Prelaunch testing of the GEOS-3 laser reflector array

The prelaunch testing performed on the Geos-3 laser reflector array before launch was used to determine the lidar cross section of the array and the distance of the center of gravity of the satellite from the center of gravity of reflected laser pulses as a function of incidence angle. Experimental data are compared to computed results

An Investigation of Service Providers’ understanding, perspectives and implementations of the Transdisciplinary model in Early Intervention settings for Children with Disabilities

Purpose: The transdisciplinary practice model is currently being promoted as best practice in early intervention therapy for children with disabilities. However, supporting literature is limited. Thus, the question is asked, “What are service providers\u27 understanding and perception of the transdisciplinary model in early intervention settings for children with disabilities?” Method: A systematic review was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. An electronic search was conducted via six databases. Eight articles were selected. Results: Four studies predominantly focused on service providers’ perspectives of the model using semi-structured interviews or surveys. Many studies were of adequate to low quality, and the methods of implementing the transdisciplinary approach varied across organisations. It is therefore difficult to draw valid conclusions based on service provider’s viewpoints of the model. Conclusions: This review attempted to determine if the transdisciplinary model is best practice. The inconsistencies in the transdisciplinary teams indicates that overall, the general understanding of the model and its framework amongst organisations is poor. Further research is needed to establish service providers’ understanding of the model and how transdisciplinary teams are functioning since the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

An Investigation of Service Providers\u27 Understanding, Perspectives and Implementations of the Transdisciplinary Model in Early Intervention Settings for Children with Disabilities

Purpose: The transdisciplinary practice model is currently being promoted as best practice in early intervention therapy for children with disabilities. However, supporting literature is limited. Thus, the question is asked, “What are service providers\u27 understanding and perception of the transdisciplinary model in early intervention settings for children with disabilities?” Method: A systematic review was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. An electronic search was conducted via six databases. Eight articles were selected. Results: Four studies predominantly focused on service providers’ perspectives of the model using semi-structured interviews or surveys. Many studies were of adequate to low quality, and the methods of implementing the transdisciplinary approach varied across organisations. It is therefore difficult to draw valid conclusions based on service provider’s viewpoints of the model. Conclusions: This review attempted to determine if the transdisciplinary model is best practice. The inconsistencies in the transdisciplinary teams indicates that overall, the general understanding of the model and its framework amongst organisations is poor. Further research is needed to establish service providers’ understanding of the model and how transdisciplinary teams are functioning since the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Guitars with Ambisonic Spatial Performance (GASP) An immersive guitar system

The GASP project investigates the design and realisation of an Immersive Guitar System. It brings together a range of sound processing and spatialising technologies and applies them to a specific musical instrument – the Electric Guitar. GASP is an ongoing innovative audio project, fusing the musical with the technical, combining the processing of each string’s output (which we called timbralisation) with spatial sound. It is also an artistic musical project, where space becomes a performance parameter, providing new experimental immersive sound production techniques for the guitarist and music producer. Several ways of reimagining the electric guitar as an immersive sounding instrument have been considered, the primary method using Ambisonics. However, additionally, some complementary performance and production techniques have emerged from the use of divided pickups, supporting both immersive live performance and studio post-production. GASP Live offers performers and audiences new real-time sonic-spatial perspectives, where the guitarist or a Live GASP producer can have real-time control of timbral, spatial, and other performance features, such as: timbral crossfading, switching of split-timbres across strings, spatial movement where Spatial Patterns may be selected and modulated, control of Spatial Tempo, and real-time performance re-tuning. For GASP recording and post-production, individual string note patterns may be visualised in Reaper DAW,2 from which, analyses and judgements can be made to inform post-production decisions for timbralisation and spatialisation. An appreciation of auditory grouping and perceptual streaming (Bregman, 1994) has informed GASP production ideas. For performance monitoring or recorded playback, the immersive audio would typically be heard over a circular array of loudspeakers, or over headphones with head-tracked binaural reproduction. This paper discusses the design of the system and its elements, investigates other applications of divided pickups, namely GASP’s Guitarpeggiator, and reflects on productions made so far

The Benard problem: A comparison of finite difference and spectral collocation eigen value solutions

The application of spectral methods, using a Chebyshev collocation scheme, to solve hydrodynamic stability problems is demonstrated on the Benard problem. Implementation of the Chebyshev collocation formulation is described. The performance of the spectral scheme is compared with that of a 2nd order finite difference scheme. An exact solution to the Marangoni-Benard problem is used to evaluate the performance of both schemes. The error of the spectral scheme is at least seven orders of magnitude smaller than finite difference error for a grid resolution of N = 15 (number of points used). The performance of the spectral formulation far exceeded the performance of the finite difference formulation for this problem. The spectral scheme required only slightly more effort to set up than the 2nd order finite difference scheme. This suggests that the spectral scheme may actually be faster to implement than higher order finite difference schemes

Are Alcohol-Related Acute Surgical Admission Rates Falling?

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-related admissions (ARA) represent a significant burden on hospital resources. The study objectives were to assess alcohol-related acute surgical admissions to a District General Hospital over a 5-year period, to determine the cost of these admissions and to consider strategies to affect future admission rates. METHODS: A prospective observational study was completed from October 2007 to March 2008. A daily review of acute surgical admissions determined whether alcohol was a factor for patients admitted. Data recorded included patient demographics, clinical presentation, investigations and final outcomes. This data was then compared with a previously completed prospective study between November 2002 and March 2003. RESULTS: Overall emergency surgical admissions during the study period were 1,125 (10.4%) compared to 838 (11.02%) in 2002. There was a 1.1% reduction in ARA from 9.5% (80/838) in 2002 to 8.4% (94/1,125) in 2007. The majority of ARA were male (82.8%) and 59.8% of ARA were under 40 years of age. ARA secondary to road traffic collisions (RTC) were reduced in 2007 compared to 2002 (12.5% to 8.5%). However, head injuries (30.0% to 48.9%) and pancreatitis (3.8% to 19.1%) secondary to alcohol had increased (p=0.27). 79.3% of admissions occurred out of hours. Although use of plain x-rays had decreased (70% to 54.3%, p=0.018), CT imaging (11.3% to 20.2%, p=0.67) and upper GI endoscopy had increased (2.5% to 7.4%, p=0.82). Blood alcohol levels increased with 83.0% of patients in 2007 compared to 60.9% in 2002 admitted with a level greater than 151mg/100mls (p=0.10). The overall cost of ARA over one year was calculated at £341,796. CONCLUSION: Alcohol-related admissions have reduced at this District General Hospital. However, despite recent government initiatives it still remains unclear how these factors affected ARA, as blood alcohol levels, alcohol-related head injuries and pancreatitis admissions all increased. Our findings highlight the relevance of the implementation of an inpatient alcohol policy combined with the availability of an alcohol liaison nurse in all acute surgical units

Economic inequalities in the effectiveness of a primary care intervention for depression and suicidal ideation.

BACKGROUND: Economic disadvantage is associated with depression and suicide. We sought to determine whether economic disadvantage reduces the effectiveness of depression treatments received in primary care. METHODS: We conducted differential-effects analyses of the Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial, a primary-care-based randomized, controlled trial for late-life depression and suicidal ideation conducted between 1999 and 2001, which included 514 patients with major depression or clinically significant minor depression. RESULTS: The intervention effect, defined as change in depressive symptoms from baseline, was stronger among persons reporting financial strain at baseline (differential effect size = -4.5 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale points across the study period [95% confidence interval = -8.6 to -0.3]). We found similar evidence for effect modification by neighborhood poverty, although the intervention effect weakened after the initial 4 months of the trial for participants residing in poor neighborhoods. There was no evidence of substantial differences in the effectiveness of the intervention on suicidal ideation and depression remission by economic disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Economic conditions moderated the effectiveness of primary-care-based treatment for late-life depression. Financially strained individuals benefited more from the intervention; we speculate this was because of the enhanced treatment management protocol, which led to a greater improvement in the care received by these persons. People living in poor neighborhoods experienced only temporary benefit from the intervention. Thus, multiple aspects of economic disadvantage affect depression treatment outcomes; additional work is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms