Frontotemporal dementia: the impact of patient behavioral symptoms on the physical and mental health of family caregivers.

BackgroundProviding informal support to someone with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) could be very stressful. Clarifying the relationship between patient behavioral problems and caregiver health could spur future research on effective symptom management strategies.MethodsSixty-one FTD family caregivers participated in a postal survey.ResultsPatient symptom severity was negatively associated with caregiver mental health (r = -0.26, p < 0.05) but not significantly associated with caregiver physical health. In a regression analysis, caregiver emotional distress from patient behaviors made a statistically significant contribution to caregiver mental health, explaining approximately 10% of its variance.ConclusionThis study underscores the importance of focusing on FTD caregivers' perceived emotional distress from patient behavioral problems and ensuring they are getting the appropriate support they need

Self-teaching digital-computer program for fail-operational control of a turbojet engine in a sea-level test stand

The design and evaluation are described of a digital turbojet engine control which is capable of sensing catastrophic failures in either the engine rotor speed or the compressor discharge static-pressure signal and is capable of switching control modes to maintain near normal operation. The control program was developed for and tested on a turbojet engine located in a sea-level test stand. The control program is also capable of acquiring all the data that are necessary for the fail-operational control to function

Flueric-controller pneumatic stepping motor system

Nutating stepping motor consists of an output rotating gear and a nutating gear. A flueric logic circuit controls the nutating motor. The complete system constitutes a reliable, open loop actuator system with inherently high output stiffness, reasonable slewing speeds and small step size

Dynamic response of Mach 2.5 axisymmetric inlet with 40 percent supersonic internal area contraction

Results of experimental tests conducted on a supersonic, mixed compression, axisymmetric inlet are presented. The inlet is designed for operation at Mach 2.5 with a turbofan engine (TF-30). The inlet was terminated with either a choked-orifice plate or a long pipe with variable area choked exit plug. Frequency responses were obtained for selected static pressures in the diffuser. These pressures were selected as potential control signals for terminal shock control. Frequency responses were obtained for the Mach 2 and 2.5 conditions for different terminations. Responses also were obtained with and without cowl bleed. Internal disturbances were produced by sinusoidally varying the inlet overboard bypass doors at frequencies out to 100 hertz

EU TEN-T MonaLisa Activities in the Baltic Sea

The wider benefit European Union Trans European Network - Transport (TEN-T) Motorways of the Sea (MoS) project MonaLisa (2010 – 2013) aims at contributing to the promotion of continuous improvement and the development of efficient, safe and environ-mentally sound maritime transport in the Baltic Sea. This is accomplished by the implemen-tation of a series of measures which are also in line with the EU's Baltic Sea Region Strategy. This article concentrates on Activity 3 dealing with hydrographic re-surveys on shipping routes. Some future plans are also described.El objetivo del Proyecto de interés general MonaLisa (2010-2013) de Autopistas del Mar (MoS) de la Red de Transporte Transeuropea de la Unión Europea es contribuir a la promoción de una mejora continua y al desarrollo de un transporte marítimo eficiente, seguro y respetuoso del medio ambiente en el Mar Báltico. Esto se consigue mediante la implementación de una serie de medidas que están también en conformidad con la Estra-tegia de la UE para la Región del Mar Báltico. Este artículo se concentra en la Actividad 3 que trata sobre la repetición de los levantamientos hidrográficos en las rutas de navegación. Se describen también algunos planes futuros.Le projet MonaLisa (2010 – 2013) des « autoroutes de la mer » du programme de l’Union européenne (UE) « réseau transeuropéen de transport » (RTE-T) vise à contribuer à la promotion de l’amélioration continue et au développement d’un transport maritime efficace, sûr et écologique dans la mer Baltique. Ceci est réalisé grâce à la mise en oeuvre d’une série de mesures qui sont également alignées sur la stratégie de l’UE dans la région de la mer Baltique. Cet article se concentre sur l’activité 3 qui traite des nouveaux levés hydrographiques sur les routes maritimes. Certains plans pour l’avenir sont également décrits

Outcome of implantable loop recorder evaluation

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in an unselected cohort in order to determine diagnostic yield, time to pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation, predictors thereof, safety issues, and syncope management including usage of preceding diagnostic tools. Methods: Patients who underwent ILR evaluation in any of three centers in Region Gävleborg, Swe­den, between April 2007 and April 2013 were included and their medical records retrieved. Logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of pacemaker/ICD outcome expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and Kaplan-Meier estimates for time-dependent analysis. Results: A total of 173 patients (52.6% females) with a mean age of 56.2 years received an ILR dur­ing a mean follow-up of 605 days. In the 146 patients evaluated for syncope/presyncope, 28.1% received a pacemaker (n = 39) or ICD (n = 2). The cumulative incidence at 6, 12, and 18 months were 8.8%, 21.3%, and 26.7%, respectively. Age > 75 years was the only significant predictor for outcome (p = 0.010) and the following variables showed a tendency toward significance: abnormal elevation of the biomarker B-type natriuretic peptide (OR 2.05, p = 0.100), a history of trauma (OR 1.71, p = 0.179), and patho­logic electrocardiogram (OR 1.68, p = 0.231). A computerized tomography of the skull was performed in 52.1% of the syncope cases. Conclusions: In syncope evaluation in an unselected cohort, 28.1% were diagnosed with an arrhyth­mia necessitating a pacemaker/ICD. The only significant predictor was advanced age. Time to diag­nosis is unpredictable and prolonged ILR monitoring is warranted in addition to optimal use of other diagnostic tools

Viewpoints on Environmental Assessment of Building Certification Method - Miljöbyggnad

Production, management, use, and end-of-life of buildings has a large impact on climate change. Therefore, environmental targets are set to lower the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector. To reach these targets building regulation and voluntary environmental assessment methods (EAMs) that evaluate and certify the building’s environmental impact are put forward as tools to push the building sector towards lower GHG emissions. In Sweden, building design is governed by building regulations and the dominant EAM is ‘Miljöbyggnad’ (MB) (“Environmental building”). Today, more than 1900 buildings have been certified by MB and it has influenced the building and property sector. In this chapter the potential impact MB and the linked Swedish building regulations have on building performance, energy use and GHG emissions, will be reviewed and discussed. The analysis investigates several of the MB’s indicators, evaluate to what degree EAMs can influence the design of the building and the energy system to lower the energy use and GHG emissions based on material choices. The analysis presents important aspects that may influence the design of the building and its energy system and what challenges and possibilities the indicators, criteria and regulations can have on buildings and climate change. In addition, some modification and suggestion for improvements are presented

Mobilising sustainable building assessment models: agents, strategies and local effects

This paper considers how work on knowledge and policy mobilities can be used to analyse the processes behind and the local impacts of mobile sustainable building assessment models such as BREEAM and LEED. After reviewing existing concerns and critiques relating to the impacts of these models on the local sensitivity of sustainable building designs, consideration is given to the effects on local sensitivity of ‘who mobilizes’ the models, the ‘intercity issues’ associated with generating commensurability between places, and the way ‘events along the way’ are used to sell models. These questions reveal that work on knowledge and policy mobilities provides a useful framework through which to develop social science perspectives on the local impacts of mobile building assessment models. In particular, this approach highlights how processes of mobility are used to frame approaches to sustainable building design and potentially undermine attempts to render models sensitive to local challenges and solutions. It is, therefore, suggested that the knowledge and policy mobilities informed approach adopted here is beneficial as it places less emphasis on the intrinsic technical features of models and more emphasis on the powerful effects of processes of mobilisation on understandings and practices of sustainable design

IEA EBC Annex 57 ‘Evaluation of Embodied Energy and CO_2eq for Building Construction'

The current regulations to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from buildings have focused on operational energy consumption. Thus legislation excludes measurement and reduction of the embodied energy and embodied GHG emissions over the building life cycle. Embodied impacts are a significant and growing proportion and it is increasingly recognized that the focus on reducing operational energy consumption needs to be accompanied by a parallel focus on reducing embodied impacts. Over the last six years the Annex 57 has addressed this issue, with researchers from 15 countries working together to develop a detailed understanding of the multiple calculation methods and the interpretation of their results. Based on an analysis of 80 case studies, Annex 57 showed various inconsistencies in current methodological approaches, which inhibit comparisons of results and difficult development of robust reduction strategies. Reinterpreting the studies through an understanding of the methodological differences enabled the cases to be used to demonstrate a number of important strategies for the reduction of embodied impacts. Annex 57 has also produced clear recommendations for uniform definitions and templates which improve the description of system boundaries, completeness of inventory and quality of data, and consequently the transparency of embodied impact assessments