Dementia: constructing a relational perspective

Section A is a review of literature which has explored the experience of dementia in the context of couple relationships. Four key themes thought to be central to this experience were identified and highlight the impact of dementia upon couple relationships, and how aspects of relationships may influence the experience of dementia. Limitations and gaps in our understanding are highlighted. Most significantly, the existent literature focuses upon care partners’ perceptions and excludes people with dementia. Therefore, it is argued that a relational understanding of the experience of dementia, in the context of couple relationships, remains unknown. The review concludes with a rationale for why further research is needed and how people with dementia could be included. Section B describes a qualitative study, using interpretative phenomenological analysis, to investigate couples’ experiences of dementia. Seven couples were interviewed and five master themes (‘foundations’, ‘altered structures’, ‘self-restoration’, ‘flexible scaffolding’ and ‘reflective capacity’) emerged from analysis of the data. These themes offer an understanding of the experience of dementia from a relational perspective and depict the ways in which couples construct their experience in order to make sense of dementia, and the processes that they adopt in order to adjust to dementia. The findings of this study are supported by existing empirical and theoretical literature and have implications for future research and clinical practice

Stabilization of gravity oriented satellites Patent

Stabilization system for gravity-oriented satellites using single damper ro

Estimation and prediction of the attitude of a passive gravity-stabilized satellite

Method for predicting attitude of passive gravity stabilized satellit

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis work seeks to improve upon existing methods for device-free localization (DFL) using radio frequency (RF) sensor networks. Device-free localization is the process of determining the location of a target object, typically a person, without the need for a device to be with the object to aid in localization. An RF sensor network measures changes to radio propagation caused by the presence of a person to locate that person. We show how existing methods which use either wideband or narrowband RF channels can be improved in ways including localization accuracy, energy efficiency, and system cost. We also show how wideband and narrowband systems can combine their information to improve localization. A common assumption in ultra-wideband research is that to estimate the bistatic delay or range, "background subtraction" is effective at removing clutter and must first be performed. Another assumption commonly made is that after background subtraction, each individual multipath component caused by a person's presence can be distinguished perfectly. We show that these assumptions are often not true and that ranging can still be performed even when these assumptions are not true. We propose modeling the difference between a current set of channel impulse responses (CIR) and a set of calibration CIRs as a hidden Markov model (HMM) and show the effectiveness of this model over background subtraction. The methods for performing device-free localization by using ultra-wideband (UWB) measurements and by using received signal strength (RSS) measurements are often considered separate topic of research and viewed only in isolation by two different communities of researchers. We consider both of these methods together and propose methods for combining the information obtained from UWB and RSS measurements. We show that using both methods in conjunction is more effective than either method on its own, especially in a setting where radio placement is constrained. It has been shown that for RSS-based DFL, measuring on multiple channels improves localization accuracy. We consider the trade-o s of measuring all radio links on all channels and the energy and latency expense of making the additional measurements required when sampling multiple channels. We also show the benefits of allowing multiple radios to transmit simultaneously, or in parallel, to better measure the available radio links

A technique for passive attitude control of solar oriented interplanetary spacecraft

Passive damping technique for attitude control of solar orientated interplanetary spacecraf

Simulation study of two VTOL control/display systems in IMC approach and landing

Both systems had full attitude command; the more complex system (Type 1) also had translational velocity command. The systems were applied to existing models of a VTOL lift-fan transport and the AV-8A Harrier. Simulated landings were made on a model of a DD963 Spruance-class destroyer. It was concluded that acceptable transitions and vertical landings can be performed, using the Type 1 system, in free-air turbulence up to 2.5 m/sec and sea state 6 and, using the Type 2 system, in free-air turbulence up to 1.5 m/sec and sea state 4

Study of the application of an implicit model-following flight controller to lift-fan VTOL aircraft

An implicit model-following flight controller is proposed. This controller is relatively simple in concept: it provides an input/output relationship that is approximately that of any selected second order system; it provides good gust alleviation; and it is self-trimming. The flight controller was applied to all axes of a comprehensive mathematical model of a lift-fan V/STOL transport. Power management controls and displays were designed to match the various modes of control provided by the flight controller. A piloted simulation was performed using a six degree of freedom simulator. The fixed-operating-point handling qualities throughout the powered lift flight envelope received pilot ratings of 3-1/2 or better. Approaches and vertical landings in IFR zero-zero conditions received pilot ratings varying from 2-1/2 to 4 depending on the type of approach and weather conditions

Some VTOL head-up display drive-law problems and solutions

A piloted simulation test was conducted on the Ames Research Center's vertical motion simulator (VMS) in support of the Phase 2A flight test of NASA's V/STOL systems research aircraft (VSRA). During the simulation several problems were found with the head-up display (HUD) symbol drive laws and the flightpath synthesis. These problems and the solutions devised to solve them are described. Most of the resulting HUD drive-law changes were implemented during the simulation and their effectiveness was verified. Subsequently both the HUD symbol drive-law and flightpath-synthesis changes were implemented in the VSRA and tested successfully in the Phase 2A flight tests

Simulation evaluation of two VTOL control/display systems in IMC approach and shipboard landing

Two control/display systems, which differed in overall complexity but were both designed for VTOL flight operations to and from small ships in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), were tested using the Ames Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft (FSAA). Both systems have attitude command in transition and horizontal-velocity command in hover; the more complex system also has longitudinal-acceleration and flightpath-angle command in transition, and vertical-velocity command in hover. The most important overall distinction between the two systems for the viewpoint of implementation is that in one - the more complex - engine power and nozzle position are operated indirectly through flight controllers, whereas in the other they are operated directly by the pilot. Simulated landings were made on a moving model of a DD 963 Spruance-class destroyer. Acceptable transitions can be performed in turbulence of 3 m/sec rms using either system. Acceptable landings up to sea state 6 can be performed using the more complex system, and up to sea state 5 using the other system