Vibration Fault Detection for Steam Generator Tubing

The detection of flaws within steam generator tubing is an important part of safety in a nuclear plant as it could potentially lead to release of radioactive material if unchecked. The current test method for testing these tubes is expensive and time consuming; however, as sound has been used to detect flaws successfully in other applications, an alternative method for using acoustics and accelerometers to detect flaws is what has been explored in this project. Preliminary results of testing with a simple hollow steel tube have given promising results of detecting a hole as small as 7.66% of the tube diameter. Testing of a model steam generator with four tubes led showed promising results using a motor to vibrate the system

Patient-Reported Barriers and Limitations to Attending Diabetes Group Visits.

PURPOSE: Through this exploratory study, we sought to understand why group visit participation is low among adult patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Eligible study participants included adult patients with type 2 diabetes. After a pilot survey was sent to a random sample of 48 patients, the remaining 187 eligible patients were invited to complete a revised version of the survey. RESULTS: Most frequently cited reasons for not attending group visits included diabetes under control, work and/or other responsibilities, and time barriers. There was variability in the desired time for the visits, though the majority of patients preferred evening visits. While some patients reported copays as a challenge, the likelihood of attending did not decrease for this subgroup. Most patients surveyed (54%) indicated interest in diabetes group visits. CONCLUSION: Implementing strategies to address the patient-identified system barriers (eg, time, transportation, and copays) may increase participation in diabetes group visits

Wetting Properties Induced in Nano-Composite POSS-MA Polymer Films by Atomic Layer Deposited Oxides

Due to their unique properties, nano-composite polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) copolymer films are attractive for various applications. Here we show that their natural hydrophobic character can become hydrophilic when the films are modified by a thin oxide layer, up to 8 nm thick, prepared using atomic layer deposition. A proper choice of the deposition temperature and thickness of the oxide layer are required to achieve this goal. Unlike other polymeric systems, a marked transition to a hydrophilic state is observed with oxide layers deposited at increasing temperatures up to the glass transition temperature (∼110 °C) of the POSS copolymer film. The hydrophilic state is monitored through the water contact angle of the POSS film. Infrared absorbance spectra indicate that, in hydrophilic samples, the integral of peaks corresponding to surface Al–O (hydrophilic) is significantly larger than that of peaks linked to hydrophobic species

Determining Winners and Losers from a GATT Agreement: The Importance of Base Periods and Rules

To identify the winners and the losers from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in agriculture, it is necessary to know which countries will be required to reduce which subsidies by what amounts. Rules that seem fair may actually impose very different future obligations on the parties to the negotiations. The base period from which reductions must be made, the manner in which export subsidies are measured, and the exchange rate used to determine tariff-reduction requirements are examples of technical issues that determine the policy implications of a GATT agreement. The paper estimates credits that countries have earned for policy changes already enacted and for changes in the world market conditions under various sets of rules. These credits vary greatly across countries and commodities and are extremely dependant on the specific rules assumed. Thus, an agreement requiring a 30 percent subsidy reduction from a particular base period may result in no required policy changes for some commodities in some countries and very large subsidy reductions for other commodities in other countries

Implementation of Technology-based Patient Engagement Strategies within Practice-Based Research Networks (Poster)

Careyva, B. Shaak, K. Mills, G. Johnson, M. Goodrich, S. Stello, B. Wallace, L. (2016, Nov). Implementation of Technology-Based Patient Engagement Strategies within Practice-Based Research Networks. Poster Presented at: North American Primary Care Research Group, Colorado Springs, CO