Low Reynolds Number Laminar Separation Bubble Control Using a Backward Facing Step

The problem of a laminar separation bubble on the upper surface of a 9.5% thick airfoil operated at low Reynolds number (RN = 380,000) was investigated experimentally. An unmodified LRN-010 airfoil and a modified LRN-010 airfoil with a backward facing step on its upper surface were built and tested in the ERAU wind tunnel in order to obtain pressure distributions and drag for different angles of attack. Results were found to be in good agreement with the results obtained from the XFOIL CFD code. It was concluded that the step cutout modification improves the airfoil’s lift-to-drag ratio at low angles of attack by tripping the boundary layer and decreasing the size of the laminar separation bubble. For higher angles of attack, the step cutout degraded the performance of the airfoil

Location and Scale Estimation with Correlation Coefficients

This article shows how to use any correlation coefficient to produce an estimate of location and scale. It is part of a broader system, called a correlation estimation system (CES), that uses correlation coefficients as the starting point for estimations. The method is illustrated using the well-known normal distribution. This article shows that any correlation coefficient can be used to fit a simple linear regression line to bivariate data and then the slope and intercept are estimates of standard deviation and location. Because a robust correlation will produce robust estimates, this CES can be recommended as a tool for everyday data analysis. Simulations indicate that the median with this method using a robust correlation coefficient appears to be nearly as efficient as the mean with good data and much better if there are a few errant data points. Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals are discussed for the scale parameter; both normal and Cauchy distributions are covered

Influenza vaccine coverage for healthcare workers in geriatric settings in France

Background and aims: Because of a relative lack of efficiency of influenza vaccine in the elderly population, influenza outbreaks in geriatric healthcare settings are probable, despite high influenza vaccination rates in patients. Nosocomial influenza outbreaks, more probably related to healthcare workers, have also been reported. Therefore, vaccination of healthcare workers is considered to be an important preventive policy, to decrease the in- hospital influenza burden during the viral circulation period. Methods: This multicenter study measured influenza vaccine coverage of Health Care Worker in 102 geriatric healthcare settings (acute care, rehabilitation care, long- term care) by a first questionnaire. A second questionnaire assessed main factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Results: 102 geriatric healthcare settings (20%) answered the first questionnaire. Vaccine coverage for physicians (n=187), nurses (n=631) and nurse assistants (n=1487) were 48.4%, 30.5% and 27.9%, respectively. Vaccination rates were correlated between occupational categories according to healthcare settings. Vaccination rates were significantly lower in acute care settings compared with rehabilitation and long- term care settings. Local recommendations was reported for 29.9%, but was not correlated with vaccine coverage. The second questionnaire showed that lack of motivation and knowledge, and organizational problems were the three main reasons for reluctance to be vaccinated. Conclusions: In French geriatric settings, influenza vaccine coverage of healthcare workers is low and highly variable, according to the type of healthcare setting. A group effect was found between occupational categories. However, the reasons for non- acceptance need further evaluation to improve HCW influenza vaccine coverag

Effective components of self-management programs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: scoping review

Introduction: To date, little guidance is available to support the development of effective programs for improving self-management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Yet, given the global burden of this disease, it seems important to identify the components of a self-management program that are effective in terms of health outcomes for COPD patients. Objectives: This review aims to identify effective elements of a self-management program for COPD patients, the ones that may impact quality of life, emergency visits, and rehospitalization rates.Material and methods: A systematic literature search of three databases (Medline, Cochrane, and CINHAL) was conducted to identify studies on self-management of COPD, with three limiting parameters: published in twelve years prior to November 2019, in English or French, and including patients over 40 years old. Prisma was used to guide the work process. Results: The search yielded 361 studies from the three electronic databases by applying limiting criteria, and after removing duplicates. Sixty-five articles were identified as relevant based on their titles and abstracts. However, 16 documents were retained after full reading. The analysis of the included articles identified 4 components in self-management programs for COPD patients: initiation stage of the intervention, educational sessions, support and monitoring methods. Conclusions: Although the combination of self-management program initiation, educational sessions, support and monitoring methods were effective, further research is needed to identify the components that have better impact on COPD patients’ skills and quality of life

Decisional issues in antibiotic prescribing in French nursing homes: An ethnographic study

Background: Medication prescription is generally the responsibility of doctors. In nursing homes, the nursing staff is often the first to suspect an infection. Today, physicians are more confident with nursing assessment, relying primarily on nursing staff information. Very few studies have investigated the nurses’ influence on decision of medical prescription. This study investigates the role of nurses in antibiotic prescribing for the treatment of suspected infections in nursing home residents. Design and methods: An ethnographic study based on semi-structured interviews and participant observations was conducted. Sixteen nurses and five doctors working in five nursing homes in Paris, France participated between October 2015 and January 2016. Results: Given their proximity to elderly residents, registered nurses at the nursing homes occasionally assisted doctors in their medical diagnostic. However, nurses who are theoretically incompetent have met difficulties in their ability to participate in their decisions to prescribe antibiotics when managing residents’ infections.Conclusion: if proximity and nursing skills reinforce the relevance of the clinical judgment of nurses, the effective and collaborative communication between the nurse and the doctor may help the nurse to enhance their role in the antibiotic prescribing in nursing homes, which would enhance antimicrobial stewardship efficiency

Fabrication and Characterization of Poly(Octanediol Citrate)/gallium-Containing Bioglass Microcomposite Scaffolds

Bone can be affected by osteosarcomae requiring surgical excision of the tumor as part of the treatment regime. Complete removal of cancerous cells is difficult and conventionally requires the removal of a margin of safety around the tumor to offer improved patient prognosis. This work considers a novel series of composite scaffolds based on poly (octanediol citrate) (POC) impregnated with gallium-based bioglass microparticles for possible incorporation into bone following tumor removal. The objective of this research was to fabricate and characterize these scaffolds and subsequently report on their mechanical and biological properties. The porous micro composite scaffolds with various concentrations of bio glass (10, 20, 30 wt%) incorporated were fabricated using a salt leaching technique. The scaffolds exhibited compression modulus in the range of 0.3–7 MPa. The addition of bio glass increased the mechanical properties even though porosity increased. Furthermore, increasing the concentration of bio glass had a significant influence on glass transition temperature from 2.5 °C for the pure polymer to around 25 °C for 30 % bio glass-containing composite. The ion release study revealed that composites containing 10 % bio glass had the highest ion release ratio after 28 days of soaking in phosphate buffered saline. The interaction of bio glass phase with POC led to the formation of additional ionic crosslinks aside from covalent crosslinks which further resulted in increased stiffness and decreased weight loss. The osteoblast cells were well attached and growth on composites and collagen synthesis increased particularly with the 10 % bio glass concentration