Timeline Resource Analysis Program (TRAP): User's manual and program document

The Timeline Resource Analysis Program (TRAP), developed for scheduling and timelining problems, is described. Given an activity network, TRAP generates timeline plots, resource histograms, and tabular summaries of the network, schedules, and resource levels. It is written in ANSI FORTRAN for the Honeywell SIGMA 5 computer and operates in the interactive mode using the TEKTRONIX 4014-1 graphics terminal. The input network file may be a standard SIGMA 5 file or one generated using the Interactive Graphics Design System. The timeline plots can be displayed in two orderings: according to the sequence in which the tasks were read on input, and a waterfall sequence in which the tasks are ordered by start time. The input order is especially meaningful when the network consists of several interacting subnetworks. The waterfall sequence is helpful in assessing the project status at any point in time

Dielectric study of the glass transition: correlation with calorimetric data

The glass transition in amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) is studied by thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The ability of TSDC to decompose a distributed relaxation, as the glass transition, into its elementary components is demonstrated. Two polarization techniques, windows polarization (WP) and non-isothermal windows polarization (NIW), are employed to assess the influence of thermal history in the results. The Tool-Narayanaswami-Moynihan (TNM) model has been used to fit the TSDC spectra. The most important contributions to the relaxation comes from modes with non-linearity (x) around 0.7. Activation energies yield by this model are located around 1eV for polarization temperature (Tp) below 50C and they raise up to values higher than 8eV as Tp increases (up to 80C). There are few differences between results obtained with WP and NIW but, nonetheless, these are discussed. The obtained kinetic parameters are tested against DSC results in several conditions. Calculated DSC curves at several cooling and heating rates can reproduce qualitatively experimental DSC results. These results also demonstrate that modelization of the non-equilibrium kinetics involved in TSDC spectroscopy is a useful experimental tool for glass transition studies in polar polymers.Comment: 13 pages, 2 tables, 10 figures; minor change

Validation of the cognitive recovery assessments with the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale in patients with low-baseline cognition

Patients with pre-surgery cognitive impairment cannot currently be assessed for cognitive recovery after surgery using the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale (PostopQRS),as they would mathematically be scored as recovered. The group nonetheless represent a frail cohort at high risk of recovering poorly. We aimed to validate a novel method to score cognitive recovery in patients with low baseline cognition, using the number of low-score tests rather than their numerical values. Face validity was demonstrated in 86 participants in whom both PostopQRS and an 11-item neuropsychological battery were performed. The PostopQRS agreed with neuropsychological categorization of low versus normal cognition 74% of the time, with all but 5 incorrectly coded participants deviating by only 1 neurocognitive test. Cognitive recovery over time was comparable for groups with differing baseline cognitive function, irrespective of whether PostopQRS or neuropsychological methods were used. Discriminant validation was demonstrated in a post hoc analysis of the Steroids in Cardiac Surgery (SIRS) substudy by allocating groups to normal (n=246) or low baseline cognition (n=231) stratified by cognitive recovery on day 1. Recovery was similar for participants with low and normal baseline cognition. Postoperative length of stay was longer in patients with failed cognitive recovery whether they had normal (10.4±10.0 vs. 8.0±5.9 days, P=0.02) or low baseline cognition (12.0±11.1 vs. 8.2±4.7 days, P<0.01). Overall quality of recovery, as well as cognitive, emotive, and physiological recovery in those who recovered was independent of baseline cognition. The modified scoring method for the PostopQRS cognitive domain therefore demonstrates acceptable face and discriminant validity

The Longitudinal Stability of Intense Non-Relativistic Particle Bunches in Resistive Structures

The longitudinal stability of intense particle bunches is investigated theoretically in the limit of small wall resistivity compared to total reactance. It is shown that both in the absence of resistivity and to lowest order in the resistance that an intense bunch is stable against longitudinal collective modes. An expression is derived for the lowest order instability rate. Application of these results are made to drivers for heavy ion inertial fusion

Muon Colliders

Muon Colliders have unique technical and physics advantages and disadvantages when compared with both hadron and electron machines. They should thus be regarded as complementary. Parameters are given of 4 TeV and 0.5 TeV high luminosity \mumu colliders, and of a 0.5 TeV lower luminosity demonstration machine. We discuss the various systems in such muon colliders, starting from the proton accelerator needed to generate the muons and proceeding through muon cooling, acceleration and storage in a collider ring. Problems of detector background are also discussed.Comment: 28 pages, with 12 postscript figures. To be published Proceedings of the 9th Advanced ICFA Beam Dynamics Workshop, AIP Pres

On the re-acceleration of bunched beams

We examine the re-acceleration of a bunched beam through a linear induction accelerator (LIA) cavity, with attention to the energy lost through coupling to the TM modes of the structure. We find that the energy lost at 1 kA peak current is a small fraction of the boost which the LIA is designed to impart. We discuss implications for a Relativistic Klystron or Free Electron Laser (FEL) version of the Two-Beam Accelerator (TBA). 18 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab

Reduced level of arousal and increased mortality in adult acute medical admissions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Reduced level of arousal is commonly observed in medical admissions and may predict in-hospital mortality. Delirium and reduced level of arousal are closely related. We systematically reviewed and conducted a meta-analysis of studies in adult acute medical patients of the relationship between reduced level of arousal on admission and in-hospital mortality. Methods We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42016022048), searching MEDLINE and EMBASE. We included studies of adult patients admitted with acute medical illness with level of arousal assessed on admission and mortality rates reported. We performed meta-analysis using a random effects model. Results From 23,941 studies we included 21 with 14 included in the meta-analysis. Mean age range was 33.4 - 83.8 years. Studies considered unselected general medical admissions (8 studies, n=13,039) or specific medical conditions (13 studies, n=38,882). Methods of evaluating level of arousal varied. The prevalence of reduced level of arousal was 3.1%-76.9% (median 13.5%). Mortality rates were 1.7%-58% (median 15.9%). Reduced level of arousal was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (pooled OR 5.71; 95% CI 4.21-7.74; low quality evidence: high risk of bias, clinical heterogeneity and possible publication bias). Conclusions Reduced level of arousal on hospital admission may be a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality. Most evidence was of low quality. Reduced level of arousal is highly specific to delirium, better formal detection of hypoactive delirium and implementation of care pathways may improve outcomes. Future studies to assess the impact of interventions on in-hospital mortality should use validated assessments of both level of arousal and delirium

Walking a Supramolecular Tightrope: A Self-Assembled Dodecamer from an 8-Aryl-2′-deoxyguanosine Derivative

Guanosine quadruplexes (GQs) have emerged in recent years as key players in the development of promising functional nanostruc-tures.1 GQs are formed by the self-assembly of guanosine subunits into planar tetramers (G-tetrads) that stack on each other, assisted by the complexation of a metal cation such as K+ or Na+. Alternatively, GQs can also form via the folding of G-rich oligonucleotides (e.g., DNA, RNA) leading to monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric structures via the association of one, two, or four oligonucleotides, respectively.1d,2 In the latter, the number of G-tetrads is primarily controlled by the sequence (intrinsic param-eter) of the oligonucleotide, whereas, in the former, such control can be primarily achieved by adjusting extrinsic parameters (e.g., concentration, temperature, solvent,3 the cation template,4 and/or its counteranion5). Controlling the molecularity via intrinsic parameters (i.e., structural information in the supramolecula