Mechanism problems

It is pointed out that too frequently during the design and development of mechanisms, problems occur that could have been avoided if the right question had been asked before, rather than after, the fact. Several typical problems, drawn from actual experience, are discussed and analyzed. The lessons learned are used to generate various suggestions for minimizing mistakes in mechanism design

Social rank overrides environmental and community fluctuations in determining meat access by female chimpanzees in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Meat, long hypothesized as an important food source in human evolution, is still a substantial component of the modern human diet, with some humans relying entirely on meat during certain times of the year. Understanding the socio-ecological context leading to the successful acquisition and consumption of meat by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), our closest living relative, can provide insight into the emergence of this trait because humans and chimpanzees are unusual among primates in that they both (i) hunt mammalian prey, (ii) share meat with community members, and (iii) form long-term relationships and complex social hierarchies within their communities. However, females in both human hunter-gatherer societies as well as chimpanzee groups rarely hunt, instead typically accessing meat via males that share meat with group members. In general, female chimpanzee dominance rank affects feeding competition, but so far, the effect of female dominance rank on meat access found different results within and across studied chimpanzee groups. Here we contribute to the debate on how female rank influences meat access while controlling for several socio-ecological variables. Multivariate analyses of 773 separate meat-eating events collected over more than 25 years from two chimpanzee communities located in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, were used to test the importance of female dominance rank for being present at, and for acquiring meat, during meat-eating events. We found that high-ranking females were more likely to be present during a meat-eating event and, in addition, were more likely to eat meat compared to the subordinates. These findings were robust to both large demographic changes (decrease of community size) and seasonal ecological changes (fruit abundance dynamics). In addition to social rank, we found that other female properties had a positive influence on presence to meat-eating events and access to meat given presence, including oestrus status, nursing of a small infant, and age. Similar to findings in other chimpanzee populations, our results suggest that females reliably acquire meat over their lifetime despite rarely being active hunters. The implication of this study supports the hypothesis that dominance rank is an important female chimpanzee property conferring benefits for the high-ranking females

Fabrication of mirror templates in silica with micron-sized radii of curvature

We present the fabrication of exceptionally small-radius concave microoptics on fused silica substrates using CO2 laser ablation and subsequent reactive ion etching. The protocol yields on-axis near-Gaussian depressions with radius of curvature $\lesssim5$ microns at shallow depth and low surface roughness of 2 angstroms. This geometry is appealing for cavity quantum electrodynamics where small mode volumes and low scattering losses are desired. We study the optical performance of the structure within a tunable Fabry-Perot type microcavity, demonstrate near-coating-limited loss rates (F = 25,000) and small focal lengths consistent with their geometrical dimensions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Diffuse somatostatin-immunoreactive D-cell hyperplasia in the stomach and duodenum

This paper presents the first case of extensive, diffuse, somatostatin- immunoreactive D-cell hyperplasia in the human stomach and duodenum. It occurred in a 37-yr-old woman, who showed clinical signs of dwarfism, obesity, dryness of the mouth, and goiter. The density of the distribution of D cells was increased 39-fold in the stomach fundus, 23- fold in the proximal antrum, 25-fold in the distal antrum, and 31-fold in the upper duodenum in comparison with normal values. At the same time, the gastrin-immunoreactive cells were increased 2.3-fold in the antrum. Although the range in size of the D cells was within normal limits in all regions examined, the G cells showed pronounced hypertrophy of up to 127%. A possible relationship between the immuno- histochemical findings and the clinical picture is discussed

Administrators\u27 Experiences Implementing Veterans Housing Units in U.S. Correctional Institutions

There is a higher rate of recidivism for U.S. veterans compared to the general population of offenders. To address the unique needs of veterans, separate housing units for veterans (VSUs) are now operating within correctional facilities in 29 U.S. states. Despite reports that VSUs are having a positive impact on recidivism, little is known of the experiences of correctional administrators who have implemented a VSU. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of several individuals who have implemented a VSU in their correctional facility. Guided by the quality implementation framework (QIF), data collected through semistructured interviews conducted with 7 U.S. correctional administrators were analyzed by reducing the information to significant statements, when combined into themes provided a descriptive analysis. Results from this study affirm that implementing a VSU is a feasible option for many correctional administrators with the desire to address the needs of veteran offenders. Key findings indicate most steps taken to implement a VSU align with quality implementation. Additional results indicate that presently there may be less consideration for VSU implementation processes associated with quality in the areas of ensuring staff training to work with the veterans, and in conducting process evaluations including outcomes tracking. VSUs have a profound and nearly immediate, effect on veteran inmate behaviors and reducing recidivism. This examination of the phenomenon of VSU implementation may offer implementers with evidenced-based practices to advance understanding of VSU implementation in the future, ultimately to benefit veteran offenders and the communities in which they reintegrate

Evaluation of Upper Extremity Movement Characteristics during Standardized Pediatric Functional Assessment with a Kinect®-based Markerless Motion Analysis System

A recently developed and evaluated upper extremity (UE) markerless motion analysis system based on the Microsoft® Kinect® has potential for improving functional assessment of patients with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. 12 typically-developing adolescents ages 12-17 were evaluated using both the Kinect-based system and the Shriners Hospitals for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE), a validated measure of UE motion. The study established population means of UE kinematic parameters for each activity. Statistical correlation analysis was used to identify key kinematic metrics used to develop automatic scoring algorithms. The Kinect motion analysis platform is technically sound and can be applied to standardized task-based UE evaluation while providing enhanced sensitivity in clinical analysis and automation through scoring algorithms

Industrial employment expansion under alternative development strategies

The general consensus in recent literature on development economics is that outward-looking strategies are likely to create more employment opportunities in labour abundant countries than inward-looking strategies. The reasons generally given to support this contention are (i) that inward-looking strategy limits the scope for structural change into relatively labour-intensive branches and (ii) that policies associated with inward-looking strategy tend to distort factor prices thereby giving incentive to the adoption of relatively capital-intensive techniques of production. This paper develops an identity which delineates the components of industrial employment expansion into effects of: (i) productivity change, (ii) capital accumulation and (iii) change in the composition of manufacturing. Applying this identity to India and Taiwan, two countries that have taken very different paths towards economic development, provides some insight into the source of employment expansion and its stringent limitations under alternative development strategies

Was beeinflusst die Lebenszufriedenheit im hohen Alter?: Repräsentative Studie zur ambulanten Altenpflege und -betreuung in der Deutschschweiz

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Auch nach Eintritt einer Betreuungsdürftigkeit wollen die meisten älteren Menschen in der vertrauten Wohnung verbleiben, was durch unterschiedliche Pflege- und Betreuungsarrangements ermöglicht wird. Die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit kann dabei als Kriterium dienen, um deren Funktionalität zu beurteilen. Methoden: Basis dieser Studie ist eine 2009/2010 durchgeführte standardisierte Befragung (Face-to-face-Interviews, n=712). Grundgesamtheit waren pflege- und unterstützungsbedürftige Personen ab 70Jahre aus 3deutschschweizerischen Kantonen. Der Datensatz stellt für die genannte Grundgesamtheit ein repräsentatives Sample dar. Ergebnisse: In Bezug auf die untersuchte Zielgruppe von zu Hause lebenden, formell und/oder informell unterstützten Personen ≥70Jahre zeigt sich: Der Betreuungs- und Pflegebedarf von Personen ≥80Jahre liegt nicht über dem von 70- bis 79-Jährigen und ist für die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit nicht ausschlaggebend. Wichtiger sind die Stärke des sozialen Netzwerks, das (Nicht-)Vorhandensein von Schmerzen sowie die Zufriedenheit mit erhaltener Pflege. Mit zunehmendem Alter steigt die Wahrscheinlichkeit, zur Gruppe der Lebenszufriedenen zu gehören. Das soziale Netzwerk von Personen ≥80Jahre ist schwächer ausgeprägt als das von 70- bis 79-Jährigen, trägt aber dennoch zur Lebenszufriedenheit be