Efficacy of Doppler ultrasound [correction of utrasound] for screening symptoms of decompression sickness during simulated extravehicular activities

Doppler ultrasound is frequently used for monitoring circulating microbubbles during decompression to assess the symptoms of Decompression Sickness (DCS). This analysis was carried out to evaluate its effectiveness for screening symptoms of DCS during simulated extravehicular activities (EVA). The information from various hypobaric chamber studies carried out at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX was used in this analysis (n = 516). The circulating microbubbles were detected in the precordial area in 42% (218/516), and symptoms were reported in 16% (81/516) of these exposures. The accuracy of Doppler-detectable bubbles (Spencer grades) on all symptoms of DCS was examined by calculating measures of sensitivity and specificity. The efficacy of Doppler as a screening device was examined by calculating their positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). The results of these analyses indicated that the sensitivity of Doppler decreased, and the PPV increased with higher Spencer grades. However, the likelihood of detecting true negative cases (NPV) was consistently higher with all bubble grades. Due to the high false-positive rate and low prior probabilities of the risk of DCS, Doppler was found to be more useful to identify those who did not develop DCS, than to detect positive cases of DCS in the simulated EVA exposures.     

Cutting the bread

Why the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT) will not work - whereas the Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities may.     

中西方文化差异在旅游主体上的反映

中西方文化差异对旅游主体——旅游者和旅游活动有着很大的影响，通过分析中西文化的差异性提出了旅游目的地的建设与发展的一些对策和建议。     

Energy utilization rates during shuttle extravehicular activities

The work rates or energy utilization rates during EVA are major factors in sizing of life support systems. These rates also provide a measure of ease of EVA and its cost in crew fatigue. From the first Shuttle EVA on the STS-6 mission in 1983, we have conducted 59 man-EVA and 341 man-hours of EVA. Energy utilization rates have been measured on each of these EVA. Metabolic rate was measured during each EVA using oxygen utilization corrected for suit leakage. From 1981–1987, these data were available for average data over the EVA or over large segments of the EVA. Since 1987, EVA oxygen utilization data were available at 2-minute intervals. The average metabolic rate on Shuttle EVA (194 kcal/hr.) has been significantly lower than metabolic rates during Apollo and Skylab missions. Peak rates have been below design levels, infrequent, and of short duration. The data suggest that the energy cost of tasks may be inversely related to the degree of training for the task. The data provide insight on the safety margins provided by life support designs and on the energy cost of Station construction EVA.     

以竞赛为契机丰富第二课堂--从全国大学生电子设计竞赛谈学生课外科技活动的开展

全国大学生电子设计竞赛对提高学生的综合素质和动手能力很有必要，同时竞赛也向大学生的科技活动提出了更高要求。加强对学生科技活动的指导，规范科技活动与课内、课外有机结合，设立奖励基金，是提升大学生科技创新能力的有效途径。