Air data measurement system for space shuttle

It is concluded that air data measurements of angle of attack and sideslip are needed to control the space shuttle vehicles. The basis for this conclusion, along with recommended sensor design and implementation, are described

Justice Sotomayor hits the high court-what about empathy?

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph. The US Supreme Court return to work this week, Justice Sonia Sotomayor begins her first term, and the highly charged debate over empathy is, for the moment, dormant

Nevirapine versus Efavirenz for patients co-infected with HIV and Tuberculosis: A Randomised Non-Inferiority Trial

BACKGROUND: In countries with a high incidence of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection, nevirapine and efavirenz are widely used as antiretroviral therapy but both interact with antituberculosis drugs. We aimed to compare efficacy and safety of a nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (started at full dose) with an efavirenz-based regimen in co-infected patients. METHODS: We did a multicentre, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial at three health centres in Maputo, Mozambique. We enrolled adults (≥18 years) with tuberculosis and previously untreated HIV infection (CD4 cell counts <250 cells per μL) and alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin concentrations of less than five times the upper limit of normal. 4-6 weeks after the start of tuberculosis treatment, we randomly allocated patients (1:1) with central randomisation, block sizes of two to six, and stratified by site and CD4 cell count to nevirapine (200 mg twice daily) or efavirenz (600 mg once daily), plus lamivudine and stavudine. The primary endpoint was virological suppression at 48 weeks (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies per mL) in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug (intention-to-treat population); death and loss to follow-up were recorded as treatment failure. The non-inferiority margin for the difference of efficacy was 10%. We assessed efficacy in intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations and safety in all patients who received study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00495326. FINDINGS: Between October, 2007, and March, 2010, we enrolled 285 patients into each group. 242 (85%) patients in the nevirapine group and 233 (82%) patients in the efavirenz group completed follow-up. In the intention-to-treat population, 184 patients (64·6%, 95% CI 58·7-70·1) allocated nevirapine achieved virological suppression at week 48, as did 199 patients (69·8%, 64·1-75·1) allocated efavirenz (one-sided 95% CI of the difference of efficacy 11·7%). In the per-protocol population, 170 (70·0%, 63·8-75·7) of 243 patients allocated nevirapine achieved virological suppression at week 48, as did 194 (78·9%, 73·2-83·8) of 246 patients allocated efavirenz (one-sided 95% CI 15·4%). The median CD4 cell count at randomisation was 89 cells per μL. 15 patients substituted nevirapine with efavirenz and six patients substituted efavirenz with nevirapine. 20 patients allocated nevirapine (7%) had grade 3-4 increase of alanine aminotransferase compared with 17 patients allocated efavirenz (6%). Three patients had severe rash after receipt of nevirapine (1%) but no patients did after receipt of efavirenz. 18 patients in the nevirapine group died, as did 17 patients in the efavirenz group. INTERPRETATION: Although non-inferiority of the nevirapine-regimen was not shown, nevirapine at full dose could be a safe, acceptable alternative for patients unable to tolerate efavirenz. FUNDING: French Research Agency for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis (ANRS)

Cataclysmic Variables in the First Year of the Zwicky Transient Facility

Using selection criteria based on amplitude, time, and color, we have identified 329 objects as known or candidate cataclysmic variables (CVs) during the first year of testing and operation of the Zwicky Transient Facility. Of these, 90 are previously confirmed CVs, 218 are strong candidates based on the shape and color of their light curves obtained during 3–562 days of observation, and the remaining 21 are possible CVs but with too few data points to be listed as good candidates. Almost half of the strong candidates are within 10 deg of the galactic plane, in contrast to most other large surveys that have avoided crowded fields. The available Gaia parallaxes are consistent with sampling the low mass transfer CVs, as predicted by population models. Our follow-up spectra have confirmed Balmer/helium emission lines in 27 objects, with four showing high-excitation He ii emission, including candidates for an AM CVn, a polar, and an intermediate polar. Our results demonstrate that a complete survey of the Galactic plane is needed to accomplish an accurate determination of the number of CVs existing in the Milky Way

Characteristics of High Reliability TEPC for Long Term Space Missions

The Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counters (TEPC) have become a major part of the dosimetry system used on the International Space Station (ISS). TEPCs provide near real-time measurements of absorbed dose and dose equivalent in different parts of the ISS. The current TEPC model used at ISS uses two spherical tissue equivalent proportional counters with their charge sensitive preamplifiers encased in an aluminum vacuum chambers filled with propane gas at low pressure. Both detectors operate at low pressure that simulates a site size of 2 μm in tissue. This site diameter is used because of extensive experience with similar detectors used in industrial applications for mixed field, neutron and gamma, dosimetry. One concern limiting proposals to use TEPCs for dosimetry on manned missions beyond low earth orbit has been the potential for vacuum leaks which result in gradual degradation of proportional counter performance. The potential for leakage can be eliminated by filling the detector with counter gas at atmospheric pressure. This results in a simulated site size of approximately 68 μm for a 3.8 cm detector or 32 μm for a 1.8 cm detector. Many of the secondary protons produced by neutrons have ranges of as little as 10 μm so TEPCs simulating sites larger than 2 μm may underestimate the dose equivalent in some situations. The ranges of nearly all of the charged particles in space are hundreds of micrometers or more, so dose equivalent can be evaluated using much larger simulated site sizes. Monte Carlo calculations were used to evaluate the behavior of two TEPCs, 3.8 cm and 1.8 cm diameter. The source particles used were proton, helium, and iron ions. Two different simulations were run for each particle; 1000 MeV/n and the Badhwar-O’Neill flux model distribution. The results show that both detectors operating at atmospheric pressure can estimate dose equivalent in space; the results are essentially identical to those produced by a 2 μm site in the space radiation environment

Motor function and behaviour across the ALS-FTD spectrum

BACKGROUND: Behavioural/functional disturbances, characteristic of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are also a feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and patients with combined ALS and FTD (FTD-ALS).  AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the progression of behavioural disturbances in ALS and FTD using the frontotemporal dementia functional rating scale (FTDFRS).  METHODS: Patients with ALS, FTD-ALS, and FTD were recruited from specialist clinics. Baseline assessments included the FTDFRS and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale – revised (ALSFRS-R). Baseline assessments were included, as were longitudinal assessments in a proportion of patients.  RESULTS: In total, 21 ALS, 12 FTD-ALS and 14 behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD) patients were included in the study. Moderate or severe behavioural disturbance was common in ALS patients at baseline (47.6%), although less frequent than in bvFTD patients; FTDALS patients displayed intermediate impairment. The ALSFRS-R showed the opposite pattern and did not correlate with the FTDFRS. During the follow-up period, significant (p<0.05) behaviouraldeterioration was demonstrated in bvFTD and FTD-ALS patients, with a trend for decline in ALS patients (p=0.06).  CONCLUSION: Motor disturbance is the primary marker of disease severity in ALS, but behavioural and functional impairment are common, and may decline independently of motor function. As such, the FTDFRS may provide valuable information in the assessment andmonitoring of ALS

Strategies for Implementing Organizational Change in the Construction Industry

Construction business leaders are concerned with failed change initiatives as they have the potential to affect profitability. Grounded in five-P theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies that some leaders in construction companies use to implement change initiatives successfully. The participants consisted of five business leaders from three construction companies who have successfully implemented change initiatives within their organization. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a collection of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (a) goal setting and planning, (b) effective communication, (c) stakeholder involvement, (d) effective resource and cost management, and (e) willingness to adapt to strengthen organizational culture. A key recommendation is for construction business leaders to encourage open communication that allows all stakeholder involvement. The findings of this study have implications for positive social change that include a potential beneficial effect on individual growth, communities, organizations, and culture. The implementation of successful organizational change initiatives may lead to job creation, increasing incomes, and the potential to stabilize the local economy

Preparing Learners for the Future

Book review of“Teaching in a Globally Connected World: Preparing Learners for the Future.” Edited by Ervin F. Sparapani and Pamela L. Ross McClain. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books, 2016. ISBN: 978-0-7618-6814-