Atrial Septal Defect Treating Cardiovascular Diseases in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Atrial septal defect (ASD) is often referred to as a hole in the heart. This is a congenital defect, meaning it develops before birth.
The atrial septum is a muscular wall inside the heart that separates the heart’s two upper chambers, or atria. An atrial septal defect occurs when a hole forms in this wall, allowing blood to mix between the atria.
With each heartbeat, the right side of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body.
If you were born with an atrial septal defect, oxygen-rich blood from your left atrium can mix with oxygen-poor blood from your right atrium. As a result, some oxygen-rich blood is pumped to your lungs, where it has just been, instead of your body.
Types of Atrial Septal Defects Atrial septal defects can be small, medium or large, and they can occur in the lower, middle or upper parts of the atrial septum.
Holes in the middle part of the septum are the most common type, affecting about 80 percent of those born with this condition. As least half of these defects close as the heart grows during childhood, but this is less likely when the hole is medium or large.
Holes in the lower and upper parts of the atrial septum are very rare. They can cause an abnormal blood return from the lungs or heart valve abnormalities.
Atrial Septal Defect Symptoms Most babies who are born with this condition have no atrial septal defect symptoms, even when the hole is large. And because most holes close as the heart grows or are repaired during childhood, younger people rarely experience complications.
If symptoms of atrial septal defect do occur, a heart murmur is the most common. This is an extra or unusual sound during a heartbeat. Doctors can listen to heart murmurs and tell whether they’re harmless or require treatment.
It’s usually after age 30, when the heart tires from extra blood flowing to the right side of the heart and lungs, that symptoms ofatrial septal defect occur. At this point, symptoms appear as other heart conditions and disorders, including:
A stroke may occur when a blood clot forms in the heart and is pumped out to the body, where it can travel to an artery in the brain and cause a blockage.
Arrhythmia, which occurs when extra blood flowing into the right atrium causes the atrium to stretch and enlarge. Over time, this can lead to irregular heartbeats. Symptoms may include palpitations or a rapid heartbeat.
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when pressure builds up in the lung arteries, making them thick and stiff. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through them when picking up oxygen.
Right heart failure , which occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood to the lungs efficiently, causing fluid to accumulate. Signs of this condition may include swollen ankles or legs. Causes of Atrial Septal Defect Although smoking during pregnancy has been linked to ASD, the cause of atrial septal defect is often unknown. Scientists continue to search for other causes.
Diagnosing and Treating Atrial Septal Defects Because symptoms are seldom obvious, doctors often don’t diagnose atrial septal defects until later in childhood or adulthood. If an ASD is suspected during a physical exam, your doctor is likely to perform additional cardiac tests(link), which may include:
Cardiac catheterization Chest X-ray Electrocardiograph testing Pulse oximetry, which measures the level of oxygen in the blood Ultrasound testing, or echocardiography Treatment varies, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Children and adults who don’t have symptoms don’t need treatment. If treatment is necessary, most ASDs are treated with cardiac catheterization. During this procedure, a device is inserted over the hole, and within months, tissue grows in and over the device. The device remains in permanently. In rare cases, surgery is performed.
A Leader in Treating Congenital Heart Disease Aurora Health Care offers the only specialty center in Wisconsin for treating adult congenital heart disease. Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed with an atrial septal defect or have lived with it for years, you should have your condition monitored and treated by a team that specializes in these conditions.
At the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, we offer you access to some of the most respected experts in the field. A. Jamil Tajik, MD is a world-renown expert in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiovascular conditions. He leads a multidisciplinary team that specializes in adult congenital heart disease.
Aurora doctors are conveniently located throughout eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. Find a doctor or heart specialist near you. To get a second opinion or if you need assistance finding a provider, please call 888-649-6892.


GP Rob says:
Try to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Wear pale-coloured long sleeves and trousers, and socks and shoes at dawn and dusk and when walking in long grass. Use fragrance-free toiletries and don't wear perfume, which can attract mosquitos. It's not known whether chemical repellents, the commonest being DEET, are safe in pregnancy or not, so generally the advice is to avoid using them. If you do use them, use small amounts. A good natural repellent is citronella. Again, its safety in pregnancy isn't known, but most people feel confident about using it. Applying it to your clothes rather than directly on your skin lessens the risk of it being absorbed into the body.


UK growth hits the skids Published: 23 April, 2010
UK: Britain's gross domestic product expanded 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010, the Office for National Statistics said today.
That compares with growth of 0.4% seen in the final three months of 2009, when the UK emerged from its deepest peacetime recession since the 1930s. Economists had been expecting growth of 0.4%.
January's cold weather, which saw heavy snowfall across the country, held back manufacturing and consumer spending, the ONS said. Industrial production grew 0.7%; the services sector, which makes up the largest share of the economy, edged up 0.2% while the construction sector contracted by 0.7%.
Inflation in the UK, as measured by RPI, rose to 4.4%, from February's 3.7% figure.
The rising costs in energy and travel were drivers for this rise in both inflation measures, with RPI inflation also being driven further upwards by a rise in mortgage costs.
UK unemployment is at its highest level in nearly 16 years, with the rate of unemployment in February being 8.0% and rising by 43 000 over the quarter reaching a total of 2.5 million.
Total retail sales volumes for March 2010 were 0.4% higher than the previous month but were 2.2% higher than March 2009 with fuel and household goods' rises driving retail sales growth.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders reported that gross mortgage lending rose 24% in March 2010, compared to the previous month and a 3% rise from the same month one year ago.
Property transactions in March 2009 were 1% lower than the previous month. However, transactions still remain 25% higher than the same month one year earlier.


Question:
I have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. What are the chances that my 15-year-old daughter might develop this as well? No sure signs are noticeable right now, but I want to be prepared if there is a chance. Thank you for your help.
From,
Jennifer
Answer:
Dear Jennifer,
This is an excellent question, and the answer depends on the diagnosis. If you have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder with a genetic foundation, and the diagnosis has been confirmed by blood tests and biopsies of the intestine, there is certainly a risk that your daughter could develop the disease. It is estimated that 1 out of every 133 people in the U.S. is affected with celiac disease. However, this increases to approximately 1 out of 22 in people who have a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, sibling, or child).
As you know, there are also people who are sensitive to gluten but who do not have celiac disease based on intestinal biopsies. Patients who have non-celiac gluten sensitivity experience gastrointestinal symptoms with ingestion of gluten. However, the reason that this occurs is currently unknown.
Unlike in celiac disease, where patients possess susceptibility genes (HLA DQ2 or HLA DQ8), a recent study suggested that patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity are not more likely to possess these genes than people in the general population. Because a genetic basis for non-celiac gluten sensitivity has not been identified, it is unclear whether or not first-degree relatives of patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity are at greater risk of developing the disorder.
Sincerely,
Center for Celiac Disease at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia


Prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a case report Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Pediatrics, University of Ferrara, Italy
Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2010, 36 :27 doi:10.1186/1824-7288-36-27Abstract Two premature twins (33 weeks gestation) were born to a woman who had used paroxetine during pregnancy for an anxiety-depression disorder. They were admitted to the NICU, where they showed prolonged RDS, cardiovascular malformations, and facial dysmorphisms. Soon after birth, they also presented abnormal neurobehavioral and motor signs, which partially disappeared during the following weeks, although alterations of tone persisted even at discharge.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are considered the primary treatments for depression and anxiety in pregnancy. Since intrauterine exposure to these drugs has been associated with poor neonatal adaptation, low birth weight, RDS, neurobehavioural symptoms, and potential teratogenic effects, further studies are needed to assess risks and mechanism of action of SSRIs. Meanwhile, it is advisable to evaluate for each patient the real risk/benefit ratio of continuing or suspending treatment during pregnancy.


Poster Presentations
Session Title: InflammationPresentation Date: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, March 15, 2009PRESENILIN 2 MODULATES MICROGLIA ACTIVATION
S. Jayadev , A. Case, L. Seaburg, H. Nguyen, G. Garden
University of Washington Medical Center, Neurology, Seattle, United States
Neuroinflammation contributes to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and HIV associated dementia (HAD). Mutations in Presenilin (PS) cause familial AD, though the mechanism of mutation is not fully understood. PS1 and PS2 form the catalytic core of the γ-secretase complex which cleaves substrates, including APP, Notch and ErbB4, that may regulate inflammation, development, and cell fate determination. PS also contribute to cellular processes through non-γ-secretase functions. We tested the hypothesis that PS2 participates in CNS neuroinflammation. In both HAD and AD frontal cortex autopsy tissue we observed enhanced microglia PS2 immunoreactivity compared to age matched controls. Cultured murine microglia demonstrate increased PS2 protein after activation via Interferon-γ (IFNγ) or the HIV coat protein, gp120. Microglia stably expressing shRNA targeted against PS2 have decreased γ-secretase activity compared to controls confirming the functional consequence of PS2 knockdown. We found that PS2 deficiency results in altered microglia activation. PS2 knockdown microglia release more TNFα in response to IFNγ and gp/120 as well as phagocytose fewer apoptotic bodies compared to controls expressing non-target shRNA. To address whether PS2 mediated modulation of microglia activity involves γ-secretase function, primary microglia were exposed to DAPT, a pharmacological γ-secretase inhibitor. DAPT treatment results in augmented release of TNFα in response to inflammatory stimuli and decreased ingestion of apoptotic bodies compared to control. Taken together these data suggest that PS2 and the γ-secretase complex participate in modulation of microglia activation. Further studies into PS and γ-secretase mediated innate immunity pathways may provide therapeutically relevant insights into neurodegeneration pathophysiology.
Back


Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal Syndrome Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome (COFS) is a pediatric, genetic, degenerative disorder that involves the brain and the spinal cord. It is characterized by craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities, severely reduced muscle tone, and impairment of reflexes. Symptoms may include large, low-set ears, small eyes, microcephaly (abnormal smallness of the head), micrognathia (abnormal smallness of the jaws), clenched fists, wide-set nipples, vision impairments, involuntary eye movements, and mental retardation, which can be moderate or severe. Respiratory infections are frequent. COFS is diagnosed at birth. Ultrasound technology can detect fetuses with COFS at an early stage of pregnancy, as the fetus moves very little, and some of the abnormalities result, in part, from lack of movement. NOTE: This disorder is not the same as Cohen's syndrome (cerebral obesity ocular skeletal syndrome).
Treatment is supportive and symptomatic. Individuals with the disorder often require tube feeding. Because COFS is genetic, genetic counseling is available.
COFS is a fatal disease. Most children do not live beyond five years.
Prepared by the National Institutes of Health


An asset class should not be limited to securities alone. For example, derivative financial instruments, collectibles, and horses are not securities but are asset classes. Asset classes may exhibit low correlation to other asset classes, but it is not a requirement. For example, say German bonds and Korean equities were highly correlated, I doubt that anyone would consider them part of the same asset class.


Some Florida legislators and their constituents have inquired about the status of Progress Energy Florida's Crystal River nuclear plant. Some are questioning our company's approach to the steam generator replacement project, while others are second-guessing our intended course of repair.
As some engage in these increasingly public debates, often unsupported by facts, we are carefully applying lessons learned from this unforeseeable, first-of-its-kind event in an effort to safely and efficiently restore our company's only Florida nuclear plant to service. Throughout the related regulatory proceedings, we will not be sidetracked by unsubstantiated claims, allegations and misinformation that can lead to media coverage lacking the full context of the issue.
The Crystal River nuclear plant is the only carbon-free generation option on our Florida system capable of producing power 24 hours a day. Every day the plant operates, our customers save nearly $1 million in fuel costs, leading to more than $300 million in annual fuel cost savings. The plant is also a significant part of Progress Energy's and Florida's plans to address climate change while ensuring that electricity remains safe, reliable and affordable for our 1.6 million customers.
The steam generator replacement project that began at the Crystal River nuclear plant in the fall of 2009 called for cutting a 23- by 27-foot hole in the 42-inch-thick, concrete containment building wall. Before beginning, we spent five years and more than 10,000 man hours developing a comprehensive plan in collaboration with nuclear and construction industry experts. After cutting into the concrete, workers discovered a delamination (or separation) within the wall. Independent analysis later determined that the delamination could have neither been predicted nor prevented. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after months of inspection, agreed.
Over the roughly year and a half that followed, we worked with some of the world's foremost concrete and engineering experts to develop and perform a complicated repair. In March, while in the final stages of the repair, a different section of the containment building wall experienced similar delamination.
This summer, after reviewing the results of initial analyses, we announced our intention to safely restore the plant to service by systematically removing and replacing most of the concrete from the sections of the wall that weren't involved in the previous repair. Under this plan, the plant would return to service in 2014.
In the meantime, a three-phase hearing to address this issue before the Florida Public Service Commission began in October. We expect the first phase, which focuses on the circumstances leading up to the first delamination, to continue well into 2012. The other phases will follow.
Safely and efficiently restoring the Crystal River nuclear plant to service is extremely important to Progress Energy. After ensuring public safety, though, our greatest concern lies in doing the right thing for everyone who depends on us. Based on findings gleaned through intense collaboration with third-party experts, we believe that our intended repair plan is the best course of action for our customers, our communities and our company.
While some would have you believe that we took an inappropriate approach to this work, nothing could be further from the truth. Outside experts have been engaged since day one, and we will continue to rely on their expertise, as they will be deeply involved until the plant safely returns to service.
In fact, third parties recognized as experts in the field continue to validate our stance. Since the initial delamination occurred in 2009, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited has reimbursed Progress Energy $298 million in replacement power and repair costs. We are seeking reimbursement of additional expenses associated with this work and will continue to make every effort to limit the impact of this extended outage on our customers.
While we remain committed to fully addressing the steam generator replacement and delamination issues through the ongoing PSC docket, it is appropriate for us to only respond to specific questions related to these matters in the appropriate regulatory arena. Under Florida's regulatory framework, state leaders, concerned citizens, the media and other interested parties can review all of the documents filed through this proceeding and offer comment for consideration by the PSC. Florida consumers — our customers — will have a seat at the table throughout this process, as well, through the involvement of the Office of Public Counsel.
This is a complex issue in a complex industry and not one that can be sufficiently addressed through the media or unconventional means. Those who follow these proceedings will see that we have been prudent in our actions and decisionmaking throughout this process.
Vincent M. Dolan is president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida.


Neural mechanisms of foraging. Abstract Behavioral economic studies involving limited numbers of choices have provided key insights into neural decision-making mechanisms. By contrast, animals' foraging choices arise in the context of sequences of encounters with prey or food. On each encounter, the animal chooses whether to engage or, if the environment is sufficiently rich, to search elsewhere. The cost of foraging is also critical. We demonstrate that humans can alternate between two modes of choice, comparative decision-making and foraging, depending on distinct neural mechanisms in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) using distinct reference frames; in ACC, choice variables are represented in invariant reference to foraging or searching for alternatives. Whereas vmPFC encodes values of specific well-defined options, ACC encodes the average value of the foraging environment and cost of foraging.
Links Authors Institution Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. nils.kolling@psy.ox.ac.uk
Source Science (New York, N.Y.) 336:6077 2012 Apr 6 pg 95-8MeSH AdultBrain Mapping
Choice Behavior
Decision Making
Female
Gyrus Cinguli
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Prefrontal Cortex
Reward
Young Adult
Pub Type(s) Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language eng
PubMed ID 22491854


It shouldn't be a novel idea: Put a bunch of kids in a classroom and teach them reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, science and spelling. Then test them to see if they learned it. If they didn't, teach it to them again.
It's what we used to call an education. It's what Chicago school board President Gery Chico is suggesting for the city's schools--and it's about time.


What is the accuracy of this test? This test is fairly accurate as far as EtG detection is concerned. This test assumes that the concentration of EtG metabolite is a direct reflection of the amount of alcohol metabolized. This assumption can lead to some false positive results in cases where general medication consists of alcoholic compounds. So, EtG detection is highly accurate but its direct attribution to alcohol consumption may lead to impaired analysis.[Source]We thought you might find these product(s) useful: Keywords: Accuracy of EtG Test Detection accuracy
Loading


Study objective: To evaluate the effect of anticoagulant therapy on the survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Design: Prospective study.Setting: Five hospitals located in the Miyagi prefecture in Japan, including a university hospital, a Red Cross hospital, two public general hospitals, and a municipal hospital.Patients: Fifty-six patients with IPF (mean age, 69.4 years; range, 47 to 89) admitted to the hospitals from April 2001 to April 2004.Interventions: Patients were assigned to receive prednisolone alone or prednisolone plus anticoagulant therapy. The anticoagulants included oral warfarin in an outpatient setting and low-molecular-weight heparin for rehospitalized patients with severely progressive respiratory failure.Measurements and results: There was no difference in baseline characteristics, including age, gender, clinical condition, pulmonary function, and plasma d-dimer level between the nonanticoagulant group and the anticoagulant group. The overall survival and hospitalization-free periods were assessed. There was a significant difference between survival curves of the nonanticoagulant group and the anticoagulant group, with a 2.9 hazard ratio (p = 0.04, Cox regression model). There was no significant difference in the probability of a hospitalization-free period between groups. The major cause of clinical deterioration was acute exacerbation during follow-up in the present study. Therefore, the mortality and plasma d-dimer levels in patients with an acute exacerbation were also assessed. The mortality associated with acute exacerbations of IPF in the anticoagulant group was significantly reduced compared to that in the nonanticoagulant group (18% vs 71%, respectively; p = 0.008, Fisher Exact Test). Furthermore, the plasma d-dimer levels in patients who died were significantly higher than those in survivors during acute exacerbation of IPF (3.3 ± 2.3 μg/mL vs 0.9 ± 0.7 μg/mL, p < 0.0001). Histologic analysis performed in three patients who died due to an exacerbation of IPF in the nonanticoagulant group demonstrated the features of usual interstitial pneumonia and acute lung injury.Conclusions: Our data suggested that plasma d-dimer levels are associated with mortality in patients with an acute exacerbation of IPF, and that anticoagulant therapy has a beneficial effect on survival in patients with IPF.


One in three people worldwide lives in either China, the largest communist country, or India, the largest democracy.
For the moment, China remains the most populous nation, with 1.3 billion inhabitants, followed by India, which is home to 1.1 billion.
But India's higher fertility rate means the gap is narrowing and the UN expects it to overtake China before 2030.
Both countries are also experiencing rapid growth in their urban populations.
In China, the number of people in towns and cities is likely to exceed the number in the countryside by 2015.


If you download this publication you may also be interested in these:Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics Mangrove forests occur along ocean coastlines throughout the tropics, and support numerous ecosystem services, including fisheries production and nutrient cycling. However, the areal extent of mangrove forests has declined by 30–50% over the past half century as a result of coastal development, aquaculture expansion and over-harvesting1, 2, 3, 4. Carbon emissions resulting from mangrove loss are uncertain, owing in part to a lack of broad-scale data on the amount of carbon stored in these ecosystems, particularly below ground5. Here, we quantified whole-ecosystem carbon storage by measuring tree and dead wood biomass, soil carbon content, and soil depth in 25 mangrove forests across a broad area of the Indo-Pacific region—spanning 30° of latitude and 73° of longitude—where mangrove area and diversity are greatest4, 6. These data indicate that mangroves are among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics, containing on average 1,023 Mg carbon per hectare.
Topic: mangroves, carbon, forestsJournal Title: Nature GeoscienceVolume: 4Number: 5Pages: 293-297Publication Year: 2011Language: EnglishISSN: 1752-0908DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1123Related publications


Dynamics of Local Input Normalization Result from Balanced Short- and Long-Range Intracortical Interactions in Area V1 The Journal of Neuroscience , Vol. 32, No. 36. (05 September 2012), pp. 12558-12569, doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1618-12.2012 Key: citeulike:11190936Formatted Citation Show HTML Likes (beta) Abstract To efficiently drive many behaviors, sensory systems have to integrate the activity of large neuronal populations within a limited time window. These populations need to rapidly achieve a robust representation of the input image, probably through canonical computations such as divisive normalization. However, little is known about the dynamics of the corticocortical interactions implementing these rapid and robust computations. Here, we measured the real-time activity of a large neuronal population in V1 using voltage-sensitive dye imaging in behaving monkeys. We found that contrast gain of the population increases over time with a time constant of ∼30 ms and propagates laterally over the cortical surface. This dynamic is well accounted for by a divisive normalization achieved through a recurrent network that transiently increases in size after response onset with a slow swelling speed of 0.007膒0.014 m/s, suggesting a polysynaptic intracortical origin. In the presence of a surround, this normalization pool is gradually balanced by lateral inputs propagating from distant cortical locations. This results in a centripetal propagation of surround suppression at a speed of 0.1膒0.3 m/s, congruent with horizontal intracortical axons speed. We propose that a simple generalized normalization scheme can account for both the dynamical contrast response function through recurrent polysynaptic intracortical loops and for the surround suppression through long-range monosynaptic horizontal spread. Our results demonstrate that V1 achieves a rapid and robust context-dependent input normalization through a timely push膒pull between local and lateral networks. We suggest that divisive normalization, a fundamental canonical computation, should be considered as a dynamic process.


As millions of Americans struggle with nicotine addiction, Grinnell College biological chemistry researchers have made a discovery that could guide efforts to design drugs to block the effects of nicotine – helping users to overcome this addiction.
The research, which examines the family of proteins in the nervous system that respond to nicotine, was conducted by a team of biological chemistry students led by Mark Levandoski, associate professor of chemistry. Nicotine acts like a “key” to “unlock” these proteins, and this allows nerve cells to transmit information to one another.
Levandoski’s team discovered that the proteins react to certain other “keys,” working similarly to nicotine, but through a new, previously unknown, “lock.” The new “lock” may provide new strategies for pharmaceutical companies in developing treatments for nicotine addiction – which could ultimately provide users with an easier way to quit.
The National Institutes of Health and Research Corporation supported this protein research, and the findings were published in The Journal of Neuroscience in 2009.
Mark Levandoski is available for interviews to discuss this research, including how it impacts drug design. Contact Grinnell Communication.


In recent years, questions concerning "the body" and its place in postmodern discourses have taken center stage in academic disciplines. Body Politics joins these discussions by focusing on the challenges women face when their externally defined identities and representations as bodies—their body fictions—speak louder than what they know to be their true selves. Racialized, gendered, or homophobic body fictions disfigure individuals by placing them beneath a veil of invisibility and by political, emotional, or spiritual suffocation. As objects of interpretation, "female bodies" in search of health care, legal assistance, professional respect, identity confirmation, and financial security must first confront their fictionalized doubles in a collision that, in many cases, ends in disappointment, distress, and even suicide. The contributors reflect on women’s day-to-day lives and the cultural productions (literature, MTV, film, etc.) that give body fictions their power and influence. By exploring how these fictions are manipulated politically, expressively, and communally, they offer reinterpretations that challenge the fictional double while theorizing the discursive and performative forms it takes. Contributors include Trudier Harris, Maude Hines, S. Yumiko Hulvey, Debra Walker King, Sue V. Rosser, Stephanie A. Smith, Maureen Turim, Caroline Vercoe, Gloria Wade-Gayles, and Rosemary Weatherston.


Exploring the Experience of Body Self-Compassion for Young Adult Women Who Exercise Five women between the ages of 23 and 28 years participated in this study. The women identified themselves as Caucasian and middle-class, were university students, and indicated that they exercised at least four times a week. Each woman participated in an individual interview in which she was asked to describe two instances where she experienced body self-compassion. The womens interviews were analyzed using an empirical phenomenology method (Giorgi, 1985; Giorgi & Giorgi, 2003) to identify the components of the womens stories that were essential to their experience of body self-compassion. A follow-up focus group discussion provided the women with the opportunity to offer feedback on the essential structures. Four essential structures emerged from these interviews: appreciating ones unique body, taking ownership of ones body, engaging in less social comparison, and body self-compassion as a dynamic process. A facilitating structure, the importance of others, also emerged. The findings of this study are generally consistent with Neffs (2003a) conceptualization of self-compassion as they reflect Neffs overall description of self-compassion without merely replicating the three components of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
The findings of this study provide support for the exploration of more specific domains of self-compassion, such as the body. This study also makes a significant contribution to the body image literature, which has been criticized for being pathology-oriented and for focusing mainly on appearance-related attitudes (Blood, 2005; Grogan, 2006). This study explored a positive body attitude and highlighted the womens attitudes toward their physical capabilities in addition to their appearance. Further research is needed to develop the body self-compassion construct by exploring the generalizability of the essential structures that emerged in this study to broader populations.
Advisor:Martin, Stephanie; Kowalski, Kent; Guyrcsik, Nancy; Nicol, J.A.J.
School:University of Saskatchewan
School Location:Canada - Saskatchewan
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Keywords:positive body attitude empirical phenomenology image
ISBN:
Date of Publication:08/24/2007


Agent-Based Systems in the Business Context Papers from the AAAI Workshop Brian Drabble and Peter Jarvis Cochairs This workshop brought together key researchers in the areas of AI agents, planning, and scheduling with those in work-flow management. The aim was to start a dialogue between these groups on how AI techniques could support real-world business processes. Workflow management systems are integrated software tools for supporting the modeling, analysis, and enactment of business processes. The market for work-flow management software grew from around $100 million in 1991 to $2.5 billion in 1996. From a research perspective, DARPA has identified workflow as one of its key "must have" technologies and is investing heavily in developing the next-generation workflow systems for the military. These papers explored how the AI community could be leveraged to realize a vision for dynamic process management, at both the modeling and technological levels. Topics included reactive control, planning, planning and reactive control architectures, scheduling, knowledge acquisition, and distributed AI.


Many drivers still call and ask "Do I really need a set of winter / snow tires?" With many vehicles being equipped with electronic systems to help control the vehicle, it's not unusual to think you don't need a dedicated winter tire. While traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control and all-wheel drive systems help make it easier to utilize your tire's potential, none of them increase the amount of available traction. These systems are only capable of manipulating or limiting your vehicle's acceleration, braking and cornering capabilities to the traction provided by your tires.
By adding a dedicated winter tire to the mix, you'll be increasing available traction on ice and in snow compared to all-season options. To help demonstrate, Tire Rack tested both options to see the difference between wintertime gripping and white knuckle slipping. Starting at 30 mph on packed snow and then engaging the ABS until the cars reached a complete stop provided some interesting results. The vehicle equipped with winter tires stopped a full 30 ft. shorter than the identical vehicle driving on all-seasons.
During the acceleration portion of the test, we measured the tires' ability to provide traction when accelerating as quickly as possible in a straight line with the vehicle's traction control operating. Both vehicles began at the start line and we were timing how long it took the cars to accelerate 200 feet. The difference was three seconds, as it took the car with winter tires eight seconds and the vehicle equipped with all-season tires 11 seconds. We don't recommend trying to accelerate as quickly as possible in snow when driving on the street. This test demonstrates how much more traction winter / snow tires can provide when accelerating from a stop.
For a complete recap of our testing, take a look at "All Season vs. Winter (Passenger Vehicle): The Difference Between Wintertime Gripping and White Knuckle Snow Slipping."
Even with the new traction management aids on newer vehicles, dedicated winter tires play an important role for driving on ice and in snow. While all-season tires may provide enough wintertime traction for drivers in areas of the country that receive occasional light snow, we feel there isn't a viable alternative to snow tires for drivers who encounter deep or frequent slush, snow or ice. Remember, tires are often the difference between wintertime gripping and white knuckle slipping!


In the mid-1990s, sport fishermen from the Outer Banks of North Carolina stumbledupon a winter population of bluefin tuna in the shallow waters near shore. Each wintersince then, fishermen have braved icy waters and frigid temperatures to capitalize on thisresource. In their quest for a commercial share of the U.S. quota, these local fishermen have shown a unique interest in making their voices heard. They now play a significant role in the data collection and management of bluefin tuna, working side-by-side with scientists and forming a non-profit organization. This MP aims to document the cultural system of these fishermen and incorporate recommendations for more effective bluefin tuna management. In an effort to accomplish this goal I produced a policy-oriented ethnography that characterizes the social, economic and regulatory structure of the sport and commercial bluefin tuna fishery in Beaufort and Morehead City, North Carolina.


Engage Students With Text Establish a motivating environment to engage students in reading and text discussion. Active engagement with text helps students better understand what they are reading. Teachers can encourage student engagement with text by clearly conveying a lesson's purpose, explaining how reading will help them learn, and offering opportunities for choice and collaboration. Teachers should also facilitate whole-group, small-group, or partner text discussions. High-quality discussion with in-depth exploration of text can foster student engagement and understanding. Discussion teaches students how to think deeply about a text and promotes critical thinking skills.
Multimedia Overview Establishing Motivating Contexts for Reading and Encouraging Text Discussions This multimedia overview introduces the importance of providing a motivating, engaging environment for reading and facilitating high-quality text discussions. It describes the features of engaging classrooms and factors that contribute to effective text discussion. (5:43 min)


This chapter examines the largely overlooked relationship between female ex-combatants, DDR, and transitional justice, with a particular focus on truth commissions. The potential of truth commissions to recognize women’s multiple and contradictory roles during armed conflict and to publicly acknowledge their agency and experience can contribute to a reconsideration of postconflict gender relations.


A study of French men and women found that obese women are
4 times more likely to experience unplanned pregnancies and have abortions.Among women under age 30, researchers noted that obese respondents were four times as likely to report having had an unplanned pregnancy or abortion compared with normal BMI-range peers. They also found that, compared to normal range BMI women, obese women were less likely to have spoken with a doctor in the previous year about options for contraception, were less likely to use the birth control pill or condoms, and were significantly more likely — 8 times more likely, specifically — to report using less effective contraception methods (such as "pulling out").I'm guessing it's likely that income levels could be an overlying factor.


Background: Until relatively recently, critical care practitioners have focused on the survival of their patients and not on long-term outcomes. The incidence of chronic neurocognitive dysfunction has been underestimated and underreported, and only recently has it been studied in critically ill patients. However, neurocognitive outcomes have been the subject of extensive investigation in other medical populations for many years.Methods: Review of the current literature regarding long-term neurocognitive outcomes following critical illness.Results: Data from studies to date indicate that critical illness can lead to significant neurocognitive impairments. The neurocognitive impairments persist for months and years, and may have important consequences for quality of life, the ability to return to work, overall functional ability, and substantial economic costs. The mechanisms of the neurocognitive impairments are not fully understood but likely include delirium, hypoxia, glucose dysregulation, metabolic derangements, inflammation, and the effects of sedatives and narcotics among other factors. The contributions of these factors may be particularly significant in patients with preexisting vulnerabilities for the development of cognitive impairments such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia, prior traumatic brain injury, or other comorbid disorders associated with neurocognitive impairments.Conclusions: Current research indicates that neurocognitive sequelae following critical illness are common, may be permanent, and are associated with impairments in daily function, decreased quality of life, and an inability to return to work. Research needs to be done to better understand the prevalence, nature, risk factors, and nuances of the neurocognitive impairments observed in ICU survivors.


Often I feel (*cough* KNOW *cough*) as if there are people who vastly, vastly outperform and there's a sort of existential "What's the use?"-moment.
The Law of Comparative Advantage is useful for such moments. I'm nowhere near being a competent mathematician, but there are still opportunities.
The other thing that I find encouraging is that mathematics is not an ever expanding sphere where the discoveries take place at the edge.
It's more like swiss cheese: there are little holes left all around to fill in.


The Real Deal with Real-Time Ethernet
Effective communication between industrial devices, such as automation controllers, vision systems, and smart motor drives, is the foundation of a flexible and efficient industrial process. Because these industrial devices are physically separate, engineers must consider the time it takes to transfer data between them. Moreover, when this latency is unknown or inconsistent, devices on the network must wait on data to be sent or received. This latency depends on a number of factors, including available bandwidth, network traffic, the number of Ethernet devices, and the Ethernet protocol chosen. In many applications, engineers can work around this issue by using techniques such as buffering to compensate for these limitations. For example, consider the buffering that takes place when streaming video or audio across the Internet to make up for the inconsistent transfer rate. While buffering data is suitable for casual multimedia applications, it is unacceptable for most industrial control applications, such as motion control. To meet the requirements of these control applications, the network itself must have a realtime (deterministic) response.
The unknown latency characteristics of Ethernet networks are due to the inherent design of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard. For many devices to transmit data on a single network, Ethernet uses the carrier sense multiple access, with collision detection (CSMA/CD) mechanism. This mechanism mandates that a network device must wait until no other device is transmitting before it can begin its own transmission. However, this does not prevent other devices from transmitting at the same moment, a condition commonly known as a network collision. Per the standard, the devices know when a collision occurrs and waits for a random period of time before attempting to retransmit. Furthermore, high-level Ethernet protocols, such as the commonly used transmission flow protocol (TCP), introduce additional handshaking to ensure that data arrives. Senders of TCP data wait until the receiver sends a positive acknowledgement (ACK). If the ACK is not received within a timeout period, the sender retransmits the data. Both the CSMA/CD access mechanism and flow control methods used by transmission protocols introduce timing uncertainties to Ethernet networks that make them inherently nondeterministic.
If determinism between industrial devices is so important, why are engineers migrating away from real-time buses, such as Profibus and DeviceNet, in favor of Ethernet? There are three reasons:
To overcome the non-deterministic nature of Ethernet, engineers must place strict timing rules on the network. While there are several implementations of real-time Ethernet, most of them share two common elements:
One approach to implementing real-time Ethernet is incorporated in the latest version of National Instruments LabVIEW, a graphical programming environment for industrial measurement and control. LabVIEW uses a technology called the time-triggered network for deterministically transferring data across Ethernet. With the time-triggered network, two or more LabVIEW targets can transfer data deterministically across a private Ethernet network using standard network interface hardware. As shown in Figure 2, each device is also connected to a public network for normal network traffic and communication with non-real-time nodes. This two-wire topology provides redundancy to communications applications Other deterministic Ethernet protocols, such as Ethernet PowerLink, split the network cycle time for regular Internet traffic, such as TCP/IP, to occur after deterministically scheduled packets are sent and received. This method requires less wiring between real-time nodes, but typically requires a gateway to schedule traffic coming from outside the real-time network.
One method of transferring data across a deterministic Ethernet network uses network scheduling through a shared memory scheme. In this scheme, every device on the network allocates a block of memory for every other device on the network including itself. Shared memory blocks take all the data from one device and send it to all other devices as one packet. Figure 3 represents a shared memory network of three nodes. Node A can only write to the A memory block, Node B can only write to the B memory block, and so on. In every network cycle, the data written from one node is sent or ýreflectedţ to all other nodes on the network. For the shared memory network to be deterministic, the engineer must schedule the reflection of each shared memory block so they do not overlap. To configure the network, one node is designated as the master node while all other nodes are slaves. At the start of each cycle, the master node sends a cycle start packet to the slave nodes. Once the start cycle packet ends, it can update shared memory blocks. One advantage of this shared memory method is that each block can hold multiple shared variables or data items. Thus, the transfer of one memory block can potentially distribute several pieces of data that might otherwise each need a separate handshaking sequence to get from one node to another. This use of the memory block reduces the over-head per transfer.
An alternate way of transferring data deterministically is with the dedicated slot method. When using this method, an engineer explicitly schedules when each piece of data transfers during the network cycle. The main advantage of this method is that a loop can be closed during a single network cycle. Figure 4 shows an example of a distributed motion controller. In a practical implementation, the system can reliably close a control loop even when the network is busy. In the Figure 4 example, the deterministic network requires time during the network cycle to maintain clock synchronization. During this period, the system can read the current count of a motorÝs encoder. This position feedback then transfers across Ethernet to the trajectory controller, which calculates the positional error and transmits a correction command back across the network before the network cycle completes. Engineers use this method for closing any type of control loop across the network, allowing a decentralized system for control that reduces overall wiring and complexity.
The methods above eliminate the latency and jitter caused by packet collisions, but engineers still face challenges when packets are corrupted due to noise. When a packet is damaged the system must retransmit it, which spoils the predefined schedule of a real-time network. Engineers can reduce the odds of lost packets by incorporating redundant data transmission into the schedule, but this reduces the overall network throughput. Consequently, deterministic Ethernet protocols must include robust error checking to alert nodes of possible data loss, and users must decide how to handle data loss situations. From the technological advances and early successes of deterministic Ethernet, it is easy to forget that the journey toward standardized, real-time Ethernet is just beginning. For instance, while the new GigE Vision standard overcomes many of EthernetÝs inadequacies as a general-purpose peripheral bus, it does not include any provisions for deterministic image transfer, including collision avoidance. With that said, the existing infrastructure and clear performance gains of Ethernet compared to conventional industrial buses heralds a bright future for Ethernet as a viable, real-time bus for industrial control and communication.
Kyle Voosen manages the machine vision product line at National
Instruments. He holds a BS in electrical engineering
from Rice University.


Obstetrics - Pediatrics and Child Health - Physiology
Androgen Concentrations in Umbilical Cord Blood and Their Association with Maternal, Fetal and Obstetric Factors
Published:
Monday, August 20, 2012
Author:
by Jeffrey A. Keelan, Eugen Mattes, HaiWei Tan, Andrew Dinan, John P. Newnham, Andrew J. O. Whitehouse, Peter Jacoby, Martha Hickey
The aim of this study was to measure umbilical blood androgen concentrations in a birth cohort using a highly specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay and assesses the effects of sex, labor, and gestational age on fetal androgen levels at birth. We performed a prospective cohort study of androgen concentrations in mixed arterial and venous umbilical cord serum from 803 unselected singleton pregnancies from a general obstetric population in Western Australia. Total testosterone (TT), ?4-androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone were extracted from archived cord serum samples and measured using LC-MS/MS. SHBG was measured by ELISA; free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BioT) values were also calculated. Median values for all three androgens were generally lower than previously published values. Levels of TT, FT, BioT, and SHBG were significantly higher in male verses female neonates (P<0.0001), while dehydroepiandrosterone levels were higher in females (P<0.0001). Labor was associated with a significant (~15–26%) decrease in median cord blood TT and FT levels (both sexes combined), but a modest (~16–31%) increase in SHBG, ?4-androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations. TT and FT were significantly negatively correlated with gestational age at delivery, while SHBG, ?4-androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone were positively correlated. Antenatal glucocorticoid administration also had a significant effect in the multiple regression models. This is the first study to report umbilical cord androgen levels in a large unselected population of neonates using LC-MS/MS. Our findings suggest that previous studies have over-estimated cord androgen levels, and that fetal, maternal, and obstetric factors influence cord androgen levels differentially. Caution should be exercised when interpreting previously-published data that have not taken all of these factors into account.
More...


Surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in evaluating people who have potential surgical problems and performing surgical operations and techniques.
Common surgeries include hernia repairs, gallbladder removal, and removal of the appendix. There are many subspecialties in surgery, including chest (thoracic) surgery, blood vessel (vascular) surgery, and plastic surgery. Surgeons may further specialize by limiting their practice to specific age groups, such as pediatric surgeons, who only treat children.
Surgeons can be board-certified through the Board of Surgery, which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Credits


Vaccines do not weaken child's immunity
[Posted: Mon 07/03/2011]
Vaccinated children are not at an increased risk of developing infections or allergic diseases, such as eczema and bronchitis, the results of a new study indicate.
According to German researchers, vaccinations are among the most important and effective preventive measures in modern medicine. The benefits, efficacy and safety of such vaccinations are widely scientifically proven and they are well-tolerated.
"In spite of all this, some parents and doctors have reservations against vaccinations. The fear is that vaccinations overburden, stress or weaken a child's immune system and may therefore cause harm.
"As a result they think that vaccinated children are more prone to falling ill than non-vaccinated children. In addition, vaccinations are deemed to be responsible for the occurrence or increased incidence of other diseases, including chronic diseases," they noted.
They decided to investigate this issue further. They analysed data available for 13,453 children aged between one and 17, comparing the occurrence of infections and allergies in vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. These included bronchitis, eczema, colds and gastrointestinal infections.
The study found that the only difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated children was in relation to the frequency of vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps and pertussis. Not surprisingly, the risk of contracting these diseases was substantially lower in vaccinated children.
Apart from that, there was no statistically significant difference between rates of infections and allergic conditions in vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. For example, among children aged between one and five, unvaccinated children had an average of 3.3 infectious diseases in the past year, compared to 4.2 for unvaccinated children.
Among those aged 11 to17, unvaccinated children had an average of 1.9 infectious diseases in the past year, compared to 2.2 for unvaccinated children.
The researchers noted that in older children, atopy (allergic disease, such as eczema) was more common, but its prevalence was not found to depend on vaccination status.
Among six to 10-year-olds, the prevalence figures were 30.1% for unvaccinated children versus 24.4% for vaccinated children. And the corresponding figures for those aged 11 to 17 were 20.3% versus 29.9%.
"The prevalence of allergic diseases and non-specific infections in children and adolescents was not found to depend on vaccination status," the researchers concluded.
Details of these findings are published in the German medical journal, Deutsches Ärzteblatt International .
For more on childhood vaccinations, see our Child Vaccination Tracker here


Safety managers and incident commanders face the need to identify and quantify toxic or combustible chemicals on the spot, to make urgent decisions. These professionals need to rely on gas detection monitors to help them decide quickly – to prevent an accident from becoming an incident -- on the use of personal protective equipment, evacuation and cleanup.
Most portable detection monitors are limited in their ability to qualify, quantify, or continuously measure a particular chemical. For example, a PID sensor can detect compounds such as benzene, toluene, jet fuel, ammonia, and chlorine in a wide range of concentrations, but cannot identify which specific compound it is. An electrochemical sensor or a colorimetric tube can identify a chemical, but may not be able to measure it once its concentration exceeds the top of their measurement range. Catalytic LEL sensors can detect combustible gases within their flammability range, but cannot detect them in lower concentrations at which such compounds may not be flammable.
The New Approach: Multiple Sensing Fusion. This Webinar will present ideas, methods and examples for deploying a fusion of multiple sensing technologies. The fusion of gas detection technologies provides the unique ability to identify, quantify, and continuously monitor various chemical threats across their toxic and flammable concentration range in a cost-effective and easy-to-use way.
In this webinar, you will learn how to use sensor fusion to:
Detect, identify, and monitor chemicals at both toxic and flammable levels in a cost-effective fashion
Detect, identify, and monitor chemicals in environments where traditional sensing technologies may not work or be practical
Can't attend live? Register to view the webinar on-demand!


Sort: publication date | titles A - Z Page: | 1 | The Homunculi are little men who live in the brain and control our actions and thoughts. This concept provides a platform to enable the creation of scenarios that help children to visualise different aspects of their character. This is the complete guide to the intervention, which comprises a series of one-hour sessions over a period of 8-10 weeks. more »
June 2013, Paperback: £19.99/ $34.95Keywords: ADHD, anger management, anxiety, Asperger syndrome, autism, bullying, challenging behaviour, child psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling, educational psychology, emotions, high functioning autism, inclusive classroom, mainstream education, occupational therapy, pastoral care, resilience, social skills, special education, speech and language therapy, storymaking, teenagers, youthwork
Children and Adolescents in Trauma presents a variety of creative approaches to working with young people in residential children's homes, secure or psychiatric units, and special schools, and provides useful insights and a fresh perspective for anyone working with traumatised children and adolescents. more »
2010, Paperback: £22.99/ $36.95Keywords: adolescence, art therapy, arts therapies, attachment, challenging behaviour, child development, child psychiatry, child psychology, children, counselling, creative therapies, families, interdisciplinary arts therapies, mental health, pastoral care, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, psychology, psychotherapy, residential care, social care, storymaking, teenagers, therapeutic communities, trauma, violence
Page: | 1 | (2 titles match the current selection)


The following HTML text is provided to enhance onlinereadability. Many aspects of typography translate only awkwardly to HTML.Please use the page imageas the authoritative form to ensure accuracy.
Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition
Power and Lighting
The electrical system should be safe and provide appropriate lighting, a sufficient number of power outlets, and suitable amperage for specialized equipment. In the event of power failure, an alternative or emergency power supply should be available to maintain critical services (e.g., the HVAC system, ventilated caging systems [Huerkamp et al. 2003], or life support systems for aquatic species) or support functions (e.g., freezers and isolators) in animal rooms, operating suites, and other essential areas. Consideration should be given to outfitting movable equipment for which uninterrupted power is essential (e.g., ventilated racks), with twist-lock plugs to prevent accidental removal from the power supply.
Light fixtures, timers, switches, and outlets should be properly sealed to prevent vermin access. Recessed energy-efficient fluorescent lights are commonly used in animal facilities. Spectral quality of lights may be important for some species when maintained in the laboratory; in these cases full spectrum lamps may be appropriate. A time-controlled lighting system should be used to ensure a uniform diurnal lighting cycle. Override systems should be equipped with an automatic timeout or a warning light to indicate the system is in override mode, and system performance and override functions should be regularly evaluated to ensure proper cycling. Dual-level lighting may be considered when housing species that are sensitive to high light intensity, such as albino rodents; low-intensity lighting is provided during the light phase of the diurnal cycle, and higher-intensity lighting is provided as needed (e.g., when personnel require enhanced visibility). Light bulbs or fixtures should be equipped with protective covers to ensure the safety of the animals and personnel. Moisture-resistant switches and outlets and ground-fault interrupters should be used in areas with high water use, such as cage-washing areas and aquarium-maintenance areas.
Storage Areas
Adequate space should be available for storage of equipment, supplies, food, bedding, and refuse. Corridors are not appropriate storage areas. Storage space can be decreased when delivery of materials and supplies is reliable and frequent; however, it should be ample enough to accommodate storage of essential commodities to ensure the animals’ uninterrupted husbandry and care (e.g., if delivery is delayed). Bedding and food should be stored in a separate area free from vermin and protected from the risk of contamination from toxic or hazardous substances. Areas used for food storage should not be subject to elevated temperatures or relative humidity for prolonged periods. Refuse storage areas should be separated from other


Chemist Mak Saito and colleagues recently reported that a marine bacterium recycles and reuses a scarce nutrient, iron. Crocosphaera watsonii disassembles iron-containing enzymes used by night and builds the iron into enzymes for daytime photosynthesis. Using cultures maintained by microbiologist John Waterbury and researcher Frederica Valois, Saito, student Erin Bertrand, and researcher Dawn Moran analyzed Crocosphaera’s protein complement, revealing the daily switch. C. watsonii was discovered by Waterbury, Valois, and the late microbiologist Stanley W. Watson, namesake for the species and WHOI’s Watson Laboratory. From left, Moran, Saito (with C. watsonii), Waterbury, Bertrand, and Valois hold colorful cultures of differently pigmented bacteria from Waterbury’s collection. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)


If you’re considering a career in healthcare, take a look at becoming a physician assistant (PA). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to grow much faster than average, and job opportunities for PAs should be particularly strong in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities.
There are two key reasons that physicians, hospitals and other healthcare institutions are expected to hire more PAs in the next decade. The first is growing overall demand for healthcare services with the continued aging of the 77 million Boomer generation. The second is productivity. By providing primary care services and assisting with medical and surgical procedures, PAs help physicians make better use of their time.
In general, PAs are valued members of an organization’s healthcare team, providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services under the direction of a physician. PAs must complete an accredited education program and pass a national exam to obtain a license, and many professionals have college degrees and other healthcare experience.
While the exact duties vary from employer to employer, PAs typically take medical histories and examine patients. They may order laboratory and radiology tests and make diagnoses. Many PAs can treat minor injuries as well. They advise patients and may be able to prescribe some medications.
Recognizing their importance to the healthcare system, many states are allowing PAs to take on more responsibilities under their licensing programs. In medically underserved areas, such as rural communities and urban clinics, PAs may become the principal providers of healthcare services. They may consult with physicians via regular meetings or phone or video conferences as needed. As a well-established healthcare staffing provider, All Medical Personnel is continually seeking qualified PAs for potential assignments, and we invite you to explore these career opportunities.


We do not have a recycling program in place at our school, not even a basic program for recycling paper, plastic, aluminum or glass. How can we get a recycling program started?Often a school will start a recycling program, only to have it fall by the way side as other staff responsibilities increase. It will take a team of dedicated individuals to make a recycling project stay active. Marc Morgan, DES Recycling Coordinator, has suggestions for reducing school wastes, which even include composting. Contact Sara Johnson at (603) 271-6460 or nhppp@des.nh.gov. You can also contact the Northeast Resource Recovery Association for information on starting a school recycling program.
NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm


With the Supreme Court about to weigh in on thecontroversial subject of gene patents, it bears noting that humans are not theonly ones whose genes are patented. A company called Prolume, located in Pinetop, Arizona,apparently owns a couple of gene patents claiming the DNA encoding greenfluorescent proteins (GFPs) and luciferases from a variety of sea creatures ofthe genera Renilla, Gaussia and Pleuromamma (6,232,107 and 7,109,315).
Recently, Prolume filed a lawsuit in the Southern Districtof California against a multiple companies, including Gentarget, alleginginfringement of the patents. Prolume appears to have targeted thesecompanies based on the description of products provided on the companywebsites. For example, the complaint states that "a search of the word‘gaussia’ at www.gentarget.com reveals 14 products that incorporate GaussiaLuciferase.”
The complaint notes that Prolume cannot determine from theGentarget website which claims are being infringed without an analysis of theDNA sequence used in their products. However, Prolume infers infringement basedupon the frequency of light that excites the protein, and that is emitted, asdescribed in the company's product literature. Presumably Prolume will seekdiscovery to ascertain the DNA sequences used by the defendants in theproduction of their products.


Listeria Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Listeria, including details on listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, symptoms, pregnancy, treatment, food safety.
Heat shock factor 1 protects mice from rapid death during Listeria monocytogenes infection by regulating expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha during fever. Murapa P, Ward MR, Gandhapudi SK, Woodward JG, D'Orazio SE
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a stress-induced transcription factor that promotes expression of genes that protect mammalian cells from the lethal effects of severely elevated temperatures (>42°C). However, we recently showed that HSF1 is activated at a lower temperature (39.5°C) in T cells, suggesting that HSF1 may be important for preserving T cell function during pathogen-induced fever responses. To test this, we examined the role of HSF1 in clearance of Listeria monocytogenes, an intracellular bacterial pathogen that elicits a strong CD8(+) T cell response in mice. Using temperature transponder microchips, we showed that the core body temperature increased approximately 2°C in L. monocytogenes-infected mice and that the fever response was maintained for at least 24 h. HSF1-deficient mice cleared a low-dose infection with slightly slower kinetics than did HSF1(+/+) littermate controls but were significantly more susceptible to challenges with higher doses of bacteria. Surprisingly, HSF1-deficient mice did not show a defect in CD8(+) T cell responses following sublethal infection. However, when HSF1-deficient mice were challenged with high doses of L. monocytogenes, increased levels of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) compared to those of littermate control mice were observed, and rapid death of the animals occurred within 48 to 60 h of infection. Neutralization of TNF-α enhanced the survival of HSF1-deficient mice. These results suggest that HSF1 is needed to prevent the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and subsequent death due to septic shock that can result following high-dose challenge with bacterial pathogens.
Published 23 December 2010 in
© 2004-2012 Listeria Research Today. All Rights Reserved.


Mobile Community Childbirth Checklist (mCommCC) for mothers and layperson referral gatekeepers: danger sign recognition, emergency preparedness, and linkages to skilled care In Bangladesh, 77% of births occur outside a facility and 72% without a skilled attendant. When maternal or neonatal complications occur, <40% of women seek care, mainly due to misunderstanding of complication severity and/or necessity for referral; relatives or neighbours are the primary referral sources. Antenatal care coverage and logistical preparation for childbirth emergencies are also poor. An intervention to empower mothers and layperson referral gatekeepers to overcome these logistical, knowledge, communication gaps is urgently needed.
Our proposed approach is the Mobile Community Childbirth Checklist (mCommCC), which mothers and layperson birth companions will access in the intrapartum and early neonatal periods. Checklist tasks are drawn from WHO Mother Baby mCheck tool and Home-Based Lifesaving Skills Take Action Cards. The mobile phone system (technology) employs text and audio reminders to encourage progress-specific safety checks, Interactive Voice Response for danger sign recognition and corresponding action steps (creating demand), and direct communication linkages with live skilled care guidance (improving service delivery).
The mCommCC intervention will actively increase timely and appropriate skilled care seeking in the event of suspected maternal or neonatal complications. This will, in turn, reduce preventable serious maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Most standard practices to increase skilled care utilization focus on mobilizing skilled healthcare workers to reach all delivering mothers, which is expensive and difficult in resource-poor settings. The mCommCC empowers mothers and layperson birth companions themselves to seek and link with skilled care, using a cheap, familiar and accessible technology.


The complexity of Smart Grid and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) implementations present a challenge for most of the nation’s electric utilities. From skilled resource availability to the operational complexities of installing and maintaining these systems, utilities have often struggled with achieving success. SAIC’s cloud-based Smart Grid as a Service (SGS) solution was developed to address these complexities and ease the implementation of Smart Grid technology.


Two click chemistry-derived focused libraries based on the benz[d]isothiazol-3(2H)-one scaffold were synthesized and screened against Dengue virus and West Nile virus NS2B-NS3 proteases. Several compounds (4l, 7j-n) displayed noteworthy inhibitory activity toward Dengue virus NS2B-NS3 protease in the absence and presence of added detergent. These compounds could potentially serve as a launching pad for a hit-to-lead optimization campaign.
Description:
Click on the DOI link below to access the article (may not be free).


By Cameron Chai
Independent certified laboratory has carried out tests and confirmed nine coatings systems from the aerospace business of PPG Industries, which also has included clearcoat or basecoat systems with no chromate.
These coatings systems meet the demands of Aerospace Material Specification 3095A from SAE International for the application of airline exterior paint. As SAE is reviewing the results, PPG Aerospace systems will be added to the qualified products listing.
Scott Cavin, Global Coatings Marketing Manager of PPG Aerospace for airlines and aftermarket stated that the AMS 3095A certification standard is considered to be significant for airlines, while an exterior coating system is selected. Cavin added that the performance of the company’s coating systems is confirmed by the test results. Qualified standards will provide the required flexibility, particularly mixed fleets, to the airlines and third-party maintenance operators, while the best systems for use in applications are chosen.
PPG’s chromate-free systems have achieved the AMS 3095A standard as applied over DESOPRIME CF/CA 7502E primer and DesoGel EAP-9 pretreatment, including Desothane HS/CA 8000 series topcoat, Desothane HS/CA 8800 series topcoat, DESOTHANE HD/CA 9008 clearcoat or basecoat, Desothane HD/CA 9005 clearcoat together with Desothane HD/CA 9000 series basecoat.
Cavin stated that testing for standard has demonstrated a synergistic effect between the primer and pretreatment containing no chromate, offering significant protection and adhesion for the substrates.
Two coating systems from PPG have cleared AMS 3095A standard testing together with chromate-free PAC33CF primer and P99 wash primer, with the help of PPG topcoats.
Source: http://www.ppg.com/


Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced the expansion of its largest ex-offender apprentice program — quadrupling the current number of apprentice opportunities on bus and rail to as many as 265.
The CTA Apprenticeship Program will provide valuable job skills and training to ex-offenders, increasing self-sufficiency for hard-to-employ individuals while providing CTA with additional resources to enhance the customer experience with cleaner buses and trains.
In coordination with community partners and sister city agencies, CTA will offer new, full-time bus apprenticeships in addition to its current rail apprentice opportunities for ex-offenders who face significant barriers to employment and to long-term self-sufficiency.
Under the expanded program, CTA will provide bus apprenticeship assignments that will be up to one year in length; rail apprentice assignments are nine months in length.
Apprentices who perform exceptionally during their assignments will be eligible to apply for full-time CTA positions. If no full-time relevant positions are immediately available, apprentices who have successfully completed one apprenticeship can apply to participate in the other apprentice program — for up to a combined 21 months of continued employment.
Positions in both apprenticeships pay $9.50 an hour. CTA will have 65 rail apprentice positions available and as many as 200 bus apprenticeship slots. Apprentices will be members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus (Local 241) and rail (Local 308) workers.
Pre-screened, qualified individuals who are selected for apprenticeships will be assigned to duties that will include platform servicing, bus and rail yard sweeping, railcar shop cleaning and general interior cleaning, and detailed exterior cleaning of buses and trains. Thorough background checks will be completed as part of the apprenticeship screening process. Job candidates that will be considered are individuals who have been convicted of non-sexual, non-violent and non-domestic violence-related criminal offenses.


In 2005, the NRLS issued guidance on communicating effectively with patients when things go wrong. Following changes to the NHS since the launch, the NRLS has reviewed the guidance and developed a new Being open framework.
The new framework is a best practice guide for all healthcare staff, including boards, clinicians and PALS. It explains the principles behind Being open and outlines how to communicate with patients, their families and carers following harm.
Open and honest communication with patients is at the heart of health care. Research has shown that being open when things go wrong can help patients and staff to cope better with the after effects of a patient safety incident.
Healthcare staff may be fearful of upsetting the patient, saying the wrong or admitting liability. This guidance and the associated actions outlined in the Alert, provide reassurance that Being open is the right thing to do, and encourage NHS boards to make a public commitment to openness, honesty and transparency.


Join | Clutter Foods Emergency Clutter Foods Yes, I know all those emergency preparedness checklists that they hand out at your local street fair have lists of all the nonperishable cans and jars of food and water that you should have on hand in case of global thermonuclear war. Here's all I have to say on the matter: Buying emergency foods is like buying insurance—you hope you never have to use them. All of your emergency supplies should be in an out-of-the-way place like the basement, the garage, a storage closet, or the far back of your pantry (if it's particularly large). The only exception to this is if you're organized enough to consume your emergency food supplies over time, rotating in fresher cans and jars. Hats off to you if you're actually pulling that off. You're one in a million.
Keep Reading Once you've taken the time to reorganize your pantry, it's important to maintain the progress you've made. To prevent another all-out pantry purge down the road, use these three steps for maintaining this essential kitchen space.
Read an excerpt of Peter Walsh's book Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?
Oprah Radio host Peter Walsh talks about the connection between clutter and overeating.
Pantries are often harder to manage than refrigerators. Use these strategies to give your pantry a purpose once again.


Federal Government Announces it Will Enforce Federal Marijuana Laws if Proposition 19 the “Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010” Passes If California voters adopt Proposition 19 on November 2, 2010, California will be the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Marijuana, whether for recreational use or medical use, remains an illegal substance under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). In an October 13th letter to former chiefs of the U.S. Drug Administration Agency, Attorney General Eric Holder stated the Federal Government will continue to enforce its marijuana laws in California, even if Proposition 19 passes.
According to Holder’s letter, “We will vigorously enforce the CSA against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law.” The Attorney General also said, “If passed, this legislation will greatly complicate federal drug enforcement efforts to the detriment of our citizens.”
This letter may suggest a potential departure from the Administration’s position of not prosecuting medical marijuana users in compliance with state law, as set forth in an October 19, 2009 letter from the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). While the DOJ expressed its commitment to the enforcement of the CSA in all states, it explicitly told Federal prosecutors that the Department’s priorities should not focus on “individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.”
With the Federal government’s stated opposition to Proposition 19, and the intent to enforce the CSA, local governments face an even bigger challenge of trying to comply simultaneously with State law and Federal law.
ShareThis


In many corporate settings, users are required to quickly execute commands. Three methods of issuing commands were compared: 1) selecting a menu item with a mouse (Menu-Mouse condition); 2) selecting a menu item with a keyboard shortcut (Menu-Keyboard condition); and 3) selecting a toolbar item with a mouse (Toolbar-Mouse condition). Users performed one of the three methods across 90 trials and had their speed assessed in blocks of 30 trials.
Overall, the Toolbar-Mouse method was the fastest, while the Menu-Keyboard condition showed the most improvement. A GOMS-based model is presented that accounts for differences among methods. This work confirms the use of toolbars for common commands, but also suggests that for heavily-used interfaces, keyboard shortcuts can be as efficient as toolbars and have the advantage of providing fast access to all commands.


This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter. DOE Marks Weatherization Program's 26th Anniversary DOE celebrated "Weatherization Day" on October 30th as the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps reduce the energy bills for low-income households, reached its 26th anniversary. Over that time span, the program has provided energy efficiency improvements to five million U.S. homes, saving each household an average of $218 in energy bills annually.
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program provides congressionally appropriated funds to state weatherization offices, which provide grants to local agencies to perform the work. These services are available in every county in the nation. For every dollar provided by the DOE program, an addition three dollars come from other sources such as state funds, utility programs, and federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In some states, such as Vermont, the weatherization office teams with other state programs to efficiently deliver additional services. For example, a home weatherization team might also fix unsafe electrical wiring or install a new refrigerator. See the DOE press release.


Abstract:This paper aims to investigate the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth for 11 East Asian countries over the period 1971-2005 by taking into account their strong relationships. Based on fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic OLS (DOLS) approaches, while there exists a strong relation running from economic growth to energy consumption, it is observed that the strong relationship which runs from energy consumption to economic growth is overwhelmingly rejected for all cases except Indonesia and the Philippines. Moreover the inverse relation between two variables is observed for these two countries.


Where does "personhood" come from?
The plight of Dobby the house elf can serve to illustrate the common attitudes around this sensitive question. Dobby was the house elf who "belonged" to the Malfoy family. As such, he was treated poorly - even abused - because as a house elf, his value was only seen in his utility to the family. He was inhuman, unworthy of affection and totally disassociated with any sense of dignity. We see this in his surprise at how well Harry treats him in speaking with him at their first meeting and in Hermione's care and concern for the ordeal of the other elves.
The Malfoy's rejection of Dobby's dignity is akin to a societal prejudice against those who count for nothing - the poorest, the "rejects," the prisoners, the elderly, the unborn. Their personhood is often seen as an inconvenience, rather than an inherent part of their being. An unborn child is a "fetus" until a parent ascribes a value to it as a child who is "wanted." A man in a nursing home or hospital is seen more as a patient occupying a bed, rather than a person with infinite beauty and worth. A prisoner is seen first as a miscreant who has lost all claim to the dreams of any man, rather than a soul marked still by the touch of God.
Harry provides a "salvific" role for Dobby by providing a way out of his servitude. He always saw Dobby as an individual of worth, and at last, in the end, he is able to die "a free elf." Personhood is not a matter of "desert" or "earning it." Rather, it comes from the gift of God, freely given, for no other reason than His infinite love.


An improved Boundary Contour System (BCS) and Feature Contour System (FCS) neural network model of preattentive vision is applied to large images containing range data gathered by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor. The goal of processing is to make structures such as motor vehicles, roads, or buildings more salient and more interpretable to human observers than they are in the original imagery. Early processing by shunting center-surround networks compresses signal dynamic range and performs local contrast enhancement. Subsequent processing by filters sensitive to oriented contrast, including short-range competition and long-range cooperation, segments the image into regions. The segmentation is performed by three "copies" of the BCS and FCS, of small, medium, and large scales, wherein the "short-range" and "long-range" interactions within each scale occur over smaller or larger distances, corresponding to the size of the early filters of each scale. A diffusive filling-in operation within the segmented regions at each scale produces coherent surface representations. The combination of BCS and FCS helps to locate and enhance structure over regions of many pixels, without the resulting blur characteristic of approaches based on low spatial frequency filtering alone.


Numerous studies have linked maternal smoking during pregnancy with increased health risks for newborn babies. A study compared the smoking habits of African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, and non-Hispanic white mothers who smoked while pregnant. Independent samples were selected from each of the four populations (African-American women who smoked during pregnancy, Asian-American women who smoked during pregnancy, etc.). The authors were interested in determining whether the four groups differed with respect to the amount smoked per day.
(a) What set of hypotheses should the authors use to test their claim?


Many process plants devote considerable resources to rationalizing their alarm systems — to allow operators to effectively manage the process instead of merely responding to alarms throughout the shift. A properly designed and well-functioning alarm system is crucial to plant safety, but simply staying within alarm boundaries isn't enough. Managers must know if units are running in a range that will satisfy production plans as well as critical limits (equipment- and control-related, economic, environmental, etc.).
Success in the quest to maximize asset uptime, minimize maintenance costs and avoid unplanned outages requires a clear grasp of process variables, operational constraints and production targets. By understanding the operations management landscape and using the latest technologies available, managers can help promote plant safety, reliability and profitability without jeopardizing operations.
THE OPERATING ENVELOPE Studies by the Abnormal Situation Management (ASM) Consortium (www.asmconsortium.net) have shown that worker actions cause 42% of abnormal situations or upsets in processing operations. Equipment problems lead to 36% of upsets, with half of these attributable to equipment or process units functioning outside of their "operating envelope."An operating envelope is a collection of boundary limits that, when exceeded, put the integrity of assets at risk. These limits typically are based on combinations of factors such as unit capacity, equipment constraints and safety concerns. They can be implemented in alarm systems and serve as operating targets.
Managing an operating envelope once consisted of counting the number of alarm breaches for a given variable. This frequently resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of operating envelope "excursions" per month. Most weren't legitimate breaches, but rather indications of the control system or operator quickly moving the process back within established constraints.
It's critical for control room personnel to distinguish between false and genuine boundary excursions, and ensure deviations are relevant. Operating envelope deviations aren't real-time alarms like those on a control console; operators only want to react or respond to real deviations. A variable that briefly strays out-of-bounds once per hour isn't necessarily a meaningful deviation.
Unfortunately, using a generic notification tool or trying to use the alarm system to monitor the operating envelope likely will lead to many false positives. That's why technology has been purposely designed to monitor the operating envelope, to identify only real deviations. By accurately identifying genuine excursions, it makes more manageable retrospective analyses that can prompt both short- and long-term steps to minimize the occurrence of process upsets or, worse yet, loss of containment.
LIMIT MANAGEMENT To maximize the life of an asset, it must be operated according to design parameters, not simply within process alarm ranges (Figure 1). However, operating strategies must extend beyond operator visibility to the entire operations team and all those interacting with the process. Without a comprehensive limit-management solution, operators simply lack the insight needed to run the plant within operating envelope boundaries.Most sites typically rely on multiple types of process control applications, each of which can be used to independently enter and control respective targets, constraints or limits. Although these applications may relate to the same process measurements, they sometimes may use inconsistent or conflicting limits (Figure 2). This situation results in inefficient operation, costly plant incidents and frequent process shutdowns. Various groups within the plant are responsible for maintaining safe operating limit information. As these variables often are system configuration parameters entered by people, it's possible values may fall outside of the safety and compliance envelope. Additionally, some processes have dynamic, continually changing safe operating limits — a situation that's challenging for operators to manage.
Plant owners must understand the operating envelope encompasses both operating and alarm limits. However, without linkage between these limits, it's impossible to keep them consistent. In principle, operating and alarm limits should match — this allows alarm limits and their rationalization to benefit from the economic understanding of operating limits that exists in most plants. The common disparity between alarm and operating limits stems from the inability to see, compare and work within the operating envelope.
Managing alarms largely is a matter of correctly monitoring and managing operating envelopes. It involves having operators and process engineers ensure alarms, operations monitoring, operating instructions and alerts are consistent with process and equipment limits imposed by the equipment and process design, as well as environmental and safety constraints.
When embarking on a program to capture the plant operating envelope and then monitor and validate activities against the associated limits, it's imperative the alarm system be well rationalized. Trying to monitor against an operating envelope with an unhealthy alarm system just won't work. Instead, plants must strive to implement a solution that changes the culture of console operators from operating to alarms to operating to the operating envelope (i.e., "secondary alarms"). This results in operators paying attention to notifications of operating envelope deviations rather than constantly reacting to alarms. They immediately can review cause, consequence and action information, and plan the appropriate response.
OPERATIONAL CHANGES Many plant operations departments are rethinking their approach to operational excellence to gain the maximum benefit from ongoing technology developments. Instead of simply managing the effects of operating outside established boundaries, they're striving to expose the operating envelope to all appropriate stakeholders and ensure it's well understood across operations and related groups.Today's operations management tools, coupled with well-designed work processes, provide the proper visibility and communication to allow operators, planners, engineers and others to accurately steer an operation within true operating envelope boundaries. This is key to ensuring safety, reliability and profitability.
The effective management of boundary limit information and its dissemination through uniform work processes constitute best practices for optimizing asset and people effectiveness. Accurate boundary data should be available to operators via operating instructions to establish proper limits for production processes, embodied in the control system as a managed set of alarms and alerts consistent with unit constraints and limits, and presented as unified results that can serve as a yardstick for learning and continuous improvement efforts.
Without this broader view, each role is working with data that lack the larger context.
For example, planners who can't validate the weekly production plan against limits potentially could overdrive equipment that may have units operating in alarm, leading to damage and possibly even failure. The ripple effect of planning without an understanding of all limits (e.g., operating, environmental, design and reliability) can result in injury to plant workers, harm to other equipment, shutdowns and environmental releases.
Operations management products can effectively manage information such as planning targets, key performance indicators, standard operating limits and procedures, safety and environmental limits, and the causes of deviations. They improve plant performance by systematically setting and communicating operating plans, monitoring process data against limits, and highlighting the priorities of deviations. By providing a better understanding of performance versus industry norms, and knowledge of true operating limits for better reliability and agility, they help reduce energy usage while improving yield, product consistency and run lengths. Moreover, they impose a standard, structured way to activate the operating plan, thus improving coordination between the planning and operating staffs. Once the plan is in place, actual data are systematically evaluated against operating targets. Plant personnel gain access to the information needed to determine the causes of downtime and production inefficiencies, so they can make appropriate changes.
Some tools even display safe operating limits for multiple applications and assets in real-time and in context — regardless of their source — within the plant human-machine interface. This enables operators to know the operating envelope for a particular monitored point or asset, and proactively take action before an excursion occurs. A single data model of the limit space (e.g., variables, boundaries, constraints, operating limits and modes) also allows limits to be consistently managed for storage and retrieval.
CONSISTENT LIMITS The development of a "limit repository" helps plant personnel monitor and maintain consistency between applications in the business and control networks. For example, if modification of a limit used by the planner application makes it inconsistent with the limit in any other application, the limit repository can serve to notify the other application of the problem. This includes informing the application how the limit is inconsistent and what steps are needed to re-establish consistency. The application then executes the appropriate changes or actions based on the input. Reports to engineering or management identify unresolved inconsistencies and the responsible entities. This allows operations to continue without inconsistent or conflicting limits (Figure 3).
With a single limit repository, inconsistency becomes a non-issue — all the limits can be managed, even those owned by another source. Plus, this approach eliminates the need to determine which limit is valid (i.e., if there's only one limit, it must be the correct one).
An operations management initiative also can give engineers the means to develop a boundary hierarchy, to detect and report deviations such as an alarm setting that's higher than a safety-instrumented-system trip point. This provides additional assurance that modifications to configuration parameters, including alarm limits and instrument ranges, remain within the safe operating envelope.
In addition, operations monitoring tools give control room personnel the ability to analyze and act upon information associated with multiple boundaries affecting operations, and determine the plant's current state relative to its safe operating limits. Each boundary corresponds to at least one of multiple hierarchical levels associated with different levels of criticality within the process. The tools allow operators to compare process variables against various configured limits and filter out certain types of limits to de-clutter the view. Thus, operators can choose whether to stay within one set of boundaries while violating another less-critical boundary.
Imagine if operators were presented with boundaries indicating environmental limits, equipment design constraints or economic efficiency. This information might show it's better to operate in the bottom third of the range between alarms. Perhaps the weekly plan suggests ramping up production, which means moving out of the ideal operating range. Operators would have enough information to decide whether or not to sacrifice efficiency — by using more fuel, for instance.
When just running the process to alarms, operators may believe they're doing the right thing. However, they inadvertently are shortening the life of equipment or prompting earlier maintenance work.
Software applications also are available for maintaining an electronic record of the occurrences during a plant shift. They enable operators to automatically capture all excursions and enter comments as to how they dealt with the deviations. These data are crucial to communicate during shift handover to help the entire operations staff maintain situational awareness. Plus, they are valuable to process engineers charged with addressing recurring problems.
Electronic logbooks are equally useful for managing a site-wide task list because they can indicate status updates such as pending, deferred, overdue and complete. Authorized users view tasks assigned to them and mark the work as complete; otherwise, they reassign, reschedule, defer and change their duties.
Finally, planners can utilize operations management tools to create daily or weekly instructions for operating strategies that have been validated against multiple proven boundary limits maintained in a single location. This ensures processes will not be run outside of the safe operating envelope.
BROAD BENEFITS Thanks to continued development in operations management technology, plants can better track their operating performance against targets and highlight problem areas. Improved operations monitoring also helps to determine the causes of downtime and production inefficiencies.By learning from operations history, plant personnel more efficiently can manage and control a wide range of processes. This leads to less spending on equipment maintenance, greater asset reliability and fewer safety incidents.
Through better information and decisions, today's operations management strategies enable reduced operating costs, improved yields and increased production. They also help ensure compliance with increasingly demanding regulatory standards. Plants ultimately achieve optimal use of capital improvements.
CHRIS STEARNS is a Hudson, Ohio-based senior product manager for Honeywell Process Solutions. E-mail him at chris.stearns@honeywell.com.