367-80 airplane variable stability simulation system /NASA Langley supersonic transport simulation program/

Four-engine jet aircraft used as in-flight simulator for variable stability testing of supersonic aircraf

Clinical Profile and Disability Levels of Younger vs. Older TKR and THR Patients in a National Research Consortium

Introduction: A growing number of patients under 65 years old undergo total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR).1 This trend has raised concerns that younger patients may receive surgery prematurely. We examined demographic and clinical factors in younger versus older patients in a national sample of THR and THR patients. Methods: Patients undergoing primary TKR and THR from 7/1/11 through 12/03/12 were identified from a national research consortium that gathers demographics, comorbid conditions (Charlson Comorbidity Index), Short Form 36 Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS), burden of musculoskeletal disease using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) or the Hip injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: TKR patients included 1326 younger ( Conclusion: Younger patients have fewer medical illnesses at the time of TKR or THR, but have greater functional impairment and higher rates of obesity and smoking as well as lower mental health scores

Psychometric Development of the Research and Knowledge Scale

BACKGROUND: Many research participants are misinformed about research terms, procedures, and goals; however, no validated instruments exist to assess individual\u27s comprehension of health-related research information. We propose research literacy as a concept that incorporates understanding about the purpose and nature of research. OBJECTIVES: We developed the Research and Knowledge Scale (RaKS) to measure research literacy in a culturally, literacy-sensitive manner. We describe its development and psychometric properties. RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative methods were used to assess perspectives of research participants and researchers. Literature and informed consent reviews were conducted to develop initial items. These data were used to develop initial domains and items of the RaKS, and expert panel reviews and cognitive pretesting were done to refine the scale. We conducted psychometric analyses to evaluate the scale. SUBJECTS: The cross-sectional survey was administered to a purposive community-based sample (n=430) using a Web-based data collection system and paper. MEASURES: We did classic theory testing on individual items and assessed test-retest reliability and Kuder-Richardson-20 for internal consistency. We conducted exploratory factor analysis and analysis of variance to assess differences in mean research literacy scores in sociodemographic subgroups. RESULTS: The RaKS is comprised of 16 items, with a Kuder-Richardson-20 estimate of 0.81 and test-retest reliability 0.84. There were differences in mean scale scores by race/ethnicity, age, education, income, and health literacy (all P \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the RaKS. This scale can be used to measure research participants\u27 understanding about health-related research processes and identify areas to improve informed decision-making about research participation

Handling qualities of a wide-body transport airplane utilizing Pitch Active Control Systems (PACS) for relaxed static stability application

Piloted simulation studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two pitch active control systems (PACS) on the flying qualities of a wide-body transport airplane when operating at negative static margins. These two pitch active control systems consisted of a simple 'near-term' PACS and a more complex 'advanced' PACS. Eight different flight conditions, representing the entire flight envelope, were evaluated with emphasis on the cruise flight conditions. These studies were made utilizing the Langley Visual/Motion Simulator (VMS) which has six degrees of freedom. The simulation tests indicated that (1) the flying qualities of the baseline aircraft (PACS off) for the cruise and other high-speed flight conditions were unacceptable at center-of-gravity positions aft of the neutral static stability point; (2) within the linear static stability flight envelope, the near-term PACS provided acceptable flying qualities for static stabilty margins to -3 percent; and (3) with the advanced PACS operative, the flying qualities were demonstrated to be good (satisfactory to very acceptable) for static stabilty margins to -20 percent

Diurnal blood pressure pattern and development of prehypertension or hypertension in young adults: the CARDIA study

Nondippers (people whose sleep systolic blood pressure [SBP] fails to decrease >10% from daytime SBP) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of nondipping in younger adults has not been well studied, nor has its value for predicting hypertension. We examined the prevalence of nondipping in a substudy of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. We used Cox regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) conferred by nondipping for incident prehypertension or hypertension (preHTN/HTN) over 15 years. Of the 264 nonhypertensive participants at baseline, 118 (45%) were nondippers. Blacks were more likely than whites to be nondippers (52% versus 33%, P = .004). The incidence rate of preHTN/HTN was 29.2/1000 person-years among dippers and 36.2/1000 person-years among nondippers. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of nighttime to daytime SBP, those in the highest quartile were more likely to develop preHTN/HTN (HR 1.61; P = .06), but this relationship was attenuated after adjustment (HR 1.34; P = .27). Our results demonstrate that nondipping is common in young, nonhypertensive adults, and is more common in blacks than whites. Nondipping might predate a meaningful clinically detected increase in BP in some people, but more research in larger study samples is needed

Trouble in Paradise - A disabled person's right to the satisfaction of a self-defined need:Some conceptual and practical problems

This paper questions the usefulness of the rights-based approach to ameliorating the social situation of disabled people in Britain and advances two criticisms. First, that rights and self-de? ned needs have been under-theorised by disability theorists to the extent that they have insuf? ciently appreciated the problems that these approaches pose. The paper suggests that rights to appropriate resources to satisfy self-de? ned needs will generate vast numbers of competing rights claims and that the resulting tendency of rights to con? ict has been under-appreciated. Secondly, that there has been little consideration of how these con? icts might be reconciled. The ? rst two sections of the paper look at the concepts of ascribed and self-de? ned needs, respectively, whilst the ? nal one looks at some of the problems of the rights approach and some of the dif? culties of making self-de? ned need the basis of rights claims

A New Strategy To Identify Rare Blood Donors: Single Polymerase Chain Reaction Multiplex Snapshot Reaction For Detection Of 16 Blood Group Alleles

Background. As an alternative to phenotyping, large-scale DNA-based assays, which are feasible for high-throughput donor red blood cell typing, were developed for determination of blood group polymorphisms. However, high-throughput genotyping platforms based on these technologies are still expensive and the inclusion of single nucleotide polymorphisms and analysis of the alleles depend on the manufacturer's determination. To overcome this limitation and in order to develop an assay to enable the screening of rare donors, we developed a SNaPshot assay for analysis of nine single nucleotide polymorphisms related to antigens that are difficult to assess using conventional serology. Materials and methods. The single polymerase chain reaction multiplex SNaPshot reaction was optimized to identify nine single nucleotide polymorphisms determining 16 alleles: KEL*3/KEL*4, KEL*6/KEL*7, DI*1/DI*2, DI*3/DI*4, YT*1/YT*2, CO*1/CO*2, DO*1/DO*2, DO*4, DO*5. We designed a single multiplex PCR with primers encompassing the blood group single nucleotide polymorphisms and performed an internal reaction with probe primers able to discriminate the alleles after fragment analysis. The SNaPshot assay was validated with 140 known alleles previously determined by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. We were able to simultaneous detect nine single nucleotide polymorphisms defining 16 blood group alleles on an assay based on a multiplex PCR combined with a single base extension using genomic DNA. Discussion. This study demonstrates a robust genotyping strategy for conducting rare donor screening which can be applied in blood centers and could be an important tool for identifying antigen-negative donors and, therefore, for providing rare blood. © SIMTI Servizi Srl.12SUPPL.1s256s263Jungbauer, C., Routine use of DNA testing for red cell antigens in blood centres (2011) Transfus Apher Sci, 45, pp. 61-68Nance, S.T., How to find, recruit and maintain rare blood donors (2009) Curr Opin Hematol, 16, pp. 503-508Veldhuisen, B., Van Der Schoot, C.E., De Haas, M., Blood group genotyping: From patient to high-throughput donor screening (2009) Vox Sang, 97, pp. 198-206Moulds, J.M., Future of molecular testing for red blood cell antigens (2010) Clin Lab Med, 30, pp. 419-429Patnaik, S.K., Helmberg, W., Blumenfeld, O.O., BGMUT: NCBI dbRBC database of allelic variations of genes encoding antigens of blood group systems (2012) Nucleic Acids Res, 40, pp. D1023-D1029Vallone, P.M., Butler, J.M., AutoDimer: A screening tool for primer-dimer and hairpin structures (2004) Biotechniques, 37, pp. 226-231Baleotti Jr., W., Rios, M., Reid, M.E., Dombrock gene analysis in Brazilian people reveals novel alleles (2006) Vox Sang, 91, pp. 81-87Rios, M., Hue-Roye, K., Oyen, R., Insights into the Holleyand Joseph- phenotypes (2002) Transfusion, 42, pp. 52-58Baleotti Jr., W., Rios, M., Reid, M.E., A novel DI*A allele without the Band 3-Memphis mutation in Amazonian Indians (2003) Vox Sang, 84, pp. 326-330Arnoni, C., Latini, F.R.M., Person, R.M., Padronização das técnicas de PCR-RFLP para genotipagem dos alelos KEL*3/ KEL*4 e KEL*5/KEL*6 (2011) Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter, 33 (SUPPL.2), pp. 332-488Baleotti Jr., W., Suzuki, R.B., Ruiz, M., A PCR-RFLP strategy for Wright typing (2011) Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter, 33 (SUPPL. 2), pp. 332-488Brazilian Real - United States Dollar Exchange Rate from Central Bank of Brazil, , http://www4.bcb.gov.br/pec/taxas, April 1st to April 30th, 27/03/2013Daniels, G., The molecular genetics of blood group polymorphism (2009) Hum Genet, 126, pp. 729-742Logdberg, L., Reid, M.E., Zelinski, T., Human blood group genes 2010: Chromosomal locations and cloning strategies revisited (2011) Transfus Med Rev, 25, pp. 36-46Di Cristofaro, J., Silvy, M., Chiaroni, J., Bailly, P., Single PCR multiplex SNaPshot reaction for detection of eleven blood group nucleotide polymorphisms: Optimization, validation, and one year of routine clinical use (2010) J Mol Diagn, 12, pp. 453-460Ferri, G., Pelotti, S., Multiplex ABO genotyping by minisequencing (2009) Methods Mol Biol, 496, pp. 51-58Palacajornsuk, P., Halter, C., Isakova, V., Detection of blood group genes using multiplex SNaPshot method (2009) Transfusion, 49, pp. 740-749Silvy, M., Simon, S., Gouvitsos, J., Weak D and DEL alleles detected by routine SNaPshot genotyping: Identification of four novel RHD alleles (2011) Transfusion, 51, pp. 401-411Silvy, M., Di Cristofaro, J., Beley, S., Identification of RHCE and KEL alleles in large cohorts of Afro-Caribbean and Comorian donors by multiplex SNaPshot and fragment assays: A transfusion support for sickle cell disease patients (2011) Br J Haematol, 154, pp. 260-270Pastinen, T., Kurg, A., Metspalu, A., Minisequencing: A specific tool for DNA analysis and diagnostics on oligonucleotide arrays (1997) Genome Res, 7, pp. 606-614Syvanen, A.C., From gels to chips: "Minisequencing" primer extension for analysis of point mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (1999) Hum Mutat, 13, pp. 1-10Information notebook (2011) Blood and Hemoderivates Brasília, , Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Coordenação-Geral de Sangue e Hemoderivados. Hemotherapy production. Unified Health System - SUS Brazil - (Public and private contractors). Private non-contracted services by Unified Health System (SUS Brazil). 4th edSantos, N.P., Ribeiro-Rodrigues, E.M., Ribeiro-Dos-Santos, A.K., Assessing individual interethnic admixture and population substructure using a 48-insertion-deletion (INSEL) ancestry-informative marker (AIM) panel (2010) Hum Mutat, 31, pp. 184-190Storry, J.R., Human blood groups: Inheritance and importance in transfusion medicine (2003) J Infus Nurs, 26, pp. 367-37