Method for making a material, particularly for emission control catalyst

A method for forming a material comprising a metal oxide supported on a support particle comprising the steps of: (a) providing a precursor mixt. comprising a soln. contg. one or more metal cations and (i) a surfactant; or (ii) a hydrophilic polymer; said precursor mixt. further including support particles; and (b) treating the precursor mixt. from (a) above by heating to remove the surfactant or hydrophilic polymer and form metal oxide having nanosized grains, wherein at least some of the metal oxide formed in step (b) is deposited on or supported by the support particles and the metal oxide has an oxide matrix that includes metal atoms derived solely from sources other than the support particles. The disclosure and examples pertain to emission control catalysts. [on SciFinder(R)]

Cryotherapy for docetaxel-induced hand and nail toxicity: Randomised control trial

Purpose This study investigated the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy, in the form of frozen gel gloves, in relation to docetaxel-induced hand and fingernail toxicities. Patients and methods After piloting with 21 patients, a consecutive series sample of patients (n=53) prescribed docetaxel every three weeks, for a minimum of three cycles, was enrolled in this randomised control trial. Participants acted as their own control, with the frozen gel glove worn on one randomised hand for 15 minutes prior to infusion, for the duration of the infusion, and for 15 minutes of after completion of treatment. Hand and nail toxicities were evaluated by two blinded assessors according to CTCAE.v4 criteria. To assess the potential for cross-infection of multi-use gloves, microbial culture and sensitivity swabs were taken of each glove at every tenth use. Results Of the 53 participants enrolled in the main study, 21 provided evaluable data. There was a 60% withdrawal rate due to patient discomfort with the intervention. The mean incidence and severity of toxicities in all evaluable cycles in control and intervention hands respectively were erythroderma Grade 1 (5%/5%); nail discolouration Grade 1 (81%/67%); nail loss Grade 1 (19%/19%) and nail ridging Grade 1 (57%/57%). No significant differences were determined between hand conditions in terms of time to event, nor in terms of toxicity in gloved and non-gloved hands. Conclusion While cryotherapy in the form of frozen gloves for the cutaneous toxicities associated with docetaxel is safe, its limited efficacy, patient discomfort and some logistical issues preclude its use in our clinical setting.

What roles do team climate, roster control, and work life conflict play in shiftworkers’ fatigue longitudinally?

The study aimed to examine shiftworkers fatigue and the longitudinal relationships that impact on fatigue such as team climate, work life conflict, control of shifts and shift type in shift working nurses. We used a quantitative survey methodology and analysed data with a moderated hierarchical multiple regression. After matching across two time periods 18 months apart, the sample consisted of 166 nurses from one Australian hospital. Of these nurses, 61 worked two rotating day shifts (morning & afternoon/evening) and 105 were rotating shiftworkers who worked three shifts (morning afternoon/evening and nights). The findings suggest that control over shift scheduling can have significant effects on fatigue for both two-shift and three-shift workers. A significant negative relationship between positive team climate and fatigue was moderated by shift type. At both Time 1 and Time 2, work life conflict was the strongest predictor of concurrent fatigue, but over time it was not.

Case-control study on risk factors of esophageal cancer

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of esophageal cancer in the trunk basin of Dawen river , Shandong province. Methods: A case- control study was carried out: 195 living cases of diagnosed esophageal cancer and 195 controls were matched by age and sex and surveyed by a unified inventory. Results: T he following items could rises the risk of esophageal cancer : hard dry diet, smoke homemade cigarettes, alcohol consumption> 500 ml/ day, relatives with tumor in history ( OR = 51850, OR = 161 158, OR = 111 513, OR = 11 827, respectively ) . While drinking tea may have protective effect against esophageal cancer ( OR = 01 311). Conclusion: The high incidence of esophageal cancer in the area is relative not only to the environment and dietary factors, but also to the family history of esophageal cancer.

Quality demand in vaccination and how to improve service quality under Total Quality Control [论全面质量管理模式下预防接种工作的质量要求与改进对策]

Under the concept of Total Quality Control, based on their experience, the authors discussed potential demand for quality of immunization services and possible solutions to these demands. Abstract in Chinese 全面质量管理(total quality control,TQC)是在20世纪60年代由美国人V,Feigonbaum和J.unan先后提出的新的质量管理观念,众所周知的ISO9000族标准即建立在TQC理念下的质量管理标准,该标准已成为当今世界全球一致、最具权威的质量管理和质量保证的国际规则[1-2].21世纪是质量世纪,推行TQC,不断改进产品和服务质量,目前已成为我国各行各业在不断激烈的市场竞争下完善自我、保证生存和发展的重要手段.实施预防接种是预防和控制传染病,保护人群健康的重要措施,预防接种工作中,产品即预防接种服务,需方(顾客)为接受预防接种服务的广大人群,是产品的消费者.随社会的迅速发展,人们对健康需求的不断提高,对预防接种工作也提出了更高的质量要求.本文对TQC模式下顾客对预防接种服务的质量要求进行了综合分析,并对如何改进服务质量进行了初步探讨.

Modelling of ellipsoidal nanowires : control and application

The properties of ellipsoidal nanowires are yet to be examined. They have likely applications in sensing, solar cells, microelectronics and cloaking devices. Little is known of the qualities that ellipse nanowires exhibit as we vary the aspect ratio with different dielectric materials and how varying these attributes affects plasmon coupling and propagation. It is known that the distance a plasmon can travel is further if it is supported by a thicker circular nanowire, while thinner nanowires are expected to be able to increase QD coupling. Ellipsoidal nanowires may be a good compromise due to their ability to have both thin and thick dimensions. Furthermore it has been shown that the plasmon resonances along the main axis of an ellipsoidal particle is governed by the relative aspect ratio of the ellipsoid, which may lead to further control of the plasmon. Research was done by the use of COMSOL Multiphysics by looking at the fundamental plasmon mode supported by an ellipsoidal nanowire and then studying this mode for various geometrical parameters, materials and illumination wavelength. Accordingly it was found that ellipsoidal nanowires exhibit a minimum for the wavenumber and a maximum for the propagation distance at roughly the same dimensions - Highlighting that there is an aspect ratio for which there is poor coupling but low loss. Here we investigate these and related attributes.

Enhancing enterprise social network use : a control theory study

Organizations employ Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs) (e.g., Yammer) expecting better intra-organizational communication, effective knowledge sharing and, in general, greater collaboration. Despite their similarities with Public Social Networks (PSNs) (e.g., Twitter), ESNs are struggling to gain credence with employees. This paper is part of a larger research project that investigates mechanisms to enhance employees’ engagement in the ESNs. Through the lens of Control Theory, this paper reports preliminary findings of a pilot case study aimed to propose formal and informal mechanisms that impact employees’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to encourage their use of ESNs. The study results highlight (i) the need to better understand employees’ extrinsic and intrinsic motivations to use Social Networks, and (ii) that unlike a PSN which acts as a hedonic system, an ESN acts as a utilitarian system, highlighting the importance of supporting intrinsic motivations in its implementation.

Design of physiological control and magnetic levitation systems for a total artificial heart

Total Artificial Hearts are mechanical pumps which can be used to replace the failing natural heart. This novel study developed a means of controlling a new design of pump to reproduce physiological flow bringing closer the realisation of a practical artificial heart. Using a mathematical model of the device, an optimisation algorithm was used to determine the best configuration for the magnetic levitation system of the pump. The prototype device was constructed and tested in a mock circulation loop. A physiological controller was designed to replicate the Frank-Starling like balancing behaviour of the natural heart. The device and controller provided sufficient support for a human patient while also demonstrating good response to various physiological conditions and events. This novel work brings the design of a practical artificial heart closer to realisation.

The RNA world in plants: Post-transcriptional control III

Post-transcriptional control of gene expression has gone from a curiosity involving a few special genes to a highly diverse and widespread set of processes that is truly pervasive in plant gene expression. Thus, Plant Cell readers interested in almost any aspect of plant gene expression in response to any environmental influence, or in development, are advised to read on. In May 2001, what has become the de facto third biennial Symposium on Post-Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Plants was held in Ames, Iowa. The meeting was hosted by the new Plant Sciences Institute of Iowa State University with additional funding from the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1997, the annual University of California-Riverside Plant Physiology Symposium was devoted to this topic. This provided a wake-up call to the plant world, summarized in this journal (Gallie and Bailey-Serres, 1997), that not all gene expression is controlled at the level of transcription. This was expanded upon at a European Molecular Biology Organization Workshop in Leysin, Switzerland, in 1999 (Bailey-Serres et al., 1999). The 3-day meeting in Ames brought together a strong and diverse contingent of plant biologists from four continents. The participants represented an unusually heterogeneous group of disciplines ranging from virology to stress response to computational biology. The research approaches and techniques represented were similarly diverse. Here we discuss a sample of the many fascinating aspects of post-transcriptional control that were presented at this meeting; we apologize to those whose work is not described here.

The use of artificial MicroRNA technology to control gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is an effective trigger of RNA silencing, and several classes of endogenous small RNA (sRNA), processed from dsRNA substrates by DICER-like (DCL) endonucleases, are essential in controlling gene expression. One such sRNA class, the microRNAs (miRNAs) control the expression of closely related genes to regulate all aspects of plant development, including the determination of leaf shape, leaf polarity, flowering time, and floral identity. A single miRNA sRNA silencing signal is processed from a long precursor transcript of nonprotein-coding RNA, termed the primary miRNA (pri-miRNA). A region of the pri-miRNA is partially self-complementary allowing the transcript to fold back onto itself to form a stem-loop structure of imperfectly dsRNA. Artificial miRNA (amiRNA) technology uses endogenous pri-miRNAs, in which the miRNA and miRNA*(passenger strand of the miRNA duplex) sequences have been replaced with corresponding amiRNA/ amiRNA*sequences that direct highly efficient RNA silencing of the targeted gene. Here, we describe the rules for amiRNA design, as well as outline the PCR and bacterial cloning procedures involved in the construction of an amiRNA plant expression vector to control target gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Intensive versus conventional glycaemic control for treating diabetic foot ulcers (Protocol)

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of intensive glycaemic control compared to conventional control on the outcome of foot ulcers in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Robust recognition of human behaviour in challenging environments

Novel techniques have been developed for the automatic recognition of human behaviour in challenging environments using information from visual and infra-red camera feeds. The techniques have been applied to two interesting scenarios: Recognise drivers' speech using lip movements and recognising audience behaviour, while watching a movie, using facial features and body movements. Outcome of the research in these two areas will be useful in the improving the performance of voice recognition in automobiles for voice based control and for obtaining accurate movie interest ratings based on live audience response analysis.

Locally weighted learning model predictive control for nonlinear and time varying dynamics

This paper proposes an online learning control system that uses the strategy of Model Predictive Control (MPC) in a model based locally weighted learning framework. The new approach, named Locally Weighted Learning Model Predictive Control (LWL-MPC), is proposed as a solution to learn to control robotic systems with nonlinear and time varying dynamics. This paper demonstrates the capability of LWL-MPC to perform online learning while controlling the joint trajectories of a low cost, three degree of freedom elastic joint robot. The learning performance is investigated in both an initial learning phase, and when the system dynamics change due to a heavy object added to the tool point. The experiment on the real elastic joint robot is presented and LWL-MPC is shown to successfully learn to control the system with and without the object. The results highlight the capability of the learning control system to accommodate the lack of mechanical consistency and linearity in a low cost robot arm.

Application of cepstrum pre-whitening for the diagnosis of bearing faults under variable speed conditions

Diagnostics of rolling element bearings involves a combination of different techniques of signal enhancing and analysis. The most common procedure presents a first step of order tracking and synchronous averaging, able to remove the undesired components, synchronous with the shaft harmonics, from the signal, and a final step of envelope analysis to obtain the squared envelope spectrum. This indicator has been studied thoroughly, and statistically based criteria have been obtained, in order to identify damaged bearings. The statistical thresholds are valid only if all the deterministic components in the signal have been removed. Unfortunately, in various industrial applications, characterized by heterogeneous vibration sources, the first step of synchronous averaging is not sufficient to eliminate completely the deterministic components and an additional step of pre-whitening is needed before the envelope analysis. Different techniques have been proposed in the past with this aim: The most widely spread are linear prediction filters and spectral kurtosis. Recently, a new technique for pre-whitening has been proposed, based on cepstral analysis: the so-called cepstrum pre-whitening. Owing to its low computational requirements and its simplicity, it seems a good candidate to perform the intermediate pre-whitening step in an automatic damage recognition algorithm. In this paper, the effectiveness of the new technique will be tested on the data measured on a full-scale industrial bearing test-rig, able to reproduce the harsh conditions of operation. A benchmark comparison with the traditional pre-whitening techniques will be made, as a final step for the verification of the potentiality of the cepstrum pre-whitening.