Fusion energy from the Moon for the twenty-first century

It is shown in this paper that the D-He-3 fusion fuel cycle is not only credible from a physics standpoint, but that its breakeven and ignition characteristics could be developed on roughly the same time schedule as the DT cycle. It was also shown that the extremely low fraction of power in neutrons, the lack of significant radioactivity in the reactants, and the potential for very high conversion efficiencies, can result in definite advantages for the D-He-3 cycle with respect to DT fusion and fission reactors in the twenty-first century. More specifically, the D-He-3 cycle can accomplish the following: (1) eliminate the need for deep geologic waste burial facilities and the wastes can qualify for Class A, near-surface land burial; (2) allow 'inherently safe' reactors to be built that, under the worst conceivable accident, cannot cause a civilian fatality or result in a significant (greater than 100 mrem) exposure to a member of the public; (3) reduce the radiation damage levels to a point where no scheduled replacement of reactor structural components is required, i.e., full reactor lifetimes (approximately 30 FPY) can be credibly claimed; (4) increase the reliability and availability of fusion reactors compared to DT systems because of the greatly reduced radioactivity, the low neutron damage, and the elimination of T breeding; and (5) greatly reduce the capital costs of fusion power plants (compared to DT systems) by as much as 50 percent and present the potential for a significant reduction on the COE. The concepts presented in this paper tie together two of the most ambitious high-technology endeavors of the twentieth century: the development of controlled thermonuclear fusion for civilian power applications and the utilization of outer space for the benefit of mankind on Earth

Fourth clivar workshop on the evaluation of ENSO processes in climate models: ENSO in a changing climate

n/aThe organizers acknowledge the generous support of the World Climate Research Programme/CLIVAR, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique–Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers (CNRS-INSU), the LabEx L-IPSL, and Sorbonne Universités and wish to thank Lei Han, from the International CLIVAR Global Project Office in Qingdao, China, for his invaluable help in organizing this workshop

Who Lives Where and Does It Matter? Changes in the Health Profiles of Older People Living in Long Term Care and the Community over Two Decades in a High Income Country.

BACKGROUND: There have been fundamental shifts in the attitude towards, access to and nature of long term care in high income countries. The proportion and profile of the older population living in such settings varies according to social, cultural, and economic characteristics as well as governmental policies. Changes in the profiles of people in different settings are important for policy makers and care providers. Although details will differ, how change occurs across time is important to all, including lower and middle income countries developing policies themselves. Here change is examined across two decades in England. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using the two Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS I: 77% response, CFAS II: 56% response), two population based studies of older people carried out in the same areas conducted two decades apart, the study diagnosis of dementia using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy, health and wellbeing were examined, focusing on long term care. The proportion of individuals with three or more health conditions increased for everyone living in long term care between CFAS I (47.6%, 95% CI: 42.3-53.1) and CFAS II (62.7%, 95% CI: 54.8-70.0) and was consistently higher in those without dementia compared to those with dementia in both studies. Functional impairment measured by activities of daily living increased in assisted living facilities from 48% (95% CI: 44%-52%) to 67% (95% CI: 62%-71%). CONCLUSIONS: Health profiles of residents in long term care have changed dramatically over time. Dementia prevalence and reporting multiple health conditions have increased. Receiving care in the community puts pressure on unpaid carers and formal services; these results have implications for policies about supporting people at home as well as for service provision within long term care including quality of care, health management, cost, and the development of a skilled, caring, and informed workforce.CFAS II has been funded through a grant from the Medical Research Council (grant number G0601022). CFAS I was also funded through the Medical Research Council (grant number G9901400).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from PLOS at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161705

Is late-life dependency increasing or not? A comparison of the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS)

Background: Little is known about how dependency levels have changed between generational cohorts of older people. We estimated years lived in different care states at age 65 in 1991 and 2011 and new projections of future demand for care. Methods: Two population-based studies of older people in defined geographical areas conducted two decades apart (the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies) provided prevalence estimates of dependency in four states: high (24-hour care); medium (daily care); low (less than daily); independent. Years in each dependency state were calculated by Sullivan’s method. To project future demand, the proportions in each dependency state (by age group and sex) were applied to the 2014 England population projections. Findings: Between 1991 and 2011 there were significant increases in years lived from age 65 with low (men:1·7 years, 95%CI 1·0-2·4; women:2·4 years, 95%CI 1·8-3·1) and high dependency (men:0·9 years, 95%CI 0·2-1·7; women:1·3 years, 95%CI 0·5-2·1). The majority of men’s extra years of life were independent (36%) or with low dependency (36%) whilst for women the majority were spent with low dependency (58%), only 5% being independent. There were substantial reductions in the proportions with medium and high dependency who lived in care homes, although, if these dependency and care home proportions remain constant in the future, further population ageing will require an extra 71,000 care home places by 2025. Interpretation: On average older men now spend 2.4 years and women 3.0 years with substantial care needs (medium or high dependency), and most will live in the community. These findings have considerable implications for older people’s families who provide the majority of unpaid care, but the findings also supply valuable new information for governments and care providers planning the resources and funding required for the care of their future ageing populations

Is late-life dependency increasing or not? A comparison of the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS).

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how the proportions of dependency states have changed between generational cohorts of older people. We aimed to estimate years lived in different dependency states at age 65 years in 1991 and 2011, and new projections of future demand for care. METHODS: In this population-based study, we compared two Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS I and CFAS II) of older people (aged ≥65 years) who were permanently registered with a general practice in three defined geographical areas (Cambridgeshire, Newcastle, and Nottingham; UK). These studies were done two decades apart (1991 and 2011). General practices provided lists of individuals to be contacted and were asked to exclude those who had died or might die over the next month. Baseline interviews were done in the community and care homes. Participants were stratified by age, and interviews occurred only after written informed consent was obtained. Information collected included basic sociodemographics, cognitive status, urinary incontinence, and self-reported ability to do activities of daily living. CFAS I was assigned as the 1991 cohort and CFAS II as the 2011 cohort, and both studies provided prevalence estimates of dependency in four states: high dependency (24-h care), medium dependency (daily care), low dependency (less than daily), and independent. Years in each dependency state were calculated by Sullivan's method. To project future demands for social care, the proportions in each dependency state (by age group and sex) were applied to the 2014 UK [corrected] population projections. FINDINGS: Between 1991 and 2011, there were significant increases in years lived from age 65 years with low dependency (1·7 years [95% CI 1·0-2·4] for men and 2·4 years [1·8-3·1] for women) and increases with high dependency (0·9 years [0·2-1·7] for men and 1·3 years [0·5-2·1] for women). The majority of men's extra years of life were spent independent (36·3%) or with low dependency (36·3%) whereas for women the majority were spent with low dependency (58·0%), and only 4·8% were independent. There were substantial reductions in the proportions with medium and high dependency who lived in care homes, although, if these dependency and care home proportions remain constant in the future, further population ageing will require an extra 71 215 care home places by 2025. INTERPRETATION: On average older men now spend 2·4 years and women 3·0 years with substantial care needs, and most will live in the community. These findings have considerable implications for families of older people who provide the majority of unpaid care, but the findings also provide valuable new information for governments and care providers planning the resources and funding required for the care of their future ageing populations. FUNDING: Medical Research Council (G9901400) and (G06010220), with support from the National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Local research networks in West Anglia and Trent, UK, and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Network in Newcastle, UK.FEM receives funding from the Medical Research Council (MC U105292687)

Determination of the thermal diffusivity of pyrotechnic materials

Thermal diffusivity studies have been initiated to better characterize developmental pyrotechnic materials. Thermal diffusivity, along with density and specific heat, can be used to calculate another important thermophysical property, namely, thermal conductivity. A literature search revealed the relatively simple method commonly known as the flash-diffusivity method. This method, with appropriate modification to accent pyrotechnic materials at elevated temperatures, was selected for these studies

Real-World Adherence to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment for Spasticity: Insights From the ASPIRE Study.

Abstract Objective To identify baseline characteristics and treatment-related variables that affect adherence to onabotulinumtoxinA treatment from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE) study. Design Prospective, observational registry (NCT01930786). Setting International clinical sites. Participants Adults with spasticity (N=730). Interventions OnabotulinumtoxinA at clinician's discretion. Main Outcome Measures Clinically meaningful thresholds used for treatment adherent (≥3 treatment sessions during 2-year study) and nonadherent (≤2 sessions). Data analyzed using logistic regression and presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Treatment-related variables assessed at sessions 1 and 2 only. Results Of the total population, 523 patients (71.6%) were treatment adherent with 5.3±1.6 sessions and 207 (28.4%) were nonadherent with 1.5±0.5 sessions. In the final model (n=626/730), 522 patients (83.4%) were treatment adherent and 104 (16.6%) were nonadherent. Baseline characteristics associated with adherence: treated in Europe (OR=1.84; CI, 1.06-3.21; P=.030) and use of orthotics (OR=1.88; CI, 1.15-3.08; P=.012). Baseline characteristics associated with nonadherence: history of diplopia (OR=0.28; CI, 0.09-0.89; P=.031) and use of assistive devices (OR=0.51; CI, 0.29-0.90; P=.021). Treatment-related variables associated with nonadherence: treatment interval ≥15 weeks (OR=0.43; CI, 0.26-0.72; P=.001) and clinician dissatisfaction with onabotulinumtoxinA to manage pain (OR=0.18; CI, 0.05-0.69; P=.012). Of the population with stroke (n=411), 288 patients (70.1%) were treatment adherent with 5.3±1.6 sessions and 123 (29.9%) were nonadherent with 1.5±0.5 session. In the final stroke model (n=346/411), 288 patients (83.2%) were treatment adherent and 58 (16.8%) were nonadherent. Baseline characteristics associated with adherence: treated in Europe (OR=2.99; CI, 1.39-6.44; P=.005) and use of orthotics (OR=3.18; CI, 1.57-6.45; P=.001). Treatment-related variables associated with nonadherence: treatment interval ≥15 weeks (OR=0.42; CI, 0.21-0.83; P=.013) and moderate/severe disability on upper limb Disability Assessment Scale pain subscale (OR=0.40; CI, 0.19-0.83; P=.015). Conclusions These ASPIRE analyses demonstrate real-world patient and clinical variables that affect adherence to onabotulinumtoxinA and provide insights to help optimize management strategies to improve patient care