A versatile retarding potential analyzer for nano-satellite platforms.

The design of the first retarding potential analyzer (RPA) built specifically for use on resource-limited cubesat platforms is described. The size, mass, and power consumption are consistent with the limitations of a nano-satellite, but the performance specifications are commensurate with those of RPAs flown on much larger platforms. The instrument is capable of measuring the ion density, temperature, and the ram component of the ion velocity in the spacecraft reference frame, while also providing estimates of the ion composition. The mechanical and electrical designs are described, as are the operating modes, command and data structure, and timing scheme. Test data obtained using an ion source inside a laboratory vacuum chamber are presented to validate the performance of the new design.

Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale and Motor Function Measure-20 in non ambulant SMA patients.

The aim of this prospective longitudinal multi centric study was to evaluate the correlation between the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale and the 20 item version of the Motor Function Measure in non ambulant SMA children and adults at baseline and over a 12 month period. Seventy-four non-ambulant patients performed both measures at baseline and 49 also had an assessment 12 month later. At baseline the scores ranged between 0 and 40 on the Hammersmith Motor function Scale and between 3 and 45 on the Motor Function Measure 20. The correlation between the two scales was 0.733. The 12 month changes ranged between -11 and 4 for the Hammersmith and between -11 and 7 for the Motor Function Measure 20. The correlation between changes was 0.48. Our results suggest that both scales provide useful information although they appeared to work differently at the two extremes of the spectrum of abilities. The Hammersmith Motor Function Scale appeared to be more suitable in strong non ambulant patients, while the Motor Function Measures appeared to be more sensitive to capture activities and possible changes in the very weak patients, including more items capturing axial and upper limb activities. The choice of these measures in clinical trials should therefore depend on inclusion criteria and magnitude of expected changes.

Six minute walk test in type III spinal muscular atrophy: a 12month longitudinal study.

The aim of our longitudinal multicentric study was to establish the changes on the 6min walk test (6MWT) in ambulant SMA type III children and adults over a 12month period. Thirty-eight ambulant type III patients performed the 6MWT at baseline and 12months after baseline. The distance covered in 6min ranged between 75 and 510m (mean 294.91, SD 127) at baseline and between 50 and 611m (mean 293.41m, SD 141) at 12months. The mean change in distance between baseline and 12months was -1.46 (SD 50.1; range: -183 to 131.8m). The changes were not correlated with age or baseline values (p>.05) even though younger patients reaching puberty, had a relatively higher risk of showing deterioration of more than 30m compared to older patients. Our findings provide the first longitudinal data using the 6MWT in ambulant SMA patients.

[The head nurse and conflicts]. / Caposala e conflitti.

The management of organizational conflicts is one of the most relevant skills for headnurses. The data were collected from a sample of 97 headnurses of general hospitals, using the "Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventories". The results show that the most important type of conflict measured is the "intragroup". The ways of handling interpersonal conflict used most often are "integrating" and "obliging". Besides verifying the validity and the reliability of the inventories, the differences connected with sex and age are analyzed. "Integrating" style is more widely used with increasing age while with increasing working years, interpersonal conflicts decrease.