Brazing retort manifold design concept may minimize air contamination and enhance uniform gas flow

Brazing retort manifold minimizes air contamination, prevents gas entrapment during purging, and provides uniform gas flow into the retort bell. The manifold is easily cleaned and turbulence within the bell is minimized because all manifold construction lies outside the main enclosure

Liquid trap seals thermocouple leads

Liquid trap seals thermocouple leads coming out of a brazing retort that operates with a controlled atmosphere so that air cannot enter the retort and hydrogen cannot escape. The trap is fastened to a duct welded to the retort. Thermocouple leads are led out through the duct and trap, with the fluid forming a gastight seal between the atmosphere and the retort

The Symptom Experience of Black Women with Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent disease with a complex symptom experience. Black women with Heart Failure preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) are especially burdened by symptoms, and their symptom experience is poorly understood. Clustering HF symptoms to understand which symptoms are experienced together is a potential option for helping patients recognize impending exacerbations. Methods: The dissertation\u27s first manuscript is an integrative review to examine the current state of HF symptom cluster literature. The second manuscript explores the feasibility and acceptability of a mixed methods HF symptom cluster study of Black women with HFpEF (N=44) and presents preliminary symptom cluster results. The third manuscript presents symptom experience themes from qualitative interviews (N=15) and integrates those findings with quantitative questionnaire data. Findings: An integrative review of HF symptom cluster literature revealed a need for exploring the symptom experience of Black women with HFpEF using mixed methods. A convergent-parallel mixed methods study protocol met feasibility benchmarks and was deemed acceptable by Black women with HFpEF. Preliminary symptom clusters were identified using quantitative symptom data from symptom questionnaires. Qualitative themes emerged relating to the symptom experience and person, and mixed methods integration provided additional key findings of concordance, discordance, and expansion. Conclusion: This dissertation describes the symptom experience of Black women with HFpEF, provides valuable information on the recruitment of an understudied population and their acceptability of a study protocol, and builds the foundation for conducting a mixed methods HF symptom cluster study with a larger sample in the future

Modulated-splitting-ratio fiber-optic temperature sensor

A fiber-optic temperature sensor is described, which uses a small silicon beamsplitter whose splitting ratio varies as a function of temperature. A four-beam technique is used to measure the sensor's temperature-indicating splitting ratio. This referencing method provides a measurement that is largely independent of the transmission properties of the sensor's optical fiber link. A significant advantage of this sensor, relative to other fiber-optic sensors, is its high stability, which permits the fiber-optic components to be readily substituted, thereby simplifying the sensor's installation and maintenance