Measurement of vibrations of rotating elements in a folding machine

The measurements of vibrations of rollers and their segments in transverse direction to the axis of rotation of folding device were carried out in this work. The displacements of rollers and of their segments originating during the process of rotation in transverse direction to the axis of rotation were determined. Based on experimental results plane strain problem was investigated. Also bending vibrations of the rotating element in a folding machine were investigated. Supplementary stiffness from the static loading caused by centrifugal forces was taken into account. Eigenmodes were calculated. Comparison of experimental and numerical investigations is performed

Measurement of vibrations of rotating elements in a folding machine

The measurements of vibrations of rollers and their segments in transverse direction to the axis of rotation of folding device were carried out in this work. The displacements of rollers and of their segments originating during the process of rotation in transverse direction to the axis of rotation were determined. Based on experimental results plane strain problem was investigated. Also bending vibrations of the rotating element in a folding machine were investigated. Supplementary stiffness from the static loading caused by centrifugal forces was taken into account. Eigenmodes were calculated. Comparison of experimental and numerical investigations is performed

Six years beyond pediatric trauma: child and parental ratings of children’s health-related quality of life in relation to parental mental health

Purpose: To examine the relationship between child self-report and parent proxy report of health-related quality of life (HRQL) and how parents’ mental health status relates to the HRQL ratings 6 years after minor to severe injury of the child. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional cohort study was performed at a regional pediatric trauma center in Stockholm, Sweden. The PedsQL 4.0 versions for ages 5–7, 8–12, and 13–18 years were completed by 177 child–parent dyads 6 years after injury to the child. The parents also rated their own mental health through the mental health domain (MH) in the SF-36 Health Survey. Results: The children’s median age was 13 years (IQR 10–16 years), 54 % were males, and the median ISS was 5 (IQR 2–9). Most of the parents were female (77 %), born in Sweden (79 %), and half had university degrees. There was no statistically significant difference between child self-report and parent proxy report in any of the PedsQL 4.0 scales or summary scales. The levels of agreement between child self-report and parent proxy reports were excellent (ICC ≥ 0.80) for all scales with the exception of emotional functioning (ICC 0.53) which also was the scale with the lowest internal consistency in child self-report (α 0.60). Multiple regression analyses showed that worse parental mental health status correlated with worse child self-report and parent proxy report of children’s HRQL. Conclusions: Children and their parents’ reports on child’s HRQL were in agreement. Decreased mental health in parents was associated with lower scores on parent proxy reports and child self-reports of HRQL after injury. The current investigation highlights the possible relationship between parent’s mental health status and children’s HRQL long after an injury, which should be considered in future investigations and in clinical care

Neurogenic bladder: etiology and assessment

A review of the various causes of neurologic impairment to the lower urinary tract in children was the aim of this presentation. The emphasis was on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment that strive to maintain as normal a function as possible in order to achieve eventual urinary continence and health of the upper urinary tract. The latest principles based on the most up to date evidence are promulgated but with an eye towards historical prospective. The reader should gain an adequate understanding of various disorders that comprise this condition and feel comfortable with proposing options for management when faced with the responsibility of caring for an affected child

Amyloid PET as a marker of normal-appearing white matter early damage in multiple sclerosis: correlation with CSF β-amyloid levels and brain volumes

PURPOSE The disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unpredictable, and reliable prognostic biomarkers are needed. Positron emission tomography (PET) with β-amyloid tracers is a promising tool for evaluating white matter (WM) damage and repair. Our aim was to investigate amyloid uptake in damaged (DWM) and normal-appearing WM (NAWM) of MS patients, and to evaluate possible correlations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) β-amyloid (Aβ) levels, amyloid tracer uptake, and brain volumes. METHODS Twelve MS patients were recruited and divided according to their disease activity into active and non-active groups. All participants underwent neurological examination, neuropsychological testing, lumbar puncture, brain magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging, and F-florbetapir PET. Aβ levels were determined in CSF samples from all patients. MRI and PET images were co-registered, and mean standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated for each patient in the NAWM and in the DWM. To calculate brain volumes, brain segmentation was performed using statistical parametric mapping software. Nonparametric statistical analyses for between-group comparisons and regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS We found a lower SUV in DWM compared to NAWM (p < 0.001) in all patients. Decreased NAWM-SUV was observed in the active compared to non-active group (p < 0.05). Considering only active patients, NAWM volume correlated with NAWM-SUV (p = 0.01). Interestingly, CSF Aβ concentration was a predictor of both NAWM-SUV (r = 0.79; p = 0.01) and NAWM volume (r = 0.81, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The correlation between CSF Aβ levels and NAWM-SUV suggests that the predictive role of β-amyloid may be linked to early myelin damage and may reflect disease activity and clinical progression

Active rehabilitation - a community peer-based approach for persons with spinal cord injury: International utilisation of key elements

INTRODUCTION: Active Rehabilitation (AR) is a community peer-based approach that started in Sweden in 1976. As a key component of the approach, AR training camps provide intensive, goal-oriented, intentional, group-based, customised training and peer-support opportunities in a community environment for individuals with spinal cord injury. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To describe the profile of the organisations that use components of the AR approach, and to explore the characteristics and the international variations of the approach. SETTING: Twenty-two organisations from 21 countries from Europe, Asia and Africa reported using components of the AR approach during the past 10 years. METHODS: An electronic survey was developed and distributed through a personalised email. Sampling involved a prospective identification of organisations that met the inclusion criteria and snowball strategies. RESULTS: While there were many collaborating links between the organisations, RG Active Rehabilitation from Sweden and Motivation Charitable Trust from the United Kingdom were identified as key supporting organisations. The 10 key elements of the AR approach were found to be used uniformly across the participating organisations. Small variations were associated with variations in country income and key supporting organisation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe the key elements and international variations of the AR approach. This will provide the basis for further studies exploring the effectiveness of the approach, it will likely facilitate international collaboration on research and operational aspects and it could potentially support higher integration in the health-care system and long-term funding of these programmes

Active rehabilitation - a community peer-based approach for persons with spinal cord injury: International utilisation of key elements

INTRODUCTION: Active Rehabilitation (AR) is a community peer-based approach that started in Sweden in 1976. As a key component of the approach, AR training camps provide intensive, goal-oriented, intentional, group-based, customised training and peer-support opportunities in a community environment for individuals with spinal cord injury. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To describe the profile of the organisations that use components of the AR approach, and to explore the characteristics and the international variations of the approach. SETTING: Twenty-two organisations from 21 countries from Europe, Asia and Africa reported using components of the AR approach during the past 10 years. METHODS: An electronic survey was developed and distributed through a personalised email. Sampling involved a prospective identification of organisations that met the inclusion criteria and snowball strategies. RESULTS: While there were many collaborating links between the organisations, RG Active Rehabilitation from Sweden and Motivation Charitable Trust from the United Kingdom were identified as key supporting organisations. The 10 key elements of the AR approach were found to be used uniformly across the participating organisations. Small variations were associated with variations in country income and key supporting organisation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe the key elements and international variations of the AR approach. This will provide the basis for further studies exploring the effectiveness of the approach, it will likely facilitate international collaboration on research and operational aspects and it could potentially support higher integration in the health-care system and long-term funding of these programmes

Prediction of fuel channel-graphite gas-gap behaviour in RBMK reactors

To maintain thermal contact between the fuel assembly and the graphite moderator, RBMK design reactors employ graphite split rings, which are alternatively tight on the pressure tube or tight on the graphite brick central bore. The split in the graphite rings allows a helium / nitrogen gas mixture flow up the fuel channel. This prevents oxidation of the graphite and can be sampled to detect pressure tube leaks. The initial clearance between the rings and pressure tube or graphite brick is approximately 2.7 mm (1.35mm each side). Due to material property changes of the pressure tubes and graphite during operation of the reactor, the size of the clearance between the rings and the pressure tube/brick, called the “gas-gap”, varies. Closure of these gaps has been identified as a possible safety case issue by reactor designers and by independent reviews carried out as part of TACIS reviews and as part of the Ignalina Safety Analysis Report. The reasons for this are that gas-gap closure would cause the pressure tube to be tightly gripped by the graphite bricks via the split rings, which could lead to: · Extra loading on the upper pressure tube zirconium / steel transition joint, particularly during shut down and emergency transients · Splitting of the graphite brick leading to loss thermal contact between the pressure tube and graphite. As approximately 5.6% of the heat in graphite moderated reactor is generated within the moderator through neutron and gamma-heating loss of thermal contact would result in higher graphite temperatures accelerating the rate of graphite expansion and hence increasing the loading of the core radial restraint.· Graphite debris may become lodged in inter brick gaps leading to increased axial pressure tube loading during shut down and emergency transientsLietuvos energetikos institutasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta