The European Union funded NEOShield project: A global approach to near-Earth object impact threat mitigation

Although discussions are underway within the Action Team 14 of the United Nations COPUOS, there is currently no concerted international plan addressing the impact threat from near-Earth objects (NEOs) and how to organize, prepare and implement mitigation measures. We report on a new international project to address impact hazard mitigation issues, being the subject of a proposal submitted to the European Commission in response to the 2011 FP7 Call "Prevention of impacts from near-Earth objects on our planet". Our consortium consists of 13 research institutes, universities, and industrial partners from 6 countries and includes leading US and Russian space organizations. The primary aim of the project, NEOShield, is to investigate in detail the three most promising mitigation techniques: the kinetic impactor, blast deflection,and the gravity tractor, and devise feasible demonstration missions. Furthermore, we will investigate options for an international strategy for implementation when an actual impact threat arises. The NEOShield project was formally accepted by the European Commission on 17 November 2011 and funded with a total of 5.8 million Euros for a period of 3.5 years. The kick-off meeting took place at the DLR Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, in January 2012. In this paper we present a brief overview of the planned scope of the project.

Weathering tests of photocatalytic facade paints containing ZnO and TiO2.

The photocatalytic properties of self-cleaning acrylic paint containing TiO2 and ZnO were studied using Acid Orange 7 as a model compound. Paints were exposed to simulated weathering tests in a QUV panel. The initial photoactivity of the unweathered paints with ZnO was significantly higher. In the case of paints containing P25 the photocatalytic activity increases with weathering time, due to increasing destruction of the polymer resin and consequent exposure of the photocatalyst pigment to the Acid Orange 7 test solution. In contrast, in the case of paints containing ZnO, a decrease in photocatalytic activity is observed after weathering, due to the loss and/or photocorrosion of ZnO particles during the weathering process.

From engagement to outcomes: measuring the impact of researcher training using the rugby team impact framework

This study addresses our approach to the difficult task of measuring the impact of an eLearning service, the Graduate Virtual Research Environment (GVRE), provided to doctoral students at a UK University since October 2009. The GVRE provides research students with access to a training needs analysis tool which is linked to a repository of video learning resources created by academics and experienced research students. This paper explores the use of the Rugby Team Impact Framework as a guide to measuring impact and our use of a number of techniques to gather evidence about the changes resulting from use of the GVRE. The framework gives four levels of evidence, starting with simple measures of provision, through attendance, interest and to outcomes. As with other research, we found the former easy to assess but the outcomes harder to define. We conclude with a critical evaluation of our research process and outcomes.

Avaliação do comportamento de uma ponte metálica centenária sujeita à ação de tráfego ferroviário ligeiro

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo principal a análise numérica do comportamento dinâmico de uma ponte ferroviária, sob ação de tráfego ligeiro ferroviário. Neste contexto são apresentados alguns fundamentos teóricos a ter em conta nestes domínios, visando uma melhor compreensão dos fenómenos existentes no comportamento dinâmico de pontes ferroviárias quando sujeitas ao tráfego. O caso de estudo teve como foco a ponte Luiz I, uma ponte metálica situada sobre o rio Douro, que liga as cidades do Porto e Vila Nova de Gaia, sob ação de tráfego ligeiro ferroviário no seu tabuleiro superior para a condição anterior aos trabalhos de reabilitação e reforço realizados entre 2004 e 2005. Para o efeito foi desenvolvido um modelo numérico de elementos finitos da ponte realizado com recurso ao programa ANSYS, assim como um modelo numérico do veículo do Metro de Lisboa. Com base nestes modelos foram obtidos os parâmetros modais, nomeadamente as frequências naturais e os modos de vibração de toda a estrutura e do veículo. O estudo do comportamento dinâmico da ponte foi realizado por intermédio de uma metodologia de cargas móveis e de interação veículo-estrutura, através da ferramenta computacional Train-Bridge Interaction (TBI). As análises dinâmicas foram efetuadas para a passagem dos veículos de passageiros das redes de Metros do Porto e Lisboa. Nestas análises é estudada a resposta da estrutura em função da variabilidade ao nível da secção transversal, dependência do tramo, influência do veículo, da sua velocidade de circulação e impacto das frequências de vibração estimadas pelo modelo numérico.

Critical evaluation of outcome scales to assess outcome after lateral ankle ligament repair

Introduction: Several scores are commonly used to evaluate patients' postoperative satisfaction after lateral ankle ligament repair, including: AOFAS, FAAM, CAIT and CAIS. Comparing published studies in the literature is difficult, as the same patient can have markedly different results depending on which scoring system is used. The current study aims to address this gap in the literature by developing a system to compare these tests, to allow better analysis and comparison of published studies. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 47 patients following lateral ankle ligament repair using a modified Broström-Gould technique. All patients were operated between 2005 and 2010 by a single surgeon and followed the same post operative rehabilitation protocol. Six patients were excluded from the study because of concomitant surgery. Patients were assessed by an independent observer. We used the Pearson correlation coefficient to analyse the concordance of the scores, as well as scatter plots to assess the linear relationship between them. Results: A linear distribution between the scores was found when the results were analysed using scatter plots. We were thus able to use the Pearson correlation coefficient to evaluate the relationship between each of the different postoperative scores. The correlation was found to be above 0.5 in all cases except for the comparison between the CAIT and the FAAM for the activities of daily living (0.39). We were, therefore, able to compare the results obtained and assess the relative concordance of the scoring systems. The results showed that the more specific the scale is, the worst the score is and inversely. So the CAIT and the CAIS appeared to be more severe than the AOFAS and the FAAM measuring the activities of daily living. The sports subscale of the FAAM demonstrated intermediate results. Conclusion: This study outlines a system to compare different postoperative scores commonly used to evaluate outcome after ankle stabilization surgery. The impact of this study is that it makes comparison of published studies easier, even though they use a variety of different clinical scores, thus facilitating better outcome analysis of operative techniques.

An exploration of the impact of a mandatory quality assurance program on the staff nurse's commitment to professional development /

This study explored experiences in relation to the impact of the College of Nurses of Ontario's (CNO's) mandatory Quality Assurance (QA) program on registered nurses (RNs) working in a clinical setting of an acute care hospital. A qualitative descriptive research design was used and data collection was done in 2 stages. First, a survey with open-ended questions was given to 45 nurses. Second, 8 respondents from the survey were interviewed using a semistructured format. Data were obtained from 2 groups-diploma-prepared and post diploma-prepared RNs. Findings demonstrated that the CNO's QA program had varying influences on the RNs' learning paths, and these differences appeared to be related to the educational background of the individual. The diploma-prepared nurses reported that their commitment to professional development was influenced by their level of internal motivation, the pressures associated with time, and the need for a strong external motivator, namely the obligation of management to conduct formal performance appraisals. They further reported that the QA program played a part in positively altering their commitment to continuing education. The post-diploma baccalaureate nurses reported that the QA program played a positive role in influencing their ongoing learning, along with their level of internal motivation, the work and health care environment, and the element of professionalism. Several implications for nursing practice, theory, and fiirther research also became evident.

Providing Genetic Testing Through the Private Sector: A View From Canada

Genetic testing technologies are rapidly moving from the research laboratory to the market place. Very little scholarship considers the implications of private genetic testing for a public health care system such as Canada’s. It is critical to consider how and if these tests should be marketed to, and purchased by, the public. It is also imperative to evaluate the extent to which genetic tests are or should be included in Canada’s public health care system, and the impact of allowing a two-tiered system for genetic testing. A series of threshold tests are presented as ways of clarifying whether a genetic test is morally appropriate, effective and safe, efficient and appropriate for public funding and whether private purchase poses special problems and requires further regulation. These thresholds also identify the research questions around which professional, public and policy debate must be sustained: What is a morally acceptable goal for genetic services? What are the appropriate benefits? What are the risks? When is it acceptable that services are not funded under health care? And how can the harms of private access be managed?

Probiotics: their potential to impact human health

Probiotics—live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host—have been studied for both human and animal applications, and worldwide research on this topic has accelerated in recent years. This paper reviews the literature on probiotics, describes how probiotics work in human ecosystems, and outlines the impact of probiotics on human health and disease. The paper also addresses safety issues of probiotic use, suggests future developments in the field of probiotics, and provides research and policy recommendations. Product considerations and potential future developments regarding probiotics also are discussed. The authors conclude that controlled human studies have revealed a diverse range of health benefits from consumption of probiotics, due largely to their impact on immune function or on microbes colonizing the body. Additional, well-designed and properly controlled human and mechanistic studies with probiotics will advance the essential understanding of active principles, mechanisms of action, and degree of effects that can be realized by specific consumer groups. Recommendations include establishment of a standard of identity for the term “probiotic,” adoption of third-party verification of label claims, use of probiotics selectively in clinical conditions, and use of science-based assessment of the benefits and risks of genetically engineered probiotic microbes.

Evaluation and management of the impact of land use change on the nitrogen and phosphorus load delivered to surface waters: the export coefficient modelling approach

A manageable, relatively inexpensive model was constructed to predict the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from a complex catchment to its drainage system. The model used an export coefficient approach, calculating the total nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (P) load delivered annually to a water body as the sum of the individual loads exported from each nutrient source in its catchment. The export coefficient modelling approach permits scaling up from plot-scale experiments to the catchment scale, allowing application of findings from field experimental studies at a suitable scale for catchment management. The catchment of the River Windrush, a tributary of the River Thames, UK, was selected as the initial study site. The Windrush model predicted nitrogen and phosphorus loading within 2% of observed total nitrogen load and 0.5% of observed total phosphorus load in 1989. The export coefficient modelling approach was then validated by application in a second research basin, the catchment of Slapton Ley, south Devon, which has markedly different catchment hydrology and land use. The Slapton model was calibrated within 2% of observed total nitrogen load and 2.5% of observed total phosphorus load in 1986. Both models proved sensitive to the impact of temporal changes in land use and management on water quality in both catchments, and were therefore used to evaluate the potential impact of proposed pollution control strategies on the nutrient loading delivered to the River Windrush and Slapton Ley

Magnetic resonance imaging of a randomized controlled trial investigating predictors of recovery following psychological treatment in adolescents with moderate to severe unipolar depression: study protocol for Magnetic Resonance - Improving Mood with Psychoanalytic and Cognitive Therapies (MR-IMPACT)

Background Major depressive disorders (MDD) are a debilitating and pervasive group of mental illnesses afflicting many millions of people resulting in the loss of 110 million working days and more than 2,500 suicides per annum. Adolescent MDD patients attending NHS clinics show high rates of recurrence into adult life. A meta-analysis of recent research shows that psychological treatments are not as efficacious as previously thought. Modest treatment outcomes of approximately 65% of cases responding suggest that aetiological and clinical heterogeneity may hamper the better use of existing therapies and discovery of more effective treatments. Information with respect to optimal treatment choice for individuals is lacking, with no validated biomarkers to aid therapeutic decision-making. Methods/Design Magnetic resonance-Improving Mood with Psychoanalytic and Cognitive Therapies, the MR-IMPACT study, plans to identify brain regions implicated in the pathophysiology of depressions and examine whether there are specific behavioural or neural markers predicting remission and/or subsequent relapse in a subsample of depressed adolescents recruited to the IMPACT randomised controlled trial (Registration # ISRCTN83033550). Discussion MR-IMPACT is an investigative biomarker component of the IMPACT pragmatic effectiveness trial. The aim of this investigation is to identify neural markers and regional indicators of the pathophysiology of and treatment response for MDD in adolescents. We anticipate that these data may enable more targeted treatment delivery by identifying those patients who may be optimal candidates for therapeutic response.

A pilot study investigating the effects of a single dose of a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink on memory in 8-10 year old children

Recent evidence from animal and adult human subjects has demonstrated potential benefits to cognition from flavonoid supplementation. This study aimed to investigate whether these cognitive benefits extended to a sample of school-aged children. Using a cross-over design, with a wash out of at least seven days between drinks, fourteen 8-10 year old children consumed either a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink or matched vehicle. Two hours after consumption, subjects completed a battery of five cognitive tests comprising the Go-NoGo, Stroop, Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Task, Object Location Task, and a Visual N-back. In comparison to vehicle, the blueberry drink produced significant improvements in the delayed recall of a previously learned list of words, showing for the first time a cognitive benefit for acute flavonoid intervention in children. However, performance on a measure of proactive interference indicated that the blueberry intervention led to a greater negative impact of previously memorised words on the encoding of a set of new words. There was no benefit of our blueberry intervention for measures of attention, response inhibition or visuo-spatial memory. While findings are mixed, the improvements in delayed recall found in this pilot study suggest that, following acute flavonoid-rich blueberry interventions, school aged children encode memory items more effectively.

O impacto da utilização da estrutura de listagem em BDR na precificação dos ativos após o evento Agrenco : uma análise em série temporal com quebra estrutural

Este trabalho tem por objetivo verificar o impacto que más práticas na gestão da Agrenco, empresa listada na bolsa de valores brasileira sob a forma de BDRs (Brazilian Depositary Receipts), trouxe para a precificação dos demais ativos listados sob a mesma estrutura. Estudos anteriores, como os de Saudagaran (1988) e Pagano (2001), focaram em temas referentes aos motivos que influenciaram as companhias a listarem suas ações em diferentes bolsas. Entender as conseqüências do evento Agrenco é importante para todos os participantes do mercado financeiro. O estudo contemplou uma amostra das principais empresas listadas sobre a forma de BDRs desde a data de seus IPOs até 26/08/2008. Primeiramente efetuou-se uma análise do comportamento gráfico dos preços dos ativos das BDRs listadas. Posteriormente elaborou-se três regressões múltiplas utilizando-se um modelo de série temporal (modelo AR – auto-regressivo), com análise de quebra estrutural e uso de variável Dummy. A primeira regressão relaciona a variável Agrenco com índices de BDRs constituídos especificamente para este estudo, a segunda inclui uma variável Dummy de intercepto e a terceira combina a variável Dummy de intercepto com uma variável Dummy de inclinação. As regressões têm o objetivo de se averiguar se o evento da Agrenco afetou sistematicamente os preços das ações listadas sob a mesma forma. A maior contribuição do estudo foi verificar que a má prática de gestão na Agrenco, listada sob a forma de BDR, contaminou o retorno de outras empresas que se utilizaram do mesmo veículo como fonte de captação de recursos. Os resultados apontaram, pela análise gráfica, que não houve um descolamento da valorização da maior parte das ações uma semana depois do anúncio dos problemas financeiros da Agrenco em relação a carteira téorica de mercado (IBOVESPA). Entretanto, os resultados dos testes econométricos apontaram que houve impacto do evento Agrenco sobre os retornos das ações listadas sob a forma de BDR.

Surgical risk tests related to cardiopulmonary postoperative complications: comparison between upper abdominal and thoracic surgery

PURPOSE: To investigate if tests used in the preoperative period of upper abdominal or thoracic surgeries are able to differentiate the patients that presented cardiopulmonary postoperative complications. METHODS: Seventy eight patients, 30 submitted to upper abdominal surgery and 48 to thoracic surgery were evaluated. Spirometry, respirometry, manovacuometry, six-minute walk test and stair-climbing test were performed. Complications from immediate postoperative to discharge from hospital were registered. RESULTS: The postoperative complications rate was 17% in upper abdominal surgery and 10% in thoracic surgery. In the univariate regression, the only variable that kept the correlation with postoperative complications in the upper abdominal surgery was maximal expiratory pressure. In thoracic surgery, the maximal voluntary ventilation, six-minute walk test and time in stair-climbing test presented correlation with postoperative complications. After multiple regression only stair-climbing test continued as an important risk predictor in thoracic surgery. CONCLUSION: The respiratory pressure could differentiate patients with complications in upper abdominal surgery, whereas in thoracic surgery, only spirometric values and exercise tests could differentiate them.

Effect of thermocycling on the flexural and impact strength of urethane-based and high-impact denture base resins

Objective: Mechanical properties of the acrylic resins used for denture fabrication may be influenced by water and temperature. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the flexural and impact strength of a high-impact (Lucitone 199) and a urethane-based denture material (Eclipse).Materials and methods: Flexural strength (64 x 10 x 3.3 mm) and impact strength (60 x 6 x 4 mm) specimens were made following the manufacturers' instructions and assigned to two groups (n = 10): control (C) - not thermocycled - and T - thermocycled (5000 cycles between 5 and 55 degrees C). Specimens were submitted to three-point bending and Charpy impact tests.Results: Flexural strength (MPa) and impact strength (kJ/m(2)) data were analysed with two-way ANOVA (p = 0.05). The flexural strength of material Eclipse (C, 136.5; T, 130.7) was significantly higher than that of resin Lucitone 550 (C, 99.4; T, 90.1). Material Eclipse exhibited significantly higher impact strength (C, 6.9; T, 5.3) than the resin Lucitone 550 (C, 3.5; T, 3.0). For both materials, a significant decrease in flexural and impact strengths was observed when the specimens were thermocycled.Conclusion: Flexural and impact strengths were higher for Eclipse than for Lucitone 550, in both groups. Thermocycling decreased the flexural and impact strengths of Eclipse and Lucitone 550.

Age-related differences in postural control: effects of the complexity of visual manipulation and sensorimotor contribution to postural performance

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)