Generalized curve fit and plotting (GECAP) program

Program generates graphs on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and is designed to be used by engineers and scientists who are not necessarily professional programers. It provides fast and efficient method for display of plotted data without having to generate any additional FORTRAN instructions

Synthesis of oxetane- and azetidine-containing spirocycles related to the 2,5-diketopiperazine framework

A simple two-step sequence is used to efficiently make novel spirocyclic analogues of the diketopiperazine nucleus. Conjugate addition of chiral α-amino esters to nitroalkenes, generated from oxetan-3-one or N-Boc-azetidin-3-one, followed by nitro group reduction provides, after spontaneous cyclization, the spirocycles in good overall yields. These rigid scaffolds can be functionalized by selective N-alkylations as well as by carbonyl reduction to the corresponding piperazines

Managerial Work in a Practice-Embodying Institution - The role of calling, the virtue of constancy

What can be learned from a small scale study of managerial work in a highly marginal and under-researched working community? This paper uses the ‘goods-virtues-practices-institutions’ framework to examine the managerial work of owner-directors of traditional circuses. Inspired by MacIntyre’s arguments for the necessity of a narrative understanding of the virtues, interviews explored how British and Irish circus directors accounted for their working lives. A purposive sample was used to select subjects who had owned and managed traditional touring circuses for at least 15 years, a period in which the economic and reputational fortunes of traditional circuses have suffered badly. This sample enabled the research to examine the self-understanding of people who had, at least on the face of it, exhibited the virtue of constancy. The research contributes to our understanding of the role of the virtues in organizations by presenting evidence of an intimate relationship between the virtue of constancy and a ‘calling’ work orientation. This enhances our understanding of the virtues that are required if management is exercised as a domain-related practice

Design of the AGS Booster Beam Position Monitor electronics

The operational requirements of the AGS Booster Beam Position Monitor system necessitate the use of electronics with wide dynamic range and broad instantaneous bandwidth. Bunch synchronization is provided by a remote timing sequencer coupled to the local ring electronics via digital fiber-optic links. The Sequencer and local ring circuitry work together to provide single turn trajectory or average orbit and intensity information, integrated over 1 to 225 bunches. Test capabilities are built in for the purpose of enhancing BPM system accuracy. This paper describes the design of the Booster Beam Position Monitor electronics, and presents performance details of the front end processing, acquisition and timing circuitry

Structural development and testing of a prototype house using timber and straw bales

One approach to reducing embodied carbon dioxide of buildings is the increased use of plant-based construction materials such as prefabricated straw bale panels. This paper presents findings from the development and structural testing of an innovative load-bearing prefabricated straw bale building. Work on panel development is summarised ahead of presenting two numerical computer-based models that support the building design. The computer models are validated using data from a full-scale simulated static wind load test on a two-storey building. The prefabricated straw bale structural system is shown to be suitable for two- and three-storey domestic structures in a range of locations. </jats:p

Strong, omnidirectional radar backscatter from subwavelength, 3D printed metacubes

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IET via the DOI in this recordMetallic metacubes formed of six metal plate faces connected via a metal jack are shown to backscatter microwave radiation extremely powerfully. Experimental radar scattering cross-section (RCS) data from three-dimensional (3D) printed samples agrees very well with numerical model predictions, showing a monostatic RCS of 15 times the geometric cross-section. The principal resonance of the metacubes demonstrates near-complete independence of the incident angle or polarisation of the radiation, making the metacube an omnidirectional scatterer. The metacubes are fabricated via additive manufacturing from metal-coated polymer, and are extremely lightweight, making them excellent candidates for improving the radar return signals from small objects such as drones and cubesats.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Alexithymia explains increased empathic personal distress in individuals with and without eating disorders

It is often assumed that empathy impairments are common in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), but empirical work has been limited and produced mixed results, making the clinical features and treatment needs of this population difficult to determine. Alexithymia, characterised by difficulties identifying and describing one’s own emotions, frequently co-occurs with EDs, and is associated with atypical recognition of, and empathy for, others’ emotions. The current study used an existing empathy for pain paradigm to determine whether atypical empathy in EDs stems from co-occurring alexithymia, rather than EDs per se. Empathy (specifically personal distress in response to others’ pain) was assessed in individuals with EDs (N = 21) and an alexithymia-matched control group (N = 22). Participants were simultaneously members of a high alexithymia (N = 16) or low alexithymia (N = 27) group, allowing the independent contributions of alexithymia and EDs to be determined. Participants judged the laterality of hands and feet in painful and non-painful situations, and the degree of empathic interference on RTs was measured. Results indicated that observation of painful stimuli impacted task performance in those with high levels of alexithymia more than those with low levels, but no effect of ED diagnosis was observed. These findings suggest that co-occurring alexithymia explains increased empathic personal distress in ED populations. Atypical empathy may therefore not be a core feature of EDs, and interventions aimed at improving empathy-related social functioning may only be necessary for patients who also have alexithymia. These findings emphasise the importance of determining the influence of co-occurring alexithymia when assessing empathy in clinical populations

655MO Quality of life in patients with p16+ oropharyngeal cancer receiving accelerated radiotherapy (RT) with either cisplatin or cetuximab in NRG/RTOG 1016

Background: This phase 3 randomized non-inferiority de-escalation trial compared cetuximab (cetux) vs cisplatin (cis), concurrent with accelerated RT 70 Gy/6 weeks, in p16+ oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Quality of life (QOL) was an important secondary endpoint. Methods: EORTC QLQ-C30/HN35 was completed at baseline, end of treatment, 3, 6, and 12 months post. The substudy aimed for 400 eligible patients. We report completion rates and compare by arm for change from baseline in each domain (0.05 two-sided alpha and MID of 10 points) using linear mixed models. Results: Consent was 91% (381/419 offered substudy); 6 protocol deviations excluded (n=375). No significant differences in patient/tumor characteristics were found by participation status. Completion rates (%) at the 5 times did not differ by arm (cis/cetux): 92/94, 74/77, 76/81, 76/81, and 73/74. The swallowing domain of HN35 (previously reported) did not differ significantly by arm. No significant difference was seen by arm for the 6-mo change from baseline on any domain. At end of RT (only), dry mouth was significantly worse for RT+cetux. At end of treatment, all domains showed statistically and clinically significant mean worsening across both arms except Emotional Functioning, Dyspnea, Diarrhea, and Teeth. Most domains returned within 10 points of baseline by 6 mo, with the following maintaining significant impairment: Senses (taste/smell), Social Eating, Opening Mouth, Dry Mouth, Sticky Saliva. At 12 mo post-treatment, worsening from baseline persisted for Senses, Dry Mouth, Sticky Saliva, and Weight Gain. Pain Killer use improved significantly from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 mo. Conclusions: Although replacing RT+cis with RT+cetux did not benefit QOL, this study has confirmed the responsiveness of EORTC QLQ-C30/HN35 to the effects of concurrent systemic/RT for OPC. Dry Mouth, Sticky Saliva, and Senses showed large, significant, and persistent impairments, and remain worthwhile targets for future de-escalation efforts. Domains related to eating (Swallowing, Appetite, Nutritional Supplements, Social Eating, Weight Loss) did not show sustained significant impairment on this instrument in this study. Clinical trial identification: NCT01302834