An Investigation on the Effect of Aging and Fatigue Damage on the Mechanical Properties of a Graphite/Bismaleimide Composite

This investigation utilizes the open hole tension (OHT) specimen loaded in tension-tension fatigue under isothermal, fixed frequency conditions. A range of load levels and temperature levels where chosen to assess performance. These loads and temperatures ranged from relatively benign conditions (low stress, room temperature) up through aggressive conditions (high stress, high temperature). Measurements of stiffness, damage accumulation, residual strength, weight loss, and glass transition temperature (Tg) were made. Results from this work will help explain the roles of aging, load and fatigue in the performance of elevated temperature OHT specimens as well as provide insights to the individual and synergistic contributions of each process

Zika Virus: What Paramedics Need to Know

Zika Virus Disease (ZVD) is a viral illness spread primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitos. This review will provide a brief overview of the history of ZVD, epidemiology, prevention, clinical presentation, management and complications to help better prepare the paramedic for potential encounters with patients with ZVD

Canadian Paramedic program Use of Realistic Simulation in Education (PURSE): a descriptive study.

Background: Literature suggests that simulation-based learning is an important modality in medical education. Although there is a large body of evidence in other medical fields, there has been little reported evidence of simulation use in paramedic education. This study aimed to report patterns of simulation use in paramedic programs across Canada. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of Primary Care and Advanced Care paramedic programs across Canada. An online questionnaire was distribution to all identified paramedic program coordinators in Canada. Results: Of the 44 invitations sent, 20 complete responses (45%) were received and analyzed. Paramedic programs reported they own or have access to a wide range of simulation resources. The majority of programs (85%) agreed that simulation directly impacted patient care but only 60% trained faculty on how to design and facilitate simulation. Only 3 programs (15%) reported using simulation as a supplement or to augment training, typically skill-based clinical hours. Standardized patients are underused in simulation. Typical barriers reported to simulation implementation were cost, time, and availability of resources. Conclusion: Simulation based learning has become an important aspect of multiple health care professions. As the paramedic profession continues to develop, it is important that initial paramedic education incorporates simulation effectively. Faculty education surrounding inexpensive and effective ways to incorporate simulation will likely increase use of simulation in paramedic programs. Future research should investigate how simulation in paramedic education impacts patient outcomes

An Introduction to Tropical Medicine for Paramedics

With the increasing presence of paramedics as healthcare providers, many times as the sole medical provider in remote and high-risk areas, the need for non-traditional, specialized education is becoming increasingly apparent. One specialty area of medical practice not commonly addressed in traditional paramedic education is that of tropical diseases and tropical medicine

Material Property Characterization of AS4/VRM-34 Textile Laminates

Several material properties (modulus, strengths, and fracture toughness) of a textile composite have been evaluated to provide input data to analytical models of Pultruded Rod Stiffened Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS). The material system is based on warp-knitted preforms of AS4 carbon fibers and VRM-34 epoxy resin, which have been processed via resin infusion and oven curing. Tensile, compressive, shear, and fracture toughness properties have been measured at ambient and elevated temperatures. All specimens were tested in as-fabricated (dry) condition. Specimens were tested with and without through-thickness stitching

Evaluation of a Small-Crack Monitoring System

A new system has been developed to obtain fatigue crack growth rate data from a series of images acquired during fatigue testing of specimens containing small surface cracks that initiate at highly-polished notches. The primary benefit associated with replica-based crack growth rate data methods is preserving a record of the crack configuration during the life of the specimen. Additionally, this system has the benefits of both reducing time and labor, and not requiring introduction of surface replica media into the crack. Fatigue crack growth rate data obtained using this new system are found to be in good agreement with similar results obtained from surface replicas

A Relationship Between Constraint and the Critical Crack Tip Opening Angle

Of the various approaches used to model and predict fracture, the Crack Tip Opening Angle (CTOA) fracture criterion has been successfully used for a wide range of two-dimensional thin-sheet and thin plate applications. As thicker structure is considered, modeling the full three-dimensional fracture process will become essential. This paper investigates relationships between the local CTOA evaluated along a three-dimensional crack front and the corresponding local constraint. Previously reported tunneling crack front shapes were measured during fracture by pausing each test and fatigue cycling the specimens to mark the crack surface. Finite element analyses were run to model the tunneling shape during fracture, with the analysis loading conditions duplicating those tests. The results show an inverse relationship between the critical fracture value and constraint which is valid both before maximum load and after maximum load

Fatigue Crack Closure Analysis Using Digital Image Correlation

Fatigue crack closure during crack growth testing is analyzed in order to evaluate the critieria of ASTM Standard E647 for measurement of fatigue crack growth rates. Of specific concern is remote closure, which occurs away from the crack tip and is a product of the load history during crack-driving-force-reduction fatigue crack growth testing. Crack closure behavior is characterized using relative displacements determined from a series of high-magnification digital images acquired as the crack is loaded. Changes in the relative displacements of features on opposite sides of the crack are used to generate crack closure data as a function of crack wake position. For the results presented in this paper, remote closure did not affect fatigue crack growth rate measurements when ASTM Standard E647 was strictly followed and only became a problem when testing parameters (e.g., load shed rate, initial crack driving force, etc.) greatly exceeded the guidelines of the accepted standard

Flooding of December 29, 1984 Through January 2, 1985, in Northern New York State, With Flood Profiles of the Black and Salmon Rivers

Precipitation, snowmelt, and resultant flooding throughout northern New York from December 28 through January 2, 1985, were investigated through a detailed analysis of 56 precipitation stations, 101 stage and/or discharge gaging stations, and 9 miscellaneous measurement sites. Flood damage to property and roads and bridges exceeded $5 million. Lewis and Oswego Counties were declared Federal disaster areas, primarily a result of flooding of the Black River and Salmon River. Storm-precipitation and runoff maps show the storms \u27 greatest intensity to have been over the Tug Hill and southwest Adirondack areas. Total rainfall from December 28 through January 2 was 6.90 inches at Stillwater Reservoir but only 0.69 inches at Lake Placid. New peak discharges of record occurred at 17 gaging stations throughout northern New York, and the maximum discharge at 17 sites had recurrence intervals equal to or greater than 100 years. Computed inflows to 11 major lakes and reservoirs in northern New York indicate that significant volumes of water (as much as 5 inches of storm runoff at Stillwater Reservoir) were stored during the storm-runoff period. Maximum 1-day flood volumes at two gaging stations on the Black River had recurrence intervals greater than 100 years. To help evaluate the extent of flooding, 67 floodmarks were obtained along a 94-mile reach of the Black River from Dexter to Forestport, and several floodmarks were surveyed within major communities along the Salmon River. The floodmarks were obtained primarily near major bridges and dams along these rivers. (Author \u27s abstract

Keeping Them on Their Feet: Novel Solutions to the Emerging Lift Assist Trend

Lift assist calls can have significant impact on paramedic services financially and operationally, an impact which will become even larger as the Canadian population continues to age. The current model of addressing lift assist calls in the community does not allow for adequate assessment of frailty and health decline with in older adults. Creating paramedic referral pathways to community fall prevention teams through Community Paramedic programs and remote patient monitoring can potentially decrease falls and the impact that frequent fallers have on paramedic services