OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of significant enterococcal isolates from urine and determine what factors are associated with the increased prevalence, with particular reference to antibiotic susceptibilitie...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of significant enterococcal isolates from urine and determine what factors are associated with the increased prevalence, with particular reference to antibiotic susceptibilities. METHODS: Retrospective analysis over an 8-year period of hospital laboratory records of urinary isolates of enterococci was done. Species were identified via colony morphology, growth in 6.5% sodium chloride and their ability to hydrolyze esculin in the presence of 40% bile salts. Susceptibility testing via the disc diffusion technique with 9 commonly used antibiotics was also done as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULTS: From 39,881 urine specimens, 9116 (22.9%) were culture positive. Of this 9116, 1001 (11.0%) were enterococci, the 4th most common urinary isolate. E. coli was the most common (36.2%). Most enterococci were from pediatric patients (28.4%) and the urology unit (24.5%). All enterococci were fully sensitive to ampicillin and augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). Sensitivity to gentamicin decreased significantly from 79% in 1990 to 58% in 1997 (P展开更多
Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI)is a control approach that has gained popularity in flight control over the past decade.Besides the INDI law,several common additional components complement an INDI-based c...Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI)is a control approach that has gained popularity in flight control over the past decade.Besides the INDI law,several common additional components complement an INDI-based controller.This paper,the second part of a two-part series of surveys on INDI,aims to summarize the modern trends in INDI and its related components.Besides a comprehensive components specification,it addresses their most common challenges,compares different variants,and discusses proposed advances.Further important aspects of INDI are gain design,stability,and robustness.This paper also provides an overview of research conducted concerning these aspects.This paper is written in a tutorial style to familiarize researchers with the essential specifics and pitfalls of INDI and its components.At the same time,it can also serve as a reference for readers already familiar with INDI.展开更多
This paper,the first-part of a two part series of surveys on Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI),provides an overview of the evolution and developments in INDI.Written in a tutorial style,it presents differe...This paper,the first-part of a two part series of surveys on Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI),provides an overview of the evolution and developments in INDI.Written in a tutorial style,it presents different basic INDI variants and their specifics,such as modelbased INDI,sensor-based INDI,and hybrid INDI.Furthermore,it sets these different approaches in context with each other.Later developments of INDI explicitly consider actuator dynamics.Those concepts are summarized and discussed in detail.Subsequently,studies that relate INDI to other control methods are summarized.Finally,an overview of various applications of INDI is given,covering different types of control loops and various types of vehicles and plants.This paper seeks to set these developments into context with each other.The purpose of this paper is twofold.INDI is already well-known in the domain of flight control but less so in other fields.Therefore,the paper is written in a comprehensive tutorial style to provide easy access to readers unfamiliar with the topic.On the other hand,the paper can serve as a reference for readers familiar with the topic.展开更多
The World Health Organisation(WHO)declared coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)a pandemic on March 11,2020.COVID-19 is not the first infectious disease to affect Trinidad and Tobago.The country has faced outbreaks of bo...The World Health Organisation(WHO)declared coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)a pandemic on March 11,2020.COVID-19 is not the first infectious disease to affect Trinidad and Tobago.The country has faced outbreaks of both Chikungunya and Zika virus in 2014 and 2016 respectively.The viral pandemic is predicted to have a significant impact upon all countries,but the healthcare services in a developing country are especially vulnerable.The Government of Trinidad and Tobago swiftly established a parallel healthcare system to isolate and treat suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.Strick‘lockdown’orders,office closures,social distancing and face mask usage recommendation were implemented following advice from the WHO.This approach has seen Trinidad and Tobago emerge from the second wave of infections,with the most recent Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker report indicating a favourable risk of openness index for the country.The effects of the pandemic on the orthopaedic services in the public and private healthcare systems show significant differences.Constrained by shortages in personal protective equipment and inadequate testing facilities,the public system moved into emergency mode prioritizing the care of urgent and critical cases.Private healthcare driven more by economic considerations,quickly instituted widespread safety measures to ensure that the clinics remained open and elective surgery was not interrupted.Orthopaedic teaching at The University of the West Indies was quickly migrated to an online platform to facilitate both medical students and residents.The Caribbean Association of Orthopedic Surgeons through its frequent virtual meetings provided a forum for continuing education and social interaction amongst colleagues.The pandemic has disrupted our daily routines leading to unparalleled changes to our lives and livelihoods.Many of these changes will remain long after the pandemic is over,permanently transforming the practice of orthopaedics.展开更多
The apparent teleconnection between cosmic-ray muon flux over a base point in the Caribbean is discussed against the background of an extensive record of indices representing large-scale climatic phenomena, but limite...The apparent teleconnection between cosmic-ray muon flux over a base point in the Caribbean is discussed against the background of an extensive record of indices representing large-scale climatic phenomena, but limited cosmic-ray muon flux data. Many investigators have shown that large-scale climate phenomena influence sub-seasonal and seasonal climate variability, especially in the northern hemisphere and their impacts on the Caribbean are well documented. These climatic phenomena that impact the Caribbean include, but are not limited to, the El Nino Southern Oscillation, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the Arctic Oscillation which is now being investigated. Although strong statistical correlation between variables over non-contiguous regions are not absolute as proof of teleconnections, the correlation strength can be used as an indication of its existence. The data gathered at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica, using a simple QuarkNet 6000 muon detector over the period September 2011 to September 2013, showed an apparent significant relationship with these climatic indices. This suggests that cosmic-ray muon flux might be linked to the behavior of the climate phenomena and therefore can be used as a climate or meteorological index over the Caribbean.展开更多
The economic relationship between the Dutch and the English was long established by the beginning of the Stuart era. With the accession of James I this situation began to change. The Treaty of London ended almost two ...The economic relationship between the Dutch and the English was long established by the beginning of the Stuart era. With the accession of James I this situation began to change. The Treaty of London ended almost two decades of English military cooperation with the Dutch, and English and Dutch factors in the East Indies began competing not only with the Iberians but with each other. In 1619, representatives of both countries reached an agreement in London for joint access to the spice markets of the East Indies. Despite these efforts of business and government leaders, the Amboyna massacre marked the end of any real chance of Anglo-Dutch cooperation in the East Indies.展开更多
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of significant enterococcal isolates from urine and determine what factors are associated with the increased prevalence, with particular reference to antibiotic susceptibilities. METHODS: Retrospective analysis over an 8-year period of hospital laboratory records of urinary isolates of enterococci was done. Species were identified via colony morphology, growth in 6.5% sodium chloride and their ability to hydrolyze esculin in the presence of 40% bile salts. Susceptibility testing via the disc diffusion technique with 9 commonly used antibiotics was also done as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULTS: From 39,881 urine specimens, 9116 (22.9%) were culture positive. Of this 9116, 1001 (11.0%) were enterococci, the 4th most common urinary isolate. E. coli was the most common (36.2%). Most enterococci were from pediatric patients (28.4%) and the urology unit (24.5%). All enterococci were fully sensitive to ampicillin and augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). Sensitivity to gentamicin decreased significantly from 79% in 1990 to 58% in 1997 (P
文摘Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI)is a control approach that has gained popularity in flight control over the past decade.Besides the INDI law,several common additional components complement an INDI-based controller.This paper,the second part of a two-part series of surveys on INDI,aims to summarize the modern trends in INDI and its related components.Besides a comprehensive components specification,it addresses their most common challenges,compares different variants,and discusses proposed advances.Further important aspects of INDI are gain design,stability,and robustness.This paper also provides an overview of research conducted concerning these aspects.This paper is written in a tutorial style to familiarize researchers with the essential specifics and pitfalls of INDI and its components.At the same time,it can also serve as a reference for readers already familiar with INDI.
文摘This paper,the first-part of a two part series of surveys on Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion(INDI),provides an overview of the evolution and developments in INDI.Written in a tutorial style,it presents different basic INDI variants and their specifics,such as modelbased INDI,sensor-based INDI,and hybrid INDI.Furthermore,it sets these different approaches in context with each other.Later developments of INDI explicitly consider actuator dynamics.Those concepts are summarized and discussed in detail.Subsequently,studies that relate INDI to other control methods are summarized.Finally,an overview of various applications of INDI is given,covering different types of control loops and various types of vehicles and plants.This paper seeks to set these developments into context with each other.The purpose of this paper is twofold.INDI is already well-known in the domain of flight control but less so in other fields.Therefore,the paper is written in a comprehensive tutorial style to provide easy access to readers unfamiliar with the topic.On the other hand,the paper can serve as a reference for readers familiar with the topic.
文摘The World Health Organisation(WHO)declared coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)a pandemic on March 11,2020.COVID-19 is not the first infectious disease to affect Trinidad and Tobago.The country has faced outbreaks of both Chikungunya and Zika virus in 2014 and 2016 respectively.The viral pandemic is predicted to have a significant impact upon all countries,but the healthcare services in a developing country are especially vulnerable.The Government of Trinidad and Tobago swiftly established a parallel healthcare system to isolate and treat suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.Strick‘lockdown’orders,office closures,social distancing and face mask usage recommendation were implemented following advice from the WHO.This approach has seen Trinidad and Tobago emerge from the second wave of infections,with the most recent Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker report indicating a favourable risk of openness index for the country.The effects of the pandemic on the orthopaedic services in the public and private healthcare systems show significant differences.Constrained by shortages in personal protective equipment and inadequate testing facilities,the public system moved into emergency mode prioritizing the care of urgent and critical cases.Private healthcare driven more by economic considerations,quickly instituted widespread safety measures to ensure that the clinics remained open and elective surgery was not interrupted.Orthopaedic teaching at The University of the West Indies was quickly migrated to an online platform to facilitate both medical students and residents.The Caribbean Association of Orthopedic Surgeons through its frequent virtual meetings provided a forum for continuing education and social interaction amongst colleagues.The pandemic has disrupted our daily routines leading to unparalleled changes to our lives and livelihoods.Many of these changes will remain long after the pandemic is over,permanently transforming the practice of orthopaedics.
文摘The apparent teleconnection between cosmic-ray muon flux over a base point in the Caribbean is discussed against the background of an extensive record of indices representing large-scale climatic phenomena, but limited cosmic-ray muon flux data. Many investigators have shown that large-scale climate phenomena influence sub-seasonal and seasonal climate variability, especially in the northern hemisphere and their impacts on the Caribbean are well documented. These climatic phenomena that impact the Caribbean include, but are not limited to, the El Nino Southern Oscillation, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the Arctic Oscillation which is now being investigated. Although strong statistical correlation between variables over non-contiguous regions are not absolute as proof of teleconnections, the correlation strength can be used as an indication of its existence. The data gathered at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, in Jamaica, using a simple QuarkNet 6000 muon detector over the period September 2011 to September 2013, showed an apparent significant relationship with these climatic indices. This suggests that cosmic-ray muon flux might be linked to the behavior of the climate phenomena and therefore can be used as a climate or meteorological index over the Caribbean.
文摘The economic relationship between the Dutch and the English was long established by the beginning of the Stuart era. With the accession of James I this situation began to change. The Treaty of London ended almost two decades of English military cooperation with the Dutch, and English and Dutch factors in the East Indies began competing not only with the Iberians but with each other. In 1619, representatives of both countries reached an agreement in London for joint access to the spice markets of the East Indies. Despite these efforts of business and government leaders, the Amboyna massacre marked the end of any real chance of Anglo-Dutch cooperation in the East Indies.
