Flexible shear stress sensor skin for aerodynamics applications

Packaging for a large distributed sensing system is a challenging topic. Using flexible skin technology solves many of these problems. Combining with the newly developed backside contact technique, sensor packaging is made even easier by completely avoiding the fragile bonding wires. This paper describes the improved flexible MEMS technology and its application to the fabrication and packaging of practical shear stress sensor skins. An airflow separation detection system including these skins, MOSIS bias circuits and a data acquisition unit has been successfully tested in windtunnel and is being used for the aerodynamic study of a MEMS controlled super-maneuverable low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Flexible shear stress sensor skin for aerodynamics applications

Packaging for a large distributed sensing system is a challenging topic. Using flexible skin technology solves many of these problems. Combining with the newly developed backside contact technique, sensor packaging is made even easier by completely avoiding the fragile bonding wires. This paper describes the improved flexible MEMS technology and its application to the fabrication and packaging of practical shear stress sensor skins. An airflow separation detection system including these skins, MOSIS bias circuits and a data acquisition unit has been successfully tested in windtunnel and is being used for the aerodynamic study of a MEMS controlled super-maneuverable low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Evidence-based Kernels: Fundamental Units of Behavioral Influence

This paper describes evidence-based kernels, fundamental units of behavioral influence that appear to underlie effective prevention and treatment for children, adults, and families. A kernel is a behavior–influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior and that is indivisible in the sense that removing any of its components would render it inert. Existing evidence shows that a variety of kernels can influence behavior in context, and some evidence suggests that frequent use or sufficient use of some kernels may produce longer lasting behavioral shifts. The analysis of kernels could contribute to an empirically based theory of behavioral influence, augment existing prevention or treatment efforts, facilitate the dissemination of effective prevention and treatment practices, clarify the active ingredients in existing interventions, and contribute to efficiently developing interventions that are more effective. Kernels involve one or more of the following mechanisms of behavior influence: reinforcement, altering antecedents, changing verbal relational responding, or changing physiological states directly. The paper describes 52 of these kernels, and details practical, theoretical, and research implications, including calling for a national database of kernels that influence human behavior

Varicella Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Community Transmission in the 2-Dose Era

OBJECTIVES: We examined overall and incremental effectiveness of 2-dose varicella abstract vaccination in preventing community transmission of varicella among children aged 4 to 18 years in 2 active surveillance sites. One-dose varicella vaccine effectiveness (VE) was examined in those aged 1 to 18 years. METHODS: From May 2009 through June 2011, varicella cases identified during active surveillance in Antelope Valley, CA and Philadelphia, PA were enrolled into a matched case–control study. Matched controls within 2 years of the patient’s age were selected from immunization registries. A standardized questionnaire was administered to participants’ parents, and varicella vaccination history was obtained from health care provider, immunization registry, or parent records. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate varicella VE against clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed varicella. RESULTS: A total of 125 clinically diagnosed varicella cases and 408 matched controls were enrolled. Twenty-nine cases were laboratory confirmed. One-dose VE (1-dose versus unvaccinated) was 75.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.7%–90.3%) in preventing any clinically diagnosed varicella and 78.1% (95% CI, 12.7%–94.5%) against moderate or severe, clinically diagnosed disease (≥50 lesions). Among subjects aged ≥4 years, 2-dose VE (2-dose versus unvaccinated) was 93.6% (95% CI, 75.6%–98.3%) against any varicella and 97.9% (95% CI, 83.0%–99.7%) against moderate or severe varicella. Incremental effectiveness (2-dose versus 1-dose) was 87.5% against clinically diagnosed varicella and 97.3% against laboratory-confirmed varicella. CONCLUSIONS: Two-dose varicella vaccination offered better protection against varicella from community transmission among school-aged children compared with 1-dose vaccination