"Open-Sourcing" Personal Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fiedler, Sebastian H.D.

2014-01-01

This article offers a critical reflection on the contemporary Open Educational Resource (OER) movement, its unquestioned investment in a collective "content fetish" and an educational "problem description" that focuses on issues of scarcity, access, and availability of quality materials. It also argues that OER proponents fail…

3D for the people: multi-camera motion capture in the field with consumer-grade cameras and open source software

PubMed Central

Evangelista, Dennis J.; Ray, Dylan D.; Hedrick, Tyson L.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Ecological, behavioral and biomechanical studies often need to quantify animal movement and behavior in three dimensions. In laboratory studies, a common tool to accomplish these measurements is the use of multiple, calibrated high-speed cameras. Until very recently, the complexity, weight and cost of such cameras have made their deployment in field situations risky; furthermore, such cameras are not affordable to many researchers. Here, we show how inexpensive, consumer-grade cameras can adequately accomplish these measurements both within the laboratory and in the field. Combined with our methods and open source software, the availability of inexpensive, portable and rugged cameras will open up new areas of biological study by providing precise 3D tracking and quantification of animal and human movement to researchers in a wide variety of field and laboratory contexts. PMID:27444791

Freeing Crop Genetics through the Open Source Seed Initiative

PubMed Central

Luby, Claire H.; Goldman, Irwin L.

2016-01-01

For millennia, seeds have been freely available to use for farming and plant breeding without restriction. Within the past century, however, intellectual property rights (IPRs) have threatened this tradition. In response, a movement has emerged to counter the trend toward increasing consolidation of control and ownership of plant germplasm. One effort, the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI, www.osseeds.org), aims to ensure access to crop genetic resources by embracing an open source mechanism that fosters exchange and innovation among farmers, plant breeders, and seed companies. Plant breeders across many sectors have taken the OSSI Pledge to create a protected commons of plant germplasm for future generations. PMID:27093567

Freeing Crop Genetics through the Open Source Seed Initiative.

PubMed

Luby, Claire H; Goldman, Irwin L

2016-04-01

For millennia, seeds have been freely available to use for farming and plant breeding without restriction. Within the past century, however, intellectual property rights (IPRs) have threatened this tradition. In response, a movement has emerged to counter the trend toward increasing consolidation of control and ownership of plant germplasm. One effort, the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI, www.osseeds.org), aims to ensure access to crop genetic resources by embracing an open source mechanism that fosters exchange and innovation among farmers, plant breeders, and seed companies. Plant breeders across many sectors have taken the OSSI Pledge to create a protected commons of plant germplasm for future generations.

An open-terrain line source model coupled with street-canyon effects to forecast carbon monoxide at traffic roundabout.

PubMed

Pandian, Suresh; Gokhale, Sharad; Ghoshal, Aloke Kumar

2011-02-15

A double-lane four-arm roundabout, where traffic movement is continuous in opposite directions and at different speeds, produces a zone responsible for recirculation of emissions within a road section creating canyon-type effect. In this zone, an effect of thermally induced turbulence together with vehicle wake dominates over wind driven turbulence causing pollutant emission to flow within, resulting into more or less equal amount of pollutants upwind and downwind particularly during low winds. Beyond this region, however, the effect of winds becomes stronger, causing downwind movement of pollutants. Pollutant dispersion caused by such phenomenon cannot be described accurately by open-terrain line source model alone. This is demonstrated by estimating one-minute average carbon monoxide concentration by coupling an open-terrain line source model with a street canyon model which captures the combine effect to describe the dispersion at non-signalized roundabout. The results of the modeling matched well with the measurements compared with the line source model alone and the prediction error reduced by about 50%. The study further demonstrated this with traffic emissions calculated by field and semi-empirical methods. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mousetrap: An integrated, open-source mouse-tracking package.

PubMed

Kieslich, Pascal J; Henninger, Felix

2017-10-01

Mouse-tracking - the analysis of mouse movements in computerized experiments - is becoming increasingly popular in the cognitive sciences. Mouse movements are taken as an indicator of commitment to or conflict between choice options during the decision process. Using mouse-tracking, researchers have gained insight into the temporal development of cognitive processes across a growing number of psychological domains. In the current article, we present software that offers easy and convenient means of recording and analyzing mouse movements in computerized laboratory experiments. In particular, we introduce and demonstrate the mousetrap plugin that adds mouse-tracking to OpenSesame, a popular general-purpose graphical experiment builder. By integrating with this existing experimental software, mousetrap allows for the creation of mouse-tracking studies through a graphical interface, without requiring programming skills. Thus, researchers can benefit from the core features of a validated software package and the many extensions available for it (e.g., the integration with auxiliary hardware such as eye-tracking, or the support of interactive experiments). In addition, the recorded data can be imported directly into the statistical programming language R using the mousetrap package, which greatly facilitates analysis. Mousetrap is cross-platform, open-source and available free of charge from https://github.com/pascalkieslich/mousetrap-os .

Scholarly Knowledge Development and Dissemination in an International Context: Approaches and Tools for Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willis, Jerry; Baron, Josh; Lee, Reba-Anna; Gozza-Cohen, Mary; Currie, Amity

2010-01-01

This paper looks at the process of collaboratively creating and disseminating information resources, such as journals, books, papers, and multimedia resources in higher education. This process has been facilitated and encouraged by two relatively new movements, open-source and, especially, open access. The most definitive expression of the…

Missed Opportunity? Was Iran s Green Movement an Unconventional Warfare Option?

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-12

leadership. Speeches , reports, websites, and foreign documents constituted the majority of usable research. The author assumed accurate translation of...expanding economic influence. The RAND Corporation’s study compiled research from the OpenSource website, scholarly reports, and translated speeches ...constructed from Mir Houssein Mousavi’s speeches . Although difficult to accredit, the manifesto echoed Green Movement leadership ideologies. This work

A classification and evaluation of data movement technologies for the delivery of highly voluminous scientific data products

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mattmann, Chris A.; Kelly, Sean; Crichton, Daniel J.; Hughes, J. Steven; Hardman, Sean; Ramirez, Paul; Joyner, Ron

2006-01-01

In this paper, we present a preliminary study of several different electronic data movement technologies. We detail our approach to classifying the technologies included in our study and present the preliminary results of some initial performance benchmarking. Our studies suggest that highly parallel TCP/IP streaming technologies, such as GridFTP and bbFTP, outperform commercial and open-source UDP-bursting technologies in several of the key data movement dimensions that we studied.

Open-source software for collision detection in external beam radiation therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suriyakumar, Vinith M.; Xu, Renee; Pinter, Csaba; Fichtinger, Gabor

2017-03-01

PURPOSE: Collision detection for external beam radiation therapy (RT) is important for eliminating the need for dryruns that aim to ensure patient safety. Commercial treatment planning systems (TPS) offer this feature but they are expensive and proprietary. Cobalt-60 RT machines are a viable solution to RT practice in low-budget scenarios. However, such clinics are hesitant to invest in these machines due to a lack of affordable treatment planning software. We propose the creation of an open-source room's eye view visualization module with automated collision detection as part of the development of an open-source TPS. METHODS: An openly accessible linac 3D geometry model is sliced into the different components of the treatment machine. The model's movements are based on the International Electrotechnical Commission standard. Automated collision detection is implemented between the treatment machine's components. RESULTS: The room's eye view module was built in C++ as part of SlicerRT, an RT research toolkit built on 3D Slicer. The module was tested using head and neck and prostate RT plans. These tests verified that the module accurately modeled the movements of the treatment machine and radiation beam. Automated collision detection was verified using tests where geometric parameters of the machine's components were changed, demonstrating accurate collision detection. CONCLUSION: Room's eye view visualization and automated collision detection are essential in a Cobalt-60 treatment planning system. Development of these features will advance the creation of an open-source TPS that will potentially help increase the feasibility of adopting Cobalt-60 RT.

Automated measurement of zebrafish larval movement

PubMed Central

Cario, Clinton L; Farrell, Thomas C; Milanese, Chiara; Burton, Edward A

2011-01-01

Abstract The zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model that is readily amenable to genetic, pharmacological and environmental manipulations to elucidate the molecular and cellular basis of movement and behaviour. We report software enabling automated analysis of zebrafish movement from video recordings captured with cameras ranging from a basic camcorder to more specialized equipment. The software, which is provided as open-source MATLAB functions, can be freely modified and distributed, and is compatible with multiwell plates under a wide range of experimental conditions. Automated measurement of zebrafish movement using this technique will be useful for multiple applications in neuroscience, pharmacology and neuropsychiatry. PMID:21646414

Automated measurement of zebrafish larval movement.

PubMed

Cario, Clinton L; Farrell, Thomas C; Milanese, Chiara; Burton, Edward A

2011-08-01

The zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model that is readily amenable to genetic, pharmacological and environmental manipulations to elucidate the molecular and cellular basis of movement and behaviour. We report software enabling automated analysis of zebrafish movement from video recordings captured with cameras ranging from a basic camcorder to more specialized equipment. The software, which is provided as open-source MATLAB functions, can be freely modified and distributed, and is compatible with multiwell plates under a wide range of experimental conditions. Automated measurement of zebrafish movement using this technique will be useful for multiple applications in neuroscience, pharmacology and neuropsychiatry.

GazeParser: an open-source and multiplatform library for low-cost eye tracking and analysis.

PubMed

Sogo, Hiroyuki

2013-09-01

Eye movement analysis is an effective method for research on visual perception and cognition. However, recordings of eye movements present practical difficulties related to the cost of the recording devices and the programming of device controls for use in experiments. GazeParser is an open-source library for low-cost eye tracking and data analysis; it consists of a video-based eyetracker and libraries for data recording and analysis. The libraries are written in Python and can be used in conjunction with PsychoPy and VisionEgg experimental control libraries. Three eye movement experiments are reported on performance tests of GazeParser. These showed that the means and standard deviations for errors in sampling intervals were less than 1 ms. Spatial accuracy ranged from 0.7° to 1.2°, depending on participant. In gap/overlap tasks and antisaccade tasks, the latency and amplitude of the saccades detected by GazeParser agreed with those detected by a commercial eyetracker. These results showed that the GazeParser demonstrates adequate performance for use in psychological experiments.

Open source approaches to health information systems in Kenya.

PubMed

Drury, Peter; Dahlman, Bruce

2005-01-01

This paper focuses on the experience to date of an installation of a Free Open Source Software (FOSS) product, Care2X, at a church hospital in Kenya. The FOSS movement has been maturing rapidly. In developed countries, its benefits relative to proprietary software have been extensively discussed and ways of quantifying the total costs of the development have been developed. Nevertheless, empirical data on the impact of FOSS, particularly in the developing world, concerning its use and development is still quite limited, although the possibilities of FOSS are becoming increasingly attractive.

Oculomatic: High speed, reliable, and accurate open-source eye tracking for humans and non-human primates.

PubMed

Zimmermann, Jan; Vazquez, Yuriria; Glimcher, Paul W; Pesaran, Bijan; Louie, Kenway

2016-09-01

Video-based noninvasive eye trackers are an extremely useful tool for many areas of research. Many open-source eye trackers are available but current open-source systems are not designed to track eye movements with the temporal resolution required to investigate the mechanisms of oculomotor behavior. Commercial systems are available but employ closed source hardware and software and are relatively expensive, limiting wide-spread use. Here we present Oculomatic, an open-source software and modular hardware solution to eye tracking for use in humans and non-human primates. Oculomatic features high temporal resolution (up to 600Hz), real-time eye tracking with high spatial accuracy (<0.5°), and low system latency (∼1.8ms, 0.32ms STD) at a relatively low-cost. Oculomatic compares favorably to our existing scleral search-coil system while being fully non invasive. We propose that Oculomatic can support a wide range of research into the properties and neural mechanisms of oculomotor behavior. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Water gate array for current flow or tidal movement pneumatic harnessing system

DOEpatents

Gorlov, Alexander M.

1991-01-01

The invention, which provides a system for harnessing power from current flow or tidal movement in a body of water, comprises first and second hydro-pneumatic chambers each having ingress and egress below the water surface near the river or ocean floor and water gates operative to open or seal the ports to the passage of water. In an exemplary embodiment, the gates are sychronized by shafts so that the ingress ports of each chamber are connected to the egress ports of each other chamber. Thus, one set of gates is closed, while the other is open, thereby allowing water to flow into one chamber and build air pressure therein and allowing water to flow out of the other chamber and create a partial vacuum therein. A pipe connects the chambers, and an air turbine harnesses the air movement within the pipe. When water levels are equilibrated, the open set of gates is closed by a counterweight, and the other set is allowed to open by natural force of the water differential. The water gates may be comprised of a plurality of louvers which are ganged for simultaneous opening and closing. The system is designed to operate with air turbines or other pneumatic devices. Its design minimizes construction cost and environmental impact, yet provides a clean renewable energy source.

Quantification of larval zebrafish motor function in multi-well plates using open-source MATLAB® applications

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yangzhong; Cattley, Richard T.; Cario, Clinton L.; Bai, Qing; Burton, Edward A.

2014-01-01

This article describes a method to quantify the movements of larval zebrafish in multi-well plates, using the open-source MATLAB® applications LSRtrack and LSRanalyze. The protocol comprises four stages: generation of high-quality, flatly-illuminated video recordings with exposure settings that facilitate object recognition; analysis of the resulting recordings using tools provided in LSRtrack to optimize tracking accuracy and motion detection; analysis of tracking data using LSRanalyze or custom MATLAB® scripts; implementation of validation controls. The method is reliable, automated and flexible, requires less than one hour of hands-on work for completion once optimized, and shows excellent signal:noise characteristics. The resulting data can be analyzed to determine: positional preference; displacement, velocity and acceleration; duration and frequency of movement events and rest periods. This approach is widely applicable to analyze spontaneous or stimulus-evoked zebrafish larval neurobehavioral phenotypes resulting from a broad array of genetic and environmental manipulations, in a multi-well plate format suitable for high-throughput applications. PMID:24901738

Quantification of larval zebrafish motor function in multiwell plates using open-source MATLAB applications.

PubMed

Zhou, Yangzhong; Cattley, Richard T; Cario, Clinton L; Bai, Qing; Burton, Edward A

2014-07-01

This article describes a method to quantify the movements of larval zebrafish in multiwell plates, using the open-source MATLAB applications LSRtrack and LSRanalyze. The protocol comprises four stages: generation of high-quality, flatly illuminated video recordings with exposure settings that facilitate object recognition; analysis of the resulting recordings using tools provided in LSRtrack to optimize tracking accuracy and motion detection; analysis of tracking data using LSRanalyze or custom MATLAB scripts; and implementation of validation controls. The method is reliable, automated and flexible, requires <1 h of hands-on work for completion once optimized and shows excellent signal:noise characteristics. The resulting data can be analyzed to determine the following: positional preference; displacement, velocity and acceleration; and duration and frequency of movement events and rest periods. This approach is widely applicable to the analysis of spontaneous or stimulus-evoked zebrafish larval neurobehavioral phenotypes resulting from a broad array of genetic and environmental manipulations, in a multiwell plate format suitable for high-throughput applications.

Combining two open source tools for neural computation (BioPatRec and Netlab) improves movement classification for prosthetic control.

PubMed

Prahm, Cosima; Eckstein, Korbinian; Ortiz-Catalan, Max; Dorffner, Georg; Kaniusas, Eugenijus; Aszmann, Oskar C

2016-08-31

Controlling a myoelectric prosthesis for upper limbs is increasingly challenging for the user as more electrodes and joints become available. Motion classification based on pattern recognition with a multi-electrode array allows multiple joints to be controlled simultaneously. Previous pattern recognition studies are difficult to compare, because individual research groups use their own data sets. To resolve this shortcoming and to facilitate comparisons, open access data sets were analysed using components of BioPatRec and Netlab pattern recognition models. Performances of the artificial neural networks, linear models, and training program components were compared. Evaluation took place within the BioPatRec environment, a Matlab-based open source platform that provides feature extraction, processing and motion classification algorithms for prosthetic control. The algorithms were applied to myoelectric signals for individual and simultaneous classification of movements, with the aim of finding the best performing algorithm and network model. Evaluation criteria included classification accuracy and training time. Results in both the linear and the artificial neural network models demonstrated that Netlab's implementation using scaled conjugate training algorithm reached significantly higher accuracies than BioPatRec. It is concluded that the best movement classification performance would be achieved through integrating Netlab training algorithms in the BioPatRec environment so that future prosthesis training can be shortened and control made more reliable. Netlab was therefore included into the newest release of BioPatRec (v4.0).

The Organizational Impact of Open Educational Resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sclater, Niall

The open educational resource (OER) movement has been growing rapidly since 2001, stimulated by funding from benefactors such as the Hewlett Foundation and UNESCO, and providing educational content freely to institutions and learners across the world. Individuals and organizations are motivated by a variety of drivers to produce OERs, both altruistic and self-interested. There are parallels with the open source movement, where authors and others combine their efforts to provide a product which they and others can use freely and adapt to their own purposes. There are many different ways in which OER initiatives are organized and an infinite range of possibilities for how the OERs themselves are constituted. If institutions are to develop sustainable OER initiatives, they need to build successful change management initiatives, developing models for the production and quality assurance of OERs, licensing them through appropriate mechanisms such as the Creative Commons, and considering how the resources will be discovered and used by learners.

Open Knee: Open Source Modeling & Simulation to Enable Scientific Discovery and Clinical Care in Knee Biomechanics

PubMed Central

Erdemir, Ahmet

2016-01-01

Virtual representations of the knee joint can provide clinicians, scientists, and engineers the tools to explore mechanical function of the knee and its tissue structures in health and disease. Modeling and simulation approaches such as finite element analysis also provide the possibility to understand the influence of surgical procedures and implants on joint stresses and tissue deformations. A large number of knee joint models are described in the biomechanics literature. However, freely accessible, customizable, and easy-to-use models are scarce. Availability of such models can accelerate clinical translation of simulations, where labor intensive reproduction of model development steps can be avoided. The interested parties can immediately utilize readily available models for scientific discovery and for clinical care. Motivated by this gap, this study aims to describe an open source and freely available finite element representation of the tibiofemoral joint, namely Open Knee, which includes detailed anatomical representation of the joint's major tissue structures, their nonlinear mechanical properties and interactions. Three use cases illustrate customization potential of the model, its predictive capacity, and its scientific and clinical utility: prediction of joint movements during passive flexion, examining the role of meniscectomy on contact mechanics and joint movements, and understanding anterior cruciate ligament mechanics. A summary of scientific and clinically directed studies conducted by other investigators are also provided. The utilization of this open source model by groups other than its developers emphasizes the premise of model sharing as an accelerator of simulation-based medicine. Finally, the imminent need to develop next generation knee models are noted. These are anticipated to incorporate individualized anatomy and tissue properties supported by specimen-specific joint mechanics data for evaluation, all acquired in vitro from varying age groups and pathological states. PMID:26444849

Open Knee: Open Source Modeling and Simulation in Knee Biomechanics.

PubMed

Erdemir, Ahmet

2016-02-01

Virtual representations of the knee joint can provide clinicians, scientists, and engineers the tools to explore mechanical functions of the knee and its tissue structures in health and disease. Modeling and simulation approaches such as finite element analysis also provide the possibility to understand the influence of surgical procedures and implants on joint stresses and tissue deformations. A large number of knee joint models are described in the biomechanics literature. However, freely accessible, customizable, and easy-to-use models are scarce. Availability of such models can accelerate clinical translation of simulations, where labor-intensive reproduction of model development steps can be avoided. Interested parties can immediately utilize readily available models for scientific discovery and clinical care. Motivated by this gap, this study aims to describe an open source and freely available finite element representation of the tibiofemoral joint, namely Open Knee, which includes the detailed anatomical representation of the joint's major tissue structures and their nonlinear mechanical properties and interactions. Three use cases illustrate customization potential of the model, its predictive capacity, and its scientific and clinical utility: prediction of joint movements during passive flexion, examining the role of meniscectomy on contact mechanics and joint movements, and understanding anterior cruciate ligament mechanics. A summary of scientific and clinically directed studies conducted by other investigators are also provided. The utilization of this open source model by groups other than its developers emphasizes the premise of model sharing as an accelerator of simulation-based medicine. Finally, the imminent need to develop next-generation knee models is noted. These are anticipated to incorporate individualized anatomy and tissue properties supported by specimen-specific joint mechanics data for evaluation, all acquired in vitro from varying age groups and pathological states. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) and PEBL Test Battery.

PubMed

Mueller, Shane T; Piper, Brian J

2014-01-30

We briefly describe the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL), an open source software system for designing and running psychological experiments. We describe the PEBL Test Battery, a set of approximately 70 behavioral tests which can be freely used, shared, and modified. Included is a comprehensive set of past research upon which tests in the battery are based. We report the results of benchmark tests that establish the timing precision of PEBL. We consider alternatives to the PEBL system and battery tests. We conclude with a discussion of the ethical factors involved in the open source testing movement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) and PEBL Test Battery

PubMed Central

Mueller, Shane T.; Piper, Brian J.

2014-01-01

Background We briefly describe the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL), an open source software system for designing and running psychological experiments. New Method We describe the PEBL test battery, a set of approximately 70 behavioral tests which can be freely used, shared, and modified. Included is a comprehensive set of past research upon which tests in the battery are based. Results We report the results of benchmark tests that establish the timing precision of PEBL. Comparison with Existing Method We consider alternatives to the PEBL system and battery tests. Conclusions We conclude with a discussion of the ethical factors involved in the open source testing movement. PMID:24269254

The continued movement for open access to peer-reviewed literature.

PubMed

Liesegang, Thomas J

2013-09-01

To provide a current overview of the movement for open access to the peer review literature. Perspective. Literature review of recent advances in the open access movement with a personal viewpoint of the nuances of the movement. The open access movement is complex, with many different constituents. The idealists for the open access movement are seeking open access to the literature but also to the data that constitute the research within the manuscript. The business model of the traditional subscription journal is being scrutinized in relation to the surge in the number of open access journals. Within this environment authors should beware predatory practices. More government and funding agencies are mandating open access to their funded research. This open access movement will continue to be disruptive until a business model ensures continuity of the scientific record. A flood of open access articles that might enrich, but also might pollute or confuse, the medical literature has altered the filtering mechanism provided by the traditional peer review system. At some point there may be a shake-out, with some literature being lost in cyberspace. The open access movement is maturing and must be embraced in some format. The challenge is to establish a sustainable financial business model that will permit the use of digital technology but yet not endanger the decades-old traditional publication model and peer review system. Authors seem to be slower in adopting open access than the idealists in the movement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Educators Assess "Open Content" Movement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trotter, Andrew

2009-01-01

This article discusses the open-content movement in education. A small but growing movement of K-12 educators is latching on to educational resources that are "open," or free for others to use, change, and republish on web sites that promote sharing. The open-content movement is fueled partly by digital creation tools that make it easy…

Sinks without borders: Snowshoe hare dynamics in a complex landscape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Griffin, Paul C.; Mills, L. Scott

2009-01-01

A full understanding of population dynamics of wide-ranging animals should account for the effects that movement and habitat use have on individual contributions to population growth or decline. Quantifying the per-capita, habitat-specific contribution to population growth can clarify the value of different patch types, and help to differentiate population sources from population sinks. Snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, routinely use various habitat types in the landscapes they inhabit in the contiguous US, where managing forests for high snowshoe hare density is a priority for conservation of Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis. We estimated density and demographic rates via mark–recapture live trapping and radio-telemetry within four forest stand structure (FSS) types at three study areas within heterogeneous managed forests in western Montana. We found support for known fate survival models with time-varying individual covariates representing the proportion of locations in each of the FSS types, with survival rates decreasing as use of open young and open mature FSS types increased. The per-capita contribution to overall population growth increased with use of the dense mature or dense young FSS types and decreased with use of the open young or open mature FSS types, and relatively high levels of immigration appear to be necessary to sustain hares in the open FSS types. Our results support a conceptual model for snowshoe hares in the southern range in which sink habitats (open areas) prevent the buildup of high hare densities. More broadly, we use this system to develop a novel approach to quantify demographic sources and sinks for animals making routine movements through complex fragmented landscapes.

Data Mining Algorithms for Classification of Complex Biomedical Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lan, Liang

2012-01-01

In my dissertation, I will present my research which contributes to solve the following three open problems from biomedical informatics: (1) Multi-task approaches for microarray classification; (2) Multi-label classification of gene and protein prediction from multi-source biological data; (3) Spatial scan for movement data. In microarray…

"Pleiades Visions" for organ solo: A composition supported by documented research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitehouse, Matthew Robert

Pleiades Visions is a three-movement work for organ solo inspired by indigenous music and mythology associated with the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) star cluster. Three cultural groups are represented in Pleiades Visions. The first movement, entitled "Uluru," draws from Australian Aboriginal music and mythology. The second movement, entitled "...life on other worlds," is based loosely on a Quechan (Yuman) Indian song. The concluding movement, entitled "Mauna Kea," is inspired by the opening lines of the Kumulipo, a creation chant of the Native Hawaiian culture. The source material for Pleiades Visions was identified through research incorporating techniques from the fields of cultural astronomy and ethnomusicology. This research represents a new line of inquiry for both fields. This document situates Pleiades Visions in the context of the organ literature, and suggests that Pleiades Visions might be the first organ work with a cultural astronomy inspiration. It also describes the research undergirding Pleiades Visions, demonstrates the manner in which that research informed the composition of the work, and addresses issues surrounding the use of indigenous source material in a culturally sensitive manner.

VideoHacking: Automated Tracking and Quantification of Locomotor Behavior with Open Source Software and Off-the-Shelf Video Equipment.

PubMed

Conklin, Emily E; Lee, Kathyann L; Schlabach, Sadie A; Woods, Ian G

2015-01-01

Differences in nervous system function can result in differences in behavioral output. Measurements of animal locomotion enable the quantification of these differences. Automated tracking of animal movement is less labor-intensive and bias-prone than direct observation, and allows for simultaneous analysis of multiple animals, high spatial and temporal resolution, and data collection over extended periods of time. Here, we present a new video-tracking system built on Python-based software that is free, open source, and cross-platform, and that can analyze video input from widely available video capture devices such as smartphone cameras and webcams. We validated this software through four tests on a variety of animal species, including larval and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), Siberian dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), and wild birds. These tests highlight the capacity of our software for long-term data acquisition, parallel analysis of multiple animals, and application to animal species of different sizes and movement patterns. We applied the software to an analysis of the effects of ethanol on thigmotaxis (wall-hugging) behavior on adult zebrafish, and found that acute ethanol treatment decreased thigmotaxis behaviors without affecting overall amounts of motion. The open source nature of our software enables flexibility, customization, and scalability in behavioral analyses. Moreover, our system presents a free alternative to commercial video-tracking systems and is thus broadly applicable to a wide variety of educational settings and research programs.

Human Movement Variability, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Pathology: Is There A Connection?

PubMed Central

Stergiou, Nicholas; Decker, Leslie M.

2011-01-01

Fields studying movement generation, including robotics, psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience utilize concepts and tools related to the pervasiveness of variability in biological systems. The concept of variability and the measures for nonlinear dynamics used to evaluate this concept open new vistas for research in movement dysfunction of many types. This review describes innovations in the exploration of variability and their potential importance in understanding human movement. Far from being a source of error, evidence supports the presence of an optimal state of variability for healthy and functional movement. This variability has a particular organization and is characterized by a chaotic structure. Deviations from this state can lead to biological systems that are either overly rigid and robotic or noisy and unstable. Both situations result in systems that are less adaptable to perturbations, such as those associated with unhealthy pathological states or absence of skillfulness. PMID:21802756

CALUTRON

DOEpatents

Schmidt, F.H.

1958-08-12

An improved ion source is described for accurately presetting the size amd location of the gas and ion efflux opening. for determining the contour of the electrical field in the vicinity of the arc, and for generally improving the operation of the calutron source. The above features are accomplished by the use of a pair of electrically conductive coplanar plates mounted on opposite sides of the ion exit passage of the source ionization chamber and electrically connected to the source block. The plates are mounted on thc block for individual movement tramsversely of the exit slit and can be secured in place by clannping means.

The Open Source Movement, Publishing, and the Dissemination of Knowledge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Bob

A series of changes in intellectual property law over the last 30 years has made it more difficult for researchers, scientists, authors, and artists to cooperate and collaborate on critically important projects. At the same time, the advance of communications technologies, specifically the Internet, promises to foster an explosion in creativity,…

Cheminformatics and the Semantic Web: adding value with linked data and enhanced provenance

PubMed Central

Frey, Jeremy G; Bird, Colin L

2013-01-01

Cheminformatics is evolving from being a field of study associated primarily with drug discovery into a discipline that embraces the distribution, management, access, and sharing of chemical data. The relationship with the related subject of bioinformatics is becoming stronger and better defined, owing to the influence of Semantic Web technologies, which enable researchers to integrate heterogeneous sources of chemical, biochemical, biological, and medical information. These developments depend on a range of factors: the principles of chemical identifiers and their role in relationships between chemical and biological entities; the importance of preserving provenance and properly curated metadata; and an understanding of the contribution that the Semantic Web can make at all stages of the research lifecycle. The movements toward open access, open source, and open collaboration all contribute to progress toward the goals of integration. PMID:24432050

The Evolution of "The History Teacher" and the Reform of History Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weber, William

2012-01-01

"The History Teacher" originated in a movement to reform history education that grew up among historians in both schools and universities in the 1960s. The call went out to raise the intellectual level of history teaching by having students analyze primary sources in open-ended discussions and thereby, "become their own historians." Teaching with…

Awareness, Attitudes and Participation of Teaching Staff towards the Open Content Movement in One University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reed, Peter

2012-01-01

This research investigates the current awareness of, and participation in, the open content movement at one UK institution for higher education. The open content movement and the open educational resources can be seen as potential methods for reducing time and cost of technology-enhanced learning developments; however, its sustainability and, to…

Embracing the Open-Source Movement for the Management of Spatial Data: A Case Study of African Trypanosomiasis in Kenya

PubMed Central

Langley, Shaun A.; Messina, Joseph P.

2011-01-01

The past decade has seen an explosion in the availability of spatial data not only for researchers, but the public alike. As the quantity of data increases, the ability to effectively navigate and understand the data becomes more challenging. Here we detail a conceptual model for a spatially explicit database management system that addresses the issues raised with the growing data management problem. We demonstrate utility with a case study in disease ecology: to develop a multi-scale predictive model of African Trypanosomiasis in Kenya. International collaborations and varying technical expertise necessitate a modular open-source software solution. Finally, we address three recurring problems with data management: scalability, reliability, and security. PMID:21686072

Embracing the Open-Source Movement for the Management of Spatial Data: A Case Study of African Trypanosomiasis in Kenya.

PubMed

Langley, Shaun A; Messina, Joseph P

2011-01-01

The past decade has seen an explosion in the availability of spatial data not only for researchers, but the public alike. As the quantity of data increases, the ability to effectively navigate and understand the data becomes more challenging. Here we detail a conceptual model for a spatially explicit database management system that addresses the issues raised with the growing data management problem. We demonstrate utility with a case study in disease ecology: to develop a multi-scale predictive model of African Trypanosomiasis in Kenya. International collaborations and varying technical expertise necessitate a modular open-source software solution. Finally, we address three recurring problems with data management: scalability, reliability, and security.

An open-source framework for testing tracking devices using Lego Mindstorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jomier, Julien; Ibanez, Luis; Enquobahrie, Andinet; Pace, Danielle; Cleary, Kevin

2009-02-01

In this paper, we present an open-source framework for testing tracking devices in surgical navigation applications. At the core of image-guided intervention systems is the tracking interface that handles communication with the tracking device and gathers tracking information. Given that the correctness of tracking information is critical for protecting patient safety and for ensuring the successful execution of an intervention, the tracking software component needs to be thoroughly tested on a regular basis. Furthermore, with widespread use of extreme programming methodology that emphasizes continuous and incremental testing of application components, testing design becomes critical. While it is easy to automate most of the testing process, it is often more difficult to test components that require manual intervention such as tracking device. Our framework consists of a robotic arm built from a set of Lego Mindstorms and an open-source toolkit written in C++ to control the robot movements and assess the accuracy of the tracking devices. The application program interface (API) is cross-platform and runs on Windows, Linux and MacOS. We applied this framework for the continuous testing of the Image-Guided Surgery Toolkit (IGSTK), an open-source toolkit for image-guided surgery and shown that regression testing on tracking devices can be performed at low cost and improve significantly the quality of the software.

Faculty Perception of Openness and Attitude to Open Sharing at the Indian National Open University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Panda, Santosh; Santosh, Sujata

2017-01-01

In the past decade, the educational scenario world over has significantly been impacted by open access and open education movements. The philosophy of openness and sharing forms the cornerstone of the open education movement. The distance education approaches, together with open educational resources (OER) and massive open online courses (MOOCs),…

Heat Treating Apparatus

DOEpatents

De Saro, Robert; Bateman, Willis

2002-09-10

Apparatus for heat treating a heat treatable material including a housing having an upper opening for receiving a heat treatable material at a first temperature, a lower opening, and a chamber therebetween for heating the heat treatable material to a second temperature higher than the first temperature as the heat treatable material moves through the chamber from the upper to the lower opening. A gas supply assembly is operatively engaged to the housing at the lower opening, and includes a source of gas, a gas delivery assembly for delivering the gas through a plurality of pathways into the housing in countercurrent flow to movement of the heat treatable material, whereby the heat treatable material passes through the lower opening at the second temperature, and a control assembly for controlling conditions within the chamber to enable the heat treatable material to reach the second temperature and pass through the lower opening at the second temperature as a heated material.

radR: an open-source platform for acquiring and analysing data on biological targets observed by surveillance radar.

PubMed

Taylor, Philip D; Brzustowski, John M; Matkovich, Carolyn; Peckford, Michael L; Wilson, Dave

2010-10-26

Radar has been used for decades to study movement of insects, birds and bats. In spite of this, there are few readily available software tools for the acquisition, storage and processing of such data. Program radR was developed to solve this problem. Program radR is an open source software tool for the acquisition, storage and analysis of data from marine radars operating in surveillance mode. radR takes time series data with a two-dimensional spatial component as input from some source (typically a radar digitizing card) and extracts and retains information of biological relevance (i.e. moving targets). Low-level data processing is implemented in "C" code, but user-defined functions written in the "R" statistical programming language can be called at pre-defined steps in the calculations. Output data formats are designed to allow for future inclusion of additional data items without requiring change to C code. Two brands of radar digitizing card are currently supported as data sources. We also provide an overview of the basic considerations of setting up and running a biological radar study. Program radR provides a convenient, open source platform for the acquisition and analysis of radar data of biological targets.

radR: an open-source platform for acquiring and analysing data on biological targets observed by surveillance radar

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Radar has been used for decades to study movement of insects, birds and bats. In spite of this, there are few readily available software tools for the acquisition, storage and processing of such data. Program radR was developed to solve this problem. Results Program radR is an open source software tool for the acquisition, storage and analysis of data from marine radars operating in surveillance mode. radR takes time series data with a two-dimensional spatial component as input from some source (typically a radar digitizing card) and extracts and retains information of biological relevance (i.e. moving targets). Low-level data processing is implemented in "C" code, but user-defined functions written in the "R" statistical programming language can be called at pre-defined steps in the calculations. Output data formats are designed to allow for future inclusion of additional data items without requiring change to C code. Two brands of radar digitizing card are currently supported as data sources. We also provide an overview of the basic considerations of setting up and running a biological radar study. Conclusions Program radR provides a convenient, open source platform for the acquisition and analysis of radar data of biological targets. PMID:20977735

Exploring User Acceptance of FOSS: The Role of the Age of the Users

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallego, M. Dolores; Bueno, Salvador

Free and open source software (FOSS) movement essentially arises like answer to the evolution occurred in the market from the software, characterized by the closing of the source code. Furthermore, some FOSS characteristics, such as (1) the advance of this movement and (2) the attractiveness that contributes the voluntary and cooperative work, have increased the interest of the users towards free software. Traditionally, research in FOSS has focused on identifying individual personal motives for participating in the development of a FOSS project, analyzing specific FOSS solutions, or the FOSS movement itself. Nevertheless, the advantages of the FOSS for users and the effect of the demographic dimensions on user acceptance for FOSS have been two research topics with little attention. Specifically, this paper's aim is to focus on the influence of the userś age with FOSS the FOSS acceptance. Based on the literature, userś age is an essential demographic dimension for explaining the Information Systems acceptance. With this purpose, the authors have developed a research model based on the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM).

Estimating abundance of an open population with an N-mixture model using auxiliary data on animal movements.

PubMed

Ketz, Alison C; Johnson, Therese L; Monello, Ryan J; Mack, John A; George, Janet L; Kraft, Benjamin R; Wild, Margaret A; Hooten, Mevin B; Hobbs, N Thompson

2018-04-01

Accurate assessment of abundance forms a central challenge in population ecology and wildlife management. Many statistical techniques have been developed to estimate population sizes because populations change over time and space and to correct for the bias resulting from animals that are present in a study area but not observed. The mobility of individuals makes it difficult to design sampling procedures that account for movement into and out of areas with fixed jurisdictional boundaries. Aerial surveys are the gold standard used to obtain data of large mobile species in geographic regions with harsh terrain, but these surveys can be prohibitively expensive and dangerous. Estimating abundance with ground-based census methods have practical advantages, but it can be difficult to simultaneously account for temporary emigration and observer error to avoid biased results. Contemporary research in population ecology increasingly relies on telemetry observations of the states and locations of individuals to gain insight on vital rates, animal movements, and population abundance. Analytical models that use observations of movements to improve estimates of abundance have not been developed. Here we build upon existing multi-state mark-recapture methods using a hierarchical N-mixture model with multiple sources of data, including telemetry data on locations of individuals, to improve estimates of population sizes. We used a state-space approach to model animal movements to approximate the number of marked animals present within the study area at any observation period, thereby accounting for a frequently changing number of marked individuals. We illustrate the approach using data on a population of elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Northern Colorado, USA. We demonstrate substantial improvement compared to existing abundance estimation methods and corroborate our results from the ground based surveys with estimates from aerial surveys during the same seasons. We develop a hierarchical Bayesian N-mixture model using multiple sources of data on abundance, movement and survival to estimate the population size of a mobile species that uses remote conservation areas. The model improves accuracy of inference relative to previous methods for estimating abundance of open populations. © 2018 by the Ecological Society of America.

A model of mandibular movements during speech: normative pilot study for the Brazilian Portuguese language.

PubMed

Bianchini, Esther M G; de Andrade, Cláudia R F

2006-07-01

The precision of speech articulation is related to the possibility and freedom of the mandibular movements, modifying the spaces in order to allow the different articulatory positions of each sound. Electrognathography allows the objective delineation and registration of the mandibular movements, determining the level of opening, translations and velocity of these movements. Its use is a resource that can establish quantitative diagnostic parameters. The aim of this study was to verify the amplitude, velocity and characterization of the mandibular movements during speech using computerized electrognathography. Participants were 40 adults, male and female, with no temporomandibular disorders; with no missing teeth; with no dental occlusion alterations or dentofacial deformities; with no dental prostheses; and with no communication, neurological or cognitive deficits. The mandibular movements were observed during the sequential naming of pictures containing all the phonemes of the Brazilian Portuguese language. The registrations were obtained using electrognathography (BioENG-BioPak system), assessing the spatial position, course and velocity of the mandibular movements. The mean values of velocity were: 88.65 mm/sec during opening and 89.90mm/sec during closing. The mean values of amplitude were: sagittal opening: 12.77 mm, frontal opening: 11.21 mm, protrusion: 1.22 mm; retrusion 5.67 mm; translations to the right: 1.49 mm and to the left: 1.59 mm. The velocity of opening is directly related to that of closing. The amplitude of opening demonstrates a direct correlation with the velocity of opening and closing. All participants presented lateral translations during the course of the jaw. The assessment of speech in normal individuals is characterized by: discreet mandibular movements with an anteroposterior component and lateral translations. This study allowed for the delineation of a profile of the mandibular movements during speech in asymptomatic individuals.

Open Source Tools for Numerical Simulation of Urban Greenhouse Gas Emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nottrott, A.; Tan, S. M.; He, Y.

2016-12-01

There is a global movement toward urbanization. Approximately 7% of the global population lives in just 28 megacities, occupying less than 0.1% of the total land area used by human activity worldwide. These cities contribute a significant fraction of the global budget of anthropogenic primary pollutants and greenhouse gasses. The 27 largest cities consume 9.9%, 9.3%, 6.7% and 3.0% of global gasoline, electricity, energy and water use, respectively. This impact motivates novel approaches to quantify and mitigate the growing contribution of megacity emissions to global climate change. Cities are characterized by complex topography, inhomogeneous turbulence, and variable pollutant source distributions. These features create a scale separation between local sources and urban scale emissions estimates known as the Grey-Zone. Modern computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques provide a quasi-deterministic, physically based toolset to bridge the scale separation gap between source level dynamics, local measurements, and urban scale emissions inventories. CFD has the capability to represent complex building topography and capture detailed 3D turbulence fields in the urban boundary layer. This presentation discusses the application of OpenFOAM to urban CFD simulations of natural gas leaks in cities. OpenFOAM is an open source software for advanced numerical simulation of engineering and environmental fluid flows. When combined with free or low cost computer aided drawing and GIS, OpenFOAM generates a detailed, 3D representation of urban wind fields. OpenFOAM was applied to model methane (CH4) emissions from various components of the natural gas distribution system, to investigate the impact of urban meteorology on mobile CH4 measurements. The numerical experiments demonstrate that CH4 concentration profiles are highly sensitive to the relative location of emission sources and buildings. Sources separated by distances of 5-10 meters showed significant differences in vertical dispersion of the plume due to building wake effects. The OpenFOAM flow fields were combined with an inverse, stochastic dispersion model to quantify and visualize the sensitivity of point sensors to upwind sources in various built environments.

Relationship between masticatory performance using a gummy jelly and masticatory movement.

PubMed

Uesugi, Hanako; Shiga, Hiroshi

2017-10-01

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between masticatory performance using a gummy jelly and masticatory movement. Thirty healthy males were asked to chew a gummy jelly on their habitual chewing side for 20s, and the parameters of masticatory performance and masticatory movement were calculated as follows. For evaluating the masticatory performance, the amount of glucose extraction during chewing of a gummy jelly was measured. For evaluating the masticatory movement, the movement of the mandibular incisal point was recorded using the MKG K6-I, and ten parameters of the movement path (opening distance and masticatory width), movement rhythm (opening time, closing time, occluding time, and cycle time), stability of movement (stability of path and stability of rhythm), and movement velocity (opening maximum velocity and closing maximum velocity) were calculated from 10 cycles of chewing beginning with the fifth cycle. The relationship between the amount of glucose extraction and parameters representing masticatory movement was investigated and then stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed. The amount of glucose extraction was associated with 7 parameters representing the masticatory movement. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that the opening distance, closing time, stability of rhythm, and closing maximum velocity were the most important factors affecting the glucose extraction. From these results it was suggested that there was a close relation between masticatory performance and masticatory movement, and that the masticatory performance could be increased by rhythmic, rapid and stable mastication with a large opening distance. Copyright © 2017 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of canopy opening and debris deposition on fungal connectivity, phosphorus movement between litter cohorts and mass loss

Treesearch

D. Jean Lodge; Sharon A. Cantrell; Grizelle Gonzalez

2014-01-01

Fungi are important for maintaining fast rates of decomposition in low quality tropical leaf litter via immobilization and translocation of limiting nutrients from sources to sinks and conserving nutrients after disturbance. Tropical trees often have low nutrient to carbon ratios. Disturbances such as hurricanes and logging transfer a large mass of green leaves with...

Adjusting to Social Change - A Multi-Level Analysis in Three Cultures

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed , and completing and reviewing the...presence is often associated with the large-scale movement of civilian populations, and who need to better understand the Distribution A: Approved for...valuing openness to change (self-direction, stimulation and sometimes hedonism values) with valuing conservation (conformity, tradition and security

Vision Based Autonomous Robotic Control for Advanced Inspection and Repair

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wehner, Walter S.

2014-01-01

The advanced inspection system is an autonomous control and analysis system that improves the inspection and remediation operations for ground and surface systems. It uses optical imaging technology with intelligent computer vision algorithms to analyze physical features of the real-world environment to make decisions and learn from experience. The advanced inspection system plans to control a robotic manipulator arm, an unmanned ground vehicle and cameras remotely, automatically and autonomously. There are many computer vision, image processing and machine learning techniques available as open source for using vision as a sensory feedback in decision-making and autonomous robotic movement. My responsibilities for the advanced inspection system are to create a software architecture that integrates and provides a framework for all the different subsystem components; identify open-source algorithms and techniques; and integrate robot hardware.

PyGaze: an open-source, cross-platform toolbox for minimal-effort programming of eyetracking experiments.

PubMed

Dalmaijer, Edwin S; Mathôt, Sebastiaan; Van der Stigchel, Stefan

2014-12-01

The PyGaze toolbox is an open-source software package for Python, a high-level programming language. It is designed for creating eyetracking experiments in Python syntax with the least possible effort, and it offers programming ease and script readability without constraining functionality and flexibility. PyGaze can be used for visual and auditory stimulus presentation; for response collection via keyboard, mouse, joystick, and other external hardware; and for the online detection of eye movements using a custom algorithm. A wide range of eyetrackers of different brands (EyeLink, SMI, and Tobii systems) are supported. The novelty of PyGaze lies in providing an easy-to-use layer on top of the many different software libraries that are required for implementing eyetracking experiments. Essentially, PyGaze is a software bridge for eyetracking research.

DStat: A Versatile, Open-Source Potentiostat for Electroanalysis and Integration.

PubMed

Dryden, Michael D M; Wheeler, Aaron R

2015-01-01

Most electroanalytical techniques require the precise control of the potentials in an electrochemical cell using a potentiostat. Commercial potentiostats function as "black boxes," giving limited information about their circuitry and behaviour which can make development of new measurement techniques and integration with other instruments challenging. Recently, a number of lab-built potentiostats have emerged with various design goals including low manufacturing cost and field-portability, but notably lacking is an accessible potentiostat designed for general lab use, focusing on measurement quality combined with ease of use and versatility. To fill this gap, we introduce DStat (http://microfluidics.utoronto.ca/dstat), an open-source, general-purpose potentiostat for use alone or integrated with other instruments. DStat offers picoampere current measurement capabilities, a compact USB-powered design, and user-friendly cross-platform software. DStat is easy and inexpensive to build, may be modified freely, and achieves good performance at low current levels not accessible to other lab-built instruments. In head-to-head tests, DStat's voltammetric measurements are much more sensitive than those of "CheapStat" (a popular open-source potentiostat described previously), and are comparable to those of a compact commercial "black box" potentiostat. Likewise, in head-to-head tests, DStat's potentiometric precision is similar to that of a commercial pH meter. Most importantly, the versatility of DStat was demonstrated through integration with the open-source DropBot digital microfluidics platform. In sum, we propose that DStat is a valuable contribution to the "open source" movement in analytical science, which is allowing users to adapt their tools to their experiments rather than alter their experiments to be compatible with their tools.

A Descriptive Study of the Utilization of Behavioral Health Resources in the Fort Hood Catchment Area

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-15

therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing ( EMDR ), and medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI...Test. CAGE is an acronym created by taking the first letter of the words Cut Down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye Opener, which are words imbedded in the...hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources gathering end maintaining the data needed, and

Database Organisation in a Web-Enabled Free and Open-Source Software (foss) Environment for Spatio-Temporal Landslide Modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, I.; Oberai, K.; Sarathi Roy, P.

2012-07-01

Landslides exhibit themselves in different mass movement processes and are considered among the most complex natural hazards occurring on the earth surface. Making landslide database available online via WWW (World Wide Web) promotes the spreading and reaching out of the landslide information to all the stakeholders. The aim of this research is to present a comprehensive database for generating landslide hazard scenario with the help of available historic records of landslides and geo-environmental factors and make them available over the Web using geospatial Free & Open Source Software (FOSS). FOSS reduces the cost of the project drastically as proprietary software's are very costly. Landslide data generated for the period 1982 to 2009 were compiled along the national highway road corridor in Indian Himalayas. All the geo-environmental datasets along with the landslide susceptibility map were served through WEBGIS client interface. Open source University of Minnesota (UMN) mapserver was used as GIS server software for developing web enabled landslide geospatial database. PHP/Mapscript server-side application serve as a front-end application and PostgreSQL with PostGIS extension serve as a backend application for the web enabled landslide spatio-temporal databases. This dynamic virtual visualization process through a web platform brings an insight into the understanding of the landslides and the resulting damage closer to the affected people and user community. The landslide susceptibility dataset is also made available as an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Feature Service (WFS) which can be accessed through any OGC compliant open source or proprietary GIS Software.

Do-it-yourself biology: challenges and promises for an open science and technology movement.

PubMed

Landrain, Thomas; Meyer, Morgan; Perez, Ariel Martin; Sussan, Remi

2013-09-01

The do-it-yourself biology (DIYbio) community is emerging as a movement that fosters open access to resources permitting modern molecular biology, and synthetic biology among others. It promises in particular to be a source of cheaper and simpler solutions for environmental monitoring, personal diagnostic and the use of biomaterials. The successful growth of a global community of DIYbio practitioners will depend largely on enabling safe access to state-of-the-art molecular biology tools and resources. In this paper we analyze the rise of DIYbio, its community, its material resources and its applications. We look at the current projects developed for the international genetically engineered machine competition in order to get a sense of what amateur biologists can potentially create in their community laboratories over the coming years. We also show why and how the DIYbio community, in the context of a global governance development, is putting in place a safety/ethical framework for guarantying the pursuit of its activity. And finally we argue that the global spread of DIY biology potentially reconfigures and opens up access to biological information and laboratory equipment and that, therefore, it can foster new practices and transversal collaborations between professional scientists and amateurs.

Water cycle algorithm: A detailed standard code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadollah, Ali; Eskandar, Hadi; Lee, Ho Min; Yoo, Do Guen; Kim, Joong Hoon

Inspired by the observation of the water cycle process and movements of rivers and streams toward the sea, a population-based metaheuristic algorithm, the water cycle algorithm (WCA) has recently been proposed. Lately, an increasing number of WCA applications have appeared and the WCA has been utilized in different optimization fields. This paper provides detailed open source code for the WCA, of which the performance and efficiency has been demonstrated for solving optimization problems. The WCA has an interesting and simple concept and this paper aims to use its source code to provide a step-by-step explanation of the process it follows.

The Battle for Open--A Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weller, Martin

2013-01-01

In this article the author argues that openness in education has been successful in establishing itself as an approach. However, this initial victory should be viewed as part of a larger battle around the nature of openness. Drawing lessons from history and the green movement, a number of challenges for the open education movement are identified…

The Investigation of Pointing Behaviors in Web Browsing

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-26

fast movements have a different error model from slow movements and study the impact induced by the open-loop nature of fast 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY...whether or not fast movements have a different error model from slow movements and study the impact induced by the open-loop nature of fast movements. (3...PI will comparison of Fitts’ law results for natural browsing using two different pointing devices: physical mouse and laptop touchpad in order to

Beta-band activity and connectivity in sensorimotor and parietal cortex are important for accurate motor performance.

PubMed

Chung, Jae W; Ofori, Edward; Misra, Gaurav; Hess, Christopher W; Vaillancourt, David E

2017-01-01

Accurate motor performance may depend on the scaling of distinct oscillatory activity within the motor cortex and effective neural communication between the motor cortex and other brain areas. Oscillatory activity within the beta-band (13-30Hz) has been suggested to provide distinct functional roles for attention and sensorimotor control, yet it remains unclear how beta-band and other oscillatory activity within and between cortical regions is coordinated to enhance motor performance. We explore this open issue by simultaneously measuring high-density cortical activity and elbow flexor and extensor neuromuscular activity during ballistic movements, and manipulating error using high and low visual gain across three target distances. Compared with low visual gain, high visual gain decreased movement errors at each distance. Group analyses in 3D source-space revealed increased theta-, alpha-, and beta-band desynchronization of the contralateral motor cortex and medial parietal cortex in high visual gain conditions and this corresponded to reduced movement error. Dynamic causal modeling was used to compute connectivity between motor cortex and parietal cortex. Analyses revealed that gain affected the directionally-specific connectivity across broadband frequencies from parietal to sensorimotor cortex but not from sensorimotor cortex to parietal cortex. These new findings provide support for the interpretation that broad-band oscillations in theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands within sensorimotor and parietal cortex coordinate to facilitate accurate upper limb movement. Our findings establish a link between sensorimotor oscillations in the context of online motor performance in common source space across subjects. Specifically, the extent and distinct role of medial parietal cortex to sensorimotor beta connectivity and local domain broadband activity combine in a time and frequency manner to assist ballistic movements. These findings can serve as a model to examine whether similar source space EEG dynamics exhibit different time-frequency changes in individuals with neurological disorders that cause movement errors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Home Range and Ranging Behaviour of Bornean Elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) Females

PubMed Central

Alfred, Raymond; Ahmad, Abd Hamid; Payne, Junaidi; Williams, Christy; Ambu, Laurentius Nayan; How, Phua Mui; Goossens, Benoit

2012-01-01

Background Home range is defined as the extent and location of the area covered annually by a wild animal in its natural habitat. Studies of African and Indian elephants in landscapes of largely open habitats have indicated that the sizes of the home range are determined not only by the food supplies and seasonal changes, but also by numerous other factors including availability of water sources, habitat loss and the existence of man-made barriers. The home range size for the Bornean elephant had never been investigated before. Methodology/Principal Findings The first satellite tracking program to investigate the movement of wild Bornean elephants in Sabah was initiated in 2005. Five adult female elephants were immobilized and neck collars were fitted with tracking devices. The sizes of their home range and movement patterns were determined using location data gathered from a satellite tracking system and analyzed by using the Minimum Convex Polygon and Harmonic Mean methods. Home range size was estimated to be 250 to 400 km2 in a non-fragmented forest and 600 km2 in a fragmented forest. The ranging behavior was influenced by the size of the natural forest habitat and the availability of permanent water sources. The movement pattern was influenced by human disturbance and the need to move from one feeding site to another. Conclusions/Significance Home range and movement rate were influenced by the degree of habitat fragmentation. Once habitat was cleared or converted, the availability of food plants and water sources were reduced, forcing the elephants to travel to adjacent forest areas. Therefore movement rate in fragmented forest was higher than in the non-fragmented forest. Finally, in fragmented habitat human and elephant conflict occurrences were likely to be higher, due to increased movement bringing elephants into contact more often with humans. PMID:22347469

Open source marketing: Camel cigarette brand marketing in the "Web 2.0" world.

PubMed

Freeman, B; Chapman, S

2009-06-01

The international trend towards comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising has seen the tobacco industry become increasingly innovative in its approach to marketing. Further fuelling this innovation is the rapid evolution and accessibility of web-based technology. The internet, as a relatively unregulated marketing environment, provides many opportunities for tobacco companies to pursue their promotional ambitions. In this paper, "open source marketing" is considered as a vehicle that has been appropriated by the tobacco industry, through a case study of efforts to design the packaging for the Camel Signature Blends range of cigarettes. Four sources are used to explore this case study including a marketing literature search, a web-based content search via the Google search engine, interviews with advertising trade informants and an analysis of the Camel brand website. RJ Reynolds (RJR) has proven to be particularly innovative in designing cigarette packaging. RJR engaged with thousands of consumers through their Camel brand website to design four new cigarette flavours and packages. While the Camel Signature Blends packaging designs were subsequently modified for the retail market due to problems arising with their cartoon-like imagery, important lessons arise on how the internet blurs the line between marketing and market research. Open source marketing has the potential to exploit advertising ban loopholes and stretch legal definitions in order to generate positive word of mouth about tobacco products. There are also lessons in the open source marketing movement for more effective tobacco control measures including interactive social marketing campaigns and requiring plain packaging of tobacco products.

A study comparing ultrasound images of tongue movements between open bite children and normal children in the early mixed dentition period.

PubMed

Kikyo, T; Saito, M; Ishikawa, M

1999-09-01

The tongue surface movement of young patients with or without open bite was evaluated by ultrasound images taken on the posterior part of the tongue on the frontal plane to determine whether there is any relationship between the tongue movement and open bite malocclusion in the early mixed dentition period. The standardized reproducible ultrasound images were obtained using ultrasound diagnostic equipment that was fabricated in a cephalostat unit having a probe stabilizer. At the central portion of the tongue, no significant differences were detected in the duration or the momentum of tongue surface movement on a frontal plane was detected between the patients with and without open bite during swallowing. The farther the region was from the central portion, however, the longer the duration and the bigger the momentum of the tongue surface movement was found in the open bite group. Based on this evidence, it is suggested that an open-bite child swallows by using a tongue thrust motion that forms using a large depressed area in the tongue, whereas a normal child without tongue thrust forms a rather narrow groove in the central portion of the tongue when swallowing.

Relations between open-field, elevated plus-maze, and emergence tests as displayed by C57/BL6J and BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Lalonde, R; Strazielle, C

2008-06-15

The relations between open-field, elevated plus-maze, and emergence tests were examined in two strains of mice. In the open-field, C57BL/6J mice had more ambulatory movements and rears but not stereotyped movements relative to BALB/c. In addition, C57BL/6J mice entered more often than BALB/c into enclosed and open arms of the elevated plus-maze. When placed inside a large enclosure, C57BL/6J mice emerged more quickly than BALB/c from a small toy object. In the entire series of mice, ambulation and rears in the open-field were linearly correlated with open and enclosed arm visits in the elevated plus-maze. Ambulatory movements and rears were also correlated with emergence latencies. In contrast, stereotyped movements were correlated with emergence latencies, but not with any elevated plus-maze value. These results specify the extent and limits of association between the three tests.

An open-source wireless sensor stack: from Arduino to SDI-12 to Water One Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hicks, S.; Damiano, S. G.; Smith, K. M.; Olexy, J.; Horsburgh, J. S.; Mayorga, E.; Aufdenkampe, A. K.

2013-12-01

Implementing a large-scale streaming environmental sensor network has previously been limited by the high cost of the datalogging and data communication infrastructure. The Christina River Basin Critical Zone Observatory (CRB-CZO) is overcoming the obstacles to large near-real-time data collection networks by using Arduino, an open source electronics platform, in combination with XBee ZigBee wireless radio modules. These extremely low-cost and easy-to-use open source electronics are at the heart of the new DIY movement and have provided solutions to countless projects by over half a million users worldwide. However, their use in environmental sensing is in its infancy. At present a primary limitation to widespread deployment of open-source electronics for environmental sensing is the lack of a simple, open-source software stack to manage streaming data from heterogeneous sensor networks. Here we present a functioning prototype software stack that receives sensor data over a self-meshing ZigBee wireless network from over a hundred sensors, stores the data locally and serves it on demand as a CUAHSI Water One Flow (WOF) web service. We highlight a few new, innovative components, including: (1) a versatile open data logger design based the Arduino electronics platform and ZigBee radios; (2) a software library implementing SDI-12 communication protocol between any Arduino platform and SDI12-enabled sensors without the need for additional hardware (https://github.com/StroudCenter/Arduino-SDI-12); and (3) 'midStream', a light-weight set of Python code that receives streaming sensor data, appends it with metadata on the fly by querying a relational database structured on an early version of the Observations Data Model version 2.0 (ODM2), and uses the WOFpy library to serve the data as WaterML via SOAP and REST web services.

Using leap motion to investigate the emergence of structure in speech and language.

PubMed

Eryilmaz, Kerem; Little, Hannah

2017-10-01

 In evolutionary linguistics, experiments using artificial signal spaces are being used to investigate the emergenceof speech structure. These signal spaces need to be continuous, non-discretized spaces from which discrete unitsand patterns can emerge. They need to be dissimilar from-but comparable with-the vocal tract, in order tominimize interference from pre-existing linguistic knowledge, while informing us about language. This is a hardbalance to strike. This article outlines a new approach that uses the Leap Motion, an infrared controller that canconvert manual movement in 3d space into sound. The signal space using this approach is more flexible than signalspaces in previous attempts. Further, output data using this approach is simpler to arrange and analyze. Theexperimental interface was built using free, and mostly open- source libraries in Python. We provide our sourcecode for other researchers as open source.

EpiContactTrace: an R-package for contact tracing during livestock disease outbreaks and for risk-based surveillance.

PubMed

Nöremark, Maria; Widgren, Stefan

2014-03-17

During outbreak of livestock diseases, contact tracing can be an important part of disease control. Animal movements can also be of relevance for risk-based surveillance and sampling, i.e. both when assessing consequences of introduction or likelihood of introduction. In many countries, animal movement data are collected with one of the major objectives to enable contact tracing. However, often an analytical step is needed to retrieve appropriate information for contact tracing or surveillance. In this study, an open source tool was developed to structure livestock movement data to facilitate contact-tracing in real time during disease outbreaks and for input in risk-based surveillance and sampling. The tool, EpiContactTrace, was written in the R-language and uses the network parameters in-degree, out-degree, ingoing contact chain and outgoing contact chain (also called infection chain), which are relevant for forward and backward tracing respectively. The time-frames for backward and forward tracing can be specified independently and search can be done on one farm at a time or for all farms within the dataset. Different outputs are available; datasets with network measures, contacts visualised in a map and automatically generated reports for each farm either in HTML or PDF-format intended for the end-users, i.e. the veterinary authorities, regional disease control officers and field-veterinarians. EpiContactTrace is available as an R-package at the R-project website (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/EpiContactTrace/). We believe this tool can help in disease control since it rapidly can structure essential contact information from large datasets. The reproducible reports make this tool robust and independent of manual compilation of data. The open source makes it accessible and easily adaptable for different needs.

DStat: A Versatile, Open-Source Potentiostat for Electroanalysis and Integration

PubMed Central

Dryden, Michael D. M.; Wheeler, Aaron R.

2015-01-01

Most electroanalytical techniques require the precise control of the potentials in an electrochemical cell using a potentiostat. Commercial potentiostats function as “black boxes,” giving limited information about their circuitry and behaviour which can make development of new measurement techniques and integration with other instruments challenging. Recently, a number of lab-built potentiostats have emerged with various design goals including low manufacturing cost and field-portability, but notably lacking is an accessible potentiostat designed for general lab use, focusing on measurement quality combined with ease of use and versatility. To fill this gap, we introduce DStat (http://microfluidics.utoronto.ca/dstat), an open-source, general-purpose potentiostat for use alone or integrated with other instruments. DStat offers picoampere current measurement capabilities, a compact USB-powered design, and user-friendly cross-platform software. DStat is easy and inexpensive to build, may be modified freely, and achieves good performance at low current levels not accessible to other lab-built instruments. In head-to-head tests, DStat’s voltammetric measurements are much more sensitive than those of “CheapStat” (a popular open-source potentiostat described previously), and are comparable to those of a compact commercial “black box” potentiostat. Likewise, in head-to-head tests, DStat’s potentiometric precision is similar to that of a commercial pH meter. Most importantly, the versatility of DStat was demonstrated through integration with the open-source DropBot digital microfluidics platform. In sum, we propose that DStat is a valuable contribution to the “open source” movement in analytical science, which is allowing users to adapt their tools to their experiments rather than alter their experiments to be compatible with their tools. PMID:26510100

Mobilising Data in a Knowledge Society

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wessels, Bridgette; Finn, Rachel; Wadhwa, Kush; Bigagli, Lorenzo; Nativi, Stefano; Noorman, Merel

2016-04-01

We address how the open data movement is fostering change in institutions, in data, and in social participation in the mobilisation of knowledge society. The idea of a knowledge society has been raised over the last two decades but the transition to such as society has not been realised. Up to the present time, discussion about a knowledge society have largely focused on a knowledge economy and information society rather than a mobilisation to a knowledge society. These debates have, however, taken place before the rise of open data and big data and the development of an open data movement. We consider the role of the open data movement in fostering transformation to a knowledge society. The characteristics of the open data movement that include the strong conviction of the value of open data for society, the attention to the institutional aspects of making data open in an inclusive way, the practical focus on the technological infrastructure are key in mobilising a knowledge society. At the heart of any mobilisation is an emerging open data ecosystem and new ways of producing and using data - whether 'born digital' data, digitised data or big data - and how that data, when made openly available, can be used in a knowledgeable way by societal actors.

Numerical analysis of the flow field in a sloshing tank with a horizontal perforated plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Heng; Liu, Yong; Li, Huajun; Fu, Qiang

2017-08-01

Liquid sloshing is a type of free surface flow inside a partially filled water tank. Sloshing exerts a significant effect on the safety of liquid transport systems; in particular, it may cause large hydrodynamic loads when the frequency of the tank motion is close to the natural frequency of the tank. Perforated plates have recently been used to suppress the violent movement of liquids in a sloshing tank at resonant conditions. In this study, a numerical model based on OpenFOAM (Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation), an open source computed fluid dynamic code, is used to investigate resonant sloshing in a swaying tank with a submerged horizontal perforated plate. The numerical results of the free surface elevations are first verified using experimental data, and then the flow characteristics around the perforated plate and the fluid velocity distribution in the entire tank are examined using numerical examples. The results clearly show differences in sloshing motions under first-order and third-order resonant frequencies. This study provides a better understanding of the energy dissipation mechanism of a horizontal perforated plate in a swaying tank.

APM_GUI: analyzing particle movement on the cell membrane and determining confinement.

PubMed

Menchón, Silvia A; Martín, Mauricio G; Dotti, Carlos G

2012-02-20

Single-particle tracking is a powerful tool for tracking individual particles with high precision. It provides useful information that allows the study of diffusion properties as well as the dynamics of movement. Changes in particle movement behavior, such as transitions between Brownian motion and temporary confinement, can reveal interesting biophysical interactions. Although useful applications exist to determine the paths of individual particles, only a few software implementations are available to analyze these data, and these implementations are generally not user-friendly and do not have a graphical interface,. Here, we present APM_GUI (Analyzing Particle Movement), which is a MatLab-implemented application with a Graphical User Interface. This user-friendly application detects confined movement considering non-random confinement when a particle remains in a region longer than a Brownian diffusant would remain. In addition, APM_GUI exports the results, which allows users to analyze this information using software that they are familiar with. APM_GUI provides an open-source tool that quantifies diffusion coefficients and determines whether trajectories have non-random confinements. It also offers a simple and user-friendly tool that can be used by individuals without programming skills.

Does the brain use sliding variables for the control of movements?

PubMed

Hanneton, S; Berthoz, A; Droulez, J; Slotine, J J

1997-12-01

Delays in the transmission of sensory and motor information prevent errors from being instantaneously available to the central nervous system (CNS) and can reduce the stability of a closed-loop control strategy. On the other hand, the use of a pure feedforward control (inverse dynamics) requires a perfect knowledge of the dynamic behavior of the body and of manipulated objects. Sensory feedback is essential both to accommodate unexpected errors and events and to compensate for uncertainties about the dynamics of the body. Experimental observations concerning the control of posture, gaze and limbs have shown that the CNS certainly uses a combination of closed-loop and open-loop control. Feedforward components of movement, such as eye saccades, occur intermittently and present a stereotyped kinematic profile. In visuo-manual tracking tasks, hand movements exhibit velocity peaks that occur intermittently. When a delay or a slow dynamics are inserted in the visuo-manual control loop, intermittent step-and-hold movements appear clearly in the hand trajectory. In this study, we investigated strategies used by human subjects involved in the control of a particular dynamic system. We found strong evidence for substantial nonlinearities in the commands produced. The presence of step-and-hold movements seemed to be the major source of nonlinearities in the control loop. Furthermore, the stereotyped ballistic-like kinematics of these rapid and corrective movements suggests that they were produced in an open-loop way by the CNS. We analyzed the generation of ballistic movements in the light of sliding control theory assuming that they occurred when a sliding variable exceeded a constant threshold. In this framework, a sliding variable is defined as a composite variable (a combination of the instantaneous tracking error and its temporal derivatives) that fulfills a specific stability criterion. Based on this hypothesis and on the assumption of a constant reaction time, the tracking error and its derivatives should be correlated at a particular time lag before movement onset. A peak of correlation was found for a physiologically plausible reaction time, corresponding to a stable composite variable. The direction and amplitude of the ongoing stereotyped movements seemed also be adjusted in order to minimize this variable. These findings suggest that, during visually guided movements, human subjects attempt to minimize such a composite variable and not the instantaneous error. This minimization seems to be obtained by the execution of stereotyped corrective movements.

Deranged jaw-neck motor control in whiplash-associated disorders.

PubMed

Eriksson, Per-Olof; Zafar, Hamayun; Häggman-Henrikson, Birgitta

2004-02-01

Recent findings of simultaneous and well coordinated head-neck movements during single as well as rhythmic jaw opening-closing tasks has led to the conclusion that 'functional jaw movements' are the result of activation of jaw as well as neck muscles, leading to simultaneous movements in the temporomandibular, atlanto-occipital and cervical spine joints. It can therefore be assumed that disease or injury to any of these joint systems would disturb natural jaw function. To test this hypothesis, amplitudes, temporal coordination, and spatiotemporal consistency of concomitant mandibular and head-neck movements during single maximal jaw opening-closing tasks were analysed in 25 individuals suffering from whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) using optoelectronic movement recording technique. In addition, the relative durations for which the head position was equal to, leading ahead of, or lagging behind the mandibular position during the entire jaw opening-closing cycle were determined. Compared with healthy individuals, the WAD group showed smaller amplitudes, and changed temporal coordination between mandibular and head-neck movements. No divergence from healthy individuals was found for the spatiotemporal consistency or for the analysis during the entire jaw opening-closing cycle. These findings in the WAD group of a 'faulty', but yet consistent, jaw-neck behavior may reflect a basic importance of linked control of the jaw and neck sensory-motor systems. In conclusion, the present results suggest that neck injury is associated with deranged control of mandibular and head-neck movements during jaw opening-closing tasks, and therefore might compromise natural jaw function.

Cloud storage based mobile assessment facility for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder using integrated signal processing algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balbin, Jessie R.; Pinugu, Jasmine Nadja J.; Basco, Abigail Joy S.; Cabanada, Myla B.; Gonzales, Patrisha Melrose V.; Marasigan, Juan Carlos C.

2017-06-01

The research aims to build a tool in assessing patients for post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. The parameters used are heart rate, skin conductivity, and facial gestures. Facial gestures are recorded using OpenFace, an open-source face recognition program that uses facial action units in to track facial movements. Heart rate and skin conductivity is measured through sensors operated using Raspberry Pi. Results are stored in a database for easy and quick access. Databases to be used are uploaded to a cloud platform so that doctors have direct access to the data. This research aims to analyze these parameters and give accurate assessment of the patient.

Institutional Repositories, Open Access, and Scholarly Communication: A Study of Conflicting Paradigms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cullen, Rowena; Chawner, Brenda

2011-01-01

The Open Access movement of the past decade, and institutional repositories developed by universities and academic libraries as a part of that movement, have openly challenged the traditional scholarly communication system. This article examines the growth of repositories around the world, and summarizes a growing body of evidence of the response…

Opportunities and Threats of the MOOC Movement for Higher Education: The European Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schuwer, Robert; Gil-Jaurena, Inés; Aydin, Cengiz Hakan; Costello, Eamon; Dalsgaard, Christian; Brown, Mark; Jansen, Darco; Teixeira, Antonio

2015-01-01

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) movement is the latest "big thing" in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) which threatens to transform Higher Education. Both opportunities and threats are extensively discussed in literature, comprising issues on opening up education for the whole world, pedagogy and online versus campus education.…

The Open-Air School Movement in English Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cruickshank, Marjorie

1977-01-01

Begun in the early 1900s, the open-air school movement marked a new chapter in preventive medicine. The schools took undernourished slum students and provided them with food and a hygienic environment. Within half a century the open-air schools had outlived their usefulness because of a social revolution. (Author/IRT)

Head movement measurement: An alternative method for posturography studies.

PubMed

Ciria, L F; Muñoz, M A; Gea, J; Peña, N; Miranda, J G V; Montoya, P; Vila, J

2017-02-01

The present study evaluated the measurement of head movements as a valid method for postural emotional studies using the comparison of simultaneous recording of center of pressure (COP) sway as criterion. Thirty female students viewed a set of 12 pleasant, 12 unpleasant and 12 neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System, repeated twice, using a block presentation procedure while standing on a force platform (AMTI AccuSway). Head movements were recorded using a webcam (©KPC139E) located in the ceiling in line with the force platform and a light-emitting diode (LED) placed on the top of the head. Open source software (CvMob 3.1) was used to process the data. High indices of correlation and coherence between head and COP sway were observed. In addition, pleasant pictures, compared with unpleasant pictures, elicited greater body sway in the anterior-posterior axis, suggesting an approach response to appetitive stimuli. Thus, the measurement of head movement can be an alternative or complementary method to recording COP for studying human postural changes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Demonstrating High-Accuracy Orbital Access Using Open-Source Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilbertson, Christian; Welch, Bryan

2017-01-01

Orbit propagation is fundamental to almost every space-based analysis. Currently, many system analysts use commercial software to predict the future positions of orbiting satellites. This is one of many capabilities that can replicated, with great accuracy, without using expensive, proprietary software. NASAs SCaN (Space Communication and Navigation) Center for Engineering, Networks, Integration, and Communications (SCENIC) project plans to provide its analysis capabilities using a combination of internal and open-source software, allowing for a much greater measure of customization and flexibility, while reducing recurring software license costs. MATLAB and the open-source Orbit Determination Toolbox created by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) were utilized to develop tools with the capability to propagate orbits, perform line-of-sight (LOS) availability analyses, and visualize the results. The developed programs are modular and can be applied for mission planning and viability analysis in a variety of Solar System applications. The tools can perform 2 and N-body orbit propagation, find inter-satellite and satellite to ground station LOS access (accounting for intermediate oblate spheroid body blocking, geometric restrictions of the antenna field-of-view (FOV), and relativistic corrections), and create animations of planetary movement, satellite orbits, and LOS accesses. The code is the basis for SCENICs broad analysis capabilities including dynamic link analysis, dilution-of-precision navigation analysis, and orbital availability calculations.

Corridor Use Predicted from Behaviors at Habitat Boundaries.

PubMed

Haddad, Nick M

1999-02-01

Through empirical studies and simulation, I demonstrate how simple behaviors can be used in lieu of detailed dispersal studies to predict the effects of corridors on interpatch movements. Movement paths of three butterfly species were measured in large (1.64 ha) experimental patches of open habitat, some of which were connected by corridors. Butterflies that "reflected" off boundaries between open patches and the surrounding forest also emigrated from patches through corridors at rates higher than expected from random movement. This was observed for two open-habitat species, Eurema nicippe and Phoebis sennae; however, edges and corridors had no effect on a habitat generalist, Papilio troilus. Behaviorally based simulation models, which departed from correlated random walks only at habitat boundaries, predicted that corridors increase interpatch movement rates of both open-habitat species. Models also predicted that corridors have proportionately greater effects as corridor width increases, that movement rates increase before leveling off as corridor width increases, and that corridor effects decrease as patch size increases. This study suggests that corridors direct movements of habitat-restricted species and that local behaviors may be used to predict the conservation potential of corridors in fragmented landscapes.

Laying hen movement in a commercial aviary: Enclosure to floor and back again.

PubMed

Campbell, D L M; Makagon, M M; Swanson, J C; Siegford, J M

2016-01-01

Many producers in the laying hen industry, including in North America, are phasing out conventional cages in response to consumer demands and sometimes subsequent legislation. Alternative housing systems such as aviaries are being implemented in an attempt to improve hen welfare. Aviaries provide additional space and resources to groups of hens, including a litter area on the floor. However, little is known about hen movement between tiered enclosures and floor litter areas in aviary systems. Diurnal rhythms and social attraction may result in peak times of movement that could lead to overcrowding of areas, or alternatively hen preferences may lead to some areas not being fully utilized. We monitored hen movement between tiered enclosures and litter areas, including movement on and off the outer perch, across the day at peak, mid and end of lay in a commercial aviary. Hens moved onto and off of the open litter area across the day, transitioning between tiered enclosures, outer perches, open litter areas, and litter areas under tiered enclosures. At certain times of day, there were periods of greater hen movement down to the open litter area and between litter areas. For example, more hens were typically observed exiting enclosures, jumping from perches to open litter, and traveling between open litter and litter under tiered enclosures in the morning (all P ≤ 0.001). In all but one instance, more hens were observed on open litter areas in the afternoon than at other times of day (all P ≤ 0.029). However, hen re-entry to tiered enclosures showed less circadian patterning. Hen movement was observed between areas of interest at all sampled time periods, indicating hens use all areas of the system. Further research should examine whether all individual hens do move between areas equally, including within levels of the tiered enclosure, or if crowding occurs on the outer perches or in the litter during times of peak movement. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Medical education and information literacy in the era of open access.

PubMed

Brower, Stewart M

2010-01-01

The Open Access movement in scholarly communications poses new issues and concerns for medical education in general and information literacy education specifically. For medical educators, Open Access can affect the availability of new information, instructional materials, and scholarship in medical education. For students, Open Access materials continue to be available to them post-graduation, regardless of affiliation. Libraries and information literacy librarians are challenged in their responses to the Open Access publishing movement in how best to support Open Access endeavors within their own institutions, and how best to educate their user base about Open Access in general.

Influence of Music on the Behaviors of Crowd in Urban Open Public Spaces

PubMed Central

Meng, Qi; Zhao, Tingting; Kang, Jian

2018-01-01

Sound environment plays an important role in urban open spaces, yet studies on the effects of perception of the sound environment on crowd behaviors have been limited. The aim of this study, therefore, is to explore how music, which is considered an important soundscape element, affects crowd behaviors in urban open spaces. On-site observations were performed at a 100 m × 70 m urban leisure square in Harbin, China. Typical music was used to study the effects of perception of the sound environment on crowd behaviors; then, these behaviors were classified into movement (passing by and walking around) and non-movement behaviors (sitting). The results show that the path of passing by in an urban leisure square with music was more centralized than without music. Without music, 8.3% of people passing by walked near the edge of the square, whereas with music, this percentage was zero. In terms of the speed of passing by behavior, no significant difference was observed with the presence or absence of background music. Regarding the effect of music on walking around behavior in the square, the mean area and perimeter when background music was played were smaller than without background music. The mean speed of those exhibiting walking around behavior with background music in the square was 0.296 m/s slower than when no background music was played. For those exhibiting sitting behavior, when background music was not present, crowd density showed no variation based on the distance from the sound source. When music was present, it was observed that as the distance from the sound source increased, crowd density of those sitting behavior decreased accordingly. PMID:29755390

Influence of Music on the Behaviors of Crowd in Urban Open Public Spaces.

PubMed

Meng, Qi; Zhao, Tingting; Kang, Jian

2018-01-01

Sound environment plays an important role in urban open spaces, yet studies on the effects of perception of the sound environment on crowd behaviors have been limited. The aim of this study, therefore, is to explore how music, which is considered an important soundscape element, affects crowd behaviors in urban open spaces. On-site observations were performed at a 100 m × 70 m urban leisure square in Harbin, China. Typical music was used to study the effects of perception of the sound environment on crowd behaviors; then, these behaviors were classified into movement (passing by and walking around) and non-movement behaviors (sitting). The results show that the path of passing by in an urban leisure square with music was more centralized than without music. Without music, 8.3% of people passing by walked near the edge of the square, whereas with music, this percentage was zero. In terms of the speed of passing by behavior, no significant difference was observed with the presence or absence of background music. Regarding the effect of music on walking around behavior in the square, the mean area and perimeter when background music was played were smaller than without background music. The mean speed of those exhibiting walking around behavior with background music in the square was 0.296 m/s slower than when no background music was played. For those exhibiting sitting behavior, when background music was not present, crowd density showed no variation based on the distance from the sound source. When music was present, it was observed that as the distance from the sound source increased, crowd density of those sitting behavior decreased accordingly.

SwarmSight: Real-time Tracking of Insect Antenna Movements and Proboscis Extension Reflex Using a Common Preparation and Conventional Hardware

PubMed Central

Birgiolas, Justas; Jernigan, Christopher M.; Gerkin, Richard C.; Smith, Brian H.; Crook, Sharon M.

2017-01-01

Many scientifically and agriculturally important insects use antennae to detect the presence of volatile chemical compounds and extend their proboscis during feeding. The ability to rapidly obtain high-resolution measurements of natural antenna and proboscis movements and assess how they change in response to chemical, developmental, and genetic manipulations can aid the understanding of insect behavior. By extending our previous work on assessing aggregate insect swarm or animal group movements from natural and laboratory videos using the video analysis software SwarmSight, we developed a novel, free, and open-source software module, SwarmSight Appendage Tracking (SwarmSight.org) for frame-by-frame tracking of insect antenna and proboscis positions from conventional web camera videos using conventional computers. The software processes frames about 120 times faster than humans, performs at better than human accuracy, and, using 30 frames per second (fps) videos, can capture antennal dynamics up to 15 Hz. The software was used to track the antennal response of honey bees to two odors and found significant mean antennal retractions away from the odor source about 1 s after odor presentation. We observed antenna position density heat map cluster formation and cluster and mean angle dependence on odor concentration. PMID:29364251

Visualizing Motion Patterns in Acupuncture Manipulation.

PubMed

Lee, Ye-Seul; Jung, Won-Mo; Lee, In-Seon; Lee, Hyangsook; Park, Hi-Joon; Chae, Younbyoung

2016-07-16

Acupuncture manipulation varies widely among practitioners in clinical settings, and it is difficult to teach novice students how to perform acupuncture manipulation techniques skillfully. The Acupuncture Manipulation Education System (AMES) is an open source software system designed to enhance acupuncture manipulation skills using visual feedback. Using a phantom acupoint and motion sensor, our method for acupuncture manipulation training provides visual feedback regarding the actual movement of the student's acupuncture manipulation in addition to the optimal or intended movement, regardless of whether the manipulation skill is lifting, thrusting, or rotating. Our results show that students could enhance their manipulation skills by training using this method. This video shows the process of manufacturing phantom acupoints and discusses several issues that may require the attention of individuals interested in creating phantom acupoints or operating this system.

Modelling and Simulation of the Knee Joint with a Depth Sensor Camera for Prosthetics and Movement Rehabilitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Risto, S.; Kallergi, M.

2015-09-01

The purpose of this project was to model and simulate the knee joint. A computer model of the knee joint was first created, which was controlled by Microsoft's Kinect for Windows. Kinect created a depth map of the knee and lower leg motion independent of lighting conditions through an infrared sensor. A combination of open source software such as Blender, Python, Kinect SDK and NI_Mate were implemented for the creation and control of the simulated knee based on movements of a live physical model. A physical size model of the knee and lower leg was also created, the movement of which was controlled remotely by the computer model and Kinect. The real time communication of the model and the robotic knee was achieved through programming in Python and Arduino language. The result of this study showed that Kinect in the modelling of human kinematics and can play a significant role in the development of prosthetics and other assistive technologies.

Open Science Strategies in Research Policies: A Comparative Exploration of Canada, the US and the UK

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lasthiotakis, Helen; Kretz, Andrew; Sá, Creso

2015-01-01

Several movements have emerged related to the general idea of promoting "openness" in science. Research councils are key institutions in bringing about changes proposed by these movements, as sponsors and facilitators of research. In this paper we identify the approaches used in Canada, the US and the UK to advance open science, as a…

Examining Value Change in MOOCs in the Scope of Connectivism and Open Educational Resources Movement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozturk, Hayriye Tugba

2015-01-01

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) came to prominence with Open Educational Resources Movement (OERM). It was based upon the idea of libre in removal of some permission barriers and gratis in removing the price barrier (Suber, 2008) in learning resources. In line with the theoretical underpinnings of OERM, MOOCs embody primary characteristics of…

Slow opening valve. [valve design for shuttle portable oxygen system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drapeau, D. F. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A valve control is described having a valve body with an actuator stem and a rotating handle connected to the actuator stem by a differential drive mechanism which, during uniform movement of the handle in one direction, initially opens the valve at a relatively slow rate and, thereafter, complete the valve movement at a substantially faster rate. A series of stop rings are received about the body in frictional abutting relationship and serially rotated by the handle to uniformly resist handle movement independently of the extent of handle movement.

Inexpensive Open-Source Data Logging in the Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wickert, A. D.

2013-12-01

I present a general-purpose open-source field-capable data logger, which provides a mechanism to develop dense networks of inexpensive environmental sensors. This data logger was developed as a low-power variant of the Arduino open-source development system, and is named the ALog ("Arduino Logger") BottleLogger (it is slim enough to fit inside a Nalgene water bottle) version 1.0. It features an integrated high-precision real-time clock, SD card slot for high-volume data storage, and integrated power switching. The ALog can interface with sensors via six analog/digital pins, two digital pins, and one digital interrupt pin that can read event-based inputs, such as those from a tipping-bucket rain gauge. We have successfully tested the ALog BottleLogger with ultrasonic rangefinders (for water stage and snow accumulation and melt), temperature sensors, tipping-bucket rain gauges, soil moisture and water potential sensors, resistance-based tools to measure frost heave, and cameras that it triggers based on events. The source code for the ALog, including functions to interface with a a range of commercially-available sensors, is provided as an Arduino C++ library with example implementations. All schematics, circuit board layouts, and source code files are open-source and freely available under GNU GPL v3.0 and Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported licenses. Through this work, we hope to foster a community-driven movement to collect field environmental data on a budget that permits citizen-scientists and researchers from low-income countries to collect the same high-quality data as researchers in wealthy countries. These data can provide information about global change to managers, governments, scientists, and interested citizens worldwide. Watertight box with ALog BottleLogger data logger on the left and battery pack with 3 D cells on the right. Data can be collected for 3-5 years on one set of batteries.

The influence of visual feedback from the recent past on the programming of grip aperture is grasp-specific, shared between hands, and mediated by sensorimotor memory not task set.

PubMed

Tang, Rixin; Whitwell, Robert L; Goodale, Melvyn A

2015-05-01

Goal-directed movements, such as reaching out to grasp an object, are necessarily constrained by the spatial properties of the target such as its size, shape, and position. For example, during a reach-to-grasp movement, the peak width of the aperture formed by the thumb and fingers in flight (peak grip aperture, PGA) is linearly related to the target's size. Suppressing vision throughout the movement (visual open loop) has a small though significant effect on this relationship. Visual open loop conditions also produce a large increase in the PGA compared to when vision is available throughout the movement (visual closed loop). Curiously, this differential effect of the availability of visual feedback is influenced by the presentation order: the difference in PGA between closed- and open-loop trials is smaller when these trials are intermixed (an effect we have called 'homogenization'). Thus, grasping movements are affected not only by the availability of visual feedback (closed loop or open loop) but also by what happened on the previous trial. It is not clear, however, whether this carry-over effect is mediated through motor (or sensorimotor) memory or through the interference of different task sets for closed-loop and open-loop feedback that determine when the movements are fully specified. We reasoned that sensorimotor memory, but not a task set for closed and open loop feedback, would be specific to the type of response. We tested this prediction in a condition in which pointing to targets was alternated with grasping those same targets. Critically, in this condition, when pointing was performed in open loop, grasping was always performed in closed loop (and vice versa). Despite the fact that closed- and open-loop trials were alternating in this condition, we found no evidence for homogenization of the PGA. Homogenization did occur, however, in a follow-up experiment in which grasping movements and visual feedback were alternated between the left and the right hand, indicating that sensorimotor (or motor) memory can operate both within and between hands when the response type is kept the same. In a final experiment, we ruled out the possibility that simply alternating the hand used to perform the grasp interferes with motor or sensorimotor memory. We did this by showing that when the hand was alternated within a block of exclusively closed- or open-loop trials, homogenization of the PGA did not occur. Taken together, the results suggest that (1) interference from simply switching between task sets for closed or open-loop feedback or from switching between the hands cannot account homogenization in the PGA and that (2) the programming and execution of grasps can borrow not only from grasping movements executed in the past by the same hand, but also from grasping movements executed with the other hand. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ScreenMasker: An Open-source Gaze-contingent Screen Masking Environment.

PubMed

Orlov, Pavel A; Bednarik, Roman

2016-09-01

The moving-window paradigm, based on gazecontingent technic, traditionally used in a studies of the visual perceptual span. There is a strong demand for new environments that could be employed by non-technical researchers. We have developed an easy-to-use tool with a graphical user interface (GUI) allowing both execution and control of visual gaze-contingency studies. This work describes ScreenMasker, an environment that allows create gaze-contingent textured displays used together with stimuli presentation software. ScreenMasker has an architecture that meets the requirements of low-latency real-time eye-movement experiments. It also provides a variety of settings and functions. Effective rendering times and performance are ensured by means of GPU processing under CUDA technology. Performance tests show ScreenMasker's latency to be 67-74 ms on a typical office computer, and high-end 144-Hz screen latencies of about 25-28 ms. ScreenMasker is an open-source system distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License and is available at https://github.com/PaulOrlov/ScreenMasker .

Sticks AND Carrots: Encouraging Open Science at its source.

PubMed

Leonelli, Sabina; Spichtinger, Daniel; Prainsack, Barbara

2015-06-30

The Open Science (OS) movement has been seen as an important facilitator for public participation in science. This has been underpinned by the assumption that widespread and free access to research outputs leads to (i) better and more efficient science, (ii) economic growth, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to capitalise on research findings and (iii) increased transparency of knowledge production and its outcomes. The latter in particular could function as a catalyst for public participation and engagement. Whether OS is likely to help realise these benefits, however, will depend on the emergence of systemic incentives for scientists to utilise OS in a meaningful manner. While some areas, the environmental sciences have a long tradition of open ethos, citizen inclusion and global collaborations, such activities need to be more systematically supported and promoted by funders and learned societies in order to improve scientific research and public participation.

Understanding Chinese-Speaking Open Courseware Users: A Case Study on User Engagement in an Open Courseware Portal in Taiwan (Opensource Opencourse Prototype System)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Wen-Hao David; Lin, Meng-Fen Grace; Shen, Wendi

2012-01-01

The open educational resource (OER) movement has reached a critical mass due to recent technology advancements. In Taiwan, to overcome the language barrier, the Opensource Opencourse Prototype System (OOPS) plays a significant role in enabling Chinese-speaking users to benefit from this global education movement. However, our understanding about…

Kinematic Modeling of Normal Voluntary Mandibular Opening and Closing Velocity-Initial Study.

PubMed

Gawriołek, Krzysztof; Gawriołek, Maria; Komosa, Marek; Piotrowski, Paweł R; Azer, Shereen S

2015-06-01

Determination and quantification of voluntary mandibular velocity movement has not been a thoroughly studied parameter of masticatory movement. This study attempted to objectively define kinematics of mandibular movement based on numerical (digital) analysis of the relations and interactions of velocity diagram records in healthy female individuals. Using a computerized mandibular scanner (K7 Evaluation Software), 72 diagrams of voluntary mandibular velocity movements (36 for opening, 36 for closing) for women with clinically normal motor and functional activities of the masticatory system were recorded. Multiple measurements were analyzed focusing on the curve for maximum velocity records. For each movement, the loop of temporary velocities was determined. The diagram was then entered into AutoCad calculation software where movement analysis was performed. The real maximum velocity values on opening (Vmax ), closing (V0 ), and average velocity values (Vav ) as well as movement accelerations (a) were recorded. Additionally, functional (A1-A2) and geometric (P1-P4) analysis of loop constituent phases were performed, and the relations between the obtained areas were defined. Velocity means and correlation coefficient values for various velocity phases were calculated. The Wilcoxon test produced the following maximum and average velocity results: Vmax = 394 ± 102, Vav = 222 ± 61 for opening, and Vmax = 409 ± 94, Vav = 225 ± 55 mm/s for closing. Both mandibular movement range and velocity change showed significant variability achieving the highest velocity in P2 phase. Voluntary mandibular velocity presents significant variations between healthy individuals. Maximum velocity is obtained when incisal separation is between 12.8 and 13.5 mm. An improved understanding of the patterns of normal mandibular movements may provide an invaluable diagnostic aid to pathological changes within the masticatory system. © 2014 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Sensitivity to Angular and Radial Source Movements as a Function of Acoustic Complexity in Normal and Impaired Hearing

PubMed Central

Grimm, Giso; Hohmann, Volker; Laugesen, Søren; Neher, Tobias

2017-01-01

In contrast to static sounds, spatially dynamic sounds have received little attention in psychoacoustic research so far. This holds true especially for acoustically complex (reverberant, multisource) conditions and impaired hearing. The current study therefore investigated the influence of reverberation and the number of concurrent sound sources on source movement detection in young normal-hearing (YNH) and elderly hearing-impaired (EHI) listeners. A listening environment based on natural environmental sounds was simulated using virtual acoustics and rendered over headphones. Both near-far (‘radial’) and left-right (‘angular’) movements of a frontal target source were considered. The acoustic complexity was varied by adding static lateral distractor sound sources as well as reverberation. Acoustic analyses confirmed the expected changes in stimulus features that are thought to underlie radial and angular source movements under anechoic conditions and suggested a special role of monaural spectral changes under reverberant conditions. Analyses of the detection thresholds showed that, with the exception of the single-source scenarios, the EHI group was less sensitive to source movements than the YNH group, despite adequate stimulus audibility. Adding static sound sources clearly impaired the detectability of angular source movements for the EHI (but not the YNH) group. Reverberation, on the other hand, clearly impaired radial source movement detection for the EHI (but not the YNH) listeners. These results illustrate the feasibility of studying factors related to auditory movement perception with the help of the developed test setup. PMID:28675088

Sensitivity to Angular and Radial Source Movements as a Function of Acoustic Complexity in Normal and Impaired Hearing.

PubMed

Lundbeck, Micha; Grimm, Giso; Hohmann, Volker; Laugesen, Søren; Neher, Tobias

2017-01-01

In contrast to static sounds, spatially dynamic sounds have received little attention in psychoacoustic research so far. This holds true especially for acoustically complex (reverberant, multisource) conditions and impaired hearing. The current study therefore investigated the influence of reverberation and the number of concurrent sound sources on source movement detection in young normal-hearing (YNH) and elderly hearing-impaired (EHI) listeners. A listening environment based on natural environmental sounds was simulated using virtual acoustics and rendered over headphones. Both near-far ('radial') and left-right ('angular') movements of a frontal target source were considered. The acoustic complexity was varied by adding static lateral distractor sound sources as well as reverberation. Acoustic analyses confirmed the expected changes in stimulus features that are thought to underlie radial and angular source movements under anechoic conditions and suggested a special role of monaural spectral changes under reverberant conditions. Analyses of the detection thresholds showed that, with the exception of the single-source scenarios, the EHI group was less sensitive to source movements than the YNH group, despite adequate stimulus audibility. Adding static sound sources clearly impaired the detectability of angular source movements for the EHI (but not the YNH) group. Reverberation, on the other hand, clearly impaired radial source movement detection for the EHI (but not the YNH) listeners. These results illustrate the feasibility of studying factors related to auditory movement perception with the help of the developed test setup.

Experimental masseter muscle pain alters jaw-neck motor strategy.

PubMed

Wiesinger, B; Häggman-Henrikson, B; Hellström, F; Wänman, A

2013-08-01

A functional integration between the jaw and neck regions has been demonstrated during normal jaw function. The effect of masseter muscle pain on this integrated motor behaviour in man is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of induced masseter muscle pain on jaw-neck movements during a continuous jaw opening-closing task. Sixteen healthy men performed continuous jaw opening-closing movements to a target position, defined as 75% of the maximum jaw opening. Each subject performed two trials without pain (controls) and two trials with masseter muscle pain, induced with hypertonic saline as a single injection. Simultaneous movements of the mandible and the head were registered with a wireless optoelectronic three-dimensional recording system. Differences in movement amplitudes between trials were analysed with Friedman's test and corrected Wilcoxon matched pairs test. The head movement amplitudes were significantly larger during masseter muscle pain trials compared with control. Jaw movement amplitudes did not differ significantly between any of the trials after corrected Wilcoxon tests. The ratio between head and jaw movement amplitudes was significantly larger during the first pain trial compared with control. Experimental masseter muscle pain in humans affected integrated jaw-neck movements by increasing the neck component during continuous jaw opening-closing tasks. The findings indicate that pain can alter the strategy for jaw-neck motor control, which further underlines the functional integration between the jaw and neck regions. This altered strategy may have consequences for development of musculoskeletal pain in the jaw and neck regions. © 2012 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters.

Sleep: An Open-Source Python Software for Visualization, Analysis, and Staging of Sleep Data

PubMed Central

Combrisson, Etienne; Vallat, Raphael; Eichenlaub, Jean-Baptiste; O'Reilly, Christian; Lajnef, Tarek; Guillot, Aymeric; Ruby, Perrine M.; Jerbi, Karim

2017-01-01

We introduce Sleep, a new Python open-source graphical user interface (GUI) dedicated to visualization, scoring and analyses of sleep data. Among its most prominent features are: (1) Dynamic display of polysomnographic data, spectrogram, hypnogram and topographic maps with several customizable parameters, (2) Implementation of several automatic detection of sleep features such as spindles, K-complexes, slow waves, and rapid eye movements (REM), (3) Implementation of practical signal processing tools such as re-referencing or filtering, and (4) Display of main descriptive statistics including publication-ready tables and figures. The software package supports loading and reading raw EEG data from standard file formats such as European Data Format, in addition to a range of commercial data formats. Most importantly, Sleep is built on top of the VisPy library, which provides GPU-based fast and high-level visualization. As a result, it is capable of efficiently handling and displaying large sleep datasets. Sleep is freely available (http://visbrain.org/sleep) and comes with sample datasets and an extensive documentation. Novel functionalities will continue to be added and open-science community efforts are expected to enhance the capacities of this module. PMID:28983246

Sleep: An Open-Source Python Software for Visualization, Analysis, and Staging of Sleep Data.

PubMed

Combrisson, Etienne; Vallat, Raphael; Eichenlaub, Jean-Baptiste; O'Reilly, Christian; Lajnef, Tarek; Guillot, Aymeric; Ruby, Perrine M; Jerbi, Karim

2017-01-01

We introduce Sleep, a new Python open-source graphical user interface (GUI) dedicated to visualization, scoring and analyses of sleep data. Among its most prominent features are: (1) Dynamic display of polysomnographic data, spectrogram, hypnogram and topographic maps with several customizable parameters, (2) Implementation of several automatic detection of sleep features such as spindles, K-complexes, slow waves, and rapid eye movements (REM), (3) Implementation of practical signal processing tools such as re-referencing or filtering, and (4) Display of main descriptive statistics including publication-ready tables and figures. The software package supports loading and reading raw EEG data from standard file formats such as European Data Format, in addition to a range of commercial data formats. Most importantly, Sleep is built on top of the VisPy library, which provides GPU-based fast and high-level visualization. As a result, it is capable of efficiently handling and displaying large sleep datasets. Sleep is freely available (http://visbrain.org/sleep) and comes with sample datasets and an extensive documentation. Novel functionalities will continue to be added and open-science community efforts are expected to enhance the capacities of this module.

Real-Time Motion Capture Toolbox (RTMocap): an open-source code for recording 3-D motion kinematics to study action-effect anticipations during motor and social interactions.

PubMed

Lewkowicz, Daniel; Delevoye-Turrell, Yvonne

2016-03-01

We present here a toolbox for the real-time motion capture of biological movements that runs in the cross-platform MATLAB environment (The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA). It provides instantaneous processing of the 3-D movement coordinates of up to 20 markers at a single instant. Available functions include (1) the setting of reference positions, areas, and trajectories of interest; (2) recording of the 3-D coordinates for each marker over the trial duration; and (3) the detection of events to use as triggers for external reinforcers (e.g., lights, sounds, or odors). Through fast online communication between the hardware controller and RTMocap, automatic trial selection is possible by means of either a preset or an adaptive criterion. Rapid preprocessing of signals is also provided, which includes artifact rejection, filtering, spline interpolation, and averaging. A key example is detailed, and three typical variations are developed (1) to provide a clear understanding of the importance of real-time control for 3-D motion in cognitive sciences and (2) to present users with simple lines of code that can be used as starting points for customizing experiments using the simple MATLAB syntax. RTMocap is freely available (http://sites.google.com/site/RTMocap/) under the GNU public license for noncommercial use and open-source development, together with sample data and extensive documentation.

An open source solution for an in-house built dynamic platform for the validation of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for VMAT and IMRT.

PubMed

Munoz, Luis; Ziebell, Amy; Morton, Jason; Bhat, Madhava

2016-12-01

An in-house solution for the verification of dose delivered to a moving phantom as required for the clinical implementation of lung stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy was developed. The superior-inferior movement required to simulate tumour motion during a normal breathing cycle was achieved via the novel use of an Arduino Uno™, a low-cost open-source microcontroller board connected to a high torque servo motor. Slow CT imaging was used to acquire the image set and a 4D cone beam CT (4D-CBCT) verified the efficacy of contoured margins before treatment on the moving phantom. Treatment fields were delivered to a section of a CIRS™ anthropomorphic phantom. Dose verification to the dynamic phantom with Gafchromic EBT3 film using 3 %-1 mm gamma analysis acceptance criteria registered an absolute dose pass rate for IMRT and VMAT of 98 and 96.6 %, respectively. It was verified that 100 % of the PTV received the prescribed dose of 12 Gy per fraction using the dynamic phantom, and no major discrepancy between planned and measured results due to interplay between multileaf collimator sequences and target motion was observed. This study confirmed that the use of an in-house solution using open source hardware and software with existing quality assurance equipment was appropriate in validating a new treatment technique.

33 CFR 117.253 - Anacostia River.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... open position for vessel traffic. During open span movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red... traffic lights will flash red, and an audio voice-warning device will announce bridge movement during... will continue to flash red. (6) The owners of the bridge shall provide and keep in good legible...

33 CFR 117.253 - Anacostia River.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... open position for vessel traffic. During open span movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red... traffic lights will flash red, and an audio voice-warning device will announce bridge movement during... will continue to flash red. (6) The owners of the bridge shall provide and keep in good legible...

33 CFR 117.253 - Anacostia River.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... open position for vessel traffic. During open span movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red... traffic lights will flash red, and an audio voice-warning device will announce bridge movement during... will continue to flash red. (6) The owners of the bridge shall provide and keep in good legible...

Disturbed jaw behavior in whiplash-associated disorders during rhythmic jaw movements.

PubMed

Häggman-Henrikson, B; Zafar, H; Eriksson, P-O

2002-11-01

As shown previously, "functional jaw movements" are the result of coordinated activation of jaw as well as neck muscles, leading to simultaneous movements in the temporomandibular, atlanto-occipital, and cervical spine joints. In this study, the effect of neck trauma on natural jaw function was evaluated in 12 individuals suffering from whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Spatiotemporal characteristics of mandibular and concomitant head movements were evaluated for three different modes of rhythmic jaw activities: self-paced continuous maximal jaw-opening/-closing movements, paced continuous maximal jaw-opening/-closing movements at 50 cycles/minute, and unilateral chewing. Compared with healthy subjects, the WAD group showed smaller magnitude and altered coordination pattern (a change in temporal relations) of mandibular and head movements. In conclusion, these results show that neck trauma can derange integrated jaw and neck behavior, and underline the functional coupling between the jaw and head-neck motor systems.

40 CFR 144.12 - Prohibition of movement of fluid into underground sources of drinking water.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... other injection activity in a manner that allows the movement of fluid containing any contaminant into underground sources of drinking water, if the presence of that contaminant may cause a violation of any... source of drinking water indicates the movement of any contaminant into the underground source of...

EpiContactTrace: an R-package for contact tracing during livestock disease outbreaks and for risk-based surveillance

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background During outbreak of livestock diseases, contact tracing can be an important part of disease control. Animal movements can also be of relevance for risk-based surveillance and sampling, i.e. both when assessing consequences of introduction or likelihood of introduction. In many countries, animal movement data are collected with one of the major objectives to enable contact tracing. However, often an analytical step is needed to retrieve appropriate information for contact tracing or surveillance. Results In this study, an open source tool was developed to structure livestock movement data to facilitate contact-tracing in real time during disease outbreaks and for input in risk-based surveillance and sampling. The tool, EpiContactTrace, was written in the R-language and uses the network parameters in-degree, out-degree, ingoing contact chain and outgoing contact chain (also called infection chain), which are relevant for forward and backward tracing respectively. The time-frames for backward and forward tracing can be specified independently and search can be done on one farm at a time or for all farms within the dataset. Different outputs are available; datasets with network measures, contacts visualised in a map and automatically generated reports for each farm either in HTML or PDF-format intended for the end-users, i.e. the veterinary authorities, regional disease control officers and field-veterinarians. EpiContactTrace is available as an R-package at the R-project website (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/EpiContactTrace/). Conclusions We believe this tool can help in disease control since it rapidly can structure essential contact information from large datasets. The reproducible reports make this tool robust and independent of manual compilation of data. The open source makes it accessible and easily adaptable for different needs. PMID:24636731

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Software Test Plan. Final

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-26

NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: STP-0002 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER: DATA ITEM DISCREPANCY WORKSHEET CDRL NUMBER: A007-03 DATE: 07/26/90 ORIGINATOR NAME: John J.Brassil OFFICE SYMBOL: SAIC TELEPHONE NU4BER: 272-2999 SUBSTANTIVE: X EDITORIAL: PAGE NUMBER: 63 PARA NUMBER: Table 4.2.1.2 COMMENT OR RECOMMENDED CHANGE: Replace the reference to the Source and Destination STP paragraphs with a reference to the paragraph of the STP which tests the interface itself. RATIONALE: Each internal

TH-C-12A-12: Veritas: An Open Source Tool to Facilitate User Interaction with TrueBeam Developer Mode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mishra, P; Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA; Lewis, J

2014-06-15

Purpose: To address the challenges of creating delivery trajectories and imaging sequences with TrueBeam Developer Mode, a new open-source graphical XML builder, Veritas, has been developed, tested and made freely available. Veritas eliminates most of the need to understand the underlying schema and write XML scripts, by providing a graphical menu for each control point specifying the state of 30 mechanical/dose axes. All capabilities of Developer Mode are accessible in Veritas. Methods: Veritas was designed using QT Designer, a ‘what-you-is-what-you-get’ (WYSIWIG) tool for building graphical user interfaces (GUI). Different components of the GUI are integrated using QT's signals and slotsmore » mechanism. Functionalities are added using PySide, an open source, cross platform Python binding for the QT framework. The XML code generated is immediately visible, making it an interactive learning tool. A user starts from an anonymized DICOM file or XML example and introduces delivery modifications, or begins their experiment from scratch, then uses the GUI to modify control points as desired. The software automatically generates XML plans following the appropriate schema. Results: Veritas was tested by generating and delivering two XML plans at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The first example was created to irradiate the letter ‘B’ with a narrow MV beam using dynamic couch movements. The second was created to acquire 4D CBCT projections for four minutes. The delivery of the letter ‘B’ was observed using a 2D array of ionization chambers. Both deliveries were generated quickly in Veritas by non-expert Developer Mode users. Conclusion: We introduced a new open source tool Veritas for generating XML plans (delivery trajectories and imaging sequences). Veritas makes Developer Mode more accessible by reducing the learning curve for quick translation of research ideas into XML plans. Veritas is an open source initiative, creating the possibility for future developments and collaboration with other researchers. I am an employee of Varian Medical Systems.« less

EEG Oscillations Are Modulated in Different Behavior-Related Networks during Rhythmic Finger Movements.

PubMed

Seeber, Martin; Scherer, Reinhold; Müller-Putz, Gernot R

2016-11-16

Sequencing and timing of body movements are essential to perform motoric tasks. In this study, we investigate the temporal relation between cortical oscillations and human motor behavior (i.e., rhythmic finger movements). High-density EEG recordings were used for source imaging based on individual anatomy. We separated sustained and movement phase-related EEG source amplitudes based on the actual finger movements recorded by a data glove. Sustained amplitude modulations in the contralateral hand area show decrease for α (10-12 Hz) and β (18-24 Hz), but increase for high γ (60-80 Hz) frequencies during the entire movement period. Additionally, we found movement phase-related amplitudes, which resembled the flexion and extension sequence of the fingers. Especially for faster movement cadences, movement phase-related amplitudes included high β (24-30 Hz) frequencies in prefrontal areas. Interestingly, the spectral profiles and source patterns of movement phase-related amplitudes differed from sustained activities, suggesting that they represent different frequency-specific large-scale networks. First, networks were signified by the sustained element, which statically modulate their synchrony levels during continuous movements. These networks may upregulate neuronal excitability in brain regions specific to the limb, in this study the right hand area. Second, movement phase-related networks, which modulate their synchrony in relation to the movement sequence. We suggest that these frequency-specific networks are associated with distinct functions, including top-down control, sensorimotor prediction, and integration. The separation of different large-scale networks, we applied in this work, improves the interpretation of EEG sources in relation to human motor behavior. EEG recordings provide high temporal resolution suitable to relate cortical oscillations to actual movements. Investigating EEG sources during rhythmic finger movements, we distinguish sustained from movement phase-related amplitude modulations. We separate these two EEG source elements motivated by our previous findings in gait. Here, we found two types of large-scale networks, representing the right fingers in distinction from the time sequence of the movements. These findings suggest that EEG source amplitudes reconstructed in a cortical patch are the superposition of these simultaneously present network activities. Separating these frequency-specific networks is relevant for studying function and possible dysfunction of the cortical sensorimotor system in humans as well as to provide more advanced features for brain-computer interfaces. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/3611671-11$15.00/0.

Daily movements of female mallards wintering in Southwestern Louisiana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Link, Paul T.; Afton, Alan D.; Cox, Robert R.; Davis, Bruce E.

2011-01-01

Understanding daily movements of waterfowl is crucial to management of winter habitats, especially along the Gulf Coast where hunting pressure is high. Radio-telemetry was used to investigate movements of female Mallards (Anas platyrchychos) wintering in southwestern Louisiana. Movement distances were analyzed from 2,455 paired locations (diurnal and nocturnal) of 126 Mallards during winters 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 to assess effects of winter, female age, areas closed (Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge [LAC], Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge [CAM], Amoco Pool [AMOCO] or open to hunting [OPEN]), and habitat type, including all interactions. Movement distances from the various land management categories were not consistent by age, date, or by winter. Flight distances from LAC increased with date, whereas those from CAM and OPEN did not vary significantly by date. Female Mallards moved short distances between diurnal and nocturnal sites (ranging from 3.1 to 15.0 km by land management category), suggesting that they are able to meet their daily energy requirements within a smaller area than Northern Pintails (Anas acuta, hereafter Pintails), and thus minimize transit energy costs.

Brook trout movement in response to temperature, flow, and thermal refugia within a complex Appalachian riverscape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Petty, J. Todd; Hansbarger, Jeff L.; Huntsman, Brock M.; Mazik, Patricia M.

2012-01-01

We quantified movements of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta in a complex riverscape characterized by a large, open-canopy main stem and a small, closed-canopy tributary in eastern West Virginia, USA. Our objectives were to quantify the overall rate of trout movement and relate movement behaviors to variation in streamflow, water temperature, and access to coldwater refugia. The study area experienced extremely high seasonal, yearly, and among-stream variability in water temperature and flow. The relative mobility of brook trout within the upper Shavers Fork watershed varied significantly depending on whether individuals resided within the larger main stem or the smaller tributary. The movement rate of trout inhabiting the main stem during summer months (50 m/d) was an order of magnitude higher than that of tributary fish (2 m/d). Movement rates of main-stem-resident brook trout during summer were correlated with the maximum water temperature experienced by the fish and with the fish's initial distance from a known coldwater source. For main-stem trout, use of microhabitats closer to cover was higher during extremely warm periods than during cooler periods; use of microhabitats closer to cover during warm periods was also greater for main-stem trout than for tributary inhabitants. Main-stem-resident trout were never observed in water exceeding 19.5°C. Our study provides some of the first data on brook trout movements in a large Appalachian river system and underscores the importance of managing trout fisheries in a riverscape context. Brook trout conservation in this region will depend on restoration and protection of coldwater refugia in larger river main stems as well as removal of barriers to trout movement near tributary and main-stem confluences.

Deep Reinforcement Learning of Cell Movement in the Early Stage of C. elegans Embryogenesis.

PubMed

Wang, Zi; Wang, Dali; Li, Chengcheng; Xu, Yichi; Li, Husheng; Bao, Zhirong

2018-04-25

Cell movement in the early phase of C. elegans development is regulated by a highly complex process in which a set of rules and connections are formulated at distinct scales. Previous efforts have demonstrated that agent-based, multi-scale modeling systems can integrate physical and biological rules and provide new avenues to study developmental systems. However, the application of these systems to model cell movement is still challenging and requires a comprehensive understanding of regulatory networks at the right scales. Recent developments in deep learning and reinforcement learning provide an unprecedented opportunity to explore cell movement using 3D time-lapse microscopy images. We present a deep reinforcement learning approach within an agent-based modeling system to characterize cell movement in the embryonic development of C. elegans. Our modeling system captures the complexity of cell movement patterns in the embryo and overcomes the local optimization problem encountered by traditional rule-based, agent-based modeling that uses greedy algorithms. We tested our model with two real developmental processes: the anterior movement of the Cpaaa cell via intercalation and the rearrangement of the superficial left-right asymmetry. In the first case, the model results suggested that Cpaaa's intercalation is an active directional cell movement caused by the continuous effects from a longer distance (farther than the length of two adjacent cells), as opposed to a passive movement caused by neighbor cell movements. In the second case, a leader-follower mechanism well explained the collective cell movement pattern in the asymmetry rearrangement. These results showed that our approach to introduce deep reinforcement learning into agent-based modeling can test regulatory mechanisms by exploring cell migration paths in a reverse engineering perspective. This model opens new doors to explore the large datasets generated by live imaging. Source code is available at https://github.com/zwang84/drl4cellmovement. dwang7@utk.edu, baoz@mskcc.org. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

A cost-effective and simple electronic solution to communication with patients with tracheostomy in a burns and intensive care setting.

PubMed

Javed, Muhammad; Dingley, John; Dickson, William; Shokrollahi, Kayvan

2014-02-01

Ventilated patients in ITU (intensive treatment unit) tend to be challenging to communicate with, especially patients who are being weaned. These patients usually have tracheostomy in situ and use means such as writing or letter boards to communicate. The situation becomes complex in patient groups that have burn injuries with bulky dressings and restricted upper limb function. We demonstrate a low cost, easy to use, potentially disposable system that can display words on any television screen via patient input device for such patient groups. The system consists of input device incorporated with Arduino microcontroller (an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software intended for creating interactive environments) and 4 generously oversized control buttons. These are used to control the cursor movements (up, down, left, right) while a fifth has a "select" function. These are large enough to be pressed by an entire bandaged hand using gross upper limb movements only. A standard television is used to display menu containing the 26 letters of the alphabet and a flashing cursor. The patient selects the required letters/icon by moving the cursor and the words so created are displayed along the lower part of the screen for the carers to read. It is envisaged that anyone with basic craft skills should be able to construct this device. This device is a self-contained, cost-effective, simple, and open-source system that can be used effectively to bridge the communication gap with significant potential for patient care globally.

A Probabilistic Approach to Quantify the Impact of Uncertainty Propagation in Musculoskeletal Simulations

PubMed Central

Myers, Casey A.; Laz, Peter J.; Shelburne, Kevin B.; Davidson, Bradley S.

2015-01-01

Uncertainty that arises from measurement error and parameter estimation can significantly affect the interpretation of musculoskeletal simulations; however, these effects are rarely addressed. The objective of this study was to develop an open-source probabilistic musculoskeletal modeling framework to assess how measurement error and parameter uncertainty propagate through a gait simulation. A baseline gait simulation was performed for a male subject using OpenSim for three stages: inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics, and muscle force prediction. A series of Monte Carlo simulations were performed that considered intrarater variability in marker placement, movement artifacts in each phase of gait, variability in body segment parameters, and variability in muscle parameters calculated from cadaveric investigations. Propagation of uncertainty was performed by also using the output distributions from one stage as input distributions to subsequent stages. Confidence bounds (5–95%) and sensitivity of outputs to model input parameters were calculated throughout the gait cycle. The combined impact of uncertainty resulted in mean bounds that ranged from 2.7° to 6.4° in joint kinematics, 2.7 to 8.1 N m in joint moments, and 35.8 to 130.8 N in muscle forces. The impact of movement artifact was 1.8 times larger than any other propagated source. Sensitivity to specific body segment parameters and muscle parameters were linked to where in the gait cycle they were calculated. We anticipate that through the increased use of probabilistic tools, researchers will better understand the strengths and limitations of their musculoskeletal simulations and more effectively use simulations to evaluate hypotheses and inform clinical decisions. PMID:25404535

DynAOI: a tool for matching eye-movement data with dynamic areas of interest in animations and movies.

PubMed

Papenmeier, Frank; Huff, Markus

2010-02-01

Analyzing gaze behavior with dynamic stimulus material is of growing importance in experimental psychology; however, there is still a lack of efficient analysis tools that are able to handle dynamically changing areas of interest. In this article, we present DynAOI, an open-source tool that allows for the definition of dynamic areas of interest. It works automatically with animations that are based on virtual three-dimensional models. When one is working with videos of real-world scenes, a three-dimensional model of the relevant content needs to be created first. The recorded eye-movement data are matched with the static and dynamic objects in the model underlying the video content, thus creating static and dynamic areas of interest. A validation study asking participants to track particular objects demonstrated that DynAOI is an efficient tool for handling dynamic areas of interest.

Temporal Variability in the Deglutition Literature

PubMed Central

Molfenter, Sonja M.; Steele, Catriona M.

2013-01-01

A literature review was conducted on temporal measures of swallowing in healthy individuals with the purpose of determining the degree of variability present in such measures within the literature. A total of 46 studies that met inclusion criteria were reviewed. The definitions and descriptive statistics for all reported temporal parameters were compiled for meta-analysis. In total, 119 different temporal parameters were found in the literature. The three most-frequently occurring durational measures were: UES opening, laryngeal closure and hyoid movement. The three most-frequently occurring interval measures were: stage transition duration, pharyngeal transit time and duration from laryngeal closure to UES opening. Subtle variations in operational definitions across studies were noted, making the comparison of data challenging. Analysis of forest plots compiling descriptive statistical data (means and 95% confidence intervals) across studies revealed differing degrees of variability across durations and intervals. Two parameters (UES opening duration and the laryngeal-closure-to-UES-opening interval) demonstrated the least variability, reflected by small ranges for mean values and tight confidence intervals. Trends emerged for factors of bolus size and participant age for some variables. Other potential sources of variability are discussed. PMID:22366761

Muscle: a source of progenitor cells for bone fracture healing.

PubMed

Henrotin, Yves

2011-12-22

Bone repair failure is a major complication of open fracture, leading to non-union of broken bone extremities and movement at the fracture site. This results in a serious disability for patients. The role played by the periosteum and bone marrow progenitors in bone repair is now well documented. In contrast, limited information is available on the role played by myogenic progenitor cells in bone repair. In a recent article published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Liu et al. compared the presence of myogenic progenitor (MyoD lineage cells) in closed and open fractures. They showed that myogenic progenitors are present in open, but not closed fractures, suggesting that muscle satellite cells may colonize the fracture site in the absence of intact periosteum. Interestingly, these progenitors sequentially expressed a chondrogenic and, thereafter, an osteoblastic phenotype, suggestive of a functional role in the repair process. This finding opens up new perspectives for the research of orthopedic surgical methods, which could maximize myogenic progenitor access and mobilization to augment bone repair. Please see related article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/288.

Remotely measuring populations during a crisis by overlaying two data sources

PubMed Central

Bharti, Nita; Lu, Xin; Bengtsson, Linus; Wetter, Erik; Tatem, Andrew J.

2015-01-01

Background Societal instability and crises can cause rapid, large-scale movements. These movements are poorly understood and difficult to measure but strongly impact health. Data on these movements are important for planning response efforts. We retrospectively analyzed movement patterns surrounding a 2010 humanitarian crisis caused by internal political conflict in Côte d'Ivoire using two different methods. Methods We used two remote measures, nighttime lights satellite imagery and anonymized mobile phone call detail records, to assess average population sizes as well as dynamic population changes. These data sources detect movements across different spatial and temporal scales. Results The two data sources showed strong agreement in average measures of population sizes. Because the spatiotemporal resolution of the data sources differed, we were able to obtain measurements on long- and short-term dynamic elements of populations at different points throughout the crisis. Conclusions Using complementary, remote data sources to measure movement shows promise for future use in humanitarian crises. We conclude with challenges of remotely measuring movement and provide suggestions for future research and methodological developments. PMID:25733558

Development of prenatal lateralization: evidence from fetal mouth movements.

PubMed

Reissland, N; Francis, B; Aydin, E; Mason, J; Exley, K

2014-05-28

Human lateralized behaviors relate to the asymmetric development of the brain. Research of the prenatal origins of laterality is equivocal with some studies suggesting that fetuses exhibit lateralized behavior and other not finding such laterality. Given that by around 22weeks of gestation the left cerebral hemisphere compared to the right is significantly larger in both male and female fetuses we expected that the right side of the fetal face would show more movement with increased gestation. This longitudinal study investigated whether fetuses from 24 to 36weeks of gestation showed increasing lateralized behaviors during mouth opening and whether lateralized mouth movements are related to fetal age, gender and maternal self-reported prenatal stress. Following ethical approval, fifteen healthy fetuses (8 girls) of primagravid mothers were scanned four times from 24 to 36-gestation. Two types of mouth opening movements - upper lip raiser and mouth stretch - were coded in 60 scans for 10min. We modeled the proportion of right mouth opening for each fetal scan using a generalized linear mixed model, which takes account of the repeated measures design. There was a significant increase in the proportion of lateralized mouth openings over the period increasing by 11% for each week of gestational age (LRT change in deviance=10.92, 1df; p<0.001). No gender differences were found nor was there any effect of maternally reported stress on fetal lateralized mouth movements. There was also evidence of left lateralization preference in mouth movement, although no evidence of changes in lateralization bias over time. This longitudinal study provides important new insights into the development of lateralized mouth movements from 24 to 36 weeks of gestation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kinematic parameters of hand movement during a disparate bimanual movement task in children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

PubMed

Rudisch, Julian; Butler, Jenny; Izadi, Hooshang; Zielinski, Ingar Marie; Aarts, Pauline; Birtles, Deirdre; Green, Dido

2016-04-01

Children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) experience problems performing tasks requiring the coordinated use of both hands (bimanual coordination; BC). Additionally, some children with uCP display involuntary symmetrical activation of the opposing hand (mirrored movements). Measures, used to investigate therapy-related improvements focus on the functionality of the affected hand during unimanual or bimanual tasks. None however specifically address spatiotemporal integration of both hands. We explored the kinematics of hand movements during a bimanual task to identify parameters of BC. Thirty-seven children (aged 10.9±2.6years, 20 male) diagnosed with uCP participated. 3D kinematic motion analysis was performed during the task requiring opening of a box with their affected- (AH) or less-affected hand (LAH), and pressing a button inside with the opposite hand. Temporal and spatial components of data were extracted and related to measures of hand function and level of impairment. Total task duration was correlated with the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function in both conditions (either hand leading with the lid-opening). Spatial accuracy of the LAH when the box was opened with their AH was correlated with outcomes on the Children's Hand Use Experience Questionnaire. Additionally, we found a subgroup of children displaying non-symmetrical movement interference associated with greater movement overlap when their affected hand opened the box. This subgroup also demonstrated decreased use of the affected hand during bimanual tasks. Further investigation of bimanual interference, which goes beyond small scaled symmetrical mirrored movements, is needed to consider its impact on bimanual task performance following early unilateral brain injury. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of streamflow, water quality, and instantaneous dissolved solids, selenium, and uranium loads in selected reaches of the Arkansas River, southeastern Colorado, 2009-2010

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ivahnenko, Tamara; Ortiz, Roderick F.; Stogner, Sr., Robert W.

2013-01-01

As a result of continued water-quality concerns in the Arkansas River, including metal contamination from historical mining practices, potential effects associated with storage and movement of water, point- and nonpoint-source contamination, population growth, storm-water flows, and future changes in land and water use, the Arkansas River Basin Regional Resource Planning Group (RRPG) developed a strategy to address these issues. As such, a cooperative strategic approach to address the multiple water-quality concerns within selected reaches of the Arkansas River was developed to (1) identify stream reaches where stream-aquifer interactions have a pronounced effect on water quality and (or) where reactive transport, and physical and (or) chemical alteration of flow during conveyance, is occurring, (2) quantify loading from point sources, and (3) determine source areas and mass loading for selected constituents. (To see the complete abstract, open Report PDF.)

The destination defines the journey: an examination of the kinematics of hand-to-mouth movements

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Claudia L. R.

2016-01-01

Long-train electrical stimulation of the motor and premotor cortices of nonhuman primates can produce either hand-to-mouth or grasp-to-inspect movements, depending on the precise location of stimulation. Furthermore, single-neuron recording studies identify discrete neuronal populations in the inferior parietal and ventral premotor cortices that respond uniquely to either grasp-to-eat or grasp-to-place movements, despite their identical mechanistic requirements. These studies demonstrate that the macaque motor cortex is organized around producing functional, goal-oriented movements, rather than simply fulfilling muscular prerequisites of action. In humans, right-handed hand-to-mouth movements have a unique kinematic signature; smaller maximum grip apertures are produced when grasping to eat than when grasping to place identical targets. This is evidence that the motor cortex in humans is also organized around producing functional movements. However, in both macaques and humans, grasp-to-eat/hand-to-mouth movements have always been elicited using edible targets and have (necessarily) been paired with mouth movement. It is therefore unknown whether the kinematic distinction is a natural result of grasping food and/or is simply attributable to concurrent opening of the mouth while grasping. In experiment 1, we used goal-differentiated grasping tasks, directed toward edible and inedible targets, to show that the unique kinematic signature is present even with inedible targets. In experiment 2, we used the same goal-differentiated grasping tasks, either coupled with or divorced from an open-mouth movement, to show that the signature is not attributable merely to a planned opening of the mouth during the grasp. These results are discussed in relation to the role of hand-to-mouth movements in human development, independently of grasp-to-eat behavior. PMID:27512020

Human sperm pattern of movement during chemotactic re-orientation towards a progesterone source

PubMed Central

Blengini, Cecilia Soledad; Teves, Maria Eugenia; Uñates, Diego Rafael; Guidobaldi, Héctor Alejandro; Gatica, Laura Virginia; Giojalas, Laura Cecilia

2011-01-01

Human spermatozoa may chemotactically find out the egg by following an increasing gradient of attractant molecules. Although human spermatozoa have been observed to show several of the physiological characteristics of chemotaxis, the chemotactic pattern of movement has not been easy to describe. However, it is apparent that chemotactic cells may be identified while returning to the attractant source. This study characterizes the pattern of movement of human spermatozoa during chemotactic re-orientation towards a progesterone source, which is a physiological attractant candidate. By means of videomicroscopy and image analysis, a chemotactic pattern of movement was identified as the spermatozoon returned towards the source of a chemotactic concentration of progesterone (10 pmol l−1). First, as a continuation of its original path, the spermatozoon swims away from the progesterone source with linear movement and then turns back with a transitional movement that can be characterized by an increased velocity and decreased linearity. This sperm behaviour may help the spermatozoon to re-orient itself towards a progesterone source and may be used to identify the few cells that are undergoing chemotaxis at a given time. PMID:21765441

Real-time and simultaneous control of artificial limbs based on pattern recognition algorithms.

PubMed

Ortiz-Catalan, Max; Håkansson, Bo; Brånemark, Rickard

2014-07-01

The prediction of simultaneous limb motions is a highly desirable feature for the control of artificial limbs. In this work, we investigate different classification strategies for individual and simultaneous movements based on pattern recognition of myoelectric signals. Our results suggest that any classifier can be potentially employed in the prediction of simultaneous movements if arranged in a distributed topology. On the other hand, classifiers inherently capable of simultaneous predictions, such as the multi-layer perceptron (MLP), were found to be more cost effective, as they can be successfully employed in their simplest form. In the prediction of individual movements, the one-vs-one (OVO) topology was found to improve classification accuracy across different classifiers and it was therefore used to benchmark the benefits of simultaneous control. As opposed to previous work reporting only offline accuracy, the classification performance and the resulting controllability are evaluated in real time using the motion test and target achievement control (TAC) test, respectively. We propose a simultaneous classification strategy based on MLP that outperformed a top classifier for individual movements (LDA-OVO), thus improving the state-of-the-art classification approach. Furthermore, all the presented classification strategies and data collected in this study are freely available in BioPatRec, an open source platform for the development of advanced prosthetic control strategies.

Real-Time Control of a Neuroprosthetic Hand by Magnetoencephalographic Signals from Paralysed Patients.

PubMed

Fukuma, Ryohei; Yanagisawa, Takufumi; Saitoh, Youichi; Hosomi, Koichi; Kishima, Haruhiko; Shimizu, Takeshi; Sugata, Hisato; Yokoi, Hiroshi; Hirata, Masayuki; Kamitani, Yukiyasu; Yoshimine, Toshiki

2016-02-24

Neuroprosthetic arms might potentially restore motor functions for severely paralysed patients. Invasive measurements of cortical currents using electrocorticography have been widely used for neuroprosthetic control. Moreover, magnetoencephalography (MEG) exhibits characteristic brain signals similar to those of invasively measured signals. However, it remains unclear whether non-invasively measured signals convey enough motor information to control a neuroprosthetic hand, especially for severely paralysed patients whose sensorimotor cortex might be reorganized. We tested an MEG-based neuroprosthetic system to evaluate the accuracy of using cortical currents in the sensorimotor cortex of severely paralysed patients to control a prosthetic hand. The patients attempted to grasp with or open their paralysed hand while the slow components of MEG signals (slow movement fields; SMFs) were recorded. Even without actual movements, the SMFs of all patients indicated characteristic spatiotemporal patterns similar to actual movements, and the SMFs were successfully used to control a neuroprosthetic hand in a closed-loop condition. These results demonstrate that the slow components of MEG signals carry sufficient information to classify movement types. Successful control by paralysed patients suggests the feasibility of using an MEG-based neuroprosthetic hand to predict a patient's ability to control an invasive neuroprosthesis via the same signal sources as the non-invasive method.

Real-Time Control of a Neuroprosthetic Hand by Magnetoencephalographic Signals from Paralysed Patients

PubMed Central

Fukuma, Ryohei; Yanagisawa, Takufumi; Saitoh, Youichi; Hosomi, Koichi; Kishima, Haruhiko; Shimizu, Takeshi; Sugata, Hisato; Yokoi, Hiroshi; Hirata, Masayuki; Kamitani, Yukiyasu; Yoshimine, Toshiki

2016-01-01

Neuroprosthetic arms might potentially restore motor functions for severely paralysed patients. Invasive measurements of cortical currents using electrocorticography have been widely used for neuroprosthetic control. Moreover, magnetoencephalography (MEG) exhibits characteristic brain signals similar to those of invasively measured signals. However, it remains unclear whether non-invasively measured signals convey enough motor information to control a neuroprosthetic hand, especially for severely paralysed patients whose sensorimotor cortex might be reorganized. We tested an MEG-based neuroprosthetic system to evaluate the accuracy of using cortical currents in the sensorimotor cortex of severely paralysed patients to control a prosthetic hand. The patients attempted to grasp with or open their paralysed hand while the slow components of MEG signals (slow movement fields; SMFs) were recorded. Even without actual movements, the SMFs of all patients indicated characteristic spatiotemporal patterns similar to actual movements, and the SMFs were successfully used to control a neuroprosthetic hand in a closed-loop condition. These results demonstrate that the slow components of MEG signals carry sufficient information to classify movement types. Successful control by paralysed patients suggests the feasibility of using an MEG-based neuroprosthetic hand to predict a patient’s ability to control an invasive neuroprosthesis via the same signal sources as the non-invasive method. PMID:26904967

Lid dynamics of porcine pancreatic lipase in non-aqueous solvents.

PubMed

Haque, Neshatul; Prabhu, N Prakash

2016-10-01

Understanding the dynamics of enzymes in organic solvents has wider implications on their industrial applications. Pancreatic lipases, which show activity in their lid open-state, demonstrate enhanced activity in organic solvents at higher temperatures. However, the lid dynamics of pancreatic lipases in non-aqueous environment is yet to be clearly understood. Dynamics of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) in open and closed conformations was followed in ethanol, toluene, and octanol using molecular simulation methods. In silico double mutant D250V and E254L of PPL (PPLmut-Cl) was created and its lid opening dynamics in water and in octanol was analyzed. PPL showed increase in solvent accessible surface area and decrease in packing density as the polarity of the surrounded solvent decreased. Breaking the interactions between D250-Y115, and D250-E254 in PPLmut-Cl directed the lid to attain open-state conformation. Major energy barriers during the lid movement in water and in octanol were identified. Also, the trajectories of lid movement were found to be different in these solvents. Only the double mutant at higher temperature showed lid opening movement suggesting the essential role of the three residues in holding the lid in closed conformation. The lid opening dynamics was faster in octanol than water suggesting that non-polar solvents favor open conformation of the lid. This study identifies important interactions between the lid and the residues in domain 1 which possibly keeps the lid in closed conformation. Also, it explains the rearrangements of residue-residue interactions during lid opening movement in water and in octanol. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Moving Parts in Imagined Spaces: Community Arts Zone's Movement Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowsell, Jennifer; McQueen-Fuentes, Glenys

2017-01-01

Movement is relatively invisible in literacy theory and pedagogy. There has been more recent scholarship on the body and embodiment, but less on connections between movements, body and literacy. In this article, we present the Community Arts Zone movement project and ways that the study opened up spaces for creativity, experimentation, and…

Psychophysical Evaluation of Three-Dimensional Auditory Displays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wightman, Frederic L. (Principal Investigator)

1995-01-01

This report describes the process made during the first year of a three-year Cooperative Research Agreement (CRA NCC2-542). The CRA proposed a program of applied of psychophysical research designed to determine the requirements and limitations of three-dimensional (3-D) auditory display systems. These displays present synthesized stimuli to a pilot or virtual workstation operator that evoke auditory images at predetermined positions in space. The images can be either stationary or moving. In previous years. we completed a number of studies that provided data on listeners' abilities to localize stationary sound sources with 3-D displays. The current focus is on the use of 3-D displays in 'natural' listening conditions, which include listeners' head movements, moving sources, multiple sources and 'echoic' sources. The results of our research on two of these topics, the role of head movements and the role of echoes and reflections, were reported in the most recent Semi-Annual Pro-ress Report (Appendix A). In the period since the last Progress Report we have been studying a third topic, the localizability of moving sources. The results of this research are described. The fidelity of a virtual auditory display is critically dependent on precise measurement of the listener''s Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs), which are used to produce the virtual auditory images. We continue to explore methods for improving our HRTF measurement technique. During this reporting period we compared HRTFs measured using our standard open-canal probe tube technique and HRTFs measured with the closed-canal insert microphones from the Crystal River Engineering Snapshot system.

Factors associated with anterior open bite in children with developmental disabilities.

PubMed

de Castilho, Lia Silva; Abreu, Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães; Pires E Souza, Luiz Gustavo de Almeida; Romualdo, Leiliane Teresinha de Almeida; Souza E Silva, Maria Elisa; Resende, Vera Lúcia Silva

2018-01-01

To investigate factors associated with anterior open bite in individuals aged from 2 to 33 years with developmental disabilities. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 271 dental records were examined. The anterior open bite analyzed was determined based on clinic exam. These variables were also analyzed: gender, age, education level of mother, International Code of Diseases (ICD), mouth breathing, use of anticonvulsant drugs, hyperkinesis, pacifier use, thumb sucking, seizure, and involuntary movements. For the purposes of analysis, the individuals were categorized as being with and without anterior open bite. Variables with a p-value of < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were incorporated into the logistic regression models. Mouth breathers had a 2.60-fold (95% CI: 1.35-5.01) greater chance of exhibiting anterior open bite than nasal breathers. Pacifier users are more likely to have an anterior open bite (3.32-fold, 95% CI: 1.62-6.77). Individuals with reported involuntary movements had a 2.66-fold (95% CI: 1.26-5.63) greater chance of exhibiting anterior open bite. Users of anticonvulsants drugs had a 3.05 (95% CI: 1.57-5.92) greater chance of showing anterior open bite. Involuntary movements, mouth breathing, using anticonvulsant drugs, and using pacifier are factors associated with anterior open bite in patients with developmental disabilities. © 2017 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Head movement compensation in real-time magnetoencephalographic recordings.

PubMed

Little, Graham; Boe, Shaun; Bardouille, Timothy

2014-01-01

Neurofeedback- and brain-computer interface (BCI)-based interventions can be implemented using real-time analysis of magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings. Head movement during MEG recordings, however, can lead to inaccurate estimates of brain activity, reducing the efficacy of the intervention. Most real-time applications in MEG have utilized analyses that do not correct for head movement. Effective means of correcting for head movement are needed to optimize the use of MEG in such applications. Here we provide preliminary validation of a novel analysis technique, real-time source estimation (rtSE), that measures head movement and generates corrected current source time course estimates in real-time. rtSE was applied while recording a calibrated phantom to determine phantom position localization accuracy and source amplitude estimation accuracy under stationary and moving conditions. Results were compared to off-line analysis methods to assess validity of the rtSE technique. The rtSE method allowed for accurate estimation of current source activity at the source-level in real-time, and accounted for movement of the source due to changes in phantom position. The rtSE technique requires modifications and specialized analysis of the following MEG work flow steps.•Data acquisition•Head position estimation•Source localization•Real-time source estimation This work explains the technical details and validates each of these steps.

Source mechanism of Vulcanian degassing at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico, determined from waveform inversions of very long period signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chouet, Bernard; Dawson, Phillip; Arciniega-Ceballos, Alejandra

2005-07-01

The source mechanism of very long period (VLP) signals accompanying volcanic degassing bursts at Popocatépetl is analyzed in the 15-70 s band by minimizing the residual error between data and synthetics calculated for a point source embedded in a homogeneous medium. The waveforms of two eruptions (23 April and 23 May 2000) representative of mild Vulcanian activity are well reproduced by our inversion, which takes into account volcano topography. The source centroid is positioned 1500 m below the western perimeter of the summit crater, and the modeled source is composed of a shallow dipping crack (sill with easterly dip of 10°) intersecting a steeply dipping crack (northeast striking dike dipping 83° northwest), whose surface extension bisects the vent. Both cracks undergo a similar sequence of inflation, deflation, and reinflation, reflecting a cycle of pressurization, depressurization, and repressurization within a time interval of 3-5 min. The largest moment release occurs in the sill, showing a maximum volume change of 500-1000 m3, pressure drop of 3-5 MPa, and amplitude of recovered pressure equal to 1.2 times the amplitude of the pressure drop. In contrast, the maximum volume change in the dike is less (200-300 m3), with a corresponding pressure drop of 1-2 MPa and pressure recovery equal to the pressure drop. Accompanying these volumetric sources are single-force components with magnitudes of 108 N, consistent with melt advection in response to pressure transients. The source time histories of the volumetric components of the source indicate that significant mass movement starts within the sill and triggers a mass movement response in the dike within a few seconds. Such source behavior is consistent with the opening of a pathway for escape of pent-up gases from slow pressurization of the sill driven by magma crystallization. The opening of this pathway and associated rapid evacuation of volcanic gases induces the pressure drop. Pressure recovery in the magma filling the sill is driven by diffusion of gases from the resulting supersaturated melt into bubbles. Assuming a penny-shaped crack at ambient pressure of 40 MPa, the observed pressure and volume variations can be modeled with the following attributes: crack radius (100 m), crack aperture (5 m), bubble number density (1010-1012 m-3), initial bubble radius (10-6 m), final bubble radius (˜10-5 m), and net decrease of gas concentration in the melt (0.01 wt %).

Source mechanism of Vulcanian degassing at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico, determined from waveform inversions of very long period signals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chouet, Bernard A.; Dawson, Phillip B.; Arciniega-Ceballos, Alejandra

2005-01-01

The source mechanism of very long period (VLP) signals accompanying volcanic degassing bursts at Popocatépetl is analyzed in the 15–70 s band by minimizing the residual error between data and synthetics calculated for a point source embedded in a homogeneous medium. The waveforms of two eruptions (23 April and 23 May 2000) representative of mild Vulcanian activity are well reproduced by our inversion, which takes into account volcano topography. The source centroid is positioned 1500 m below the western perimeter of the summit crater, and the modeled source is composed of a shallow dipping crack (sill with easterly dip of 10°) intersecting a steeply dipping crack (northeast striking dike dipping 83° northwest), whose surface extension bisects the vent. Both cracks undergo a similar sequence of inflation, deflation, and reinflation, reflecting a cycle of pressurization, depressurization, and repressurization within a time interval of 3–5 min. The largest moment release occurs in the sill, showing a maximum volume change of 500–1000 m3, pressure drop of 3–5 MPa, and amplitude of recovered pressure equal to 1.2 times the amplitude of the pressure drop. In contrast, the maximum volume change in the dike is less (200–300 m3), with a corresponding pressure drop of 1–2 MPa and pressure recovery equal to the pressure drop. Accompanying these volumetric sources are single-force components with magnitudes of 108 N, consistent with melt advection in response to pressure transients. The source time histories of the volumetric components of the source indicate that significant mass movement starts within the sill and triggers a mass movement response in the dike within a few seconds. Such source behavior is consistent with the opening of a pathway for escape of pent-up gases from slow pressurization of the sill driven by magma crystallization. The opening of this pathway and associated rapid evacuation of volcanic gases induces the pressure drop. Pressure recovery in the magma filling the sill is driven by diffusion of gases from the resulting supersaturated melt into bubbles. Assuming a penny-shaped crack at ambient pressure of 40 MPa, the observed pressure and volume variations can be modeled with the following attributes: crack radius (100 m), crack aperture (5 m), bubble number density (1010–1012 m−3), initial bubble radius (10−6 m), final bubble radius (∼10−5 m), and net decrease of gas concentration in the melt (0.01 wt %).

Publishers Hire PR Firm to Counter Open-Access Publishing Movement: Former Board of "Topology" Starts a Rival Journal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Susan; Monastersky, Richard

2007-01-01

The Association of American Publishers has hired a public-relations firm with a hard-hitting reputation to respond to the open-access-publishing movement, which campaigns for scientific results to be made freely available to the public. The firm, Dezenhall Resources, designs aggressive public-relations campaigns to counter activist groups. The…

Contribution to the Understanding of Particle Motion Perception in Marine Invertebrates.

PubMed

André, Michel; Kaifu, Kenzo; Solé, Marta; van der Schaar, Mike; Akamatsu, Tomonari; Balastegui, Andreu; Sánchez, Antonio M; Castell, Joan V

2016-01-01

Marine invertebrates potentially represent a group of species whose ecology may be influenced by artificial noise. Exposure to anthropogenic sound sources could have a direct consequence on the functionality and sensitivity of their sensory organs, the statocysts, which are responsible for their equilibrium and movements in the water column. The availability of novel laser Doppler vibrometer techniques has recently opened the possibility of measuring whole body (distance, velocity, and acceleration) vibration as a direct stimulus eliciting statocyst response, offering the scientific community a new level of understanding of the marine invertebrate hearing mechanism.

Remotely measuring populations during a crisis by overlaying two data sources.

PubMed

Bharti, Nita; Lu, Xin; Bengtsson, Linus; Wetter, Erik; Tatem, Andrew J

2015-03-01

Societal instability and crises can cause rapid, large-scale movements. These movements are poorly understood and difficult to measure but strongly impact health. Data on these movements are important for planning response efforts. We retrospectively analyzed movement patterns surrounding a 2010 humanitarian crisis caused by internal political conflict in Côte d'Ivoire using two different methods. We used two remote measures, nighttime lights satellite imagery and anonymized mobile phone call detail records, to assess average population sizes as well as dynamic population changes. These data sources detect movements across different spatial and temporal scales. The two data sources showed strong agreement in average measures of population sizes. Because the spatiotemporal resolution of the data sources differed, we were able to obtain measurements on long- and short-term dynamic elements of populations at different points throughout the crisis. Using complementary, remote data sources to measure movement shows promise for future use in humanitarian crises. We conclude with challenges of remotely measuring movement and provide suggestions for future research and methodological developments. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Social religious movement in java 19Th - 20Th century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumarno; Trilaksana, A.; Kasdi, A.

2018-01-01

Religious social movements are very interesting to be studied because this phenomenon is affecting the urban and rural communities, among the rich and the poor people, the educated and the less educated. The purpose of this study was to analyze several religious social movements in Java in the 19Th - 20Th centuries. The methods used are historical methods that include: Source feeding (main source is reference), Source Critique (source test), Interpretation of fact (analyzing the fact), and Historiography (writing research results) in the form of Journal Articles. Religious Social Symbols arise as a result of a depressed society, oppressed by the political system, or poverty as a result of colonial exploitation. For indigenous and less religious societies social pressures breed social protest movements and social revolutions. Meanwhile, in the Javanese society that has social and religious characteristics make the nature of the movement multidimensional. The form of movement is a blend of social movements that lead in the form of protests and revolutions, on the other hand formed religious movements that are politer nature because it is related to the life of the world and the hereafter. In various religious social movements in Java include the Nativist movement, Millennial/millenarianism, Messianic, Nostalgic, sectarian, and Revivalist. The movement emerged as a social impact of the Dutch colonization in the form of Cultivation which gave birth to the suffering of the people in the economic and social fields.

Mandibular movement during sleep bruxism associated with current tooth attrition.

PubMed

Okura, Kazuo; Shigemoto, Shuji; Suzuki, Yoshitaka; Noguchi, Naoto; Omoto, Katsuhiro; Abe, Susumu; Matsuka, Yoshizo

2017-01-01

Observation of attrition patterns suggests that mandibular movement in sleep bruxism (SB) may be associated with current tooth attrition. The aim of this study was to confirm this phenomenon by investigating mandibular movement and masseter muscle activity. The subject was a healthy 21-year-old Japanese male. We recorded biological signals including mandibular movement and masseter electromyograms (EMGs) with a polysomnograph. Based on the EMG using Okura's criteria, SB events were classified into clenching, grinding and mixed types according to mandibular movement criteria. The close-open mandibular movement cycles (CO-cycles) during grinding and mixed type events were selected based on mandibular movement trajectories. Fifty-eight CO-cycles were selected in seven grinding and three mixed types. We found that SB mandibular movements associated with current tooth attrition. Excessive lateral movements (ELM) beyond the canine edge-to-edge position were observed in the closing (10.3%) and opening (13.8%) phases of the CO-cycle. Total masseter muscle activity was significantly higher during voluntary grinding (VGR) than during CO-cycle including ELM (working side: P=0.036, balancing side: P=0.025). However, in the middle and late parts of the opening phase, working side masseter muscle activity was significantly higher during CO-cycle including ELM than during VGR (P=0.012). In the early part of the closing phase, balancing side masseter muscle activity was significantly higher during CO-cycle including ELM than during VGR (P=0.017). These findings suggest that excessive forceful grinding during ongoing SB events may have caused canine attrition in this patient. Copyright © 2016 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinematics of the human mandible for different head postures.

PubMed

Visscher, C M; Huddleston Slater, J J; Lobbezoo, F; Naeije, M

2000-04-01

The influence of head posture on movement paths of the incisal point (IP) and of the mandibular condyles during free open-close movements was studied. Ten persons, without craniomandibular or cervical spine disorders, participated in the study. Open close mandibular movements were recorded with the head in five postures, viz., natural head posture, forward head posture, military posture, and lateroflexion to the right and to the left side, using the Oral Kinesiologic Analysis System (OKAS-3D). This study showed that in a military head posture, the opening movement path of the incisal point is shifted anteriorly relative to the path in a natural head posture. In a forward head posture, the movement path is shifted posteriorly whereas during lateroflexion, it deviates to the side the head has moved to. Moreover, the intra-articular distance in the temporomandibular joint during closing is smaller with the head in military posture and greater in forward head posture, as compared to the natural head posture. During lateroflexion, the intra-articular distance on the ipsilateral side is smaller. The influence of head posture upon the kinematics of the mandible is probably a manifestation of differences in mandibular loading in the different head postures.

Hot-water spraying is a sensitive test for signs of life before dressing and scalding in pig abattoirs with carbon dioxide (CO2) stunning.

PubMed

Parotat, S; von Holleben, K; Arnold, S; Troeger, K; Luecker, E

2016-02-01

This study investigated the benefits of hot-water spraying (HWS) as a diagnostic test to verify the absence of signs of life (SOL) before scalding in pigs slaughtered with carbon dioxide (CO2) stunning. A total of 37 108 finishing pigs from five German abattoirs (A to E) operating at 55 to 571 pigs per hour were assessed. Suspended pigs were sprayed onto the muzzle, head and front legs (143 to 258 s post sticking for 4 to 10 s, 57°C to 72°C). Any active movements during HWS were rated as positive test outcomes. In comparison, SOL were considered to be absent if a subsequent manual examination was negative and no active movements were observed following HWS. The incidence of pigs with activity during hot-water spraying (PWA) was restricted to two abattoirs (B: 0.25%; D: 0.02%; A, C, E: 0.00%). PWA showed movements of facial muscles (88%), mouth opening (78%), righting reflex (63%), isolated leg movements (35%) and vocalization (4%). The manual examination was positive in 71% of PWA (corneal/dazzle reflex: 67%/53%, nasal septum pinch: 33%), whereas all inactive pigs tested negative (P99.9% in either case. Any positive manual findings as well as any respiratory activity were instantly terminated using a penetrating captive bolt. Active movements triggered by the shot were shown to be an indicator for SOL (P<0.001). Video analyses revealed that spontaneous movements (SM) following sticking were present in 100% of PWA as opposed to 3.1% in pigs without such activity (controls). Results for different categories of SM in PWA v. controls were as follows: 100% v. 2.6% for mouth opening, 16.0% v. 0.1% for righting reflex and 22.0% v. 0.9% for isolated leg movements (all P<0.001). First mouth opening after sticking was observed later in PWA (28±24 v. 10±7 s), but mouth openings were observed for a longer period of time (141±44 v. 27±25 s) (both P<0.001). PWA with shorter mouth-opening intervals showed higher movement intensities during HWS and more positive manual findings (P<0.05). We conclude that HWS is a promising test for SOL. SM and sustained mouth opening in particular are indicators for compromised animal welfare and affected pigs should be shot by captive bolt.

Does induced masseter muscle pain affect integrated jaw-neck movements similarly in men and women?

PubMed

Wiesinger, Birgitta; Häggman-Henrikson, Birgitta; Hellström, Fredrik; Englund, Erling; Wänman, Anders

2016-12-01

Normal jaw opening-closing involves simultaneous jaw and head-neck movements. We previously showed that, in men, integrated jaw-neck movements during jaw function are altered by induced masseter muscle pain. The aim of this study was to investigate possible sex-related differences in integrated jaw-neck movements following experimental masseter muscle pain. We evaluated head-neck and jaw movements in 22 healthy women and 16 healthy men in a jaw opening-closing task. The participants performed one control trial and one trial with masseter muscle pain induced by injection of hypertonic saline. Jaw and head movements were registered using a three-dimensional optoelectronic recording system. There were no significant sex-related differences in jaw and head movement amplitudes. Head movement amplitudes were significantly greater in the pain trials for both men and women. The proportional involvement of the neck motor system during jaw movements increased in pain trials for 13 of 16 men and for 18 of 22 women. Thus, acute pain may alter integrated jaw-neck movements, although, given the similarities between men and women, this interaction between acute pain and motor behaviour does not explain sex differences in musculoskeletal pain in the jaw and neck regions. © 2016 Eur J Oral Sci.

Transient and Partial Nuclear Lamina Disruption Promotes Chromosome Movement in Early Meiotic Prophase.

PubMed

Link, Jana; Paouneskou, Dimitra; Velkova, Maria; Daryabeigi, Anahita; Laos, Triin; Labella, Sara; Barroso, Consuelo; Pacheco Piñol, Sarai; Montoya, Alex; Kramer, Holger; Woglar, Alexander; Baudrimont, Antoine; Markert, Sebastian Mathias; Stigloher, Christian; Martinez-Perez, Enrique; Dammermann, Alexander; Alsheimer, Manfred; Zetka, Monique; Jantsch, Verena

2018-04-23

Meiotic chromosome movement is important for the pairwise alignment of homologous chromosomes, which is required for correct chromosome segregation. Movement is driven by cytoplasmic forces, transmitted to chromosome ends by nuclear membrane-spanning proteins. In animal cells, lamins form a prominent scaffold at the nuclear periphery, yet the role lamins play in meiotic chromosome movement is unclear. We show that chromosome movement correlates with reduced lamin association with the nuclear rim, which requires lamin phosphorylation at sites analogous to those that open lamina network crosslinks in mitosis. Failure to remodel the lamina results in delayed meiotic entry, altered chromatin organization, unpaired or interlocked chromosomes, and slowed chromosome movement. The remodeling kinases are delivered to lamins via chromosome ends coupled to the nuclear envelope, potentially enabling crosstalk between the lamina and chromosomal events. Thus, opening the lamina network plays a role in modulating contacts between chromosomes and the nuclear periphery during meiosis. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Source Mechanism of Vulcanian Degassing at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico, Determined From Moment-Tensor Inversion of Very-long-period Seismic Waveforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chouet, B.; Dawson, P.; Arciniega, A.

2004-12-01

The source mechanism of very-long-period (VLP) signals accompanying degassing exhalations at Popocatépetl is analyzed in the 15-70~s band by minimizing the residual error between data and synthetics calculated for a point source embedded in a homogeneous medium. The waveforms of two events (04/23/00, 05/23/00) representative of mild Vulcanian eruptions are well reproduced by our inversion, which takes into account volcano topography. The source centroid is positioned 1500~m below the western perimeter of the summit crater, and the modeled source is composed of a shallow-dipping crack (sill with easterly dip of 10° ) intersecting a steeply-dipping crack (northeast striking dike with northwest dip of 83° ), whose surface trace bisects the vent. Both cracks undergo a similar sequence of inflation, deflation, and reinflation --- reflecting a cycle of pressurization, depressurization, and repressurization within a time interval of 3-5~min. The largest moment release occurs in the sill, showing a maximum volume change of 500-1000\\:m3, pressure drop of 3-5~MPa, and amplitude of recovered pressure equal to 1.2 times the amplitude of the pressure drop. In contrast, the maximum volume change in the dike is 200-300\\:m3, with a corresponding pressure drop of 1-2~MPa and pressure recovery equal to the pressure drop. Accompanying these volumetric sources is a single force with magnitude of 5 × 108~N, consistent with melt advection in response to the pressure transients. The source-time history of the three components of this force confirms that significant mass movement starts in the sill and triggers a mass movement response in the dike within ˜ 5~s. Such source behavior is consistent with the opening of an escape pathway for accumulated gases from slow pressurization of the sill driven by magma crystallization. The opening of a pathway for pent-up gases in the sill and rapid evacuation of this separated gas phase induces the pressure drop. Pressure recovery in the magma filling the sill is driven by diffusion of gases from the resulting supersaturated melt into bubbles. Assuming a penny-shaped crack at ambient pressure of 40~MPa, the observed pressure and volume variations can be modeled with the following attributes: crack radius, (100~m), crack aperture, (5~m), bubble number density, (1010 - 1012\\:m-3), initial bubble radius, (10-6\\:m), final bubble radius, ( ˜ 10-5\\:m), and net decrease of gas concentration in the melt, (0.01~wt%).

Open Access to Research Articles and Data: Library Roles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joseph, Heather

2015-08-01

Over the past decade, a handful of key developments have caused scholars and researchers to rethink not only the way they conduct their work, but also the way in which they communicate it to others. The advent of the Internet has provided unprecedented opportunities for immediate, cost effective global connectivity, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and communication. This has resulted in scholarship increasingly being conducted in the online environment, and a vast amount of new digital information being generated and made widely available to those interested in using it. Additionally, the Internet is a dynamic environment, with new channels for producing and sharing information in a myriad of formats emerging frequently.In higher education, the momentum of the burgeoning movement towards "open" sharing of information of all kinds continues to gain traction. In particular, advancements in the areas of opening up access to articles and reserch data are increasingly visible. In both of these areas, academic and research libraries are playing important, central roles in promoting the awareness of the potential costs and benefits of a more open research environment, as well as defining new roles for libraries in this digital environment.As this push for grater openness continues, these fronts are intersecting in interesting and potentially transformative ways. The Open Access and Open Data movements share fundamental philosophical commonalities that make collaboration a natural outcome. Both movements place a premium on reducing barriers to discovering and accessing pertinent digital information. Perhaps even more significantly, both explicitly recognize that enabling productive use of digital information is key to unlocking its full value. As a result of these shared priorities, there are a wide variety of common strategies that libraries can take to help advance research, presenting new opportunities for deeper collaboration to take place.This talk will explore what is happening in these "open" movements from both a practical and policy standpoint; how this might directly impact academia, the research community, and especially, libraries.

Movement Education: Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of Its Benefits and Their Competence in Integrating It across the Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sevimli Celik, Serap

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the pre-service teachers' (PT) perceptions about movement education, perceived benefits from participating in a 12-week movement education module, and confidence and competency to incorporate movement into curriculum after experiencing the module. The data were generated through pre and post open-ended…

Developing Quality Preschool Movement Programs: CHAOS and KinderPlay

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robert, Darren L.; Yongue, Bill

2004-01-01

This article presents two models for creating new developmentally appropriate preschool movement programs: CHAOS (Children Helping Adults Open Senses) at Eastern Connecticut State University and "KinderPlay" at Florida International University. CHAOS and KinderPlay utilize skill themes and movement concepts as their focus and incorporate…

A platform for dynamic simulation and control of movement based on OpenSim and MATLAB.

PubMed

Mansouri, Misagh; Reinbolt, Jeffrey A

2012-05-11

Numerical simulations play an important role in solving complex engineering problems and have the potential to revolutionize medical decision making and treatment strategies. In this paper, we combine the rapid model-based design, control systems and powerful numerical method strengths of MATLAB/Simulink with the simulation and human movement dynamics strengths of OpenSim by developing a new interface between the two software tools. OpenSim is integrated with Simulink using the MATLAB S-function mechanism, and the interface is demonstrated using both open-loop and closed-loop control systems. While the open-loop system uses MATLAB/Simulink to separately reproduce the OpenSim Forward Dynamics Tool, the closed-loop system adds the unique feature of feedback control to OpenSim, which is necessary for most human movement simulations. An arm model example was successfully used in both open-loop and closed-loop cases. For the open-loop case, the simulation reproduced results from the OpenSim Forward Dynamics Tool with root mean square (RMS) differences of 0.03° for the shoulder elevation angle and 0.06° for the elbow flexion angle. MATLAB's variable step-size integrator reduced the time required to generate the forward dynamic simulation from 7.1s (OpenSim) to 2.9s (MATLAB). For the closed-loop case, a proportional-integral-derivative controller was used to successfully balance a pole on model's hand despite random force disturbances on the pole. The new interface presented here not only integrates the OpenSim and MATLAB/Simulink software tools, but also will allow neuroscientists, physiologists, biomechanists, and physical therapists to adapt and generate new solutions as treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A platform for dynamic simulation and control of movement based on OpenSim and MATLAB

PubMed Central

Mansouri, Misagh; Reinbolt, Jeffrey A.

2013-01-01

Numerical simulations play an important role in solving complex engineering problems and have the potential to revolutionize medical decision making and treatment strategies. In this paper, we combine the rapid model-based design, control systems and powerful numerical method strengths of MATLAB/Simulink with the simulation and human movement dynamics strengths of OpenSim by developing a new interface between the two software tools. OpenSim is integrated with Simulink using the MATLAB S-function mechanism, and the interface is demonstrated using both open-loop and closed-loop control systems. While the open-loop system uses MATLAB/Simulink to separately reproduce the OpenSim Forward Dynamics Tool, the closed-loop system adds the unique feature of feedback control to OpenSim, which is necessary for most human movement simulations. An arm model example was successfully used in both open-loop and closed-loop cases. For the open-loop case, the simulation reproduced results from the OpenSim Forward Dynamics Tool with root mean square (RMS) differences of 0.03° for the shoulder elevation angle and 0.06° for the elbow flexion angle. MATLAB’s variable step-size integrator reduced the time required to generate the forward dynamic simulation from 7.1 s (OpenSim) to 2.9 s (MATLAB). For the closed-loop case, a proportional–integral–derivative controller was used to successfully balance a pole on model’s hand despite random force disturbances on the pole. The new interface presented here not only integrates the OpenSim and MATLAB/Simulink software tools, but also will allow neuroscientists, physiologists, biomechanists, and physical therapists to adapt and generate new solutions as treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. PMID:22464351

Assessment of operating room airflow using air particle counts and direct observation of door openings.

PubMed

Teter, Jonathan; Guajardo, Isabella; Al-Rammah, Tamrah; Rosson, Gedge; Perl, Trish M; Manahan, Michele

2017-05-01

The role of the operating room (OR) environment has been thought to contribute to surgical site infection rates. The quality of OR air, disruption of airflow, and other factors may increase contamination risks. We measured air particulate counts (APCs) to determine if they increased in relation to traffic, door opening, and other common activities. During 1 week, we recorded APCs in 5-minute intervals and movement of health care workers. Trained observers recorded information about traffic, door openings, job title of the opener, and the reason for opening. At least 1 OR door was open during 47% of all readings. There were 13.4 door openings per hour during cases. Door opening rates ranged from 0.19-0.28 per minute. During this time, a total of 660 air measurements were obtained. The mean APCs were 9,238 particles (95% confidence interval [CI], 5,494- 12,982) at baseline and 14,292 particles (95% CI, 12,382-16,201) during surgery. Overall APCs increased 13% when either door was opened (P < .15). Larger particles that correlated to bacterial size were elevated significantly (P < .001) on door opening. We observed numerous instances of verbal communication and equipment movement. Improving efficiency of communication and equipment can aid in reduction of traffic. Further study is needed to examine links between microbiologic sampling, outcome data, and particulate matter to enable study of risk factors and effects of personnel movement. Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NEDE: an open-source scripting suite for developing experiments in 3D virtual environments.

PubMed

Jangraw, David C; Johri, Ansh; Gribetz, Meron; Sajda, Paul

2014-09-30

As neuroscientists endeavor to understand the brain's response to ecologically valid scenarios, many are leaving behind hyper-controlled paradigms in favor of more realistic ones. This movement has made the use of 3D rendering software an increasingly compelling option. However, mastering such software and scripting rigorous experiments requires a daunting amount of time and effort. To reduce these startup costs and make virtual environment studies more accessible to researchers, we demonstrate a naturalistic experimental design environment (NEDE) that allows experimenters to present realistic virtual stimuli while still providing tight control over the subject's experience. NEDE is a suite of open-source scripts built on the widely used Unity3D game development software, giving experimenters access to powerful rendering tools while interfacing with eye tracking and EEG, randomizing stimuli, and providing custom task prompts. Researchers using NEDE can present a dynamic 3D virtual environment in which randomized stimulus objects can be placed, allowing subjects to explore in search of these objects. NEDE interfaces with a research-grade eye tracker in real-time to maintain precise timing records and sync with EEG or other recording modalities. Python offers an alternative for experienced programmers who feel comfortable mastering and integrating the various toolboxes available. NEDE combines many of these capabilities with an easy-to-use interface and, through Unity's extensive user base, a much more substantial body of assets and tutorials. Our flexible, open-source experimental design system lowers the barrier to entry for neuroscientists interested in developing experiments in realistic virtual environments. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nowhere to run: the role of habitat openness and refuge use in defining patterns of morphological and performance evolution in tropical lizards.

PubMed

Goodman, Brett A

2009-07-01

For species from open habitats with little cover and few refugia, selection should favour morphologies that enhance performance at tasks that enable rapid movement across open areas. Similarly, selection should also favour traits that enable rapid access and movement within suitable refugia. This study examined the relationship between habitat openness, refuge use, morphology and performance of 19 species representing 23 populations of tropical Lygosomine skink. Species from this group occupy a wide array of habitats from open forest and open rocky intertidal zones to high-altitude heaths and dense, closed forests. Species that occupied open habitats were faster at sprinting, climbing and had better cling ability than species from more cluttered, closed habitats. In addition, species from habitats that used rock crevices as refuges had enhanced sprinting ability. This study shows the importance of both habitat openness and refuge type in the evolution of both the morphology and performance in lizards.

An MR-compatible gyroscope-based arm movement tracking system.

PubMed

Shirinbayan, S Iman; Rieger, Jochem W

2017-03-15

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is well suited to link neural population activation with movement parameters of complex natural arm movements. However, currently existing MR-compatible arm tracking devices are not constructed to measure arm joint movement parameters of unrestricted movements. Therefore, to date most research focuses on simple arm movements or includes very little knowledge about the actual movement kinematics. We developed a low cost gyroscope-based arm movement tracking system (GAMTS) that features MR-compatibility. The system consists of dual-axis analogue gyroscopes that measure rotations of upper and lower arm joints. After MR artifact reduction, the rotation angles of the individual arm joints are calculated and used to animate a realistic arm model that is implemented in the OpenSim platform. The OpenSim platform can then provide the kinematics of any point on the arm model. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the system, we first assessed the quality of reconstructed wrist movements in a low-noise environment where typical MR-related problems are absent and finally, we validated the reconstruction in the MR environment. The system provides the kinematics of the whole arm when natural unrestricted arm movements are performed inside the MR-scanner. The GAMTS is reliably capable of reconstructing the kinematics of trajectories and the reconstruction error is small in comparison with the movement induced variation of speed, displacement, and rotation. Moreover, the system can be used to probe brain areas for their correlation with movement kinematics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular Rift: Virtual Reality for Drug Designers.

PubMed

Norrby, Magnus; Grebner, Christoph; Eriksson, Joakim; Boström, Jonas

2015-11-23

Recent advances in interaction design have created new ways to use computers. One example is the ability to create enhanced 3D environments that simulate physical presence in the real world--a virtual reality. This is relevant to drug discovery since molecular models are frequently used to obtain deeper understandings of, say, ligand-protein complexes. We have developed a tool (Molecular Rift), which creates a virtual reality environment steered with hand movements. Oculus Rift, a head-mounted display, is used to create the virtual settings. The program is controlled by gesture-recognition, using the gaming sensor MS Kinect v2, eliminating the need for standard input devices. The Open Babel toolkit was integrated to provide access to powerful cheminformatics functions. Molecular Rift was developed with a focus on usability, including iterative test-group evaluations. We conclude with reflections on virtual reality's future capabilities in chemistry and education. Molecular Rift is open source and can be downloaded from GitHub.

Real-Time Processing Library for Open-Source Hardware Biomedical Sensors

PubMed Central

Castro-García, Juan A.; Lebrato-Vázquez, Clara

2018-01-01

Applications involving data acquisition from sensors need samples at a preset frequency rate, the filtering out of noise and/or analysis of certain frequency components. We propose a novel software architecture based on open-software hardware platforms which allows programmers to create data streams from input channels and easily implement filters and frequency analysis objects. The performances of the different classes given in the size of memory allocated and execution time (number of clock cycles) were analyzed in the low-cost platform Arduino Genuino. In addition, 11 people took part in an experiment in which they had to implement several exercises and complete a usability test. Sampling rates under 250 Hz (typical for many biomedical applications) makes it feasible to implement filters, sliding windows and Fourier analysis, operating in real time. Participants rated software usability at 70.2 out of 100 and the ease of use when implementing several signal processing applications was rated at just over 4.4 out of 5. Participants showed their intention of using this software because it was percieved as useful and very easy to use. The performances of the library showed that it may be appropriate for implementing small biomedical real-time applications or for human movement monitoring, even in a simple open-source hardware device like Arduino Genuino. The general perception about this library is that it is easy to use and intuitive. PMID:29596394

Real-Time Processing Library for Open-Source Hardware Biomedical Sensors.

PubMed

Molina-Cantero, Alberto J; Castro-García, Juan A; Lebrato-Vázquez, Clara; Gómez-González, Isabel M; Merino-Monge, Manuel

2018-03-29

Applications involving data acquisition from sensors need samples at a preset frequency rate, the filtering out of noise and/or analysis of certain frequency components. We propose a novel software architecture based on open-software hardware platforms which allows programmers to create data streams from input channels and easily implement filters and frequency analysis objects. The performances of the different classes given in the size of memory allocated and execution time (number of clock cycles) were analyzed in the low-cost platform Arduino Genuino. In addition, 11 people took part in an experiment in which they had to implement several exercises and complete a usability test. Sampling rates under 250 Hz (typical for many biomedical applications) makes it feasible to implement filters, sliding windows and Fourier analysis, operating in real time. Participants rated software usability at 70.2 out of 100 and the ease of use when implementing several signal processing applications was rated at just over 4.4 out of 5. Participants showed their intention of using this software because it was percieved as useful and very easy to use. The performances of the library showed that it may be appropriate for implementing small biomedical real-time applications or for human movement monitoring, even in a simple open-source hardware device like Arduino Genuino. The general perception about this library is that it is easy to use and intuitive.

REMOTELY OPERATED MANIPULATOR

DOEpatents

Hutto, E.L.

1961-08-15

A manipulator is described for performing, within an entirely enclosed cell containling radioactive materials, various mechanical operations. A rod with flexible fingers is encompassed by a tubular sleeve shorter than the rod. Relative movement between the rod and sleeve causes the fingers to open and close. This relative movement is effected by relative movement of permanent magnets in magnetic coupling relation to magnetic followers affixed to the ends of the rod and sleeve. The rod and its sleeve may be moved as a unit axially or may be rotated by means of the magnetic couplings. The manipulator is enclosed within a tubular member which is flexibly sealed to an opening in the cell. (AEC)

The Limitations of Access Alone: Moving Towards Open Processes in Education Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knox, Jeremy

2013-01-01

"Openness" has emerged as one of the foremost themes in education, within which an open education movement has enthusiastically embraced digital technologies as the central means of participation and inclusion. Open Educational Resources (OERs) and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have surfaced at the forefront of this development,…

The self in conflict: actors and agency in the mediated sequential Simon task.

PubMed

Spapé, Michiel M; Ahmed, Imtiaj; Jacucci, Giulio; Ravaja, Niklas

2015-01-01

Executive control refers to the ability to withstand interference in order to achieve task goals. The effect of conflict adaptation describes that after experiencing interference, subsequent conflict effects are weaker. However, changes in the source of conflict have been found to disrupt conflict adaptation. Previous studies indicated that this specificity is determined by the degree to which one source causes episodic retrieval of a previous source. A virtual reality version of the Simon task was employed to investigate whether changes in a visual representation of the self would similarly affect conflict adaptation. Participants engaged in a mediated Simon task via 3D "avatar" models that either mirrored the participants' movements, or were presented statically. A retrieval cue was implemented as the identity of the avatar: switching it from a male to a female avatar was expected to disrupt the conflict adaptation effect (CAE). The results show that only in static conditions did the CAE depend on the avatar identity, while in dynamic conditions, changes did not cause disruption. We also explored the effect of conflict and adaptation on the degree of movement made with the task-irrelevant hand and replicated the reaction time pattern. The findings add to earlier studies of source-specific conflict adaptation by showing that a visual representation of the self in action can provide a cue that determines episodic retrieval. Furthermore, the novel paradigm is made openly available to the scientific community and is described in its significance for studies of social cognition, cognitive psychology, and human-computer interaction.

An experimental test of matrix permeability and corridor use by an endemic understory bird.

PubMed

Castellón, Traci D; Sieving, Kathryn E

2006-02-01

Because of widespread habitat fragmentation, maintenance of landscape connectivity has become a major focus of conservation planning, but empirical tests of animal movement in fragmented landscapes remain scarce. We conducted a translocation experiment to test the relative permeability of three landscape elements (open habitat, shrubby secondary vegetation, and wooded corridors) to movement by the Chucao Tapaculo (Scelorchilus rubecula), a forest understory bird endemic to South American temperate rainforest. Forty-one radio-tagged subjects were translocated (individually) to three landscape treatments consisting of small release patches that were either entirely surrounded by open habitat (pasture), entirely surrounded by dense shrubs, or linked to other patches by wooded corridors that were otherwise surrounded by open matrix. The number of days subjects remained in release patches before dispersal (a measure of habitat resistance) was significantly longer for patches surrounded by open habitat than for patches adjoining corridors or surrounded by dense shrubs. These results indicate that open habitat significantly constrains Chucao dispersal, in accord with expectation, but dispersal occurs equally well through wooded corridors and shrub-dominated matrix. Thus, corridor protection or restoration and management of vegetation in the matrix (to encourage animal movement) may be equally feasible alternatives for maintaining connectivity.

Drapery assembly including insulated drapery liner

DOEpatents

Cukierski, Gwendolyn

1983-01-01

A drapery assembly is disclosed for covering a framed wall opening, the assembly including drapery panels hung on a horizontal traverse rod, the rod having a pair of master slides and means for displacing the master slides between open and closed positions. A pair of insulating liner panels are positioned behind the drapery, the remote side edges of the liner panels being connected with the side portions of the opening frame, and the adjacent side edges of the liner panels being connected with a pair of vertically arranged center support members adapted for sliding movement longitudinally of a horizontal track member secured to the upper horizontal portion of the opening frame. Pivotally arranged brackets connect the center support members with the master slides of the traverse rod whereby movement of the master slides to effect opening and closing of the drapery panels effects simultaneous opening and closing of the liner panels.

Colonization and Movement of Xanthomonas fragariae in Strawberry Tissues.

PubMed

Wang, Hehe; McTavish, Christine; Turechek, William W

2018-06-01

Xanthomonas fragariae causes angular leaf spot of strawberry, an important disease in strawberry growing regions worldwide. To better understand how X. fragariae multiplies and moves in strawberry plants, a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled strain was constructed and used to monitor the pathogen's presence in leaf, petiole, and crown tissue with fluorescence microscopy following natural and wound inoculation in three strawberry cultivars. Taqman PCR was used to quantify bacterial densities in these same tissues regardless of the presence of GFP signal. Results showed X. fragariae colonized leaf mesophyll, the top 1 cm portion of the petiole adjacent to the leaf blade, and was occasionally found colonizing xylem vessels down to the middle of the petioles. The colonization of vascular bundles and the limited systemic movement that was observed appeared to be a passive process, of which the frequency increased with wounding and direct infiltration of bacteria into leaf veins. X. fragariae was able to directly enter petioles and colonize the space under the epidermis. Systemic movement of the bacteria into crown and other uninoculated tissues was not detected visually by GFP. However, X. fragariae was occasionally detected in these tissues by qPCR, but at quantities very near the qPCR detection limit. Petiole tissue harboring bacteria introduced either by direct entry through natural openings or wounds, or by systemic movement from infected foliar tissue, likely serves as a main source of initial inoculum in field plantings.

Portable open-path chemical sensor using a quantum cascade laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corrigan, Paul; Lwin, Maung; Huntley, Reuven; Chhabra, Amandeep; Moshary, Fred; Gross, Barry; Ahmed, Samir

2009-05-01

Remote sensing of enemy installations or their movements by trace gas detection is a critical but challenging military objective. Open path measurements over ranges of a few meters to many kilometers with sensitivity in the parts per million or billion regime are crucial in anticipating the presence of a threat. Previous approaches to detect ground level chemical plumes, explosive constituents, or combustion have relied on low-resolution, short range Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), or low-sensitivity near-infrared differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). As mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources have improved in cost and performance, systems based on QCL's that can be tailored to monitor multiple chemical species in real time are becoming a viable alternative. We present the design of a portable, high-resolution, multi-kilometer open path trace gas sensor based on QCL technology. Using a tunable (1045-1047cm-1) QCL, a modeled atmosphere and link-budget analysis with commercial component specifications, we show that with this approach, accuracy in parts per billion ozone or ammonia can be obtained in seconds at path lengths up to 10 km. We have assembled an open-path QCL sensor based on this theoretical approach at City College of New York, and we present preliminary results demonstrating the potential of QCLs in open-path sensing applications.

PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Chiang Mai (Thailand): Seasonal variations, source identification, health risk assessment and their relationship to air-mass movement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiriya, Wan; Prapamontol, Tippawan; Chantara, Somporn

2013-04-01

This study aims to analyze the seasonal variations of PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for an estimation of the human health risk and identification of their possible sources. Ninety four PM10 samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons of 2010 and the dry season of 2011 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and analyzed for 16 PAHs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The average PM10 concentrations were 104.91 ± 32.70, 13.28 ± 11.34 and 36.24 ± 19.16 μg/m3 in dry season of 2010, wet season of 2010 and dry season of 2011, respectively, while the average 16-PAHs concentrations were 25.87 ± 10.13, 3.12 ± 2.18 and 4.58 ± 2.18 ng/m3, respectively. Correlations of PM10 and total PAHs concentrations were relatively high during all seasons (r > 0.796). In addition, PM10 concentrations were highly correlated with carcinogenic PAHs (r = 0.927) during the dry season of 2010, indicating that carcinogenic compounds were dominant in the particulate PAHs and could be generated from open burning, usually conducted in the dry season. The average PM10 concentration in the dry season of 2011 was much lower than that in 2010 and lower than the annual average of the past 12 years (48.17 μg/m3) because of the unusually high amount of rain precipitation and low open burning activity in this year. According to the accumulated number of hot spots occurring in northern part of Thailand, approximately 19,000 spots were found in the dry season of 2010, while only 6,600 spots were found in the dry season of 2011. It can be seen that larger scale open burning activities were performed in the dry season of 2010 than in the dry season of 2011. The value of toxicity equivalent concentration from PAHs in the dry season of 2010 was higher than that of the wet season of 2010 and the dry season of 2011. This is obviously related to concentrations of PM10 and PAHs. Diagnostic ratio and principal component analysis were used to find out the sources of PM10-bound PAHs. It was found that vehicle emission and biomass burning were the main sources of PM10 and PAHs in this area. The high ratio value of benzo(a)anthracene/chrysene (BaA/CHR) in the dry season of 2010 indicated possible photochemical processes and long distance emissions. Findings on source identification of PM10 and PAHs were found to be relevant to the direction and speed of air mass movement run by backward trajectory.

Open high-level data formats and software for gamma-ray astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deil, Christoph; Boisson, Catherine; Kosack, Karl; Perkins, Jeremy; King, Johannes; Eger, Peter; Mayer, Michael; Wood, Matthew; Zabalza, Victor; Knödlseder, Jürgen; Hassan, Tarek; Mohrmann, Lars; Ziegler, Alexander; Khelifi, Bruno; Dorner, Daniela; Maier, Gernot; Pedaletti, Giovanna; Rosado, Jaime; Contreras, José Luis; Lefaucheur, Julien; Brügge, Kai; Servillat, Mathieu; Terrier, Régis; Walter, Roland; Lombardi, Saverio

2017-01-01

In gamma-ray astronomy, a variety of data formats and proprietary software have been traditionally used, often developed for one specific mission or experiment. Especially for ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), data and software are mostly private to the collaborations operating the telescopes. However, there is a general movement in science towards the use of open data and software. In addition, the next-generation IACT instrument, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), will be operated as an open observatory. We have created a Github organisation at https://github.com/open-gamma-ray-astro where we are developing high-level data format specifications. A public mailing list was set up at https://lists.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/open-gamma-ray-astro and a first face-to-face meeting on the IACT high-level data model and formats took place in April 2016 in Meudon (France). This open multi-mission effort will help to accelerate the development of open data formats and open-source software for gamma-ray astronomy, leading to synergies in the development of analysis codes and eventually better scientific results (reproducible, multi-mission). This write-up presents this effort for the first time, explaining the motivation and context, the available resources and process we use, as well as the status and planned next steps for the data format specifications. We hope that it will stimulate feedback and future contributions from the gamma-ray astronomy community.

The Investigation of Laparoscopic Instrument Movement Control and Learning Effect

PubMed Central

Lin, Chiuhsiang Joe

2013-01-01

Laparoscopic surgery avoids large incisions for intra-abdominal operations as required in conventional open surgery. Whereas the patient benefits from laparoscopic techniques, the surgeon encounters new difficulties that were not present during open surgery procedures. However, limited literature has been published in the essential movement characteristics such as magnification, amplitude, and angle. For this reason, the present study aims to investigate the essential movement characteristics of instrument manipulation via Fitts' task and to develop an instrument movement time predicting model. Ten right-handed subjects made discrete Fitts' pointing tasks using a laparoscopic trainer. The experimental results showed that there were significant differences between the three factors in movement time and in throughput. However, no significant differences were observed in the improvement rate for movement time and throughput between these three factors. As expected, the movement time was rather variable and affected markedly by direction to target. The conventional Fitts' law model was extended by incorporating a directional parameter into the model. The extended model was shown to better fit the data than the conventional model. These findings pointed to a design direction for the laparoscopic surgery training program, and the predictive model can be used to establish standards in the training procedure. PMID:23984348

Real-time animation software for customized training to use motor prosthetic systems.

PubMed

Davoodi, Rahman; Loeb, Gerald E

2012-03-01

Research on control of human movement and development of tools for restoration and rehabilitation of movement after spinal cord injury and amputation can benefit greatly from software tools for creating precisely timed animation sequences of human movement. Despite their ability to create sophisticated animation and high quality rendering, existing animation software are not adapted for application to neural prostheses and rehabilitation of human movement. We have developed a software tool known as MSMS (MusculoSkeletal Modeling Software) that can be used to develop models of human or prosthetic limbs and the objects with which they interact and to animate their movement using motion data from a variety of offline and online sources. The motion data can be read from a motion file containing synthesized motion data or recordings from a motion capture system. Alternatively, motion data can be streamed online from a real-time motion capture system, a physics-based simulation program, or any program that can produce real-time motion data. Further, animation sequences of daily life activities can be constructed using the intuitive user interface of Microsoft's PowerPoint software. The latter allows expert and nonexpert users alike to assemble primitive movements into a complex motion sequence with precise timing by simply arranging the order of the slides and editing their properties in PowerPoint. The resulting motion sequence can be played back in an open-loop manner for demonstration and training or in closed-loop virtual reality environments where the timing and speed of animation depends on user inputs. These versatile animation utilities can be used in any application that requires precisely timed animations but they are particularly suited for research and rehabilitation of movement disorders. MSMS's modeling and animation tools are routinely used in a number of research laboratories around the country to study the control of movement and to develop and test neural prostheses for patients with paralysis or amputations.

Data Cube Visualization with Blender

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kent, Brian R.; Gárate, Matías

2017-06-01

With the increasing data acquisition rates from observational and computational astrophysics, new tools are needed to study and visualize data. We present a methodology for rendering 3D data cubes using the open-source 3D software Blender. By importing processed observations and numerical simulations through the Voxel Data format, we are able use the Blender interface and Python API to create high-resolution animated visualizations. We review the methods for data import, animation, and camera movement, and present examples of this methodology. The 3D rendering of data cubes gives scientists the ability to create appealing displays that can be used for both scientific presentations as well as public outreach.

Slide valve apparatus for internal combustion engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, B.A.; McMahan, T.O.

This patent describes an internal combustion engine including a combustion cylinder having an opening at one end thereof, a piston mounted within the cylinder for coaxial reciprocable movement, a driven crankshaft, and a connecting rod connecting the crankshaft to the cylinder for linear reciprocable movement of the piston in response to the rotary movement of the crankshaft, a valve apparatus comprising: (a) a valve chamber extending longitudinally across and in fluid communication with the opening in the cylinder, (b) an intake valve plate having a longitudinal axis mounted within the valve chamber for slidable, reciprocable, longitudinal movement, (c) an exhaustmore » valve plate having a longitudinal axis mounted within the valve chamber alongside the intake valve plate for slidable, reciprocable, longitudinal movement and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intake valve plate, (d) each of the valve plates having a plurality of longitudinally spaced valve ports therein, the valve ports comprising movable intake valve ports in the intake valve plate and movable exhaust valve ports in the exhaust valve plate, (e) the valve chamber comprising a planar wall on the opposite side of the valve plates from the cylinder opening and having a plurality of fixed valve ports therethrough. The fixed valve ports being equal in number and substantially equal in size and spacing as the movable intake and exhaust valve ports, whereby the movable intake valve ports are adapted to register with their corresponding fixed valve ports when the intake valve plate is in its intake operative position for opening fluid communication between the cylinder and the corresponding fixed valve ports.« less

A Case Study of Scholars' Open and Sharing Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Veletsianos, George

2015-01-01

Although the open scholarship movement has successfully captured the attention and interest of higher education stakeholders, researchers currently lack an understanding of the degree to which open scholarship is enacted in institutions that lack institutional support for openness. I help fill this gap in the literature by presenting a descriptive…

Investigating Data Motion Power Trends to Enable Power-Efficient OpenSHMEM Implementations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mintz, Tiffany M; D'Azevedo, Eduardo F.; Gorentla Venkata, Manjunath

2016-01-01

As we continue to develop extreme-scale systems, it is becoming increasingly important to be mindful and more in control of power consumed by these systems. With high performance requirements being more constrained by power and data movement quickly becoming the critical concern for both power and performance, now is an opportune time for OpenSHMEM implementations to address the need for more power-efficient data movement. In order to enable power efficient OpenSHMEM implementations, we have formulated power trend studies that emphasize power consumption for one-sided communications and the disparities in power consumption across multiple implementations. In this paper, we present powermore » trend analysis, generate targeted hypotheses for increasing power efficiency with OpenSHMEM, and discuss prospective research for power efficient OpenSHMEM implementations.« less

Benchmarking and Evaluating Unified Memory for OpenMP GPU Offloading

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mishra, Alok; Li, Lingda; Kong, Martin

Here, the latest OpenMP standard offers automatic device offloading capabilities which facilitate GPU programming. Despite this, there remain many challenges. One of these is the unified memory feature introduced in recent GPUs. GPUs in current and future HPC systems have enhanced support for unified memory space. In such systems, CPU and GPU can access each other's memory transparently, that is, the data movement is managed automatically by the underlying system software and hardware. Memory over subscription is also possible in these systems. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge about how this mechanism will perform, and how programmers shouldmore » use it. We have modified several benchmarks codes, in the Rodinia benchmark suite, to study the behavior of OpenMP accelerator extensions and have used them to explore the impact of unified memory in an OpenMP context. We moreover modified the open source LLVM compiler to allow OpenMP programs to exploit unified memory. The results of our evaluation reveal that, while the performance of unified memory is comparable with that of normal GPU offloading for benchmarks with little data reuse, it suffers from significant overhead when GPU memory is over subcribed for benchmarks with large amount of data reuse. Based on these results, we provide several guidelines for programmers to achieve better performance with unified memory.« less

Contribution of LFP dynamics to single-neuron spiking variability in motor cortex during movement execution

PubMed Central

Rule, Michael E.; Vargas-Irwin, Carlos; Donoghue, John P.; Truccolo, Wilson

2015-01-01

Understanding the sources of variability in single-neuron spiking responses is an important open problem for the theory of neural coding. This variability is thought to result primarily from spontaneous collective dynamics in neuronal networks. Here, we investigate how well collective dynamics reflected in motor cortex local field potentials (LFPs) can account for spiking variability during motor behavior. Neural activity was recorded via microelectrode arrays implanted in ventral and dorsal premotor and primary motor cortices of non-human primates performing naturalistic 3-D reaching and grasping actions. Point process models were used to quantify how well LFP features accounted for spiking variability not explained by the measured 3-D reach and grasp kinematics. LFP features included the instantaneous magnitude, phase and analytic-signal components of narrow band-pass filtered (δ,θ,α,β) LFPs, and analytic signal and amplitude envelope features in higher-frequency bands. Multiband LFP features predicted single-neuron spiking (1ms resolution) with substantial accuracy as assessed via ROC analysis. Notably, however, models including both LFP and kinematics features displayed marginal improvement over kinematics-only models. Furthermore, the small predictive information added by LFP features to kinematic models was redundant to information available in fast-timescale (<100 ms) spiking history. Overall, information in multiband LFP features, although predictive of single-neuron spiking during movement execution, was redundant to information available in movement parameters and spiking history. Our findings suggest that, during movement execution, collective dynamics reflected in motor cortex LFPs primarily relate to sensorimotor processes directly controlling movement output, adding little explanatory power to variability not accounted by movement parameters. PMID:26157365

Effects of groundwater on radionuclides buried at the Nevada Test Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinez, B.A.; Maestas, S.; Thompson, J.L.

A large fraction of the radioactive source from a nuclear test is confined to the cavity created by the event. A {open_quotes}melt glass{close_quotes} accumulates at the bottom of the cavity where the highest concentrations of refractory radionuclides (e.g., Zr-95, Eu-155, Pu-239) are found. Most of the movement of radionuclides underground at the Nevada Test Site occurs through the agency of moving groundwater. Results from samples that were taken from the cavity formed in 1981 by the underground test named Baseball indicate that radioactive materials have remained where they were deposited during the formation of the cavity and chimney. There maymore » not be a mechanism for radionuclides to migrate at this location due to small hydraulic gradients and a low hydraulic conductivity. The study done at this site offers further evidence that extensive migration of radioactive materials away from underground nuclear test sites does not occur in the absence of appreciable groundwater movement.« less

Bayesian modeling to assess populated areas impacted by radiation from Fukushima

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hultquist, C.; Cervone, G.

2017-12-01

Citizen-led movements producing spatio-temporal big data are increasingly important sources of information about populations that are impacted by natural disasters. Citizen science can be used to fill gaps in disaster monitoring data, in addition to inferring human exposure and vulnerability to extreme environmental impacts. As a response to the 2011 release of radiation from Fukushima, Japan, the Safecast project began collecting open radiation data which grew to be a global dataset of over 70 million measurements to date. This dataset is spatially distributed primarily where humans are located and demonstrates abnormal patterns of population movements as a result of the disaster. Previous work has demonstrated that Safecast is highly correlated in comparison to government radiation observations. However, there is still a scientific need to understand the geostatistical variability of Safecast data and to assess how reliable the data are over space and time. The Bayesian hierarchical approach can be used to model the spatial distribution of datasets and flexibly integrate new flows of data without losing previous information. This enables an understanding of uncertainty in the spatio-temporal data to inform decision makers on areas of high levels of radiation where populations are located. Citizen science data can be scientifically evaluated and used as a critical source of information about populations that are impacted by a disaster.

Technology in Parkinson's disease: Challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Espay, Alberto J; Bonato, Paolo; Nahab, Fatta B; Maetzler, Walter; Dean, John M; Klucken, Jochen; Eskofier, Bjoern M; Merola, Aristide; Horak, Fay; Lang, Anthony E; Reilmann, Ralf; Giuffrida, Joe; Nieuwboer, Alice; Horne, Malcolm; Little, Max A; Litvan, Irene; Simuni, Tanya; Dorsey, E Ray; Burack, Michelle A; Kubota, Ken; Kamondi, Anita; Godinho, Catarina; Daneault, Jean-Francois; Mitsi, Georgia; Krinke, Lothar; Hausdorff, Jeffery M; Bloem, Bastiaan R; Papapetropoulos, Spyros

2016-09-01

The miniaturization, sophistication, proliferation, and accessibility of technologies are enabling the capture of more and previously inaccessible phenomena in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, more information has not translated into a greater understanding of disease complexity to satisfy diagnostic and therapeutic needs. Challenges include noncompatible technology platforms, the need for wide-scale and long-term deployment of sensor technology (among vulnerable elderly patients in particular), and the gap between the "big data" acquired with sensitive measurement technologies and their limited clinical application. Major opportunities could be realized if new technologies are developed as part of open-source and/or open-hardware platforms that enable multichannel data capture sensitive to the broad range of motor and nonmotor problems that characterize PD and are adaptable into self-adjusting, individualized treatment delivery systems. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society Task Force on Technology is entrusted to convene engineers, clinicians, researchers, and patients to promote the development of integrated measurement and closed-loop therapeutic systems with high patient adherence that also serve to (1) encourage the adoption of clinico-pathophysiologic phenotyping and early detection of critical disease milestones, (2) enhance the tailoring of symptomatic therapy, (3) improve subgroup targeting of patients for future testing of disease-modifying treatments, and (4) identify objective biomarkers to improve the longitudinal tracking of impairments in clinical care and research. This article summarizes the work carried out by the task force toward identifying challenges and opportunities in the development of technologies with potential for improving the clinical management and the quality of life of individuals with PD. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Voltage-Dependent Gating of hERG Potassium Channels

PubMed Central

Cheng, Yen May; Claydon, Tom W.

2012-01-01

The mechanisms by which voltage-gated channels sense changes in membrane voltage and energetically couple this with opening of the ion conducting pore has been the source of significant interest. In voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, much of our knowledge in this area comes from Shaker-type channels, for which voltage-dependent gating is quite rapid. In these channels, activation and deactivation are associated with rapid reconfiguration of the voltage-sensing domain unit that is electromechanically coupled, via the S4–S5 linker helix, to the rate-limiting opening of an intracellular pore gate. However, fast voltage-dependent gating kinetics are not typical of all Kv channels, such as Kv11.1 (human ether-à-go-go related gene, hERG), which activates and deactivates very slowly. Compared to Shaker channels, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying slow hERG gating is much poorer. Here, we present a comparative review of the structure–function relationships underlying activation and deactivation gating in Shaker and hERG channels, with a focus on the roles of the voltage-sensing domain and the S4–S5 linker that couples voltage sensor movements to the pore. Measurements of gating current kinetics and fluorimetric analysis of voltage sensor movement are consistent with models suggesting that the hERG activation pathway contains a voltage independent step, which limits voltage sensor transitions. Constraints upon hERG voltage sensor movement may result from loose packing of the S4 helices and additional intra-voltage sensor counter-charge interactions. More recent data suggest that key amino acid differences in the hERG voltage-sensing unit and S4–S5 linker, relative to fast activating Shaker-type Kv channels, may also contribute to the increased stability of the resting state of the voltage sensor. PMID:22586397

Modulations of mirroring activity by desire for social connection and relevance of movement

PubMed Central

Sharer, Elizabeth A.; Bargh, John A.; Pineda, Jaime A.

2014-01-01

Mirroring neurons fire both when an individual moves and observes another move in kind. This simulation of others’ movements is thought to effortlessly and ubiquitously support empathetic connection and social understanding. However, at times this could be maladaptive. How could a boxer mirror a losing opponent’s expressions of fatigue, feeling his weariness, precisely when strength is required? Clearly, the boxer must emotionally disconnect from his opponent and those expressions of fatigue must become irrelevant and not mirrored. But, movements that inform of his opponent’s intentions to deliver an incoming blow are quite relevant and still should require mirroring. We tested these dimensions of emotional connectedness and relevance of movement in an electroencephalography experiment, where participants’ desires to socially connect with a confederate were manipulated. Before manipulation, all participants mirrored the confederate’s purely kinematic (a hand opening and closing) and goal-directed (a hand opening and closing around a token that the participant desired) hand movements. After manipulation, unfairly treated subjects ceased to mirror the purely kinematic movements but continued to mirror goal-relevant movements. Those treated fairly continued to mirror all movements. The results suggest that social mirroring can be adaptive in order to meet the demands of a varied social environment. PMID:24194581

An Open-Source Toolbox for Surrogate Modeling of Joint Contact Mechanics

PubMed Central

Eskinazi, Ilan

2016-01-01

Goal Incorporation of elastic joint contact models into simulations of human movement could facilitate studying the interactions between muscles, ligaments, and bones. Unfortunately, elastic joint contact models are often too expensive computationally to be used within iterative simulation frameworks. This limitation can be overcome by using fast and accurate surrogate contact models that fit or interpolate input-output data sampled from existing elastic contact models. However, construction of surrogate contact models remains an arduous task. The aim of this paper is to introduce an open-source program called Surrogate Contact Modeling Toolbox (SCMT) that facilitates surrogate contact model creation, evaluation, and use. Methods SCMT interacts with the third party software FEBio to perform elastic contact analyses of finite element models and uses Matlab to train neural networks that fit the input-output contact data. SCMT features sample point generation for multiple domains, automated sampling, sample point filtering, and surrogate model training and testing. Results An overview of the software is presented along with two example applications. The first example demonstrates creation of surrogate contact models of artificial tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints and evaluates their computational speed and accuracy, while the second demonstrates the use of surrogate contact models in a forward dynamic simulation of an open-chain leg extension-flexion motion. Conclusion SCMT facilitates the creation of computationally fast and accurate surrogate contact models. Additionally, it serves as a bridge between FEBio and OpenSim musculoskeletal modeling software. Significance Researchers may now create and deploy surrogate models of elastic joint contact with minimal effort. PMID:26186761

State-of-the-Art in Open Courseware Initiatives Worldwide

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vladoiu, Monica

2011-01-01

We survey here the state-of-the-art in open courseware initiatives worldwide. First, the MIT OpenCourseWare project is overviewed, as it has been the real starting point of the OCW movement. Usually, open courseware refers to a free and open digital publication of high quality university level educational materials that are organized as courses,…

EEG source space analysis of the supervised factor analytic approach for the classification of multi-directional arm movement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shenoy Handiru, Vikram; Vinod, A. P.; Guan, Cuntai

2017-08-01

Objective. In electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems for motor control tasks the conventional practice is to decode motor intentions by using scalp EEG. However, scalp EEG only reveals certain limited information about the complex tasks of movement with a higher degree of freedom. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the effectiveness of source-space EEG in extracting relevant features that discriminate arm movement in multiple directions. Approach. We have proposed a novel feature extraction algorithm based on supervised factor analysis that models the data from source-space EEG. To this end, we computed the features from the source dipoles confined to Brodmann areas of interest (BA4a, BA4p and BA6). Further, we embedded class-wise labels of multi-direction (multi-class) source-space EEG to an unsupervised factor analysis to make it into a supervised learning method. Main Results. Our approach provided an average decoding accuracy of 71% for the classification of hand movement in four orthogonal directions, that is significantly higher (>10%) than the classification accuracy obtained using state-of-the-art spatial pattern features in sensor space. Also, the group analysis on the spectral characteristics of source-space EEG indicates that the slow cortical potentials from a set of cortical source dipoles reveal discriminative information regarding the movement parameter, direction. Significance. This study presents evidence that low-frequency components in the source space play an important role in movement kinematics, and thus it may lead to new strategies for BCI-based neurorehabilitation.

Proprioceptive feedback and brain computer interface (BCI) based neuroprostheses.

PubMed

Ramos-Murguialday, Ander; Schürholz, Markus; Caggiano, Vittorio; Wildgruber, Moritz; Caria, Andrea; Hammer, Eva Maria; Halder, Sebastian; Birbaumer, Niels

2012-01-01

Brain computer interface (BCI) technology has been proposed for motor neurorehabilitation, motor replacement and assistive technologies. It is an open question whether proprioceptive feedback affects the regulation of brain oscillations and therefore BCI control. We developed a BCI coupled on-line with a robotic hand exoskeleton for flexing and extending the fingers. 24 healthy participants performed five different tasks of closing and opening the hand: (1) motor imagery of the hand movement without any overt movement and without feedback, (2) motor imagery with movement as online feedback (participants see and feel their hand, with the exoskeleton moving according to their brain signals, (3) passive (the orthosis passively opens and closes the hand without imagery) and (4) active (overt) movement of the hand and rest. Performance was defined as the difference in power of the sensorimotor rhythm during motor task and rest and calculated offline for different tasks. Participants were divided in three groups depending on the feedback receiving during task 2 (the other tasks were the same for all participants). Group 1 (n = 9) received contingent positive feedback (participants' sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) desynchronization was directly linked to hand orthosis movements), group 2 (n = 8) contingent "negative" feedback (participants' sensorimotor rhythm synchronization was directly linked to hand orthosis movements) and group 3 (n = 7) sham feedback (no link between brain oscillations and orthosis movements). We observed that proprioceptive feedback (feeling and seeing hand movements) improved BCI performance significantly. Furthermore, in the contingent positive group only a significant motor learning effect was observed enhancing SMR desynchronization during motor imagery without feedback in time. Furthermore, we observed a significantly stronger SMR desynchronization in the contingent positive group compared to the other groups during active and passive movements. To summarize, we demonstrated that the use of contingent positive proprioceptive feedback BCI enhanced SMR desynchronization during motor tasks.

Space-use, movement and dispersal of sub-adult cougars in a geographically isolated population.

PubMed

Morrison, Carl D; Boyce, Mark S; Nielsen, Scott E

2015-01-01

Cougar (Puma concolor) observations have increased in Midwest North America, with breeding populations re-establishing in several regions east of their contemporary range. The Cypress Hills Uplands, located in southwest Saskatchewan and southeast Alberta, was recently re-colonized by cougars and now supports the easternmost confirmed breeding population of cougars in Canada. A number of factors contribute to this cougar range expansion, but it is dispersal that provides the mechanism for re-colonization of historic range. We used GPS-collar data to examine space-use and movement behavior of sub-adult cougars, the age class associated with dispersal, in the Cypress Hills. Conditional logistic regression and a two-stage modeling approach were used to estimate resource selection functions (RSF) of sub-adult cougars during two distinct ranging behaviors: transient movements (i.e., dispersal and exploratory forays) and localizing movements (i.e., temporary home ranges). Linear regression was used to model movement rates, measured as the distance between consecutive 3-h GPS-relocations, of sub-adult cougars relative to different habitats, times of day and between transient and localizing behavior. All individual sub-adult cougars displayed bouts of transient and localizing behavior. All male cougars dispersed from their natal ranges and travelled considerably farther distances than female cougars. One male dispersed over 750 km eastward through the agricultural belt of northern Montana and southern Saskatchewan. Males occupied temporary home ranges in more open habitats on the fringes of the insular Cypress Hills, while females appeared to be recruited into the adult population, occupying treed habitat that provided more suitable cover. During both ranging behaviors, sub-adult cougars selected for rugged terrain and proximity to hydrological features (likely supporting riparian habitats) and avoided open cover types. Differences in habitat selection between ranging behaviors were observed in response to open water, roads and elevation. Although certain habitat characteristics were preferred, transient and localizing cougars used fast-paced nocturnal movements and shortened daytime movements when traversing open habitats to effectively limit their residency and exposure in less-suitable landscapes. Additionally, cougars moved greater distances at night during transient behavior compared to localizing behavior indicating cougars used cover of darkness to traverse novel terrain. In doing so, sub-adult cougars can successfully disperse several hundred kilometres across a matrix of open habitat in search of resources and mates.

Phase dependence of transport-aperture coordination variability reveals control strategy of reach-to-grasp movements.

PubMed

Rand, Miya K; Shimansky, Y P; Hossain, Abul B M I; Stelmach, George E

2010-11-01

Based on an assumption of movement control optimality in reach-to-grasp movements, we have recently developed a mathematical model of transport-aperture coordination (TAC), according to which the hand-target distance is a function of hand velocity and acceleration, aperture magnitude, and aperture velocity and acceleration (Rand et al. in Exp Brain Res 188:263-274, 2008). Reach-to-grasp movements were performed by young adults under four different reaching speeds and two different transport distances. The residual error magnitude of fitting the above model to data across different trials and subjects was minimal for the aperture-closure phase, but relatively much greater for the aperture-opening phase, indicating considerable difference in TAC variability between those phases. This study's goal is to identify the main reasons for that difference and obtain insights into the control strategy of reach-to-grasp movements. TAC variability within the aperture-opening phase of a single trial was found minimal, indicating that TAC variability between trials was not due to execution noise, but rather a result of inter-trial and inter-subject variability of motor plan. At the same time, the dependence of the extent of trial-to-trial variability of TAC in that phase on the speed of hand transport was sharply inconsistent with the concept of speed-accuracy trade-off: the lower the speed, the larger the variability. Conversely, the dependence of the extent of TAC variability in the aperture-closure phase on hand transport speed was consistent with that concept. Taking into account recent evidence that the cost of neural information processing is substantial for movement planning, the dependence of TAC variability in the aperture-opening phase on task performance conditions suggests that it is not the movement time that the CNS saves in that phase, but the cost of neuro-computational resources and metabolic energy required for TAC regulation in that phase. Thus, the CNS performs a trade-off between that cost and TAC regulation accuracy. It is further discussed that such trade-off is possible because, due to a special control law that governs optimal switching from aperture opening to aperture closure, the inter-trial variability of the end of aperture opening does not affect the high accuracy of TAC regulation in the subsequent aperture-closure phase.

Source analysis of beta-synchronisation and cortico-muscular coherence after movement termination based on high resolution electroencephalography.

PubMed

Muthuraman, Muthuraman; Tamás, Gertrúd; Hellriegel, Helge; Deuschl, Günther; Raethjen, Jan

2012-01-01

We hypothesized that post-movement beta synchronization (PMBS) and cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) during movement termination relate to each other and have similar role in sensorimotor integration. We calculated the parameters and estimated the sources of these phenomena.We measured 64-channel EEG simultaneously with surface EMG of the right first dorsal interosseus muscle in 11 healthy volunteers. In Task1, subjects kept a medium-strength contraction continuously; in Task2, superimposed on this movement, they performed repetitive self-paced short contractions. In Task3 short contractions were executed alone. Time-frequency analysis of the EEG and CMC was performed with respect to the offset of brisk movements and averaged in each subject. Sources of PMBS and CMC were also calculated.High beta power in Task1, PMBS in Task2-3, and CMC in Task1-2 could be observed in the same individual frequency bands. While beta synchronization in Task1 and PMBS in Task2-3 appeared bilateral with contralateral predominance, CMC in Task1-2 was strictly a unilateral phenomenon; their main sources did not differ contralateral to the movement in the primary sensorimotor cortex in 7 of 11 subjects in Task1, and in 6 of 9 subjects in Task2. In Task2, CMC and PMBS had the same latency but their amplitudes did not correlate with each other. In Task2, weaker PMBS source was found bilaterally within the secondary sensory cortex, while the second source of CMC was detected in the premotor cortex, contralateral to the movement. In Task3, weaker sources of PMBS could be estimated in bilateral supplementary motor cortex and in the thalamus. PMBS and CMC appear simultaneously at the end of a phasic movement possibly suggesting similar antikinetic effects, but they may be separate processes with different active functions. Whereas PMBS seems to reset the supraspinal sensorimotor network, cortico-muscular coherence may represent the recalibration of cortico-motoneuronal and spinal systems.

Jaw-opening reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability changes during quiet sleep in non-human primates.

PubMed

Yao, Dongyuan; Lavigne, Gilles J; Lee, Jye-Chang; Adachi, Kazunori; Sessle, Barry J

2013-02-01

To test the hypothesis that the reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability of jaw muscles is reduced during sleep. Polysomnographic recordings in the electrophysiological study. University sleep research laboratories. The reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability of jaw muscles was determined during the quiet awake state (QW) and quiet sleep (QS) in monkeys (n = 4). During QS sleep, compared to QW periods, both tongue stimulation-evoked jaw-opening reflex peak and root mean square amplitudes were significantly decreased with stimulations at 2-3.5 × thresholds (P < 0.001). The jaw-opening reflex latency during sleep was also significantly longer than during QW. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) within the cortical masticatory area induced rhythmic jaw movements at a stable threshold (≤ 60 μA) during QW; but during QS, ICMS failed to induce any rhythmic jaw movements at the maximum ICMS intensity used, although sustained jaw-opening movements were evoked at significantly increased threshold (P < 0.001) in one of the monkeys. Similarly, during QW, ICMS within face primary motor cortex induced orofacial twitches at a stable threshold (≤ 35 μA), but the ICMS thresholds were elevated during QS. Soon after the animal awoke, rhythmic jaw movements and orofacial twitches could be evoked at thresholds similar to those before QS. The results suggest that the excitability of reflex and corticobulbar-evoked activity in the jaw motor system is depressed during QS.

Pump out the volume--The effect of tracheal and subelytral pressure pulses on convective gas exchange in a dung beetle, Circellium bacchus (Fabricus).

PubMed

Duncan, Frances D; Förster, Thomas D; Hetz, Stefan K

2010-05-01

Many flightless beetles like the large apterous dung beetle Circellium bacchus, possess a subelytral cavity (SEC) providing an extra air space below the elytra which connects to the tracheal system (TS) via metathoracic and abdominal spiracles. By measuring subelytral and intratracheal pressure as well as body movements and gas exchange simultaneously in a flow-through setup, we investigated the contribution of convection on Circellium respiratory gas exchange. No constriction phase was observed. TS and SEC pressures were always around atmospheric values. During interburst phase open abdominal spiracles and a leaky SEC led to small CO(2)-peaks on a continuous CO(2) baseline, driven by intermittent positive tracheal pressure peaks in anti-phase with small negative subelytral pressure peaks caused by dorso-ventral tergite action. Spiracle opening was accompanied by two types of body movements. Higher frequency telescoping body movements at the beginning of opening resulted in high amplitude SEC and TS pressure peaks. High frequency tergite movements caused subelytral pressure peaks and led to a saw tooth like CO(2) release pattern in a burst. We propose that during the burst open mesothoracic spiracles increase the compliance of the subelytral cavity allowing big volumes of tracheal air being pulled out by convection. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Direct observation of growth front movement in electron beam recrystallization of silicon layer on insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, Tomoyasu; Hamasaki, Toshihiko

1987-04-01

A high-speed movie technique was used to investigate the growth front movement during electron beam recrystallization of thin silicon layers on insulating material. In a laterally epitaxial growth process, it was clearly observed that the molten zone shape dramatically changes across a seed opening, which is due to nonuniformity in heat dissipation toward the substrate in the vicinity of the seed opening. The molten zone width and velocities of the melt front and growth front were quantitatively analyzed using digital film motion analysis. The growth front velocity was found to drastically change by ˜30% across the seed opening.

Striving toward Openness: But What Do We Really Mean?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rolfe, Vivien

2017-01-01

The global open education movement is striving toward openness as a feature of academic policy and practice, but evidence shows that these ambitions are far from mainstream, and levels of awareness in institutions is often disappointingly low. Those advocating for open education are seeking to widen engagement, but how targeted and persuasive are…

PubMed Central

BOLZONI, A.; MAPELLI, A.; BAJ, A.; SIDEQUERSKY, F.V; GIANNÌ, A.B.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Seven patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with a fibula free flap (one on the midline, six on either right or left side) and were rehabilitated with implant supported prostheses, performed free mandibular border movements (maximal mouth opening and closing, right and left lateral excursions, protrusion) that were recorded by a non-invasive motion analyser. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) kinematic parameters were compared to those calculated in healthy control subjects using z-scores. Maximum mouth opening was reduced in all patients, with z-scores ranging from -2.742 to -0.106, and performed with a reduced sagittal plane mandibular rotation. Interincisal point forward movement during protrusion was reduced in all but one patient. Lateral mandibular movements (displacement of the interincisal point) and bilateral condylar movements during mouth opening were very variable and sometimes asymmetrical. Mandibular rotation was also variable, with z-scores ranging from -1.265 to 1.388. Together with mandibular range of motion, we investigated biomechanical characteristics of TMJ motion that can provide further information about the joint without submitting the patient to harmful procedures, and that can be followed-up during healing. The investigation indicates those areas that need to be given special attention in preoperative planning, patient information and rehabilitation. PMID:26900241

Chloroplast Movement May Impact Plant Phenotyping and Photochemistry Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malas, J.; Pleban, J. R.; Wang, D. R.; Riley, C.; Mackay, D. S.

2017-12-01

Investigating phenotypic responses of crop species across environmental conditions is vital to improving agricultural productivity. Crop production is closely linked with photosynthetic activity, which can be evaluated using parameters such as relative chlorophyll, SPAD, and variable chlorophyll fluorescence. Recently, a handheld device known as the MultispeQ emerged on the market as an open-source instrument that aims to provide high-output, high-quality field data at a low cost to the plant research community. MultispeQ takes measurements of both environmental conditions (light intensity, temperature, humidity, etc.) and photosynthetic parameters (relative chlorophyll, SPAD, photosystem II quantum efficiency (FII), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ)). Data are automatically backed up and shared on the PhotosynQ network, which serves as a collaborative platform for researchers and professionals. Here, we used the instrument to quantify photosynthetic time-courses of two Brassica rapa genotypes in response to two contrasting nutrient management strategies (Control; High Nitrogen). Previous research found that chloroplast movement is one strategy plants use to optimize photosynthesis across varying light conditions. We were able to detect chloroplast movement throughout the day using the MultispeQ device. Our results support the idea that chloroplast movement serves both as an intrinsic feature of the circadian clock and as a light avoidance strategy. Under low light conditions (PAR 0-300) more light at the near-infrared and red regions was absorbed than under higher light conditions (PAR 500-800). In one genotype by treatment combination, absorbance at 730nm was around 60% at low light, versus only 30% at high light conditions. In light of our results that relative chlorophyll may change throughout a day, we suggest that it is important to take note of these effects when collecting photosynthesis efficiency data in order to avoid bias in measurements. We also offer some technical suggestions for making measurements with the MultispeQ device (e.g., taking multiple samples on the same leaf to minimize noise and sampling leaves that are oriented most towards the source of light). Further research is needed to understand how chloroplast movement affects chlorophyll fluorescence parameters.

Symphyseal fixation in open book injuries cannot fully compensate anterior SI joint injury-A biomechanical study in a two-leg alternating load model.

PubMed

Stuby, Fabian M; Lenz, Mark; Doebele, Stefan; Agarwal, Yash; Skulev, Hristo; Ochs, Björn G; Zwingmann, Jörn; Gueorguiev, Boyko

2017-01-01

In open book injuries type Tile B1.1 or B1.2 also classified as APC II (anteroposterior compression), it remains controversial, if a fixation of the anterior ring provides sufficient stability or a fixation of the posterior ring should be included. Therefore the relative motion at the sacroiliac joint was quantified in a two-leg alternating load biomechanical pelvis model in the intact, the injured and the restored pelvis. Fresh-frozen intact (I) pelvises (n = 6) were subjected to a non-destructive cyclic test under sinosuidal axial two-leg alternating load with progressively increasing amplitude. Afterwards an open book injury (J) including the anterior ligament complex of the left sacroiliac joint, the sacrospinal and sacrotuberal ligaments (Tile B1.1) was created and the specimens were retested. Finally, the symphysis was stabilized with a modular fixation system (1-, 2- or 4-rod configuration) (R) and specimens were cyclically retested. Relative motion at the sacroiliac joint was captured at both sacroiliac joints by motion tracking system at two load levels of 170 N and 340 N during all tests. Relative sacroiliac joint movements at both load levels were significantly higher in the J-state compared to the I-state, excluding superoinferior translational movement. With exception of the anteroposterior translational movement at 340N, the relative sacroiliac joint movements after each of the three reconstructions (1-, 2-, 4-rod fixation) were significantly smaller compared to the J-state and did not differ significantly to the I-state, but stayed above the values of the latter. Relative movements did not differ significantly in a direct comparison between the 1-rod, 2-rod and 4-rod fixations. Symphyseal locked plating significantly reduces relative movement of the sacroiliac joint in open book injuries type Tile B1.1 or B1.2 (APC II) but cannot fully restore the situation of the intact sacroiliac joint.

Symphyseal fixation in open book injuries cannot fully compensate anterior SI joint injury—A biomechanical study in a two-leg alternating load model

PubMed Central

Stuby, Fabian M.; Lenz, Mark; Agarwal, Yash; Skulev, Hristo; Ochs, Björn G.; Zwingmann, Jörn; Gueorguiev, Boyko

2017-01-01

Introduction In open book injuries type Tile B1.1 or B1.2 also classified as APC II (anteroposterior compression), it remains controversial, if a fixation of the anterior ring provides sufficient stability or a fixation of the posterior ring should be included. Therefore the relative motion at the sacroiliac joint was quantified in a two-leg alternating load biomechanical pelvis model in the intact, the injured and the restored pelvis. Methods Fresh-frozen intact (I) pelvises (n = 6) were subjected to a non-destructive cyclic test under sinosuidal axial two-leg alternating load with progressively increasing amplitude. Afterwards an open book injury (J) including the anterior ligament complex of the left sacroiliac joint, the sacrospinal and sacrotuberal ligaments (Tile B1.1) was created and the specimens were retested. Finally, the symphysis was stabilized with a modular fixation system (1-, 2- or 4-rod configuration) (R) and specimens were cyclically retested. Relative motion at the sacroiliac joint was captured at both sacroiliac joints by motion tracking system at two load levels of 170 N and 340 N during all tests. Results Relative sacroiliac joint movements at both load levels were significantly higher in the J-state compared to the I-state, excluding superoinferior translational movement. With exception of the anteroposterior translational movement at 340N, the relative sacroiliac joint movements after each of the three reconstructions (1-, 2-, 4-rod fixation) were significantly smaller compared to the J-state and did not differ significantly to the I-state, but stayed above the values of the latter. Relative movements did not differ significantly in a direct comparison between the 1-rod, 2-rod and 4-rod fixations. Conclusion Symphyseal locked plating significantly reduces relative movement of the sacroiliac joint in open book injuries type Tile B1.1 or B1.2 (APC II) but cannot fully restore the situation of the intact sacroiliac joint. PMID:29176772

Open source software and low cost sensors for teaching UAV science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kefauver, S. C.; Sanchez-Bragado, R.; El-Haddad, G.; Araus, J. L.

2016-12-01

Drones, also known as UASs (unmanned aerial systems), UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or RPAS (Remotely piloted aircraft systems), are both useful advanced scientific platforms and recreational toys that are appealing to younger generations. As such, they can make for excellent education tools as well as low-cost scientific research project alternatives. However, the process of taking pretty pictures to remote sensing science can be daunting if one is presented with only expensive software and sensor options. There are a number of open-source tools and low cost platform and sensor options available that can provide excellent scientific research results, and, by often requiring more user-involvement than commercial software and sensors, provide even greater educational benefits. Scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm implementations, such as the Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE), which can create quality 2D image mosaics with some motion and terrain adjustments and VisualSFM (Structure from Motion), which can provide full image mosaicking with movement and orthorectification capacities. RGB image quantification using alternate color space transforms, such as the BreedPix indices, can be calculated via plugins in the open-source software Fiji (http://fiji.sc/Fiji; http://github.com/george-haddad/CIMMYT). Recent analyses of aerial images from UAVs over different vegetation types and environments have shown RGB metrics can outperform more costly commercial sensors. Specifically, Hue-based pixel counts, the Triangle Greenness Index (TGI), and the Normalized Green Red Difference Index (NGRDI) consistently outperformed NDVI in estimating abiotic and biotic stress impacts on crop health. Also, simple kits are available for NDVI camera conversions. Furthermore, suggestions for multivariate analyses of the different RGB indices in the "R program for statistical computing", such as classification and regression trees can allow for a more approachable interpretation of results in the classroom.

10 CFR 36.31 - Control of source movement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... portable radiation survey meter by a chain or cable. The lock for source control must be designed so that... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Control of source movement. 36.31 Section 36.31 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS Design and...

10 CFR 36.31 - Control of source movement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... portable radiation survey meter by a chain or cable. The lock for source control must be designed so that... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Control of source movement. 36.31 Section 36.31 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS Design and...

10 CFR 36.31 - Control of source movement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... portable radiation survey meter by a chain or cable. The lock for source control must be designed so that... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Control of source movement. 36.31 Section 36.31 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS Design and...

10 CFR 36.31 - Control of source movement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... portable radiation survey meter by a chain or cable. The lock for source control must be designed so that... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Control of source movement. 36.31 Section 36.31 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS Design and...

10 CFR 36.31 - Control of source movement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... portable radiation survey meter by a chain or cable. The lock for source control must be designed so that... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Control of source movement. 36.31 Section 36.31 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSES AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRRADIATORS Design and...

Quantitative model of transport-aperture coordination during reach-to-grasp movements.

PubMed

Rand, Miya K; Shimansky, Y P; Hossain, Abul B M I; Stelmach, George E

2008-06-01

It has been found in our previous studies that the initiation of aperture closure during reach-to-grasp movements occurs when the hand distance to target crosses a threshold that is a function of peak aperture amplitude, hand velocity, and hand acceleration. Thus, a stable relationship between those four movement parameters is observed at the moment of aperture closure initiation. Based on the concept of optimal control of movements (Naslin 1969) and its application for reach-to-grasp movement regulation (Hoff and Arbib 1993), it was hypothesized that the mathematical equation expressing that relationship can be generalized to describe coordination between hand transport and finger aperture during the entire reach-to-grasp movement by adding aperture velocity and acceleration to the above four movement parameters. The present study examines whether this hypothesis is supported by the data obtained in experiments in which young adults performed reach-to-grasp movements in eight combinations of two reach-amplitude conditions and four movement-speed conditions. It was found that linear approximation of the mathematical model described the relationship among the six movement parameters for the entire aperture-closure phase with very high precision for each condition, thus supporting the hypothesis for that phase. Testing whether one mathematical model could approximate the data across all the experimental conditions revealed that it was possible to achieve the same high level of data-fitting precision only by including in the model two additional, condition-encoding parameters and using a nonlinear, artificial neural network-based approximator with two hidden layers comprising three and two neurons, respectively. This result indicates that transport-aperture coordination, as a specific relationship between the parameters of hand transport and finger aperture, significantly depends on the condition-encoding variables. The data from the aperture-opening phase also fit a linear model, whose coefficients were substantially different from those identified for the aperture-closure phase. This result supports the above hypothesis for the aperture-opening phase, and consequently, for the entire reach-to-grasp movement. However, the fitting precision was considerably lower than that for the aperture-closure phase, indicating significant trial-to-trial variability of transport-aperture coordination during the aperture-opening phase. Implications for understanding the neural mechanisms employed by the CNS for controlling reach-to-grasp movements and utilization of the mathematical model of transport-aperture coordination for data analysis are discussed.

Open Education as a "Heterotopia of Desire"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gourlay, Lesley

2015-01-01

The movement towards "openness" in education has tended to position itself as inherently democratising, radical, egalitarian and critical of powerful gatekeepers to learning. While "openness" is often positioned as a critique, I will argue that its mainstream discourses--while appearing to oppose large-scale operations of…

Risky Business: Do Native Rodents Use Habitat and Odor Cues to Manage Predation Risk in Australian Deserts?

PubMed Central

Spencer, Emma E.; Crowther, Mathew S.; Dickman, Christopher R.

2014-01-01

In open, arid environments with limited shelter there may be strong selection on small prey species to develop behaviors that facilitate predator avoidance. Here, we predicted that rodents should avoid predator odor and open habitats to reduce their probability of encounter with potential predators, and tested our predictions using a native Australian desert rodent, the spinifex hopping-mouse (Notomys alexis). We tested the foraging and movement responses of N. alexis to non-native predator (fox and cat) odor, in sheltered and open macro- and microhabitats. Rodents did not respond to predator odor, perhaps reflecting the inconsistent selection pressure that is imposed on prey species in the desert environment due to the transience of predator-presence. However, they foraged primarily in the open and moved preferentially across open sand. The results suggest that N. alexis relies on escape rather than avoidance behavior when managing predation risk, with its bipedal movement probably allowing it to exploit open environments most effectively. PMID:24587396

Risky business: do native rodents use habitat and odor cues to manage predation risk in Australian deserts?

PubMed

Spencer, Emma E; Crowther, Mathew S; Dickman, Christopher R

2014-01-01

In open, arid environments with limited shelter there may be strong selection on small prey species to develop behaviors that facilitate predator avoidance. Here, we predicted that rodents should avoid predator odor and open habitats to reduce their probability of encounter with potential predators, and tested our predictions using a native Australian desert rodent, the spinifex hopping-mouse (Notomys alexis). We tested the foraging and movement responses of N. alexis to non-native predator (fox and cat) odor, in sheltered and open macro- and microhabitats. Rodents did not respond to predator odor, perhaps reflecting the inconsistent selection pressure that is imposed on prey species in the desert environment due to the transience of predator-presence. However, they foraged primarily in the open and moved preferentially across open sand. The results suggest that N. alexis relies on escape rather than avoidance behavior when managing predation risk, with its bipedal movement probably allowing it to exploit open environments most effectively.

Administration of midazolam in infancy does not affect learning and memory of adult mice.

PubMed

Xu, Hua; Liu, Zhi-Qiang; Liu, Yi; Zhang, Wei-Shi; Xu, Bo; Xiong, Yuan-Chang; Deng, Xiao-Ming

2009-12-01

1. Midazolam is a common fast-acting GABA(A) receptor agonist. Recent data suggest that exposure to midazolam in early life may cause long-term effects on brain function through stable epigenetic reprogramming. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the administration of midazolam to infant mice would affect their learning and memory in adulthood. 2. An open-field test was conducted before and then 3, 24, 48 and 72 h after administration of midazolam (50 mg/kg, i.p.) to infant mice. Saline control mice received an equal volume of saline i.p. 3 h before the open-field test. Total movements, total movement time, total movement distance and velocity were analysed. Novel object recognition (NOR), Morris water-maze and passive avoidance tests were performed when the treated mice grew to adulthood (105 days of age). 3. The results of open-field test showed that midazolam significantly reduced locomotor activity (total movements, total movement time, total movement distance and velocity) in infant mice 3 and 24 h after drug administration and that these effects had disappeared by 72 h after drug administration. The results of the water-maze, NOR and passive avoidance tests in adulthood (at 105 days of age) indicated that administration of midazolam in infancy had no long-term effects on the learning and memory behaviours of adult mice compared with the saline control. 4. Acute midazolam administration to infant mice affected spontaneous locomotor activity for approximately 2 days, but did not seem to have any significant impact on cognitive functioning that lasted into adulthood.

The Evolution of the Canadian Music Festival Movement as an Instrument of Musical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbott, Eric Oscar

The growth and development of the Canadian music festival movement were traced in this study. Primary sources were minutes of annual conferences of delegates from the various festivals in Canada (1936 to 1968), and minutes covering the beginnings of the festival movement from 1908 to 1925; secondary sources were the Secretary's Handbook and Digest…

Modulations of mirroring activity by desire for social connection and relevance of movement.

PubMed

Aragón, Oriana R; Sharer, Elizabeth A; Bargh, John A; Pineda, Jaime A

2014-11-01

Mirroring neurons fire both when an individual moves and observes another move in kind. This simulation of others' movements is thought to effortlessly and ubiquitously support empathetic connection and social understanding. However, at times this could be maladaptive. How could a boxer mirror a losing opponent's expressions of fatigue, feeling his weariness, precisely when strength is required? Clearly, the boxer must emotionally disconnect from his opponent and those expressions of fatigue must become irrelevant and not mirrored. But, movements that inform of his opponent's intentions to deliver an incoming blow are quite relevant and still should require mirroring. We tested these dimensions of emotional connectedness and relevance of movement in an electroencephalography experiment, where participants' desires to socially connect with a confederate were manipulated. Before manipulation, all participants mirrored the confederate's purely kinematic (a hand opening and closing) and goal-directed (a hand opening and closing around a token that the participant desired) hand movements. After manipulation, unfairly treated subjects ceased to mirror the purely kinematic movements but continued to mirror goal-relevant movements. Those treated fairly continued to mirror all movements. The results suggest that social mirroring can be adaptive in order to meet the demands of a varied social environment. © The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Assessment of Groundwater Susceptibility to Non-Point Source Contaminants Using Three-Dimensional Transient Indexes.

PubMed

Zhang, Yong; Weissmann, Gary S; Fogg, Graham E; Lu, Bingqing; Sun, HongGuang; Zheng, Chunmiao

2018-06-05

Groundwater susceptibility to non-point source contamination is typically quantified by stable indexes, while groundwater quality evolution (or deterioration globally) can be a long-term process that may last for decades and exhibit strong temporal variations. This study proposes a three-dimensional (3- d ), transient index map built upon physical models to characterize the complete temporal evolution of deep aquifer susceptibility. For illustration purposes, the previous travel time probability density (BTTPD) approach is extended to assess the 3- d deep groundwater susceptibility to non-point source contamination within a sequence stratigraphic framework observed in the Kings River fluvial fan (KRFF) aquifer. The BTTPD, which represents complete age distributions underlying a single groundwater sample in a regional-scale aquifer, is used as a quantitative, transient measure of aquifer susceptibility. The resultant 3- d imaging of susceptibility using the simulated BTTPDs in KRFF reveals the strong influence of regional-scale heterogeneity on susceptibility. The regional-scale incised-valley fill deposits increase the susceptibility of aquifers by enhancing rapid downward solute movement and displaying relatively narrow and young age distributions. In contrast, the regional-scale sequence-boundary paleosols within the open-fan deposits "protect" deep aquifers by slowing downward solute movement and displaying a relatively broad and old age distribution. Further comparison of the simulated susceptibility index maps to known contaminant distributions shows that these maps are generally consistent with the high concentration and quick evolution of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) in groundwater around the incised-valley fill since the 1970s'. This application demonstrates that the BTTPDs can be used as quantitative and transient measures of deep aquifer susceptibility to non-point source contamination.

Using open data in near real time disaster analysis and knowledge generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Jun

2017-04-01

This presentation will address the value of using open operational geo data in near real time disaster analysis and knowledge generation. In the past, mechanism analysis of a meteo-hyrological extreme event may take month and years with lots of resources since there exist many kinds of restrictions on the model and observation data, e.g., in availability, accessibility, adequacy in resolution, quality and delivery time etc. In recent years, thanks to the open data and open service programs such as Copernicus, EMODnet (European Marine Observation Data Network) and data sharing activities in ROOSs (Regional Operational Oceanography Systems) and national agencies, the disaster analysis become a much faster and efficient procedure. The study will present such a case study for analyzing a hundred-year storm event in January 2017 which affects Danish and German coasts in western Baltic Sea. The event and its forecasts have caused lots of attention in Danish and German media. However, the explanations on how the storm surge is formed and why the prediction is good or bad in this or that country are still largely absent in the media reports. All the data and plots used in the analysis are from open sources. It is found that with the open data, the spatiotemporal variation and the internal links between weather, sea level and water mass movements can be well understood. New knowledge on key factors for the unusual high waters in the western Baltic is obtained from this analysis. Finally, recommendations for using open operational data in generating open science are given.

The Evolution of iSchool Movement (1988-2013): A Bibliometric View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shu, Fei; Mongeon, Phillippe

2016-01-01

The iSchool movement is a controversial topic within the library and information science (LIS) community. While some argue that the movement isolates small size schools and splits the LIS community others insist it will broaden the field of LIS and form an open and boundaryless iField. This study investigates the evolution of the iSchool movement…

Road crossings as barriers to small-stream fish movement

Treesearch

Melvin L. Warren; Mitzi G. Pardew

1998-01-01

The authors used mark-recapture techniques to examine the effects of four types of road crossings on fish movement during spring base flows and summer low flows in small streams of the Ouachita Mountains, west-central Arkansas. The authors assessed movement for 21 fish species in seven families through culvert, slab, open-box, and ford crossings and through natural...

MOOC-Making and Open Educational Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czerniewicz, Laura; Deacon, Andrew; Glover, Michael; Walji, Sukaina

2017-01-01

MOOCs have been seen as holding promise for advancing Open Education. While the pedagogical design of the first MOOCs grew out of the Open Education Movement, the current trend has MOOCs exhibiting fewer of the original openness goals than anticipated. The aim of this study is to examine the practices and attitudes of MOOC educators at an African…

The Unwalled Garden: Growth of the OpenCourseWare Consortium, 2001-2008

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carson, Steve

2009-01-01

This article traces the development of the OpenCourseWare movement, including the origin of the concept at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the implementation of the MIT OpenCourseWare project, and the idea's spread into the global educational community, ultimately resulting in the formation of the OpenCourseWare Consortium. The…

Open Science and the Monitoring of Aquatic Ecosystems

EPA Science Inventory

Open science represents both a philosophy and a set of tools that can be leveraged for more effective scientific analysis. At the core of the open science movement is the concept that research should be reproducible and transparent, in addition to having long-term provenance thro...

Open access: a closed shop?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bradford, Rick

2013-01-01

Your December 2012 issue contains both a short news article on the progress of the open-access movement ("UK open access gains ground", p11) and a lengthy feature about the visionary Irish physicist Edward Hutchinson Synge ("Unknown genius", pp26-29). I find the combination of these articles ironic.

LCTLs and Technology: The Promise of Open Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blyth, Carl

2013-01-01

LCTL educators are beginning to participate in the Open Education movement by developing and sharing their own pedagogical materials referred to as open educational resources (OERs). This new generation of collaborative LCTL materials will invariably challenge longstanding hegemonies in the fields of foreign language education and educational…

Coupling movement and landscape ecology for animal conservation in production landscapes.

PubMed

Doherty, Tim S; Driscoll, Don A

2018-01-10

Habitat conversion in production landscapes is among the greatest threats to biodiversity, not least because it can disrupt animal movement. Using the movement ecology framework, we review animal movement in production landscapes, including areas managed for agriculture and forestry. We consider internal and external drivers of altered animal movement and how this affects navigation and motion capacities and population dynamics. Conventional management approaches in fragmented landscapes focus on promoting connectivity using structural changes in the landscape. However, a movement ecology perspective emphasizes that manipulating the internal motivations or navigation capacity of animals represents untapped opportunities to improve movement and the effectiveness of structural connectivity investments. Integrating movement and landscape ecology opens new opportunities for conservation management in production landscapes. © 2018 The Authors.

Big Data Meets Physics Education Research: From MOOCs to University-Led High School Programs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seaton, Daniel

2017-01-01

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) movement has catalyzed discussions of digital learning on campuses around the world and highlighted the increasingly large, complex datasets related to learning. Physics Education Research can and should play a key role in measuring outcomes of this most recent wave of digital education. In this talk, I will discuss big data and learning analytics through multiple modes of teaching and learning enabled by the open-source edX platform: open-online, flipped, and blended. Open-Online learning will be described through analysis of MOOC offerings from Harvard and MIT, where 2.5 million unique users have led to 9 million enrollments across nearly 300 courses. Flipped instruction will be discussed through an Advanced Placement program at Davidson College that empowers high school teachers to use AP aligned, MOOC content directly in their classrooms with only their students. Analysis of this program will be highlighted, including results from a pilot study showing a positive correlation between content usage and externally validated AP exam scores. Lastly, blended learning will be discussed through specific residential use cases at Davidson College and MIT, highlighting unique course models that blend open-online and residential experiences. My hope for this talk is that listeners will better understand the current wave of digital education and the opportunities it provides for data-driven teaching and learning.

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Wwww of... - Organic HAP Emissions Limits for Existing Open Molding Sources, New Open Molding Sources Emitting...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Existing Open Molding Sources, New Open Molding Sources Emitting Less Than 100 TPY of HAP, and New and... CATEGORIES National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Reinforced Plastic Composites... Existing Open Molding Sources, New Open Molding Sources Emitting Less Than 100 TPY of HAP, and New and...

The Douglas-fir seed-source movement trial yields early results

Treesearch

Constance A. Harrington; Brad St. Clair

2017-01-01

Climate change in the 21st century is likely to dramatically alter the growing conditions that Pacific Northwest tree species experience. It has been suggested that foresters plan for these changes by moving seed sources to locations where the seed-source environment and the future climate will be similar. Some people have called this type of seed-source movement “...

Jaw-Opening Reflex and Corticobulbar Motor Excitability Changes During Quiet Sleep in Non-Human Primates

PubMed Central

Yao, Dongyuan; Lavigne, Gilles J.; Lee, Jye-Chang; Adachi, Kazunori; Sessle, Barry J.

2013-01-01

Study Objective: To test the hypothesis that the reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability of jaw muscles is reduced during sleep. Design: Polysomnographic recordings in the electrophysiological study. Setting: University sleep research laboratories. Participants and Interventions: The reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability of jaw muscles was determined during the quiet awake state (QW) and quiet sleep (QS) in monkeys (n = 4). Measurements and Results: During QS sleep, compared to QW periods, both tongue stimulation-evoked jaw-opening reflex peak and root mean square amplitudes were significantly decreased with stimulations at 2-3.5 × thresholds (P < 0.001). The jaw-opening reflex latency during sleep was also significantly longer than during QW. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) within the cortical masticatory area induced rhythmic jaw movements at a stable threshold (≤ 60 μA) during QW; but during QS, ICMS failed to induce any rhythmic jaw movements at the maximum ICMS intensity used, although sustained jaw-opening movements were evoked at significantly increased threshold (P < 0.001) in one of the monkeys. Similarly, during QW, ICMS within face primary motor cortex induced orofacial twitches at a stable threshold (≤ 35 μA), but the ICMS thresholds were elevated during QS. Soon after the animal awoke, rhythmic jaw movements and orofacial twitches could be evoked at thresholds similar to those before QS. Conclusions: The results suggest that the excitability of reflex and corticobulbar-evoked activity in the jaw motor system is depressed during QS. Citation: Yao D; Lavigne GJ; Lee JC; Adachi K; Sessle BJ. Jaw-opening reflex and corticobulbar motor excitability changes during quiet sleep in non-human primates. SLEEP 2013;36(2):269-280. PMID:23372275

Numerical Modeling to Assess DNAPL Movement and Removal at the Scenic Site Operable Unit Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana: A Case Study.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oostrom, Mart; Thorne, Paul D.; White, Mark D.

2003-12-01

Detailed three-dimensional multifluid flow modeling was conducted to assess movement and removal of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) movement at a waste site in Louisiana. The site’s subsurface consists of several permeable zones separated by (semi) confining clays. In the upper subsurface, the two major permeable zones are, starting with the uppermost zone, the +40- and +20-MSL (mean sea level) zones. At the site, a total of 23,000 m3 of DNAPL was emplaced in an open waste pit between 1962 and 1974. In this period, considerable amounts of DNAPL moved into the subsurface. By 1974 a portion of the DNAPLmore » was removed and the waste site was filled with low-permeability materials and closed. During this process, some of the DNAPL was mixed with the fill material and remained at the site. Between 1974 and 2000, no additional DNAPL recovery activities were implemented. In an effort to reduce the DNAPL source, organic liquid has been pumped through a timed-pumping scheme from a total of 7 wells starting in calendar year 2000. The recovery wells are screened in the lower part of the waste fill material. In site investigations, DNAPL has been encountered in the +40-MSL but not in the +20-MSL zone. The following questions are addressed: (1) Where has the DNAPL migrated vertically and laterally? (2) How much further is DNAPL expected to move in the next century? (3) How effective is the current DNAPL pumping in reducing the DNAPL source? The computational domains for the simulations were derived from 3-D interpolations of borehole logs using a geologic interpretation software (EarthvisionTM ) . The simulation results show that DNAPL primarily entered the subsurface in the period 1962 – 1974, when the waste site was operational. After 1974, the infiltration rates dropped dramatically as a result of the infilling of the waste pit. The simulation results indicate that DNAPL moved from the pit into the underlying +40-MSL zone through two contact zones at the west side of the pit. Lateral movement of the DNAPL body has been relatively slow as a result of the high viscosity and the rapidly decreasing driving force after the waste pit was filled in. For all simulations, lateral movement of DNAPL in the period 1962 - 2001 is predicted to be less than 60 m from the two contact areas, while additional movement in the next century is expected to be less than 30 m. No DNAPL is predicted to enter the +20-MSL zone, which agrees with site information. The simulations also clearly demonstrate the minimal effect of the current pumping scheme on source reduction and DNAPL movement.« less

An Analysis of Mimosa pudica Leaves Movement by Using LoggerPro Software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugito; Susilo; Handayani, L.; Marwoto, P.

2016-08-01

The unique phenomena of Mimosa pudica are the closing and opening movements of its leaves when they got a stimulus. By using certain software, these movements can be drawn into graphic that can be analysed. The LoggerPro provides facilities needed to analyse recorded videos of the plant's reaction to stimulus. Then, through the resulted graph, analysis of some variables can be carried out. The result showed that the plant's movement fits an equation of y = mx + c.

Prospect for Development of Open Access in Argentina

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miguel, Sandra; Bongiovani, Paola C.; Gomez, Nancy D.; Bueno-de-la-Fuente, Gema

2013-01-01

This perspective article presents an overview of the Open Access movement in Argentina, from a global and regional (Latin American) context. The article describes the evolution and current state of initiatives by examining two principal approaches to Open Access in Argentina: "golden" and "green roads". The article will then…

Open Access, Education Research, and Discovery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Furlough, Michael

2010-01-01

Background/Context: The open access movement has successfully drawn attention to economic and political aspects of scholarly communication through a significant body of commentary that debates the merits of open access and the potential damage it may do to scholarly publishing. Researchers within the field of education research, notably John…

From Higher Education to Open Education: Challenges in the Transformation of an Online Traditional Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Núñez, José Luis Martín

2017-01-01

Open education has revolutionized the educational environment. Massive open online courses have become the main showcase for open educational resources, but the competition to establish a position in this movement has led to the rapid publication of many courses of arguable quality. This paper presents and analyzes the process of creating a small…

A Bibliometric Study of Scholarly Articles Published by Library and Information Science Authors about Open Access

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grandbois, Jennifer; Beheshti, Jamshid

2014-01-01

Introduction: This study aims to gain a greater understanding of the development of open access practices amongst library and information science authors, since their role is integral to the success of the broader open access movement. Method: Data were collected from scholarly articles about open access by library and information science authors…

Periodic limb movements and insomnia, a common but under-recognized association

PubMed Central

Varadharajulu, Saravanan; Chandrasekaran, Baskaran

2015-01-01

Periodic limb movements unlike restless leg syndrome is under diagnosed and unrecognized in medical arena. While robust Western trials have elucidated the association between periodic limb movements and sleep disturbances, it is not well received and recognized in India even in well sophisticated tertiary care hospital. We report a chronic insomnia patient who had sleep disturbances for past 30 years due to periodic limb movements alone. This was diagnosed through polysomnography. This case emphasizes monitoring leg movements during sleep study. This report may open new horizons in improving monitoring in sleep study in clinical setting. PMID:26124530

Charge movement in gating-locked HCN channels reveals weak coupling of voltage sensors and gate.

PubMed

Ryu, Sujung; Yellen, Gary

2012-11-01

HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated) pacemaker channels have an architecture similar to that of voltage-gated K(+) channels, but they open with the opposite voltage dependence. HCN channels use essentially the same positively charged voltage sensors and intracellular activation gates as K(+) channels, but apparently these two components are coupled differently. In this study, we examine the energetics of coupling between the voltage sensor and the pore by using cysteine mutant channels for which low concentrations of Cd(2+) ions freeze the open-closed gating machinery but still allow the sensors to move. We were able to lock mutant channels either into open or into closed states by the application of Cd(2+) and measure the effect on voltage sensor movement. Cd(2+) did not immobilize the gating charge, as expected for strict coupling, but rather it produced shifts in the voltage dependence of voltage sensor charge movement, consistent with its effect of confining transitions to either closed or open states. From the magnitude of the Cd(2+)-induced shifts, we estimate that each voltage sensor produces a roughly three- to sevenfold effect on the open-closed equilibrium, corresponding to a coupling energy of ∼1.3-2 kT per sensor. Such coupling is not only opposite in sign to the coupling in K(+) channels, but also much weaker.

Exploratory laboratory study of lateral turbulent diffusion at the surface of an alluvial channel

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sayre, William W.; Chamberlain, A.R.

1964-01-01

In natural streams turbulent diffusion is one of the principal mechanisms by which liquid and suspended-particulate contaminants are dispersed in the flow. A knowledge of turbulence characteristics is therefore essential in predicting the dispersal rates of contaminants in streams. In this study the theory of diffusion by continuous movements for homogeneous turbulence is applied to lateral diffusion at the surface of an open channel in which there is uniform flow. An exploratory-laboratory investigation was conducted in which the lateral dispersion at the water surface of a sand-Led flume was studied by measuring the lateral spread from a point source of small floating polyethylene articles. The experiment was restricted to a single set of low and channel geometry conditions. The results of the study indicate that with certain restrictions lateral dispersion in alluvial channels may be successfully described by the theory of diffusion by continuous movements. The experiment demonstrates a means for evaluating the lateral diffusion coefficient and also methods for quantitatively estimating fundamental turbulence properties, such as the intensity and the Lagrangian integral scale of turbulence in an alluvial channel. The experimental results show that with increasing distance from the source the coefficient of lateral turbulent diffusion increases initially but tends toward a constant limiting value. This result is in accordance with turbulent diffusion theory. Indications are that the distance downstream from the source required for the diffusion coefficient to reach its limiting value is actually very small when compared to the length scale of most diffusion phenomena in natural streams which are of practical interest.

Craniux: A LabVIEW-Based Modular Software Framework for Brain-Machine Interface Research

PubMed Central

Degenhart, Alan D.; Kelly, John W.; Ashmore, Robin C.; Collinger, Jennifer L.; Tyler-Kabara, Elizabeth C.; Weber, Douglas J.; Wang, Wei

2011-01-01

This paper presents “Craniux,” an open-access, open-source software framework for brain-machine interface (BMI) research. Developed in LabVIEW, a high-level graphical programming environment, Craniux offers both out-of-the-box functionality and a modular BMI software framework that is easily extendable. Specifically, it allows researchers to take advantage of multiple features inherent to the LabVIEW environment for on-the-fly data visualization, parallel processing, multithreading, and data saving. This paper introduces the basic features and system architecture of Craniux and describes the validation of the system under real-time BMI operation using simulated and real electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. Our results indicate that Craniux is able to operate consistently in real time, enabling a seamless work flow to achieve brain control of cursor movement. The Craniux software framework is made available to the scientific research community to provide a LabVIEW-based BMI software platform for future BMI research and development. PMID:21687575

Craniux: a LabVIEW-based modular software framework for brain-machine interface research.

PubMed

Degenhart, Alan D; Kelly, John W; Ashmore, Robin C; Collinger, Jennifer L; Tyler-Kabara, Elizabeth C; Weber, Douglas J; Wang, Wei

2011-01-01

This paper presents "Craniux," an open-access, open-source software framework for brain-machine interface (BMI) research. Developed in LabVIEW, a high-level graphical programming environment, Craniux offers both out-of-the-box functionality and a modular BMI software framework that is easily extendable. Specifically, it allows researchers to take advantage of multiple features inherent to the LabVIEW environment for on-the-fly data visualization, parallel processing, multithreading, and data saving. This paper introduces the basic features and system architecture of Craniux and describes the validation of the system under real-time BMI operation using simulated and real electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. Our results indicate that Craniux is able to operate consistently in real time, enabling a seamless work flow to achieve brain control of cursor movement. The Craniux software framework is made available to the scientific research community to provide a LabVIEW-based BMI software platform for future BMI research and development.

Open Loop Heat Pipe Radiator Having a Free-Piston for Wiping Condensed Working Fluid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinstein, Leonard M. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

An open loop heat pipe radiator comprises a radiator tube and a free-piston. The radiator tube has a first end, a second end, and a tube wall, and the tube wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The free-piston is enclosed within the radiator tube and is capable of movement within the radiator tube between the first and second ends. The free-piston defines a first space between the free-piston, the first end, and the tube wall, and further defines a second space between the free-piston, the second end, and the tube wall. A gaseous-state working fluid, which was evaporated to remove waste heat, alternately enters the first and second spaces, and the free-piston wipes condensed working fluid from the inner surface of the tube wall as the free-piston alternately moves between the first and second ends. The condensed working fluid is then pumped back to the heat source.

Effect of dental wear, stabilization appliance and anterior tooth reconstruction on mandibular movements during speech.

PubMed

Serrano, Priscila de Oliveira; Faot, Fernanda; Del Bel Cury, Altair Antoninha; Rodrigues Garcia, Renata Cunha Matheus

2008-01-01

This study described changes in mandibular movements during pronunciation of /m/ and /s/ sounds in Portuguese, in patients presenting dental wear before and after appliance insertion and tooth reconstruction. Subjects were divided into a control group of dentate patients and an experimental group of patients with incisal tooth wear due to bruxism. A magnetic jaw tracking device measured the jaw opening, and translations to left and right sides of the mandible during pronunciation of phonemes. Evaluations were carried out 1 week and immediately before appliance insertion; 24 h, 7, 30 and 60 days after appliance insertion; and 1 week and 1 month after tooth reconstruction. Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests (p<0.05). Jaw opening was different (p<0.05) for both sounds in all periods. The anteroposterior amplitude for /s/ showed differences immediately before and 1 month after appliance insertion (p<0.05). Lateral amplitude for the right side showed differences between groups after appliance insertion for /s/, and 1 and 2 months after appliance insertion for the /m/ (p<0.05). Volunteers with anterior tooth wear had a wider opening movement, and the movements during speech of /m/ and /s/ sounds were not changed after appliance insertion and reconstruction of teeth.

Strategies for Controlling Non-Transmissible Infection Outbreaks Using a Large Human Movement Data Set

PubMed Central

Hancock, Penelope A.; Rehman, Yasmin; Hall, Ian M.; Edeghere, Obaghe; Danon, Leon; House, Thomas A.; Keeling, Matthew J.

2014-01-01

Prediction and control of the spread of infectious disease in human populations benefits greatly from our growing capacity to quantify human movement behavior. Here we develop a mathematical model for non-transmissible infections contracted from a localized environmental source, informed by a detailed description of movement patterns of the population of Great Britain. The model is applied to outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially life-threatening form of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophilia. We use case-report data from three recent outbreaks that have occurred in Great Britain where the source has already been identified by public health agencies. We first demonstrate that the amount of individual-level heterogeneity incorporated in the movement data greatly influences our ability to predict the source location. The most accurate predictions were obtained using reported travel histories to describe movements of infected individuals, but using detailed simulation models to estimate movement patterns offers an effective fast alternative. Secondly, once the source is identified, we show that our model can be used to accurately determine the population likely to have been exposed to the pathogen, and hence predict the residential locations of infected individuals. The results give rise to an effective control strategy that can be implemented rapidly in response to an outbreak. PMID:25211122

Food webs of two intermittently open estuaries receiving 15N-enriched sewage effluent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadwen, Wade L.; Arthington, Angela H.

2007-01-01

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures were used to assess the response of food webs to sewage effluent discharged into two small intermittently open estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia. One of these systems, Tallows Creek, has a history of direct sewage inputs, whilst the other, Belongil Creek, receives wastewater via an extensive wetland treatment system. The food webs of both systems were driven by algal sources of carbon, reflecting high autotrophic productivity in response to the nutrients entering the system from sewage effluent. All aquatic biota collected from Tallows Creek had significantly enriched δ15N signatures relative to their conspecifics from Belongil Creek, indicating that sewage nitrogen had been assimilated and transferred throughout the Tallows Creek food web. These δ15N values were higher than those reported from studies in permanently open estuaries receiving sewage effluent. We suggest that these enriched signatures and the transfer of nitrogen throughout the entire food web reflect differences in hydrology and associated nitrogen cycling processes between permanently open and intermittently open estuaries. Although all organisms in Tallows Creek were generally 15N-enriched, isotopically light (less 15N-enriched) individuals of estuary perchlet ( Ambassis marianus) and sea mullet ( Mugil cephalus) were also collected. These individuals were most likely recent immigrants into Tallows Creek, as this system had only recently been opened to the ocean. This isotopic discrimination between resident (enriched) and immigrant (significantly less enriched) individuals can provide information on fish movement patterns and the role of heavily polluted intermittently open estuaries in supporting commercially and recreationally valuable estuarine species.

Open data for water-related operational services, the SWITCH-ON approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzoli, Paolo; Bagli, Stefano; Valerio, Luzzi; Broccoli, Davide; Piccinini, Francesca

2017-04-01

Recently, a collaborative project started called SWITCH-ON (EU FP7 project No 603587) coordinated by SMHI (http://water-switch-on.eu/) as part of the contemporary European movement imposed by the INSPIRE directive and the Open Data Strategy. Among It's R&D activities GECOsistema develops and expands inside SWITCH-ON a set of online services to tackle major water related issues, from reservoir and irrigation supply, to hydrological change adaptation and hydropower potential mapping. Here we present major releases of APRIL, HyCAW and High-resolution European HydroPower Atlas; all of which make intense use of open data. APRIL is a tool for seasonal run-off forecasts, that takes advantage of open datasets or low-cost data and performs forecasts through calibrated machine learning algorithms. HyCAW is a wizard that supports the assessment of adaptation options to cope with change in the temporal distribution of water availability as well as in the total water quantity. EU HPA provides all relevant information necessary to appraise the feasibility of a micro-hydropower plant at a specific site, taking into account hydrological as well as technical and economic factors. All the tools share a common vision of the project to address water concerns and currently untapped potential of open data for improved water management across the EU. Users are guided through a Web GIS interface, created using open source Web Mapping Applications, Open-Layers and Map Server, to explore available hydrological information in the area of interest, plot available data, perform analysis, and get reports and statistics.

biomechZoo: An open-source toolbox for the processing, analysis, and visualization of biomechanical movement data.

PubMed

Dixon, Philippe C; Loh, Jonathan J; Michaud-Paquette, Yannick; Pearsall, David J

2017-03-01

It is common for biomechanics data sets to contain numerous dependent variables recorded over time, for many subjects, groups, and/or conditions. These data often require standard sorting, processing, and analysis operations to be performed in order to answer research questions. Visualization of these data is also crucial. This manuscript presents biomechZoo, an open-source toolbox that provides tools and graphical user interfaces to help users achieve these goals. The aims of this manuscript are to (1) introduce the main features of the toolbox, including a virtual three-dimensional environment to animate motion data (Director), a data plotting suite (Ensembler), and functions for the computation of three-dimensional lower-limb joint angles, moments, and power and (2) compare these computations to those of an existing validated system. To these ends, the steps required to process and analyze a sample data set via the toolbox are outlined. The data set comprises three-dimensional marker, ground reaction force (GRF), joint kinematic, and joint kinetic data of subjects performing straight walking and 90° turning manoeuvres. Joint kinematics and kinetics processed within the toolbox were found to be similar to outputs from a commercial system. The biomechZoo toolbox represents the work of several years and multiple contributors to provide a flexible platform to examine time-series data sets typical in the movement sciences. The toolbox has previously been used to process and analyse walking, running, and ice hockey data sets, and can integrate existing routines, such as the KineMat toolbox, for additional analyses. The toolbox can help researchers and clinicians new to programming or biomechanics to process and analyze their data through a customizable workflow, while advanced users are encouraged to contribute additional functionality to the project. Students may benefit from using biomechZoo as a learning and research tool. It is hoped that the toolbox can play a role in advancing research in the movement sciences. The biomechZoo m-files, sample data, and help repositories are available online (http://www.biomechzoo.com) under the Apache 2.0 License. The toolbox is supported for Matlab (r2014b or newer, The Mathworks Inc., Natick, USA) for Windows (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, USA) and Mac OS (Apple Inc., Cupertino, USA). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Latin America Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-08

movements, churches , labor movements, blacks’ movement, minorities movement, women’s movement, youths’ movement, etc. It is important to give a new ...books, but also from news agency transmissions and broadcasts. Materials from foreign-language sources are translated; those from English-language...75 Briefs . ’ "’"■;" Coal Export Incentive Modifications 77 Coal Deposits Found ■ ?7 2,000 New Hotel Rooms, Better

Mandibular movement range in children.

PubMed

Machado, Barbara Cristina Zanandréa; Medeiros, Ana Paula Magalhães; Felício, Cláudia Maria de

2009-01-01

identification of the mandibular movement range is an important procedure in the evaluation of the stomatognathic system. However, there are few studies in children that focus on normal parameters or abnormalities. to determine the average range of mandibular movements in Brazilian children aged 6 to 12 years; to verify the difference between genders, in each age group, and between the different age groups: 6-8 years; 8.1-10 years; and 10.1-12 years. participants of the study were 240 healthy children selected among regular students from local schools of São Paulo State. The maximum mandibular opening, lateral excursion and protrusive movements, and deviation of the medium line, if present, were measured using a digital caliper. Student T test, Analysis of variance and Tukey test were considered significant for p < 0.05. the mean values observed in the studied sample were: 44.51mm for maximum mandibular opening; 7.71mm for lateral excursion to the right; 7.92mm for lateral excursion to the left; 7.45mm for protrusive movements. No statistical difference was observed between genders. There was a gradual increase in the range of mandibular movements, with significant differences mainly between the ages of 6-8 years and 10.1-12 years. during childhood the range of mandibular movements increases. Age should be considered in this analysis for a greater precision in the diagnosis.

Convergence of marine megafauna movement patterns in coastal and open oceans.

PubMed

Sequeira, A M M; Rodríguez, J P; Eguíluz, V M; Harcourt, R; Hindell, M; Sims, D W; Duarte, C M; Costa, D P; Fernández-Gracia, J; Ferreira, L C; Hays, G C; Heupel, M R; Meekan, M G; Aven, A; Bailleul, F; Baylis, A M M; Berumen, M L; Braun, C D; Burns, J; Caley, M J; Campbell, R; Carmichael, R H; Clua, E; Einoder, L D; Friedlaender, Ari; Goebel, M E; Goldsworthy, S D; Guinet, C; Gunn, J; Hamer, D; Hammerschlag, N; Hammill, M; Hückstädt, L A; Humphries, N E; Lea, M-A; Lowther, A; Mackay, A; McHuron, E; McKenzie, J; McLeay, L; McMahon, C R; Mengersen, K; Muelbert, M M C; Pagano, A M; Page, B; Queiroz, N; Robinson, P W; Shaffer, S A; Shivji, M; Skomal, G B; Thorrold, S R; Villegas-Amtmann, S; Weise, M; Wells, R; Wetherbee, B; Wiebkin, A; Wienecke, B; Thums, M

2018-03-20

The extent of increasing anthropogenic impacts on large marine vertebrates partly depends on the animals' movement patterns. Effective conservation requires identification of the key drivers of movement including intrinsic properties and extrinsic constraints associated with the dynamic nature of the environments the animals inhabit. However, the relative importance of intrinsic versus extrinsic factors remains elusive. We analyze a global dataset of ∼2.8 million locations from >2,600 tracked individuals across 50 marine vertebrates evolutionarily separated by millions of years and using different locomotion modes (fly, swim, walk/paddle). Strikingly, movement patterns show a remarkable convergence, being strongly conserved across species and independent of body length and mass, despite these traits ranging over 10 orders of magnitude among the species studied. This represents a fundamental difference between marine and terrestrial vertebrates not previously identified, likely linked to the reduced costs of locomotion in water. Movement patterns were primarily explained by the interaction between species-specific traits and the habitat(s) they move through, resulting in complex movement patterns when moving close to coasts compared with more predictable patterns when moving in open oceans. This distinct difference may be associated with greater complexity within coastal microhabitats, highlighting a critical role of preferred habitat in shaping marine vertebrate global movements. Efforts to develop understanding of the characteristics of vertebrate movement should consider the habitat(s) through which they move to identify how movement patterns will alter with forecasted severe ocean changes, such as reduced Arctic sea ice cover, sea level rise, and declining oxygen content.

Drove roads: Keystone structures that promote ant diversity in Mediterranean forest landscapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azcárate, Francisco M.; Seoane, Javier; Castro, Sara; Peco, Begoña

2013-05-01

Drove roads are the traditional corridors used by pastoralists for seasonal movements of livestock (transhumance). They cover a considerable land area in Mediterranean countries and, although they are an obvious source of landscape diversity, their influence on the diversity and composition of animal assemblages has not been documented. Ant communities were studied on four active drove roads, two in forests (submediterranean and conifer) and two in open environments (croplands and rangelands). They were compared with the respective matrix communities and their contribution to local species richness was evaluated. The effects were heavily dependent on the open or closed nature of the matrix. In forest environments, drove roads increased ant species richness at the local scale, acting as clear keystone structures. Their species richness and functional diversity were highest on the fine scale, species composition was different, and a slight edge effect in the matrix was detected. In contrast, drove roads had little or even a negative effect in open environment locations. We conclude that drove roads have a high conservation value for ants in Mediterranean forest environments, in addition to their importance as reservoirs of plant biodiversity and generators of ecological goods and services.

Checking the validity of superimposing analytical deformation models and implications for numerical modelling of dikes and magma chambers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascal, K.; Neuberg, J. W.; Rivalta, E.

2011-12-01

The displacement field due to magma movements in the subsurface is commonly modelled using the solutions for a point source (Mogi, 1958), a finite spherical source (McTigue, 1987), or a dislocation source (Okada, 1992) embedded in a homogeneous elastic half-space. When the magmatic system is represented by several sources, their respective deformation fields are summed, and the assumption of homogeneity in the half-space is violated. We have investigated the effects of neglecting the interaction between sources on the surface deformation field. To do so, we calculated the vertical and horizontal displacements for models with adjacent sources and we tested them against the solutions of corresponding numerical 3D finite element models. We implemented several models combining spherical pressure sources and dislocation sources, varying the pressure or opening of the sources and their relative position. We also investigated various numerical methods to model a dike as a dislocation tensile source or as a pressurized tabular crack. In the former case, the dike opening was either defined as two boundaries displaced from a central location, or as one boundary displaced relative to the other. We finally considered two case studies based on Soufrière Hills Volcano (Montserrat, West Indies) and the Dabbahu rift segment (Afar, Ethiopia) magmatic systems. We found that the discrepancies between simple superposition of the displacement field and a fully interacting numerical solution depend mostly on the source types and on their spacing. Their magnitude may be comparable with the errors due to neglecting the topography, the inhomogeneities in crustal properties or more realistic rheologies. In the models considered, the errors induced when neglecting the source interaction can be neglected (<5%) when the sources are separated by at least 4 radii for two combined Mogi sources and by at least 3 radii for juxtaposed Mogi and Okada sources. Furthermore, this study underlines fundamental issues related to the numerical method chosen to model a dike or a magma chamber. It clearly demonstrates that, while the magma compressibility can be neglected to model the deformation due to one source or distant sources, it is necessary to take it into account in models combining close sources.

EUA's Open Access Checklist for Universities: A Practical Guide on Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morais, Rita; Lourenço, Joana; Smith, John H.; Borrell-Damian, Lidia

2015-01-01

Open Access (OA) to research publications has received increased attention from the academic community, scientific publishers, research funding agencies and governments. This movement has been growing exponentially in recent years, both in terms of the increasing number of Open Access journals and the proliferation of policies on this topic. The…

A Taxonomy of Massive Open Online Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pilli, Olga; Admiraal, Wilfried

2016-01-01

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as a new approach to distance education, which originated from the open education resources (OER) movement, are becoming widespread throughout the world. Over time, early versions of cMOOCs have undergone changes in terms of use, name and structure. In their short life, MOOCs have been categorized into different…

Posthumanism and the MOOC: Opening the Subject of Digital Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knox, Jeremy

2016-01-01

As the most prominent initiative in the open education movement, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is often claimed to disrupt established educational models through the use of innovative technologies that overcome geographic and economic barriers to higher education. However, this paper suggests that the MOOC project, as a typical example of…

Recasting Distance Learning with Network-Enabled Open Education: An Interview with Vijay Kumar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morrison, James L.; Kumar, Vijay

2008-01-01

In an interview with James Morrison, "Innovate's" editor-in-chief, Vijay Kumar describes how rethinking distance learning as network-enabled open education can catalyze a whole new set of learning opportunities. The growing open-education movement has made an increasing number and variety of resources freely available online, including everything…

An open-source framework for stress-testing non-invasive foetal ECG extraction algorithms.

PubMed

Andreotti, Fernando; Behar, Joachim; Zaunseder, Sebastian; Oster, Julien; Clifford, Gari D

2016-05-01

Over the past decades, many studies have been published on the extraction of non-invasive foetal electrocardiogram (NI-FECG) from abdominal recordings. Most of these contributions claim to obtain excellent results in detecting foetal QRS (FQRS) complexes in terms of location. A small subset of authors have investigated the extraction of morphological features from the NI-FECG. However, due to the shortage of available public databases, the large variety of performance measures employed and the lack of open-source reference algorithms, most contributions cannot be meaningfully assessed. This article attempts to address these issues by presenting a standardised methodology for stress testing NI-FECG algorithms, including absolute data, as well as extraction and evaluation routines. To that end, a large database of realistic artificial signals was created, totaling 145.8 h of multichannel data and over one million FQRS complexes. An important characteristic of this dataset is the inclusion of several non-stationary events (e.g. foetal movements, uterine contractions and heart rate fluctuations) that are critical for evaluating extraction routines. To demonstrate our testing methodology, three classes of NI-FECG extraction algorithms were evaluated: blind source separation (BSS), template subtraction (TS) and adaptive methods (AM). Experiments were conducted to benchmark the performance of eight NI-FECG extraction algorithms on the artificial database focusing on: FQRS detection and morphological analysis (foetal QT and T/QRS ratio). The overall median FQRS detection accuracies (i.e. considering all non-stationary events) for the best performing methods in each group were 99.9% for BSS, 97.9% for AM and 96.0% for TS. Both FQRS detections and morphological parameters were shown to heavily depend on the extraction techniques and signal-to-noise ratio. Particularly, it is shown that their evaluation in the source domain, obtained after using a BSS technique, should be avoided. Data, extraction algorithms and evaluation routines were released as part of the fecgsyn toolbox on Physionet under an GNU GPL open-source license. This contribution provides a standard framework for benchmarking and regulatory testing of NI-FECG extraction algorithms.

New Open-Source Version of FLORIS Released | News | NREL

Science.gov Websites

New Open-Source Version of FLORIS Released New Open-Source Version of FLORIS Released January 26 , 2018 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers recently released an updated open-source simplified and documented. Because of the living, open-source nature of the newly updated utility, NREL

How Does Brain Activation Differ in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Compared to Typically Developing Children, during Active and Passive Movements, and Tactile Stimulation? An fMRI Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van de Winckel, Ann; Klingels, Katrijn; Bruyninckx, Frans; Wenderoth, Nici; Peeters, Ron; Sunaert, Stefan; Van Hecke, Wim; De Cock, Paul; Eyssen, Maria; De Weerdt, Willy; Feys, Hilde

2013-01-01

The aim of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to investigate brain activation associated with active and passive movements, and tactile stimulation in 17 children with right-sided unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), compared to 19 typically developing children (TD). The active movements consisted of repetitive opening and…

Jaw-phonatory coordination in chronic developmental stuttering.

PubMed

Loucks, Torrey M J; De Nil, Luc F; Sasisekaran, Jayanthi

2007-01-01

A deficiency in sensorimotor integration in a person who stutters may be a factor in the pathophysiology of developmental stuttering. To test oral sensorimotor function in adults who stutter, we used a task that requires the coordination of a jaw-opening movement with phonation onset. The task was adapted from previous limb coordination studies, which show that movement coordination depends on intact proprioception. We hypothesized that adult stutterers would show deficient jaw-phonatory coordination relative to control participants. The task required initiation of phonation as a jaw-opening movement passed through a narrow spatial target. Target amplitude and jaw movement speed were varied. The stuttering group showed significantly higher movement error and spatial variability in jaw-phonatory coordination compared to the control group, but group differences in movement velocity or duration were not found. The aberrant jaw-phonatory coordination of the stuttering participants suggests that stuttering is associated with an oral proprioceptive limitation, although, the findings are also consistent with a motor control deficit. As a result of this activity, reader will (1) learn about a hypothesis and evidence supporting the view that a sensorimotor deficit contributes to chronic developmental stuttering and (2) will obtain information about the role of proprioception in multi-articulatory coordination and how it can be tested using an oral-phonatory coordination task.

The possible effects of health professional mobility on access to care for patients.

PubMed

Glinos, Irene A

2014-01-01

The chapter explains how health professional mobility impacts on the resources and capacity available within a health system, and how this affects service delivery and access. The contrasting experiences of destination countries, which receive foreign inflows of health professionals, and of source countries, which loose workforce due to outflows, are illustrated with country examples. The evidence opens the debate on how EU countries compete for health workforce, what this means for resource-strained, crisis-hit Member States, and whether there is any room for intra-European solidarity. The nexus between patient mobility and health professional mobility is moreover highlighted. This take on free mobility in the EU has received little attention, and while evidence is scarce, it calls for careful analysis when considering the possible effects of free movement on access to care in national health systems. The chapter reformulates the question on 'who wins' and 'who looses' from freedom of movement in the EU to turn our attention away from those who go abroad for care and instead focus on those who stay at home.

Untwisting the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo.

PubMed

Christensen, Ryan Patrick; Bokinsky, Alexandra; Santella, Anthony; Wu, Yicong; Marquina-Solis, Javier; Guo, Min; Kovacevic, Ismar; Kumar, Abhishek; Winter, Peter W; Tashakkori, Nicole; McCreedy, Evan; Liu, Huafeng; McAuliffe, Matthew; Mohler, William; Colón-Ramos, Daniel A; Bao, Zhirong; Shroff, Hari

2015-12-03

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans possesses a simple embryonic nervous system with few enough neurons that the growth of each cell could be followed to provide a systems-level view of development. However, studies of single cell development have largely been conducted in fixed or pre-twitching live embryos, because of technical difficulties associated with embryo movement in late embryogenesis. We present open-source untwisting and annotation software (http://mipav.cit.nih.gov/plugin_jws/mipav_worm_plugin.php) that allows the investigation of neurodevelopmental events in late embryogenesis and apply it to track the 3D positions of seam cell nuclei, neurons, and neurites in multiple elongating embryos. We also provide a tutorial describing how to use the software (Supplementary file 1) and a detailed description of the untwisting algorithm (Appendix). The detailed positional information we obtained enabled us to develop a composite model showing movement of these cells and neurites in an 'average' worm embryo. The untwisting and cell tracking capabilities of our method provide a foundation on which to catalog C. elegans neurodevelopment, allowing interrogation of developmental events in previously inaccessible periods of embryogenesis.

OER as Online Edutainment Resources: A Critical Look at Open Content, Branded Content, and How Both Affect the OER Movement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moe, Rolin

2015-01-01

Despite a rise in awareness and production of open education resources (OER) over the past decade, mainstream media outlets continue to define open in economic terms of consumer cost and not in theoretical terms of remix or appropriation. This period in the "open access" debate has coincided with a proliferation of free-of-charge video…

Microfabricated biocatalytic fuel cells: a new approach to accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement.

PubMed

Kolahi, Jafar; Abrishami, Mohamadreza; Davidovitch, Zéev

2009-09-01

Direct electric current is a potent biologic mean to accelerate periodontal tissue turnover and orthodontic tooth movement. The main problem associated with this approach is the source of electricity. A noninvasive, removable enzymatic micro-battery, will administer minute electric currents to the alveolar bone and oral soft tissues, utilizing glucose as a fuel, becoming a possible source of the electrical power required for accelerating the velocity of orthodontic tooth movement.

Salt water and its relation to fresh ground water in Harris County, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Winslow, Allen G.; Doyel, William Watson; Wood, L.A.

1957-01-01

Other less probable potential sources of salt-water contamination which are discussed include upward movement of salt water from below, vertical movement around salt domes or along faults, downward seepage from surface sources, and contamination through leaking wells.

Asynchronous Movements Prior to Pore Opening in NMDA Receptors

PubMed Central

Kazi, Rashek; Gan, Quan; Talukder, Iehab; Markowitz, Michael; Salussolia, Catherine L.

2013-01-01

Glutamate-gated ion channels embedded within the neuronal membrane are the primary mediators of fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS. The ion channel of these glutamate receptors contains a pore-lining transmembrane M3 helix surrounded by peripheral M1 and M4 helices. In the NMDA receptor subtype, opening of the ion channel pore, mediated by displacement of the M3 helices away from the central pore axis, occurs in a highly concerted fashion, but the associated temporal movements of the peripheral helices are unknown. To address the gating dynamics of the peripheral helices, we constrained the relative movements of the linkers that connect these helices to the ligand-binding domain using engineered cross-links, either within (intra-GluN1 or GluN2A) or between subunits. Constraining the peripheral linkers in any manner dramatically curtailed channel opening, highlighting the requirement for rearrangements of these peripheral structural elements for efficient gating to occur. However, the magnitude of this gating effect depended on the specific subunit being constrained, with the most dramatic effects occurring when the constraint was between subunits. Based on kinetic and thermodynamic analysis, our results suggest an asynchrony in the displacement of the peripheral linkers during the conformational and energetic changes leading to pore opening. Initially there are large-scale rearrangements occurring between the four subunits. Subsequently, rearrangements occur within individual subunits, mainly GluN2A, leading up to or in concert with pore opening. Thus, the conformational changes induced by agonist binding in NMDA receptors converge asynchronously to permit pore opening. PMID:23864691

The successes and challenges of open-source biopharmaceutical innovation.

PubMed

Allarakhia, Minna

2014-05-01

Increasingly, open-source-based alliances seek to provide broad access to data, research-based tools, preclinical samples and downstream compounds. The challenge is how to create value from open-source biopharmaceutical innovation. This value creation may occur via transparency and usage of data across the biopharmaceutical value chain as stakeholders move dynamically between open source and open innovation. In this article, several examples are used to trace the evolution of biopharmaceutical open-source initiatives. The article specifically discusses the technological challenges associated with the integration and standardization of big data; the human capacity development challenges associated with skill development around big data usage; and the data-material access challenge associated with data and material access and usage rights, particularly as the boundary between open source and open innovation becomes more fluid. It is the author's opinion that the assessment of when and how value creation will occur, through open-source biopharmaceutical innovation, is paramount. The key is to determine the metrics of value creation and the necessary technological, educational and legal frameworks to support the downstream outcomes of now big data-based open-source initiatives. The continued focus on the early-stage value creation is not advisable. Instead, it would be more advisable to adopt an approach where stakeholders transform open-source initiatives into open-source discovery, crowdsourcing and open product development partnerships on the same platform.

3D motion analysis of the wrist splint effect to wrist joint movement.

PubMed

Shin, Joong-Il; Park, Soo-Hee

2017-06-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the degree of straightness of the wrist joint, depending on the use of a wrist splint while opening a bottle cap. Its results may provide data for later studies on preventing accidents at workplaces and improving efficiency. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty Male and Female in their twenties who did not have hand-related diseases, fractures, or history that included neurological impairments associated with the hand were selected as subjects of the study. Wrist splints were made to fit the hand and lower arm of each subject. Evaluation assignments were carried out without and with the splints after 10 minutes of rest. To analyze the wrist movement in opening the bottle cap, a three-dimensional movement analyzing system by Zebris was used. [Results] Wrist angle decreased while opening caps of four different diameters while wearing splints, but not when splints were not worn. This means that wearing a splint may aid weakened wrist muscles. [Conclusion] Future studies should be conducted among subjects with damaged wrist muscles and evaluate the subjects in actual workplaces to obtain more objective and more valid data.

New control strategies for neuroprosthetic systems.

PubMed

Crago, P E; Lan, N; Veltink, P H; Abbas, J J; Kantor, C

1996-04-01

The availability of techniques to artificially excite paralyzed muscles opens enormous potential for restoring both upper and lower extremity movements with neuroprostheses. Neuroprostheses must stimulate muscle, and control and regulate the artificial movements produced. Control methods to accomplish these tasks include feedforward (open-loop), feedback, and adaptive control. Feedforward control requires a great deal of information about the biomechanical behavior of the limb. For the upper extremity, an artificial motor program was developed to provide such movement program input to a neuroprosthesis. In lower extremity control, one group achieved their best results by attempting to meet naturally perceived gait objectives rather than to follow an exact joint angle trajectory. Adaptive feedforward control, as implemented in the cycle-to-cycle controller, gave good compensation for the gradual decrease in performance observed with open-loop control. A neural network controller was able to control its system to customize stimulation parameters in order to generate a desired output trajectory in a given individual and to maintain tracking performance in the presence of muscle fatigue. The authors believe that practical FNS control systems must exhibit many of these features of neurophysiological systems.

Development of a risk-based index for source water protection planning, which supports the reduction of pathogens from agricultural activity entering water resources.

PubMed

Goss, Michael; Richards, Charlene

2008-06-01

Source water protection planning (SWPP) is an approach to prevent contamination of ground and surface water in watersheds where these resources may be abstracted for drinking or used for recreation. For SWPP the hazards within a watershed that could contribute to water contamination are identified together with the pathways that link them to the water resource. In rural areas, farms are significant potential sources of pathogens. A risk-based index can be used to support the assessment of the potential for contamination following guidelines on safety and operational efficacy of processes and practices developed as beneficial approaches to agricultural land management. Evaluation of the health risk for a target population requires knowledge of the strength of the hazard with respect to the pathogen load (massxconcentration). Manure handling and on-site wastewater treatment systems form the most important hazards, and both can comprise confined and unconfined source elements. There is also a need to understand the modification of pathogen numbers (attenuation) together with characteristics of the established pathways (surface or subsurface), which allow the movement of the contaminant species from a source to a receptor (water source). Many practices for manure management have not been fully evaluated for their impact on pathogen survival and transport in the environment. A key component is the identification of potential pathways of contaminant transport. This requires the development of a suitable digital elevation model of the watershed for surface movement and information on local groundwater aquifer systems for subsurface flows. Both require detailed soils and geological information. The pathways to surface and groundwater resources can then be identified. Details of land management, farm management practices (including animal and manure management) and agronomic practices have to be obtained, possibly from questionnaires completed by each producer within the watershed. To confirm that potential pathways are active requires some microbial source tracking. One possibility is to identify the molecular types of Escherichia coli present in each hazard on a farm. An essential part of any such index is the identification of mitigation strategies and practices that can reduce the magnitude of the hazard or block open pathways.

A Mathematical Model on Water Redistribution Mechanism of the Seismonastic Movement of Mimosa Pudica

PubMed Central

Kwan, K.W.; Ye, Z.W.; Chye, M.L.; Ngan, A.H.W.

2013-01-01

A theoretical model based on the water redistribution mechanism is proposed to predict the volumetric strain of motor cells in Mimosa pudica during the seismonastic movement. The model describes the water and ion movements following the opening of ion channels triggered by stimulation. The cellular strain is related to the angular velocity of the plant movement, and both their predictions are in good agreement with experimental data, thus validating the water redistribution mechanism. The results reveal that an increase in ion diffusivity across the cell membrane of <15-fold is sufficient to produce the observed seismonastic movement. PMID:23823246

Merging Movements: Diverse Dance Practices in Postsecondary Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schupp, Karen

2017-01-01

This article examines students' choices in a postsecondary dance major curriculum where students selected to study one or more of five dance practices (African and Diaspora Movement Practices, Contemporary Ballet, Movement Language Sources, Postmodern Contemporary Dance, and Urban Movement Practices) each semester along with required coursework…

Movements of juvenile common ravens in an arid landscape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Webb, W.C.; Boarman, W.I.; Rotenberry, J.T.

2009-01-01

Movement patterns of juvenile birds are poorly understood, yet critically important ecological phenomena, especially for species with a prolonged juvenile period. We evaluated postfledging movements of juvenile common ravens (Corvus corax) in a western Mojave Desert landscape composed of a mosaic of natural and anthropogenic elements. Generally, ravens do not begin breeding until after their fourth year. We marked 2 annual cohorts of juvenile ravens and followed them from dispersal from their natal territory for up to 33 months. Movements of juvenile common ravens were similar for males and females. Conspecifics and confined livestock feeding operations represented important resources for juvenile ravens, and juveniles were rarely located in open desert. However, initial movements from the natal territory to the nearest communal point subsidy rather than the closest anthropogenic resource suggested juvenile dispersal was influenced by the combination of conspecifics and anthropogenic resources, rather than the distribution of those resources. Land managers concerned with growing raven populations should reduce access to concentrated anthropogenic resources such as landfills and dairies, which serve as important resources for juveniles. Because juvenile ravens rarely venture into open desert, reducing their numbers by lethal removal or other means is unlikely to lessen raven predation of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii).

IKs channels open slowly because KCNE1 accessory subunits slow the movement of S4 voltage sensors in KCNQ1 pore-forming subunits

PubMed Central

Ruscic, Katarina J.; Miceli, Francesco; Villalba-Galea, Carlos A.; Dai, Hui; Mishina, Yukiko; Bezanilla, Francisco; Goldstein, Steve A. N.

2013-01-01

Human IKs channels activate slowly with the onset of cardiac action potentials to repolarize the myocardium. IKs channels are composed of KCNQ1 (Q1) pore-forming subunits that carry S4 voltage-sensor segments and KCNE1 (E1) accessory subunits. Together, Q1 and E1 subunits recapitulate the conductive and kinetic properties of IKs. How E1 modulates Q1 has been unclear. Investigators have variously posited that E1 slows the movement of S4 segments, slows opening and closing of the conduction pore, or modifies both aspects of electromechanical coupling. Here, we show that Q1 gating current can be resolved in the absence of E1, but not in its presence, consistent with slowed movement of the voltage sensor. E1 was directly demonstrated to slow S4 movement with a fluorescent probe on the Q1 voltage sensor. Direct correlation of the kinetics of S4 motion and ionic current indicated that slowing of sensor movement by E1 was both necessary and sufficient to determine the slow-activation time course of IKs. PMID:23359697

The fabrication of a customized occlusal splint based on the merging of dynamic jaw tracking records, cone beam computed tomography, and CAD-CAM digital impression.

PubMed

Aslanidou, Katerina; Kau, Chung How; Vlachos, Christos; Saleh, Tayem Abou

2017-01-01

The aim of this case report was to present the procedure of fabricating a customized occlusal splint, through a revolutionary software that combines cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with jaw motion tracking (JMT) data and superimposes a digital impression. The case report was conducted on a 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with the temporomandibular disorder. A CBCT scan and an optical impression were obtained. The range of the patient's mandibular movements was captured with a JMT device. The data were combined in the SICAT software (SICAT, Sirona, Bonn, Germany). The software enabled the visualization of patient-specific mandibular movements and provided a real dynamic anatomical evaluation of the condylar position in the glenoid fossa. After the assessment of the range of movements during opening, protrusion, and lateral movements all the data were sent to SICAT and a customized occlusal splint was manufactured. The SICAT software provides a three-dimensional real-dynamic simulation of mandibular movements relative to the patient-specific anatomy of the jaw; thus, it opens new possibilities and potentials for the management of temporomandibular disorders.

Impact of English on Education Reforms in China: With Reference to the Learn-English Movement, the Internationalisation of Universities and the English Language Requirement in College Entrance Examinations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, James Jian-Min; Hu, Ping; Ng, Sik Hung

2017-01-01

When China liberalised its economy and opened up to the (Western) world, it actively promoted the English language at schools and universities on a massive scale. This learn-English movement, riding on the back of English as the dominant international language, has powered English into China's education reforms. We outline the movement and discuss…

Open for Business

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Voyles, Bennett

2007-01-01

People know about the Sakai Project (open source course management system); they may even know about Kuali (open source financials). So, what is the next wave in open source software? This article discusses business intelligence (BI) systems. Though open source BI may still be only a rumor in most campus IT departments, some brave early adopters…

Comparative investigation of stimulus-evoked rod outer segment movement and retinal electrophysiological activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yiming; Wang, Benquan; Yao, Xincheng

2017-02-01

Transient retinal phototropism (TRP) has been observed in rod photoreceptors activated by oblique visible light flashes. Time-lapse confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed rod outer segment (ROS) movements as the physical source of TRP. However, the physiological source of TRP is still not well understood. In this study, concurrent TRP and electroretinogram (ERG) measurements disclosed a remarkably earlier onset time of the ROS movements (<=10 ms) than that ( 38 ms) of the ERG a-wave. Furthermore, low sodium treatment reversibly blocked the photoreceptor ERG a-wave, which is known to reflect hyperpolarization of retinal photoreceptors, but preserved the TRP associated rod OS movements well. Our experimental results and theoretical analysis suggested that the physiological source of TRP might be attributed to early stages of phototransduction, before the hyperpolarization of retinal photoreceptors.

Keeping the Doors of Learning Open for Adult Student-Workers within Higher Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walters, Shirley; Abrahams, Mark; Witbooi, Sally

2015-01-01

The Freedom Charter of the African National Congress (ANC), the triumphant South African liberation movement, proclaims that "the doors of learning shall be open" for all. Twenty years since coming to power, the doors of the universities are struggling to stay open for adult student-workers. An action research project into implementation…

Book Review: Opening Science, the Evolving Guide on How the Internet is Changing Research, Collaboration, and Scholarly Publishing

EPA Science Inventory

The way we get our funding, collaborate, do our research, and get the word out has evolved over hundreds of years but we can imagine a more open science world, largely facilitated by the internet. The movement towards this more open way of doing and presenting science is coming, ...

OERScout Technology Framework: A Novel Approach to Open Educational Resources Search

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abeywardena, Ishan Sudeera; Chan, Chee Seng; Tham, Choy Yoong

2013-01-01

The open educational resources (OER) movement has gained momentum in the past few years. With this new drive towards making knowledge open and accessible, a large number of OER repositories have been established and made available online throughout the world. However, the inability of existing search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing to…

Questions of Quality in Repositories of Open Educational Resources: A Literature Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atenas, Javiera; Havemann, Leo

2014-01-01

Open educational resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials which are freely available and openly licensed. Repositories of OER (ROER) are platforms that host and facilitate access to these resources. ROER should not just be designed to store this content--in keeping with the aims of the OER movement, they should support educators in…

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Software Requirements Specification

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-03-12

was erroneously deleted. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN...previous SRS. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] 0 ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). System Segment Specification, Updated, Increment II

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-02

CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: ACCEPT [ ] REJECT [ 3 COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL...the LAN. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED

Entrepreneurship Success Stories: Implications for Teaching and Learning. Practice Application Brief No. 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Bettina Lankard

Societal trends and personal characteristics are facilitating movement from corporate to self-employment. The entrepreneurship movement is characterized by several trends that are influencing the way people work: such as younger workers expecting shorter-term commitments to work, expanding career options, opening of worldwide operations, and…

Development of a low cost pupillometer-eyetracker and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianchetti, Arturo; Perez, Liliana I.; Comastri, Silvia A.

2013-11-01

The determination of ocular pupil diameter and gaze direction is important in various psychophysical and cognitive tests and can be accomplished using commercial, academic or open-source devices. In this work we develop a table-top pupillometer eyetracker termed Blick, the hardware costs 50 dollars and the software is open source (https://github.com/abianchetti/blick). The hardware is mounted in a portable holder and comprises an illumination system (two infrared LEDs generating 0.13 W/m2 at 22 cm) and a detection system (containing an USB camera, an infrared filter and a 16mm lens system) The software, programmed in C++ using OpenCV and cvblob libraries, processes eye images in real time and supplies plots and tables of pupil diameter and gaze direction and a video of the eye. As applications, capturing the right eye of six young emmetropes and after performing the pixel-mm and homographic calibrations (required to determine diameter in mm and gaze direction), we conduct three tests. The corresponding tasks are to detect mistakes in three series of four poker cards, to recognize letters F between distractors and to write a sentence via eye movements using Blick as eye tracker and the tool Dasher (MacKayśs Cambridge Group). We obtain that Blicḱs performance is satisfactory (errors being 0.05 mm in pupil diameter and 1 degree in gaze direction); that there are slight pupil dilations when subjects used to playing cards find mistakes and when some subjects find targets and, finally, that Blick can be employed as eyetracker to allow communication of disabled persons.

MUSCLEMOTION: A Versatile Open Software Tool to Quantify Cardiomyocyte and Cardiac Muscle Contraction In Vitro and In Vivo.

PubMed

Sala, Luca; van Meer, Berend J; Tertoolen, Leon G J; Bakkers, Jeroen; Bellin, Milena; Davis, Richard P; Denning, Chris; Dieben, Michel A E; Eschenhagen, Thomas; Giacomelli, Elisa; Grandela, Catarina; Hansen, Arne; Holman, Eduard R; Jongbloed, Monique R M; Kamel, Sarah M; Koopman, Charlotte D; Lachaud, Quentin; Mannhardt, Ingra; Mol, Mervyn P H; Mosqueira, Diogo; Orlova, Valeria V; Passier, Robert; Ribeiro, Marcelo C; Saleem, Umber; Smith, Godfrey L; Burton, Francis L; Mummery, Christine L

2018-02-02

There are several methods to measure cardiomyocyte and muscle contraction, but these require customized hardware, expensive apparatus, and advanced informatics or can only be used in single experimental models. Consequently, data and techniques have been difficult to reproduce across models and laboratories, analysis is time consuming, and only specialist researchers can quantify data. Here, we describe and validate an automated, open-source software tool (MUSCLEMOTION) adaptable for use with standard laboratory and clinical imaging equipment that enables quantitative analysis of normal cardiac contraction, disease phenotypes, and pharmacological responses. MUSCLEMOTION allowed rapid and easy measurement of movement from high-speed movies in (1) 1-dimensional in vitro models, such as isolated adult and human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; (2) 2-dimensional in vitro models, such as beating cardiomyocyte monolayers or small clusters of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; (3) 3-dimensional multicellular in vitro or in vivo contractile tissues, such as cardiac "organoids," engineered heart tissues, and zebrafish and human hearts. MUSCLEMOTION was effective under different recording conditions (bright-field microscopy with simultaneous patch-clamp recording, phase contrast microscopy, and traction force microscopy). Outcomes were virtually identical to the current gold standards for contraction measurement, such as optical flow, post deflection, edge-detection systems, or manual analyses. Finally, we used the algorithm to quantify contraction in in vitro and in vivo arrhythmia models and to measure pharmacological responses. Using a single open-source method for processing video recordings, we obtained reliable pharmacological data and measures of cardiac disease phenotype in experimental cell, animal, and human models. © 2017 The Authors.

[Characteristics of opening movement in patients with unilateral mastication].

PubMed

Jia, Ling; Wang, Yun; Wang, Mengya

2016-08-01

To analyze characteristics of mandibular movement in patients with unilateral mastication.
 Undergraduate students in oral medicine from Grade 2011 and 2012 in Wannan Medical College were enrolled for this study by cluster sampling method, which include 30 people with unilateral mastication and 30 people with bilateral mastication. The surface electromyogram (sEMG) of masseter muscle and anterovent of digastric muscle were recorded and the trajectory of mandibular incisor point was recorded simultaneously in the maximum opening and closing movement. The results were analyzed by SPSS 19.0 software.
 Average electrical peak of left anterior digastric muscle and right anterior digastric muscle in the unilateral chewing group was lower than that in the bilateral chewing group (P<0.05). The jaw tangent point trajectory was separate in the unilateral chewing group. There were significant differences at the opening type between the 2 groups. The vertical displacement and the sagittal displacement in the unilateral chewing group were significantly lower than those in the bilateral chewing group (P<0.01). There was significant positive correlation between the average peak potential of masseter muscle and displacement on the right side.
 Average electrical peak of left masseter muscle, left anterior digastric muscle, and right anterior digastric muscle decreases in the unilateral chewing group. Jaw tracking in most people deflects to the working side. Opening and closing jaw tracking is separate in 50% unilateral chewing individuals with the decreased opening degree. Unilateral chewing leads to changes in muscle performance accompanied by trajectory anomalies.

The Commercial Open Source Business Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riehle, Dirk

Commercial open source software projects are open source software projects that are owned by a single firm that derives a direct and significant revenue stream from the software. Commercial open source at first glance represents an economic paradox: How can a firm earn money if it is making its product available for free as open source? This paper presents the core properties of com mercial open source business models and discusses how they work. Using a commercial open source approach, firms can get to market faster with a superior product at lower cost than possible for traditional competitors. The paper shows how these benefits accrue from an engaged and self-supporting user community. Lacking any prior comprehensive reference, this paper is based on an analysis of public statements by practitioners of commercial open source. It forges the various anecdotes into a coherent description of revenue generation strategies and relevant business functions.

The influence of open fracture anisotropy on CO2 movement within geological storage complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bond, C. E.; Wightman, R.; Ringrose, P. S.

2012-12-01

Carbon mitigation through the geological storage of carbon dioxide is dependent on the ability of geological formations to store CO2 trapping it within a geological storage complex. Secure long-term containment needs to be demonstrated, due to both political and social drivers, meaning that this containment must be verifiable over periods of 100-105 years. The effectiveness of sub-surface geological storage systems is dependent on trapping CO2 within a volume of rock and is reliant on the integrity of the surrounding rocks, including their chemical and physical properties, to inhibit migration to the surface. Oil and gas reservoir production data, and field evidence show that fracture networks have the potential to act as focused pathways for fluid movement. Fracture networks can allow large volumes of fluid to migrate to the surface within the time scales of interest. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of predicting the effects of fracture networks in storage, using a case study from the In Salah CO2 storage site, and show how the fracture permeability is closely controlled by the stress regime that determines the open fracture network. Our workflow combines well data of imaged fractures, with a discrete fracture network (DFN) model of tectonically induced fractures, within the horizon of interest. The modelled and observed fractures have been compared and combined with present day stress data to predict the open fracture network and its implications for anisotropic movement of CO2 in the sub-surface. The created fracture network model has been used to calculate the 2D permeability tensor for the reservoir for two scenarios: 1) a model in which all fractures are permeable, based on the whole DFN model and 2) those fractures determined to be in dilatational failure under the present day stress regime, a sub-set of the DFN. The resulting permeability anisotropy tensors show distinct anisotropies for the predicted CO2 movement within the reservoir. These predictions have been compared with InSAR imagery of surface uplift, used as an indicator of fluid pressure and movement in the sub-surface, around the CO2 injection wells. The analysis shows that the permeability tensor with the greatest anisotropy, that for the DFN sub-set of open fractures, matches well with the anisotropy in surface uplift imaged by InSAR. We demonstrate that predicting fracture networks alone does not predict fluid movement in the sub-surface, and that fracture permeability is closely controlled by the stress regime that determines the open fracture network. Our results show that a workflow of fracture network prediction combined with present day stress analysis can be used to successfully predict CO2 movement in the sub-surface at an active injection site.

Movements of brown bullheads in Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Millard, M.J.; Smith, D.R.; Obert, E.; Grazio, J.; Bartron, M.L.; Wellington, C.; Grise, S.; Rafferty, S.; Wellington, R.; Julian, S.

2009-01-01

Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie, was listed as an Area of Concern (AOC) by the International Joint Commission in part because of the high incidence of external tumor in brown bullheads. Verifying the source of the possible contaminant exposure is critical to addressing the AOC designation. We used telemetry tracking (n = 49 fish) to test the hypothesis that adult bullheads captured within the bay during spawning season do not exit the bay during the post-spawning summer and fall months. We analyzed genetic variation at 15 microsatellite loci for 112 adult fish from 5 locations, 4 inside the bay and 1 outside, in order to test for possible differences. Data from fixed-station receivers suggested fish did not leave Presque Isle Bay during the study period. Predicted locations outside Presque Isle Bay were only 0.1% of all predicted locations and were below the 0.2% error rate based on known manual relocations. However, there was evidence for movement within Presque Isle Bay. Most movement was between Misery Bay or Lagoons and the open bay area. Whereas telemetry results showed tendency for adult site fidelity, genetic results showed no differences among locations, indicating that there is a single panmictic population. Our telemetry data suggest that brown bullheads are likely a useful indicator species for environmental conditions in Presque Isle Bay, since adults likely are retained in the system.

Rethinking moment tensor inversion methods to retrieve the source mechanisms of low-frequency seismic events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karl, S.; Neuberg, J.

2011-12-01

Volcanoes exhibit a variety of seismic signals. One specific type, the so-called long-period (LP) or low-frequency event, has proven to be crucial for understanding the internal dynamics of the volcanic system. These long period (LP) seismic events have been observed at many volcanoes around the world, and are thought to be associated with resonating fluid-filled conduits or fluid movements (Chouet, 1996; Neuberg et al., 2006). While the seismic wavefield is well established, the actual trigger mechanism of these events is still poorly understood. Neuberg et al. (2006) proposed a conceptual model for the trigger of LP events at Montserrat involving the brittle failure of magma in the glass transition in response to the upwards movement of magma. In an attempt to gain a better quantitative understanding of the driving forces of LPs, inversions for the physical source mechanisms have become increasingly common. Previous studies have assumed a point source for waveform inversion. Knowing that applying a point source model to synthetic seismograms representing an extended source process does not yield the real source mechanism, it can, however, still lead to apparent moment tensor elements which then can be compared to previous results in the literature. Therefore, this study follows the proposed concepts of Neuberg et al. (2006), modelling the extended LP source as an octagonal arrangement of double couples approximating a circular ringfault bounding the circumference of the volcanic conduit. Synthetic seismograms were inverted for the physical source mechanisms of LPs using the moment tensor inversion code TDMTISO_INVC by Dreger (2003). Here, we will present the effects of changing the source parameters on the apparent moment tensor elements. First results show that, due to negative interference, the amplitude of the seismic signals of a ringfault structure is greatly reduced when compared to a single double couple source. Furthermore, best inversion results yield a solution comprised of positive isotropic and compensated linear vector dipole components. Thus, the physical source mechanisms of volcano seismic signals may be misinterpreted as opening shear or tensile cracks when wrongly assuming a point source. In order to approach the real physical sources with our models, inversions based on higher-order tensors might have to be considered in the future. An inversion technique where the point source is replaced by a so-called moment tensor density would allow inversions of volcano seismic signals for sources that can then be temporally and spatially extended.

Realization of masticatory movement by 3-dimensional simulation of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory muscles.

PubMed

Park, Jong-Tae; Lee, Jae-Gi; Won, Sung-Yoon; Lee, Sang-Hee; Cha, Jung-Yul; Kim, Hee-Jin

2013-07-01

Masticatory muscles are closely involved in mastication, pronunciation, and swallowing, and it is therefore important to study the specific functions and dynamics of the mandibular and masticatory muscles. However, the shortness of muscle fibers and the diversity of movement directions make it difficult to study and simplify the dynamics of mastication. The purpose of this study was to use 3-dimensional (3D) simulation to observe the functions and movements of each of the masticatory muscles and the mandible while chewing. To simulate the masticatory movement, computed tomographic images were taken from a single Korean volunteer (30-year-old man), and skull image data were reconstructed in 3D (Mimics; Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). The 3D-reconstructed masticatory muscles were then attached to the 3D skull model. The masticatory movements were animated using Maya (Autodesk, San Rafael, CA) based on the mandibular motion path. During unilateral chewing, the mandible was found to move laterally toward the functional side by contracting the contralateral lateral pterygoid and ipsilateral temporalis muscles. During the initial mouth opening, only hinge movement was observed at the temporomandibular joint. During this period, the entire mandible rotated approximately 13 degrees toward the bicondylar horizontal plane. Continued movement of the mandible to full mouth opening occurred simultaneously with sliding and hinge movements, and the mandible rotated approximately 17 degrees toward the center of the mandibular ramus. The described approach can yield data for use in face animation and other simulation systems and for elucidating the functional components related to contraction and relaxation of muscles during mastication.

Cargo Movement Operations (CMOS) Increment I Installation and Checkout Plan for Langley AFB

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-10-28

ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: ACCEPT [ ] REJECT [ ] COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] Cmnt Page Paragraph No. No...document. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ) NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [

[Hypothesis on the equilibrium point and variability of amplitude, speed and time of single-joint movement].

PubMed

Latash, M; Gottleib, G

1990-01-01

Problems of single-joint movement variability are analysed in the framework of the equilibrium-point hypothesis (the lambda-model). Control of the movements is described with three parameters related to movement amplitude speed, and time. Three strategies emerge from this description. Only one of them is likely to lead to a Fitts' type speed-accuracy trade-off. Experiments were performed to test one of the predictions of the model. Subjects performed identical sets of single-joint fast movements with open or closed eyes and some-what different instructions. Movements performed with closed eyes were characterized with higher peak speeds and unchanged variability in seeming violation of the Fitt's law and in a good correspondence to the model.

Openly Published Environmental Sensing (OPEnS) | Advancing Open-Source Research, Instrumentation, and Dissemination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Udell, C.; Selker, J. S.

2017-12-01

The increasing availability and functionality of Open-Source software and hardware along with 3D printing, low-cost electronics, and proliferation of open-access resources for learning rapid prototyping are contributing to fundamental transformations and new technologies in environmental sensing. These tools invite reevaluation of time-tested methodologies and devices toward more efficient, reusable, and inexpensive alternatives. Building upon Open-Source design facilitates community engagement and invites a Do-It-Together (DIT) collaborative framework for research where solutions to complex problems may be crowd-sourced. However, barriers persist that prevent researchers from taking advantage of the capabilities afforded by open-source software, hardware, and rapid prototyping. Some of these include: requisite technical skillsets, knowledge of equipment capabilities, identifying inexpensive sources for materials, money, space, and time. A university MAKER space staffed by engineering students to assist researchers is one proposed solution to overcome many of these obstacles. This presentation investigates the unique capabilities the USDA-funded Openly Published Environmental Sensing (OPEnS) Lab affords researchers, within Oregon State and internationally, and the unique functions these types of initiatives support at the intersection of MAKER spaces, Open-Source academic research, and open-access dissemination.

Interpersonal similarity between body movements in face-to-face communication in daily life.

PubMed

Higo, Naoki; Ogawa, Ken-ichiro; Minemura, Juichi; Xu, Bujie; Nozawa, Takayuki; Ogata, Taiki; Ara, Koji; Yano, Kazuo; Miyake, Yoshihiro

2014-01-01

Individuals are embedded in social networks in which they communicate with others in their daily lives. Because smooth face-to-face communication is the key to maintaining these networks, measuring the smoothness of such communication is an important issue. One indicator of smoothness is the similarity of the body movements of the two individuals concerned. A typical example noted in experimental environments is the interpersonal synchronization of body movements such as nods and gestures during smooth face-to-face communication. It should therefore be possible to estimate quantitatively the smoothness of face-to-face communication in social networks through measurement of the synchronization of body movements. However, this is difficult because social networks, which differ from disciplined experimental environments, are open environments for the face-to-face communication between two individuals. In such open environments, their body movements become complicated by various external factors and may follow unstable and nonuniform patterns. Nevertheless, we consider there to be some interaction during face-to-face communication that leads to the interpersonal synchronization of body movements, which can be seen through the interpersonal similarity of body movements. The present study aims to clarify such interaction in terms of body movements during daily face-to-face communication in real organizations of more than 100 people. We analyzed data on the frequency of body movement for each individual during face-to-face communication, as measured by a wearable sensor, and evaluated the degree of interpersonal similarity of body movements between two individuals as their frequency difference. Furthermore, we generated uncorrelated data by resampling the data gathered and compared these two data sets statistically to distinguish the effects of actual face-to-face communication from those of the activities accompanying the communication. Our results confirm an interpersonal similarity of body movements between two individuals in face-to-face communication, for all the organizations studied, and suggest that some body interaction is behind this similarity.

Interpersonal Similarity between Body Movements in Face-To-Face Communication in Daily Life

PubMed Central

Higo, Naoki; Ogawa, Ken-ichiro; Minemura, Juichi; Xu, Bujie; Nozawa, Takayuki; Ogata, Taiki; Ara, Koji; Yano, Kazuo; Miyake, Yoshihiro

2014-01-01

Individuals are embedded in social networks in which they communicate with others in their daily lives. Because smooth face-to-face communication is the key to maintaining these networks, measuring the smoothness of such communication is an important issue. One indicator of smoothness is the similarity of the body movements of the two individuals concerned. A typical example noted in experimental environments is the interpersonal synchronization of body movements such as nods and gestures during smooth face-to-face communication. It should therefore be possible to estimate quantitatively the smoothness of face-to-face communication in social networks through measurement of the synchronization of body movements. However, this is difficult because social networks, which differ from disciplined experimental environments, are open environments for the face-to-face communication between two individuals. In such open environments, their body movements become complicated by various external factors and may follow unstable and nonuniform patterns. Nevertheless, we consider there to be some interaction during face-to-face communication that leads to the interpersonal synchronization of body movements, which can be seen through the interpersonal similarity of body movements. The present study aims to clarify such interaction in terms of body movements during daily face-to-face communication in real organizations of more than 100 people. We analyzed data on the frequency of body movement for each individual during face-to-face communication, as measured by a wearable sensor, and evaluated the degree of interpersonal similarity of body movements between two individuals as their frequency difference. Furthermore, we generated uncorrelated data by resampling the data gathered and compared these two data sets statistically to distinguish the effects of actual face-to-face communication from those of the activities accompanying the communication. Our results confirm an interpersonal similarity of body movements between two individuals in face-to-face communication, for all the organizations studied, and suggest that some body interaction is behind this similarity. PMID:25014021

Open-source software: not quite endsville.

PubMed

Stahl, Matthew T

2005-02-01

Open-source software will never achieve ubiquity. There are environments in which it simply does not flourish. By its nature, open-source development requires free exchange of ideas, community involvement, and the efforts of talented and dedicated individuals. However, pressures can come from several sources that prevent this from happening. In addition, openness and complex licensing issues invite misuse and abuse. Care must be taken to avoid the pitfalls of open-source software.

Developing an Open Source Option for NASA Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moran, Patrick J.; Parks, John W. (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

We present arguments in favor of developing an Open Source option for NASA software; in particular we discuss how Open Source is compatible with NASA's mission. We compare and contrast several of the leading Open Source licenses, and propose one - the Mozilla license - for use by NASA. We also address some of the related issues for NASA with respect to Open Source. In particular, we discuss some of the elements in the External Release of NASA Software document (NPG 2210.1A) that will likely have to be changed in order to make Open Source a reality withm the agency.

Deriving Animal Behaviour from High-Frequency GPS: Tracking Cows in Open and Forested Habitat

PubMed Central

de Weerd, Nelleke; van Langevelde, Frank; van Oeveren, Herman; Nolet, Bart A.; Kölzsch, Andrea; Prins, Herbert H. T.; de Boer, W. Fred

2015-01-01

The increasing spatiotemporal accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) tracking systems opens the possibility to infer animal behaviour from tracking data. We studied the relationship between high-frequency GNSS data and behaviour, aimed at developing an easily interpretable classification method to infer behaviour from location data. Behavioural observations were carried out during tracking of cows (Bos Taurus) fitted with high-frequency GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers. Data were obtained in an open field and forested area, and movement metrics were calculated for 1 min, 12 s and 2 s intervals. We observed four behaviour types (Foraging, Lying, Standing and Walking). We subsequently used Classification and Regression Trees to classify the simultaneously obtained GPS data as these behaviour types, based on distances and turning angles between fixes. GPS data with a 1 min interval from the open field was classified correctly for more than 70% of the samples. Data from the 12 s and 2 s interval could not be classified successfully, emphasizing that the interval should be long enough for the behaviour to be defined by its characteristic movement metrics. Data obtained in the forested area were classified with a lower accuracy (57%) than the data from the open field, due to a larger positional error of GPS locations and differences in behavioural performance influenced by the habitat type. This demonstrates the importance of understanding the relationship between behaviour and movement metrics, derived from GNSS fixes at different frequencies and in different habitats, in order to successfully infer behaviour. When spatially accurate location data can be obtained, behaviour can be inferred from high-frequency GNSS fixes by calculating simple movement metrics and using easily interpretable decision trees. This allows for the combined study of animal behaviour and habitat use based on location data, and might make it possible to detect deviations in behaviour at the individual level. PMID:26107643

Deriving Animal Behaviour from High-Frequency GPS: Tracking Cows in Open and Forested Habitat.

PubMed

de Weerd, Nelleke; van Langevelde, Frank; van Oeveren, Herman; Nolet, Bart A; Kölzsch, Andrea; Prins, Herbert H T; de Boer, W Fred

2015-01-01

The increasing spatiotemporal accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) tracking systems opens the possibility to infer animal behaviour from tracking data. We studied the relationship between high-frequency GNSS data and behaviour, aimed at developing an easily interpretable classification method to infer behaviour from location data. Behavioural observations were carried out during tracking of cows (Bos Taurus) fitted with high-frequency GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers. Data were obtained in an open field and forested area, and movement metrics were calculated for 1 min, 12 s and 2 s intervals. We observed four behaviour types (Foraging, Lying, Standing and Walking). We subsequently used Classification and Regression Trees to classify the simultaneously obtained GPS data as these behaviour types, based on distances and turning angles between fixes. GPS data with a 1 min interval from the open field was classified correctly for more than 70% of the samples. Data from the 12 s and 2 s interval could not be classified successfully, emphasizing that the interval should be long enough for the behaviour to be defined by its characteristic movement metrics. Data obtained in the forested area were classified with a lower accuracy (57%) than the data from the open field, due to a larger positional error of GPS locations and differences in behavioural performance influenced by the habitat type. This demonstrates the importance of understanding the relationship between behaviour and movement metrics, derived from GNSS fixes at different frequencies and in different habitats, in order to successfully infer behaviour. When spatially accurate location data can be obtained, behaviour can be inferred from high-frequency GNSS fixes by calculating simple movement metrics and using easily interpretable decision trees. This allows for the combined study of animal behaviour and habitat use based on location data, and might make it possible to detect deviations in behaviour at the individual level.

On Biometrics With Eye Movements.

PubMed

Zhang, Youming; Juhola, Martti

2017-09-01

Eye movements are a relatively novel data source for biometric identification. When video cameras applied to eye tracking become smaller and more efficient, this data source could offer interesting opportunities for the development of eye movement biometrics. In this paper, we study primarily biometric identification as seen as a classification task of multiple classes, and secondarily biometric verification considered as binary classification. Our research is based on the saccadic eye movement signal measurements from 109 young subjects. In order to test the data measured, we use a procedure of biometric identification according to the one-versus-one (subject) principle. In a development from our previous research, which also involved biometric verification based on saccadic eye movements, we now apply another eye movement tracker device with a higher sampling frequency of 250 Hz. The results obtained are good, with correct identification rates at 80-90% at their best.

On the estimation of dispersal and movement of birds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kendall, W.L.; Nichols, J.D.

2004-01-01

The estimation of dispersal and movement is important to evolutionary and population ecologists, as well as to wildlife managers. We review statistical methodology available to estimate movement probabilities. We begin with cases where individual birds can be marked and their movements estimated with the use of multisite capture-recapture methods. Movements can be monitored either directly, using telemetry, or by accounting for detection probability when conventional marks are used. When one or more sites are unobservable, telemetry, band recoveries, incidental observations, a closed- or open-population robust design, or partial determinism in movements can be used to estimate movement. When individuals cannot be marked, presence-absence data can be used to model changes in occupancy over time, providing indirect inferences about movement. Where abundance estimates over time are available for multiple sites, potential coupling of their dynamics can be investigated using linear cross-correlation or nonlinear dynamic tools.

Movement-related cortical magnetic fields associated with self-paced tongue protrusion in humans.

PubMed

Maezawa, Hitoshi; Oguma, Hidetoshi; Hirai, Yoshiyuki; Hisadome, Kazunari; Shiraishi, Hideaki; Funahashi, Makoto

2017-04-01

Sophisticated tongue movements are coordinated finely via cortical control. We elucidated the cortical processes associated with voluntary tongue movement. Movement-related cortical fields were investigated during self-paced repetitive tongue protrusion. Surface tongue electromyograms were recorded to determine movement onset. To identify the location of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), tongue somatosensory evoked fields were measured. The readiness fields (RFs) over both hemispheres began prior to movement onset and culminated in the motor fields (MFs) around movement onset. These signals were followed by transient movement evoked fields (MEFs) after movement onset. The MF and MEF peak latencies and magnitudes were not different between the hemispheres. The MF current sources were located in the precentral gyrus, suggesting they were located in the primary motor cortex (M1); this was contrary to the MEF sources, which were located in S1. We conclude that the RFs and MFs mainly reflect the cortical processes for the preparation and execution of tongue movement in the bilateral M1, without hemispheric dominance. Moreover, the MEFs may represent proprioceptive feedback from the tongue to bilateral S1. Such cortical processing related to the efferent and afferent information may aid in the coordination of sophisticated tongue movements. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.

Electromyography of the buccal musculature of octopus (Octopus bimaculoides): a test of the function of the muscle articulation in support and movement.

PubMed

Uyeno, Theodore A; Kier, William M

2007-01-01

The buccal mass musculature of the octopus (Octopus bimaculoides) was studied with electromyography to test the predictions of a previous morphological study in which we suggested that the muscles of the buccal mass serve as both the effectors of movement and as the joint itself, forming a new category of flexible joint termed a ;muscle articulation'. The predictions of muscle function were tested by correlating muscle electrical activity in isolated buccal masses with spontaneous beak movements. Bipolar electromyography electrodes were implanted in the various beak muscles and beak position was recorded simultaneously with an electronic movement monitor (N=14). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the lateral mandibular muscles produce opening movements of the beaks and provide the first definitive explanation of the opening mechanism. The results are also consistent with the hypothesis that the superior mandibular muscle functions primarily in closing. Co-contraction of the lateral mandibular muscles and the superior mandibular muscles was also observed, suggesting that these muscles may also stabilize the beaks during movement or provide a means of controlling the location of the pivot between the beaks. This study provides an important first test of the predictions of the role of the complex musculature found in muscle articulations such as the cephalopod buccal mass.

Open-Source Data and the Study of Homicide.

PubMed

Parkin, William S; Gruenewald, Jeff

2015-07-20

To date, no discussion has taken place in the social sciences as to the appropriateness of using open-source data to augment, or replace, official data sources in homicide research. The purpose of this article is to examine whether open-source data have the potential to be used as a valid and reliable data source in testing theory and studying homicide. Official and open-source homicide data were collected as a case study in a single jurisdiction over a 1-year period. The data sets were compared to determine whether open-sources could recreate the population of homicides and variable responses collected in official data. Open-source data were able to replicate the population of homicides identified in the official data. Also, for every variable measured, the open-sources captured as much, or more, of the information presented in the official data. Also, variables not available in official data, but potentially useful for testing theory, were identified in open-sources. The results of the case study show that open-source data are potentially as effective as official data in identifying individual- and situational-level characteristics, provide access to variables not found in official homicide data, and offer geographic data that can be used to link macro-level characteristics to homicide events. © The Author(s) 2015.

Open- and closed-state fast inactivation in sodium channels

PubMed Central

Lehmann-Horn, Frank; Holzherr, Boris D

2011-01-01

The role of sodium channel closed-state fast inactivation in membrane excitability is not well understood. We compared open- and closed-state fast inactivation, and the gating charge immobilized during these transitions, in skeletal muscle channel hNaV1.4. A significant fraction of total charge movement and its immobilization occurred in the absence of channel opening. Simulated action potentials in skeletal muscle fibers were attenuated when pre-conditioned by subthreshold depolarization. Anthopleurin A, a site-3 toxin that inhibits gating charge associated with the movement of DIVS4, was used to assess the role of this voltage sensor in closed-state fast inactivation. Anthopleurin elicited opposing effects on the gating mode, kinetics and charge immobilized during open- versus closed-state fast inactivation. This same toxin produced identical effects on recovery of channel availability and remobilization of gating charge, irrespective of route of entry into fast inactivation. Our findings suggest that depolarization promoting entry into fast inactivation from open versus closed states provides access to the IFMT receptor via different rate-limiting conformational translocations of DIVS4. PMID:21099342

A mathematical model on water redistribution mechanism of the seismonastic movement of Mimosa pudica.

PubMed

Kwan, K W; Ye, Z W; Chye, M L; Ngan, A H W

2013-07-02

A theoretical model based on the water redistribution mechanism is proposed to predict the volumetric strain of motor cells in Mimosa pudica during the seismonastic movement. The model describes the water and ion movements following the opening of ion channels triggered by stimulation. The cellular strain is related to the angular velocity of the plant movement, and both their predictions are in good agreement with experimental data, thus validating the water redistribution mechanism. The results reveal that an increase in ion diffusivity across the cell membrane of <15-fold is sufficient to produce the observed seismonastic movement. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modeling Drosophila Positional Preferences in Open Field Arenas with Directional Persistence and Wall Attraction

PubMed Central

Soibam, Benjamin; Goldfeder, Rachel L.; Manson-Bishop, Claire; Gamblin, Rachel; Pletcher, Scott D.; Shah, Shishir; Gunaratne, Gemunu H.; Roman, Gregg W.

2012-01-01

In open field arenas, Drosophila adults exhibit a preference for arena boundaries over internal walls and open regions. Herein, we investigate the nature of this preference using phenomenological modeling of locomotion to determine whether local arena features and constraints on movement alone are sufficient to drive positional preferences within open field arenas of different shapes and with different internal features. Our model has two components: directional persistence and local wall force. In regions far away from walls, the trajectory is entirely characterized by a directional persistence probability, , for each movement defined by the step size, , and the turn angle, . In close proximity to walls, motion is computed from and a local attractive force which depends on the distance between the fly and points on the walls. The directional persistence probability was obtained experimentally from trajectories of wild type Drosophila in a circular open field arena and the wall force was computed to minimize the difference between the radial distributions from the model and Drosophila in the same circular arena. The two-component model for fly movement was challenged by comparing the positional preferences from the two-component model to wild type Drosophila in a variety of open field arenas. In most arenas there was a strong concordance between the two-component model and Drosophila. In more complex arenas, the model exhibits similar trends, but some significant differences were found. These differences suggest that there are emergent features within these complex arenas that have significance for the fly, such as potential shelter. Hence, the two-component model is an important step in defining how Drosophila interact with their environment. PMID:23071591

Clomipramine ameliorates adventitious movements and compulsions in prepubertal boys with autistic disorder and severe mental retardation.

PubMed

Brasic, J R; Barnett, J Y; Kaplan, D; Sheitman, B B; Aisemberg, P; Lafargue, R T; Kowalik, S; Clark, A; Tsaltas, M O; Young, J G

1994-07-01

In an open, nonblind clinical trial, clomipramine reduced adventitious movements and compulsions in five previously medicated prepubertal boys with autistic disorder and severe mental retardation. Poorly adapted rating scales, interrater variability, subject heterogeneity, different treatment histories, and environmental stresses confounded the assessment of treatment effects.

Multiple pore conformations driven by asynchronous movements of voltage sensors in a eukaryotic sodium channel

PubMed Central

Goldschen-Ohm, Marcel P.; Capes, Deborah L.; Oelstrom, Kevin M.; Chanda, Baron

2013-01-01

Voltage-dependent Na+ channels are crucial for electrical signalling in excitable cells. Membrane depolarization initiates asynchronous movements in four non-identical voltage-sensing domains of the Na+ channel. It remains unclear to what extent this structural asymmetry influences pore gating as compared with outwardly rectifying K+ channels, where channel opening results from a final concerted transition of symmetric pore gates. Here we combine single channel recordings, cysteine accessibility and voltage clamp fluorimetry to probe the relationships between voltage sensors and pore conformations in an inactivation deficient Nav1.4 channel. We observe three distinct conductance levels such that DI-III voltage sensor activation is kinetically correlated with formation of a fully open pore, whereas DIV voltage sensor movement underlies formation of a distinct subconducting pore conformation preceding inactivation in wild-type channels. Our experiments reveal that pore gating in sodium channels involves multiple transitions driven by asynchronous movements of voltage sensors. These findings shed new light on the mechanism of coupling between activation and fast inactivation in voltage-gated sodium channels. PMID:23322038

How Is Open Source Special?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapor, Mitchell

2005-01-01

Open source software projects involve the production of goods, but in software projects, the "goods" consist of information. The open source model is an alternative to the conventional centralized, command-and-control way in which things are usually made. In contrast, open source projects are genuinely decentralized and transparent. Transparent…

Open inlet conversion: Water quality benefits of two designs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Open surface inlets that connect to subsurface tile drainage systems provide a direct pathway for movement of sediment, nutrients, and agrochemicals to surface waters. This study was conducted to determine the reduction in drainage effluent total suspended sediment (TSS) and phosphorus (P) concentr...

Common characteristics of open source software development and applicability for drug discovery: a systematic review.

PubMed

Ardal, Christine; Alstadsæter, Annette; Røttingen, John-Arne

2011-09-28

Innovation through an open source model has proven to be successful for software development. This success has led many to speculate if open source can be applied to other industries with similar success. We attempt to provide an understanding of open source software development characteristics for researchers, business leaders and government officials who may be interested in utilizing open source innovation in other contexts and with an emphasis on drug discovery. A systematic review was performed by searching relevant, multidisciplinary databases to extract empirical research regarding the common characteristics and barriers of initiating and maintaining an open source software development project. Common characteristics to open source software development pertinent to open source drug discovery were extracted. The characteristics were then grouped into the areas of participant attraction, management of volunteers, control mechanisms, legal framework and physical constraints. Lastly, their applicability to drug discovery was examined. We believe that the open source model is viable for drug discovery, although it is unlikely that it will exactly follow the form used in software development. Hybrids will likely develop that suit the unique characteristics of drug discovery. We suggest potential motivations for organizations to join an open source drug discovery project. We also examine specific differences between software and medicines, specifically how the need for laboratories and physical goods will impact the model as well as the effect of patents.

Opening education.

PubMed

Smith, Marshall S

2009-01-02

Spurred by the publication of Massachusetts Institute of Technology OpenCourseWare in 2002, the open educational resources (OER) movement, which has rapidly expanded and captured the imagination and energy of millions of creators and users throughout the world, now faces many opportunities and substantial challenges as it moves to become an integral part of the world's educational environment. The confluence of the Web and a spirit of sharing intellectual property have fueled a worldwide movement to make knowledge and education materials open to all for use. OER are content (courses, books, lesson plans, articles, etc.), tools (virtual laboratories, simulations, and games), and software that support learning and educational practice. OER are free on the Web, and most have licenses that allow copyright holders to retain ownership while providing specified rights for use in original and modified forms. At the least, OER have helped to level the distribution of knowledge across the world. A second promise of OER is to help transform educational practices. This article explores the history of and promises and challenges for OER.

Fluorescence detection of the movement of single KcsA subunits reveals cooperativity

PubMed Central

Blunck, Rikard; McGuire, Hugo; Hyde, H. Clark; Bezanilla, Francisco

2008-01-01

The prokaryotic KcsA channel is gated at the helical bundle crossing by intracellular protons and inactivates at the extracellular selectivity filter. The C-terminal transmembrane helix has to undergo a conformational change for potassium ions to access the central cavity. Whereas a partial opening of the tetrameric channel is suggested to be responsible for subconductance levels of ion channels, including KcsA, a cooperative opening of the 4 subunits is postulated as the final opening step. In this study, we used single-channel fluorescence spectroscopy of KcsA to directly observe the movement of each subunit and the temporal correlation between subunits. Purified KcsA channels labeled at the C terminus near the bundle crossing have been inserted into supported lipid bilayer, and the fluorescence traces analyzed by means of a cooperative or independent Markov model. The analysis revealed that the 4 subunits do not move fully independently but instead showed a certain degree of cooperativity. However, the 4 subunits do not simply open in 1 concerted step. PMID:19074286

Closed-Loop Control of a Neuroprosthetic Hand by Magnetoencephalographic Signals.

PubMed

Fukuma, Ryohei; Yanagisawa, Takufumi; Yorifuji, Shiro; Kato, Ryu; Yokoi, Hiroshi; Hirata, Masayuki; Saitoh, Youichi; Kishima, Haruhiko; Kamitani, Yukiyasu; Yoshimine, Toshiki

2015-01-01

A neuroprosthesis using a brain-machine interface (BMI) is a promising therapeutic option for severely paralyzed patients, but the ability to control it may vary among individual patients and needs to be evaluated before any invasive procedure is undertaken. We have developed a neuroprosthetic hand that can be controlled by magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals to noninvasively evaluate subjects' ability to control a neuroprosthesis. Six nonparalyzed subjects performed grasping or opening movements of their right hand while the slow components of the MEG signals (SMFs) were recorded in an open-loop condition. The SMFs were used to train two decoders to infer the timing and types of movement by support vector machine and Gaussian process regression. The SMFs were also used to calculate estimated slow cortical potentials (eSCPs) to identify the origin of motor information. Finally, using the trained decoders, the subjects controlled a neuroprosthetic hand in a closed-loop condition. The SMFs in the open-loop condition revealed movement-related cortical field characteristics and successfully inferred the movement type with an accuracy of 75.0 ± 12.9% (mean ± SD). In particular, the eSCPs in the sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the moved hand varied significantly enough among the movement types to be decoded with an accuracy of 76.5 ± 10.6%, which was significantly higher than the accuracy associated with eSCPs in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex (58.1 ± 13.7%; p = 0.0072, paired two-tailed Student's t-test). Moreover, another decoder using SMFs successfully inferred when the accuracy was the greatest. Combining these two decoders allowed the neuroprosthetic hand to be controlled in a closed-loop condition. Use of real-time MEG signals was shown to successfully control the neuroprosthetic hand. The developed system may be useful for evaluating movement-related slow cortical potentials of severely paralyzed patients to predict the efficacy of invasive BMI.

Closed-Loop Control of a Neuroprosthetic Hand by Magnetoencephalographic Signals

PubMed Central

Fukuma, Ryohei; Yanagisawa, Takufumi; Yorifuji, Shiro; Kato, Ryu; Yokoi, Hiroshi; Hirata, Masayuki; Saitoh, Youichi; Kishima, Haruhiko; Kamitani, Yukiyasu; Yoshimine, Toshiki

2015-01-01

Objective A neuroprosthesis using a brain–machine interface (BMI) is a promising therapeutic option for severely paralyzed patients, but the ability to control it may vary among individual patients and needs to be evaluated before any invasive procedure is undertaken. We have developed a neuroprosthetic hand that can be controlled by magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals to noninvasively evaluate subjects’ ability to control a neuroprosthesis. Method Six nonparalyzed subjects performed grasping or opening movements of their right hand while the slow components of the MEG signals (SMFs) were recorded in an open-loop condition. The SMFs were used to train two decoders to infer the timing and types of movement by support vector machine and Gaussian process regression. The SMFs were also used to calculate estimated slow cortical potentials (eSCPs) to identify the origin of motor information. Finally, using the trained decoders, the subjects controlled a neuroprosthetic hand in a closed-loop condition. Results The SMFs in the open-loop condition revealed movement-related cortical field characteristics and successfully inferred the movement type with an accuracy of 75.0 ± 12.9% (mean ± SD). In particular, the eSCPs in the sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the moved hand varied significantly enough among the movement types to be decoded with an accuracy of 76.5 ± 10.6%, which was significantly higher than the accuracy associated with eSCPs in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex (58.1 ± 13.7%; p = 0.0072, paired two-tailed Student’s t-test). Moreover, another decoder using SMFs successfully inferred when the accuracy was the greatest. Combining these two decoders allowed the neuroprosthetic hand to be controlled in a closed-loop condition. Conclusions Use of real-time MEG signals was shown to successfully control the neuroprosthetic hand. The developed system may be useful for evaluating movement-related slow cortical potentials of severely paralyzed patients to predict the efficacy of invasive BMI. PMID:26134845

Weather forecasting with open source software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rautenhaus, Marc; Dörnbrack, Andreas

2013-04-01

To forecast the weather situation during aircraft-based atmospheric field campaigns, we employ a tool chain of existing and self-developed open source software tools and open standards. Of particular value are the Python programming language with its extension libraries NumPy, SciPy, PyQt4, Matplotlib and the basemap toolkit, the NetCDF standard with the Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata conventions, and the Open Geospatial Consortium Web Map Service standard. These open source libraries and open standards helped to implement the "Mission Support System", a Web Map Service based tool to support weather forecasting and flight planning during field campaigns. The tool has been implemented in Python and has also been released as open source (Rautenhaus et al., Geosci. Model Dev., 5, 55-71, 2012). In this presentation we discuss the usage of free and open source software for weather forecasting in the context of research flight planning, and highlight how the field campaign work benefits from using open source tools and open standards.

An Open Source Simulation Model for Soil and Sediment Bioturbation

PubMed Central

Schiffers, Katja; Teal, Lorna Rachel; Travis, Justin Mark John; Solan, Martin

2011-01-01

Bioturbation is one of the most widespread forms of ecological engineering and has significant implications for the structure and functioning of ecosystems, yet our understanding of the processes involved in biotic mixing remains incomplete. One reason is that, despite their value and utility, most mathematical models currently applied to bioturbation data tend to neglect aspects of the natural complexity of bioturbation in favour of mathematical simplicity. At the same time, the abstract nature of these approaches limits the application of such models to a limited range of users. Here, we contend that a movement towards process-based modelling can improve both the representation of the mechanistic basis of bioturbation and the intuitiveness of modelling approaches. In support of this initiative, we present an open source modelling framework that explicitly simulates particle displacement and a worked example to facilitate application and further development. The framework combines the advantages of rule-based lattice models with the application of parameterisable probability density functions to generate mixing on the lattice. Model parameters can be fitted by experimental data and describe particle displacement at the spatial and temporal scales at which bioturbation data is routinely collected. By using the same model structure across species, but generating species-specific parameters, a generic understanding of species-specific bioturbation behaviour can be achieved. An application to a case study and comparison with a commonly used model attest the predictive power of the approach. PMID:22162997

An open source simulation model for soil and sediment bioturbation.

PubMed

Schiffers, Katja; Teal, Lorna Rachel; Travis, Justin Mark John; Solan, Martin

2011-01-01

Bioturbation is one of the most widespread forms of ecological engineering and has significant implications for the structure and functioning of ecosystems, yet our understanding of the processes involved in biotic mixing remains incomplete. One reason is that, despite their value and utility, most mathematical models currently applied to bioturbation data tend to neglect aspects of the natural complexity of bioturbation in favour of mathematical simplicity. At the same time, the abstract nature of these approaches limits the application of such models to a limited range of users. Here, we contend that a movement towards process-based modelling can improve both the representation of the mechanistic basis of bioturbation and the intuitiveness of modelling approaches. In support of this initiative, we present an open source modelling framework that explicitly simulates particle displacement and a worked example to facilitate application and further development. The framework combines the advantages of rule-based lattice models with the application of parameterisable probability density functions to generate mixing on the lattice. Model parameters can be fitted by experimental data and describe particle displacement at the spatial and temporal scales at which bioturbation data is routinely collected. By using the same model structure across species, but generating species-specific parameters, a generic understanding of species-specific bioturbation behaviour can be achieved. An application to a case study and comparison with a commonly used model attest the predictive power of the approach.

Open Source Software Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

Software, 2002, 149(1), 3-17. 3. DiBona , C., Cooper, D., and Stone, M. (Eds.), Open Sources 2.0, 2005, O’Reilly Media, Sebastopol, CA. Also see, C... DiBona , S. Ockman, and M. Stone (Eds.). Open Sources: Vocides from the Open Source Revolution, 1999. O’Reilly Media, Sebastopol, CA. 4. Ducheneaut, N

3D motion analysis of the wrist splint effect to wrist joint movement

PubMed Central

Shin, Joong-il; Park, Soo-hee

2017-01-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the degree of straightness of the wrist joint, depending on the use of a wrist splint while opening a bottle cap. Its results may provide data for later studies on preventing accidents at workplaces and improving efficiency. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty Male and Female in their twenties who did not have hand-related diseases, fractures, or history that included neurological impairments associated with the hand were selected as subjects of the study. Wrist splints were made to fit the hand and lower arm of each subject. Evaluation assignments were carried out without and with the splints after 10 minutes of rest. To analyze the wrist movement in opening the bottle cap, a three-dimensional movement analyzing system by Zebris was used. [Results] Wrist angle decreased while opening caps of four different diameters while wearing splints, but not when splints were not worn. This means that wearing a splint may aid weakened wrist muscles. [Conclusion] Future studies should be conducted among subjects with damaged wrist muscles and evaluate the subjects in actual workplaces to obtain more objective and more valid data. PMID:28626332

[Open Borders for Alpine Pastures: The History of the Pacage Franco- Suisse].

PubMed

Schluep, J

2017-01-01

Alpine transhumance and summer grazing of animals on both sides of the French-Swiss border has a long tradition. The Bernese authorities first regulated the movement of animals across the French border in the 18th century due to outbreaks of epidemics. At that time the importation of cattle from the "Franche-Comté" was forbidden, but grazing on the French side of the border remained allowed. The 1912 agreement, relating to grazing on both sides of the border, was used for decades as a guideline to ensure the open communication and close cooperation of the veterinary and customs authorities of both countries with regard to border traffic. During World War I the movement across the border was temporarily stopped, whereas it remained open during World War II. During the last two decades of the 20th century problems have arisen due to IBR/ IPV from the Swiss, and BSE from the French point of view. In 1996, France annulled the 1912 agreement without any negative impact on the movement of animals across the border. As of 1999, the EU communitarian veterinary regulations apply, and veterinary border inspections have been abolished.

Open-source hardware for medical devices

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Open-source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so anyone can study, modify, distribute, make and sell the design or the hardware based on that design. Some open-source hardware projects can potentially be used as active medical devices. The open-source approach offers a unique combination of advantages, including reducing costs and faster innovation. This article compares 10 of open-source healthcare projects in terms of how easy it is to obtain the required components and build the device. PMID:27158528

Open-source hardware for medical devices.

PubMed

Niezen, Gerrit; Eslambolchilar, Parisa; Thimbleby, Harold

2016-04-01

Open-source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so anyone can study, modify, distribute, make and sell the design or the hardware based on that design. Some open-source hardware projects can potentially be used as active medical devices. The open-source approach offers a unique combination of advantages, including reducing costs and faster innovation. This article compares 10 of open-source healthcare projects in terms of how easy it is to obtain the required components and build the device.

The case for open-source software in drug discovery.

PubMed

DeLano, Warren L

2005-02-01

Widespread adoption of open-source software for network infrastructure, web servers, code development, and operating systems leads one to ask how far it can go. Will "open source" spread broadly, or will it be restricted to niches frequented by hopeful hobbyists and midnight hackers? Here we identify reasons for the success of open-source software and predict how consumers in drug discovery will benefit from new open-source products that address their needs with increased flexibility and in ways complementary to proprietary options.

Choosing Open Source ERP Systems: What Reasons Are There For Doing So?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johansson, Björn; Sudzina, Frantisek

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems attract a high attention and open source software does it as well. The question is then if, and if so, when do open source ERP systems take off. The paper describes the status of open source ERP systems. Based on literature review of ERP system selection criteria based on Web of Science articles, it discusses reported reasons for choosing open source or proprietary ERP systems. Last but not least, the article presents some conclusions that could act as input for future research. The paper aims at building up a foundation for the basic question: What are the reasons for an organization to adopt open source ERP systems.

The Role of Postgraduate Students in Co-Authoring Open Educational Resources to Promote Social Inclusion: A Case Study at the University of Cape Town

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl; Paskevicius, Michael

2012-01-01

Like many universities worldwide, the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa has joined the open educational resources (OER) movement, making a selection of teaching and learning materials available through its OER directory, UCT OpenContent. However, persuading and then supporting busy academics to share their teaching materials as OER…

Making Higher Education More Affordable, One Course Reading at a Time: Academic Libraries as Key Advocates for Open Access Textbooks and Educational Resources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okamoto, Karen

2013-01-01

Open access textbooks (OATs) and educational resources (OERs) are being lauded as a viable alternative to costly print textbooks. Some academic libraries are joining the OER movement by creating guides to open repositories. Others are promoting OATs and OERs, reviewing them, and even helping to create them. This article analyzes how academic…

The future(s) of open science.

PubMed

Mirowski, Philip

2018-04-01

Almost everyone is enthusiastic that 'open science' is the wave of the future. Yet when one looks seriously at the flaws in modern science that the movement proposes to remedy, the prospect for improvement in at least four areas are unimpressive. This suggests that the agenda is effectively to re-engineer science along the lines of platform capitalism, under the misleading banner of opening up science to the masses.

Special Report on the Role of Open Educational Resources in Supporting the Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education Challenges and Opportunities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGreal, Rory

2017-01-01

Open Educational Resources (OER) and their offspring, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), are becoming important factors in achieving the "Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education" ("SDG4"). The OER movement is less than 15 years old and is growing rapidly as more and more nations and institutions adopt the view that…

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). System Segment Design Document. Change 02

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-04-26

ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL...ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ I NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: I COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [1 I I i I I I I ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SSDD-0006 PROGRAM...PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] i ORIGINATOR CONTROL

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Final Software Design Document, Change 01, Increment I

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-22

NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SDDl-0002 PROGRAM OFFICE...COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SDDl-0003 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER: DATA...CARMODE and SURRTG. RATIONALE: Request clarification of these deletions. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Software Requirements Specification, Increment 1, Change 02

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-24

COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SRS2-0002 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER: DATA...ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES ( J NO [ ) COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ J CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SRS2-0003 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL...NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO ( ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ J ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SRS2-0004 PROGRAM

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) System Segment Design Document. Revision. Increment 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-14

ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: ACCEPT [ ] REJECT [ ] COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ J CLOSED [ ] Cmnt Page Paragraph No. No. Number...provided (SSDDII-0004). CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ 3 ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...but not in paragraph 10.1. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ) NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] * COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Draft Software Test Plan. Increment II

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-14

COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: ACCEPT [ ] REJECT [ J COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] Cmnt Page Paragraph No. No. Number Comment 1. 5 2...ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ J CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: STP-0003 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL...NO [1 ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ 1 NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: STP-0004 PROGRAM

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Software Requirements Specification (Applications CSCI) Increment 1, Update

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-31

12. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ 3 ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SRS1-0004 PROGRAM OFFICE...operational state of the SBSS. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Draft Software User’s Manual Increment II

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-26

the user. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...indicated. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR...YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN r I CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SUM-0006 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER: DATA ITEM

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia IVb status in the United States: inferences from surveillance activities and regional context.

PubMed

Gustafson, L L; Remmenga, M D; Gardner, I A; Hartman, K H; Creekmore, L H; Goodwin, A E; Whaley, J E; Warg, J V; Gardner, S L; Scott, A E

2014-06-01

The United States (U.S.) response to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) IVb emergence in the Laurentian Great Lakes (GL) included risk-based surveillance for cost-effective decision support regarding the health of fish populations in open systems. All U.S. VHSV IVb isolations to date derive from free-ranging fish from GL States. Most originate in the region designated by US Geological Survey hydrologic unit code (HUC) 04, with the exception of two detections in neighboring Upper Mississippi (HUC 05) and Ohio (HUC 07) regions. For States outside the GL system, disease probability was assessed using multiple evidence sources. None substantiated VHSV IVb absence using surveillance alone, in part due to the limited temporal relevance of data in open systems. However, Bayesian odds risk-based analysis of surveillance and population context, coupled with exclusions where water temperatures likely preclude viral replication, achieved VHSV IVb freedom assurance for 14 non-GL States by the end of 2012, with partial evidence obtained for another 17 States. The non-GL region (defined as the aggregate of 4-digit HUCs located outside of GL States) met disease freedom targets for 2012 and is projected to maintain this status through 2016 without additional active surveillance. Projections hinge on continued basic biosecurity conditions such as movement restrictions and passive surveillance. Areas with navigable waterway connections to VHSV IVb-affected HUCs (and conducive water temperatures) should receive priority for resources in future surveillance or capacity building efforts. However, 6 years of absence of detections in non-GL States suggests that existing controls limit pathogen spread, and that even spread via natural pathways (e.g., water movement or migratory fish) appears contained to the Great Lakes system. This report exemplifies the cost-effective use of risk-based surveillance in decision support to assess and manage aquatic animal population health in open systems. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Juvenile movement among different populations of cutthroat trout introduced as embryos to vacant habitat

USGS Publications Warehouse

Andrews, Tessa M.; Shepard, Bradley B.; Litt, Andrea R.; Kruse, Carter G.; Zale, Alexander V.; Kalinowski, Steven T.

2013-01-01

Translocations are frequently used to increase the abundance and range of endangered fishes. One factor likely to affect the outcome of translocations is fish movement. We introduced embryos from five Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi populations (both hatchery and wild) at five different locations within a fishless watershed. We then examined the movement of age-1 and age-2 fish and looked for differences in movement distance among source populations and among introduction sites; we also examined the interactions among age, population, and introduction site. At age 1, most individuals (90.9%) remained within 1,000 m their introduction sites. By age 2, the majority of individuals (58.3%) still remained within 1,000 m of their introduction site, but considerably more individuals had moved downstream, some more than 6,000 m from their introduction site. We observed a significant interaction between age and source population (F 4, 1077 = 15.45, P 4, 1077 = 11.39, P < 0.0008), so we presented results in the context of these interactions. Within age-groups, we observed differences in movement behavior among source populations and among donor populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. We discuss these findings in light of previous research on juvenile salmonid movement.

Developing open-source codes for electromagnetic geophysics using industry support

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Key, K.

2017-12-01

Funding for open-source software development in academia often takes the form of grants and fellowships awarded by government bodies and foundations where there is no conflict-of-interest between the funding entity and the free dissemination of the open-source software products. Conversely, funding for open-source projects in the geophysics industry presents challenges to conventional business models where proprietary licensing offers value that is not present in open-source software. Such proprietary constraints make it easier to convince companies to fund academic software development under exclusive software distribution agreements. A major challenge for obtaining commercial funding for open-source projects is to offer a value proposition that overcomes the criticism that such funding is a give-away to the competition. This work draws upon a decade of experience developing open-source electromagnetic geophysics software for the oil, gas and minerals exploration industry, and examines various approaches that have been effective for sustaining industry sponsorship.

Movement plans for posture selection do not transfer across hands

PubMed Central

Schütz, Christoph; Schack, Thomas

2015-01-01

In a sequential task, the grasp postures people select depend on their movement history. This motor hysteresis effect results from the reuse of former movement plans and reduces the cognitive cost of movement planning. Movement plans for hand trajectories not only transfer across successive trials, but also across hands. We therefore asked whether such a transfer would also be found in movement plans for hand postures. To this end, we designed a sequential, continuous posture selection task. Participants had to open a column of drawers with cylindrical knobs in ascending and descending sequences. A hand switch was required in each sequence. Hand pro/supination was analyzed directly before and after the hand switch. Results showed that hysteresis effects were present directly before, but absent directly after the hand switch. This indicates that, in the current study, movement plans for hand postures only transfer across trials, but not across hands. PMID:26441734

Illusory movement perception improves motor control for prosthetic hands

PubMed Central

Marasco, Paul D.; Hebert, Jacqueline S.; Sensinger, Jon W.; Shell, Courtney E.; Schofield, Jonathon S.; Thumser, Zachary C.; Nataraj, Raviraj; Beckler, Dylan T.; Dawson, Michael R.; Blustein, Dan H.; Gill, Satinder; Mensh, Brett D.; Granja-Vazquez, Rafael; Newcomb, Madeline D.; Carey, Jason P.; Orzell, Beth M.

2018-01-01

To effortlessly complete an intentional movement, the brain needs feedback from the body regarding the movement’s progress. This largely non-conscious kinesthetic sense helps the brain to learn relationships between motor commands and outcomes to correct movement errors. Prosthetic systems for restoring function have predominantly focused on controlling motorized joint movement. Without the kinesthetic sense, however, these devices do not become intuitively controllable. Here we report a method for endowing human amputees with a kinesthetic perception of dexterous robotic hands. Vibrating the muscles used for prosthetic control via a neural-machine interface produced the illusory perception of complex grip movements. Within minutes, three amputees integrated this kinesthetic feedback and improved movement control. Combining intent, kinesthesia, and vision instilled participants with a sense of agency over the robotic movements. This feedback approach for closed-loop control opens a pathway to seamless integration of minds and machines. PMID:29540617

Behind Linus's Law: Investigating Peer Review Processes in Open Source

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Jing

2013-01-01

Open source software has revolutionized the way people develop software, organize collaborative work, and innovate. The numerous open source software systems that have been created and adopted over the past decade are influential and vital in all aspects of work and daily life. The understanding of open source software development can enhance its…

Implementing Open Source Platform for Education Quality Enhancement in Primary Education: Indonesia Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kisworo, Marsudi Wahyu

2016-01-01

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-supported learning using free and open source platform draws little attention as open source initiatives were focused in secondary or tertiary educations. This study investigates possibilities of ICT-supported learning using open source platform for primary educations. The data of this study is taken…

An Analysis of Open Source Security Software Products Downloads

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barta, Brian J.

2014-01-01

Despite the continued demand for open source security software, a gap in the identification of success factors related to the success of open source security software persists. There are no studies that accurately assess the extent of this persistent gap, particularly with respect to the strength of the relationships of open source software…

Impaired positioning of the gape in whiplash-associated disorders.

PubMed

Zafar, Hamayun; Nordh, Erik; Eriksson, Per-Olof

2006-01-01

We have previously introduced a new concept for natural jaw function suggesting that "functional jaw movements" are the result of coordinated jaw and neck muscle activation, leading to simultaneous movements in the temporomandibular, atlanto-occipital and cervical spine joints. Thus, jaw function requires a healthy state of both the jaw and the neck motor systems. The aim of this study was to examine the positioning of the gape in space during maximal jaw opening at fast and slow speed in healthy as well as whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) individuals. A wireless optoelectronic technique for three-dimensional movement recording was used. Subjects were seated in an upright position, with back support up to the mid-scapular level without headrest. The position of the gape in space was defined as the vertical midpoint position of the gape at maximal jaw opening (MP). In healthy, the MP generally coincided with the reference position at the start of jaw opening. In the WAD group, the MP was significantly lower than the reference position. No sex or speed related differences were found. The results suggest that both the width and orientation of the gape in space relies on coordinated jaw and neck muscle activation and mandibular and head-neck movements. This study also suggests an association between neck pain and dysfunction following trauma, and reduced width and impaired positioning of the gape in space. Finally, the MP seems to be a useful marker in evaluation of the functional state of the jaw-neck motor system.

Research on OpenStack of open source cloud computing in colleges and universities’ computer room

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lei; Zhang, Dandan

2017-06-01

In recent years, the cloud computing technology has a rapid development, especially open source cloud computing. Open source cloud computing has attracted a large number of user groups by the advantages of open source and low cost, have now become a large-scale promotion and application. In this paper, firstly we briefly introduced the main functions and architecture of the open source cloud computing OpenStack tools, and then discussed deeply the core problems of computer labs in colleges and universities. Combining with this research, it is not that the specific application and deployment of university computer rooms with OpenStack tool. The experimental results show that the application of OpenStack tool can efficiently and conveniently deploy cloud of university computer room, and its performance is stable and the functional value is good.

Analytical and multibody modeling for the power analysis of standing jumps.

PubMed

Palmieri, G; Callegari, M; Fioretti, S

2015-01-01

Two methods for the power analysis of standing jumps are proposed and compared in this article. The first method is based on a simple analytical formulation which requires as input the coordinates of the center of gravity in three specified instants of the jump. The second method is based on a multibody model that simulates the jumps processing the data obtained by a three-dimensional (3D) motion capture system and the dynamometric measurements obtained by the force platforms. The multibody model is developed with OpenSim, an open-source software which provides tools for the kinematic and dynamic analyses of 3D human body models. The study is focused on two of the typical tests used to evaluate the muscular activity of lower limbs, which are the counter movement jump and the standing long jump. The comparison between the results obtained by the two methods confirms that the proposed analytical formulation is correct and represents a simple tool suitable for a preliminary analysis of total mechanical work and the mean power exerted in standing jumps.

Growth phenology of coast Douglas-fir seed sources planted in diverse environments.

PubMed

Gould, Peter J; Harrington, Constance A; St Clair, J Bradley

2012-12-01

The timing of periodic life cycle events in plants (phenology) is an important factor determining how species and populations will react to climate change. We evaluated annual patterns of basal-area and height growth of coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotusga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings from four seed sources that were planted in four diverse environments as part of the Douglas-fir Seed-Source Movement Trial. Stem diameters and heights were measured periodically during the 2010 growing season on 16 open-pollinated families at each study installation. Stem diameters were measured on a subset of trees with electronic dendrometers during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Trees from the four seed sources differed in phenology metrics that described the timing of basal-area and height-growth initiation, growth cessation and growth rates. Differences in the height-growth metrics were generally larger than differences in the basal-area growth metrics and differences among installations were larger than differences among seed sources, highlighting the importance of environmental signals on growth phenology. Variations in the height- and basal-area growth metrics were correlated with different aspects of the seed-source environments: precipitation in the case of height growth and minimum temperature in the case of basal-area growth. The detailed dendrometer measurements revealed differences in growth patterns between seed sources during distinct periods in the growing season. Our results indicate that multiple aspects of growth phenology should be considered along with other traits when evaluating adaptation of populations to future climates.

Whatever Happened to School Camping? An Occasional Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Donaldson, George W.; Donaldson, Louise E.

1982-01-01

School camping began with three movements in American society: children's camping, which has been traced back as far as 1823; the Nature Study Movement, which is thought to have begun as early as 1839; and the holistic "new education." In 1940, L. B. Sharp opened National Camp in New Jersey and Julian W. Smith initiated the Clear Lake…

The Massive Open Online Course Movement, xMOOCs, and Faculty Labor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhoads, Robert A.; Camacho, Maria Sayil; Toven-Lindsey, Brit; Lozano, Jennifer Berdan

2015-01-01

Using critical discourse analysis, the authors examine a broad range of texts to make sense of the rise of the MOOC movement and implications for faculty work. Drawing on Braverman's labor process theory and critiques of neoliberalism, the authors highlight the role of xMOOCs in particular, focusing on challenges to faculty labor. They organize…

Common characteristics of open source software development and applicability for drug discovery: a systematic review

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Innovation through an open source model has proven to be successful for software development. This success has led many to speculate if open source can be applied to other industries with similar success. We attempt to provide an understanding of open source software development characteristics for researchers, business leaders and government officials who may be interested in utilizing open source innovation in other contexts and with an emphasis on drug discovery. Methods A systematic review was performed by searching relevant, multidisciplinary databases to extract empirical research regarding the common characteristics and barriers of initiating and maintaining an open source software development project. Results Common characteristics to open source software development pertinent to open source drug discovery were extracted. The characteristics were then grouped into the areas of participant attraction, management of volunteers, control mechanisms, legal framework and physical constraints. Lastly, their applicability to drug discovery was examined. Conclusions We believe that the open source model is viable for drug discovery, although it is unlikely that it will exactly follow the form used in software development. Hybrids will likely develop that suit the unique characteristics of drug discovery. We suggest potential motivations for organizations to join an open source drug discovery project. We also examine specific differences between software and medicines, specifically how the need for laboratories and physical goods will impact the model as well as the effect of patents. PMID:21955914

The 2017 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC)

PubMed Central

Harris, Nomi L.; Cock, Peter J.A.; Chapman, Brad; Fields, Christopher J.; Hokamp, Karsten; Lapp, Hilmar; Munoz-Torres, Monica; Tzovaras, Bastian Greshake; Wiencko, Heather

2017-01-01

The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is a meeting organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of Open Source software development and Open Science within the biological research community. The 18th annual BOSC ( http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2017) took place in Prague, Czech Republic in July 2017. The conference brought together nearly 250 bioinformatics researchers, developers and users of open source software to interact and share ideas about standards, bioinformatics software development, open and reproducible science, and this year’s theme, open data. As in previous years, the conference was preceded by a two-day collaborative coding event open to the bioinformatics community, called the OBF Codefest. PMID:29118973

The 2017 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC).

PubMed

Harris, Nomi L; Cock, Peter J A; Chapman, Brad; Fields, Christopher J; Hokamp, Karsten; Lapp, Hilmar; Munoz-Torres, Monica; Tzovaras, Bastian Greshake; Wiencko, Heather

2017-01-01

The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is a meeting organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of Open Source software development and Open Science within the biological research community. The 18th annual BOSC ( http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2017) took place in Prague, Czech Republic in July 2017. The conference brought together nearly 250 bioinformatics researchers, developers and users of open source software to interact and share ideas about standards, bioinformatics software development, open and reproducible science, and this year's theme, open data. As in previous years, the conference was preceded by a two-day collaborative coding event open to the bioinformatics community, called the OBF Codefest.

The Efficient Utilization of Open Source Information

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baty, Samuel R.

These are a set of slides on the efficient utilization of open source information. Open source information consists of a vast set of information from a variety of sources. Not only does the quantity of open source information pose a problem, the quality of such information can hinder efforts. To show this, two case studies are mentioned: Iran and North Korea, in order to see how open source information can be utilized. The huge breadth and depth of open source information can complicate an analysis, especially because open information has no guarantee of accuracy. Open source information can provide keymore » insights either directly or indirectly: looking at supporting factors (flow of scientists, products and waste from mines, government budgets, etc.); direct factors (statements, tests, deployments). Fundamentally, it is the independent verification of information that allows for a more complete picture to be formed. Overlapping sources allow for more precise bounds on times, weights, temperatures, yields or other issues of interest in order to determine capability. Ultimately, a "good" answer almost never comes from an individual, but rather requires the utilization of a wide range of skill sets held by a team of people.« less

Recent progress in Open Data production and consumption - examples from a Governmental institute (SMHI) and a collaborative EU research project (SWITCH-ON)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arheimer, Berit; Falkenroth, Esa

2014-05-01

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has a long tradition both in producing and consuming open data on a national, European and global scale. It is also promoting community building among water scientists in Europe by participating in and initiating collaborative projects. This presentation will exemplify the contemporary European movement imposed by the INSPIRE directive and the Open Data Strategy, by showing the progress in openness and shift in attitudes during the last decade when handling Research Data and Public Sector Information at a national European institute. Moreover, the presentation will inform about a recently started collaborative project (EU FP7 project No 603587) coordinated by SMHI and called SWITCH-ON http://water-switch-on.eu/. The project addresses water concerns and currently untapped potential of open data for improved water management across the EU. The overall goal of the project is to make use of open data, and add value to society by repurposing and refining data from various sources. SWITCH-ON will establish new forms of water research and facilitate the development of new products and services based on principles of sharing and community building in the water society. The SWITCH-ON objectives are to use open data for implementing: 1) an innovative spatial information platform with open data tailored for direct water assessments, 2) an entirely new form of collaborative research for water-related sciences, 3) fourteen new operational products and services dedicated to appointed end-users, 4) new business and knowledge to inform individual and collective decisions in line with the Europe's smart growth and environmental objectives. The presentation will discuss challenges, progress and opportunities with the open data strategy, based on the experiences from working both at a Governmental institute and being part of the global research community.

Functional anatomy of the temporo-mandibular joint (II).

PubMed

Sava, Anca; Scutariu, Monica

2012-01-01

Jaw movement is analyzed as an action between two rigid components jointed together in a particular way, the movable mandible against the stabilized cranium. Opening and closing movements are symmetrical; that is, both sides of the cranio-mandibular articulation are making the same movements. Protrusive and retrusive movements may also be symmetrical. The mandibular muscles determine all the complicated postures and-movements of the jaw. Their behavior can be greatly clarified by restating certain fundamentals crucial to purposive muscular activity. The joint derives its arterial supply from the superficial temporal artery and the maxillary artery. Branches of the auriculo-temporal and masseteric nerves and postganglionic sympathetic nerves supply the tissues associated with the capsular ligament and the looser posterior bilaminar extension of the disc.

M-Track: A New Software for Automated Detection of Grooming Trajectories in Mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lin

2016-01-01

Grooming is a complex and robust innate behavior, commonly performed by most vertebrate species. In mice, grooming consists of a series of stereotyped patterned strokes, performed along the rostro-caudal axis of the body. The frequency and duration of each grooming episode is sensitive to changes in stress levels, social interactions and pharmacological manipulations, and is therefore used in behavioral studies to gain insights into the function of brain regions that control movement execution and anxiety. Traditional approaches to analyze grooming rely on manually scoring the time of onset and duration of each grooming episode, and are often performed on grooming episodes triggered by stress exposure, which may not be entirely representative of spontaneous grooming in freely-behaving mice. This type of analysis is time-consuming and provides limited information about finer aspects of grooming behaviors, which are important to understand movement stereotypy and bilateral coordination in mice. Currently available commercial and freeware video-tracking software allow automated tracking of the whole body of a mouse or of its head and tail, not of individual forepaws. Here we describe a simple experimental set-up and a novel open-source code, named M-Track, for simultaneously tracking the movement of individual forepaws during spontaneous grooming in multiple freely-behaving mice. This toolbox provides a simple platform to perform trajectory analysis of forepaw movement during distinct grooming episodes. By using M-track we show that, in C57BL/6 wild type mice, the speed and bilateral coordination of the left and right forepaws remain unaltered during the execution of distinct grooming episodes. Stress exposure induces a profound increase in the length of the forepaw grooming trajectories. M-Track provides a valuable and user-friendly interface to streamline the analysis of spontaneous grooming in biomedical research studies. PMID:27636358

A hidden Markov model for reconstructing animal paths from solar geolocation loggers using templates for light intensity.

PubMed

Rakhimberdiev, Eldar; Winkler, David W; Bridge, Eli; Seavy, Nathaniel E; Sheldon, Daniel; Piersma, Theunis; Saveliev, Anatoly

2015-01-01

Solar archival tags (henceforth called geolocators) are tracking devices deployed on animals to reconstruct their long-distance movements on the basis of locations inferred post hoc with reference to the geographical and seasonal variations in the timing and speeds of sunrise and sunset. The increased use of geolocators has created a need for analytical tools to produce accurate and objective estimates of migration routes that are explicit in their uncertainty about the position estimates. We developed a hidden Markov chain model for the analysis of geolocator data. This model estimates tracks for animals with complex migratory behaviour by combining: (1) a shading-insensitive, template-fit physical model, (2) an uncorrelated random walk movement model that includes migratory and sedentary behavioural states, and (3) spatially explicit behavioural masks. The model is implemented in a specially developed open source R package FLightR. We used the particle filter (PF) algorithm to provide relatively fast model posterior computation. We illustrate our modelling approach with analysis of simulated data for stationary tags and of real tracks of both a tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor migrating along the east and a golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla migrating along the west coast of North America. We provide a model that increases accuracy in analyses of noisy data and movements of animals with complicated migration behaviour. It provides posterior distributions for the positions of animals, their behavioural states (e.g., migrating or sedentary), and distance and direction of movement. Our approach allows biologists to estimate locations of animals with complex migratory behaviour based on raw light data. This model advances the current methods for estimating migration tracks from solar geolocation, and will benefit a fast-growing number of tracking studies with this technology.

Calcium effects on stomatal movement in Commelina communis L

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwartz, A.; Ilan, N.; Grantz, D.A.

1988-07-01

Stomatal movements depends on both ion influx and efflux: attainment of steady state apertures reflects modulation of either or both processes. The role of Ca{sup 2+} in those two processes was investigated in isolated epidermal strips of Commelina communis, using the Ca{sup 2+} chelator EGTA to reduce apoplastic (Ca{sup 2+}). The results suggest that a certain concentration of Ca{sup 2+} is an absolute requirement for salt efflux and stomatal closure. EGTA (2 millimolar) increased KCl-dependent stomatal opening in darkness and completely inhibited the dark-induced closure of initially open stomata. Closure was inhibited even in a KCl-free medium. Thus, maintenance ofmore » stomata in the open state does not necessarily depend on continued K{sup +} influx but on the inhibition of salt efflux. Opening in the dark was stimulated by IAA in a concentration-dependent manner, up to 15.4 micrometer without reaching saturation, while the response to EGTA leveled off at 9.2 micrometer. IAA did not inhibit stomatal closure to the extent it stimulated opening. The response to IAA is thus consistent with a primary stimulation of opening, while EGTA can be considered a specific inhibitor of stomatal closing since it inhibits closure to a much larger degree than it stimulates opening. CO{sub 2} causes concentration-dependent reduction in the steady state stomatal aperture. EGTA completely reversed CO{sub 2}-induced closing of open stomata but only partially prevented the inhibition of opening.« less

Automatic gain control of neural coupling during cooperative hand movements.

PubMed

Thomas, F A; Dietz, V; Schrafl-Altermatt, M

2018-04-13

Cooperative hand movements (e.g. opening a bottle) are controlled by a task-specific neural coupling, reflected in EMG reflex responses contralateral to the stimulation site. In this study the contralateral reflex responses in forearm extensor muscles to ipsilateral ulnar nerve stimulation was analyzed at various resistance and velocities of cooperative hand movements. The size of contralateral reflex responses was closely related to the level of forearm muscle activation required to accomplish the various cooperative hand movement tasks. This indicates an automatic gain control of neural coupling that allows a rapid matching of corrective forces exerted at both sides of an object with the goal 'two hands one action'.

The 2015 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC 2015).

PubMed

Harris, Nomi L; Cock, Peter J A; Lapp, Hilmar; Chapman, Brad; Davey, Rob; Fields, Christopher; Hokamp, Karsten; Munoz-Torres, Monica

2016-02-01

The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of open source software development and open science within the biological research community. Since its inception in 2000, BOSC has provided bioinformatics developers with a forum for communicating the results of their latest efforts to the wider research community. BOSC offers a focused environment for developers and users to interact and share ideas about standards; software development practices; practical techniques for solving bioinformatics problems; and approaches that promote open science and sharing of data, results, and software. BOSC is run as a two-day special interest group (SIG) before the annual Intelligent Systems in Molecular Biology (ISMB) conference. BOSC 2015 took place in Dublin, Ireland, and was attended by over 125 people, about half of whom were first-time attendees. Session topics included "Data Science;" "Standards and Interoperability;" "Open Science and Reproducibility;" "Translational Bioinformatics;" "Visualization;" and "Bioinformatics Open Source Project Updates". In addition to two keynote talks and dozens of shorter talks chosen from submitted abstracts, BOSC 2015 included a panel, titled "Open Source, Open Door: Increasing Diversity in the Bioinformatics Open Source Community," that provided an opportunity for open discussion about ways to increase the diversity of participants in BOSC in particular, and in open source bioinformatics in general. The complete program of BOSC 2015 is available online at http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2015_Schedule.

Cognitive Mapping Based on Conjunctive Representations of Space and Movement

PubMed Central

Zeng, Taiping; Si, Bailu

2017-01-01

It is a challenge to build robust simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system in dynamical large-scale environments. Inspired by recent findings in the entorhinal–hippocampal neuronal circuits, we propose a cognitive mapping model that includes continuous attractor networks of head-direction cells and conjunctive grid cells to integrate velocity information by conjunctive encodings of space and movement. Visual inputs from the local view cells in the model provide feedback cues to correct drifting errors of the attractors caused by the noisy velocity inputs. We demonstrate the mapping performance of the proposed cognitive mapping model on an open-source dataset of 66 km car journey in a 3 km × 1.6 km urban area. Experimental results show that the proposed model is robust in building a coherent semi-metric topological map of the entire urban area using a monocular camera, even though the image inputs contain various changes caused by different light conditions and terrains. The results in this study could inspire both neuroscience and robotic research to better understand the neural computational mechanisms of spatial cognition and to build robust robotic navigation systems in large-scale environments. PMID:29213234

Untwisting the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo

PubMed Central

Christensen, Ryan Patrick; Bokinsky, Alexandra; Santella, Anthony; Wu, Yicong; Marquina-Solis, Javier; Guo, Min; Kovacevic, Ismar; Kumar, Abhishek; Winter, Peter W; Tashakkori, Nicole; McCreedy, Evan; Liu, Huafeng; McAuliffe, Matthew; Mohler, William; Colón-Ramos, Daniel A; Bao, Zhirong; Shroff, Hari

2015-01-01

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans possesses a simple embryonic nervous system with few enough neurons that the growth of each cell could be followed to provide a systems-level view of development. However, studies of single cell development have largely been conducted in fixed or pre-twitching live embryos, because of technical difficulties associated with embryo movement in late embryogenesis. We present open-source untwisting and annotation software (http://mipav.cit.nih.gov/plugin_jws/mipav_worm_plugin.php) that allows the investigation of neurodevelopmental events in late embryogenesis and apply it to track the 3D positions of seam cell nuclei, neurons, and neurites in multiple elongating embryos. We also provide a tutorial describing how to use the software (Supplementary file 1) and a detailed description of the untwisting algorithm (Appendix). The detailed positional information we obtained enabled us to develop a composite model showing movement of these cells and neurites in an 'average' worm embryo. The untwisting and cell tracking capabilities of our method provide a foundation on which to catalog C. elegans neurodevelopment, allowing interrogation of developmental events in previously inaccessible periods of embryogenesis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10070.001 PMID:26633880

[Life and activities of Chu Hyun Chik].

PubMed

Hong, Jeong Wan; Park, Hyoung Woo

2008-06-01

Chu Hyun Chik was one of those who graduated first from Jejungwon Medical School in 1908, and had carried on an independence movement as well as religious, educational, and social movement both as a doctor and a Christian. He opened the Inje Hospital in Sunch'on, North Pyeongan Province in 1909, and was put in prison on charges of being involved in Incident of '105 People' as he joined in Sinminhoe in which christians (Christians) frrom Gwanseo showed their initiative with 3.1 Movement as a momentum, he started to raise funds for an independence movement mainly in North Pyongan Province, as a councilor of the Ministry of Finance of Shanghai Provisional Government of Korea. After he moved into Andong, Manchuria, he continued to support the spread of an independence movement by connecting Shanghai Provisional Government of Korea with the country. In October, 1919, he came to Sanghai as an exile and lead diverse activities as a member of Shin Han young man party and one of the leading men of Korean Christendom, especially related to An Chang Ho and christians around him and joining in Hungsadan. In 1925 when he returned home, he opened the Dongje Hospital and devoted himself to the developments of religious, educational, and social movement as a president of YMCA, Sunch'on and an executive of a branch of Suyang Donguhoe in Sunch'on. By Incident of Suyang Donguhoe he was put in prison, resisting Japanese Imperialism and died in 1942.

Open Source, Openness, and Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiley, David

2006-01-01

In this article David Wiley provides an overview of how the general expansion of open source software has affected the world of education in particular. In doing so, Wiley not only addresses the development of open source software applications for teachers and administrators, he also discusses how the fundamental philosophy of the open source…

Extending Open Education in the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spodek, Bernard

The educational idealogy and administration of the person-oriented English Infant School and the object-oriented traditional American primary school are contrasted in this paper. The English Infant School movement is a contemporary model of open education. Development of opern educational systems in America should emphasize transfer of the spirit…

MOOCs, High Technology, and Higher Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhoads, Robert A.

2015-01-01

In "MOOCs, High Technology, and Higher Learning," Robert A. Rhoads places the OpenCourseWare (OCW) movement into the larger context of a revolution in educational technology. In doing so, he seeks to bring greater balance to increasingly polarized discussions of massively open online courses (MOOCs) and show their ongoing relevance to…

33 CFR 117.1007 - Elizabeth River-Eastern Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... closing the draw, the channel traffic lights will change from flashing green to flashing red, the horn... down to vessels, the channel traffic lights will continue to flash red. (6) When the rail traffic has... opening to vessel traffic. During the opening swing movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red...

33 CFR 117.1007 - Elizabeth River-Eastern Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... closing the draw, the channel traffic lights will change from flashing green to flashing red, the horn... down to vessels, the channel traffic lights will continue to flash red. (6) When the rail traffic has... opening to vessel traffic. During the opening swing movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red...

33 CFR 117.1007 - Elizabeth River-Eastern Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... closing the draw, the channel traffic lights will change from flashing green to flashing red, the horn... down to vessels, the channel traffic lights will continue to flash red. (6) When the rail traffic has... opening to vessel traffic. During the opening swing movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red...

33 CFR 117.1007 - Elizabeth River-Eastern Branch.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... closing the draw, the channel traffic lights will change from flashing green to flashing red, the horn... down to vessels, the channel traffic lights will continue to flash red. (6) When the rail traffic has... opening to vessel traffic. During the opening swing movement, the channel traffic lights will flash red...

Strategic Implementation of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Eulho; Bauer, Christine; Heaps, Allan

2017-01-01

Higher education institutions have been playing a pivotal role in the emergence and elaboration of the Open Educational Resources (OER) movement. Initially, pioneering institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have led the conceptualization of OER, providing models of sustainable initiatives. Following the forerunners,…

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Final Software Requirements Specification, (Applications CSCI), Increment II

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-29

NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN ( ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL Nt3MBFR: SRS1-0002 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER: DATA ITEM...floppy diskette interface with CMOS. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES ( 3 NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Review of System/Segment Design Document (Final)

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-14

ERCI ACCEPTS*COMMENT: YES E I NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED C I ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SSDD-0004 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL...ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ 3 NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN C 3 CLOSED C ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SSDD-0005 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL

The Promise of Open Educational Resources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Marshall S.; Casserly, Catherine M.

2006-01-01

Open educational resources (OER) include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to either support access to knowledge, or have an impact on teaching, learning, and research. At the heart of the OER movement is the simple and powerful idea that the…

Evolution of Nursing Science: Is Open Access the Answer?

PubMed

Clarke, Pamela N; Garcia, Jenny

2015-10-01

The open access movement where journal content is made freely available over the Internet is purported to increase scientific exchange, yet has pros and cons. There are issues related to quality that need to be examined in relation to evolution of nursing science. © The Author(s) 2015.

Multimedia Courseware in an Open Systems Environment: A Federal Strategy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moline, Judi; And Others

The Portable Courseware Project (PORTCO) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is typical of projects worldwide that require standard software interfaces. This paper articulates the strategy whereby the federal multimedia courseware initiative leverages the open systems movement and the new realities of information technology. The federal…

The Emergence of Open-Source Software in North America

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pan, Guohua; Bonk, Curtis J.

2007-01-01

Unlike conventional models of software development, the open source model is based on the collaborative efforts of users who are also co-developers of the software. Interest in open source software has grown exponentially in recent years. A "Google" search for the phrase open source in early 2005 returned 28.8 million webpage hits, while…

Simultaneous, proportional, multi-axis prosthesis control using multichannel surface EMG.

PubMed

Yatsenko, Dimitri; McDonnall, Daniel; Guillory, K Shane

2007-01-01

Most upper limb prosthesis controllers only allow the individual selection and control of single joints of the limb. The main limiting factor for simultaneous multi-joint control is usually the availability of reliable independent control signals that can intuitively be used. In this paper, a novel method is presented for extraction of individual muscle source signals from surface EMG array recordings, based on EMG energy orthonormalization along principle movement vectors. In cases where independently-controllable muscles are present in residual limbs, this method can be used to provide simultaneous, multi-axis, proportional control of prosthetic systems. Initial results are presented for simultaneous control of wrist rotation, wrist flexion/extension, and grip open/close for two intact subjects under both isometric and non-isometric conditions and for one subject with transradial amputation.

A theory of vibrational prey localization in two dimensions: the sand scorpion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Hemmen, J. Leo

2000-03-01

Sand scorpions, and many other arachnids, find their prey at night by localizing the source of mechanical waves produced by prey movements. Substrate vibrations propagating through sand evoke stimulus-locked action potentials from slit sensilla on the scorpion's eight `feet' (tarsi). We present a neuronal model to account for stimulus angle determination in a two-dimensional plane using a population of second-order neurons, each receiving excitatory input from one tarsus and inhibition from a triad opposite to it. This input opens a time window whose width determines the firing probability of each of the second-order neurons. The population then `votes' for the direction. Stochastic resonance is realized through tuning the balance between excitation and inhibition. The agreement with behavioral experiments on sand scorpions is excellent.

Empowered citizen 'health hackers' who are not waiting.

PubMed

Omer, Timothy

2016-08-17

Due to the easier access to information, the availability of low cost technologies and the involvement of well educated, passionate patients, a group of citizen 'Health Hackers', who are building their own medical systems to help them overcome the unmet needs of their conditions, is emerging. This has recently been the case in the type 1 diabetes community, under the movement #WeAreNotWaiting, with innovative use of current medical devices hacked to access data and Open-Source code producing solutions ranging from remote monitoring of diabetic children to producing an Artificial Pancreas System to automate the management and monitoring of a patient's condition. Timothy Omer is working with the community to utilise the technology already in his pocket to build a mobile- and smartwatch-based Artificial Pancreas System.

Full-Body Musculoskeletal Model for Muscle-Driven Simulation of Human Gait.

PubMed

Rajagopal, Apoorva; Dembia, Christopher L; DeMers, Matthew S; Delp, Denny D; Hicks, Jennifer L; Delp, Scott L

2016-10-01

Musculoskeletal models provide a non-invasive means to study human movement and predict the effects of interventions on gait. Our goal was to create an open-source 3-D musculoskeletal model with high-fidelity representations of the lower limb musculature of healthy young individuals that can be used to generate accurate simulations of gait. Our model includes bony geometry for the full body, 37 degrees of freedom to define joint kinematics, Hill-type models of 80 muscle-tendon units actuating the lower limbs, and 17 ideal torque actuators driving the upper body. The model's musculotendon parameters are derived from previous anatomical measurements of 21 cadaver specimens and magnetic resonance images of 24 young healthy subjects. We tested the model by evaluating its computational time and accuracy of simulations of healthy walking and running. Generating muscle-driven simulations of normal walking and running took approximately 10 minutes on a typical desktop computer. The differences between our muscle-generated and inverse dynamics joint moments were within 3% (RMSE) of the peak inverse dynamics joint moments in both walking and running, and our simulated muscle activity showed qualitative agreement with salient features from experimental electromyography data. These results suggest that our model is suitable for generating muscle-driven simulations of healthy gait. We encourage other researchers to further validate and apply the model to study other motions of the lower extremity. The model is implemented in the open-source software platform OpenSim. The model and data used to create and test the simulations are freely available at https://simtk.org/home/full_body/, allowing others to reproduce these results and create their own simulations.

Full body musculoskeletal model for muscle-driven simulation of human gait

PubMed Central

Rajagopal, Apoorva; Dembia, Christopher L.; DeMers, Matthew S.; Delp, Denny D.; Hicks, Jennifer L.; Delp, Scott L.

2017-01-01

Objective Musculoskeletal models provide a non-invasive means to study human movement and predict the effects of interventions on gait. Our goal was to create an open-source, three-dimensional musculoskeletal model with high-fidelity representations of the lower limb musculature of healthy young individuals that can be used to generate accurate simulations of gait. Methods Our model includes bony geometry for the full body, 37 degrees of freedom to define joint kinematics, Hill-type models of 80 muscle-tendon units actuating the lower limbs, and 17 ideal torque actuators driving the upper body. The model’s musculotendon parameters are derived from previous anatomical measurements of 21 cadaver specimens and magnetic resonance images of 24 young healthy subjects. We tested the model by evaluating its computational time and accuracy of simulations of healthy walking and running. Results Generating muscle-driven simulations of normal walking and running took approximately 10 minutes on a typical desktop computer. The differences between our muscle-generated and inverse dynamics joint moments were within 3% (RMSE) of the peak inverse dynamics joint moments in both walking and running, and our simulated muscle activity showed qualitative agreement with salient features from experimental electromyography data. Conclusion These results suggest that our model is suitable for generating muscle-driven simulations of healthy gait. We encourage other researchers to further validate and apply the model to study other motions of the lower-extremity. Significance The model is implemented in the open source software platform OpenSim. The model and data used to create and test the simulations are freely available at https://simtk.org/home/full_body/, allowing others to reproduce these results and create their own simulations. PMID:27392337

Sharing Water-related Information to Tackle Changes in the Hydrosphere - for Operational Needs (SWITCH-ON)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arheimer, Berit

2014-05-01

A recently started EU project (FP7 project No 603587) called SWITCH-ON will establish new infrastructure for water research in Europe. The overall goal of the project is to make use of open data, and add value to society by repurposing and refining data from various sources. SWITCH-ON will establish new forms of water research and facilitate the development of new products and services based on principles of sharing and community building. The basic for this work is a virtual water-science laboratory, which consists of open data, dedicated software tools and a set of protocols, hosted at the "SWITCH-ON water information" portal at http://water-switch-on.eu/. The laboratory will seamlessly integrate the open data with harmonised modelling tools and facilities the performance of virtual experiments of comparative science. Comparative science is a new form of research, which will advance science by contrasting water related processes in different environments and help understand complex processes in a more holistic way than individual studies The SWITCH-ON objectives are to use open data for implementing: 1) an innovative spatial information platform with open data tailored for direct water assessments, 2) an entirely new form of collaborative research for water-related sciences, 3) fourteen new operational products and services dedicated to appointed end-users, 4) new business and knowledge to inform individual and collective decisions in line with the Europe's smart growth and environmental objectives. The SWITCH-ON project will be one trigger in a contemporary global movement to better address environmental and societal challenges through openness and collaboration. The poster will present the project visions and achievements so far, and invite more research groups to use the virtual water-science laboratory.

Illusory movement perception improves motor control for prosthetic hands.

PubMed

Marasco, Paul D; Hebert, Jacqueline S; Sensinger, Jon W; Shell, Courtney E; Schofield, Jonathon S; Thumser, Zachary C; Nataraj, Raviraj; Beckler, Dylan T; Dawson, Michael R; Blustein, Dan H; Gill, Satinder; Mensh, Brett D; Granja-Vazquez, Rafael; Newcomb, Madeline D; Carey, Jason P; Orzell, Beth M

2018-03-14

To effortlessly complete an intentional movement, the brain needs feedback from the body regarding the movement's progress. This largely nonconscious kinesthetic sense helps the brain to learn relationships between motor commands and outcomes to correct movement errors. Prosthetic systems for restoring function have predominantly focused on controlling motorized joint movement. Without the kinesthetic sense, however, these devices do not become intuitively controllable. We report a method for endowing human amputees with a kinesthetic perception of dexterous robotic hands. Vibrating the muscles used for prosthetic control via a neural-machine interface produced the illusory perception of complex grip movements. Within minutes, three amputees integrated this kinesthetic feedback and improved movement control. Combining intent, kinesthesia, and vision instilled participants with a sense of agency over the robotic movements. This feedback approach for closed-loop control opens a pathway to seamless integration of minds and machines. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Statistical organelle dissection of Arabidopsis guard cells using image database LIPS.

PubMed

Higaki, Takumi; Kutsuna, Natsumaro; Hosokawa, Yoichiroh; Akita, Kae; Ebine, Kazuo; Ueda, Takashi; Kondo, Noriaki; Hasezawa, Seiichiro

2012-01-01

To comprehensively grasp cell biological events in plant stomatal movement, we have captured microscopic images of guard cells with various organelles markers. The 28,530 serial optical sections of 930 pairs of Arabidopsis guard cells have been released as a new image database, named Live Images of Plant Stomata (LIPS). We visualized the average organellar distributions in guard cells using probabilistic mapping and image clustering techniques. The results indicated that actin microfilaments and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are mainly localized to the dorsal side and connection regions of guard cells. Subtractive images of open and closed stomata showed distribution changes in intracellular structures, including the ER, during stomatal movement. Time-lapse imaging showed that similar ER distribution changes occurred during stomatal opening induced by light irradiation or femtosecond laser shots on neighboring epidermal cells, indicating that our image analysis approach has identified a novel ER relocation in stomatal opening.

Traffic in the operating room: a review of factors influencing air flow and surgical wound contamination.

PubMed

Pokrywka, Marian; Byers, Karin

2013-06-01

Surgical wound contamination leading to surgical site infection can result from disruption of the intended airflow in the operating room (OR). When personnel enter and exit the OR, or create unnecessary movement and traffic during the procedure, the intended airflow in the vicinity of the open wound becomes disrupted and does not adequately remove airborne contaminants from the sterile field. An increase in the bacterial counts of airborne microorganisms is noted during increased activity levels within the OR. Researchers have studied OR traffic and door openings as a determinant of air contamination. During a surgical procedure the door to the operating room may be open as long as 20 minutes out of each surgical hour during critical procedures involving implants. Interventions into limiting excessive movement and traffic in the OR may lead to reductions in surgical site infections in select populations.

Handling apparatus

DOEpatents

Cody, John P.; Kane, James J.

1976-01-01

1. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a guide tube having a normally open end, a support frame having a port therethrough, linkage means pivotally connected with the tube and with the frame and rotatably supporting the tube for movement between a position in longitudinal alignment with said port and with its open end in registry with the port and an additional position in which the tube lies adjacent the port with a side portion of the tube extending generally transversely across said port, an elongated track carried by said frame disposed generally parallel to and adjacent the tube in its said additional position, means connected with and projecting laterally from said tube adjacent its open end engaging and movable along said elongated track for cooperating with the track to direct the tube during movement between said positions, and means carried by the tube for moving an article therethrough toward and away from said port.

RNA polymerase pausing and nascent RNA structure formation are linked through clamp domain movement

PubMed Central

Hein, Pyae P.; Kolb, Kellie E.; Windgassen, Tricia; Bellecourt, Michael J.; Darst, Seth A.; Mooney, Rachel A.; Landick, Robert

2014-01-01

The rates of RNA synthesis and nascent RNA folding into biologically active structures are linked via pausing by RNA polymerase (RNAP). Structures that form within the RNA exit channel can increase pausing by interacting with bacterial RNAP or decrease pausing by preventing backtracking. Conversely, pausing is required for proper folding of some RNAs. Opening of the RNAP clamp domain is proposed to mediate some effects of nascent RNA structures. However, the connections among RNA structure formation, clamp movement, and catalytic activity remain uncertain. We assayed exit-channel structure formation in Escherichia coli RNAP together with disulfide crosslinks that favor closed or open clamp conformations and found that clamp position directly influences RNA structure formation and catalytic activity. We report that exit-channel RNA structures slow pause escape by favoring clamp opening and through interactions with the flap that slow translocation. PMID:25108353

Is Statewide Deinstitutionalization of Children's Services a Forward or Backward Social Movement?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, George

Reviewed is the movement toward deinstitutionalization of handicapped children in terms of the sources of pressures toward deinstitutionalization, alternatives, effects of institutional experience on children, and possible consequences of the movement. Pressures discussed are those deriving from the assumed negative effects of institutionalization…

Freight movement, port facilities, and economic competitiveness - supplemental task: county-to-county freight movement (national and state level) : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-04-01

While commodity movement data is available from several sources, notably from the U.S. : Department of Transportations Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), origins and destinations are heavily : spatially aggregated into FAF zones, which comprise mul...

The Realities of "Reaching Out": Enacting the Public-Facing Open Scholar Role with Existing Online Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perryman, Leigh-Anne; Coughlan, Tony

2013-01-01

A core tenet of the open educational resources (OER) movement has long been that 'the world's knowledge is a public good' (Smith & Casserly, 2006, p.2) and should be available for everyone to use, reuse and share. However, this vision of openness and of the connection between OER and social justice, which McAndrew and Farrow…

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS). Draft Software Design Document for the PC UNIX Prototype (Air Force Configuration), Increment III

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-21

COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ I CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SDD-0002...ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS! OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SDD-0003 PROGRAM OFFICE CONTROL...COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SDD-0004 PROGPLAM OFFICE CONTROL NUMBER

Hawk Eyes I: Diurnal Raptors Differ in Visual Fields and Degree of Eye Movement

PubMed Central

O'Rourke, Colleen T.; Hall, Margaret I.; Pitlik, Todd; Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

2010-01-01

Background Different strategies to search and detect prey may place specific demands on sensory modalities. We studied visual field configuration, degree of eye movement, and orbit orientation in three diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae and Falconidae families. Methodology/Principal Findings We used an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique and an integrated 3D digitizer system. We found inter-specific variation in visual field configuration and degree of eye movement, but not in orbit orientation. Red-tailed Hawks have relatively small binocular areas (∼33°) and wide blind areas (∼82°), but intermediate degree of eye movement (∼5°), which underscores the importance of lateral vision rather than binocular vision to scan for distant prey in open areas. Cooper's Hawks' have relatively wide binocular fields (∼36°), small blind areas (∼60°), and high degree of eye movement (∼8°), which may increase visual coverage and enhance prey detection in closed habitats. Additionally, we found that Cooper's Hawks can visually inspect the items held in the tip of the bill, which may facilitate food handling. American Kestrels have intermediate-sized binocular and lateral areas that may be used in prey detection at different distances through stereopsis and motion parallax; whereas the low degree eye movement (∼1°) may help stabilize the image when hovering above prey before an attack. Conclusions We conclude that: (a) there are between-species differences in visual field configuration in these diurnal raptors; (b) these differences are consistent with prey searching strategies and degree of visual obstruction in the environment (e.g., open and closed habitats); (c) variations in the degree of eye movement between species appear associated with foraging strategies; and (d) the size of the binocular and blind areas in hawks can vary substantially due to eye movements. Inter-specific variation in visual fields and eye movements can influence behavioral strategies to visually search for and track prey while perching. PMID:20877645

Hawk eyes I: diurnal raptors differ in visual fields and degree of eye movement.

PubMed

O'Rourke, Colleen T; Hall, Margaret I; Pitlik, Todd; Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

2010-09-22

Different strategies to search and detect prey may place specific demands on sensory modalities. We studied visual field configuration, degree of eye movement, and orbit orientation in three diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae and Falconidae families. We used an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique and an integrated 3D digitizer system. We found inter-specific variation in visual field configuration and degree of eye movement, but not in orbit orientation. Red-tailed Hawks have relatively small binocular areas (∼33°) and wide blind areas (∼82°), but intermediate degree of eye movement (∼5°), which underscores the importance of lateral vision rather than binocular vision to scan for distant prey in open areas. Cooper's Hawks' have relatively wide binocular fields (∼36°), small blind areas (∼60°), and high degree of eye movement (∼8°), which may increase visual coverage and enhance prey detection in closed habitats. Additionally, we found that Cooper's Hawks can visually inspect the items held in the tip of the bill, which may facilitate food handling. American Kestrels have intermediate-sized binocular and lateral areas that may be used in prey detection at different distances through stereopsis and motion parallax; whereas the low degree eye movement (∼1°) may help stabilize the image when hovering above prey before an attack. We conclude that: (a) there are between-species differences in visual field configuration in these diurnal raptors; (b) these differences are consistent with prey searching strategies and degree of visual obstruction in the environment (e.g., open and closed habitats); (c) variations in the degree of eye movement between species appear associated with foraging strategies; and (d) the size of the binocular and blind areas in hawks can vary substantially due to eye movements. Inter-specific variation in visual fields and eye movements can influence behavioral strategies to visually search for and track prey while perching.

Open Genetic Code: on open source in the life sciences.

PubMed

Deibel, Eric

2014-01-01

The introduction of open source in the life sciences is increasingly being suggested as an alternative to patenting. This is an alternative, however, that takes its shape at the intersection of the life sciences and informatics. Numerous examples can be identified wherein open source in the life sciences refers to access, sharing and collaboration as informatic practices. This includes open source as an experimental model and as a more sophisticated approach of genetic engineering. The first section discusses the greater flexibly in regard of patenting and the relationship to the introduction of open source in the life sciences. The main argument is that the ownership of knowledge in the life sciences should be reconsidered in the context of the centrality of DNA in informatic formats. This is illustrated by discussing a range of examples of open source models. The second part focuses on open source in synthetic biology as exemplary for the re-materialization of information into food, energy, medicine and so forth. The paper ends by raising the question whether another kind of alternative might be possible: one that looks at open source as a model for an alternative to the commodification of life that is understood as an attempt to comprehensively remove the restrictions from the usage of DNA in any of its formats.

r.randomwalk v1.0, a multi-functional conceptual tool for mass movement routing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mergili, M.; Krenn, J.; Chu, H.-J.

2015-09-01

We introduce r.randomwalk, a flexible and multi-functional open source tool for backward- and forward-analyses of mass movement propagation. r.randomwalk builds on GRASS GIS, the R software for statistical computing and the programming languages Python and C. Using constrained random walks, mass points are routed from defined release pixels of one to many mass movements through a digital elevation model until a defined break criterion is reached. Compared to existing tools, the major innovative features of r.randomwalk are: (i) multiple break criteria can be combined to compute an impact indicator score, (ii) the uncertainties of break criteria can be included by performing multiple parallel computations with randomized parameter settings, resulting in an impact indicator index in the range 0-1, (iii) built-in functions for validation and visualization of the results are provided, (iv) observed landslides can be back-analyzed to derive the density distribution of the observed angles of reach. This distribution can be employed to compute impact probabilities for each pixel. Further, impact indicator scores and probabilities can be combined with release indicator scores or probabilities, and with exposure indicator scores. We demonstrate the key functionalities of r.randomwalk (i) for a single event, the Acheron Rock Avalanche in New Zealand, (ii) for landslides in a 61.5 km2 study area in the Kao Ping Watershed, Taiwan; and (iii) for lake outburst floods in a 2106 km2 area in the Gunt Valley, Tajikistan.

r.randomwalk v1, a multi-functional conceptual tool for mass movement routing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mergili, M.; Krenn, J.; Chu, H.-J.

2015-12-01

We introduce r.randomwalk, a flexible and multi-functional open-source tool for backward and forward analyses of mass movement propagation. r.randomwalk builds on GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System - Geographic Information System), the R software for statistical computing and the programming languages Python and C. Using constrained random walks, mass points are routed from defined release pixels of one to many mass movements through a digital elevation model until a defined break criterion is reached. Compared to existing tools, the major innovative features of r.randomwalk are (i) multiple break criteria can be combined to compute an impact indicator score; (ii) the uncertainties of break criteria can be included by performing multiple parallel computations with randomized parameter sets, resulting in an impact indicator index in the range 0-1; (iii) built-in functions for validation and visualization of the results are provided; (iv) observed landslides can be back analysed to derive the density distribution of the observed angles of reach. This distribution can be employed to compute impact probabilities for each pixel. Further, impact indicator scores and probabilities can be combined with release indicator scores or probabilities, and with exposure indicator scores. We demonstrate the key functionalities of r.randomwalk for (i) a single event, the Acheron rock avalanche in New Zealand; (ii) landslides in a 61.5 km2 study area in the Kao Ping Watershed, Taiwan; and (iii) lake outburst floods in a 2106 km2 area in the Gunt Valley, Tajikistan.

The Open Source Teaching Project (OSTP): Research Note.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hirst, Tony

The Open Source Teaching Project (OSTP) is an attempt to apply a variant of the successful open source software approach to the development of educational materials. Open source software is software licensed in such a way as to allow anyone the right to modify and use it. From such a simple premise, a whole industry has arisen, most notably in the…

Free for All: Open Source Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Karen

2008-01-01

Open source software has become a catchword in libraryland. Yet many remain unclear about open source's benefits--or even what it is. So what is open source software (OSS)? It's software that is free in every sense of the word: free to download, free to use, and free to view or modify. Most OSS is distributed on the Web and one doesn't need to…

Reflections on the role of open source in health information system interoperability.

PubMed

Sfakianakis, S; Chronaki, C E; Chiarugi, F; Conforti, F; Katehakis, D G

2007-01-01

This paper reflects on the role of open source in health information system interoperability. Open source is a driving force in computer science research and the development of information systems. It facilitates the sharing of information and ideas, enables evolutionary development and open collaborative testing of code, and broadens the adoption of interoperability standards. In health care, information systems have been developed largely ad hoc following proprietary specifications and customized design. However, the wide deployment of integrated services such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) over regional health information networks (RHINs) relies on interoperability of the underlying information systems and medical devices. This reflection is built on the experiences of the PICNIC project that developed shared software infrastructure components in open source for RHINs and the OpenECG network that offers open source components to lower the implementation cost of interoperability standards such as SCP-ECG, in electrocardiography. Open source components implementing standards and a community providing feedback from real-world use are key enablers of health care information system interoperability. Investing in open source is investing in interoperability and a vital aspect of a long term strategy towards comprehensive health services and clinical research.

Combination of a pressure source and block movement for ground deformation analysis at Merapi volcano prior to the eruptions in 2006 and 2010

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aisyah, Nurnaning; Iguchi, Masato; Subandriyo; Budisantoso, Agus; Hotta, Kohei; Sumarti, Sri

2018-05-01

We analyzed ground deformation prior to the eruptions in 2006 and 2010 at Merapi volcano, Central Java, Indonesia. Ground deformation was monitored by electronic distance measurement (EDM) by measuring the slope distance toward 12 reflectors installed near the summit from five benchmarks on flanks every day. A large change of slope distance (CSD) was detected on the southeast and south baselines and a minor CSD was detected on the north and northwest baselines during the pre-eruptive stages of both the 2006 and 2010 eruptions. We applied a block movement model to the south and southeast baselines and a spherical pressure source model to the CSDs on the north and northwest baselines using the finite element method (FEM). The rates of block movement southward and the volume change of the pressure source increased on April 7, 2006 and continued at constant rates until the appearance of a new lava dome on April 26. Prior to the eruption in 2010, the block movement southeastward and the volume increase of the pressure source accelerated in the middle of October, and acceleration continued until the first outburst on October 26, 2010. Temporal patterns of the block movement and the increase in the volume of the pressure source correlate well with the increase in seismicity of VT and MP earthquakes. The pressure sources were obtained at a depth of 2 ± 0.5 km below the summit, and this position corresponds to the aseismic zone of VT earthquakes. Magma injection at the shallow part of this region causes an increase in the volume of the pressure source, and inflation of the ground of the summit triggered gravitational slip southeastward or southward of the ground surface. The volumes increases of the pressure sources were 9.7 ± 1 M m3 and 17.6 ± 0.8 M m3 in 2006 and 2010, respectively. The volume increase is related to the scale and type of the eruption. The effusive eruption in 2006 had a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 2 and the explosive eruption in 2010 had a VEI of 4. The directions and amounts of the block movement are strongly related to topography, hydrothermally weak zone and underground gap near the summit between West and East Domes.

Risk factors associated with open gingival embrasures after orthodontic treatment.

PubMed

An, Sang Su; Choi, Yoon Jeong; Kim, Ji Young; Chung, Chooryung J; Kim, Kyung-Ho

2018-05-01

To investigate the incidence of and contributing factors to open gingival embrasures between the central incisors after orthodontic treatment. One hundred posttreatment patients (29 men and 71 women; mean age, 24.7 years) were divided retrospectively into occurrence and nonoccurrence groups based on intraoral photographs. Based on the severity, the occurrence group was further divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups. Parameters from periapical radiographs, superimposed lateral cephalograms, and study models were compared between the occurrence and the nonoccurrence groups by using independent t-tests and were also analyzed on the basis of severity via analysis of variance. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the contributing factors to open gingival embrasures. The incidence of open gingival embrasures between the central incisors was 22% and 36% in the maxilla and the mandible, respectively. Lingual movement of the incisors, distance from the contact point to the alveolar crest after treatment, antero-posterior overlap of the two central incisors before treatment in the maxilla, and distance from the contact point to the alveolar crest after treatment in the mandible were significantly associated with the occurrence of open gingival embrasures ( P < .05). In the mandible, the amount of intrusion was significantly related to severity ( P < .05). The incidence of open gingival embrasures following orthodontic tooth movement is high. Therefore, attention should be paid to the contributing factors to prevent or reduce the occurrence of open gingival embrasures.

Validation of Moticon’s OpenGo sensor insoles during gait, jumps, balance and cross-country skiing specific imitation movements

PubMed Central

Stöggl, Thomas; Martiner, Alex

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was the experimental validation of the OpenGo sensor insole system compared to PedarX sensor insole and AMTI force-plate systems. Sixteen healthy participants performed trials in walking, running, jumping (drop and counter movement jumps), imitation drills and balance, with simultaneous measures of all three systems. Detected ground contact and flight times with OpenGo during walking, running and jumping were similar to those of AMTI. Force–time curves revealed comparable shapes between all three systems. Force impulses were 13–34% lower with OpenGo when compared to AMTI. Despite differences in mean values in some exercise modes, correlations towards AMTI were between r = 0.8 and r = 1.0 in most situations. During fast motions, with high force and impact, OpenGo provided lower force and latency in force kinetics. During balance tasks, discrepancy in the centre of pressure was found medio-lateral, while anterio–posterior direction was closer to AMTI. With awareness of these limitations, OpenGo can be applied in both clinical and research settings to evaluate temporal, force and balance parameters during different types of motion. The fully mobile OpenGo system allows for the easy and quick system application, analysis and feedback under complex field conditions, as well. PMID:27010531

Open Standards, Open Source, and Open Innovation: Harnessing the Benefits of Openness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Committee for Economic Development, 2006

2006-01-01

Digitization of information and the Internet have profoundly expanded the capacity for openness. This report details the benefits of openness in three areas--open standards, open-source software, and open innovation--and examines the major issues in the debate over whether openness should be encouraged or not. The report explains each of these…

The 2015 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC 2015)

PubMed Central

Harris, Nomi L.; Cock, Peter J. A.; Lapp, Hilmar

2016-01-01

The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of open source software development and open science within the biological research community. Since its inception in 2000, BOSC has provided bioinformatics developers with a forum for communicating the results of their latest efforts to the wider research community. BOSC offers a focused environment for developers and users to interact and share ideas about standards; software development practices; practical techniques for solving bioinformatics problems; and approaches that promote open science and sharing of data, results, and software. BOSC is run as a two-day special interest group (SIG) before the annual Intelligent Systems in Molecular Biology (ISMB) conference. BOSC 2015 took place in Dublin, Ireland, and was attended by over 125 people, about half of whom were first-time attendees. Session topics included “Data Science;” “Standards and Interoperability;” “Open Science and Reproducibility;” “Translational Bioinformatics;” “Visualization;” and “Bioinformatics Open Source Project Updates”. In addition to two keynote talks and dozens of shorter talks chosen from submitted abstracts, BOSC 2015 included a panel, titled “Open Source, Open Door: Increasing Diversity in the Bioinformatics Open Source Community,” that provided an opportunity for open discussion about ways to increase the diversity of participants in BOSC in particular, and in open source bioinformatics in general. The complete program of BOSC 2015 is available online at http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2015_Schedule. PMID:26914653

A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement: Schools, Students, and Management Organizations, 2015-16

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, 2016

2016-01-01

Enrollment in charter public schools has grown by 250,000 students in the 2015-16 school year, and more than 400 new charter public schools have opened their doors, according to, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement: Schools, Students, and Management Organizations, 2015-16." The report also estimates that the total number of…

An Investigation of Faculty Perspectives on Barriers, Incentives, and Benefits of the OER Movement in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kursun, Engin; Cagiltay, Kursat; Can, Gulfidan

2014-01-01

The purpose of this survey study is to investigate faculty's perceptions of the main incentives, barriers, and benefits to publishing their course materials for free within the open educational resources (OER) movement. Data were collected from an online survey of 1,637 faculty from 56 universities in Turkey. Results showed that even though the…

The Influence of Corridors on the Movement Behavior of Individual Peromyscus polionotus in Experimental Landscapes

Treesearch

Breant Danielson; Michael W. Hubbard

2000-01-01

To assess corridor effects on movement in Peromyscus polionotus (old-held mice), we used a set of three experimental landscapes that contained multiple patches (1.64 ha) of usable, open habitat embedded in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forest matrix. Some patches were connected by corridors and others were isolated (unconnected). We introduced...

Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hochberg, Leigh R.; Serruya, Mijail D.; Friehs, Gerhard M.; Mukand, Jon A.; Saleh, Maryam; Caplan, Abraham H.; Branner, Almut; Chen, David; Penn, Richard D.; Donoghue, John P.

2006-07-01

Neuromotor prostheses (NMPs) aim to replace or restore lost motor functions in paralysed humans by routeing movement-related signals from the brain, around damaged parts of the nervous system, to external effectors. To translate preclinical results from intact animals to a clinically useful NMP, movement signals must persist in cortex after spinal cord injury and be engaged by movement intent when sensory inputs and limb movement are long absent. Furthermore, NMPs would require that intention-driven neuronal activity be converted into a control signal that enables useful tasks. Here we show initial results for a tetraplegic human (MN) using a pilot NMP. Neuronal ensemble activity recorded through a 96-microelectrode array implanted in primary motor cortex demonstrated that intended hand motion modulates cortical spiking patterns three years after spinal cord injury. Decoders were created, providing a `neural cursor' with which MN opened simulated e-mail and operated devices such as a television, even while conversing. Furthermore, MN used neural control to open and close a prosthetic hand, and perform rudimentary actions with a multi-jointed robotic arm. These early results suggest that NMPs based upon intracortical neuronal ensemble spiking activity could provide a valuable new neurotechnology to restore independence for humans with paralysis.

Mutualism, resource competition and opposing movements among Turkish organizations in Amsterdam and Berlin, 1965-2000.

PubMed

Vermeulen, Floris

2013-09-01

This article seeks to understand environmental effects on associational interdependencies, be they competitive or collaborative, in a polarized organizational population. To do so, it builds on the density-dependent model and the ecology of ideologies. Especially interested in the effect of context on density-dependent processes, I compare different Turkish ideological movements in Amsterdam and Berlin. Amsterdam represents an open and supportive environment for such movements, whereas Berlin constitutes a more closed and hostile one. By analysing the founding and disbanding rates of Turkish immigrant organizations in Amsterdam and Berlin during the period 1965-2000, the article demonstrates how the increasing density of Turkish ideologies has affected interdependencies in two main ways: by heightening competition, particularly between ideologically similar organizations, and by increasing counter activities between opposing movements. It also shows that the influence of context is limited. An open environment does not significantly influence the vitality rates of ideologies or further collaboration among or between them. On the contrary, it seemingly increases competition and fragmentation because more resources and opportunities are available. More signs of collaboration and mutualism are found in Berlin's closed environment. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2013.

A Randomized Study Comparing the Shaker Exercise with Traditional Therapy: A Preliminary Study

PubMed Central

Rademaker, Alfred; Pauloski, Barbara Roa; Kelly, Amy; Stangl-McBreen, Carrie; Antinoja, Jodi; Grande, Barbara; Farquharson, Julie; Kern, Mark; Easterling, Caryn; Shaker, Reza

2010-01-01

Seven institutions participated in this small clinical trial that included 19 patients who exhibited oropharyngeal dysphagia on videofluorography (VFG) involving the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and who had a 3-month history of aspiration. All patients were randomized to either traditional swallowing therapy or the Shaker exercise for 6 weeks. Each patient received a modified barium swallow pre- and post-therapy, including two swallows each of 3 ml and 5 ml liquid barium and 3 ml barium pudding. Each videofluorographic study was sent to a central laboratory and digitized in order to measure hyoid and larynx movement as well as UES opening. Fourteen patients received both pre-and post-therapy VFG studies. There was significantly less aspiration post-therapy in patients in the Shaker group. Residue in the various oral and pharyngeal locations did not differ between the groups. With traditional therapy, there were several significant increases from pre- to post-therapy, including superior laryngeal movement and superior hyoid movement on 3-ml pudding swallows and anterior laryngeal movement on 3-ml liquid boluses, indicating significant improvement in swallowing physiology. After both types of therapy there is a significant increase in UES opening width on 3-ml paste swallows. PMID:19472007

An allosteric model of the molecular interactions of excitation- contraction coupling in skeletal muscle

PubMed Central

1993-01-01

A contact interaction is proposed to exist between the voltage sensor of the transverse tubular membrane of skeletal muscle and the calcium release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This interaction is given a quantitative formulation inspired in the Monod, Wyman, and Changeux model of allosteric transitions in hemoglobin (Monod, J., J. Wyman, and J.-P. Changeux. 1965. Journal of Molecular Biology. 12:88- 118), and analogous to one proposed by Marks and Jones for voltage- dependent Ca channels (Marks, T. N., and S. W. Jones. 1992. Journal of General Physiology. 99:367-390). The allosteric protein is the calcium release channel, a homotetramer, with two accessible states, closed and open. The kinetics and equilibrium of this transition are modulated by voltage sensors (dihydropyridine receptors) pictured as four units per release channel, each undergoing independent voltage-driven transitions between two states (resting and activating). For each voltage sensor that moves to the activating state, the tendency of the channel to open increases by an equal (large) factor. The equilibrium and kinetic equations of the model are solved and shown to reproduce well a number of experimentally measured relationships including: charge movement (Q) vs. voltage, open probability of the release channel (Po) vs. voltage, the transfer function relationship Po vs. Q, and the kinetics of charge movement, release activation, and deactivation. The main consequence of the assumption of allosteric coupling is that primary effects on the release channel are transmitted backward to the voltage sensor and give secondary effects. Thus, the model reproduces well the effects of perchlorate, described in the two previous articles, under the assumption that the primary effect is to increase the intrinsic tendency of the release channel to open, with no direct effects on the voltage sensor. This modification of the open-closed equilibrium of the release channel causes a shift in the equilibrium dependency of charge movement with voltage. The paradoxical slowing of charge movement by perchlorate also results from reciprocal effects of the channel on the allosterically coupled voltage sensors. The observations of the previous articles plus the simulations in this article constitute functional evidence of allosteric transmission. PMID:8245819

The 2016 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC).

PubMed

Harris, Nomi L; Cock, Peter J A; Chapman, Brad; Fields, Christopher J; Hokamp, Karsten; Lapp, Hilmar; Muñoz-Torres, Monica; Wiencko, Heather

2016-01-01

Message from the ISCB: The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is a yearly meeting organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of Open Source software development and Open Science within the biological research community. BOSC has been run since 2000 as a two-day Special Interest Group (SIG) before the annual ISMB conference. The 17th annual BOSC ( http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2016) took place in Orlando, Florida in July 2016. As in previous years, the conference was preceded by a two-day collaborative coding event open to the bioinformatics community. The conference brought together nearly 100 bioinformatics researchers, developers and users of open source software to interact and share ideas about standards, bioinformatics software development, and open and reproducible science.

Juvenile movement among different populations of Cutthroat Trout introduced as embryos to vacant habitat

USGS Publications Warehouse

Andrews, Tessa M.; Shepard, Bradley B.; Litt, Andrea R.; Kruse, Carter G.; Zale, Alexander V.; Kalinowski, Steven T.

2013-01-01

Translocations are frequently used to increase the abundance and range of endangered fishes. One factor likely to affect the outcome of translocations is fish movement. We introduced embryos from five Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisipopulations (both hatchery and wild) at five different locations within a fishless watershed. We then examined the movement of age-1 and age-2 fish and looked for differences in movement distance among source populations and among introduction sites; we also examined the interactions among age, population, and introduction site. At age 1, most individuals (90.9%) remained within 1,000 m their introduction sites. By age 2, the majority of individuals (58.3%) still remained within 1,000 m of their introduction site, but considerably more individuals had moved downstream, some more than 6,000 m from their introduction site. We observed a significant interaction between age and source population (F 4, 1077 = 15.45, P < 0.0001) as well as between age and introduction site (F 41, 1077 = 11.39, P < 0.0008), so we presented results in the context of these interactions. Within age-groups, we observed differences in movement behavior among source populations and among donor populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. We discuss these findings in light of previous research on juvenile salmonid movement.

Beyond Open Source: According to Jim Hirsch, Open Technology, Not Open Source, Is the Wave of the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Villano, Matt

2006-01-01

This article presents an interview with Jim Hirsch, an associate superintendent for technology at Piano Independent School District in Piano, Texas. Hirsch serves as a liaison for the open technologies committee of the Consortium for School Networking. In this interview, he shares his opinion on the significance of open source in K-12.

Haptically facilitated bimanual training combined with augmented visual feedback in moderate to severe hemiplegia.

PubMed

Boos, Amy; Qiu, Qinyin; Fluet, Gerard G; Adamovich, Sergei V

2011-01-01

This study describes the design and feasibility testing of a hand rehabilitation system that provides haptic assistance for hand opening in moderate to severe hemiplegia while subjects attempt to perform bilateral hand movements. A cable-actuated exoskeleton robot assists the subjects in performing impaired finger movements but is controlled by movement of the unimpaired hand. In an attempt to combine the neurophysiological stimuli of bilateral movement and action observation during training, visual feedback of the impaired hand is replaced by feedback of the unimpaired hand, either by using a sagittaly oriented mirror or a virtual reality setup with a pair of virtual hands presented on a flat screen controlled with movement of the unimpaired hand, providing a visual image of their paretic hand moving normally. Joint angles for both hands are measured using data gloves. The system is programmed to maintain a symmetrical relationship between the two hands as they respond to commands to open and close simultaneously. Three persons with moderate to severe hemiplegia secondary to stroke trained with the system for eight, 30 to 60 minute sessions without adverse events. Each demonstrated positive motor adaptations to training. The system was well tolerated by persons with moderate to severe upper extremity hemiplegia. Further testing of its effects on motor ability with a broader range of clinical presentations is indicated.

“Are You an African?” The Politics of Self-Construction in Status-Based Social Movements

PubMed Central

McCorkel, Jill; Rodriquez, Jason

2011-01-01

Current debates over identity politics hinge on the question of whether status-based social movements encourage parochialism and self-interest or create possibilities for mutual recognition across lines of difference. Our article explores this question through comparative, ethnographic study of two racially progressive social movements, “pro-black” abolitionism and “conscious” hip hop. We argue that status-based social movements not only enable collective identity, but also the personal identities or selves of their participants. Beliefs about the self create openings and obstacles to mutual recognition and progressive social action. Our analysis centers on the challenges that an influx of progressive, anti-racist whites posed to each movement. We examine first how each movement configured movement participation and racial identity and then how whites crafted strategic narratives of the self to account for their participation in a status-based movement they were not directly implicated in. We conclude with an analysis of the implications of these narratives for a critical politics of recognition. Keywords: identity politics, social movements, race, self, hip hop. PMID:21731113

"Are You an African?" The Politics of Self-Construction in Status-Based Social Movements.

PubMed

McCorkel, Jill; Rodriquez, Jason

2009-05-01

Current debates over identity politics hinge on the question of whether status-based social movements encourage parochialism and self-interest or create possibilities for mutual recognition across lines of difference. Our article explores this question through comparative, ethnographic study of two racially progressive social movements, "pro-black" abolitionism and "conscious" hip hop. We argue that status-based social movements not only enable collective identity, but also the personal identities or selves of their participants. Beliefs about the self create openings and obstacles to mutual recognition and progressive social action. Our analysis centers on the challenges that an influx of progressive, anti-racist whites posed to each movement. We examine first how each movement configured movement participation and racial identity and then how whites crafted strategic narratives of the self to account for their participation in a status-based movement they were not directly implicated in. We conclude with an analysis of the implications of these narratives for a critical politics of recognition. Keywords: identity politics, social movements, race, self, hip hop.

EMISSIONS OF ORGANIC AIR TOXICS FROM OPEN ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

A detailed literature search was performed to collect and collate available data reporting emissions of toxic organic substances into the air from open burning sources. Availability of data varied according to the source and the class of air toxics of interest. Volatile organic compound (VOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) data were available for many of the sources. Data on semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that are not PAHs were available for several sources. Carbonyl and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) data were available for only a few sources. There were several sources for which no emissions data were available at all. Several observations were made including: 1) Biomass open burning sources typically emitted less VOCs than open burning sources with anthropogenic fuels on a mass emitted per mass burned basis, particularly those where polymers were concerned; 2) Biomass open burning sources typically emitted less SVOCs and PAHs than anthropogenic sources on a mass emitted per mass burned basis. Burning pools of crude oil and diesel fuel produced significant amounts of PAHs relative to other types of open burning. PAH emissions were highest when combustion of polymers was taking place; and 3) Based on very limited data, biomass open burning sources typically produced higher levels of carbonyls than anthropogenic sources on a mass emitted per mass burned basis, probably due to oxygenated structures r

Pardon the Disruption ... Innovation Changes How We Think about Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DiSalvio, Philip

2012-01-01

This article illustrates the landscape-changing potential of the "disruptive innovation" taking place on the shores of the Charles River. Learning technologies now being used in the massive open online course (MOOC) movement, some suggest, will change the way people think about higher education. MOOCs are based on an open-networked learning…

Open Access Metadata, Catalogers, and Vendors: The Future of Cataloging Records

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flynn, Emily Alinder

2013-01-01

The open access (OA) movement is working to transform scholarly communication around the world, but this philosophy can also apply to metadata and cataloging records. While some notable, large academic libraries, such as Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cambridge, released their cataloging records under OA…

Enhancing Teaching and Learning: Libraries and Open Educational Resources in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Erin; Cochran, Dory; Fagerheim, Britt; Thoms, Becky

2016-01-01

Academic libraries continually adjust services to adapt to the ever-changing landscape in higher education. In response to the broken textbook market, libraries are becoming actively involved in the open educational resources (OER) movement. Although there is not a formal program in place, librarians at Utah State University explored a…

Past and Present Scenario of Open Access Movement in India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sawant, Sarika

2013-01-01

This paper gives an overview of open archives developed during the period of 2004-2012 in India including institutional, subject, cross repositories, etc. It also depicts the actions taken by the Indian government in response to the OA developments. The paper highlights that there are one cross institutional repository, three cross institutional…

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Final System Segment Specification (Change 04), Increment II

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-11-14

ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [ ] ORIGINATOR CONTROL NUMBER: SSS-002 PROGRAM OFFICE...only used for air cargo, does not alter the requirement for a surface cargo checklist. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [

Open University

ScienceCinema

None

2018-05-25

Michel Pentz was born in South Africa and came to CERN in 1957 as a physicist and president of the Association of Personnel. He is also the founder of the Antiapartheid Movement in Geneva and helped found the Open University in Great Britain. He speaks about pedagogical, cultural and national contexts in which the method can be applied.

Movement-related neuromagnetic fields in preschool age children.

PubMed

Cheyne, Douglas; Jobst, Cecilia; Tesan, Graciela; Crain, Stephen; Johnson, Blake

2014-09-01

We examined sensorimotor brain activity associated with voluntary movements in preschool children using a customized pediatric magnetoencephalographic system. A videogame-like task was used to generate self-initiated right or left index finger movements in 17 healthy right-handed subjects (8 females, ages 3.2-4.8 years). We successfully identified spatiotemporal patterns of movement-related brain activity in 15/17 children using beamformer source analysis and surrogate MRI spatial normalization. Readiness fields in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex began ∼0.5 s prior to movement onset (motor field, MF), followed by transient movement-evoked fields (MEFs), similar to that observed during self-paced movements in adults, but slightly delayed and with inverted source polarities. We also observed modulation of mu (8-12 Hz) and beta (15-30 Hz) oscillations in sensorimotor cortex with movement, but with different timing and a stronger frequency band coupling compared to that observed in adults. Adult-like high-frequency (70-80 Hz) gamma bursts were detected at movement onset. All children showed activation of the right superior temporal gyrus that was independent of the side of movement, a response that has not been reported in adults. These results provide new insights into the development of movement-related brain function, for an age group in which no previous data exist. The results show that children under 5 years of age have markedly different patterns of movement-related brain activity in comparison to older children and adults, and indicate that significant maturational changes occur in the sensorimotor system between the preschool years and later childhood. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Movement as utopia.

PubMed

Couton, Philippe; López, José Julián

2009-10-01

Opposition to utopianism on ontological and political grounds has seemingly relegated it to a potentially dangerous form of antiquated idealism. This conclusion is based on a restrictive view of utopia as excessively ordered panoptic discursive constructions. This overlooks the fact that, from its inception, movement has been central to the utopian tradition. The power of utopianism indeed resides in its ability to instantiate the tension between movement and place that has marked social transformations in the modern era. This tension continues in contemporary discussions of movement-based social processes, particularly international migration and related identity formations, such as open borders transnationalism and cosmopolitanism. Understood as such, utopia remains an ongoing and powerful, albeit problematic instrument of social and political imagination.

Open-Source 3D-Printable Optics Equipment

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chenlong; Anzalone, Nicholas C.; Faria, Rodrigo P.; Pearce, Joshua M.

2013-01-01

Just as the power of the open-source design paradigm has driven down the cost of software to the point that it is accessible to most people, the rise of open-source hardware is poised to drive down the cost of doing experimental science to expand access to everyone. To assist in this aim, this paper introduces a library of open-source 3-D-printable optics components. This library operates as a flexible, low-cost public-domain tool set for developing both research and teaching optics hardware. First, the use of parametric open-source designs using an open-source computer aided design package is described to customize the optics hardware for any application. Second, details are provided on the use of open-source 3-D printers (additive layer manufacturing) to fabricate the primary mechanical components, which are then combined to construct complex optics-related devices. Third, the use of the open-source electronics prototyping platform are illustrated as control for optical experimental apparatuses. This study demonstrates an open-source optical library, which significantly reduces the costs associated with much optical equipment, while also enabling relatively easily adapted customizable designs. The cost reductions in general are over 97%, with some components representing only 1% of the current commercial investment for optical products of similar function. The results of this study make its clear that this method of scientific hardware development enables a much broader audience to participate in optical experimentation both as research and teaching platforms than previous proprietary methods. PMID:23544104

Open-source 3D-printable optics equipment.

PubMed

Zhang, Chenlong; Anzalone, Nicholas C; Faria, Rodrigo P; Pearce, Joshua M

2013-01-01

Just as the power of the open-source design paradigm has driven down the cost of software to the point that it is accessible to most people, the rise of open-source hardware is poised to drive down the cost of doing experimental science to expand access to everyone. To assist in this aim, this paper introduces a library of open-source 3-D-printable optics components. This library operates as a flexible, low-cost public-domain tool set for developing both research and teaching optics hardware. First, the use of parametric open-source designs using an open-source computer aided design package is described to customize the optics hardware for any application. Second, details are provided on the use of open-source 3-D printers (additive layer manufacturing) to fabricate the primary mechanical components, which are then combined to construct complex optics-related devices. Third, the use of the open-source electronics prototyping platform are illustrated as control for optical experimental apparatuses. This study demonstrates an open-source optical library, which significantly reduces the costs associated with much optical equipment, while also enabling relatively easily adapted customizable designs. The cost reductions in general are over 97%, with some components representing only 1% of the current commercial investment for optical products of similar function. The results of this study make its clear that this method of scientific hardware development enables a much broader audience to participate in optical experimentation both as research and teaching platforms than previous proprietary methods.

Cargo Movement Operations System (CMOS) Final Software User’s Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-20

CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: ACCEPT [ ] REJECT [ I COMMENT STATUS: OPEN...is correct. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] ERCI ACCEPTS CO1MENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED...RATIONALE: .."DA001041" is in the SUM but not in the SDD. CMOS PMO ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ERCI ACCEPTS COMMENT: YES [ ] NO [ ] COMMENT DISPOSITION: COMMENT STATUS: OPEN [ ] CLOSED [

Aerostat-Lofted Instrument Platform and Sampling Method for Determination of Emissions from Open Area Sources

EPA Science Inventory

Sampling emissions from open area sources, particularly sources of open burning, is difficult due to fast dilution of emissions and safety concerns for personnel. Representative emission samples can be difficult to obtain with flaming and explosive sources since personnel safety ...

The Visible Human Data Sets (VHD) and Insight Toolkit (ITk): Experiments in Open Source Software

PubMed Central

Ackerman, Michael J.; Yoo, Terry S.

2003-01-01

From its inception in 1989, the Visible Human Project was designed as an experiment in open source software. In 1994 and 1995 the male and female Visible Human data sets were released by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) as open source data sets. In 2002 the NLM released the first version of the Insight Toolkit (ITk) as open source software. PMID:14728278

Restricted Mandibular Movement Attributed to Ossification of Mandibular Depressors and Medial Pterygoid Muscles in Patients With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: A Report of 3 Cases.

PubMed

Okuno, Tetsuko; Suzuki, Hitoshi; Inoue, Akio; Kusukawa, Jingo

2017-09-01

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare genetic condition characterized by congenital malformation and progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) caused by a recurrent single nucleotide substitution at position 617 in the ACVR1 gene. As the condition progresses, HO leads to joint ankylosis, breathing difficulties, and mouth-opening restriction, and it can shorten the patient's lifespan. This report describes 3 cases of FOP confirmed by genetic testing in patients with restricted mouth opening. Each patient presented a different onset and degree of jaw movement restriction. The anatomic ossification site of the mandibular joint was examined in each patient using reconstructed computed tomographic (CT) images and 3-dimensional reconstructed CT (3D-CT) images. A 29-year-old woman complained of jaw movement restriction since 13 years of age. 3D-CT image of the mandibular joint showed an osseous bridge, formed by the mandibular depressors that open the mouth, between the hyoid bone and the mentum of the mandible. A 39-year-old man presented with jaw movement restriction that developed at 3 years of age after a mouth injury. 3D-CT image of the jaw showed ankylosis of the jaw from ossification of the mandibular depressors that was worse than in patient 1. CT images showed no HO findings of the masticatory muscles. To the authors' knowledge, these are the first 2 case descriptions of the anatomic site of ankylosis involving HO of the mandibular depressors in the jaw resulting from FOP. In contrast, a 62-year-old bedridden woman with an interincisal distance longer than 10 mm (onset, 39 years of age) had no HO of the mandibular depressors and slight HO of the medial pterygoid muscle on the right and left sides. These findings suggest that restricted mouth opening varies according to the presence or absence of HO of the mandibular depressors. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Modeling of fire smoke movement in multizone garments building using two open source platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khandoker, Md. Arifur Rahman; Galib, Musanna; Islam, Adnan; Rahman, Md. Ashiqur

2017-06-01

Casualty of garment factory workers from factory fire in Bangladesh is a recurring tragedy. Smoke, which is more fatal than fire itself, often propagates through different pathways from lower to upper floors during building fire. Among the toxic gases produced from a building fire, carbon monoxide (CO) can be deadly, even in small amounts. This paper models the propagation and transportation of fire induced smoke (CO) that resulted from the burning of synthetic polyester fibers using two open source platforms, CONTAM and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Smoke migration in a generic multistoried garment factory building in Bangladesh is modeled using CONTAM where each floor is compartmentalized by different zones. The elevator and stairway shafts are modeled by phantom zones to simulate contaminant (CO) transport from one floor to upper floors. FDS analysis involves burning of two different stacks of polyester jacket of six feet height and with a maximum heat release rate per unit area of 1500kw/m2 over a storage area 50m2 and 150m2, respectively. The resulting CO generation and removal rates from FDS are used in CONTAM to predict fire-borne CO propagation in different zones of the garment building. Findings of the study exhibit that the contaminant flow rate is a strong function of the position of building geometry, location of initiation of fire, amount of burnt material, presence of AHU and contaminant generation and removal rate of CO from the source location etc. The transport of fire-smoke in the building Hallways, stairways and lifts are also investigated in detail to examine the safe egress of the occupants in case of fire.

The 2016 Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC)

PubMed Central

Harris, Nomi L.; Cock, Peter J.A.; Chapman, Brad; Fields, Christopher J.; Hokamp, Karsten; Lapp, Hilmar; Muñoz-Torres, Monica; Wiencko, Heather

2016-01-01

Message from the ISCB: The Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC) is a yearly meeting organized by the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF), a non-profit group dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of Open Source software development and Open Science within the biological research community. BOSC has been run since 2000 as a two-day Special Interest Group (SIG) before the annual ISMB conference. The 17th annual BOSC ( http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2016) took place in Orlando, Florida in July 2016. As in previous years, the conference was preceded by a two-day collaborative coding event open to the bioinformatics community. The conference brought together nearly 100 bioinformatics researchers, developers and users of open source software to interact and share ideas about standards, bioinformatics software development, and open and reproducible science. PMID:27781083

Rhythmic arm movements are less affected than discrete ones after a stroke.

PubMed

Leconte, Patricia; Orban de Xivry, Jean-Jacques; Stoquart, Gaëtan; Lejeune, Thierry; Ronsse, Renaud

2016-06-01

Recent reports indicate that rhythmic and discrete upper-limb movements are two different motor primitives which recruit, at least partially, distinct neural circuitries. In particular, rhythmic movements recruit a smaller cortical network than discrete movements. The goal of this paper is to compare the levels of disability in performing rhythmic and discrete movements after a stroke. More precisely, we tested the hypothesis that rhythmic movements should be less affected than discrete ones, because they recruit neural circuitries that are less likely to be damaged by the stroke. Eleven stroke patients and eleven age-matched control subjects performed discrete and rhythmic movements using an end-effector robot (REAplan). The rhythmic movement condition was performed with and without visual targets to further decrease cortical recruitment. Movement kinematics was analyzed through specific metrics, capturing the degree of smoothness and harmonicity. We reported three main observations: (1) the movement smoothness of the paretic arm was more severely degraded for discrete movements than rhythmic movements; (2) most of the patients performed rhythmic movements with a lower harmonicity than controls; and (3) visually guided rhythmic movements were more altered than non-visually guided rhythmic movements. These results suggest a hierarchy in the levels of impairment: Discrete movements are more affected than rhythmic ones, which are more affected if they are visually guided. These results are a new illustration that discrete and rhythmic movements are two fundamental primitives in upper-limb movements. Moreover, this hierarchy of impairment opens new post-stroke rehabilitation perspectives.

Spontaneous reverse movement of mRNA-bound tRNA through the ribosome.

PubMed

Konevega, Andrey L; Fischer, Niels; Semenkov, Yuri P; Stark, Holger; Wintermeyer, Wolfgang; Rodnina, Marina V

2007-04-01

During the translocation step of protein synthesis, a complex of two transfer RNAs bound to messenger RNA (tRNA-mRNA) moves through the ribosome. The reaction is promoted by an elongation factor, called EF-G in bacteria, which, powered by GTP hydrolysis, induces an open, unlocked conformation of the ribosome that allows for spontaneous tRNA-mRNA movement. Here we show that, in the absence of EF-G, there is spontaneous backward movement, or retrotranslocation, of two tRNAs bound to mRNA. Retrotranslocation is driven by the gain in affinity when a cognate E-site tRNA moves into the P site, which compensates the affinity loss accompanying the movement of peptidyl-tRNA from the P to the A site. These results lend support to the diffusion model of tRNA movement during translocation. In the cell, tRNA movement is biased in the forward direction by EF-G, which acts as a Brownian ratchet and prevents backward movement.

Fear of movement modulates the feedforward motor control of the affected limb in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): A single-case study.

PubMed

Osumi, Michihiro; Sumitani, Masahiko; Otake, Yuko; Morioka, Shu

2018-01-01

Pain-related fear can exacerbate physical disability and pathological pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients. We conducted a kinematic analysis of grasping movements with a pediatric patient suffering from CRPS in an upper limb to investigate how pain-related fear affects motor control. Using a three-dimensional measurement system, we recorded the patient's movement while grasping three vertical bars of different diameters (thin, middle, thick) with the affected and intact hands. We analyzed the maximum grasp distance between the thumb and the index finger (MGD), the peak velocity of the grasp movement (PV), and the time required for the finger opening phase (TOP) and closing phase (TCP). Consequently, the MGD and PV of grasp movements in the affected hand were significantly smaller than those of the intact hand when grasping the middle and thick bars. This might reflect pain-related fear against visual information of the target size which evokes sensation of difficulty in opening fingers widely to grasp the middle and thick bars. Although MGD and PV increased with target size, the TOP was longer in the affected hand when grasping the thick bar. These findings indicate that pain-related fear impairs motor commands that are sent to the musculoskeletal system, subsequently disrupting executed movements and their sensory feedback. Using kinematic analysis, we objectively demonstrated that pain-related fear affects the process of sending motor commands towards the musculoskeletal system in the CRPS-affected hand, providing a possible explanatory model of pathological pain. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Emergence of oropharyngeal, laryngeal and swallowing activity in the developing fetal upper aerodigestive tract: an ultrasound evaluation.

PubMed

Miller, Jeri L; Sonies, Barbara C; Macedonia, Christian

2003-02-01

The developing fetal upper aerodigestive system provides the structural support for respiratory and ingestive functions necessary to sustain life at birth. This study investigated prenatal development of upper aerodigestive anatomy and the association of emerging functions as predictors of postnatal feeding skills. Biometric measures of oral, lingual, pharyngeal and laryngeal structures were obtained in fetuses 15-38 weeks gestational age using a four-plane sonographic technique. Accompanying ingestive behaviors were tallied across development. The data from 62 healthy controls were compared to seven cases at risk for postnatal feeding and swallowing dysfunction (Type II Arnold Chiari Malformation, trisomy 18, polyhydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction, Brachmann-de Lange Syndrome). Significant (p<0.001) linear regressions occurred in pharyngeal and lingual growth across gestation while ingestive behavior such as suckling emerged in a sequence of basic to complex movement patterns. Jaw and lip movements progressed from simple mouth opening to repetitive open-close movements important for postnatal suckling. Lingual movements increased in complexity from simple forward thrusting and cupping to anterior-posterior motions necessary for successful suckling at term. Laryngeal movements varied from shallow flutter-like movements along the lumen to more complex and complete adduction-abduction patterns. Fetal swallowing primarily occurred in the presence of concomitant oral-facial stimulatory activity. Significant variations (p<0.01) in the form and function of the ingestive system occurred in comparisons of gestational age-matched controls to at-risk cases. We postulate that prenatal developmental indices of emerging aerodigestive skills may guide postnatal decisions for feeding readiness and, ultimately, advance the care of the premature, medically fragile neonate.

Cues to Intention: The Role of Movement Information

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sartori, Luisa; Becchio, Cristina; Castiello, Umberto

2011-01-01

Body movement provides a rich source of cues about other people's goals and intentions. In the present research, we investigate how well people can distinguish between different social intentions on the basis of movement information. Participants observed a model reaching toward and grasping a wooden block with the intent to cooperate with a…

The 2011 Chilean Student Movement against Neoliberal Educational Policies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bellei, Cristián; Cabalin, Cristian; Orellana, Víctor

2014-01-01

This paper analyses the 2011 Chilean student movement, the most relevant social mobilisation in Chile since the restoration of democracy in 1990. Based on available material and secondary sources, it describes the main features of this student movement, analyses the key components of the students' discourse and its relationship with the Chilean…

Electronic Theses at Ben-Gurion University: Israel as Part of the Worldwide ETD Movement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asner, Haya; Polani, Tsviya

2008-01-01

This article discusses the electronic thesis and dissertation project at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel. It describes the status of the ETD movement in Israel as part of the worldwide spread of ETDs as reported in the literature. It also examines openness to ETDs by faculty and by publisher discipline. (Contains 6…

The Opening of Borders and Scientific Mobility: The Impact of EU Enlargement on the Movement of Early Career Scientists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guth, Jessica

2008-01-01

This paper, based on extensive empirical work with Polish and Bulgarian scientists in Germany and the UK, examines the impact of the EU enlargement including the free movement of persons provisions on the mobility of scientists from Eastern to Western Europe. It focuses on early career researchers and particularly PhD candidates and begins by…

OpenMx: An Open Source Extended Structural Equation Modeling Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boker, Steven; Neale, Michael; Maes, Hermine; Wilde, Michael; Spiegel, Michael; Brick, Timothy; Spies, Jeffrey; Estabrook, Ryne; Kenny, Sarah; Bates, Timothy; Mehta, Paras; Fox, John

2011-01-01

OpenMx is free, full-featured, open source, structural equation modeling (SEM) software. OpenMx runs within the "R" statistical programming environment on Windows, Mac OS-X, and Linux computers. The rationale for developing OpenMx is discussed along with the philosophy behind the user interface. The OpenMx data structures are…

a Framework for AN Open Source Geospatial Certification Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, T. U. R.; Davis, P.; Behr, F.-J.

2016-06-01

The geospatial industry is forecasted to have an enormous growth in the forthcoming years and an extended need for well-educated workforce. Hence ongoing education and training play an important role in the professional life. Parallel, in the geospatial and IT arena as well in the political discussion and legislation Open Source solutions, open data proliferation, and the use of open standards have an increasing significance. Based on the Memorandum of Understanding between International Cartographic Association, OSGeo Foundation, and ISPRS this development led to the implementation of the ICA-OSGeo-Lab imitative with its mission "Making geospatial education and opportunities accessible to all". Discussions in this initiative and the growth and maturity of geospatial Open Source software initiated the idea to develop a framework for a worldwide applicable Open Source certification approach. Generic and geospatial certification approaches are already offered by numerous organisations, i.e., GIS Certification Institute, GeoAcademy, ASPRS, and software vendors, i. e., Esri, Oracle, and RedHat. They focus different fields of expertise and have different levels and ways of examination which are offered for a wide range of fees. The development of the certification framework presented here is based on the analysis of diverse bodies of knowledge concepts, i.e., NCGIA Core Curriculum, URISA Body Of Knowledge, USGIF Essential Body Of Knowledge, the "Geographic Information: Need to Know", currently under development, and the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM). The latter provides a US American oriented list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of workers in the geospatial technology industry and influenced essentially the framework of certification. In addition to the theoretical analysis of existing resources the geospatial community was integrated twofold. An online survey about the relevance of Open Source was performed and evaluated with 105 respondents worldwide. 15 interviews (face-to-face or by telephone) with experts in different countries provided additional insights into Open Source usage and certification. The findings led to the development of a certification framework of three main categories with in total eleven sub-categories, i.e., "Certified Open Source Geospatial Data Associate / Professional", "Certified Open Source Geospatial Analyst Remote Sensing & GIS", "Certified Open Source Geospatial Cartographer", "Certified Open Source Geospatial Expert", "Certified Open Source Geospatial Associate Developer / Professional Developer", "Certified Open Source Geospatial Architect". Each certification is described by pre-conditions, scope and objectives, course content, recommended software packages, target group, expected benefits, and the methods of examination. Examinations can be flanked by proofs of professional career paths and achievements which need a peer qualification evaluation. After a couple of years a recertification is required. The concept seeks the accreditation by the OSGeo Foundation (and other bodies) and international support by a group of geospatial scientific institutions to achieve wide and international acceptance for this Open Source geospatial certification model. A business case for Open Source certification and a corresponding SWOT model is examined to support the goals of the Geo-For-All initiative of the ICA-OSGeo pact.

Gis-Based Route Finding Using ANT Colony Optimization and Urban Traffic Data from Different Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davoodi, M.; Mesgari, M. S.

2015-12-01

Nowadays traffic data is obtained from multiple sources including GPS, Video Vehicle Detectors (VVD), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Floating Car Data (FCD), VANETs, etc. All such data can be used for route finding. This paper proposes a model for finding the optimum route based on the integration of traffic data from different sources. Ant Colony Optimization is applied in this paper because the concept of this method (movement of ants in a network) is similar to urban road network and movements of cars. The results indicate that this model is capable of incorporating data from different sources, which may even be inconsistent.

Concatenation of Observed Grasp Phases with Observer’s Distal Movements: A Behavioural and TMS Study

PubMed Central

De Stefani, Elisa; Innocenti, Alessandro; De Marco, Doriana; Gentilucci, Maurizio

2013-01-01

The present study aimed at determining how actions executed by two conspecifics can be coordinated with each other, or more specifically, how the observation of different phases of a reaching-grasping action is temporary related to the execution of a movement of the observer. Participants observed postures of initial finger opening, maximal finger aperture, and final finger closing of grasp after observation of an initial hand posture. Then, they opened or closed their right thumb and index finger (experiments 1, 2 and 3). Response times decreased, whereas acceleration and velocity of actual finger movements increased when observing the two late phases of grasp. In addition, the results ruled out the possibility that this effect was due to salience of the visual stimulus when the hand was close to the target and confirmed an effect of even hand postures in addition to hand apparent motion due to the succession of initial hand posture and grasp phase. In experiments 4 and 5, the observation of grasp phases modulated even foot movements and pronunciation of syllables. Finally, in experiment 6, transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to primary motor cortex 300 ms post-stimulus induced an increase in hand motor evoked potentials of opponens pollicis muscle when observing the two late phases of grasp. These data suggest that the observation of grasp phases induced simulation which was stronger during observation of finger closing. This produced shorter response times, greater acceleration and velocity of the successive movement. In general, our data suggest best concatenation between two movements (one observed and the other executed) when the observed (and simulated) movement was to be accomplished. The mechanism joining the observation of a conspecific’s action with our own movement may be precursor of social functions. It may be at the basis for interactions between conspecifics, and related to communication between individuals. PMID:24278395

Effects of Land Cover on the Movement of Frugivorous Birds in a Heterogeneous Landscape.

PubMed

Da Silveira, Natalia Stefanini; Niebuhr, Bernardo Brandão S; Muylaert, Renata de Lara; Ribeiro, Milton Cezar; Pizo, Marco Aurélio

2016-01-01

Movement is a key spatiotemporal process that enables interactions between animals and other elements of nature. The understanding of animal trajectories and the mechanisms that influence them at the landscape level can yield insight into ecological processes and potential solutions to specific ecological problems. Based upon optimal foraging models and empirical evidence, we hypothesized that movement by thrushes is highly tortuous (low average movement speeds and homogeneous distribution of turning angles) inside forests, moderately tortuous in urban areas, which present intermediary levels of resources, and minimally tortuous (high movement speeds and turning angles next to 0 radians) in open matrix types (e.g., crops and pasture). We used data on the trajectories of two common thrush species (Turdus rufiventris and Turdus leucomelas) collected by radio telemetry in a fragmented region in Brazil. Using a maximum likelihood model selection approach we fit four probability distribution models to average speed data, considering short-tailed, long-tailed, and scale-free distributions (to represent different regimes of movement variation), and one distribution to relative angle data. Models included land cover type and distance from forest-matrix edges as explanatory variables. Speed was greater farther away from forest edges and increased faster inside forest habitat compared to urban and open matrices. However, turning angle was not influenced by land cover. Thrushes presented a very tortuous trajectory, with many displacements followed by turns near 180 degrees. Thrush trajectories resembled habitat and edge dependent, tortuous random walks, with a well-defined movement scale inside each land cover type. Although thrushes are habitat generalists, they showed a greater preference for forest edges, and thus may be considered edge specialists. Our results reinforce the importance of studying animal movement patterns in order to understand ecological processes such as seed dispersal in fragmented areas, where the percentage of remaining habitat is dwindling.

The mPower study, Parkinson disease mobile data collected using ResearchKit.

PubMed

Bot, Brian M; Suver, Christine; Neto, Elias Chaibub; Kellen, Michael; Klein, Arno; Bare, Christopher; Doerr, Megan; Pratap, Abhishek; Wilbanks, John; Dorsey, E Ray; Friend, Stephen H; Trister, Andrew D

2016-03-03

Current measures of health and disease are often insensitive, episodic, and subjective. Further, these measures generally are not designed to provide meaningful feedback to individuals. The impact of high-resolution activity data collected from mobile phones is only beginning to be explored. Here we present data from mPower, a clinical observational study about Parkinson disease conducted purely through an iPhone app interface. The study interrogated aspects of this movement disorder through surveys and frequent sensor-based recordings from participants with and without Parkinson disease. Benefitting from large enrollment and repeated measurements on many individuals, these data may help establish baseline variability of real-world activity measurement collected via mobile phones, and ultimately may lead to quantification of the ebbs-and-flows of Parkinson symptoms. App source code for these data collection modules are available through an open source license for use in studies of other conditions. We hope that releasing data contributed by engaged research participants will seed a new community of analysts working collaboratively on understanding mobile health data to advance human health.

Virtual Labs (Science Gateways) as platforms for Free and Open Source Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lescinsky, David; Car, Nicholas; Fraser, Ryan; Friedrich, Carsten; Kemp, Carina; Squire, Geoffrey

2016-04-01

The Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement promotes community engagement in software development, as well as provides access to a range of sophisticated technologies that would be prohibitively expensive if obtained commercially. However, as geoinformatics and eResearch tools and services become more dispersed, it becomes more complicated to identify and interface between the many required components. Virtual Laboratories (VLs, also known as Science Gateways) simplify the management and coordination of these components by providing a platform linking many, if not all, of the steps in particular scientific processes. These enable scientists to focus on their science, rather than the underlying supporting technologies. We describe a modular, open source, VL infrastructure that can be reconfigured to create VLs for a wide range of disciplines. Development of this infrastructure has been led by CSIRO in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) with support from the National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (NeCTAR) and the Australian National Data Service (ANDS). Initially, the infrastructure was developed to support the Virtual Geophysical Laboratory (VGL), and has subsequently been repurposed to create the Virtual Hazards Impact and Risk Laboratory (VHIRL) and the reconfigured Australian National Virtual Geophysics Laboratory (ANVGL). During each step of development, new capabilities and services have been added and/or enhanced. We plan on continuing to follow this model using a shared, community code base. The VL platform facilitates transparent and reproducible science by providing access to both the data and methodologies used during scientific investigations. This is further enhanced by the ability to set up and run investigations using computational resources accessed through the VL. Data is accessed using registries pointing to catalogues within public data repositories (notably including the NCI National Environmental Research Data Interoperability Platform), or by uploading data directly from user supplied addresses or files. Similarly, scientific software is accessed through registries pointing to software repositories (e.g., GitHub). Runs are configured by using or modifying default templates designed by subject matter experts. After the appropriate computational resources are identified by the user, Virtual Machines (VMs) are spun up and jobs are submitted to service providers (currently the NeCTAR public cloud or Amazon Web Services). Following completion of the jobs the results can be reviewed and downloaded if desired. By providing a unified platform for science, the VL infrastructure enables sophisticated provenance capture and management. The source of input data (including both collection and queries), user information, software information (version and configuration details) and output information are all captured and managed as a VL resource which can be linked to output data sets. This provenance resource provides a mechanism for publication and citation for Free and Open Source Science.

Contextualized perceptions of movement as a source of expanded insight: People with multiple sclerosis' experience with physiotherapy.

PubMed

Normann, Britt; Sørgaard, Knut W; Salvesen, Rolf; Moe, Siri

2013-01-01

The hospitals' outpatient clinics for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are important in the health care. Research regarding physiotherapy in such clinics is limited. The purpose was to investigate how PwMS perceive movement during single sessions of physiotherapy in a hospital's outpatient clinic, and what do these experiences mean for the patient's insight into their movement disturbances? Qualitative research interviews were performed with a purposive sample of 12 PwMS and supplemented with seven videotaped sessions. Content analysis was performed. The results indicate that contextualized perceptions of movement appear to be an essential source for PwMS to gain expanded insight with regard to their individual movement disturbances regardless of their ambulatory status. The contextualization implies that perceptions of movement are integrated with the physiotherapist's explanations regarding optimizing gait and balance or other activities of daily life. Perceptions of improvement in body part movement and/or functional activities are vital to enhancing their understanding of their individual movement disorders, and they may provide expanded insight regarding future possibilities and limitations involving everyday tasks. The implementation of movements, which transforms the perceived improvement into self-assisted exercises, appeared to be meaningful. Contextualized perceptions of improvements in movement may strengthen the person's sense of ownership and sense of agency and thus promote autonomy and self-encouragement. The findings underpin the importance of contextualized perceptions of movement based on exploration of potential for change, as an integrated part of information and communication in the health care for PwMS. Further investigations are necessary to deepen our knowledge.

Linkage between Free Exploratory Movements and Subjective Tactile Ratings.

PubMed

Yokosaka, Takumi; Kuroki, Scinob; Watanabe, Junji; Nishida, Shinya

2017-01-01

We actively move our hands and eyes when exploring the external world and gaining information about object's attributes. Previous studies showing that how we touch might be related to how we felt led us to consider whether we could decode observers' subjective tactile experiences only by analyzing their exploratory movements without explicitly asking how they perceived. However, in those studies, explicit judgment tasks were performed about specific tactile attributes that were prearranged by experimenters. Here, we systematically investigated whether exploratory movements can explain tactile ratings even when participants do not need to judge any tactile attributes. While measuring both hand and eye movements, we asked participants to touch materials freely without judging any specific tactile attributes (free-touch task) or to evaluate one of four tactile attributes (roughness, hardness, slipperiness, and temperature). We found that tactile ratings in the judgment tasks correlated with exploratory movements even in the free-touch task and that eye movements as well as hand movements correlated with tactile ratings. These results might open up the possibility of decoding tactile experiences by exploratory movements.

Issues in Humanoid Audition and Sound Source Localization by Active Audition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakadai, Kazuhiro; Okuno, Hiroshi G.; Kitano, Hiroaki

In this paper, we present an active audition system which is implemented on the humanoid robot "SIG the humanoid". The audition system for highly intelligent humanoids localizes sound sources and recognizes auditory events in the auditory scene. Active audition reported in this paper enables SIG to track sources by integrating audition, vision, and motor movements. Given the multiple sound sources in the auditory scene, SIG actively moves its head to improve localization by aligning microphones orthogonal to the sound source and by capturing the possible sound sources by vision. However, such an active head movement inevitably creates motor noises.The system adaptively cancels motor noises using motor control signals and the cover acoustics. The experimental result demonstrates that active audition by integration of audition, vision, and motor control attains sound source tracking in variety of conditions.onditions.

SolTrace | Concentrating Solar Power | NREL

Science.gov Websites

NREL packaged distribution or from source code at the SolTrace open source project website. NREL Publications Support FAQs SolTrace open source project The code uses Monte-Carlo ray-tracing methodology. The -tracing capabilities. With the release of the SolTrace open source project, the software has adopted

When Free Isn't Free: The Realities of Running Open Source in School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Derringer, Pam

2009-01-01

Despite the last few years' growth in awareness of open-source software in schools and the potential savings it represents, its widespread adoption is still hampered. Randy Orwin, technology director of the Bainbridge Island School District in Washington State and a strong open-source advocate, cautions that installing an open-source…

Opening and Closing of Oxalis Leaves in Response to Light Stimuli

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nakanishi, Fumi; Nakazawa, Masami; Katayama, Nobuyasu

2005-01-01

Fully opened leaves of potted plants of "Oxalis corymbosa" DC. closed completely by folding their leaflets downward after being kept in the dark for two hours. The folded leaflets, then moved upward gradually after exposure to light. We developed a simple method to measure the leaf movement. A paper protractor folded every 10[degrees] was devised…

Awarding College Credit for MOOCSs: The Role of the American Council on Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stone, Jason

2016-01-01

Emerging alongside the open educational resources movement of the past decade, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been widely heralded as advancing cause of providing increased access to higher education. The article explores the implications of the recommendation by the American Council on Education (ACE) to offer college credit for a…

Free or Open Access to Scholarly Documentation: Google Scholar or Academic Libraries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burns, C. Sean

2013-01-01

Soon after the university movement started in the late 1800s, academic libraries became the dominant providers of the tools and services required to locate and access scholarly information. However, with the advent of alternate discovery services, such as Google Scholar, in conjunction with open access scholarly content, researchers now have the…

The OpenCourseWare Story: New England Roots, Global Reach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carson, Stephen

2008-01-01

The OpenCourseWare movement has its roots in New England. The concept emerged in 2000 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where then-President Charles Vest charged a faculty committee with answering two questions: "How is the Internet going to change education?" and "What should MIT do about it?" MIT moved quickly to…

Equal Insistence of Proportion of Colour on a 2D Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staig-Graham, B. N.

2006-06-01

Katz conducted experiments on Insistence and Equal Insistence, using an episcotister, chromatic, and achromatic papers which he viewed under different intensities of a light sources and chromatic illumination. His principle of Equal Insistence, combined with Goethe's reputed proportions of surface colours according to their luminosity, and Strzeminski's concept of Unism in painting inspire the author's current painting practice. However, a whole new route of research has been opened by the introduction of Time as a phenomenon of Equal Insitence and Image Perception Fading, under contolled conditions of observer movement at different distances, viewing angles, and illumination. Visual knowledge of Equal Insistence indicates, so far, several apparent changes to the properties of surface colours, and its actual effect upon the shape and size of paintings and symbolism. Typical of the investigation are the achromatic images of an elephant and a mouse.

Evaluation of sensors for inputting data in exergames for the elderly.

PubMed

Hors-Fraile, Santiago; Browne, James; Brox, Ellen; Evertsen, Gunn

2013-01-01

We aim to solve which off-the-shelf motion sensor device is the most suitable for extensive usage in PC open-source exergames for the elderly. To solve this problem, we studied the specifications of the market-available sensors to reduce the initial, broad set of sensors to only two candidates: the Nintendo Wii controllers and the Microsoft© Kinect™ camera. The capabilities of these two are tested with a demo implementation. We take into account both the accuracy in the movement-detection of the sensors, and the software-related issues. Our outcome indicates that the Microsoft© Kinect™ camera is the option that currently provides the best solution for our purpose. This study can be helpful for researchers to choose the device that suits their project needs better, removing the sensor-choosing task time from their schedule.

Developing a Telescope Simulator Towards a Global Autonomous Robotic Telescope Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giakoumidis, N.; Ioannou, Z.; Dong, H.; Mavridis, N.

2013-05-01

A robotic telescope network is a system that integrates a number of telescopes to observe a variety of astronomical targets without being operated by a human. This system autonomously selects and observes targets in accordance to an optimized target. It dynamically allocates telescope resources depending on the observation requests, specifications of the telescopes, target visibility, meteorological conditions, daylight, location restrictions and availability and many other factors. In this paper, we introduce a telescope simulator, which can control a telescope to a desired position in order to observe a specific object. The system includes a Client Module, a Server Module, and a Dynamic Scheduler module. We make use and integrate a number of open source software to simulate the movement of a robotic telescope, the telescope characteristics, the observational data and weather conditions in order to test and optimize our system.

Fugitive Dust Emission Factors for Puff and Mobile Military Sources Measured by Micro-pulse Lidar - A Summary of Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuen, W.; Du, K.; Rood, M. J.; Kemme, M. R.; Kim, B.; Hashmonay, R. A.

2010-12-01

A summary of the development of a novel optical remote sensing (ORS) method that determined fugitive dust emission factors for unique military activities is described for puff and mobile sources. Four field campaigns characterized artillery back blasts as puff sources (M549A1 and M107), and movement of military vehicles (M1A1, M113, Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), M88, M270, M577, and HEMTT) and an airborne helicopter (Bell 210) as mobile sources. The ORS method includes a Micro-Pulse Lidar (MPL) and a reflective target that determines one-dimensional (1-D) light extinction coefficient profiles. The MPL was mounted on a positioner that allows the MPL to automatically scan vertically, which allowed 1-D extinction coefficient profiles to be measured at select angles from horizontal. Two-dimensional (2-D) light extinction coefficient profiles were then determined by interpolating the 1-D extinction profiles measured at select angles. Dust property, in the form of the mass extinction efficiency (MEE), was measured using Open Path- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (OP-FTIR) and Open Path- Laser Transmissometry (OP-LT) in the first three field campaigns and an OP-LT and DustTrak™ in the fourth field campaign. MEE was used to convert the 2-D light extinction coefficient profiles to 2-D dust mass concentration profiles. Emission factors were determined by integrating the 2-D mass concentration profiles with measured wind vectors. Results from these field campaigns show that: 1) artillery with stronger recoiling forces generates more fugitive dust; 2) the dust emission factors for tracked vehicles are correlated with vehicle momentum; 3) emission factor decreases with increasing speed for airborne helicopters; and 4) wheeled vehicles (HEMTT) generate more fugitive dust than tracked vehicles (M88, M270, M577).

Interpretation of Microseismicity Observed From Surface and Borehole Seismic Arrays During Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale - Bedding Plane Slip Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanek, F.; Jechumtalova, Z.; Eisner, L.

2017-12-01

We present a geomechanical model explaining microseismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing in shales developed from many datasets acquired with two most common types of seismic monitoring arrays, surface and dual-borehole arrays. The geomechanical model explains the observed source mechanisms and locations of induced events from two stimulated shale reservoirs. We observe shear dip-slip source mechanisms with nodal planes aligned with location trends. We show that such seismicity can be explained as a shearing along bedding planes caused by aseismic opening of vertical hydraulic fractures. The source mechanism inversion was applied only to selected high-quality events with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. We inverted P- and P- and S-wave arrival amplitudes to full-moment tensor and decomposed it to shear, volumetric and compensated linear vector dipole components. We also tested an effect of noise presented in the data to evaluate reliability of non-shear components. The observed seismicity from both surface and downhole monitoring of shale stimulations is very similar. The locations of induced microseismic events are limited to narrow depth intervals and propagate along distinct trend(s) showing fracture propagation in direction of maximum horizontal stress from injection well(s). The source mechanisms have a small non-shear component which can be partly explained as an effect of noise in the data, i.e. events represent shearing on faults. We observe predominantly dip-slip events with a strike of the steeper (almost vertical) nodal plane parallel to the fracture propagation. Therefore the other possible nodal plane is almost horizontal. The rake angles of the observed mechanisms divide these dip-slips into two groups with opposite polarities. It means that we observe opposite movements on the nearly identically oriented faults. Realizing a typical structural weakness of shale in horizontal planes, we interpret observed microseismicity as a result of shearing along bedding planes caused by seismically silent (aseismic) vertical fracture opening.

A limited 4 Å radial displacement of the S4-S5 linker is sufficient for internal gate closing in Kv channels.

PubMed

Faure, Élise; Starek, Greg; McGuire, Hugo; Bernèche, Simon; Blunck, Rikard

2012-11-16

Voltage-gated ion channels are responsible for the generation of action potentials in our nervous system. Conformational rearrangements in their voltage sensor domains in response to changes of the membrane potential control pore opening and thus ion conduction. Crystal structures of the open channel in combination with a wealth of biophysical data and molecular dynamics simulations led to a consensus on the voltage sensor movement. However, the coupling between voltage sensor movement and pore opening, the electromechanical coupling, occurs at the cytosolic face of the channel, from where no structural information is available yet. In particular, the question how far the cytosolic pore gate has to close to prevent ion conduction remains controversial. In cells, spectroscopic methods are hindered because labeling of internal sites remains difficult, whereas liposomes or detergent solutions containing purified ion channels lack voltage control. Here, to overcome these problems, we controlled the state of the channel by varying the lipid environment. This way, we directly measured the position of the S4-S5 linker in both the open and the closed state of a prokaryotic Kv channel (KvAP) in a lipid environment using Lanthanide-based resonance energy transfer. We were able to reconstruct the movement of the covalent link between the voltage sensor and the pore domain and used this information as restraints for molecular dynamics simulations of the closed state structure. We found that a small decrease of the pore radius of about 3-4 Å is sufficient to prevent ion permeation through the pore.

Effect of complete and partial removable dentures on chewing movements.

PubMed

Gonçalves, T M S V; Vilanova, L S R; Gonçalves, L M; Rodrigues Garcia, R C M

2014-03-01

Partial or complete edentulism impairs mastication. However, it is unclear how the chewing cycle is affected by prosthetics. We evaluated the chewing movements of patients fitted with complete (CD) or removable partial denture (RPD). A total of 29 subjects were kinesiographically evaluated during chewing of peanuts and Optocal portions in a random sequence. The subjects were divided into two groups according to prosthesis type. Group RPD was composed of 14 partially edentulous patients using a lower distal extension RPD (mean age 61 ± 8 years), and group CD contained 15 completely edentulous patients using CD (mean age 65·9 ± 7·9 years) in both jaws. Opening, closing, occlusal and masticatory cycle times, movement angle (opening and closing), maximum velocity (opening and closing), total area and chewing cycle amplitudes were evaluated. The results were subjected to anova and Tukey's HSD test at a significance level of 5%. The RPD group exhibited shorter opening and closing phases and masticatory cycle time (P < 0·05). Maximum velocities were also higher in the RPD group, irrespective of the test material (P < 0·05). The area and amplitude of the chewing envelope was smaller in the CD group (P < 0·0001). The test material did not influence chewing cycles in any of the parameters evaluated (P > 0·05). RPD wearers use a faster chewing sequence with greater vertical and lateral jaw excursions compared with CD wearers. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

OMPC: an Open-Source MATLAB®-to-Python Compiler

PubMed Central

Jurica, Peter; van Leeuwen, Cees

2008-01-01

Free access to scientific information facilitates scientific progress. Open-access scientific journals are a first step in this direction; a further step is to make auxiliary and supplementary materials that accompany scientific publications, such as methodological procedures and data-analysis tools, open and accessible to the scientific community. To this purpose it is instrumental to establish a software base, which will grow toward a comprehensive free and open-source language of technical and scientific computing. Endeavors in this direction are met with an important obstacle. MATLAB®, the predominant computation tool in many fields of research, is a closed-source commercial product. To facilitate the transition to an open computation platform, we propose Open-source MATLAB®-to-Python Compiler (OMPC), a platform that uses syntax adaptation and emulation to allow transparent import of existing MATLAB® functions into Python programs. The imported MATLAB® modules will run independently of MATLAB®, relying on Python's numerical and scientific libraries. Python offers a stable and mature open source platform that, in many respects, surpasses commonly used, expensive commercial closed source packages. The proposed software will therefore facilitate the transparent transition towards a free and general open-source lingua franca for scientific computation, while enabling access to the existing methods and algorithms of technical computing already available in MATLAB®. OMPC is available at http://ompc.juricap.com. PMID:19225577

Tertiary tectonic in the Tehuantepec Isthmus, Mexico

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lopez, F.A.

1993-02-01

A microplate model in the basement was proposed according to photointerpretation of satellite imagery and supported with microtectonic studies in the Tehuantepec's Isthmus. The microplate is located in the northwestern part of the [open quotes]Sierra de Chiapas,[close quotes] and structurally has lineaments that correspond with sinestral wrench faults oriented northeast-southwest and dextral faults oriented northwest-southeast. In the front of the microplate, these faults are joined in an arc form. The microplate began its movement forward to the north in the middle Tertiary. This movement originated in a regional compressional stress that was younger to the north. The stress changed themore » orientation of the anticline axis from northwest-southeast to west-east. In its western limit, the stress produces a sinestral shear stress that built a rotational deformation in the [open quotes]Sierra Atravesada,[close quotes] and represents a superimposed tectonic block over an ancient (laramide) orogeny. This system has also produced other secondary transtensional effects oriented northwest-southeast, represented along the [open quotes]Depression Central del Istmo.[close quotes] The microplate has formed a tensional system opening the [open quotes]Superior, Inferior, and Mar Muerto[close quotes] lagoons. The microplate is strongly related with the relief, seismic activity, and the tectonics of the salt of the Tehuantepec's Isthmus.« less

Open Source Vision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Villano, Matt

2006-01-01

Increasingly, colleges and universities are turning to open source as a way to meet their technology infrastructure and application needs. Open source has changed life for visionary CIOs and their campus communities nationwide. The author discusses what these technologists see as the benefits--and the considerations.

Tracking the Eye Movement of Four Years Old Children Learning Chinese Words

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Dan; Chen, Guangyao; Liu, Yingyi; Liu, Jiaxin; Pan, Jue; Mo, Lei

2018-01-01

Storybook reading is the major source of literacy exposure for beginning readers. The present study tracked 4-year-old Chinese children's eye movements while they were reading simulated storybook pages. Their eye-movement patterns were examined in relation to their word learning gains. The same reading list, consisting of 20 two-character Chinese…

Climate Change and Sustainability Open Educational Resources: Lessons learned and challenges to tackle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Zoe; Whitfield, Stephen; Gertisser, Ralf; Krause, Stefan; McKay, Deirdre; Pringle, Jamie; Szkornik, Katie; Waller, Richard

2010-05-01

The UK's Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES) is currently running a project entitled ‘C-Change in GEES: Open licensing of climate change and sustainability resources in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences' as part of a national Open Educational Resource project. The C-Change project aims to explore the challenges involved in ‘repurposing' existing teaching materials on the topics of climate change and sustainability to make them open access. This project has produced an open access resource of diverse climate change and sustainability-related teaching materials across the subjects of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. The process of repurposing existing face-to-face teaching resources requires consideration of a wide variety of issues including the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) associated with images and other material included in the teaching resources, in addition to issues of quality, accessibility and usability of resources. Open access education is an issue that will have implications across the whole of the organizational structure of a university, from legal advisors with commitments to University research and enterprise activities, to the academics wishing to produce open access resources, through to all levels of senior management. The attitudes, concerns and openness to Open Educational Resources of stakeholders from all positions within a HE institution will have implications for the participation of that institution within the OER movement. The many barriers to the whole-scale adoption of Open Educational Resources within the UK Higher Education system and the willingness of UK Higher Education Institutions to engage in the OER movement include institutional perspectives on the IPR of teaching materials developed by members of staff within the institution and financial viability, in addition to more sceptical attitudes of potential contributors. Keele University is one of seven academic partners in the C-Change project and researchers at Keele have produced open access resources across a wide variety of sustainability-related themes from reconstructing past environments (for example sea-level change); regional impacts of predicted climate change (for example implications to permafrost environments); through to strategies for a sustainable future, including topics on greening business and engineering solutions. The resources range from PowerPoint presentations to image banks, reading lists, and suggestions for classroom and coursework activities. These resources are designed to be useful for other higher education practitioners developing teaching resources in this area. This presentation will present the range of open access resources developed at Keele University in addition to the lessons learnt in repurposing resources for open access, and a summary of different attitudes within Higher Education Institutions towards the OER movement.

76 FR 34634 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Prioritizing Sources of Supplies and Services for Use by the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-14

... contracts before commercial sources in the open market. The proposed rule amends FAR 8.002 as follows: The... requirements for supplies and services from commercial sources in the open market. The proposed FAR 8.004 would... subpart 8.6). (b) Commercial sources (including educational and non-profit institutions) in the open...

Defense AT and L, Volume 40, Number 1, January - February 2011

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

preparation; (2) reception , staging, onward movement and integration, and rehearsal; and (3) transition and validation. The three phases were marked...preparation tasks to move into the reception , staging, onward movement and integration, and rehearsal phase. The transition readiness review was a...been dramatized and glamorized in popular books, tele-vision series, movies , and video games. Such phrases as “the final frontier” (from the opening

A Mission to Serve: How Public Charter Schools Are Designed to Meet the Diverse Demands of Our Communities. Issue Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kern, Nora; Thukral, Renita; Ziebarth, Todd

2012-01-01

The public charter school movement has grown rapidly in the 20 years since the first public charter school opened in 1992, with over 5,600 schools now serving more than two million students. One of the most exceptional developments within the first two decades of the movement has been the rise of high performing public charter schools with…

The Impact of the Great Exhibition of 1851 on the Development of Technical Education during the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Martyn A.

2015-01-01

This paper examines the contribution made by the mechanics' institute movement in Britain just prior to, and following, the opening of the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. It argues that far from making little contribution to education, as often portrayed by historians, the movement was ideally positioned to respond to the findings of the…

Predictive classification of self-paced upper-limb analytical movements with EEG.

PubMed

Ibáñez, Jaime; Serrano, J I; del Castillo, M D; Minguez, J; Pons, J L

2015-11-01

The extent to which the electroencephalographic activity allows the characterization of movements with the upper limb is an open question. This paper describes the design and validation of a classifier of upper-limb analytical movements based on electroencephalographic activity extracted from intervals preceding self-initiated movement tasks. Features selected for the classification are subject specific and associated with the movement tasks. Further tests are performed to reject the hypothesis that other information different from the task-related cortical activity is being used by the classifiers. Six healthy subjects were measured performing self-initiated upper-limb analytical movements. A Bayesian classifier was used to classify among seven different kinds of movements. Features considered covered the alpha and beta bands. A genetic algorithm was used to optimally select a subset of features for the classification. An average accuracy of 62.9 ± 7.5% was reached, which was above the baseline level observed with the proposed methodology (30.2 ± 4.3%). The study shows how the electroencephalography carries information about the type of analytical movement performed with the upper limb and how it can be decoded before the movement begins. In neurorehabilitation environments, this information could be used for monitoring and assisting purposes.

Class III malocclusion with complex problems of lateral open bite and severe crowding successfully treated with miniscrew anchorage and lingual orthodontic brackets.

PubMed

Yanagita, Takeshi; Kuroda, Shingo; Takano-Yamamoto, Teruko; Yamashiro, Takashi

2011-05-01

In this article, we report the successful use of miniscrews in a patient with an Angle Class III malocclusion, lateral open bite, midline deviation, and severe crowding. Simultaneously resolving such problems with conventional Class III treatment is difficult. In this case, the treatment procedure was even more challenging because the patient preferred to have lingual brackets on the maxillary teeth. As a result, miniscrews were used to facilitate significant asymmetric tooth movement in the posterior and downward directions; this contributed to the camouflage of the skeletal mandibular protrusion together with complete resolution of the severe crowding and lateral open bite. Analysis of the jaw motion showed that irregularities in chewing movement were also resolved, and a stable occlusion was achieved. Improvements in the facial profile and dental arches remained stable at the 18-month follow-up. Copyright © 2011 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Back-Arc Opening in the Western End of the Okinawa Trough Revealed From GNSS/Acoustic Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Horng-Yue; Ikuta, Ryoya; Lin, Cheng-Horng; Hsu, Ya-Ju; Kohmi, Takeru; Wang, Chau-Chang; Yu, Shui-Beih; Tu, Yoko; Tsujii, Toshiaki; Ando, Masataka

2018-01-01

We measured seafloor movement using a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)/Acoustic technique at the south of the rifting valley in the western end of the Okinawa Trough back-arc basin, 60 km east of northeastern corner of Taiwan. The horizontal position of the seafloor benchmark, measured eight times between July 2012 and May 2016, showed a southeastward movement suggesting a back-arc opening of the Okinawa Trough. The average velocity of the seafloor benchmark shows a block motion together with Yonaguni Island. The westernmost part of the Ryukyu Arc rotates clockwise and is pulled apart from the Taiwan Island, which should cause the expansion of the Yilan Plain, Taiwan. Comparing the motion of the seafloor benchmark with adjacent seismicity, we suggest a gentle episodic opening of the rifting valley accompanying a moderate seismic activation, which differs from the case in the segment north off-Yonaguni Island where a rapid dyke intrusion occurs with a significant seismic activity.

The consummatory origins of visually guided reaching in human infants: a dynamic integration of whole-body and upper-limb movements.

PubMed

Foroud, Afra; Whishaw, Ian Q

2012-06-01

Reaching-to-eat (skilled reaching) is a natural behaviour that involves reaching for, grasping and withdrawing a target to be placed into the mouth for eating. It is an action performed daily by adults and is among the first complex behaviours to develop in infants. During development, visually guided reaching becomes increasingly refined to the point that grasping of small objects with precision grips of the digits occurs at about one year of age. Integration of the hand, upper-limbs, and whole body are required for successful reaching, but the ontogeny of this integration has not been described. The present longitudinal study used Laban Movement Analysis, a behavioural descriptive method, to investigate the developmental progression of the use and integration of axial, proximal, and distal movements performed during visually guided reaching. Four infants (from 7 to 40 weeks age) were presented with graspable objects (toys or food items). The first prereaching stage was associated with activation of mouth, limb, and hand movements to a visually presented target. Next, reaching attempts consisted of first, the advancement of the head with an opening mouth and then with the head, trunk and opening mouth. Eventually, the axial movements gave way to the refined action of one upper-limb supported by axial adjustments. These findings are discussed in relation to the biological objective of reaching, the evolutionary origins of reaching, and the decomposition of reaching after neurological injury. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proprioceptive coordination of movement sequences: role of velocity and position information.

PubMed

Cordo, P; Carlton, L; Bevan, L; Carlton, M; Kerr, G K

1994-05-01

1. Recent studies have shown that the CNS uses proprioceptive information to coordinate multijoint movement sequences; proprioceptive input related to the kinematics of one joint rotation in a movement sequence can be used to trigger a subsequent joint rotation. In this paper we adopt a broad definition of "proprioception," which includes all somatosensory information related to joint posture and kinematics. This paper addresses how the CNS uses proprioceptive information related to the velocity and position of joints to coordinate multijoint movement sequences. 2. Normal human subjects sat at an experimental apparatus and performed a movement sequence with the right arm without visual feedback. The apparatus passively rotated the right elbow horizontally in the extension direction with either a constant velocity trajectory or an unpredictable velocity trajectory. The subjects' task was to open briskly the right hand when the elbow passed through a prescribed target position, similar to backhand throwing in the horizontal plane. The randomization of elbow velocities and the absence of visual information was used to discourage subjects from using any information other than proprioceptive input to perform the task. 3. Our results indicate that the CNS is able to extract the necessary kinematic information from proprioceptive input to trigger the hand opening at the correct elbow position. We estimated the minimal sensory conduction and processing delay to be 150 ms, and on the basis of this estimate, we predicted the expected performance with different degrees of reduced proprioceptive information. These predictions were compared with the subjects' actual performances, revealing that the CNS was using proprioceptive input related to joint velocity in this motor task. To determine whether position information was also being used, we examined the subjects' performances with unpredictable velocity trajectories. The results from experiments with unpredictable velocity trajectories indicate that the CNS extracts proprioceptive information related to both the velocity and the angular position of the joint to trigger the hand movement in this movement sequence. 4. To determine the generality of proprioceptive triggering in movement sequences, we estimated the minimal movement duration with which proprioceptive information can be used as well as the amount of learning required to use proprioceptive input to perform the task. The temporal limits for proprioceptive processing in this movement task were established by determining the minimal movement time during which the task could be performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Diuranl variations and characteristics of organic molecular composition and stable carbon isotope ratios of PM2.5 in Beijing during the "APEC Blue"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, H.; Fan, S.; Fu, P.

2016-12-01

Fine particulate matters (PM2.5) were collected before and during the 2014 Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2014 APEC) (15 October-12 November) in Beijing to study their sources, diurnal variations, and the effects of region controls on the improving of the air quality. Organic molecular compositions of lipids, saccharides, polyacids, ligin & resin products, aromatic acids, phthalate esters, hopanes, PAHs and sterols were analyzed by GC-MS), while stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of total carbon (TC) were determination using Gas Isotope Ratio MS (IRMS, MAT 253). Results indicated that five aerosol episodes were founded before and during the APEC event. Concentrations of most organic compounds showed maxima at nighttime and were obviously decreased during the APEC. These features were associated with meteorological conditions (especially high relative humidity and low wind speed), reginal emission controls (carried out during APEC), urban boundary layer movement and mountain/valley breezes in Beijing. Before the APEC, the main sources of organic aerosols in Beijing were long-range transport from surrounding cities together with local emission sources, while local emissions became the dominant source during the APEC. Biomass burning, motor emissions, fossil fuel combustion such as coal and petroleum, open-burning of municipal wastes during night significantly contributed to organic aerosols in Beijing. Our results suggest that anthropogenic emissions are important sources of aerosols in Beijing, and the regional controls is an efficient way to improve the air quality.

Biosecurity and Open-Source Biology: The Promise and Peril of Distributed Synthetic Biological Technologies.

PubMed

Evans, Nicholas G; Selgelid, Michael J

2015-08-01

In this article, we raise ethical concerns about the potential misuse of open-source biology (OSB): biological research and development that progresses through an organisational model of radical openness, deskilling, and innovation. We compare this organisational structure to that of the open-source software model, and detail salient ethical implications of this model. We demonstrate that OSB, in virtue of its commitment to openness, may be resistant to governance attempts.

Healthy Movements: Your Body's Mechanics

MedlinePlus

... devised improved treatments for movement disorders such as cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease. Joints are a common source ... which patients could benefit from surgery. People with cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis could also benefit ...