Ambulance service operational improvement

This document is the accepted manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Paramedic Practice copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the Publisher. To access the final edited version see http://www.internationaljpp.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=100396;article=IPP_3_3_61_63Since the start of industrialisation in the beginning of the previous century, processes, and technology have evolved drastically. Technology that had been developed for a specific application was found to open new horizons in other domains. A good example is the use of sonar technology on military submarines which eventually found medical applications in medical imaging (Oakley, 1986). The paramedic profession is still considered to be a relatively young profession, and although the clinical scope of practice of ambulance staff has widened there have been few noticeable and significant changes in the way Ambulance Services operate as public service providers. There is, however, great variation in the way pre-hospital emergency care provision is delivered and organised from country to country due for example to historical, cultural, financial, and geographical factors. Other industries are significantly more driven by profit, hence efficiency and reliability are aspects that have a direct and measurable financial impact and it acts as a driver for further developments.Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Plasma oestrogens after the menopause

Imperial Users onl

The modification of organic materials by plasmas and ion beams as studied by ESCA

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) has been employed to investigate the changes in the surface chemistry of polymers produced by their exposure to plasmas and ion beams and the chemistry of thin polymeric films produced by the ion beam irradiation of films of condensed organic material. Modification by hydrogen plasmas of fluoropolymers is shown to result in extensive defluorination and hydrogenation of the surface regions of the polymer to a depth of ~20Å. In the initial stages of the reaction ESCA analysis reveals the presence of a smooth reaction gradient within the ESCA sampling depth. The modification is accompanied by extensive crosslinking of the polymer surface. A model is also proposed to account for these observations. In order to try and gain an insight into the contributions of the various components of a plasma with polymer surfaces the interaction of low energy (l-5keV) argon ions with fluoropolymer and polymers containing cajbon hydrogen and oxygen were studied. The reaction leads to the depletion of the surface region in the most electronegative components of the polymer. The modification, irrespective of the beam energy used, is homogeneous within the ESCA sampling depth using Mg(_ka1,2) radiation. The polymers all lead to the formation of a highly crosslinked, unsaturated carbonaceous surface layer on bombardment. This defunctionalisation is marked in the ESCA spectra by modifications in the lineshape of the C(_1s) photoionisation peak, the asymmetry of which has been found to, in a qualitative sense at least, reflect the presence of unsaturation in the systems. The exposure of condensed films of hexafluorobonzene to relatively low doses of argon ions has been shown to result in the formation of a thin film of an involatile polymeric residue. The product bears a striking resemblance in its chemistry to that of plasma polymerised films of hexafluorobenzene. Apart from the potential ability of such films, e.g. as dielectric films in microelectronics fabrication, they also illustrate the link between the interactions of ion beams with organic materials and plasmolysis of such materials. The thermal stability of films produced by the ion beam induced polymerisation and plasma polymerisation of hexafluorobenzene is also investigated

Switching patients from other inhaled corticosteroid devices to the Easyhaler(®) : historical, matched-cohort study of real-life asthma patients

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

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The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide. Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. Reviewed by David D. Oberhelman. The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All. Edited by Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson. Reviewed by Clark Hutton

Automatic Tail-Cutter

The goal of this project is to design and test a universal ramp that guides runners into any size grinder that may be a short distance away from the press. Design consideration will be key to this project. It should be lightweight, easy to install, while considering other relevant design considerations as well. In addition, the universal ramp will need to be able to mount to any style press we have. The runners will vary in length and width, so the universal ramp will need to be able to change size to accommodate for the different sizes of runners

Data modelling techniques to improve student's admission criteria

Education is commonly seen as an escape from poverty and a critical path to securing a better standard of living. This is especially relevant in the South African context, where the need is so great that in one instance people were trampled to death at the gates of a higher educational institution, whilst attempting to register for this opportunity. The root cause of this great need is a limited capacity and a demand, which outstrips the supply. This is not a problem specific to South Africa. It is however exaggerated in the South African context due to the country's lack of infrastructure and the opening of facilities to all people. Tertiary educational institutions are faced with ever-increasing applications for a limited number of available positions. This study focuses on a dataset from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology - with the aim of establishing guidelines for the use of data modelling techniques to improve student admissions criteria. The importance of data preprocessing was highlighted and generalized linear regression, decision trees and neural networks were proposed and motivated for modelling. Experimentation was carried out, resulting in a number of recommended guidelines focusing on the tremendous value of feature engineering coupled with the use of generalized linear regression as a base line. Adding multiple models was highly recommended; since it allows for greater opportunities for added insight

Performance of Small-Fruited Pumpkin Cultivars in Maine

A small-fruited (2-4 lb) or “pie” type pumpkin variety trial was established in the spring of 2009 at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, ME. Three replications of seven varieties were direct-seeded on 18 June through black plastic mulch. Plots were 18 feet long with three feet between plants and six feet between rows. All fertilizer was applied according to soil test recommendations and incorporated prior to mulch application and seeding. Fruit were harvested on 18 September. Top performing varieties in terms of yield per plot included ‘Chucky’, ‘Small Sugar’, and ‘Field Trip’. ‘Fall Splendor’ produced the largest fruit in the trial, followed by ‘Winter Luxury’ and ‘Mystic Plus’. ‘Field Trip’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ had the highest stem quality in the trial and ‘Field Trip’, ‘Mystic Plus’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ were rated highest for exterior color and ribbing. The results of this trial suggest that ‘Field Trip’, ‘Mystic Plus’ and ‘Fall Splendor’ offer very high quality fruit with acceptable yields for pie-type pumpkins, while ‘Chucky’ offers acceptable fruit quality and very high yields.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1000/thumbnail.jp