Micromechanical model of bovine Haversian bone predicts strain amplification through soft interfaces

Context. Recent observations of brown dwarf spectroscopic variability in the infrared infer the presence of patchy cloud cover. Aims. This paper proposes a mechanism for producing inhomogeneous cloud coverage due to the depletion of cloud particles through the Coulomb explosion of dust in atmospheric plasma regions. Charged dust grains Coulomb-explode when the electrostatic stress of the grain exceeds its mechanical tensile stress, which results in grains below a critical radius a < aCoulcrit being broken up. Methods. This work outlines the criteria required for the Coulomb explosion of dust clouds in substellar atmospheres, the effect on the dust particle size distribution function, and the resulting radiative properties of the atmospheric regions. Results. Our results show that for an atmospheric plasma region with an electron temperature of Te = 10 eV (≈ 105 K), the critical grain radius varies from 10-7 to 10-4 cm, depending on the grains’ tensile strength. Higher critical radii up to 10-3 cm are attainable for higher electron temperatures. We find that the process produces a bimodal particle size distribution composed of stable nanoscale seed particles and dust particles with a ≥ aCoulcrit , with the intervening particle sizes defining a region devoid of dust. As a result, the dust population is depleted, and the clouds become optically thin in the wavelength range 0:1 - 10 μm, with a characteristic peak that shifts to higher wavelengths as more sub-micrometer particles are destroyed. Conclusions. In an atmosphere populated with a distribution of plasma volumes, this will yield regions of contrasting radiative properties, thereby giving a source of inhomogeneous cloud coverage. The results presented here may also be relevant for dust in supernova remnants and protoplanetary disks.PostprintPeer reviewe

Staff perceptions of PRN medication in a residential care setting

Purpose- The aim was to explore the perceptions of staff towards psychotropic Pro Re Nata (PRN) medication in a residential care setting. Design- Three male and seven female participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Findings- Four themes pertaining to PRN medication emerged from the data; behaviour change, calming effect, importance of timing and perceived uniqueness. Research Limitations/Implications- The participant group was not homogenous and findings may have been different in a more qualified cohort. This care setting may not be representative of other environments where PRN medication is administered. The findings do however highlight some of the challenges facing the administration of PRN medication in mental health and care settings. Practical Implications- The awareness of these themes are significant for improving staff knowledge, training practices and policies towards the use and administration of psychotropic PRN medication. Originality: This the first study to engage in a thematic analysis of staff views towards the administration of PRN medication

Improving child protection : a systematic review of training and procedural interventions

Aim: To synthesise published evidence regarding the effectiveness of training and procedural interventions aimed at improving the identification and management of child abuse and neglect by health professionals. Methods: Systematic review for the period 1994 to 2005 of studies that evaluated child protection training and procedural interventions. Main outcome measures were learning achievement, attitudinal change, and clinical behaviour. Results: Seven papers that examined the effectiveness of procedural interventions and 15 papers that evaluated training programmes met the inclusion criteria. Critical appraisal showed that evaluation of interventions was on the whole poor. It was found that certain procedural interventions (such as the use of checklists and structured forms) can result in improved recording of important clinical information and may also alert clinical staff to the possibility of abuse. While a variety of innovative training programmes were identified, there was an absence of rigorous evaluation of their impact. However a small number of onegroup pre- and post-studies suggest improvements in a range of attitudes necessary for successful engagement in the child protection process. Conclusion: Current evidence supports the use of procedural changes that improve the documentation of suspected child maltreatment and that enhance professional awareness. The lack of an evidence based approach to the implementation of child protection training may restrict the ability of all health professionals to fulfil their role in the child protection process. Formal evaluation of a variety of models for the delivery of this training is urgently needed with subsequent dissemination of results that highlight those found to be most effective

Applications of control theory

Applications of control theory are considered in the areas of decoupling and wake steering control of submersibles, a method of electrohydraulic conversion with no moving parts, and socio-economic system modelling

La mémorisation de l'orthographe d'un mot lu en fonction du traitement visuel pendant la lecture

National audiencePour aller plus loin que l'idée communément admise selon laquelle l'enfant mémorise l'orthographe des mots qu'il lit, la présente étude manipule les conditions de prise d'information visuelle pendant la lecture de pseudo-mots orthographiquement complexes, chez des enfants de CE2. La situation d'auto-apprentissage de l'orthographe par la lecture incluait une condition dans laquelle toutes les lettres du pseudo-mot étaient simultanément visibles et une autre dans laquelle elles ne l'étaient pas. Dans toutes les conditions, les enfants lisaient correctement les pseudo-mots présentés par une procédure analytique. Leur mémorisation de l'orthographe de ces pseudo-mots était ensuite testée. Les résultats suggèrent que le fait de voir simultanément toute les lettres d'un mot favorise la mémorisation de son orthographe. Ces résultats s'accordent avec l'hypothèse issue du modèle connexionniste de lecture de mots de Ans, Carbonnel et Valdois (1998) selon laquelle la mémorisation de la forme orthographique d'un mot entier dans le lexique orthographique nécessite un traitement simultané de l'ensemble des lettres du mot

Investigating the effectiveness of theory-based interventions for improving treatment adherence of patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review of Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials

Introduction: Theory can enhance the effectiveness of interventions designed to change health-related behaviours, however, there is a significant lack of such interventions to improve treatment adherence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. This systematic review aims at examining the effectiveness of theory-based interventions on improving adherence of T2DM patients, also examining their methodological quality. Methods: An electronic search was conducted, including only Randomised Controlled Trials published in English and Greek from 2004 to 2016. Databases searched included PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Oxford Journals and PsychInfo. The review protocol was designed and performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results: The review included reports of 11 interventions, using the Health Belief Model (n = 3), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) (n = 2), Theory of Planned Behaviour (n = 2), Transtheoretical Model (n = 2), Information-Motivation-Behavioural skills model (n = 1) and Motivational Interviewing (n = 1). Nine interventions improved adherence of T2DM patients; the mean quality of the studies was 6.6, out of 10. Discussion and Conclusion: Most theory-based interventions were effective in improving adherence of T2DM patients, especially SCT, which successfully improved all three aspects of treatment (i.e., medication taking, diet and physical exercise). Self-efficacy is included in most of the theories and was the most effective element, especially when combined with goal setting practices, another common, effective element across interventions. However, the wide heterogeneity in the methodology of the studies impeded comparison and synthesis of findings. Common limitations were the use of self-reports, short follow-up periods and insufficient information on how theoretical constructs were used to design the intervention

Diplopia, Convergent Strabismus, and Eye Abduction Palsy in a 12-Year-Old Boy with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is defined by clinical criteria of increased intracranial pressure, elevated intracranial pressure with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition, and exclusion of other causes such tumors, vascular abnormalities, or infections. The association of PTC with levothyroxine (LT4) has been reported. A 12-year-old boy has been followed up for autoimmune thyroiditis under LT4. Family history was irrelevant for endocrine or autoimmune diseases. A TSH level of 4.43 μUI/mL (0.39-3.10) motivated a LT4 adjustment from 75 to 88 μg/day. Five weeks later, he developed horizontal diplopia, convergent strabismus with left eye abduction palsy, and papilledema. Laboratorial evaluation revealed elevated free thyroxine level (1.05 ng/dL [0.65-1.01]) and low TSH, without other alterations. Lumbar puncture was performed and CSF opening pressure was 24 cm H2O with normal composition. Blood and CSF cultures were sterile. Brain MRI was normal. LT4 was temporarily discontinued and progressive improvement was observed, with a normal fundoscopy at day 10 and reversion of diplopia one month later. LT4 was restarted at lower dose and gradually titrated. The boy is currently asymptomatic. This case discloses the potential role of LT4 in inducing PTC. Despite its rarity and unclear association, PTC must be seen as a potential complication of LT4, after excluding all other intracranial hypertension causes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio