Showing papers by "University of Bedfordshire published in 1995"

Framing learning through reflection within Carper's fundamental ways of knowing in nursing

Abstract: Carper's fundamental ways of knowing have been utilized as a framework for the practitioner to consider what he or she has learnt through reflection on experience. The purpose of this paper is to consider, through an interpretation of Carper's writings and through analysing one practitioner's experience shared in a supervision milieu, whether this use of Carper's work can be reasonably justified on a theoretical and practical level.

Viability assessment of bacteria in mixed populations using flow cytometry

Abstract: SUMMARY In microbiology cells are called viable when they can be shown to proliferate. Due to long lag phases and the cells' sensitivity to the conditions around them, this definition presents problems when investigating stressed or injured cells. Colony counts only show reproduction, whilst direct single-cell investigation can divide the status of cells into four stages: (i) reproductive viable cells, (ii) vital cells, (iii) intact cells and (iv) dead cells. Multicolour staining flow cytometry has been found to provide a powerful method for investigating these various states of viability. This is illustrated with examples with some emphasis on mixed bacterial populations.

Real-Time Tracking of Plant Rows Using a Hough Transform

Abstract: This paper investigates the problem of deriving vehicle guidance information from images of crops grown in rows. Advantage is taken of the approximately known crop geometry and camera calibration to derive a Hough transform which will detect parallel crop rows. Because the transform integrates information over a number of rows as well as within rows it can operate in a robust fashion with relatively few image features (plant blobs). The algorithm is implemented on one transputer along with some dedicated hardware. The method has been used on six sequences of 30 images and operates at a rate sufficient to give 10 values of vehicle offset and heading angle per second. Typical errors are 12.5 mm of offset and 1.0° of heading angle.

Rapeseed meal-glucosinolates and their antinutritional effects. Part 7. Processing.

Abstract: This paper surveys the effect of some technological processes based on modified traditional way of obtaining oil from rapeseeds and employing polar solvents and enzymes on the content of glucosinolates and nutritional quality of the end products. Special emphasis has been put on the technologies introduced after 1980 tested mostly on a pilot scale.

Electronic viewing aid

Abstract: An electronic viewing aid according to the present invention comprises a small-scale, portable personal radar system adapted to be worn by a person, which radar system includes a miniaturised radar front end assembly (22) operating with millimetre wavelength electromagnetic radiation, an electrical power source, signal processing means and a sensory output means. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radar front end assembly (22) is constructed in the form of a pair of spectacles (76), in which both a transmit antenna (78) and a receive antenna (90) of the radar system are carried on respective lens elements (75) of the spectacles (76) and analogue portions of both a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit are carried on respective side support frames of the spectacles (76); and the sensory output means is an audio output means including stereo headphones (98).

Rapeseed meal-glucosinolates and their antinutritional effects. Part 6. Taint in end-products

Abstract: From the present review it is clear that glucosinolates and their breakdown products may pass in small amounts into such products as meat, milk or eggs without noticeable deterioration in their taste. When applying low glucosinolate rapeseed meal (LG-RSM) as the sole high protein component of concentrate mixture for cows, the level of rapeseed glucosinolates breakdown products should not exceed 0.1 mumol/l oxazolidinethione, 10 mumol/l unsaturated nitriles and 100 mumol/l thiocyanate. At these levels no evidence has been found to indicate the negative influence of glucosinolates breakdown products on the sensory properties of milk or threat for consumers. No published information appears to be available suggesting that glucosinolates have any deleterious effect on the carcass flavour in cattle. Even at a 20% inclusion of LG-RSM in diets no impairment on visual scores or sensory evaluation was found in pig's or broiler's carcass. Glucosinolated, chiefly progoitrin, which depress trimethylamine oxidation thus clearly affect the taint in eggs. In birds with genetically conditioned susceptibility (brown layers) fishy taint can be observed even at 0.3 microM progoitrin, i.e. approximately 0.5 microM total glucosinolates in 1 g diet. Assuming a threefold higher threshold for white layers (1 microM progoitrin in 1 g diet) fishy taint can be expected at a 10% LG-RSM level in diet, and only very low glucosinolate rapeseed meals can be fed to layers without the risk of fishy taint in eggs.

Electrochemical oxygen sensor

Abstract: An electrochemical oxygen sensor comprises an impermeable substrate and a plurality of conductive layers applied thereto by thick film deposition. At least one conductive layer comprises an electrode and a conductor connected to the electrode. The electrode may have a covering layer of an ion exchange polymer.

Gas mixing devices for resuscitation/lung ventilation apparatus

Abstract: A resuscitation/ventilation apparatus incorporates an entrainment mixer with a nozzle, discharging entraining gas into an entrainment chamber, the nozzle being connected with a high pressure source of the entraining gas. One entrainment port to the entrainment chamber is connected to atmosphere and another entrainment port is connected to an oxygen source. A continuously variable restriction is disposed in the oxygen supply conduit upstream of the other entrainment port and is variable independently of any control of the entraining gas supply, to enable delivery of a gas mixture of steplessly variable oxygen concentration.

Electronic aroma detection in the brewery

Abstract: The analysis of the aroma of various beer and raw material samples has been undertaken using a multi-element array of chemical sensors—an electronic nose. Studies included the investigation of seve...

Stomatal responses of Vicia faba L. to indole acetic acid and abscisic acid

Abstract: Evidence is presented that stomata in isolated epidermal peels of Vicia faba L. open in darkness in response to the external presence of indole acetic acid (IAA) in the incubation medium. The effect of IAA is found to be overcome completely in the presence of either TRIS or MES buffers. In the absence of buffer, V. faba stomata are shown to be influenced by IAA in a concentration-dependent trend which reached a maximum at an [IAA] of 10 −3 mol m −3 . Further investigations reveal that stomata in this species can be shown to respond to the presence of IAA and another phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA). IAA and ABA are demonstrated to be antagonistic in their effects provided the incubation conditions are suitable. The data are discussed in relation to stomatal responses of other species in different treatment conditions. Recommendations are made with respect to standardization of incubation media during epidermal peel experiments

Multi-phase bioelectrochemical sensors

Abstract: Interest in operating bioelectrochemical sensors in unconventional environments such as non-polar water-immiscible organic solvents has led to new concepts in biosensor design. This brief review considers the evolution of an approach to electrochemical measurement using thin ionically conducting films at the surface of closely spaced microelectrodes. The ability to support all the elements normally associated with the bioelectrochemistry of catalytic proteins at a semi-rigid ionic matrix leads to a robust sensor configuration capable of operating in non-polar solvents such as hexane or directly in gases. Such multi-phase sensors are expected to be of particular utility in environmental monitoring where measurements need to be made in water and air samples.

Content, chemical speciation, and significance of aluminum in beer

Abstract: Aluminum in beer should be analyzed using electrothermal atomization and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In a study of U.K. beers by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), the...

A novel method for bitterness determination in beer using a delayed fluorescence technique

Abstract: The established technique of time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy has been applied to the rapid measurement of beer bitterness. This novel application utilises the unique long-lived fluorescence properties of the lanthanide, europium. Europium ions have the ability to selectively chelate β-tricarbonyl structures such as the iso-humulones. The resultant complex is measured by irradiating the sample at a specific wavelength and measuring the intensity of the long-lived emission. The bitterness method measures the total contribution of iso-alpha acids and related congeners. A linear relationship between standard iso-alpha acids solutions and emission intensity was found. However, in beer the effects of colour and other interfering compounds were significant. Decolourization of the beer did not improve the correlation with BU. This paper presents a preliminary investigation into the potential applications of this novel method.

Time to care? Time for reflection

Abstract: This paper develops a single shared experience within a guided reflection relationship to highlight the process of guiding learning through reflection. The shared experience is a mundane everyday experience concerned with the ward sister on an acute elderly ward responding to a relative's request. From the reflective practice perspective, the analysis of a single experience becomes a significant source of knowledge to inform others’practice. Reflective practitioners always interpret extant knowledge for its relevance to their practice. This process is helped by reflective accounts because they are subjective and contextualized accounts and therefore aid interpretation.

Late functional recovery with a novel community rehabilitation programme after herpes simplex encephalitis

Abstract: A 15-year-old boy had severe persisting behavioural and cognitive deficits after herpes simplex encephalitis in 1980 despite 18 months of early inpatient rehabilitation, two and a half years at home and 16 months' inpatient treatment in a behavioural unit. Following discharge from the behavioural unit in 1987, a behavioural programme was continued in the home using an untrained daytime care worker under the supervision of a community psychologist. This was associated with significant and continuing functional recovery in many areas including continence, wandering, washing and dressing. Possible reasons for the success of this inexpensive novel programme and the implications for long-term rehabilitation of brain-injured patients are discussed.

Permeability impairment around boreholes in micaceous aquiferes

Abstract: A number of possible mechanisms, both physical and chemical, are postulated as being potentially damaging to borehole performance in micaceous aquifers. Laboratory studies have been undertaken to assessthe degree to whichthese mechanisms are operative, and the extent of permeability damage which occurs as a result. Some of the processes studied are unique to micaceous formations, while others are enhanced where mica is present. Two key processes identified by the study are: (i)mineralogical and structural alteration of mica particles as a result of increased groundwater salinity; and (ii) mixing of formation sands, either between layers, or with gravel pack material. The studies together with field evidence show that both of these processes can cause a significant reduction in permeability in the vicinity of a borehole, leading to a deterioration in borehole performance. The degree of deterioration which can result from each of the processes is assessed, and recommendations for operation, maintenance and rehabilitation, to minimize damage are made.

Student counselling:A consideration of ethical and framework issues

Abstract: This paper is an attempt to illustrate some of the ethical and clinical difficulties which may arise when student counselling takes place under conditions which pay insufficient attention to the ground rules of therapy. It considers the importance of the frame in psychotherapy and the implications for this of working in an institutional setting. It also looks at the changes that may be made in the way the counsellor functions in the institution in order to secure the best conditions for effective counselling work with students, based on the author's personal experience.

Output from generic packages

Abstract: Ada83 suffers from being a non-polymorphic statically bound language in that, the types of data need to be known before run-time. The generic mechanism helps to overcome this limitation in that a non-type specific package can be written and instantiated for several actual data types, depending on the generic formal parameter chosen. One problem that is not solved by the generic mechanism is that of input and output of data values. Since actual data types are represented in different ways, there is no single routine which can be called upon to get or put items of a generic formal type. This paper outlines a possible solution to this problem.

Electrical safety barrier

Abstract: An electrical safety barrier for use as a protective device between a hazardous area and a non-hazardous area has a substrate of ceramic material which carries thick film printed resistors and other surface mounted safety components, such as Zener diodes. By using such hybrid circuit technology one can achieve a very slim barrier, reduce the number of soldered connections usually required, and obtain high power density due to the high thermal conductivity of the ceramic. The ceramic substrate is encapsulated within a housing which includes a ground shoe assembly to enable the barrier to be mounted on a rail.