On the geodetic stability of the Goddard Optical Research Facility

Seismic observations of earthquakes and blasts, geologic analysis of Landsat images, and a search of the historical record was examined. However, no evidence for tectonic motion was found. Some faulting is present in the area but no evidence of seismic activity was found. No elastic resonances in the range from 0.3 to 15 Hz were found. It is concluded that, except for ground water induced changes, the facility is stable at least to the 0.5 cm level

Proposed satellite laser ranging and very long baseline interferometry sites for crustal dynamics investigations

Recommendations are presented for a global network of 125 sites for geodetic measurements by satellite laser ranging and very long baseline interferometry. The sites were proposed on the basis of existing facilities and scientific value for investigation of crustal dynamics as related to earthquake hazards. Tectonic problems are discussed for North America peripheral regions and for the world. The sites are presented in tables and maps, with bibliographic references

Bacterial contamination of re-usable laryngoscope blades during the course of daily anaesthetic practice

Background and objectives. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are largely preventable through risk analysis and modification of practice.Anaesthetic practice plays a limited role in the prevention of HAIs, although laryngoscope use and decontamination is an area of concern.We aimed to assess the level of microbial contamination of re-usable laryngoscope blades at a public hospital in South Africa.Setting. The theatre complex of a secondary-level public hospital in Johannesburg.Methods. Blades from two different theatres were sampled twice daily, using a standardised technique, over a 2-week period. Samples werequantitatively assessed for microbial contamination, and stratified by area on blade, theatre and time using Fisher’s exact test.Results. A contamination rate of 57.3% (63/110) was found, with high-level contamination accounting for 22.2% of these. Commoncommensals were the most frequently isolated micro-organisms (79.1%), but important hospital pathogens such as Enterobacter species and Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated from blades with high-level contamination. No significant difference in the level of microbial contamination by area on blade, theatre or time was found (p<0.05).Conclusions. A combination of sub-optimal decontamination and improper handling of laryngoscopes after decontamination results in significant microbial contamination of re-usable laryngoscope blades. There is an urgent need to review protocols and policies surrounding the use of these blades

Anaesthetists’ knowledge of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis: a prospective descriptive study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the second most common hospital-acquired infection and results in increased morbidity and mortality and a longer hospital stay. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is one component of broader strategies to reduce rates of SSI. Adherence to SAP guidelines is largely sub-optimal globally, with knowledge of appropriate SAP being an important factor that affects this. The study’s objective was to describe awareness amongst anaesthetists at university-affiliated hospitals of available SAP guidelines and to describe their knowledge on the subject. Comparisons between senior and junior anaesthetists were to be made.Methodology: A prospective descriptive study design using a self-administered questionnaire was employed. The study population was the anaesthetists in a university-affiliated Department of Anaesthesiology in Johannesburg, South Africa.Results: The analysis included 135 completed questionnaires from the department’s anaesthetists. A total of 15.6% of participants followed a specific guideline in their practice, 28% for senior anaesthetists vs. 4.2% for junior anaesthetists. The overall mean score for knowledge was 56.2%, 59.3% for senior anaesthetists vs. 53.6% for junior anaesthetists, which was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Overall knowledge was found to be poor and, specifically, knowledge regarding indication for prophylaxis, antibiotic re-dosing interval and duration of prophylaxis was poor.Conclusion: The anaesthetists had poor knowledge regarding SAP. While the difference in knowledge between senior and junior anaesthetists was statistically significant, is it likely that this difference would not be substantial enough to have a clinical impact. The authors recommend interventions to improve the knowledge of the anaesthetists regarding SAP as well as the development of local SAP guidelines.Keywords: anaesthetist, antibiotics, knowledge, perioperative, surgical prophylaxis, surgical site infectio

Defining Roles and Responsibilities for School-Based Tele-Facilitators: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) Ratings of Proposed Competencies

The primary purpose of this study was to craft and validate a set of core competencies necessary for a tele-facilitator to possess in the school setting.  Competencies were created through literature review and qualitative analysis. Following expert review, the competencies were revised and formatted into an online survey which was sent to respondents in four target groups: (a) school administrators who had adopted telepractice as a service delivery model; (b) speech-language pathologists (SLPs) experienced in telepractice within a school setting; (c) current tele-facilitators, and (d) scholars experienced in telepractice. Fifty-seven percent (20 out of 35) of the competencies were rated as “Essential Skills.” The remaining competencies could be more or less important depending on workplace requirements

Le Corbusier, 1900-1925: the years of transition

More information on Le Corbusier's early career as Charles-Edouard Jeanneret is gradually coming to light but little 18 yet known of him during his period of transition from being a minor architect in La Chaux-de-Fonds to a major one of great theoretical and practical influence in Paris. As one might expect he did not make this transition without considerable personal anguish and it was only because of the help afforded him by his friends and the influence of hi associates and mentors that it was made at all. These relationships and influences form the subject of this study which throws light on various unexpected sides of Le Corbusier's development. The research is primarily based on his records of the period, his personal documents including letters he sent to colleagues, relations and friends; interviews by the writer with his brother and contemporaries still living in Switzerland and Paris; together with published material on his life and work, including his own. As Le Corbusier did not become generally known by this name until 1925 his given name of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret is used throughout this thesis. The thesis has been divided 1ro two parts; the first covers the formative years of his life in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1900 until 1917 when he left to live and work in Paris. The roots of many of his later convictions, activities and abilities lie in this period and the thesis traces the interconnecting links between, and the development of his four principal activities namely architecture, painting, writing and business. The second part pf the thesis covers Le Corbusier's first eight years in Paris (1917-1925) and examines the process by which he became, by the end of this period, established as one of the major innovators of the 'Modern Movement'.In the conclusion the writer draws together the major threads from the thesis to demonstrate how the transition from Charles-Edouard Jeanneret to Le Corbusier was achieved. The events and activities covered by this study have been placed within the context of the art1tic, economic and social life of the period in so far as Le Corbusier's development was affected

GCS programmer's manual

A variety of instructions to be used in the development of implementations of software for the Guidance and Control Software (GCS) project is described. This document fulfills the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics RTCA/DO-178A guidelines, 'Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification' requirements for document No. 4, which specifies the information necessary for understanding and programming the host computer, and document No. 12, which specifies the software design and implementation standards that are applicable to the software development and testing process. Information on the following subjects is contained: activity recording, communication protocol, coding standards, change management, error handling, design standards, problem reporting, module testing logs, documentation formats, accuracy requirements, and programmer responsibilities

Electric-field-induced displacement of a charged spherical colloid embedded in an elastic Brinkman medium

When an electric field is applied to an electrolyte-saturated polymer gel embedded with charged colloidal particles, the force that must be exerted by the hydrogel on each particle reflects a delicate balance of electrical, hydrodynamic and elastic stresses. This paper examines the displacement of a single charged spherical inclusion embedded in an uncharged hydrogel. We present numerically exact solutions of coupled electrokinetic transport and elastic-deformation equations, where the gel is treated as an incompressible, elastic Brinkman medium. This model problem demonstrates how the displacement depends on the particle size and charge, the electrolyte ionic strength, and Young's modulus of the polymer skeleton. The numerics are verified, in part, with an analytical (boundary-layer) theory valid when the Debye length is much smaller than the particle radius. Further, we identify a close connection between the displacement when a colloid is immobilized in a gel and its velocity when dispersed in a Newtonian electrolyte. Finally, we describe an experiment where nanometer-scale displacements might be accurately measured using back-focal-plane interferometry. The purpose of such an experiment is to probe physicochemical and rheological characteristics of hydrogel composites, possibly during gelation

Use of island and mainland shorelines by woodland caribou during the nursery period in two northern Ontario parks

Predation is considered a primary limiting factor of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations across North America. Caribou are especially vulnerable to predation during their first few weeks of life and have evolved space-use strategies to reduce predation risk through habitat selection during the critical calving and nursery period. We assessed landscape-scale physical characteristics and landcover types associated with caribou nursery sites in Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks in northern Ontario to better understand nursery site selection in relatively undisturbed landscapes. Although free from industrial activity, these protected areas may subject caribou to human recreational disturbance, so our secondary objective was to evaluate female caribou nursery site selection relative to human recreational activities. We determined that parturient caribou selected landscape characteristics at multiple spatial scales that may reduce predation risk during the calving and nursery period. Generally, female caribou in both parks selected larger lakes with larger than average sized islands configured within shorter than average distances to other islands or landforms that might facilitate escape from predators. The majority of caribou nursery areas in both parks occurred on islands rather than the mainland shoreline of lakes that were surveyed. The nearest landform for escape from these nursery sites on islands was typically another island, and most often 2-3 islands, suggesting parturient caribou may choose islands clustered together as part of their escape strategy. In Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, caribou nursery sites occurred more often in coniferous landcover than expected from availability, while in Wabakimi Provincial Park caribou used sparse, mixed and coniferous forests for nursery activity. Caribou cow-calf pairs typically used areas for nursery activity that were 9.1 km (± 1.0 km, range 2.3-20.6 km) in Wabakimi Provincial Park and 10.2 km (± 0.7 km, range 0.7-32.6 km) in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park from any human recreational disturbance. These landscape-scale physical characteristics and landcover types associated with caribou nursery sites may be used to predict locations of potential caribou nursery areas both outside and within protected areas for the provision of adequate protection and to ensure the persistence of this valued species