Directional eddy current probe configuration for in-line detection of out-of-plane wrinkles

Real-time monitoring of carbon fibre composites during Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) manufacturing remains a challenge for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. An directional eddy-current (EC) probe with asymmetric transmit and differential receive (Tx-dRx) coils is designed, constructed and characterized to evaluate the detectability of out-of-plane wrinkles. Initial studies were conducted to determine suitable excitation frequencies and to analyse the impact of relative orientations of driver and pickup coils on wrinkle detectability. The probe configurations are evaluated experimentally and employ a new finite element modelling approach to better understand the relationship between eddy-current density and defect detection. The findings indicate that a probe configuration with an asymmetric driver coil normal to the material surface and aligned with the fibre directions, and with differential pickup coils 90 degrees to the scanning direction, shows the best capability for out-of-plane wrinkle detection, with SNR >20 for wrinkles over 1.3 mm in amplitude

Gender Differences in Diabetes Attitudes and Adherence

This study focused on three questions: Is there a difference in men's and women's diabetes attitudes? Do health professionals give different recommendations to men and women? Is there a difference between men and women in care adherence? A total of 1201 patients with diabetes were surveyed; 65% of these patients were women. Differences in diabetes attitudes (three of seven attiticdes) were most evident between men and women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). No differences were found in the attitudes of men and women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) using insulin, and only one attitude was different for patients with NIDDM not using insulin. Few differences were observed in the recommendations given by health professionals to men and women. Gender differences in adherence to the components of self-care also were minimal. These findings may indicate that there are many similarities in the reactions of men and women who have been diagnosed with diabetes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69143/2/10.1177_014572179502100605.pd

The Effect of Hoof Abnormalities on Sow Behavior Before and After Feeding When Housed in a Farrowing Stall

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of excessive toe growth, hoof cracks in the outer hoof wall, and length difference between the inside and outside toe of the hoof on sow behavior in mid-lactation. Sows were classified into three treatment groups and one control group. The treatment groups were 1) presence of cracks in the outer hoof wall 2) length differences between the inside and outer toe of the hoof and 3) excessive toe growth. Some sows had both toe size differences and cracks in the outer hoof wall (n = 23). Hoof abnormalities were categorized into 3 scores based on the severity of the lesion. Control sows spent 12.7 % (13.3 min) of the total time (105 min) standing and eating. Before feeding, control sows spent 1.2 % of time standing and eating Sows with overgrown hooves spent less time standing and eating as lesion severity increased when compared to control sows. Each increase in overgrown hoof lesion score was associated with sows spending 54 % less time standing Sows classified as having hoof cracks were observed to stand more and lay down less than control sows; however, this may have resulted from the inability to identify hoof lesions that caused pain. As a result, sows with hoof lesions that did not have pain were grouped with sows that had hoof lesions that caused pain and may have reduced the true effect of hoof lesions on behavior. In this study, sows that had differences in toe size were not associated with a deviation from the control sows

Predisposing Factors Associated With Development of Persistent Compared With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Once atrial fibrillation (AF) progresses to sustained forms, adverse outcomes increase and treatment success rates decrease. Therefore, identification of risk factors predisposing to persistence of AF may have a significant impact on AF morbidity. Methods and Results: We prospectively examined the differential associations between traditional, lifestyle, and biomarker AF risk factors and development of paroxysmal versus nonparoxysmal AF (persistent/permanent) among 34 720 women enrolled in the Women's Health Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and AF at baseline. AF patterns were defined based on current guidelines and classified according to the most sustained form of AF within 2 years of diagnosis. During a median follow‐up of 16.4 years, 690 women developed paroxysmal AF and 349 women developed nonparoxysmal AF. In multivariable time‐varying competing risk models, increasing age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.13, versus HR 1.08, 1.07 to 1.09, per year), body mass index (HR 1.07, 1.05 to 1.09, versus HR 1.03, 1.02 to 1.05, per kg/m2), and weight (HR 1.30, 1.22 to 1.39, versus HR 1.14, 1.08 to 1.20, per 10 kg) were more strongly associated with the development of nonparoxysmal AF compared with paroxysmal AF. Hemoglobin A1c levels at baseline were directly related to the development of nonparoxysmal AF but inversely associated with paroxysmal AF in multivariable competing risk models (P for nonequal association=0.01). Conclusions: In women without AF or CVD at baseline, increasing age, adiposity, and higher hemoglobin A1c levels were preferentially associated with the early development of nonparoxysmal AF. These data raise the hypothesis that efforts aimed at weight reduction or glycemic control may affect the proportion of the population with sustained AF