Characteristics of High Voltage Vortex-Stabilized Arc Heaters

Phenomena occurring in a particular vortex-stabilized geometry are discussed. In arc heaters of this type, voltage increases linearly with flow and with size. The level of performance for various sizes is both predictable and fairly constant. Smoke techniques have elucidated re-entrant flow patterns associated with the vortex flow, and windows permit studying the effect of an auxiliary magnetic field on arc rotation. Measurements of effluent fluctuations are reported.     

Unwearables

Form should follow function but often technical aspects of function dictate form. Form fitting and shape hugging are concepts we associate with a comfy jumper or a well cut suit or dress not with hard wearable technology. How many of the objects we buy are going to transition from worn to unworn? It is not until we have to wear something or are subjected to technology for medical reasons that we realise how uncomfortable some of it is. This paper addresses the issues of form and function in relation to the growing world of unwearables.     

Efficacy and tolerability of oral ondansetron versus prochlorperazine in the prevention of emesis associated with cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy and maintenance of health-related quality of life

This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of oral ondansetron (8 mg twice daily [BID] for up to 3 days) with those of phenothiazine prochlorperazine (10 mg BID for up to 3 days) in 133 cancer patients receiving cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. In addition, the study evaluated the impact of these treatments on patients' health-related quality of life, measured with both the Functional Living Index--Cancer and the Functional Living Index--Emesis questionnaires. The first dose of study drug was administered 30 minutes before initiation of chemotherapy. Patients received a rescue antiemetic at their request or if the investigator deemed it necessary. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of patients with no emetic episodes over the 3-day study period: 60% in the ondansetron group compared with 21% in the prochlorperazine group. Twenty-five percent of ondansetron-treated patients compared with 68% of prochlorperazine-treated patients experienced three or more emetic episodes, rescue medication use, or withdrawal from the study due to adverse events or lack of efficacy of the study drug. Among patients with at least one emetic episode, the mean time to emesis was significantly longer (13 hours and 37 minutes) in the ondansetron group compared with the prochlorperazine group (9 hours and 30 minutes). Nausea and appetite scores did not differ significantly between groups. The score on the vomiting subscale of the Functional Living Index--Emesis was significantly more favorable in the ondansetron group compared with the prochlorperazine group, indicating better maintenance of health-related quality of life in ondansetron-treated patients. Both treatments were well tolerated. The most common potentially drug-related adverse event was headache, which occurred in significantly more (16%) ondansetron-treated patients compared with prochlorperazine-treated patients (3%). The results of this study demonstrate that oral ondansetron 8 mg BID for up to 3 days is more effective than prochlorperazine 10 mg BID for up to 3 days in the prevention of emesis associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.     

新型电源管理子系统设计方法缩短产品上市时间

开发周期 当今的技术革新周期要求差不多每18个月就推出新的系统架构,例如新的PDA或笔记本电脑平台.这种状况符合摩尔(Moore)定律,即给定尺寸裸片上的晶体管数目将每18个月翻一倍(随着时间过去,这个数字的实际增长稍稍减慢,目前基本上是近两年翻一倍).本文将着重讨论开发新型电源管理子系统的半导体器件,例如CPU的电压调节模块(VRM)或蜂巢电话/PDA的电源管理子系统时所面对的挑战.本文所讨论的理念也适用于平台BOM(材料清单)中的其它元件.     

Development of feeding practices during the first 5 years of life

OBJECTIVE: To understand the transition from breast-and bottle-feeding to solid-feeding and factors that might affect the duration of breast- and bottle-feeding. DESIGN: Cohort followed up from birth with relatively well-educated, middle-class parents. SETTING: Community sample recruited from 3 suburban newborn nurseries (a teaching hospital, community hospital, and large health maintenance organization). PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety-one healthy full-term infants. MEASURES: Assessment of feeding practices through the ages of complete weaning from breast- and bottle-feeding. RESULTS: More than 90% of participants breast-fed for at least 2 weeks. Infants of older mothers were weaned from the breast later than infants of younger mothers. First-born infants were weaned from the breast earlier than later-born infants. Eighty-four percent of infants bottle-fed at some time during the first year of life. More than 40% of the cohort was still receiving bottles at 24 months of age, 16% at 36 months, and 8% at 48 months. The duration of breast- and bottle-feeding was related to maternal work status; mothers who returned to work during the first 3 months postpartum weaned sooner from the breast and later from the bottle than women who returned to work after 3 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of late bottle-weaning in this well-educated, middle-class cohort was unexpected and was related to the timing of the mother's return to work. The impact of prolonged bottle-feeding on later growth and adiposity deserves further investigation.     

The smoking of psychology.

Studied cigarette smoking and its correlates among 344 academic psychologists. Results show that males were less likely to smoke than unselected US adult males but were similar to most professional comparison groups. Females were more likely to smoke than the men because relatively fewer had stopped. Most smokers reported the expectation of reducing or stopping smoking in the future. Substantial proportions of both sexes who had ever smoked and who had reached middle age had in fact stopped. Among those of advanced academic rank, smokers were significantly higher in book and article authorship. The sex differences are interpreted in terms of sex roles and role stress. The productivity data are interpreted relative to personality differences, work roles, and the arousal effect of nicotine. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing energy- and greenhouse gas-saving behaviors among adolescents: a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial

Individual behavior change can serve as a key strategy for reducing energy use to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve energy security. A theory-based, school-based intervention to promote energy- and GHG-saving behaviors was developed by applying strategies and approaches from prior successful work in health behavior change. The focus was on changing behaviors rather than increasing knowledge, awareness, and attitudes, making extensive use of experimentally validated behavioral theory and principles. The intervention was evaluated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Public high school students (N?=?165) in a required course were randomized by teacher to receive a 5-week, five-lesson behavior change curriculum promoting changes to reduce home electricity-, transportation-, and food-related energy use and GHG emissions or their usual coursework. Students reported their energy- and GHG-saving behaviors at baseline and 6 weeks later (1 week after the completion of the curriculum for the treatment group students). Effects were tested with hierarchical linear models to account for potential clustering within classrooms. Students randomized to receive the curriculum statistically significantly increased their total energy- and GHG-saving behaviors compared to controls [adjusted difference?=?0.43 on a scale from 0 to 6 behavioral categories, 95 % confidence interval (CI)?=?0.07 to 0.80, p?=?0.02; number needed to treat (NNT)?=?4.1]. The largest effects occurred in hang drying clothing (adjusted difference?=?0.098, 95 % CI 0.028 to 0.165, NNT?=?4.1) and shutting off appliances and other energy-using devices when not in use (adjusted difference?=?0.095; 95 % CI 0.055 to 0.135; NNT 3.5). These results indicate that a theory-driven, school-based classroom intervention can increase energy- and GHG-saving behaviors among adolescents.     

Preceramic Polymers as "Reagents" in the Preparation of Ceramics

Pyrolysis of preceramic polymer/metal powder composites resulted in formation of ceramic products containing the metal as well as element present in the polymer. Prepared in this manner were ceramics containing crystalline phases of metal silicides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal borides, and silicon carbide. The polymers used in this investigation included a polysilazane, a polycarbosilane, and decaborane (12)-diamine polymers, and the metals used included aluminum and a number of early transition metals.