Optimisation of the spark gap parameters for high powered ultrasound applications

There is considerable interest in the industrial and commercial applications of high power ultrasound (HPU) generated using pulsed power techniques. These applications include metal peening, the treatment of ores and minerals before extraction, drilling technologies and the comminution and recovery of waste materials. In all of these applications, it is important to optimise the parameters of the discharge causing the shock wave in the working medium to maximise the efficiency of the treatment. In a research project at the University of Strathclyde, some applications of HPU to the treatment of waste to assist in recycling have been investigated. Two systems have been considered, slag from the manufacture of stainless steel and bottle glass. With the slag material, it is intended to separate stainless steel from the silicate matrix to permit its recovery. With the bottle glass, the intention is comminution of the material to allow it to be recycled in a more valuable form. Measurements of the efficiency of these processes have been made in terms of the mass of material processed versus the energy input as the parameters of the discharge gap have been varied. In parallel with this work, measurements have been made using pinducer sensors to determine the energy in HPU pulses generated by discharges under identical conditions. Correlations are made between the efficiency of material treatment and the intensity of the HPU pulse measured in the far field. It is hoped that this approach will allow the optimal gap parameters to be determined using pinducer measurements rather than time consuming trials based around materials processing

Fall Prevention in Hospitals: An Integrative Review

Purpose: This article summarize research and draws overall conclusions from the body of literature on fall prevention interventions to provide nurse administrators with a basis for developing evidence-based fall prevention programs in the hospital setting. Method: Data were obtained from published studies. Thirteen articles were retrieved that focused on fall interventions in the hospital setting. An analysis was performed based on levels of evidence using an integrative review process. Results: Multifactoral fall prevention intervention programs that included fall risk assessments, door/bed/patient fall risk alerts, environmental and equipment modifications, staff and patient safety education, medication management targeted to specific types, and additional assistance with transfer and toileting demonstrated reduction in both falls and fall injuries in hospitalized patients. Conclusion: Hospitals need to reduce falls by using multifactoral fall prevention programs using evidence-based interventions to reduce falls and injuries

Factors affecting the operation of laser-triggered gas switch (LTGS) with multi-electrode spark gap

Multi-electrode spark switches can be used for switching applications at elevated voltages or for command triggering. Symmetrical field graded electrodes allow the electrical stress across individual gaps to be controlled, thus maximising the hold off voltage and reducing switch pre-fire. The paper considers some aspects of multielectrode switch design and their influence on switching behavior. Non-symmetrical, uni-directional electrode topologies can be employed with advantages over traditional symmetrical design. The choice of working gas and gas pressure can influence switching performance in terms of delay-time and jitter. Transient analysis of switch characteristics has been undertaken in order to understand multi-electrode switching

Policy Implications of Oral Agents

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing use of oral antineoplastic agents in cancer management, patients and family members need to understand of how to obtain, safely handle, and store the medication, how and when the medications should be taken, and when to report toxic side effects to accomplish efficacious treatment. DATA SOURCES: Research based articles and conference presentations. CONCLUSION: Cancer centers to modify policies, protocols, or practices to assure safe and proper administration of oral antineoplastic agents. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Clinicians need to monitor and facilitate administration of oral antineoplastic agents, and ultimately improve clinical outcomes

Falls in the Community Dwelling Elderly with a History of Cancer

BACKGROUND: Falls place older adults at risk for injuries, resulting in functional decline, hospitalization, institutionalization, higher healthcare costs, and decreased quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study examined community-dwelling elderly to identify if individuals with a history of cancer fall at a higher rate than those without cancer, and if the occurrence of falls was influenced by individual characteristics, symptoms, or function. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study, in 2007, examining 7,448 community-dwelling elderly 65 years or older in a state in the Midwest. Fallers were identified based on a diagnosis of cancer, age, sex, race and ethnicity, poor vision, reduced activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs, cognition, incontinence, pain, or depression. RESULTS: Findings indicated that 2,125 (28.5%) had at least 1 fall. Of those who fell, 967 (13.0%) had cancer, and 363 (4.9%) with cancer had a fall. CONCLUSION: Predictors of falls in this population included race, sex, ADLs, incontinence, depression, and pain, all with P IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study found a high frequency of falls and suggests a predictive model for fall risk in the vulnerable, community-dwelling elderly and will be used to inform future studies

Absorption Band Q Model for the Earth

Body wave, surface wave, and normal mode data are used to place constraints on the frequency dependence of Q in the mantle. With a simple absorption band model it is possible to satisfy the shear sensitive data over a broad frequency range. The quality factor Q_s (ω) is proportional to ω^α in the band and to ω and ω^(−1) at higher and lower frequencies, respectively, as appropriate for a relaxation mechanism with a spectrum of relaxation times. The parameters of the band are Q(min) = 80, α = 0.15, and width, 5 decades. The center of the band varies from 10^1 seconds in the upper mantle, to 1.6×10^3 seconds in the lower mantle. The shift of the band with depth is consistent with the expected effects of temperature, pressure and stress. High Q_s regions of the mantle are attributed to a shift of the absorption band to longer periods. To satisfy the gravest fundamental spheroidal modes and the ScS data, the absorption band must shift back into the short-period seismic band at the base of the mantle. This may be due to a high temperature gradient or high shear stresses. A preliminary attempt is also made to specify bulk dissipation in the mantle and core. Specific features of the absorption band model are low Q in the body wave band at both the top and the base of the mantle, low Q for long-period body waves in the outer core, an inner core Q_s that increases with period, and low Q_P/Q_S at short periods in the middle mantle. The short-period Q_s increases rapidly at 400 km and is relatively constant from this depth to 2400 km. The deformational Q of the earth at a period of 14 months is predicted to be 463

Development of an Index to Predict Risk of Nursing Home Placement for Home and Community-Based Waiver Participants

Nursing home placement (NHP) is costly, and the majority of older adults prefer to remain living in the community. The purpose of this research was to examine NHP among a cohort of participants in a home and community-based waiver program during 2002 to 2007 to develop a risk model for predicting who may transition to a nursing home. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted on data from the minimum data set-home for care linked with medicaid claim files and death certificates. The sample included 6525 participants who had two assessments and survived through 2007 or had NHP. A risk index was developed to identify participants who had NHP. Results: Using the risk index, the probability of NHP was 50%, with sensitivity of 0.4 and specificity of 0.9. Forty percent of participants who had NHP were correctly identified. Conclusion: This NHP risk index may inform waiver agency personnel as to when participants may need more intense interventions, and consequently provide additional care to delay or prevent NHP when possible

Measuring Quality in Chat Reference Consortia: A Comparative Analysis of Responses to Users’ Queries

Academic libraries have experienced growing demand for 24/7 accessto resources and services. Despite the challenges and costs of chatreference service and consortia, many libraries are finding the demandfor these services worth the cost. One key challenge is providing andmeasuring quality of service, particularly in a consortia setting. This studyexplores the quality of service provided in one academic library participatingin a 24/7 chat reference consortium, by assessing transcripts ofchat sessions using in-house reference quality standards. Findings pointto both similarities and differences between chat interactions of locallibrarians versus consortia staff

mHealth SMS Text Messaging Interventions and to Promote Medication Adherence: An Integrative Review

Aims and objectives: This article is an integrative review of the evidence for mobile health Short Message Service text messages as an innovative and emerging intervention to promote medication adherence. Authors completed this review to draw conclusions and implications towards establishing a scientific foundation for use of text messages to promote medication adherence, thus informing clinical practice. Background: The World Health Organization has identified medication adherence as a priority global problem. Text messages are emerging as an effective means of improving health behaviours and in some diseases to promote medication adherence. However, a gap in the literature indicates lack of evidence in guiding theories and content of text messages, which should be synthesised prior to use in clinical practice. Design: Integrative review. Methods: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and PubMed were searched for relevant studies between 2004–2014. Inclusion criteria were (1) implementation of a text-message intervention and (2) medication adherence to a prescribed oral medication as a primary outcome. Articles were assessed for quality of methodology and measures of adherence. An integrative review process was used to perform analysis. Results: Thirteen articles meeting the inclusion criteria are included in this review. Nine of 13 studies found adherence rates improved between 15·3—17·8% when using text messages to promote medication adherence. Text messages that were standardised, tailored, one- or two-way and timed either daily to medication regimen, weekly or monthly showed improvement in medication adherence. Conclusions: This review established a scientific basis for text messages as an intervention to improve medication adherence across multiple diseases. Future large rigorous randomised trials are needed to further test text messaging interventions. Relevance to clinical practice: This review provides clinicians with the state of the science with regard to text messaging interventions that promote medication adherence. A description of intervention components are provided to aid nurses in development of text messages and in translating evidence into practice