999 research outputs found
Do UK based weight management programmes cause weight loss maintenance in adults? A systematic review
No full textThe aim of this dissertation was to examine whether UK based weight management programmes promote weight loss maintenance (follow up of 12 months to assess effectiveness of intervention in weight loss) in adults through the process of a systematic review. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described obesity as a "global epidemic". Weight management comprises two phases; weight loss and weight loss maintenance. The latter phase is the true goal for obesity and the most difficult element of weight management to achieve. However much less is know about this as compared with the weight loss phase. There is little purpose in committing time and money to reducing obesity if the weight is regained. This is counter-productive and weight loss maintenance is essential to combat the obesity epidemic. Searches were made for relevant information from a variety of scientific online databases and journals,. Seven articles met the inclusion criteria and were analysed in the review. All studies incorporated a multi-component (diet, exercise, behaviur modification) intervention approach. All control and internvetion groups reported weight loss at 12 months when compared with baseline. All groups recieved an intervention. One study reported a significant difference (P<0.05) between groups. Four studies reported on at least one component (diet, physical activity, behaviour modification) however there was not enough information to conclude whether they complied with national guidelines (NICE CG43 and SIGN 115). High attrition rates and loss to follow up are problematic for each study except one. Analysis on an intention to treat basis was common however this is problematic and there are alternative methods which may be more suitable for dealing with missing data
DNS of inertial wave attractors in a librating annulus with height-dependent gap width
No full textDirect numerical simulations (DNS) of inertial wave attractors have been carried out in a librating Taylor-Couette system with broken mirror symmetry in the radial-axial cross-section. The inertial wave excitation mechanism and its localisation at the edges was clarified by applying boundary layer theory. Additional resonance peaks in the simulated response spectra were found to agree with low-order wave attractors obtained by geometric ray tracing. Numerics and theory are in qualitative agreement with recent lab experiments
Flow Path Dimensionality and Hydrological Modelling
No full textIncreasingly, research is indicating that subsurface flow paths govern ion transport within river catchments. Distributed prediction of these solute flow paths in typically heterogeneous catchments must inevitably be highly uncertain without some identification of a spatial structure relating small-scale measurements of soil properties to flow predictions distributed over large catchments. To date, the evidence for profile and catenal structure within soil hydrological properties and resultant solute flow paths is not fully embraced by the hydrologica community. As a consequence soil parameters are often poorly distributed within catchment-scale distributed models. This paper seeks, first, to generalize the disparate sources of evidence of parameter and flow paths structure within the profile-ward and catena-ward dimensions. Second, to outline how much of this structure has been incorporated into previous hydrological simulations using distributed models, and third, to examine the physical basis of attempts to simply parameter and flow paths dimensions using pedological classifications. The available evidence suggests that a considerable number of world soils show profile-ward structure within their hydrological properties and resultant flow paths. Changes in profile-ward patterns along catenal sequences remain uncertain. The Plynlimon region of mid-Wales has been the focus for many detailed studies of solute flow paths, catchment-scale model simulations, soil property characterizations and soil classification. Comparison of these studies suggests that most model simulations and hydromorphic classifications of soil taxa fail to distinguish adequantely between soil horizons and soil types with markedly different property distributions. Preliminary analysis, however, suggests that by using a catena based criterion to classify the hydromorphic characteristics of soils, soil elements with distinct patterns of properties anf flow paths can be identified. This might suggest that the accuracy of distributed predictions of ions movements within river catchments could be greatly improved by the derivation of profile-specific patterns of soil properties. These profile-specific effective parameters need to be derived from measurements over a range of scales, including individual layers, profiles and complete catenas
Mooris (Birth, 1884-08-10)
No full textAddress: Mont.4767/Pg 235/1884/F W/U.S./U.S./Drs. I.D. & J.E. Jones,M.D.Original record filed in drawer labeled 'MOORE, J-MORLEY'
Callers’ experiences of contacting a national suicide prevention helpline
No full textBackground: Helplines are a significant phenomenon in the mixed economy of health and social care. Given the often anonymous and fleeting nature of caller contact, it is difficult to obtain data about their impact and how users perceive their value. This paper reports findings from an online survey of callers contacting Samaritans emotional support services. Aims: To explore the (self-reported) characteristics of callers using a national suicide prevention helpline and their reasons given for contacting the service, and to present the users’ evaluations of the service they received. Methods: Online survey of a self-selected sample of callers. Results: 1,309 responses were received between May 2008 and May 2009. There were high incidences of expressed suicidality and mental health issues. Regular and ongoing use of the service was common. Respondents used the service for complex and varied reasons and often as part of a network of support. Conclusions: Respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with the service and perceived contact to be helpful. Although Samaritans aims to provide a crisis service, many callers do not access this in isolation or as a last resort, instead contacting the organization selectively and often in tandem with other types of support
Intradermal immunization with a bovine herpesvirus-1 DNA vaccine induces protective immunity in cattle
No full textAlthough intramuscular (i.m.) injection of DNA encoding glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) induces immune responses in cattle, this route of delivery is inefficient. Here we assessed three parameters that may enhance the efficacy of a gD DNA vaccine in cattle. First, the immune response generated by i.m. injected plasmid expressing a secreted form of gD (tgD) was determined and found to be very similar in magnitude to the response induced by gD-expressing plasmid. Secondly, gD- and tgD-expressing plasmids were administered by intradermal (i.d.) immunization, which resulted in a superior immune response to the secreted form, but no improvement in the response to the membrane-associated form. However, the form of gD used for immunization did not influence the immunoglobulin subtype, the ratio of antigen-specific IgG1 to IgG2 being approximately 4:1. Finally, the effect of promoter strength was assessed by replacing the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter, which was used in the original experiments, with the human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter and first intron A (HCMV/IA). Although upon transfection in vitro the HCMV/IA promoter appeared to be stronger than the RSV promoter, there was only a 2-fold higher antibody response in vivo upon i.d. injection of cattle. Protection against virus challenge was obtained in the calves immunized i.d. with tgD-encoding plasmid, as shown by a significant reduction in weight loss, virus excretion, temperature response and clinical disease. No significant protection was observed in the animals vaccinated i.d. with the gD-expressing plasmid, which correlates with the lower level of immunity pre-challenge.ID: 3643; LR: 20081121; JID: 0077340; 0 (Antibodies, Viral); 0 (Immunoglobulin G); 0 (Vaccines, DNA); 0 (Viral Proteins); 0 (Viral Vaccines); 0 (bovine herpesvirus type-1 glycoproteins); 82115-62-6 (Interferon-gamma); ppublishSource type: Electronic(1
Gas path analysis for the MTT micro turbine
No full textGas turbine diagnostics is as old as the gas turbine itself. Over the years, performance based diagnostics allowed for a shift from time-based maintenance to more economical condition based maintenance playing a fundamental role in enhancing the availability and reliability of gas turbines. By monitoring the condition of the engine over time, maintenance actions can be taken based on information collected from the field. MTT (Micro Turbine Technology) is currently developing a low cost 3kWe micro-turbine CHP (Combined Heat and Power)-system by using off-the-shelf technologies. Once the system will be launched on the market an organized, cost-effective maintenance procedure will be required. The objective of this M. Sc. thesis project was to develop and demonstrate a Gas Path Analysis diagnostic concept for the micro-turbine. Gas Path Analysis (GPA) is a method to assess the condition of the gas turbine by using performance measurements from the gas path. The feasibility of the diagnostic concept was demonstrated by some case studies using data from the first generation field test units. After reviewing a number of gas turbine diagnostic techniques, a non-linear model based gas path analysis approach was chosen. For the development of the diagnostic concept, a non-linear model of a healthy reference engine was used to simulate the off-design behaviour of the engine and derive healthy performance parameter baselines. These baselines are used to compare the performance of field engines against. A component based modelling environment called GSP or the Gas turbine Simulation Program was used to simulate the effect of ambient conditions and deterioration on performance. The diagnostic concept relies on the principle that deterioration causes corrected measurement parameters to shift from the healthy reference baselines. Measurement performance parameters are first corrected to standard ISA conditions before being compared against the healthy baselines. By modelling specific types of deterioration in GSP, signature parameter shifts could be recorded for each of the deterioration modes. These signature parameter shifts are used to compare shifts in performance parameters against and determine the closest pattern-match which can be used to identify the most probable cause of deterioration. The proposed concept is capable of performing engine level diagnostics and partially component level diagnostics. Multiple fault diagnostics and quantifying the level of deterioration are more difficult due to the limited number of sensors and the relatively large impact of second-order effects such as heat-loss, auxiliary power take-off, mechanical losses, etc. The performance parameter baselines together with the derived rulesets can easily be implemented in a maintenance tool making the concept flexible and easy to use.MastersFlight performance and propulsionAerospace Engineerin
Parallel implementation of interior-point methods for semidefinite optimization
No full textElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
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