Spinarc gas tungsten arc torch holder

Semiautomatic welding torch enables operator to control arc length, torch angle, and spring tension when welding small diameter aluminum tubing. Tungsten is preset for the weld to make arc initiation easier and to eliminate searching for the joint through a dark welding lens

Mechanical chest-compression devices: current and future roles

Purpose of review: It is recognised that the quality of CPR is an important predictor of outcome from cardiac arrest yet studies consistently demonstrate that the quality of CPR performed in real life is frequently sub-optimal. Mechanical chest compression devices provide an alternative to manual CPR. This review will consider the evidence and current indications for the use of these devices. Recent findings: Physiological and animal data suggest that mechanical chest compression devices are more effective than manual CPR. However there is no high quality evidence showing improved outcomes in humans. There are specific circumstances where it may not be possible to perform manual CPR effectively e.g. during ambulance transport to hospital, en-route to and during cardiac catheterisation, prior to organ donation and during diagnostic imaging where using these devices may be advantageous. Summary: There is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of mechanical chest compression devices. There may be specific circumstances when CPR is difficult or impossible where mechanical devices may play an important role in maintaining circulation. There is an urgent need for definitive clinical and cost effectiveness trials to confirm or refute the place of mechanical chest compression devices during resuscitation

Some winter characteristics of the northern high latitude ionosphere

Langmuir probe measurements of ionospheric electron density and temperature during winte

Creating Value in a Call Center Support Model

With an increased workload and overwhelming changes to manage through, the resource planning team of the Kingsburg Call Center redefines how they will support and provide information to the partners. They use the integrative thinking model to craft a creative solution and then utilized emotional intelligence and empathy to ensure they were meeting their stakeholders needs

Assessing time knowledge in children aged 10 to 11 years

The acquisition of time knowledge involves learning how to read clocks, estimate time, read dates and learn about temporal sequences. Evidence suggests that many of these competencies are acquired by 10 years of age although not all children may follow this developmental path. The main purpose of this study was to collect normative data for a screening tool that assesses time knowledge. These data identify the prevalence and pattern of difficulties with time knowledge among a UK sample of Year 6 pupils (aged 10 to 11 years). The Time Screening Assessment tool (Doran, Dutt & Pembery, 2015), designed to assess time knowledge, was administered individually to a sample of 79 children. Findings revealed a median overall score of 32 out of a maximum score of 36. 25% of children performed at or close to ceiling, however seven children scored more than -1.5 standard deviations below the mean. The value of these findings to practitioners working with children in schools is discussed

Seiberg-Witten maps and noncommutative Yang-Mills theories for arbitrary gauge groups

Seiberg-Witten maps and a recently proposed construction of noncommutative Yang-Mills theories (with matter fields) for arbitrary gauge groups are reformulated so that their existence to all orders is manifest. The ambiguities of the construction which originate from the freedom in the Seiberg-Witten map are discussed with regard to the question whether they can lead to inequivalent models, i.e., models not related by field redefinitions.Comment: 12 pages; references added, minor misprints correcte

Achieving Compositional Language in a Population of Iterated Learners

Available from MIT Press via the DOI in this recordIterated learning takes place when the input into a particular individual's learning process is itself the output of another individual's learning process. This is an important feature to capture when investigating human language change, or the dynamics of culturally learned behaviours in general. Over the last fifteen years, the Iterated Learning Model (ILM) has been used to shed light on how the population-level characteristics of learned communication arise. However, until now each iteration of the model has tended to feature a single immature language user learning from their interactions with a single mature language user. Here, the ILM is extended to include a population of immature and mature language users. We demonstrate that the structure and make-up of this population influences the dynamics of language change that occur over generational time. In particular, we show that, by increasing the number of trainers from which an agent learns, the agent in question learns a fully compositional language at a much faster rate, and with less training data. It is also shown that, so long as the number of mature agents is large enough, this finding holds even if a learner's trainers include other agents that do not yet posses full linguistic competence.This work was supported by an EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre grant (EP/G03690x/1)

Destructive sampling natural science collections: an overview for museum professionals and researchers

There are many reasons why museum collections may be used for destructive sampling, from DNA and isotope analysis to radiocarbon dating. The process is invasive and destroys a part, or all, of the specimen. This can result in reluctance by museum staff to allow specimens to be used in particular types of scientific research. We will present some of the motivations on both sides, but argue that the benefits of destructive sampling can outweigh the risks. Many analytical methods have improved dramatically in the last 30 years, requiring smaller sample sizes. With a focus on destructive sampling for genetic analysis, we will also present some examples from the literature where DNA from museum and archaeological specimens has greatly aided the reconstruction of a species' evolutionary history as well as enriching our understanding of the object sampled. In addition, we highlight the need for museum staff to understand exactly what researchers are asking for, and for researchers in turn to understand museum procedures. We include an example of a Destructive Sampling Policy and a Destructive Sampling Request Form, for institutions to adapt for their own use

The UK Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcome (OHCAO) project

Introduction: Reducing premature death is a key priority for the UK National Health Service (NHS). NHS Ambulance services treat approximately 30 000 casesof suspected cardiac arrest each year but survival rates vary. The British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council (UK) have funded a structured research programme—the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes (OHCAO) programme. The aim of the project is to establish the epidemiology and outcome of OHCA, explore sources of variation in outcome and establish the feasibility of setting up a national OHCA registry. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective observational study set in UK NHS Ambulance Services. The target population will be adults and children sustaining an OHCA who are attended by an NHS ambulance emergency response and where resuscitation is attempted. The data collected will be characterised broadly as system characteristics, emergency medical services (EMS) dispatch characteristics, patient characteristics and EMS process variables. The main outcome variables of interest will be return of spontaneous circulation and medium—long-term survival (30 days to 10-year survival). Ethics and dissemination: Ethics committee permissions were gained and the study also has received approval from the Confidentiality Advisory Group Ethics and Confidentiality committee which provides authorisation to lawfully hold identifiable data on patients without their consent. To identify the key characteristics contributing to better outcomes in some ambulance services, reliable and reproducible systems need to be established for collecting data on OHCA in the UK. Reports generated from the registry will focus on data completeness, timeliness and quality. Subsequent reports will summarise demographic, patient, process and outcome variables with aim of improving patient care through focus quality improvement initiatives

Destructive sampling natural science collections: an overview for museum professionals and researchers

There are many reasons why museum collections may be used for destructive sampling, from DNA and isotope analysis to radiocarbon dating. The process is invasive and destroys a part, or all, of the specimen. This can result in reluctance by museum staff to allow specimens to be used in particular types of scientific research. We will present some of the motivations on both sides, but argue that the benefits of destructive sampling can outweigh the risks. Many analytical methods have improved dramatically in the last 30 years, requiring smaller sample sizes. With a focus on destructive sampling for genetic analysis, we will also present some examples from the literature where DNA from museum and archaeological specimens has greatly aided the reconstruction of a species' evolutionary history as well as enriching our understanding of the object sampled. In addition, we highlight the need for museum staff to understand exactly what researchers are asking for, and for researchers in turn to understand museum procedures. We include an example of a Destructive Sampling Policy and a Destructive Sampling Request Form, for institutions to adapt for their own use