Streamlining search methods to update evidence and gap maps: a case study using intergenerational interventions

Background Evidence and Gap Maps (EGMs) should be regularly updated. Running update searches to find new studies for EGMs can be a time-consuming process. Search Summary Tables (SSTs) can help streamline searches by identifying which resources were most lucrative for identifying relevant articles, and which were redundant. The aim of this study was to use an SST to streamline search methods for an EGM of studies about intergenerational activities. Methods To produce the EGM, 15 databases were searched. 8638 records were screened and 500 studies were included in the final EGM. Using an SST, we determined which databases and search methods were the most efficient in terms of sensitivity and specificity for finding the included studies. We also investigated whether any database performed particularly well for returning particular study types. For the best performing databases we analysed the search terms used to streamline the strategies. Results No single database returned all of the studies included in the EGM. Out of 500 studies PsycINFO returned 40% (n = 202), CINAHL 39% (n = 194), Ageline 25% (n = 174), MEDLINE 23% (n = 117), ERIC 20% (n = 100) and Embase 19% (n = 98). HMIC database and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science via Web of Science returned no studies that were included in the EGM. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) returned the highest number of unique studies (n = 42), followed by ERIC (n = 33) and Ageline (n = 29). Ageline returned the most randomised controlled trials (42%) followed by CINAHL (34%), MEDLINE (29%) and CENTRAL (29%). CINAHL, Ageline, MEDLINE and PsycINFO performed the best for locating systematic reviews. (62%, 46% and 42% respectively). CINAHL, PsycINFO and Ageline performed best for qualitative studies (41%, 40% and 34%). The Journal of Intergenerational Relationships returned more included studies than any other journal (16%). No combinations of search terms were found to be better in terms of balancing specificity and sensitivity than the original search strategies. However, strategies could be reduced considerably in terms of length without losing key, unique studies. Conclusion Using SSTs we have developed a method for streamlining update searches for an EGM about intergenerational activities. For future updates we recommend that MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ERIC, Ageline, CINAHL and PQDT are searched. These searches should be supplemented by hand-searching the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships and carrying out backwards citation chasing on new systematic reviews. Using SSTs to analyse database efficiency could be a useful method to help streamline search updates for other EGMs

The contribution of optimal turbo fan transport aircraft climb schedule to air company economy

Today airlines are challenging two opposite goals: minimization of flight fuel consumption and minimization of elapsed flight time. A well‐known cost structure and cost generators represent significant pre‐conditions for defining cost optimization strategy in an airline company. Airline company management has a limited set of tools for cost managing, which include the following documents: Performance Engineers’ Manual and Aircraft Flight Manual. In this particular paper review we discuss the problem of vertical flight path of turbo‐fan aircraft, where we point out the impact of the choice of climb technique on the overall en route flight profile costs. In temporary aircraft flight preparation process, there is no stressing out the significance of the climb phase in minimizing costs of this particular flight phase. In the paper we show the procedure of defining optimal climbing resulting minimum costs, but also optimal function operational adjustment to the climb schedule. This way of the approximation of optimal function and its adjustment to the operational use enables the application of minimal cost climbing technique in operational use of transportation aircraft. On short‐haul flights, climb phase can reduce cruise flight length up to 60% of total range. In the paper, we show the impact of climb regime on flight profile of turbo‐fan aircraft considering the usage of time, fuel and costs. The impact is shown according to the data taken from the Performance Engineers Manual. The impact stresses the importance of minimum costs climbing regime to cutting down total flight costs. It also shows the conditions which need to be fulfilled in order to apply minimum costs climbing technique. We identify the scope of CAS speed during climb and TOC for flights minimum total expenses by using minimum costs climbing technique. Conditions for achieving minimum costs climbing technique are the results of the logarithmic differential. In order to achieve optimal numerical results we used Newton‐Raphson formula. Santrauka Šiandien oro transporte svarbūs du tikslai: skrydžio metu sunaudojamo kuro mažinimas ir skrydžio laiko trumpinimas. Žinoma kainos struktūra ir kainos komponentės yra reikšmingos išankstinės sąlygos, padedančios sudaryti kainos optimizavimo strategiją oro transporto bendrovėje. Oro transporto bendrovės valdytojai turi ribotą sąnaudų valdymo priemonių komplektą – tai „Priežiūros inžinieriaus vadovas“ ir „Orlaivio skrydžio vadovas“. Straipsnyje aptariama turbosraigtinio lėktuvo vertikalios skrydžio krypties problema, parodomas pasirinktos kilimo technikos poveikis bendrai skrydžio kainai. Dabartiniame lėktuvo ruošimosi skrydžiui procese nėra pabrėžiama kilimo fazės įtaka bendrų skrydžio sąnaudų mažinimui. Straipsnyje pateikiama procedūra, kaip nustatyti optimalų orlaivio kilimą mažiausiomis sąnaudomis, taip pat optimalumo funkcijos korekciją kilimo plane. Optimalumo funkcijos aproksimavimas ir jos naudojimas leidžia taikyti mažiausių sąnaudų kilimo techniką lėktuve. Trumpalaikiuose skrydžiuose kilimo fazė gali sumažinti kruizinio skrydžio trukmę iki 60 proc. Straipsnyje rodoma, kaip lėktuvo kilimo režimas daro poveikį turbosraigtinio lėktuvo skrydžiui laiko, kuro ir sąnaudų požiūriu remiantis duomeni mis, paimtais iš „Priežiūros inžinieriaus vadovo“. Skaičiai rodo, kaip minimalių sąnaudų kilimo režimas sumažina bendrąsias skrydžio sąnaudas. Straipsnyje taip pat atskleidžiamos sąlygos, kurios turi būti vykdytos norint pritaikyti minimalių sąnaudų kilimo techniką. Ją naudojant nustatytas lėktuvo skrydžio greitis ir pakilimo aukštis. Minimalių sąnaudų kilimo technikos sąlygos yra logaritminio diferencialo prendiniai. Optimaliems skaitmeniniams rezultatams gauti panaudota Niutono ir Rapsono formulė. First published online: 21 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: oro bendrovė, ekonomija, transporto lėktuvas, kilimas, techniniai duomenys, optimizavimas, sąnaudos

Anatomical characterization of pulmonary artery and implications to pulmonary artery pressure monitor implantation

In patients with heart failure, guideline directed medical therapy improves outcomes and requires close patient monitoring. Pulmonary artery pressure monitors permit remote assessment of cardiopulmonary haemodynamics and facilitate early intervention that has been shown to decrease heart failure hospitalization. Pressure sensors implanted in the pulmonary vasculature are stabilized through passive or active interaction with the anatomy and communicate with an external reader to relay invasively measured pressure by radiofrequency. A body mass index  > 35 kg/m2 and chest circumference > 165 cm prevent use due to poor communication. Pulmonary vasculature anatomy is variable between patients and the pulmonary artery size, angulation of vessels and depth of sensor location from the chest wall in heart failure patients who may be candidates for pressure sensors remains largely unexamined. The present study analyses the size, angulation, and depth of the pulmonary artery at the position of implantation of two pulmonary artery pressure sensors: the CardioMEMS sensor typically implanted in the left pulmonary artery and the Cordella sensor implanted in the right pulmonary artery. Thirty-four computed tomography pulmonary angiograms from patients with heart failure were analysed using the MIMICS software. Distance from the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery to the implant site was shorter for the right pulmonary artery (4.55 ± 0.64 cm vs. 7.4 ± 1.3 cm) and vessel diameter at the implant site was larger (17.15 ± 2.87 mm vs. 11.83 ± 2.30 mm). Link distance (length of the communication path between sensor and reader) was shorter for the left pulmonary artery (9.40 ± 1.43 mm vs. 12.54 ± 1.37 mm). Therefore, the detailed analysis of pulmonary arterial anatomy using computed tomography pulmonary angiograms may alter the choice of implant location to reduce the risk of sensor migration and improve readability by minimizing sensor-to-reader link distance

Plasmodium vivax isolates from Cambodia and Thailand show high genetic complexity and distinct patterns of P. vivax multidrug resistance gene 1 ( pvmdr1) polymorphisms

Plasmodium vivax accounts for an increasing fraction of malaria infections in Thailand and Cambodia. We compared P. vivax genetic complexity and antimalarial resistance patterns in the two countries. Use of a heteroduplex tracking assay targeting the merozoite surface protein 1 gene revealed that vivax infections in both countries are frequently polyclonal (84%), with parasites that are highly diverse (HE = 0.86) but closely related (GST = 0.18). Following a history of different drug policies in Thailand and Cambodia, distinct patterns of antimalarial resistance have emerged: most Cambodian isolates harbor the P. vivax multidrug resistance gene 1 (pvmdr1) 976F mutation associated with chloroquine resistance (89% versus 8%, P < 0.001), whereas Thai isolates more often display increased pvmdr1 copy number (39% versus 4%, P < 0.001). Finally, genotyping of paired isolates from individuals suspected of suffering relapse supports a complex scheme of relapse whereby recurrence of multiple identical variants is sometimes accompanied by the appearance of novel variants

Processing of ultrafine-size particulate metal matrix composites by advanced shear technology

Copyright @ 2009 ASM International. This paper was published in Metallurgical & Materials Transactions A 40A(3) and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of ASM International. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplications of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of this paper are prohibited.Lack of efficient mixing technology to achieve a uniform distribution of fine-size reinforcement within the matrix and the high cost of producing components have hindered the widespread adaptation of particulate metal matrix composites (PMMCs) for engineering applications. A new rheo-processing method, the melt-conditioning high-pressure die-cast (MC-HPDC) process, has been developed for manufacturing near-net-shape components of high integrity. The MC-HPDC process adapts the well-established high shear dispersive mixing action of a twin-screw mechanism to the task of overcoming the cohesive force of the agglomerates under a high shear rate and high intensity of turbulence. This is followed by direct shaping of the slurry into near-net-shape components using an existing cold-chamber die-casting process. The results indicate that the MC-HPDC samples have a uniform distribution of ultrafine-sized SiC particles throughout the entire sample in the as-cast condition. Compared to those produced by conventional high-pressure die casting (HPDC), MC-HPDC samples have a much improved tensile strength and ductility.EP-SR

Processing of aluminum-graphite particulate metal matrix composites by advanced shear technology

Copyright @ 2009 ASM International. This paper was published in Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance 18(9) and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of ASM International. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplications of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of this paper are prohibited.To extend the possibilities of using aluminum/graphite composites as structural materials, a novel process is developed. The conventional methods often produce agglomerated structures exhibiting lower strength and ductility. To overcome the cohesive force of the agglomerates, a melt conditioned high-pressure die casting (MC-HPDC) process innovatively adapts the well-established, high-shear dispersive mixing action of a twin screw mechanism. The distribution of particles and properties of composites are quantitatively evaluated. The adopted rheo process significantly improved the distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix with a strong interfacial bond between the two. A good combination of improved ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile elongation (e) is obtained compared with composites produced by conventional processes.EPSR

Low-diffusion Xe-He gas mixtures for rare-event detection: electroluminescence yield

High pressure xenon Time Projection Chambers (TPC) based on secondary scintillation (electroluminescence) signal amplification are being proposed for rare event detection such as directional dark matter, double electron capture and double beta decay detection. The discrimination of the rare event through the topological signature of primary ionisation trails is a major asset for this type of TPC when compared to single liquid or double-phase TPCs, limited mainly by the high electron diffusion in pure xenon. Helium admixtures with xenon can be an attractive solution to reduce the electron diffu- sion significantly, improving the discrimination efficiency of these optical TPCs. We have measured the electroluminescence (EL) yield of Xe–He mixtures, in the range of 0 to 30% He and demonstrated the small impact on the EL yield of the addition of helium to pure xenon. For a typical reduced electric field of 2.5 kV/cm/bar in the EL region, the EL yield is lowered by ∼ 2%, 3%, 6% and 10% for 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of helium concentration, respectively. This decrease is less than what has been obtained from the most recent simulation framework in the literature. The impact of the addition of helium on EL statistical fluctuations is negligible, within the experimental uncertainties. The present results are an important benchmark for the simulation tools to be applied to future optical TPCs based on Xe-He mixtures. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

A high repetition rate beam profile monitor

A high repetition rate beam profile monitor is needed to measure the momentum distribution of each bunch in a 200 bunch train at the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility. We have designed a monitor using secondary emission from a microstrip delay line. The delay line converts position information into discrete time delays synchronous with the sampling rate of a fast transient digitizer. We present the results of initial electrical testing here

Workgroup report: Public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries

10.1289/ehp.9302Environmental Health Perspectives114121898-190