Estimation and Application of 2-D Scattering Matrices for Sparse Array Imaging of Impact Damage in Composite Panels

Reliable detection of hidden damage in composites is important for failure prevention in the aerospace industry since these materials are being more frequently used in high stress applications. Structural health monitoring (SHM) via guided wave sensors mounted on or embedded within a composite structure can help detect and localize damage in real-time while also reducing overall maintenance costs. One approach to guided wave SHM is sparse array imaging via the minimum variance algorithm, and it has been shown in prior work that incorporating estimated scattering from expected defects can improve the quality of damage localization and characterization [1]. For this study, impacts were applied to induce delaminations within a composite panel. Wavefield data were recorded on a circle centered at the damage location from multiple incident directions before and after the impacts. Baseline subtraction [2] is used to estimate scattering patterns for each incident direction, and these patterns are combined and interpolated to form a full 2-D scattering matrix. This matrix is then incorporated into the minimum variance imaging algorithm, and imaging efficacy is evaluated for both these impacts and impact damage in other similar composite plates. Results are compared to images generated using simpler scattering assumptions

Nurse-patient interaction and communication: a systematic literature review

Aim: The purpose of this review is to describe the use and definitions of the concepts of nurse-patient interaction and nurse-patient communication in nursing literature. Furthermore, empirical findings of nurse-patient communication research will be presented, and applied theories will be shown. Method: An integrative literature search was executed. The total number of relevant citations found was 97. The search results were reviewed, and key points were extracted in a standardized form. Extracts were then qualitatively summarized according to relevant aspects and categories for the review. Results: The relation of interaction and communication is not clearly defined in nursing literature. Often the terms are used interchangeably or synonymously, and a clear theoretical definition is avoided or rather implicit. Symbolic interactionism and classic sender-receiver models were by far the most referred to models. Compared to the use of theories of adjacent sciences, the use of original nursing theories related to communication is rather infrequent. The articles that try to clarify the relation of both concepts see communication as a special or subtype of interaction. Conclusion: The included citations all conclude that communication skills can be learned to a certain degree. Involvement of patients and their role in communication often is neglected by authors. Considering the mutual nature of communication, patients’ share in conversation should be taken more into consideration than it has been until now. Nursing science has to integrate its own theories of nursing care with theories of communication and interaction from other scientific disciplines like sociology

Eighteen-year follow-up demonstrates prolonged survival and enhanced quality of life for octogenarians after coronary artery bypass grafting

ObjectiveOctogenarians comprise the fastest growing population segment. Numerous reports have documented improved accomplishment of coronary artery bypass grafting in this high-risk cohort. But what is the quality of life after surgery, and how sustainable are the clinical benefits?MethodsSequential cross-sectional analyses were performed on 1062 consecutive patients 80 years old and older who underwent isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting at a single institution from 1989 to 2001. After mean follow-up of 3.4 years (1 month–12.6 years), the Short Form 36 quality of life survey was administered to all survivors. Late follow-up for survival was performed after a mean 5.6 years (1 month–17.9 years). Multivariate analyses assessed risk factors associated with operative mortality, Short Form 36 self-assessment, and late survival.ResultsMean age at operation was 83.1 ± 2.8 years (range, 80–99 years). Overall in-hospital mortality was 9.7%, decreasing progressively to 2.2% during the course of the study. At midterm follow-up, 97.1% of patients were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class I or II; Short Form 36 scores were comparable to age-adjusted norms in both physical and mental health summary scores. Actuarial survivals were 42.2% ± 1.5% at 7 years and 9.9% ± 1.4% at 14 years. Median survival was 5.9 years; 5.2 years for male patients and 6.7 for female patients (P =.004).ConclusionsThe risk of coronary artery bypass grafting for octogenarians now rivals that of a younger population. Midterm quality of life and long-term survival approach those of the general population

Evaluasi peranan pplh dalam mendukung sustainable tourism

Jawa Timur memiliki banyak sekali objek wisata yang indah dan alami, baik yang sudah maupun belum dikembangkan. Selama ini dalam mengembangkan suatu objek wisata belum ada perencanaan yang matang mengenai antisipasi dampak-dampak negatif yang mungkin timbul terhadap lingkungan hidup. Sebaliknya, di beberapa negara di dunia telah dikembangkan konsep sustainable tourism, yang menitikberatkan pada terjaganya lingkungan hidup di sekitar objek wisata walaupun terjadi pengembangan. Konsep ini dilaksanakan oleh LSM (Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat) independen yang peduli terhadap lingkungan hidup dan kemajuan dunia pariwisata terhadap daerah binaan. Adapun dua contoh dari LSM tersebut adalah antara lain : BETA (Belize Ecotourism Association) dengan Belize sebagai binaannya dan KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project). dengan Kathmandu sebagai binaannya. Di Jawa Timur sendiri sebenarnya sudah ada LSM independen yang peduli terhadap pendidikan lingkungan hidup, yang dikenal sebagai PPLH (Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup) Seloliman Trawas. Selain memberikan pendidikan mengenai lingkungan hidup, PPLH juga telah menerapkan konsep ecotourism dalam kesehariannya, baik aktivitas maupun manajemennya dan terhadap desa Seloliman sebagai desa binaannya. Penulis ingin melihat apakah PPLH sebagai pendidik lingkungan hidup telah ikut menyumbang dalam pengembangan konsep sustainable tourism di obyek-obyek wisata di Jawa Timur. Dalam penelitian ini penulis juga akan melakukan studi banding antara PPLH dengan LSM-LSM lain di luar negeri dalam hal kegiatan-kegiatan yang dilakukan dalam mendukung sustainable tourism, dalam hal ini dengan BETA dan KEEP. Kemudian penulis akan menggunakan tcori Edward Inskeep dari bukunya yang berjudul Tourism Planning untuk melihat apakah ketiga LSM tersebut telah memenuhi kewajiban mereka sebagai LSM yang peduli terhadap konsep sustainable tourism. Dari penelitian ini ditemukan bahwa PPLH belum banyak melaksanakan tugasnya sebagai pendidik bagi pengelola obyek-obyek wisata di Jawa Timur dalam mengembangkan konsep sustainable tourism, sedangkan KEEP dan BETA telah melaksanakan kewajiban ini melalui aktivitas-aktivitasnya. Peran PPLH masih kecil bila dibandingkan dengan BETA dan KEEP. Sebagai tambahan, penulis akan memberi saran berupa kegiatan yang dapat dilakukan PPLH untuk lebih teiiibat dalam memberikan pendidikan bagi pengelola obyek-obyek wisata di Jawa Timur untuk mengembangkan konsep sustainable tourism