Round trip landing missions to the asteroid Eros, 1981 opportunity

A comprehensive, Del V (magnitude of impulsive velocity-change vector) study of short staytime (0 to 30 days), short total trip time (10 to 160 days) round trip landing missions (fast missions) is presented. The characteristics of the following selected round trip landing missions are described: mission A (fast mission) with 120-day total trip time, 0-day stay-time, and 73,000-fps total mission Del V; mission B (opposition class) with 380-day total trip time, 0-day staytime, and 52,000-fps total mission Del V; and mission C (conjuction class) with 540-day total trip time, 175-day staytime, and 39,000-fps total mission Del V. A study of large-tank Agena, chemical propulsion stage (CPS), and nuclear stage was conducted. A payload of 5000 pounds was assumed. The propulsion requirements for mission A were found to be two large-tank Agenas and ten CPSs (or alternatively, two large-tank Agenas and five nuclear stages) while mission B required two large-tank Agenas and two CPSs. Mission C can be performed with one large-tank Agena and one CPS

Sociodemographic factors and patient perceptions are associated with attitudes to kidney transplantation among haemodialysis patients

Background. Treatment decisions made by patients with chronic kidney disease are crucial in the renal transplantation process. These decisions are influenced, amongst other factors, by attitudes towards different treatment options, which are modulated by knowledge and perceptions about the disease and its treatment and many other subjective factors. Here we study the attitude of dialysis patients to renal transplantation and the association of sociodemographic characteristics, patient perceptions and experiences with this attitude. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, all patients from eight dialysis units in Budapest, Hungary, who were on haemodialysis for at least 3 months were approached to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Data collected from 459 patients younger than 70 years were analysed in this manuscript. Results. Mean age of the study population was 53 +/- 12 years, 54% were male and the prevalence of diabetes was 22%. Patients with positive attitude to renal transplantation were younger (51 +/- 11 versus 58 +/- 11 years), better educated, more likely to be employed (11% versus 4%) and had prior transplantation (15% versus 7%)(P < 0.05 for all). In a multivariate model, negative patient perceptions about transplantation, negative expectations about health outcomes after transplantation and the presence of fears about the transplant surgery were associated, in addition to incre- asing age, with unwillingness to consider transplantation. Conclusions. Negative attitudes to renal transplantation are associated with potentially modifiable factors. Based on this we suggest that it would be necessary to develop standardized, comprehensible patient information systems and personalized decision support to facilitate modality selection and to enable patients to make fully informed treatment decisions

A Three Dimensional Analysis of Au-Silica Core-Shell Nanoparticles Using Medium Energy Ion Scattering

The medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) facility at the IIAA Huddersfield has been used for the analysis of a monolayer of Au-silica core-shell nanoparticles deposited on Si substrate. Both spherical and rod shape particles were investigated and the spectra produced by 100 keV He+ ions scattered through angles of 90º and 125º were compared with the results of RBS-MAST [1] simulations performed on artificial 3D model cells containing the nanoparticles. The thickness of the silica shell, the diameter of the Au spheres, and the diameter and length of the Au nano-rods were determined from best fits of the measured set of MEIS spectra. In addition, the effect of ion irradiation on the silica shell and gold core was monitored by MEIS measurements in conjunction with RBS-MAST simulations. Ion bombardment was performed under largely different conditions, i.e., by 30 keV Ar+, 150 keV Fe+, or 2.8 MeV N+ ions in the dose range of 2×1015 - 2×1016 cm-2. Significant changes in the particle geometry can be observed due to ion beam-induced sputtering and recoil effects, the significance of which was estimated from full-cascade SRIM simulations. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques have been applied as complementary characterization tools to monitor the amount of gold and surface morphology on the un-irradiated and irradiated sample areas. We show that MEIS can yield spatial information on the geometrical changes of particulate systems at the nanometre scale

Comparing Community Needs and REDD+ Activities for Capacity Building and Forest Protection in the Équateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Primary forests are essential ecosystems that can play a key role in mitigating climate change. REDD+ is designed to help countries and communities secure benefits for avoiding deforestation but has faced significant implementation challenges. There are substantial potential benefits for REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where shifting agriculture is the major cause of deforestation. However, implementation requires significant capacity building in a number of sectors and at a number of levels. This paper explores how well the capacity building activities within the DRC REDD+ strategy are aligned with the capacity needs identified by provincial government stakeholders and local communities in the Équateur province of the DRC, identified through workshops and surveys. The research suggests that while many technical capacity needs identified by stakeholders could be potentially addressed by the REDD+ strategy, there are number of systemic capacity needs that are unlikely to be addressed. Failure to address these needs risks undermining any implementation of REDD+. The results suggest that education and training in governance and management, as well as fundamental education in sustainability, are key capacity needs that REDD+ may need to incorporate. The results also provide further evidence that REDD+ projects need to be long-term and take into account the local context and needs in order to be effective

Comparing Community Needs and REDD+ Activities for Capacity Building and Forest Protection in the &Eacute;quateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Primary forests are essential ecosystems that can play a key role in mitigating climate change. REDD+ is designed to help countries and communities secure benefits for avoiding deforestation but has faced significant implementation challenges. There are substantial potential benefits for REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where shifting agriculture is the major cause of deforestation. However, implementation requires significant capacity building in a number of sectors and at a number of levels. This paper explores how well the capacity building activities within the DRC REDD+ strategy are aligned with the capacity needs identified by provincial government stakeholders and local communities in the &Eacute;quateur province of the DRC, identified through workshops and surveys. The research suggests that while many technical capacity needs identified by stakeholders could be potentially addressed by the REDD+ strategy, there are number of systemic capacity needs that are unlikely to be addressed. Failure to address these needs risks undermining any implementation of REDD+. The results suggest that education and training in governance and management, as well as fundamental education in sustainability, are key capacity needs that REDD+ may need to incorporate. The results also provide further evidence that REDD+ projects need to be long-term and take into account the local context and needs in order to be effective

Complications per et postopératoires en anesthésie pédiatrique dans deux hôpitaux de la ville de Yaoundé

Les complications per et postopératoires en anesthésie pédiatrique ne sont pas rares. Notre objectif était d’étudier les complications per et post-opératoires chez les enfants opérés dans notre contexte. Il s’agissait d’une étude descriptive, analytique et prospective sur une période de cinq mois, dans deux hôpitaux de la ville de Yaoundé. Etaient inclus des patients âgés de 0 à 15 ans opérés et dont le consentement éclairé des parents était reçu. Les variables utilisées étaient : l’âge, le sexe, l’indication opératoire, la classeASA, la technique d’anesthésie,les complications peropératoires et postopératoires et l’évolution. Il était colligé151 patients dont 70,9% de garçons avec un sex ratio de 2,4. La tranche d’âge la plus représentée était celle de 1 à 5 ans (39,7%) pour un âge moyen de 4,4 ± 4,5ans. La spécialité chirurgicale la plus représentée était la chirurgie digestive. La chirurgie était programmée dans 75% des cas et la classeASA1 représentait 61% des cas. L’anesthésie générale était utilisée dans 97% des cas. 33,1% de patients avaient développé au moins une complication. Les complications peropératoires étaient les plus fréquentes (77,8%, n=70) à prédominance respiratoire (40%, n=28). Les complications postopératoires les plus fréquentes étaient cardiovasculaires (40%, n=8) et infectieuses (20%, n=4). Le taux de mortalité était de 7,9%, (n=12). Lesfacteurs associés à la survenue de complications étaient l’âge de moins de 1 an et le caractère urgent de la chirurgie. Les complications périopératoires sont fréquentes avec une prédominance respiratoire. Le taux de mortalité en anesthésie pédiatrique reste élevé dans notre contexte.Mots-clés : anesthésie pédiatrique, complications, mortalité. To assess the intraoperative and postoperative complications in children in our context. Materials and methods: It was a prospective, descriptiveand analytic study carried out during a period of 5 months, in children aged from 0 to 15 years old, operatedin two hospitals in Yaoundé, which we had previously received the informed consent of parentsto participate. The variables used were: age, sex, indication for surgery, ASA class, anesthesia’s technique, intra and post-operative complications and outcome.We included 151 patients during the study period with 70.9% of boys with a sex ratio of 2.4 for males. The age group most represented age was that of 1 to 5 years (39.7%) with an average age of 4.4 years ± 4.5. The most represented surgical specialty was digestive surgery. The surgery was scheduled in 75 % of cases and the ASA class 1 was the most representedwith 61%. General anesthesia was used in 97% of cases. We had 33.1% of patients who developed at least one complicationand 46.1%. Intraoperative complicationsrepresented 77.8%. Respiratory complications were the most represented with 40%. Postoperative complications are cardiovascular and infectious. We recorded 12 deaths for a mortality rate of 7.9%. The factors associated with the occurrence of complications were age less than 1 year and the urgency of the surgery. The complications were frequent. The respiratory complications were most represented. The mortality rate remains high in our context. Keywords: Paediatric anesthesia, complications, mortalit

MergeBathy (2015)

Developed in C++, MergeBathy (2015) is cross-platform and multi-threaded software suite for constructing digital bathymetric models. It provides the user with a set of modeling tools to construct custom bathymetric surfaces, including splines-in-tension routines for interpolation output or as an intermediate resampling step when merging multiple bathymetry data sets. Notable to MergeBathy is its user-friendly and flexible processing options made possible from its integrated bathymetric process framework. Keywords: MergeBathy, Bathymetry, Digital elevation models, Software, Tool, Modelin