Improved high voltage insulator for use in vacuum

High voltage insulator for electron bombardment ion thruster has electric field directed through dielectric material and electrons emitted by field emission are constrained in negative junction region. Surface flashover and unstable operation are eliminated, and maximum voltage is limited only by dielectric strength of material, aluminum oxide in this case

Effects of anabolic steroids on acute phase responses in intra-abdominal sepsis

The acute phase response is an important adaptive response to sepsis and injury. As anabolic steroids increase protein synthesis we postulated that these agents might also increase hepatic acute phase protein synthesis. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with testosterone or danazol for 48 h prior to caecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Thirty-six h following surgery the animals were killed and blood taken for full blood count, total protein, albumin, α, β and γ globulin fractions on serum electrophoresis, complement C3 and transferrin levels. Danazol increased the α1, α2 and β1 globulin serum protein fractions in comparison with no surgery and CLP alone groups. These results indicate that danazol increases plasma acute phase proteins, as measured by electrophoresis, in this model of intra-abdominal sepsis

To them that hath: economic complexity and local industrial strategy in the UK

AbstractDivergent economic performance in many countries has led to renewed interest in place-based policies, such as the UK’s local industrial strategies at the level of Combined Authorities or Local Economic Partnerships. However, an analysis of employment data using methods from the economic complexity literature demonstrates great heterogeneity in industrial strengths and future growth opportunities within those jurisdictions, raising challenges in designing common policies suited to all sub-geographies. Moreover, the ‘related’ industries into which low-complexity, low-wage local authorities could potentially diversify are also low-wage. Incremental policies building on existing local capacities are therefore likely to amplify divergence between prospering and left-behind areas.</jats:p

The preparation of graphic models for a virtual reality application in Unity

Although Virtual Reality has existed for decades, it is currently experiencing a boom. This is mainly due to the new powerful hardware devices available to many people. Accompanying this greater availability, the fields of use are also currently expanding – medicine, military, business, engineering, education, entertainment, etc. The main purpose of Virtual Reality is to provide the user with a real-looking simulated environment, including interaction. Specialised developer software tools are used in order to create Virtual Reality applications that exploit suitable 3D graphics models. This paper deals with the creation and preparation of such graphical models - including textures, and the problems of the conversion process, to a developer application. Blender is used to create models and UV maps. The export of these models and UV maps from Blender is set up for easy implementation in the Substance Painter software, where the textures are drawn - and later, into the Unity developer engine for Virtual Reality application. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Interaction and observation, categorically

This paper proposes to use dialgebras to specify the semantics of interactive systems in a natural way. Dialgebras are a conservative extension of coalgebras. In this categorical model, from the point of view that we provide, the notions of observation and interaction are separate features. This is useful, for example, in the specification of process equivalences, which are obtained as kernels of the homomorphisms of dialgebras. As an example we present the asynchronous semantics of the CCS.Comment: In Proceedings ICE 2011, arXiv:1108.014

Применение гидродинамического моделирования для обоснования мероприятий по борьбе с подтоплением при использовании лучевого дренажа

Развитие подтопления способно существенным образом осложнить эксплуатацию инженерных сооружений. Это требует разработки эффективных мер по предотвращению негативных последствий подъёма уровней подземных вод. В случае особо ответственных сооружений повышаются требования к надёжности прогноза изменения гидрогеологических условий под влиянием эксплуатации защитных мероприятий. В статье рассматриваются вопросы прогноза изменения гидрогеологических условий на участке хранения высокорадиоактивных отходов под влиянием лучевого дренажа. Flooding development is capable to complicate operation of engineering constructions essentially. It demands working out of effectual measures on prevention of negative consequences of ascending gradient of levels of underground waters. In case of especially responsible constructions requirements to reliability of the forecast of change of hydrogeological conditions under the influence of operation of protective actions raise. In article questions of the forecast of change of hydrogeological conditions on a lot of storage of a highly radioactive waste under the influence of a beam drainage are considered

Formalization and confirmation of the Boyd-Epley operating system model

An approach to operating system modelling is described in which the simultaneous and synergistic application of tractable queueing theory models and their simulatable refinements is essential. Cross checking of these models against each other and against the real system results in a degree of confirmation not achievable by relying on either analytic or simulation models alone.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23006/1/0000574.pd

Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets. Methods Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis. Results A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty

A three-group study, internet-based, face-to-face based and standard- management after acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD) – choosing the most efficient and cost-effective treatment: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The management of Whiplash Associated Disorders is one of the most complicated challenges with high expenses for the health care system and society. There are still no general guidelines or scientific documentation to unequivocally support any single treatment for acute care following whiplash injury.</p> <p>The main purpose of this study is to try a new behavioural medicine intervention strategy at acute phase aimed to reduce the number of patients who have persistent problems after the whiplash injury. The goal is also to identify which of three different interventions that is most cost-effective for patients with Whiplash Associated Disorders. In this study we are controlling for two factors. First, the effect of behavioural medicine approach is compared with standard care. Second, the manner in which the behavioural medicine treatment is administered, Internet or face-to-face, is evaluated in it's effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study is a randomized, prospective, experimental three-group study with analyses of cost-effectiveness up to two-years follow-up. <it>Internet – based programme </it>and <it>face-to-face group treatment programme </it>are compared to <it>standard-treatment </it>only. Patient follow-ups take place three, six, twelve and 24 months, that is, short-term as well as long-term effects are evaluated. Patients will be enrolled via the emergency ward during the first week after the accident.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This new self-help management will concentrate to those psychosocial factors that are shown to be predictive in long-term problems in Whiplash Associated Disorders, i.e. the importance of self-efficacy, fear of movement, and the significance of catastrophizing as a coping strategy for restoring and sustaining activities of daily life. Within the framework of this project, we will develop, broaden and evaluate current physical therapy treatment methods for acute Whiplash Associated Disorders. The project will contribute to the creation of a cost-effective behavioural medicine approach to management of acute Whiplash Associated Disorders. The results of this study will answer an important question; on what extent and how should these patients be treated at acute stage and how much does the best management cost.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN61531337</p