NASA and the challenge of ISDN: The role of satellites in an ISDN world

To understand what role satellites may play in Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), it is necessary to understand the concept of ISDN, including key organizations involved, the current status of key standards recommendations, and domestic and international progress implementation of ISDN. Each of these areas are explained. A summary of the technical performance criteria for ISDN, current standards for satellites in ISDN, key players in the ISDN environment, and what steps can be taken to encourage application of satellites in ISDN are also covered

Knob linkage permits one-hand control of several operations

Electromechanical device with single knob provides one-hand control of numerous electrical or mechanical functions. The principle of this design may have application to remote-control switching devices

A Cost Analysis of Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery Performed Wide Awake versus under Sedation.

BACKGROUND: Hand surgery under local anesthesia only has been used more frequently in recent years. The purpose of this study was to compare perioperative time and cost for carpal tunnel release performed under local anesthesia ( wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet, or WALANT) only to carpal tunnel release performed under intravenous sedation. METHODS: A retrospective comparison of intraoperative (operating room) surgical time and postoperative (postanesthesia care unit) time for consecutive carpal tunnel release procedures performed under both intravenous sedation and wide-awake local anesthesia was undertaken. All operations were performed by the same surgeon using the same mini-open surgical technique. A cost analysis was performed by means of standardized anesthesia billing based on base units, time, and conversion rates. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of total operative time, 28 minutes in the intravenous sedation group versus 26 minutes in the wide-awake local anesthesia group. Postanesthesia care unit times were significantly longer in the intravenous sedation group (84 minutes) compared to the wide-awake local anesthesia group (7 minutes). Depending on conversion rates used, a total of $139 to$432 was saved in each case performed with wide-awake local anesthesia by not using anesthesia services. In addition, a range of $1320 to$1613 was saved for the full episode of care, including anesthesia costs, operating room time, and postanesthesia care unit time for each patient undergoing wide-awake local anesthesia carpal tunnel release. CONCLUSION: Carpal tunnel release surgery performed with the wide-awake local anesthesia technique offers significant reduction in cost for use of anesthesia and postanesthesia care unit resources

Effect of interleukin-6 receptor blockade on surrogates of vascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: MEASURE, a randomised, placebo-controlled study

Objectives The interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) blocker tocilizumab (TCZ) reduces inflammatory disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but elevates lipid concentrations in some patients. We aimed to characterise the impact of IL-6R inhibition on established and novel risk factors in active RA. Methods Randomised, multicentre, two-part, phase III trial (24-week double-blind, 80-week open-label), MEASURE, evaluated lipid and lipoprotein levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle composition, markers of coagulation, thrombosis and vascular function by pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 132 patients with RA who received TCZ or placebo. Results Median total-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels increased in TCZ versus placebo recipients by week 12 (12.6% vs 1.7%, 28.1% vs 2.2%, 10.6% vs −1.9%, respectively; all p&#60;0.01). There were no significant differences in mean small LDL, mean oxidised LDL or total HDL-C concentrations. However, HDL-associated serum amyloid A content decreased in TCZ recipients. TCZ also induced reductions (&#60;30%) in secretory phospholipase A2-IIA, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen and D-dimers and elevation of paraoxonase (all p&#60;0.0001 vs placebo). The ApoB/ApoA1 ratio remained stable over time in both groups. PWV decreases were greater with placebo than TCZ at 12 weeks (adjusted mean difference 0.79 m/s (95% CI 0.22 to 1.35; p=0.0067)). Conclusions These data provide the first detailed evidence for the modulation of lipoprotein particles and other surrogates of vascular risk with IL-6R inhibition. When compared with placebo, TCZ induced elevations in LDL-C but altered HDL particles towards an anti-inflammatory composition and favourably modified most, but not all, measured vascular risk surrogates. The net effect of such changes for cardiovascular risk requires determination.</p

Seeking New Horizons: The Motivation Behind Volunteers Serving Overseas

This study concentrates on the motivation for volunteers to serve overseas. This study was conducted in Carrefour, Haiti, where about thirty college students volunteered for a one-week period. The research project sought to answer three research questions: 1) What drives a volunteer to become involved in a nonprofit? 2) How do volunteers in nonprofit organizations identify themselves? 3) How do volunteers’ perceptions of themselves change over the course of volunteering overseas? The articles reviewed focused on the emotions of the volunteers and how they identify themselves and others that they encounter. The globalization theory and the social-identity theory were utilized during this study. The themes that emerged were nostalgia and communication, both verbal and nonverbal between volunteers’ interactions with one another and with Haitians. These themes helped to understand what motivates a volunteer to serve overseas and what happens during these volunteer experiences to compel the individual to return multiple times. Although the research led to understanding the volunteer’s identity of themselves, the observations and results concluded that it is how the volunteer identifies with other’s that attract the volunteer to return

Integrating Nature and Creativity: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Expressive Arts Therapy in Eco-Retreats

This capstone examines the therapeutic potential of integrating expressive arts therapy and eco-therapy in immersive retreat settings. It highlights how combining creative expression with nature-based practices can holistically address emotional well-being, promote self-discovery, and foster communal support. Drawing on current research and insights from both brief and extended retreats, the study emphasizes the synergistic benefits of practices such as somatic movement, yoga, art-making, journaling, and guided engagement with the natural environment. Qualitative research and observations indicate that participants experience enhanced creativity, emotional release, a deeper connection to nature, and increased mindfulness. These outcomes are linked to trauma-informed approaches and an understanding of the interconnection between human experience and the natural world. By offering a structured framework that weaves together somatic practices and earth-centered rituals, this capstone contributes to the growing field of expressive therapies and presents a model for intensive, short-term experiences that foster resilience, community cohesion, and personal transformation

Impact upon location of basing point decision

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1950The Supreme Court rendered the famous or infamous Cement Decision in June 1948. To many American businessmen it was like the shot heard around the world. Dislocation of industry was one of the mildest results pictured. Time, money and the efforts of many individuals has been spent to inquire into the regional impact on location of the Basing Point Decision. In this thesis I have attempted to examine several regions, namely, New York, New England, Maryland, Cleveland, Chicago, and Pacific Northwest. Feeling that the sum of the whole is equal to its parts, I have attempted to draw conclusions from these rather limited facts. It has been felt that thes give the inquirer a very good sample from which to draw his predictions and conclusions. At all time the following limitations have to be considered: 1. The limitation of time. A problem of this nature needs at least ten years to develop the whole picture. 2. The size of the problem. It is entirely too big to be handled in a master's thesis. The above limitation of time is the only possible excuse, that it can be handled in a master's thesis. 3. The development of the problem has been retarded because of the abnormal market situation with demand being ahead of supply. The basing point system is of course an integral part of this problem. What it is and how it came about is explained in Chapters I and II. What the people who make it their business to delve in the realm of theory think is also and integral part of the question. As usual Hegel's dialectic must enter into any theoretical argument. It perhaps took place a little faster than he anticipated it ever doing so. This is an attempt at the third step. The amazing part of the theory seems to be that the two warring camps are not opposed. Rather they seem to agree in their conclusions. The major point of difference is that one feels that relocation is bad for the country, while the other feels that in the long run it will be good for the country. Those that feel it will be good also feel that centralization will take place and then decentralization, thus creating local monopolies. Those who favor the basing point system feel that these local monopolies will harm and hinder the development of the country in the long run. The results of the survey indicate that the overall picture will not be too bad, because the majority of the industry does not work on the basing point system. Those that do have to move, but it seems that the movement will be toward the market rather than away from it. All feel that if there is compulsory f.o.b. mill pricing that it will help their regions. From the surveys and the chapter on theory we are able to draw definite conclusions. There is a great deal of confusion that is harming the country. It should be cleared up by one of the agencies of the government, that is responsible. The results of this so called movement will hamper the small businessman instead of helping him. Instead of increasing competition it will be apt to lessen it. There will not be a great shift as was freely predicted. There are numerous reasons for this. The abnormal market situation is holding the shift back. The location fo industry has something more back of it then pricing policy. It is also a combination of various factors of cost. The industry will not locate where delivered costs are cheaper, but where the average costs it the lowest. There is apt to be a shift in the way of establishing brach plants, warehouses etc. There will not be the great building boom predicted because of the required shift in pricing policy. Some regions are apt to be hurt, mainly those that are uneconomic locations in the first place

Exploring Middle Childhood Reading Responses to Self-Selected Books: A Look at Evaluative and Emotional Responses, Developmental Stages and Personal Associations

The research for this study centered around three questions: 1. Do children respond emotionally and thoughtfully to the books they read, and are they able to explain these emotional and evaluative responses? 2. Does the book appeal to a child because it reflects the developmental stage of the child? 3. Does the book generate any personal associations for the child? Fifty children from a rural-suburban school district in western New York State took part in this study. The children were members of one fifth-grade and one second-grade literature-based classroom, which represent the beginning and ending ages of the middle childhood stage of development (ages 7 - 11). The students were invited to share with the researcher a self-selected book which they were currently reading or have recently finished reading. This study discovered that 98% of the children interviewed expressed an emotional response to their books which they could explain and all of the children had definitive opinions about their books which they could justify. The research also revealed that the self-selected books chosen reflected at least one characteristic of the child\u27s developmental stage. In addition, this research found that 78% of the children related a personal experience, association, or feeling with the book or characters

Exploring Middle Childhood Reading Responses to Self-Selected Books: A Look at Evaluative and Emotional Responses, Developmental Stages and Personal Associations

The research for this study centered around three questions: 1. Do children respond emotionally and thoughtfully to the books they read, and are they able to explain these emotional and evaluative responses? 2. Does the book appeal to a child because it reflects the developmental stage of the child? 3. Does the book generate any personal associations for the child? Fifty children from a rural-suburban school district in western New York State took part in this study. The children were members of one fifth-grade and one second-grade literature-based classroom, which represent the beginning and ending ages of the middle childhood stage of development (ages 7 - 11). The students were invited to share with the researcher a self-selected book which they were currently reading or have recently finished reading. This study discovered that 98% of the children interviewed expressed an emotional response to their books which they could explain and all of the children had definitive opinions about their books which they could justify. The research also revealed that the self-selected books chosen reflected at least one characteristic of the child's developmental stage. In addition, this research found that 78% of the children related a personal experience, association, or feeling with the book or characters.SUNY BrockportEducation and Human DevelopmentMaster of Science in Education (MSEd)Education and Human Development Master's These