Statistical evaluation of proton radiation from solar flares Final technical report

Statistical evaluation of proton radiation from solar flare

Observation requirements for unmanned planetary missions, part 2

Observation requirements for unmanned planetary mission

Flexible Integration of Alternative Energy Sources for Autonomous Sensing

Recent developments in energy harvesting and autonomous sensing mean that it is now possible to power sensors solely from energy harvested from the environment. Clearly this is dependent on sufficient environmental energy being present. The range of feasible environments for operation can be extended by combining multiple energy sources on a sensor node. The effective monitoring of their energy resources is also important to deliver sustained and effective operation. This paper outlines the issues concerned with combining and managing multiple energy sources on sensor nodes. This problem is approached from both a hardware and embedded software viewpoint. A complete system is described in which energy is harvested from both light and vibration, stored in a common energy store, and interrogated and managed by the node

Molecular and cellular limits to somatosensory specificity

Animals detect environmental changes through sensory neural mechanisms that enable them to differentiate the quality, intensity and temporal characteristics of stimuli. The 'doctrine of specific nervous energies' postulates that the different sensory modalities experienced by humans result of the activation of specific nervous pathways. Identification of functional classes of sensory receptors provided scientific support to the concept that somatosensory modalities (touch, pain, temperature, kinesthesis) are subserved by separate populations of sensory receptor neurons specialized in detecting innocuous and injurious stimuli of different quality (mechanical forces, temperature, chemical compounds). The identification of receptor proteins activated by different physicochemical stimuli, in particular ion channels of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) superfamily, has put forward the concept that specificity of peripheral sensory receptor neurons is determined by their expression of a particular "molecular sensor" that confers to each functional type its selectivity to respond with a discharge of nerve impulses to stimuli of a given quality. Nonetheless, recent experimental data suggest that the various molecular sensors proposed as specific transducer molecules for stimuli of different quality are not as neatly associated with the distinct functional types of sensory receptors as originally proposed. First, many ion channel molecules initially associated to the transduction of only one particular form of energy are also activated by stimuli of different quality, implying a limited degree of specificity in their transducing capacities. Second, molecular sensors associated with a stimulus quality and hence to a sensory receptor type and ultimately to a sensory modality may be concomitantly expressed in sensory receptor neurons functionally defined as specific for another stimulus quality. Finally, activation of voltage gated channels involved primarily in nerve impulse generation can also influence the gating of transducing channels, dramatically modifying their activation profile. Thus, we propose that the capacity exhibited by the different functional types of somatosensory receptor neurons to preferentially detect and encode specific stimuli into a discharge of nerve impulses, appears to result of a characteristic combinatorial expression of different ion channels in each neuronal type that finally determines their transduction and impulse firing properties. Transduction channels don't operate in isolation and their cellular context should also be taken into consideration to fully understand their function. Moreover, the inhomogeneous distribution of transduction and voltage-gated channels at soma, axonal branches and peripheral endings of primary sensory neurons influences the characteristics of the propagated impulse discharge that encodes the properties of the stimulus. Alteration of this concerted operation of ion channels in pathological conditions may underlie the changes in excitability accompanying peripheral sensory neuron injuries

What non-pharmacological treatments do people with polymyalgia rheumatica try: results from the PMR Cohort Study.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is common. The mainstay of treatment, glucocorticoids, are associated with significant adverse effects and many patients remain on high doses for a number of years. Little is known about the use of other, non-pharmacological therapies as adjuncts in PMR. The PMR Cohort Study is an inception cohort study of patients diagnosed with PMR in primary care. This analysis presents data on the use and perceived impact of non-pharmacological therapies from a long-term follow-up survey. Non-pharmacological treatments were classified as either diet, exercise, or complementary therapies. Results are presented as adjusted means, medians, and raw counts where appropriate. One hundred and ninety-seven participants completed the long-term follow-up questionnaire, of these 81 (41.1%) reported using non-pharmacological therapy. Fifty-seven people reported using a form of complementary therapy, 35 used exercise and 20 reported changing their diet. No individual non-pharmacological therapy appeared to be associated with long-term outcomes. The use of non-pharmacological therapies is common amongst PMR patients, despite the paucity of evidence supporting their use. This suggests that people perceive a need for treatment options in addition to standard glucocorticoid regimens. Further research is needed to understand patients' aims when seeking additional treatments and to strengthen the evidence base for their use so that patients can be guided towards effective options

High-Temperature Self-Powered Sensing System for a Smart Bearing in an Aircraft Jet Engine

Integrated health monitoring is beneficial, but due to reliability, weight, size, wiring, and other constraints, the incorporation of instrumentation onto aircraft propulsion systems is limited. Conventional wired sensing systems are not always feasible due to the size, weight constraints, and issues associated with cable routing. This article presents an integrated and self-powered wireless system for high-temperature (above 125 °C) environments powered by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) for bearing condition monitoring. A TEG with an internal oil-cooling chamber is proposed to achieve higher-energy output for small temperature gradient recorded in the jet engine in comparison with other TEGs with heat sinks. The experimental results demonstrate that, under a simulated engine environment, the TEG can provide sufficient energy for a wireless sensing system to collect environmental data every 46 s and transmit every 260 s during the critical takeoff phase of the flight and part of cruise.</p

Fluoride in the diet of 2-years-old children

Objectives This study aimed to calculate the fluoride concentrations of commonly consumed foods and beverages for 2-years-old children utilizing market basket information for the US Midwest region. Methods Total Diet Study food lists were cross-referenced with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—What We Eat in America data to determine the foods and beverages to be included. Fluoride concentrations were determined using a modification of the hexamethyldisiloxane microdiffusion technique. Fluoride concentrations were summarized for each of the food categories. Daily dietary fluoride intake was estimated using a simulation analysis. Results Food and beverage fluoride concentrations varied widely, ranging from nondetectable for some oils and dairy products to more than 3.0 μgF/g food for some processed meats, fish and fruits. The estimated mean (±SD) daily dietary fluoride intake, excluding dentifrice and supplements, was 412±114 μgF/d. The estimated average ingestion for a 2-years-old weighing 12.24 kg was 0.034±0.009 mg/kg/d. A diet based on foods and beverages in the fifth percentile of fluoride intake distribution for an average child would result in 247 μgF/d or 0.020 mg/kg/d, while a diet with foods and beverages in the 95th percentile would result in a total intake of 622 μgF/d or 0.051 mg/kg/d. Conclusions The fluoride concentrations of foods and beverages vary widely, and, if items in the 95th percentile of fluoride intake distribution are ingested, children could consume more fluoride than the recommended 0.05 mg/kg/d. Fluoride intake calculated in this study was higher than historically reported dietary levels

Clinical decision-making in remote rheumatology consultations: a service evaluation of new patient and inflammatory rheumatic disease follow-up appointments.

Lette

Flexible integration of alternative energy sources for autonomous sensing

Recent developments in energy harvesting and autonomous sensing mean that it is now possible to power sensors solely from energy harvested from the environment. Clearly this is dependent on sufficient environmental energy being present. The range of feasible environments for operation can be extended by combining multiple energy sources on a sensor node. The effective monitoring of their energy resources is also important to deliver sustained and effective operation. This paper outlines the issues concerned with combining and managing multiple energy sources on sensor nodes. This problem is approached from both a hardware and embedded software viewpoint. A complete system is described in which energy is harvested from both light and vibration, stored in a common energy store, and interrogated and managed by the node