1,154 research outputs found
Digital flight control actuation system study
Flight control actuators and feedback sensors suitable for use in a redundant digital flight control system were examined. The most appropriate design approach for an advanced digital flight control actuation system for development and use in a fly-by-wire system was selected. The concept which was selected consisted of a PM torque motor direct drive. The selected system is compatible with concurrent and independent development efforts on the computer system and the control law mechanizations
The eigenspectra of Indian musical drums
In a family of drums used in the Indian subcontinent, the circular drum head
is made of material of non-uniform density. Remarkably, and in contrast to a
circular membrane of uniform density, the low eigenmodes of the non-uniform
membrane are harmonic. In this work we model the drum head by a non-uniform
membrane whose density varies smoothly between two prescribed values. Using a
Fourier-Chebyshev spectral collocation method we obtain the eigenmodes and
eigenvalues of the drum head. For a suitable choice of parameters, which we
find by optimising a cost function, the eigenspectra obtained from our model
are in excellent agreement with experimental values. Our model and the
numerical method should find application in numerical sound synthesis
Metformin and cardiorenal outcomes in diabetes : a reappraisal
The guidance issued to the pharmaceutical industry by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2008 has led to the publication of a series of randomised, controlled cardiovascular outcomes trials with newer therapeutic classes of glucoseâlowering medications. Several of these trials, which evaluated the newer therapeutic classes of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLPâ1 receptor agonists have reported a reduced incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and/or renal outcomes, usually relative to placebo and standard of care. Metformin was the first glucoseâlowering agent reported to improve cardiovascular outcomes in the UK Prospective diabetes Study (UKPDS) and thus became the foundation of standard care. However, as this clinical trial reported more than 20âyears ago, differences from current standards of trial design and evaluation complicate comparison of the cardiovascular profiles of older and newer agents. Our article revisits the evidence for cardiovascular protection with metformin and reviews its effects on the kidney.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Life in its fullness : ecology, eschatology and ecodomy in a time of climate change
Given the close relationship of ecodomy with other words that also derive from oikos â
especially economy and ecology â the term âecodomyâ opens a space for dialogue with other
disciplines, especially economics and the physical and social sciences. The Greek Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, known as the
âGreen Patriarchâ, identifies the climate change crisis as a âkairos momentâ for churches and
the world, warning that the time is short for the world to take decisive action. We argue that
the apocalyptic tradition of Scripture can help as we face this new kairos moment. The argument
is that the biblical Book of Revelation sheds light in at least two ways: firstly, to frame this
crisis in terms of eschatology, and secondly, to help us envision future hope for a new
creation and life on earth. If ecodomy is eschatology put into practice, it can help us address
the climate crisis. We can name our moment as a kairos moment, a moment of hope and
urgency. And we can draw on the apocalyptic witness of Scripture to address this crisis, not
with despair but with hope â hope for what the Gospel of John calls âabundant lifeâ, hope for
a renewal of the whole community of earth, the ecodomy, hope for âlife in all its fullnessâ.
CONTRIBUTION: The focus of this article is on the ecodomical use of the term kairos. The coherence
of this article is a triangulation of ecodomy, ecology and eschatology, where climate change is
the epitome of the ecological crisis and kairos is the demand. This brings theology and nature
into consonance.http://www.hts.org.zapm2021Dogmatics and Christian Ethic
Concomitant diabetes with atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation management considerations.
Atrial fibrillation is a highly prevalent cardiac arrhythmia. It is associated with numerous co mobilities. Approximately 30% of diabetic patients have atrial fibrillation and 15% of atrial fibrillation regulation patients have diabetes mellitus. Diabetes increases the likelihood of the development of atrial fibrillation and contributes to the high risk of thromboembolism seen in patients with both diabetes and atrial fibrillation. Chronic kidney disease is often a consequence of diabetes and presents an additional challenge to the management of patients with both atrial fibrillation and diabetes. All non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants are partially eliminated via the kidney and must be carefully prescribed according to strict dosing schedules to avoid anticoagulation overdose. However, NOACs have the advantage of being associated with less progressive impairment of renal function compared with vitamin K antagonist therapy in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Otherwise, diabetic patients benefit from NOAC therapy as opposed to vitamin K antagonists to a similar extent as patients without diabetes. This review deals with anticoagulation treatment in patients with fibrillation and diabetes mellitus, often complicated by progressive renal impairment
Increased glomerular filtration rate after withdrawal of long-term antihypertensive treatment in diabetic nephropathy
Increased glomerular filtration rate after withdrawal of long-term antihypertensive treatment in diabetic nephropathy. Initiation of antihypertensive treatment (AHT) in hypertensive insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) induces a faster initial (0 to 6 months) and a slower subsequent (6 months to end of observation) decline in GFR [ÎGFR (ml/min/month) approximately 1.5 vs. 0.35]. Whether this initial phenomenon is reversible (hemodynamic) or irreversible (structural damage) after prolonged AHT is not known. To elucidate these mechanisms we investigated 42 hypertensive IDDM patients (16F/26M, age 40 ± 7 years, mean ± SD) with DN receiving AHT (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, N = 30) for 6 (2 to 15) years [median (range)]. GFR (ml/min/1.73 m2), arterial blood pressure (BP, mm Hg) and albuminuria (mg/24 hr) were measured the last day on AHT and one month after withdrawal of AHT. The measured variables were all significantly elevated after withdrawal of AHT: GFR [mean(SEM)] from 76(4) to 81(4) (P < 0.0001), BP [mean(SEM)] from 140/82 (2/1) to 151/89 (2/1) (P < 0.0005) and albuminuria [geometric mean(antilog SEM)] from 704 (1.2) to 1122 (1.2) (P < 0.0001). A correlation between relative rise in systolic blood pressure (ÎSys%) and relative change in GFR (ÎGFR%) was found (r = 0.44, P < 0.005). Our results render some support of the hypothesis that the faster initial decline in GFR is due to a functional (hemodynamic) effect of AHT, which does not attenuate over time, while the subsequent slower decline reflects the beneficial effect on progression of diabetic nephropathy
Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI): a manifesto
Although we have involved animals in machine and computer interactions for a long time, their perspective has seldom driven the design of interactive technology meant for them and animal-computer interaction is yet to enter mainstream user-computer interaction research. This lack of animal perspective can have negative effects on animal users and on the purposes for which animal technology is developed. Not only could an Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) agenda mitigate those effects, it could also yield multiple benefits, by enhancing our inter-species relationships with the animals we live or work with, leading to further insights into animal cognition, rendering conservation efforts more effective, improving the economical and ethical sustainability of food production, expanding the horizon of user-computer interaction research altogether and benefiting different groups of human users too. Advances in both our understanding of animal cognition and computing technology make the development of ACI as a discipline both possible and timely, while pressing environmental, economic and cultural changes make it desirable. But what exactly is ACI about and how could we develop such a discipline? This Manifesto describes the scientific aims, methodological approach and ethical principles of ACI and proposes a research agenda for its systematic development
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