71 research outputs found
Status of the PICASSO Project
The Picasso project is a dark matter search experiment based on the
superheated droplet technique. Preliminary runs performed at the Picasso Lab in
Montreal have showed the suitability of this detection technique to the search
for weakly interacting cold dark matter particles. In July 2002, a new phase of
the project started. A batch of six 1-liter detectors with an active mass of
approximately 40g was installed in a gallery of the SNO observatory in Sudbury,
Ontario, Canada at a depth of 6,800 feet (2,070m). We give a status report on
the new experimental setup, data analysis, and preliminary limits on
spin-dependent neutralino interaction cross section.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the TAUP 2003
conference, 5-9 September, 2003, University of Washington, Seattle, US
Simulation of Special Bubble Detectors for PICASSO
The PICASSO project is a cold dark matter (CDM) search experiment relying on
the superheated droplet technique. The detectors use superheated freon liquid
droplets (active material) dispersed and trapped in a polymerized gel. This
detection technique is based on the phase transition of superheated droplets at
about room temperature and ambient pressure. The phase transition is induced by
nuclear recoils when an atomic nucleus in the droplets interacts with incoming
subatomic particles. This includes CDM particles candidate as the neutralino (a
yet-to-discover particle predicted in extensions of the Standard Model of
particle physics). Simulations performed to understand the detector response to
neutrons and alpha particles are presented along with corresponding data
obtained at the Montreal Laboratory.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the 14th
International Conference on Solid State Dosimetry, June 27 - July 2 2004,
Yale University, New Haven, CT, US
"As soon as youâve had the baby thatâs itâŠâ a qualitative study of 24 postnatal women on their experience of maternal obesity care pathways
Abstract Background Maternal obesity is associated with risks to mother and infant, and has implications for healthcare costs. United Kingdom (UK) levels of maternal obesity are rising, with higher prevalence in North East (NE) England, where this study was set. Pregnancy is often seen as an opportune time for intervention â a âteachable momentâ - which is ripe for promoting behaviour change. In response to rising obesity levels, a National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in NE England implemented three maternal obesity care pathways contingent on Body Mass Index (BMI) at time of booking: pathway 1 for those with BMI â„30Â kg/m2; pathway 2 for BMI â„35Â kg/m2; and pathway 3 for BMI â„40Â kg/m2. These incorporated relevant antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal clinical requirements, and included a focus on weight management intervention. This evaluation explored the accounts of postnatal women who had been through one of these pathways in pregnancy. Methods The study used a generic qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to explore the views and experiences of 24 recent mothers (aged 20â42), living in NE England, who had commenced on one of the pathways during pregnancy. Interviews explored experiences of weight management support during and after pregnancy, and perceived gaps in this support. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Three main themes emerged reflecting womenâs views and experiences of the pathways: communication about the pathways; treating obese pregnant women with sensitivity and respect; and appropriate and accessible lifestyle services and information for women during and after pregnancy. An overarching theme: differences in care, support and advice, was evident when comparing the experiences of women on pathways 1 or 2 with those on pathway 3. Conclusions This study indicated that women were not averse to risk management and weight management intervention during and after pregnancy. However, in order to improve reach and effectiveness, such interventions need to be well communicated and offer constructive, individualised advice and support. The postnatal phase may also offer an opportune moment for intervention, suggesting that the simple notion of seeing pregnancy alone as a window of opportunity or a âteachable momentâ should be reconsidered
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Person-centred care in interventions to limit weight gain in pregnant women with obesity - a systematic review
Background
Person-centred care, asserting that individuals are partners in their care, has been associated with care satisfaction but the value of using it to support women with obesity during pregnancy is unknown. Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with increased risks for both mother and baby and weight gain therefore is an important intervention target. The aims of this review was to 1) explore to what extent and in what manner interventions assessing weight in pregnant women with obesity use person-centred care and 2) assess if interventions including aspects of person-centred care are more effective at limiting weight gain than interventions not employing person-centred care.
Methods
Ten databases were systematically searched in January 2014. Studies had to report an intervention offered to pregnant women with obesity and measure gestational weight gain to be included. All included studies were independently double coded to identify to what extent they included three defined aspects of person-centred care: 1) âinitiate a partnershipâ including identifying the personâs circumstances and motivation; 2) âworking the partnershipâ through sharing the decision-making regarding the planned action and 3) âsafeguarding the partnership through documentationâ of care preferences. Information on gestational weight gain, study quality and characteristics were also extracted.
Results
Ten studies were included in the review, of which five were randomised controlled trials (RCT), and the remaining observational studies. Four interventions included aspects of person-centred care; two observational studies included both âinitiating the partnershipâ, and âworking the partnershipâ. One observational study included âinitiating the partnershipâ and one RCT included âworking the partnershipâ. No interventions included âsafeguarding the partnership through documentationâ. Whilst all studies with person-centred care aspects showed promising findings regarding limiting gestational weight gain, so did the interventions not including person-centred care aspects.
Conclusions
The use of an identified person-centred care approach is presently limited in interventions targeting gestational weight gain in pregnant women with obesity. Hence to what extent person-centred care may improve health outcomes and care satisfaction in this population is currently unknown and more research is needed. That said, our findings suggest that use of routines incorporating person-centredness are feasible to include within these interventions
Effectiveness of the Epleyâs maneuver performed in primary care to treat posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Design and implementation of an automatic wire cutting and striping machine for small scale industry
The trend in the recent industry is to move towards automation. This is driven by a number of factors such as increasing accuracy and decreasing human errors. This dissertation provides full overview of the development and design of the automated wire cutting and striping machine for small scale industrial application. The proposed system is put into practice in real time
Manual approach is currently used to cut and measure wire that takes more time with manpower. The effectiveness and accuracy obtained by manual method is really poor. The specific aim of the automated wire - cutting system is to cut the needed wire length in the required number of parts. By utilizing the developed system, we can achieve low cost cutting with reduced cutting process time. This system is less complex in terms of user friendliness and also portable
Horner syndrome: clinical perspectives
Sivashakthi Kanagalingam,1–3 Neil R Miller1–31Department of Ophthalmology, 2Department of Neurology, 3Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USAAbstract: Horner syndrome consists of unilateral ptosis, an ipsilateral miotic but normally reactive pupil, and in some cases, ipsilateral facial anhidrosis, all resulting from damage to the ipsilateral oculosympathetic pathway. Herein, we review the clinical signs and symptoms that can aid in the diagnosis and localization of a Horner syndrome as well as the causes of the condition. We emphasize that pharmacologic testing can confirm its presence and direct further testing and management.Keywords: Horner syndrome, oculosympathoparesis, anisocoria, ptosis, anhidrosi
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