A precisely controlled, low range humidity system

Development of environmental control system for determining effects of relative humidity and dry heat on inactivation of microorganism

Reconciling technology and nature : the use of mobile technology in outdoor recreation

This paper examines the intersection of technology and nature. The advent of mobile technology has created new frontiers for using technology while in nature. Engaging with nature is placed within the context of outdoor recreation, specifically hiking, as hiking provides opportunities for interacting with the environment while simultaneously using mobile technology. Examined is the relationship between the experiences, benefits, and participant characteristics associated with outdoor recreation and mobile technology use among hikers in Mount Pilchuck State Park in Washington State. Surveys were used to collect information on the recreational experiences and behaviors of hikers (n=155). Results suggest that participant characteristics, outdoor recreation experiences, and outdoor recreation benefits are all related to mobile technology use. Participant characteristics are linked to both type and volume of mobile technology use. The type of mobile technology use may have a stronger relationship with outdoor recreation experiences and benefits than the level of mobile technology use. Generally, several types of mobile technology use are positively associated with outdoor recreation experiences and benefits. The majority of hikers did not significantly use the mobile technology device while hiking but did have the device while in the State Park. Participants took steps to mitigate the intrusion of the device on the outdoor experience and brought the device primarily for picture taking, safety, and because carrying the device is a habit. Mobile technology can both aid and hinder outdoor recreation. Recognizing the ways mobile technology changes recreation experiences encourages a world where humans can benefit from nature as well as technology

Medical Device Alarm Systems: a Multi-Hospital Study of Alarm-Related Events, Caregiver Alarm Response, and Their Contributing Factors

Medical device alarm systems are expected to improve patient care by alerting clinicians about conditions that require attention. However, due to a variety of circumstances, including inadequate training, muting alarms, alarm fatigue, and staffing shortages, the effectiveness of alarm systems may be questionable. This research looked at the appropriateness of time- to-respond (TTR) to alarms, the alarm system configuration, policies and procedures regarding alarms, and the extent of alarm-specific training and education alarms. Using concepts from cognitive systems engineering, organization policy, and organizational learning, a research model was assembled to investigate these relationships. Quantitative data analysis included an online survey conducted in four hospitals, retrospective review of alarm data related to patient harms, review of Nurse Call download data used to compare self-report of alarms to actual numbers of alarms as well as to assist in answering exploratory questions. Qualitative data analysis included the clinician survey comments, review of alarm-related policy and procedure, and staff interviews. Alarm survey data were collected from a total of 107 respondents over a three-month timeframe. Data download of alarms totaled 88,307. Using a logistic regression approach, partial support for the hypotheses was found across contexts of high, medium, and low priority alarms. The overall prediction of appropriateness of alarm response was good, except in the case of medium priority alarms. Examination of the alarm data revealed that clinician response to medium priority alarms was considerably slower than anticipated. The results indicated that alarm configuration, policy, education, and training provided some explanation about alarm response. However, resulting data also indicated that the relationship between the alarm priorities and response times are not fully understood. While high priority and low priority alarms were approached appropriately, medium priority alarms did not elicit the same response. This is of some concern given that they form the bulk of the alarms in some hospitals. While alarm configuration, policy and procedures, education and training provided some explanation about alarm response, other factors may contribute to the disparity in response which were not clarified in this research. As more devices with alarm capabilities are introduced into patient care, it is imperative that the appropriate response is elicited in clinicians

Numerical Study of Wave Propagation in Uniaxially Anisotropic Lorentzian Backward Wave Slabs

The propagation and refraction of a cylindrical wave created by a line current through a slab of backward wave medium, also called left-handed medium, is numerically studied with FDTD. The slab is assumed to be uniaxially anisotropic. Several sets of constitutive parameters are considered and comparisons with theoretical results are made. Electric field distributions are studied inside and behind the slab. It is found that the shape of the wavefronts and the regions of real and complex wave vectors are in agreement with theoretical results.Comment: 6 pages, figure

Thermoradiation inactivation of naturally occurring organisms in soil

Samples of soil collected from Kennedy Space Center near spacecraft assembly facilities were found to contain microorganisms very resistant to conventional sterilization techniques. The inactivation behavior of the naturally occurring spores in soil was investigated using dry heat and ionizing radiation, first separately, then in combination. Dry heat inactivation rates of spores were determined for 105 and 125 C. Radiation inactivation rates were determined for dose rates of 660 and 76 krad/hr at 25 C. Simultaneous combinations of heat and radiation were then investigated at 105, 110, 115, 120, and 125 C. Combined treatment was found to be highly synergistic requiring greatly reduced radiation doses to accomplish sterilization

Design requirements for laminar airflow clean rooms and devices

Laminar airflow and airborne contamination control concepts with clean room specifications and laminar flow facility design

Sibling conflict and relationship quality during the transition to emerging adulthood

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on September 11, 2013).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Nicole Campione-BarrIncludes bibliographical references.M.A. University of Missouri--Columbia 2013.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Psychology."May 2013"In recent years, family researchers have acknowledged the importance of sibling relationships across the lifespan, but there has been little investigation of the emerging adult years and how this relationship functions during the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Therefore, the present study sought to contribute to this relatively sparse area of research by investigating dyadic perceptions of two domains of sibling conflict and three aspects of relationship quality from first-born and second-born siblings from 48 families during first-borns' transition to college. In addition to identifying longitudinal trajectories of conflict and relationship quality across this transition, we also utilized the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy & Cook, 2006) to examine associations (both actor and partner effects) between sibling conflict during the year before first-borns entered college and relationship quality the following year, as well as associations between relationship quality and sibling conflict the following year. Our findings suggest that not only does the sibling relationship appear to maintain many of its prior longitudinal trajectories during the first year after first-born children leave the natal home, but there appear to be important longitudinal links between sibling conflict and relationship quality across this transition, indicating that in some ways, and for some siblings, this relationship during the adolescent years may have important implications for its long-term functioning into the adult years

The development of two closely controlled humidity systems

Development of two closely controlled humidity systems for microbiolog

Perceptions and Reactions to Tornado Warning Polygons: Would a Gradient Polygon Be Useful?

To better understand interpretations of National Weather tornado warning polygons, 145 participants were shown 22 hypothetical scenarios in one of four displays deterministic polygon, deterministic polygon + radar image, gradient polygon, and gradient polygon + radar image. Participants judged each numerical strike probability (ps ) and reported the likelihood of taking seven different response actions. The deterministic polygon display produced ps that were highest at the centroid and declined in all directions from there. The deterministic polygon + radar display, the gradient polygon display, and the gradient polygon + radar display produced ps that were high at the centroid and also at its edge nearest the tornadic storm cell. Overall, ps values were negatively related to resuming normal activities, but positively correlated with expectations of resuming normal activities, seeking information from social sources, seeking shelter, and evacuating by car. These results replicate the finding that participants make more appropriate ps judgments when polygons are presented in their natural context of radar images than when the polygons are presented in isolation and that gradient displays appear to provide no appreciable benefit. The fact that ps judgments had moderately positive correlations with both sheltering (a generally appropriate response) and evacuation (a generally inappropriate response) provides experimental confirmation that people threatened by actual tornadoes are conflicted about which protective action to take

Perceptions and Expected Immediate Reactions to Severe Storm Displays

The National Weather Service has adopted warning polygons that more specifically indicate the risk area than its previous county-wide warnings. However, these polygons are not defined in terms of numerical strike probabilities (ps). To better understand people’s interpretations of warning polygons, 167 participants were shown 23 hypothetical scenarios in one of three information conditions—polygon-only (Condition A), polygon + tornadic storm cell (Condition B), and polygon + tornadic storm cell + flanking nontornadic storm cells (Condition C). Participants judged each polygon’s ps and reported the likelihood of taking nine different response actions. The polygon-only condition replicated the results of previous studies; ps was highest at the polygon’s centroid and declined in all directions from there. The two conditions displaying storm cells differed from the polygon-only condition only in having ps just as high at the polygon’s edge nearest the storm cell as at its centroid. Overall, ps values were positively correlated with expectations of continuing normal activities, seeking information from social sources, seeking shelter, and evacuating by car. These results indicate that participants make more appropriate ps judgments when polygons are presented in their natural context of radar displays than when they are presented in isolation. However, the fact that ps judgments had moderately positive correlations with both sheltering (a generally appropriate response) and evacuation (a generally inappropriate response) suggests that experiment participants experience the same ambivalence about these two protective actions as people threatened by actual tornadoes