The use of CFD coupled with physical testing to develop a new range of vortex flow controls with attributes approaching the ideal flow control device

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Vortex flow controls (VFC) are devices which are well suited for use in drainage systems, as they exhibit non-constant, non-linear discharge coefficients that can be tailored to approach that of a constant flow-rate device. Also, they have no mechanical components or power requirements and have a reduced risk of blockage compared with traditional flow controls. However, due to their complex bi-stable discharge behaviour and the influences of turbulence, the design and scaling of these devices, is not a trivial process. In this paper a VFC design methodology is presented that enables the VFC geometry to be determined and optimized to approach the ideal hydraulic behaviour, for a given discharge limit. This is achieved through the calibration of simplified, axi-symmetric vortex solutions of the Navier-Stokes relationships, by means of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis and experimental hydraulic assessment. © 2011 ASCE

Novel use of the Nintendo Wii board as a measure of reaction time: a study of reproducibility in older and younger adults

BACKGROUND: Reaction time (RT) has been associated with falls in older adults, but is not routinely tested in clinical practice. A simple, portable, inexpensive and reliable method for measuring RT is desirable for clinical settings. We therefore developed a custom software, which utilizes the portable and low-cost standard Nintendo Wii board (NWB) to record RT. The aims in the study were to (1) explore if the test could differentiate old and young adults, and (2) to study learning effects between test-sessions, and (3) to examine reproducibility. METHODS: A young (n = 25, age 20–35 years, mean BMI of 22.6) and an old (n = 25, age ≥65 years, mean BMI of 26.3) study-population were enrolled in this within- and between-day reproducibility study. A standard NWB was used along with the custom software to obtain RT from participants in milliseconds. A mixed effect model was initially used to explore systematic differences associated with age, and test-session. Reproducibility was then expressed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Coefficient of Variance (CV), and Typical Error (TE). RESULTS: The RT tests was able to differentiate the old group from the young group in both the upper extremity test (p < 0.001; −170.7 ms (95%CI −209.4;-132.0)) and the lower extremity test (p < 0.001; −224.3 ms (95%CI −274.6;-173.9)). Moreover, the mixed effect model showed no significant learning effect between sessions with exception of the lower extremity test between session one and three for the young group (−35,5 ms; 4.6 %; p = 0.02). A good within- and between-day reproducibility (ICC: 0.76-0.87; CV: 8.5-12.9; TE: 45.7-95.1 ms) was achieved for both the upper and lower extremity test with the fastest of three trials in both groups. CONCLUSION: A low-cost and portable reaction test utilizing a standard Nintendo wii board showed good reproducibility, no or little systematic learning effects across test-sessions, and could differentiate between young and older adults in both upper and lower extremity tests

Quality of Life for Patients with Dementia: A Systematic Review

There is an increase in the amount of people becoming diagnosed with dementia. With that increase, a concern has been created in regards to maintaining a person’s quality of life and intervention strategies to properly maintain their quality of life. The systematic review was set up using peer-reviewed articles published after 2001. The database SocINDEX was used to conduct the search for articles using the terms; “dementia and intervention strategies,” “dementia and non-pharmacological interventions,” “caregiver support,” “dementia and medications,” and “dementia and behavioral interventions.” Out of these searches, 32 articles satisfied criteria for inclusion and were used in the final systematic review. Four themes emerged from the research synthesis regarding what intervention strategies can improve the quality of life for patients with dementia: 1) Validating the Patient’s Sense of Self; 2) The Relationship between Caregiver and Patient 3) The Impact on Patient’s Daily Routine and 4) Depression and Mental Health. The research suggests the importance of including several factors and perspectives in intervention strategies with dementia patients. Moving forward, more research is required with patients with dementia to better understand the impact of interventions with this population. Exploring potential risks of pharmacological interventions as well as the connection between dementia and mental health are also important areas for further study

Physiological control of growth, reproduction and lactation in deer

The physiological mechanisms controlling the growth, lactation and reproductive cycles of cervids, and the control of allocation of energy to different organs are discussed. The growth cycle may be secondary to an appetite cycle, regulated by changes in the secretion of prolactin, gonadal steroids, and possibly unknown factors. The reproductive cycle is controlled by changes in the release at the hypothalamic hormone GnRH, and by changes in the feedback effect of gonadal steroids. These cycles are probably the result of the timing effects of nutrition and changing photoperiod on an endogenous, circannual rhythm. The effect of photopenod is mediated by the pineal hormone melatonin. The physiological mechanisms controlling the partitioning of substrates between milk production, fetal growth and the tissues of the mother are poorly understood, but may involve changes in the secretion of growth hormone, insulin and triiodothyronine

Quality of Life for Patients with Dementia: A Systematic Review

There is an increase in the amount of people becoming diagnosed with dementia. With that increase, a concern has been created in regards to maintaining a person\u27s quality of life and intervention strategies to properly maintain their quality of life. The systematic review was set up using peer-reviewed articles published after 2001. The database SocINDEX was used to conduct the search for articles using the terms; dementia and intervention strategies, dementia and non-pharmacological interventions, caregiver support, dementia and medications, and dementia and behavioral interventions. Out of these searches, 32 articles satisfied criteria for inclusion and were used in the final systematic review. Four themes emerged from the research synthesis regarding what intervention strategies can improve the quality of life for patients with dementia: 1) Validating the Patient\u27s Sense of Self; 2) The Relationship between Caregiver and Patient 3) The Impact on Patient\u27s Daily Routine and 4) Depression and Mental Health. The research suggests the importance of including several factors and perspectives in intervention strategies with dementia patients. Moving forward, more research is required with patients with dementia to better understand the impact of interventions with this population. Exploring potential risks of pharmacological interventions as well as the connection between dementia and mental health are also important areas for further study

Evaluation of a particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) for the detection of antibodies to pseudorabies virus

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2503689

Effects of nutrition on serum levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)

We have investigated effects of qualitative and quantitative differences in feed on serum concentrations on the thyorid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). We have recorded hormone levels in groups of animals of different sex, age and weight. They were fed either a pelleted reindeer feed (RF 71, 13,7% protein) or lichen (3,4 protein), or a combination of RF 71 and lichen. 1. When going over from restricted to ad lib. feeding with the same kind of feed (RF 71), serum T3 increased, but nok T4. 2. Serum T3 or T4 did nok change when feed was changed from RF 71 to the same amount of dry matter of a combination of RF 71 and lichen. Neither were there any significant differences between a group fed RF 71 and a group fed a combination of RF 71 and lichen. 3. Serum T3 and dry matter intake were well correlated. We conclude that seasonal differences in T4 are partly independent of nutrition, while T3 was heavily influenced by nutrition, specifically the amount of dry matter consumed. Serum T3 can possibly be used to estimate dry matter intake.Ravitsemuksen vaikutus poron (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) seerumin tyroksiini ja trijodityroniinitasoon.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Olemme tutkineet poron ravinnonsaannissa esiintyvien kvalitatiivisten ja kvantitathvisten erojen vaikutusta seerumin kilpirauhashormonien trijodityroniinin (T3) ja tyroksiinin (T4) konsentraatioon. Olemme rekisteroineet hormonipitoisuuksia i&aring;n, sukupuolen ja painon perusteella erilaisissa ryhmiss&aring;. Ruokinnassa on k&aring;ytetty pelletoitua poronrehua (RF 71, 13,7% proteiini ja/tai j&aring;k&aring;l&aring;&aring; (3,4% proteiinia). 1. Siirrytt&aring;ess&aring; rajoitetusta rehunsaannista ad lib. ruokintaan samalla rehulla (RF 71), seerumin T3-taso kohosi, mutta ei T4-taso. 2. Siirrytt&aring;ess&aring; ruokinnassa RF 71-rehun k&aring;ytost&aring; kuiva-ainepitoisuudeltaan vastaavan RF 71-rehun ja j&aring;k&aring;l&aring;-yhdistelm&aring;n k&aring;yttoon ei havaittu merkitsevi&aring; muutoksia T3- tai T4-tasoisaa. Verrattaessa RF 71-rehua k&aring;ytt&aring;nytt&aring; ryhm&aring;&aring; ja toista ryhm&aring;&aring;, jota ruokittiin rehun ha j&aring;k&aring;l&aring;n yhdistelm&aring;ll&aring; ei myosk&aring;&aring;n havaittu merkitsevi&aring; eroja. 3. Nautitun kuiva-ainem&aring;&aring;r&aring;n ja seerumin T3-konsentraation v&aring;lill&aring; vallitsee selv&aring; korrelaatio. Me p&aring;&aring;ttelemme, ett&aring; T4-tason vuodenaikaisvaihtelut ovat osittain riippumattomia ravitsemuksesta, kun taas ravinto selv&aring;sti vaikuttaa T3-tasoon. Seerumin T3-arvoa voidaan ehk&aring; k&aring;ytt&aring;&aring; poron nauttiman kuiva-ainem&aring;&aring;r&aring;n arvioimiseen.Virkninger av ern&aelig;ring p&aring; serumniv&aring;er av thyroxin og triiodothyronin hos rein (Rangifer tarandus tarandus)Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Vi har unders&oslash;kt virkningen av kvalitative og kvantitative forskjeller i n&aelig;ringstilgang p&aring; konsentrasjonene av skjoldbruskkjertelhormonene triiodothyronin (T3) og thyroxin (T4) i serum hos rein. Vi har registrert hormonniv&aring;er hos grupper av dyr med forskjellig alder, kj&oslash;nn og vekt. De har v&aelig;rt foret med et pelletert reinfor (RF 71, 13,7% protein), og/eller lav (3,4% protein). 1. Ved overgang fra begrenset til ad lib. foring med samme for (RF 71) &oslash;kte serum T3, men ikke T4. 2. Ved overgang fra RF 71 til samme t&oslash;rrstoffmengde av en kombinasjon av RF 71 og lav, var det ikke signifikante endringer i T3 eller T4. Det var heller ikke signifikante forskjeller mellom en gruppe som ble foret med RF 71 og &eacute;n som ble foret med RF 71 og lav. 3. Det var en god korrelasjon mellom t&oslash;rrstoffinntak og serumkonsentrasjon av T3. Vi konkluderer med at &aring;rstidsvariasjonene i T4 delvis er uavhengige av ern&aelig;ring, mens T3 er strengt ern&aelig;ringsregulert. Serum T3 kan kanskje brukes til &aring; estimere t&oslash;rrstoffinntak hos rein.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp

IFNAR1-Signalling Obstructs ICOS-mediated Humoral Immunity during Non-lethal Blood-Stage Plasmodium Infection

Funding: This work was funded by a Career Development Fellowship (1028634) and a project grant (GRNT1028641) awarded to AHa by the Australian National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC). IS was supported by The University of Queensland Centennial and IPRS Scholarships. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD