An approach for selecting a language for computer hardware description and simulation

This paper corrects an apparent deficiency in the published information concerning Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) by introducing and discussing an approach for selecting an HDL for use in a design project. Although three classes of HDLs are discussed in this paper, High-Level Languages (HLLs), General Purpose Simulation Languages (GPSLs) and Computer Hardware Description Languages (CHDLs), the CHDL class has been most heavily emphasized. These have been emphasized because they have been found to be the most suitable for use as a digital design tool. The emphasis is realized by including a chapter reviewing CHDL fundamentals, by presenting several CHDL examples and by aiming the HDL selection approach toward choosing a CHDL. HLLs and GPSLs are appropriate selections for some digital design environments. Therefore these classes of HDL have also been discussed in this paper

Academic doctors' views of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its role within the NHS: an exploratory qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There has been a marked increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the UK population in recent years. Surveys of doctors' perspectives on CAM have identified a variety of views and potential information needs. While these are useful for describing the proportions of doctors who hold particular attitudes towards CAM, they are less helpful for understanding why. In addition, while the views of non-academic doctors have begun to be studied, the perspective and rationales of academic doctors remains under-researched. It seems important to investigate the views of those with a research-orientation, given the emphasis on the need for more scientific evidence in recent debates on CAM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This exploratory study used qualitative methods to explore academic doctors' views of CAM and the rationales they provided for their views. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to identify doctors with a dual clinical and academic role in the Bristol area, with an anticipated variety of views on CAM. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine doctors. The data were analysed thematically, drawing on the Framework Approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The doctors expressed a spectrum of views on CAM, falling into three broad groups: the 'enthusiasts', the 'sceptics' and the 'undecided'. Scepticism or uncertainty about the value of CAM was prominent, except among those practising a form of CAM. A variety of rationales underpinned their perspectives on CAM, a key recurring rationale being their perspective on the scientific evidence base. The main themes arising included: the role of doctors' professional experiences of conventional medicine and CAM in shaping their attitudes towards CAM, doctor-patient communication about CAM and patient disclosure, whether there is a need for training and education in CAM for doctors, a hierarchy of acceptability of CAM and the nature of evidence; and the role of CAM within the NHS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite the caution or scepticism towards CAM expressed by doctors in this study, more open doctor-patient communication about CAM may enable doctors' potential concerns about CAM to be addressed, or at least enhance their knowledge of what treatments or therapies their patients are using. Offering CAM to patients may serve to enhance patients' treatment choices and even increase doctors' fulfilment in their practice. However, given the recurring concerns about lack of scientific evidence expressed by the doctors in this study, perceptions of the evidence base may remain a significant barrier to greater integration of CAM within the NHS.</p

What do clinicians want? Interest in integrative health services at a North Carolina academic medical center

BACKGROUND: Use of complementary medicine is common, consumer driven and usually outpatient focused. We wished to determine interest among the medical staff at a North Carolina academic medical center in integrating diverse therapies and services into comprehensive care. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional on-line survey of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at a tertiary care medical center in 2006. The survey contained questions on referrals and recommendations in the past year and interest in therapies or services if they were to be provided at the medical center in the future. RESULTS: Responses were received from 173 clinicians in 26 different departments, programs and centers. There was strong interest in offering several specific therapies: therapeutic exercise (77%), expert consultation about herbs and dietary supplements (69%), and massage (66%); there was even stronger interest in offering comprehensive treatment programs such as multidisciplinary pain management (84%), comprehensive nutritional assessment and advice (84%), obesity/healthy lifestyle promotion (80%), fit for life (exercise and lifestyle program, 76%), diabetes healthy lifestyle promotion (73%); and comprehensive psychological services for stress management, including hypnosis and biofeedback (73%). CONCLUSION: There is strong interest among medical staff at an academic health center in comprehensive, integrated services for pain, obesity, and diabetes and in specific services in fitness, nutrition and stress management. Future studies will need to assess the cost-effectiveness of such services, as well as their financial sustainability and impact on patient satisfaction, health and quality of life

Dispersal and microsite limitation of a rare alpine plant

Knowledge on the limitation of plant species’ distributions is important for preserving alpine biodiversity, particularly when the loss of alpine habitats because of global warming or land use changes is faster than colonization of new habitats. We investigated the potential of the rare alpine plant Campanula thyrsoides L. to colonize grassland sites of different suitability on a small mountain plateau in the Swiss Alps. A total of 15 experimental sites were selected according to their differences in habitat suitability for adult C. thyrsoides, which was measured by the Beals index. At each site we applied a disturbance treatment, added seeds at different densi- ties and monitored the survival of seedlings over two consecutive years. The number of surviving seedlings was not positively related to habitat suitability for adult C. thyrsoides. Furthermore, C. thyrsoides appears to be strongly dispersal limited at the regional scale because seed addition to unoccupied habitats resulted in successful germination and survival of seedlings. Since an increase of seed density in already occupied sites did not affect the number of seedlings, we suggest that C. thyrsoides is microsite limited at the local scale. Microsite limitation is supported by the result that seedling survival of the species was enhanced in vegetation gaps created by disturbance. We conclude E. S. Frei (&) J. F. Scheepens, J. Sto ̈cklin Section of Plant Ecology, Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Scho ̈nbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland e-mail: [email protected] that C. thyrsoides may become endangered in the future if environmental changes cause local extinction of populations. An appropriate management, such as a disturbance regime for enhancing recruitment in existing populations, may ensure the long-term sur- vival of this rare alpine plant species

Running away with health: the urban marathon and the construction of charitable bodies

The increase in fundraising through mass-participation running events is emblematic of a series of issues pertinent to contemporary conceptualizations of health and illness. This increasingly popular spectacle serves as an indicator of present-day social relationships and broader cultural and ideological values that pertain to health. It highlights contemporary discourses on citizenship; ‘active citizens’ can ostentatiously fulfil their rights and responsibilities by raising money for those ‘in need’. Involvement in such events comprises an example of the current trend for drawing attention to illness, and sharing one’s experiences with others. We examine these issues through a consideration of charity advertisements and offer a fourfold typology of runners in terms of their orientations to both mass-participation running and charity. We conclude that ‘charitable bodies’ are constructed out of the interrelationships between philanthropic institutions, sport and individual performance