Trends in environmentally induced spacecraft anomalies

The Spacecraft Anomaly Data Base was useful in identifying trends in anomaly occurrence. Trends alone do not provide quantitative testimony to a spacecraft's reliability, but they do indicate areas that command closer study. An in-depth analysis of a specific anomaly can be expensive and difficult without access to the spacecraft. Statistically verified anomaly trends can provide a good reference point to begin anomaly analysis. Many spacecraft experience an increase in anomalies during the period of several days centered on the solar equinox, a period that is also correlated with sun eclipse at geostationary altitude and an increase in major geomagnetic storms. Increase anomaly occurrence can also be seen during the local time interval between midnight and dawn. This local time interval represents a region in Earth's near space that experiences an enhancement in electron plasma density due to a migration from the magnetotail during or following a geomagnetic substorm

Selection of aptamers for human serum albumin and its glycated form

Diabetes prevalence is increasing above and beyond what can be attributed to population growth as reduced physical activity and increased sugar in people's diets is leading to an epidemic that is pushing healthcare systems to breaking point. While therapeutic treatments remain limited for diabetes patients, measurement and management of their glycemic status can prove beneficial. Glucose and HbA1C are currently utilised to manage diabetes in the short and long term respectively. However, problems with the accuracy of the HbA1c in certain diabetes patients, particularly those with renal problems and/or anaemia make it not ideal in all situations. Additionally its half life of 2-3 months make it slow to respond to glycemic changes. Measurement of human serum albumin may be beneficial in both filling the gap between glucose and HbA1c and being less susceptible to interferents. HSA has a half life of between 2-3 weeks and like haemoglobin is readily glycated. Any changes in glycated HSA will demonstrate changes in a patient's glycemic status over the preceding weeks instead of months like HbA1c. Additionally it has been demonstrated to be a better representation of glucose levels in certain patient groups. The relative lack of GHSA testing in the clinic comes down to the cost, complexity and lack of specificity of current techniques. A simple test is needed which can determine the GHSA/HSA ratio of a patient more accurately then current techniques while at a cost that is viable for restrained healthcare budgets. Within this thesis the selection and subsequent testing of aptamers to HSA and early stage glycated HSA (GHSA) is demonstrated.Open Acces

Tonality and the Cultural

The emphasis in this response to Mine Doğantan-Dack’s ‘Tonality: The Shape of Affect’ is on the cultural construction of tonality and the ways in which that may encourage Western musicians to understand tonality as a fundamental psychological process. An alternative hypothesis is proposed in which tonality assists in the effective musical modelling of hunting, offering a means to relive the experience in social groups

Process evaluation of Derbyshire Intensive Alternatives to Custody Pilot

The aim of this study was to critically assess the implementation and development of the Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) pilot in Derbyshire. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Penal Policy paper (May 2007) outlined the government’s intention to develop higher intensity community orders as an alternative to short-term custody. The IAC Order was subsequently developed and piloted, first in Derbyshire and then in six other areas.* The pilots were centrally funded until March 2011

The Proliferation, Commercialization, and Secularization of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune Pilgrimages in Modern Japan

Osaka’s Thirteen Buddha Pilgrimage is a route through the greater Osaka area to Buddhist temples. Thirteen Buddha pilgrimage routes have experienced growth in participation over the past few years. This new popularity has increased the number of thirteen Buddha pilgrimages routes. This proliferation in routes are a phenomenon, which deserves attention because pilgrimage participation is often used not only as an illustration of a specific religious practice but also a significant variable in the continuing discourse about Japan’s secularization (Reader 2012). This study investigates more specifically Osaka’s thirteen Buddha pilgrimage sites and how each has become a location for multiple pilgrimage routes of various types as well as single-site pilgrimage miniaturizations. This proliferation of pilgrimage routes illustrates the complicated modern landscape of Japanese pilgrimage where interest in pilgrimage may be out paced by keen competition among increasing pilgrimage route possibilities

Heuristics for expressive performance

This chapter discusses concepts and terms that professional musicians find useful in preparing for and talking and thinking about expressive performance. An example is “shape,” which, as recent research has shown, is immensely flexible and useful for sharing ideas about how to generate expressive performance without having to specify exactly which sounds might be required. The word is used between musical performers with a high level of mutual understanding, as a way of communicating expressive features that are actually very difficult to articulate in more detail. Further examples of heuristics for musical expression are drawn from a recent interview study of professional musicians, and their implications are discussed. It is argued that this kind of terminology, easily dismissed as superficial or vague, is in fact precisely targeted to the nature of the task and is highly effective in use by musicians