Control device Patent

Device for controlling rotary potentiometer mounted on aircraft steering wheel or aileron contro

Thumb-actuated control device

Rotary potentiometer device on the spoke of an aircraft steering wheel provides servo control of certain flight characteristics with no visual attention and a minimum of operational movement

Why HITnet kiosks didn\u27t hit the mark for sexual health education of Western Australian Aboriginal youth

Objective: To assess the use, appropriateness of, and staff feedback on specific sexual health modules, which were installed on Heuristic Interactive Technology (HITnet) kiosks at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS). The HITnet kiosks were aimed at Aboriginal youth visiting these sites. Methods: Modules on the HITnet kiosks were assessed for (1) cultural appropriateness using Yunkaporta’s Aboriginal pedagogy framework and (2) compliance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) advice on key elements for comprehensive sexual health education for young people. Data measuring kiosk use were obtained through HITnet kiosk activity reports. An online survey of ACCHS staff was used to qualitatively assess use of, and staff perceptions of, HITnet kiosks. Results: Kiosk modules were consistent with seven of the eight elements of Yunkaporta’s framework and all of the WHO recommendations. The most popular module generated 3,066 purposeful sessions and the least popular module generated 724 purposeful sessions across nine sites in 2012. While teenagers were the most frequent of the kiosk user groups (39.5% in 2012), the majority of users (56%) were not in the target group (i.e. elders 4%, adults 25%, children 27%). Key issues reported by ACCHS staff (n=11) included: lack of clarity regarding staff responsibility for overseeing kiosk functionality; kiosks attracting “inappropriate ages”; and “lack of privacy” based on kiosk location, screen visibility, and absence of headphones preventing discreet access. Conclusions: The modules were tailored to a young Aboriginal audience through technology thought to be appealing to this group. However, barriers to use of the kiosk included kiosk design features, location, and lack of clarity around responsibility for kiosk operation. Implications: Aboriginal youth need easy access to sexual health messages in a ‘safe’, non-judgmental space. Information and communication that is accessible via personal and mobile devices may be a better vehicle than public kiosks

Implementation of a flexible and modular multiphase framework for the analysis of surface-tension-driven flows based on a LS-VOF approach

The mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of multi-phase flows are both a demanding and highly complex exercise. In typical problems with industrial relevance, the fluids are often in non-isothermal conditions and interfacial phenomena are a relevant part of the problem. A number of effects due to the presence of temperature differences must be adequately taken into account to make the results of numerical simulations consistent and realistic. Moreover, in general, gradients of surface tension at the interface separating two liquids are a source of numerical issues that can delay (and even prevent completely in some circumstances) the convergence of the solution algorithm. Here, we propose a fundamental and concerted approach for the simulation of the typical dynamics resulting from the presence of a dispersed phase in an external matrix in nonisothermal conditions based on the modular computer-aided design, modelling, and simulations capabilities of the OpenFOAM environment. The resulting framework is tested against the migration of a droplet induced by thermocapillary effects in the absence of gravity. The simulations are fully three-dimensional and based on an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) strategy. We describe in detail the countermeasures taken to circumvent the problematic issues associated with the simulation of this kind of flows

Patterns of Non-injection Drug Use Associated with Injection Cessation among Street-Involved Youth in Vancouver, Canada

Although abstinence from drug use is often a key goal of youth substance use treatment, transitioning to less harmful routes and types of drug use is desirable from both a clinical and public health perspective. Despite this, little is known about the trajectories of youth who inject drugs including changes in patterns of non-injection drug use. The At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS) is a longitudinal cohort of street-involved youth who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. We used linear growth curve modeling to compare changes in non-injection drug use among participants who ceased injecting drugs for at least one 6-month period between September 2005 and May 2015 to matched controls who continued injecting over the same period. Of 387 eligible participants, 173 (44.7%) reported ceasing drug injection at least once. Non-injection drug use occurred during 160 (79.6%) periods of injection cessation. In adjusted linear growth curve analyses, the only non-injection drug use pattern observed to decrease significantly more than controls following injection cessation was daily crack/cocaine use (p = 0.024). With the exception of frequent crack/cocaine use, transitions out of injection drug use did not appear to coincide with increased reductions in patterns of non-injection drug use. Our findings indicate that most (80%) of the observed injection cessation events occurred in the context of ongoing substance use. Given that transitioning out of drug injection represents a significant reduction in risk and harm, efforts supporting vulnerable youth to move away from injecting may benefit from approaches that allow for ongoing non-injection drug use. &nbsp

The challenge of dignity in mental health

Dignity is preserved and compromised through our words and actions; so what is it that we need to say and do? Our understanding of dignity is changeable and influenced by culture; therefore, it needs to be revisited from time to time. Mental health nurses must find a way to engage with this topic so that service users can be seen, heard and understood. The Francis Inquiry encouraged us to look outwards to understand the situation nursing is faced with, but this article will encourage mental health nurses to look inwards at their own practice in relation to dignity. It will consider the way in which we manage the emotions provoked by challenging situations, particularly moral judgement and individual dynamics. Suggestions will be made for moving the debate forward and supporting ourselves, service users and colleagues in a world of competing demands

Challenging patriarchal scripts?: a gender analysis of South Africa's community print media

There are an estimated 100 community print media titles in South Africa, none of which are regulated by the Press Ombudsman. Instead, as none are members of Print Media South Africa (PMSA), they fall under the auspices of the Films and Publications Act. Different ethnical standards, including those concerned with gender discrimination, apply therefore to the mainstream as opposed to the community print sector. What are the implications of this double standards? This article explores community print media's regulatory environment and reflects on what this means for the ways in which gender is understood are represented in the sector. It reflects on regulatory limitations even within the mainstream print media sector. It discusses a case study in which a feminist content analysis methodology is applied to two community print media titles.

Red door impact study: phase two

Commissioned by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape, SeptemberThis second phase of the study, originally planned as an integral part of the research, proposed to move the focus to the clients of the RED Door offices to determine the impact of the service. The objectives of the research were framed as follows in the proposal for the second phase of the study. 1.The broad objective of Phase 2 research is to study and evaluate the impact of the Red Door system on the clients who have used the service. 2.The principal focus will be on the quality, relevance and utility of the services at the point of delivery. 3.The research will establish the value to clients of the services provided. 4.The research will issue in the form of a report which will enable Red Door Management at both regional and central office to realign provided services in terms of effective client use towards the achievement of the stated strategic objectives