes and life-form were analysed over a 4-year period in relation to the following experimental interventions: (1) reduced kangaroo density, (2) addition of coarse woody debris and (3) fire (a single burn). Reducing kangaroo density doubled total biomass in one reserve, but no effects on exotic biomass, species counts or ground cover attributes were observed. Coarse woody debris also promoted biomass, particularly exotic annual forbs, as well as plant diversity in one of the reserves. The single burn reduced biomass, but changed little else. Overall, we found the main driver of change to be the favourable growth seasons that had followed a period of drought. This resulted in biomass increasing by 67%, (mostly owing to the growth of perennial native grasses), whereas overall native species counts increased by 18%, and exotic species declined by 20% over the 4-year observation period. Strategic management of grazing pressure, use of fire where biomass has accumulated and placement of coarse woody debris in areas of persistent erosion will contribute to improvements in soil and vegetation condition, and gains in biodiversity, in the future.Funding and in-kind logistic support for this project was
provided by the ACT Government as part of an Australian Research
Council Linkage Grant (LP0561817; LP110100126). Drafts of the
manuscript were read by Saul Cunningham and Ben Macdonald
Perspectives: nursing education - from vision to action in changing world
There is consensus that there are shared contemporary issues within nursing and nurse education that require collective consideration and, on occasion, shared solutions. Nonetheless, in the complex world in which we live, taking time to reflect on our work can become lost in the need to meet many competing demands. A conference can be expensive and time consuming, and as time pressures and deadlines loom risk becoming a short trip to present a paper rather than fuller engagement. With this in mind, we offer perspectives on our learning from The Federation of European Nurse Educators (FINE) 11th International FINE Conference in Malta (21–23 February 2018) and some opportunities and challenges facing nursing education today.
FINE is a membership organisation, which, since its inception in 1994, has facilitated knowledge exchange and discussion around contemporary challenges in nursing education. Attendees came from 22 nations and five continents to share best practice and educational research innovation. This paper offers insight into key themes that emerged from the conference and the opportunities, innovations and challenges facing nursing education today. We include examples of papers debating these themes. In conclusion, we reflect on our experiences and offer benefits of global networking nursing education
The effects of staff training on staff confidence and challenging behaviour in services in people with autism spectrum disorders
ASTE observations in the 345 GHz window towards the HII region N113 of the Large Magellanic Cloud
N113 is an HII region located in the central part of the Large Magellanic
Cloud (LMC) with an associated molecular cloud very rich in molecular species.
Most of the previously observed molecular lines cover the frequency range
85-270 GHz. Thus, a survey and study of lines at the 345 GHz window is required
in order to have a more complete understanding of the chemistry and excitation
conditions of the region. We mapped a region of 2.5' x 2.5' centered at N113
using the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment in the 13CO J=3-2 line
with an angular and spectral resolution of 22" and 0.11 km/s, respectively. In
addition, we observed 16 molecular lines as single pointings towards its
center. For the molecular cloud associated with N113, from the 13CO J=3-2 map
we estimate LTE and virial masses of about 1x10^4 and 4.5x10^4 M_sun,
respectively. Additionally, from the dust continuum emission at 500 micron we
obtain a mass of gas of 7x10^3 M_sun. Towards the cloud center we detected
emission from: 12CO, 13CO, C18O (3-2), HCN, HNC, HCO+, C2H (4-3), and CS (7-6);
being the first reported detection of HCN, HNC, and C2H (4-3) lines from this
region. The CS (7-6) which was previously tentatively detected is confirmed in
this study. By analyzing the HCN, HNC, and C2H, we suggest that their emission
may arise from a photodissociation region (PDR). Moreover, we suggest that the
chemistry involving the C2H in N113 can be similar to that in Galactic PDRs.
Using the HCN J=4-3, J=3-2, and J=1-0 lines in a RADEX analysis we conclude
that we are observing very high density gas, between some 10^5 and 10^7 cm-3.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A, September 9, 201
A view of Large Magellanic Cloud HII regions N159, N132, and N166 through the 345 GHz window
We present results obtained towards the HII regions N159, N166, and N132 from
the emission of several molecular lines in the 345 GHz window. Using ASTE we
mapped a 2.4' 2.4' region towards the molecular cloud N159-W in the
CO J=3-2 line and observed several molecular lines at an IR peak very
close to a massive young stellar object. CO and CO J=3-2 were
observed towards two positions in N166 and one position in N132. The CO
J=3-2 map of the N159-W cloud shows that the molecular peak is shifted
southwest compared to the peak of the IR emission. Towards the IR peak we
detected emission from HCN, HNC, HCO, CH J=4-3, CS J=7-6, and
tentatively CO J=3-2. This is the first reported detection of these
molecular lines in N159-W. The analysis of the CH line yields more
evidence supporting that the chemistry involving this molecular species in
compact and/or UCHII regions in the LMC should be similar to that in Galactic
ones. A non-LTE study of the CO emission suggests the presence of both cool and
warm gas in the analysed region. The same analysis for the CS, HCO, HCN,
and HNC shows that it is very likely that their emissions arise mainly from
warm gas with a density between to some cm. The
obtained HCN/HNC abundance ratio greater than 1 is compatible with warm gas and
with an star-forming scenario. From the analysis of the molecular lines
observed towards N132 and N166 we propose that both regions should have similar
physical conditions, with densities of about 10 cm.Comment: accepted in MNRAS (October 5, 2015
Performance of alumina-supported Pt catalysts in an electron-beam-sustained CO2 laser amplifier
The performance of an alumina-supported Pt catalyst system used to maintain the gas purity in an electron-beam-sustained (636) isotope CO2 laser amplifier has been tested. The system characteristics using the two-zone, parallel flow reactor were determined for both continuous- and end-of-day reactor operation using on-line mass spectrometric sampling. The laser amplifier was run with an energy loading of typically 110 J-l/atm and an electron-beam current of 4 mA/sq cm. With these conditions and a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz for up to 10,000 shots, increases on the order of 100 ppm O2 were observed with the purifier on and 150 ppm with it off. The 1/e time recovery time was found to be approximately 75 minutes
Health Research Participants' Preferences for Receiving Research Results
BACKGROUND: Participants in health research studies typically express interest in receiving results from the studies in which they participate. However, participants’ preferences and experiences related to receiving results are not well understood. In general, existing studies have had relatively small sample sizes and typically address specific and often sensitive issues within targeted populations. METHODS: The present study used an online survey to explore attitudes and experiences of registrants in ResearchMatch, a large database of past, present, and potential health research participants. Survey respondents provided information related to whether or not they received research results from studies in which they participated, the methods used to communicate results, their satisfaction with results, and when and how they would like to receive research results from future studies. 70,699 ResearchMatch registrants were notified of the study’s topic. Of the 5,207 registrants who requested full information about the study, 3,381 respondents completed the survey. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of respondents with previous health research participation reported receiving results. Approximately half of respondents with previous research participation reported no opportunity to request results. However, almost all respondents said researchers should always or sometimes offer results to participants. Respondents expressed particular interest in results related to their (or a loved one's) health, as well as information about studies’ purposes and any medical advances based on the results. In general, respondents’ most preferred dissemination methods for results were email and website postings. The least desirable dissemination methods for results included Twitter, conference calls, and text messages. Across all results, we compare the responses of respondents with and without previous research participation experience, and those who have worked in research organizations vs. those who have not. Compared to respondents who have previous participation experience, a greater proportion of respondents with no participation experience indicated that results should always be shared with participants. Likewise, respondents with no participation experience placed higher importance on the receipt of each type of results information included in the survey. CONCLUSIONS: We present findings from a survey assessing attitudes and experiences of a broad sample of respondents that addresses gaps in knowledge related to participants’ preferences for receiving results. The study’s findings highlight the potential for inconsistency between respondents’ expressed preferences to receive specific types of results via specific methods and researchers’ unwillingness or inability to provide them. We present specific recommendations to shift the approach of new studies to investigate participants’ preferences for receiving research results
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