Introduction: In-Use,In-Situ: Extending Field Research Methods—Part 2

This study used protocol analyses and user drawings of their models of the system to investigate the “getting lost” problem in hypertext navigation. The “getting lost” problem is viewed as occurring when routine expectations of naive users, concerning appropriate linear sequences, are violated. Several ways in which users persistently attempt to work within a linear model, despite its inapplicability, are examined. The transition to more hierarchical user models is described.     

Extensive risk analysis of mechanical failure for an epiphyseal hip prothesis: a combined numerical-experimental approach

There has been recent renewed interest in proximal femur epiphyseal replacement as an alternative to conventional total hip replacement. In many branches of engineering, risk analysis has proved to be an efficient tool for avoiding premature failures of innovative devices. An extensive risk analysis procedure has been developed for epiphyseal hip prostheses and the predictions of this method have been compared to the known clinical outcomes of a well-established contemporary design, namely hip resurfacing devices. Clinical scenarios leading to revision (i.e. loosening, neck fracture and failure of the prosthetic component) were associated with potential failure modes (i.e. overload, fatigue, wear, fibrotic tissue differentiation and bone remodelling). Driving parameters of the corresponding failure mode were identified together with their safe thresholds. For each failure mode, a failure criterion was identified and studied under the most relevant physiological loading conditions. All failure modes were investigated with the most suitable investigation tool, either numerical or experimental. Results showed a low risk for each failure scenario either in the immediate postoperative period or in the long term. These findings are in agreement with those reported by the majority of clinical studies for correctly implanted devices. Although further work is needed to confirm the predictions of this method, it was concluded that the proposed risk analysis procedure has the potential to increase the efficacy of preclinical validation protocols for new epiphyseal replacement devices.     

Socio-ethics of interaction with intelligent interactive technologies

Socio-ethics covers the relation of the individual with the group and with society, as the individual acquires the skills for social life with others and the conduct of ‘normal responsible behaviour’ (Leal in AI Soc 9:29–32, 1995) that guides moral action. For a consideration of what it means to be socially skilled in everyday human interaction and the ethical issues arising from the new conditions of interaction that come with the integration of intelligent interactive artefacts, we will provide an analysis at multiple levels of these phenomena and draw on a variety of application domains, for example, healthcare and interactive media.     

A simple index for assessing fuel moisture content

Assessing fuel moisture content to within a reasonable degree of accuracy is an important part of wildland fire management. In this paper we introduce a fuel moisture index that provides a simple and intuitive method for assessing fuel moisture content. The method can be quickly and easily applied in a field setting to provide a dimensionless measure of fuel moisture content. We compare the index with predictions from several models for fuel moisture content and conclude that it provides an equivalent measure of fuel moisture content for a number of fuel types. We go on to briefly discuss how the index could be used to construct a simple and intuitive fire danger index.     

A simple index for assessing fire danger rating

Fire danger rating systems are used to assess the potential for bushfire occurrence, fire spread and difficulty of fire suppression. Typically, fire danger rating systems combine meteorological information with estimates of the moisture content of the fuel to produce a fire danger index. Fire danger indices are used to declare fire bans and to schedule prescribed burns, among other applications. In this paper a simple fire danger index F that is intuitive and easy to calculate is introduced and compared to a number of fire danger indices pertaining to different fuel types that are used in an operational setting in Australia and the United States. The comparisons suggest that F provides a plausible measure of fire danger rating and that it may be a useful pedagogical tool in the context of fire danger and fire weather.     

新能源分比例渗透下基于博弈的多主体效益综合评估方法

“双碳”目标下新能源大规模发展,新能源的发展给各能源主体带来了影响,如何量化评估新能源渗透给能源主体带来的影响成为研究重点。首先,基于改进的K-means算法构建基于典型场景集的新能源出力模型;然后,从源-网-荷-储出发,构建火力发电商、电网、用户、储能运营商的决策优化模型;其次,构建考虑新能源渗透的多能源主体效益评估模型;最后,进行算例分析,算例结果验证了模型的有效性。     

The purchaser-provider split in NHS care in the United Kingdom and the role of the community dental service in planning

The former purchaser-provider split underwent an important change during the last years in UK. Especially since the new government came into office in 1997 the approach to equity and equality in dental health care has been characterised by two decisions. Firstly, the level of commissioning services was shifted from the centre to so-called natural communities of about 100,000 people. Secondly, the groups responsible for planning and providing care are constituted from local medical practitioners, community nurses and social services representatives, in line with the Regional Health Authority and the national framework "Our Healthier Nation". The new community dental service is expected to be in a better position to improve the situation in areas of social exclusion.     

HLA-DRB1 genes and disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis. The MIRA Trial Group. Minocycline in Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of alleles encoding the "shared"/"rheumatoid" epitope on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease severity in patients who participated in the minocycline in RA (MIRA) trial. METHODS: Of 205 patients with a week-48 visit, blood was available for typing of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 in 174 (85%) and successfully completed in 169 (82%). Baseline erosions were used to assess disease severity and new erosions at the last visit served as a proxy for progression. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no association between the presence of erosive disease or rheumatoid factor status and the dose of rheumatoid epitope (homozygous, heterozygous, none) or the specific alleles identified. At the final visit, a gradient was observed for the 3 allelic subgroups (and their gene doses) in the occurrence of new erosions among the Caucasian placebo-treated, but not the minocycline-treated, patients. A treatment group/HLA-DR4 epitope interaction was demonstrated in multivariate analyses. Approximately two-thirds of African-American patients did not have the rheumatoid epitope. CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1 oligotyping may be useful in predicting the progression of disease in some Caucasian patients. Our study corroborates the infrequency of the epitope among African-American patients with RA.     

Community resources for clients with mobility problems

Clients are leaving the hospital "quicker and sicker," and they frequently have acute care needs that must be met by resources outside the hospital setting. Community resources are diverse, vary widely from place to place, and have no central administration. Thus, using them can be challenging for both the nurse, client, and family. Reimbursement mechanisms underlie a person's ability to use resources and receive health care. By presenting two actual case scenarios where clients have mobility problems commonly seen by orthopaedic nurses, the authors discuss the community resources available, avenues of access to them, and their reimbursement mechanisms.