Thinking in, around, and about the Curriculum: The Role of Cognitive Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haywood, H. Carl

2004-01-01

Although everybody agrees that education reform is needed, there is little agreement on the nature of the problems, and certainly not on the remedies; nevertheless, there is a central focus on curriculum issues. Three principal points are addressed in this paper: (a) new approaches in education are urgently needed, (b) new educational approaches…

Thinking In, Around, and About the Curriculum: The Role of Cognitive Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haywood, H. Carl

2004-01-01

Although everybody agrees that education reform is needed, there is little agreement on the nature of the problems, and certainly not on the remedies; nevertheless, there is a central focus on curriculum issues. Three principal points are addressed in this paper: (a) new approaches in education are urgently needed, (b) new educational approaches…

The Big Bad Wolf and Stereotype and Bias in the Media.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Julia

1998-01-01

Describes a librarian/teacher coplanned fourth-grade unit at Central Elementary School (Indianapolis, Indiana). The lesson focused on wolves and pack behavior and incorporated the tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs to teach the media literacy concepts of point of view, message, stereotype, and bias. Sample worksheets are included.…

The Relationship in Biology between the Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kremer, Kerstin; Specht, Christiane; Urhahne, Detlef; Mayer, Jürgen

2014-01-01

Informed understandings of nature of science and scientific inquiry are generally accepted goals of biology education. This article points out central features of scientific inquiry with relation to biology and the nature of science in general terms and focuses on the relationship of students' inquiry skills in biology and their beliefs on the…

Dysfunctional Implications of Narrow Window Theory: Variability in the Intuitive Assessment of Correlation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cahan, Sorel; Mor, Yaniv

2007-01-01

Narrow Window theory, suggested by Y. Kareev ten years ago, has so far focused on one central implication of the limited capacity of working memory on intuitive correlation estimation, namely, overestimation of the distal population correlation. This paper points to additional and perhaps more dramatic implications due to the large dispersion of…

The Influence of the Pell Grant on Four Year Degree Production: A Panel Data Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, David S., II

2014-01-01

An increased amount of energy and effort has been focused on higher education and degree attainment in the United States. President Obama has recently tied the Pell grants into the discussion as a central point in his proposed system of higher education accountability. However, the influence of the Pell grant on degree production has not been…

Papers and Proceedings of Appalachian Legal Services Conference (Knoxville, Tennessee, July 24-26, 1969).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lauritis, Ene-Malle, Ed.

The delegates of the Appalachian Legal Services Conference pointed out that the Legal Resource Foundation was not to be a substitute for any agency or professional group but to supplement existing resources, serving as a central organization to focus attention on the need of communities and states to develop sound and effective legal service…

Numerical simulation the pollutants transport in the Lake base on remote sensing image with Lattice Boltzmann Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, Y.

2013-12-01

As China's economic development, water pollution incidents happened frequently. For example, the cyanobacterial bloom events repeatedly occur in Taihu Lake. In this research, we investigate the pollutants solute transport start at different points, such as the eutrophication substances Nitrogen and Phosphorus et al, with the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) performed on real pore geometries. The LBM has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating the behaviour of multi-component fluid systems in complex pore networks. We will build a quick response simulation system, which is base on the high resolution GIS figure, using the LBM numerical method.When the start two deferent points at the Meiliang Bay nearby the Wuxi City, it is shown that the pollutants solute can't transport out of the bay to influence the Taihu Lake and the diffusion areas are similar. On the other hand, when the start point at central region of the Taihu Lake, it is found that the pollutants solute covered the almost whole area of the lake and the cyanobacterial bloom with good condition. In the same way, if the cyanobacterial bloom transport in the central area, then it will pollute the whole Taihu Lake. Therefore, when we monitor and deal with the eutrophication substances, we need to focus on the central area of lake.

Exogenous and endogenous control of attention: the effect of visual onsets and offsets.

PubMed

Theeuwes, J

1991-01-01

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the relation between exogenous and endogenous control of visual attention. Subjects searched for a target letter among three nontarget letters that were positioned on an imaginary circle around a fixation point. At different cue-display intervals, a centrally located arrowhead cue reliably indicated the location of the target letter. At different SOAs, a peripheral line segment near one of the letters was either abruptly switched on (Experiment 1) or abruptly switched off (Experiment 2). Presenting the central arrowhead after display onset prevents attention from being focused in advance on the critical location. In this unfocused attentional state, both onset and offset transients attracted attention. When the central arrowhead was available in advance, the focusing of attention prior to display onset precluded attention attraction to the location of the onset or offset transient. Contrary to an offset transient, an onset transient presented at the attended location disrupted performance, indicating that an onset within the spotlight of attention attracts attention. The results are reconciled by means of the zoom-lens theory of attention, suggesting that outside the focus of attention, abrupt transients are not capable of attracting attention. Since the size of the zoom lens is under voluntary control, it can be argued that transients do not fulfill the intentionality criterion of automaticity.

Point-of-care oral-based diagnostics

PubMed Central

Hart, RW; Mauk, MG; Liu, C; Qiu, X; Thompson, JA; Chen, D; Malamud, D; Abrams, WR; Bau, HH

2014-01-01

Many of the target molecules that reside in blood are also present in oral fluids, albeit at lower concentrations. Oral fluids are, however, relatively easy and safe to collect without the need for specialized equipment and training. Thus, oral fluids provide convenient samples for medical diagnostics. Recent advances in lab-on-a-chip technologies have made minute, fully integrated diagnostic systems practical for an assortment of point-of-care tests. Such systems can perform either immunoassays or molecular diagnostics outside centralized laboratories within time periods ranging from minutes to an hour. The article briefly reviews recent advances in devices for point-of-care testing with a focus on work that has been carried out by the authors as part of a NIH program. PMID:21521419

Heat waves over Central Europe in regional climate model simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lhotka, Ondřej; Kyselý, Jan

2014-05-01

Regional climate models (RCMs) have become a powerful tool for exploring impacts of global climate change on a regional scale. The aim of the study is to evaluate the capability of RCMs to reproduce characteristics of major heat waves over Central Europe in their simulations of the recent climate (1961-2000), with a focus on the most severe and longest Central European heat wave that occurred in 1994. We analyzed 7 RCM simulations with a high resolution (0.22°) from the ENSEMBLES project, driven by the ERA-40 reanalysis. In observed data (the E-OBS 9.0 dataset), heat waves were defined on the basis of deviations of daily maximum temperature (Tmax) from the 95% quantile of summer Tmax distribution in grid points over Central Europe. The same methodology was applied in the RCM simulations; we used corresponding 95% quantiles (calculated for each RCM and grid point) in order to remove the bias of modelled Tmax. While climatological characteristics of heat waves are reproduced reasonably well in the RCM ensemble, we found major deficiencies in simulating heat waves in individual years. For example, METNOHIRHAM simulated very severe heat waves in 1996, when no heat wave was observed. Focusing on the major 1994 heat wave, considerable differences in simulated temperature patterns were found among the RCMs. The differences in the temperature patterns were clearly linked to the simulated amount of precipitation during this event. The 1994 heat wave was almost absent in all RCMs that did not capture the observed precipitation deficit, while it was by far most pronounced in KNMI-RACMO that simulated virtually no precipitation over Central Europe during the 15-day period of the heat wave. By contrast to precipitation, values of evaporative fraction in the RCMs were not linked to severity of the simulated 1994 heat wave. This suggests a possible major contribution of other factors such as cloud cover and associated downward shortwave radiation. Therefore, a more detailed analysis of individual components of the energy budget over Central Europe during and before the 1994 heat wave was performed.

KSC-04PD-0266

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (center) makes a point while talking to NASA Administrator Sean OKeefe (right) about the assets of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando, as the site of NASAs new Shared Services Center. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration for location of the Center, which would centralize NASAs payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Others attending the presentation included Congressman Tom Feeney, Congressman Dave Weldon, U.S. Representative Ric Keller, Center Director Jim Kennedy and Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida.

Investigations into Performance and Lifetime Enhancements of OPV Devices: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-08-263

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

Ginley, D.

2014-06-01

To evaluate Plextronics new additives and derivatives in lithium-ion Battery Applications, Plextronics will provide to NREL, a starting point, including materials and initial data for proof of concept. The central focus of this project is to acertain the nature of the efficacy of the Plextronics additives through physical and electrical characterization, including evaluations of new derivatives, system evaluations on batteries made with Plexcore and to study long term cycling performance differences. The initial focus is to establish Plexcore mode of action to support the commercialization of the first commercial evaluations of Plexcore in Sept. 2013.

Segmented Mirror Image Degradation Due to Surface Dust, Alignment and Figure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreur, Julian J.

1999-01-01

In 1996 an algorithm was developed to include the effects of surface roughness in the calculation of the point spread function of a telescope mirror. This algorithm has been extended to include the effects of alignment errors and figure errors for the individual elements, and an overall contamination by surface dust. The final algorithm builds an array for a guard-banded pupil function of a mirror that may or may not have a central hole, a central reflecting segment, or an outer ring of segments. The central hole, central reflecting segment, and outer ring may be circular or polygonal, and the outer segments may have trimmed comers. The modeled point spread functions show that x-tilt and y-tilt, or the corresponding R-tilt and theta-tilt for a segment in an outer ring, is readily apparent for maximum wavefront errors of 0.1 lambda. A similar sized piston error is also apparent, but integral wavelength piston errors are not. Severe piston error introduces a focus error of the opposite sign, so piston could be adjusted to compensate for segments with varying focal lengths. Dust affects the image principally by decreasing the Strehl ratio, or peak intensity of the image. For an eight-meter telescope a 25% coverage by dust produced a scattered light intensity of 10(exp -9) of the peak intensity, a level well below detectability.

The Crash Intensity Evaluation Using General Centrality Criterions and a Geographically Weighted Regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghadiriyan Arani, M.; Pahlavani, P.; Effati, M.; Noori Alamooti, F.

2017-09-01

Today, one of the social problems influencing on the lives of many people is the road traffic crashes especially the highway ones. In this regard, this paper focuses on highway of capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States namely Atlanta. Geographically weighted regression and general centrality criteria are the aspects of traffic used for this article. In the first step, in order to estimate of crash intensity, it is needed to extract the dual graph from the status of streets and highways to use general centrality criteria. With the help of the graph produced, the criteria are: Degree, Pageranks, Random walk, Eccentricity, Closeness, Betweenness, Clustering coefficient, Eigenvector, and Straightness. The intensity of crash point is counted for every highway by dividing the number of crashes in that highway to the total number of crashes. Intensity of crash point is calculated for each highway. Then, criteria and crash point were normalized and the correlation between them was calculated to determine the criteria that are not dependent on each other. The proposed hybrid approach is a good way to regression issues because these effective measures result to a more desirable output. R2 values for geographically weighted regression using the Gaussian kernel was 0.539 and also 0.684 was obtained using a triple-core cube. The results showed that the triple-core cube kernel is better for modeling the crash intensity.

Exploring the chemical kinetics of partially oxidized intermediates by combining experiments, theory, and kinetic modeling.

PubMed

Hoyermann, Karlheinz; Mauß, Fabian; Olzmann, Matthias; Welz, Oliver; Zeuch, Thomas

2017-07-19

Partially oxidized intermediates play a central role in combustion and atmospheric chemistry. In this perspective, we focus on the chemical kinetics of alkoxy radicals, peroxy radicals, and Criegee intermediates, which are key species in both combustion and atmospheric environments. These reactive intermediates feature a broad spectrum of chemical diversity. Their reactivity is central to our understanding of how volatile organic compounds are degraded in the atmosphere and converted into secondary organic aerosol. Moreover, they sensitively determine ignition timing in internal combustion engines. The intention of this perspective article is to provide the reader with information about the general mechanisms of reactions initiated by addition of atomic and molecular oxygen to alkyl radicals and ozone to alkenes. We will focus on critical branching points in the subsequent reaction mechanisms and discuss them from a consistent point of view. As a first example of our integrated approach, we will show how experiment, theory, and kinetic modeling have been successfully combined in the first infrared detection of Criegee intermediates during the gas phase ozonolysis. As a second example, we will examine the ignition timing of n-heptane/air mixtures at low and intermediate temperatures. Here, we present a reduced, fuel size independent kinetic model of the complex chemistry initiated by peroxy radicals that has been successfully applied to simulate standard n-heptane combustion experiments.

Assistive technology for ultrasound-guided central venous catheter placement.

PubMed

Ikhsan, Mohammad; Tan, Kok Kiong; Putra, Andi Sudjana

2018-01-01

This study evaluated the existing technology used to improve the safety and ease of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization. Electronic database searches were conducted in Scopus, IEEE, Google Patents, and relevant conference databases (SPIE, MICCAI, and IEEE conferences) for related articles on assistive technology for ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization. A total of 89 articles were examined and pointed to several fields that are currently the focus of improvements to ultrasound-guided procedures. These include improving needle visualization, needle guides and localization technology, image processing algorithms to enhance and segment important features within the ultrasound image, robotic assistance using probe-mounted manipulators, and improving procedure ergonomics through in situ projections of important information. Probe-mounted robotic manipulators provide a promising avenue for assistive technology developed for freehand ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures. However, there is currently a lack of clinical trials to validate the effectiveness of these devices.

ConnectX2 In niBand Management Queues: New support for Network Of oaded

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

Graham, Richard L; Poole, Stephen W; Shamis, Pavel

2010-01-01

This paper introduces the newly developed InfiniBand (IB) Management Queue capability, used by the Host Channel Adapter (HCA) to manage network task data flow dependancies, and progress the communications associated with such flows. These tasks include sends, receives, and the newly supported wait task, and are scheduled by the HCA based on a data dependency description provided by the user. This functionality is supported by the ConnectX-2 HCA, and provides the means for delegating collective communication management and progress to the HCA, also known as collective communication offload. This provides a means for overlapping collective communications managed by the HCAmore » and computation on the Central Processing Unit (CPU), thus making it possible to reduce the impact of system noise on parallel applications using collective operations. This paper further describes how this new capability can be used to implement scalable Message Passing Interface (MPI) collective operations, describing the high level details of how this new capability is used to implement the MPI Barrier collective operation, focusing on the latency sensitive performance aspects of this new capability. This paper concludes with small scale benchmark experiments comparing implementations of the barrier collective operation, using the new network offload capabilities, with established point-to-point based implementations of these same algorithms, which manage the data flow using the central processing unit. These early results demonstrate the promise this new capability provides to improve the scalability of high-performance applications using collective communications. The latency of the HCA based implementation of the barrier is similar to that of the best performing point-to-point based implementation managed by the central processing unit, starting to outperform these as the number of processes involved in the collective operation increases.« less

ConnectX-2 InfiniBand Management Queues: First Investigation of the New Support for Network Offloaded Collective Operations

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

Graham, Richard L; Poole, Stephen W; Shamis, Pavel

2010-01-01

This paper introduces the newly developed Infini-Band (IB) Management Queue capability, used by the Host Channel Adapter (HCA) to manage network task data flow dependancies, and progress the communications associated with such flows. These tasks include sends, receives, and the newly supported wait task, and are scheduled by the HCA based on a data dependency description provided by the user. This functionality is supported by the ConnectX-2 HCA, and provides the means for delegating collective communication management and progress to the HCA, also known as collective communication offload. This provides a means for overlapping collective communications managed by the HCAmore » and computation on the Central Processing Unit (CPU), thus making it possible to reduce the impact of system noise on parallel applications using collective operations. This paper further describes how this new capability can be used to implement scalable Message Passing Interface (MPI) collective operations, describing the high level details of how this new capability is used to implement the MPI Barrier collective operation, focusing on the latency sensitive performance aspects of this new capability. This paper concludes with small scale benchmark experiments comparing implementations of the barrier collective operation, using the new network offload capabilities, with established point-to-point based implementations of these same algorithms, which manage the data flow using the central processing unit. These early results demonstrate the promise this new capability provides to improve the scalability of high performance applications using collective communications. The latency of the HCA based implementation of the barrier is similar to that of the best performing point-to-point based implementation managed by the central processing unit, starting to outperform these as the number of processes involved in the collective operation increases.« less

Development and Validation of the Body-Focused Shame and Guilt Scale

PubMed Central

Weingarden, Hilary; Renshaw, Keith D.; Tangney, June P.; Wilhelm, Sabine

2015-01-01

Body shame is described as central in clinical literature on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). However, empirical investigations of body shame within BDD are rare. One potential reason for the scarcity of such research may be that existing measures of body shame focus on eating and weight-based content. Within BDD, however, body shame likely focuses more broadly on shame felt in response to perceived appearance flaws in one’s body parts. We describe the development and validation of the Body-Focused Shame and Guilt Scale (BF-SGS), a measure of BDD-relevant body shame, across two studies: a two time-point study of undergraduates, and a follow-up study in two Internet-recruited clinical samples (BDD, obsessive compulsive disorder) and healthy controls. Across both studies, the BF-SGS shame subscale demonstrated strong reliability and construct validity, with Study 2 providing initial clinical norms. PMID:26640760

Truncation of the secondary concentrator (CPC) between maximum performances and economical requirements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segal, A.; Epstein, M.

2009-08-01

A central solar plant, based on beam-down optics, is composed of a field of heliostats, a tower reflector and a ground receiver. The tower reflector is an optical system comprises of a quadric surface mirror (hyperboloid), where its upper focal point coincides with the aim point of a heliostat field and its lower focal point is located at a specified height, coinciding with the entrance plane of the ground receiver. The optics of a tower reflector requires the use of ground secondary concentrator, composed of a cluster of CPCs, because the quadric surface mirror always magnifies the sun image. There is an intrinsic correlation between the tower reflector position and its size on one hand, and the geometry, dimensions and reflective area of the secondary concentrator on the other hand; both are related to the heliostat field reflective area. Obviously, when one wishes to have a smaller tower reflector by placing it closer to the upper focal point, the image created at the lower focus will be larger, resulting in a larger secondary ground concentrator. The present work analyses the ways for a substantial decrease of the size of the ground concentrator cluster (and, implicit, the concentrators area) via truncation, without significant sacrifice of the performance, although some increase of the optical losses is inevitable. This offers a method for cost effective design of future central solar plants utilizing the beam down optics.

Comparison of Several Dissipation Algorithms for Central Difference Schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, R. C.; Radespiel, R.; Turkel, E.

1997-01-01

Several algorithms for introducing artificial dissipation into a central difference approximation to the Euler and Navier Stokes equations are considered. The focus of the paper is on the convective upwind and split pressure (CUSP) scheme, which is designed to support single interior point discrete shock waves. This scheme is analyzed and compared in detail with scalar and matrix dissipation (MATD) schemes. Resolution capability is determined by solving subsonic, transonic, and hypersonic flow problems. A finite-volume discretization and a multistage time-stepping scheme with multigrid are used to compute solutions to the flow equations. Numerical results are also compared with either theoretical solutions or experimental data. For transonic airfoil flows the best accuracy on coarse meshes for aerodynamic coefficients is obtained with a simple MATD scheme.

KSC-04PD-0271

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. Congressman Tom Feeney (left) makes a point during a discussion around the table about the assets of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando, as the site of NASAs new Shared Services Center. At center is U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; at right is NASA Administrator Sean OKeefe. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration for location of the Center, which would centralize NASAs payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Others attending the presentation included Congressman Dave Weldon, U.S. Representative Ric Keller, Center Director Jim Kennedy and Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida.

KSC-04pd0271

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Congressman Tom Feeney (left) makes a point during a discussion around the table about the assets of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando, as the site of NASA’s new Shared Services Center. At center is U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; at right is NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration for location of the Center, which would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Others attending the presentation included Congressman Dave Weldon, U.S. Representative Ric Keller, Center Director Jim Kennedy and Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida.

Scattering and the Point Spread Function of the New Generation Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreur, Julian J.

1996-01-01

Preliminary design work on the New Generation Space Telescope (NGST) is currently under way. This telescope is envisioned as a lightweight, deployable Cassegrain reflector with an aperture of 8 meters, and an effective focal length of 80 meters. It is to be folded into a small-diameter package for launch by an Atlas booster, and unfolded in orbit. The primary is to consist of an octagon with a hole at the center, and with eight segments arranged in a flower petal configuration about the octagon. The comers of the petal-shaped segments are to be trimmed so that the package will fit atop the Atlas booster. This mirror, along with its secondary will focus the light from a point source into an image which is spread from a point by diffraction effects, figure errors, and scattering of light from the surface. The distribution of light in the image of a point source is called a point spread function (PSF). The obstruction of the incident light by the secondary mirror and its support structure, the trimmed corners of the petals, and the grooves between the segments all cause the diffraction pattern characterizing an ideal point spread function to be changed, with the trimmed comers causing the rings of the Airy pattern to become broken up, and the linear grooves causing diffraction spikes running radially away from the central spot, or Airy disk. Any figure errors the mirror segments may have, or any errors in aligning the petals with the central octagon will also spread the light out from the ideal point spread function. A point spread function for a mirror the size of the NGST and having an incident wavelength of 900 nm is considered. Most of the light is confined in a circle with a diameter of 0.05 arc seconds. The ring pattern ranges in intensity from 10(exp -2) near the center to 10(exp -6) near the edge of the plotted field, and can be clearly discerned in a log plot of the intensity. The total fraction of the light scattered from this point spread function is called the total integrated scattering (TIS), and the fraction remaining is called the Strehl ratio. The angular distribution of the scattered light is called the angle resolved scattering (ARS), and it shows a strong spike centered on a scattering angle of zero, and a broad , less intense distribution at larger angles. It is this scattered light, and its effect on the point spread function which is the focus of this study.

Axial field shaping under high-numerical-aperture focusing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jabbour, Toufic G.; Kuebler, Stephen M.

2007-03-01

Kant reported [J. Mod. Optics47, 905 (2000)] a formulation for solving the inverse problem of vector diffraction, which accurately models high-NA focusing. Here, Kant's formulation is adapted to the method of generalized projections to obtain an algorithm for designing diffractive optical elements (DOEs) that reshape the axial point-spread function (PSF). The algorithm is applied to design a binary phase-only DOE that superresolves the axial PSF with controlled increase in axial sidelobes. An 11-zone DOE is identified that axially narrows the PSF central lobe by 29% while maintaining the sidelobe intensity at or below 52% of the peak intensity. This DOE could improve the resolution achievable in several applications without significantly complicating the optical system.

An integrative relational point of view.

PubMed

Wachtel, Paul L

2014-09-01

This article, part of a special section on the Relational Foundations of Psychotherapy, describes a particular relational approach called cyclical psychodynamics. Cyclical psychodynamics is rooted both in the relational perspective in psychoanalysis and in an integrative melding of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, systemic, and experiential points of view. Central to its theoretical structure is a focus on the vicious and virtuous circles that perpetuate (or contribute to changing) personality patterns that may have originated in childhood but that persist because they often generate the very feedback from others that is necessary to keep them going. As a consequence of this latter focus, the relational foundation of cyclical psychodynamic therapy addresses in equal and dynamically reciprocal fashion both the therapeutic relationship in the consulting room and the key relationships outside the consulting room that play an essential role in the maintenance or change of the problematic patterns the person has come to therapy to work on. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.

Three mirror glancing incidence system for X-ray telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoover, R. B. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

A telescope suitable for soft X-ray astronomical observations consists of a paraboloid section for receiving rays at a grazing angle and a hyperboloid section which receives reflections from the paraboloid at a grazing angle and directs them to a predetermined point of focus. A second hyperboloid section is centrally located from the other two surfaces and positioned to reflect from its outer surface radiation which was not first reflected by the paraboloid. A shutter is included to assist in calibration.

Architectural Principles for Orchestration of Cross-Organizational Service Delivery: Case Studies from the Netherlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veenstra, Anne Fleur; Janssen, Marijn

One of the main challenges for e-government is to create coherent services for citizens and businesses. Realizing Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) requires government agencies to collaborate across their organizational boundaries. The coordination of processes across multiple organizations to realize ISD is called orchestration. One way of achieving orchestration is to formalize processes using architecture. In this chapter we identify architectural principles for orchestration by looking at three case studies of cross-organizational service delivery chain formation in the Netherlands. In total, six generic principles were formulated and subsequently validated in two workshops with experts. These principles are: (i) build an intelligent front office, (ii) give processes a clear starting point and end, (iii) build a central workflow application keeping track of the process, (iv) differentiate between simple and complex processes, (v) ensure that the decision-making responsibility and the overview of the process are not performed by the same process role, and (vi) create a central point where risk profiles are maintained. Further research should focus on how organizations can adapt these principles to their own situation.

Dry needling — peripheral and central considerations

PubMed Central

Dommerholt, Jan

2011-01-01

Dry needling is a common treatment technique in orthopedic manual physical therapy. Although various dry needling approaches exist, the more common and best supported approach targets myofascial trigger points. This article aims to place trigger point dry needling within the context of pain sciences. From a pain science perspective, trigger points are constant sources of peripheral nociceptive input leading to peripheral and central sensitization. Dry needling cannot only reverse some aspects of central sensitization, it reduces local and referred pain, improves range of motion and muscle activation pattern, and alters the chemical environment of trigger points. Trigger point dry needling should be based on a thorough understanding of the scientific background of trigger points, the differences and similarities between active and latent trigger points, motor adaptation, and central sensitize application. Several outcome studies are included, as well as comments on dry needling and acupuncture. PMID:23115475

Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: BP America Production Company - Wolf Point Central Delivery Point

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the response to public comments and the final synthetic minor NSR permit for the BP America Production Company, Wolf Point Central Delivery Point, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in La Plata County, CO.

Modeling fixation locations using spatial point processes.

PubMed

Barthelmé, Simon; Trukenbrod, Hans; Engbert, Ralf; Wichmann, Felix

2013-10-01

Whenever eye movements are measured, a central part of the analysis has to do with where subjects fixate and why they fixated where they fixated. To a first approximation, a set of fixations can be viewed as a set of points in space; this implies that fixations are spatial data and that the analysis of fixation locations can be beneficially thought of as a spatial statistics problem. We argue that thinking of fixation locations as arising from point processes is a very fruitful framework for eye-movement data, helping turn qualitative questions into quantitative ones. We provide a tutorial introduction to some of the main ideas of the field of spatial statistics, focusing especially on spatial Poisson processes. We show how point processes help relate image properties to fixation locations. In particular we show how point processes naturally express the idea that image features' predictability for fixations may vary from one image to another. We review other methods of analysis used in the literature, show how they relate to point process theory, and argue that thinking in terms of point processes substantially extends the range of analyses that can be performed and clarify their interpretation.

Low-profile heliostat design for solar central receiver systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fourakis, E.; Severson, A. M.

1977-01-01

Heliostat designs intended to reduce costs and the effect of adverse wind loads on the devices were developed. Included was the low-profile heliostat consisting of a stiff frame with sectional focusing reflectors coupled together to turn as a unit. The entire frame is arranged to turn angularly about a center point. The ability of the heliostat to rotate about both the vertical and horizontal axes permits a central computer control system to continuously aim the sun's reflection onto a selected target. An engineering model of the basic device was built and is being tested. Control and mirror parameters, such as roughness and need for fine aiming, are being studied. The fabrication of these prototypes is in process. The model was also designed to test mirror focusing techniques, heliostat geometry, mechanical functioning, and tracking control. The model can be easily relocated to test mirror imaging on a tower from various directions. In addition to steering and aiming studies, the tests include the effects of temperature changes, wind gusting and weathering. The results of economic studies on this heliostat are also presented.

32 CFR 37.1040 - When and how do I report information required by § 37.1035?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the central point for reporting to the DTIC must be: (a) Submitted by the dates that your central point establishes (which is consistent with the schedule DTIC specifies to DoD Components). (b) In the format that your central point provides (which is consistent with the format that the DTIC specifies to...

32 CFR 37.1040 - When and how do I report information required by § 37.1035?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the central point for reporting to the DTIC must be: (a) Submitted by the dates that your central point establishes (which is consistent with the schedule DTIC specifies to DoD Components). (b) In the format that your central point provides (which is consistent with the format that the DTIC specifies to...

32 CFR 37.1040 - When and how do I report information required by § 37.1035?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the central point for reporting to the DTIC must be: (a) Submitted by the dates that your central point establishes (which is consistent with the schedule DTIC specifies to DoD Components). (b) In the format that your central point provides (which is consistent with the format that the DTIC specifies to...

32 CFR 37.1040 - When and how do I report information required by § 37.1035?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the central point for reporting to the DTIC must be: (a) Submitted by the dates that your central point establishes (which is consistent with the schedule DTIC specifies to DoD Components). (b) In the format that your central point provides (which is consistent with the format that the DTIC specifies to...

Freiburg RNA tools: a central online resource for RNA-focused research and teaching.

PubMed

Raden, Martin; Ali, Syed M; Alkhnbashi, Omer S; Busch, Anke; Costa, Fabrizio; Davis, Jason A; Eggenhofer, Florian; Gelhausen, Rick; Georg, Jens; Heyne, Steffen; Hiller, Michael; Kundu, Kousik; Kleinkauf, Robert; Lott, Steffen C; Mohamed, Mostafa M; Mattheis, Alexander; Miladi, Milad; Richter, Andreas S; Will, Sebastian; Wolff, Joachim; Wright, Patrick R; Backofen, Rolf

2018-05-21

The Freiburg RNA tools webserver is a well established online resource for RNA-focused research. It provides a unified user interface and comprehensive result visualization for efficient command line tools. The webserver includes RNA-RNA interaction prediction (IntaRNA, CopraRNA, metaMIR), sRNA homology search (GLASSgo), sequence-structure alignments (LocARNA, MARNA, CARNA, ExpaRNA), CRISPR repeat classification (CRISPRmap), sequence design (antaRNA, INFO-RNA, SECISDesign), structure aberration evaluation of point mutations (RaSE), and RNA/protein-family models visualization (CMV), and other methods. Open education resources offer interactive visualizations of RNA structure and RNA-RNA interaction prediction as well as basic and advanced sequence alignment algorithms. The services are freely available at http://rna.informatik.uni-freiburg.de.

Child, parent, and parent-child emotion narratives: implications for developmental psychopathology.

PubMed

Oppenheim, David

2006-01-01

Studies using narratives with children and parents offer ways to study affective meaning-making processes that are central in many theories of developmental psychopathology. This paper reviews theory regarding affective meaning making, and argues that narratives are particularly suited to examine such processes. The review of narrative studies and methods is organized into three sections according to the focus on child, parent, and parent-child narratives. Within each focus three levels of analysis are considered: (a) narrative organization and coherence, (b) narrative content, and (c) the behavior/interactions of the narrator(s). The implications of this research for developmental psychopathology and clinical work are discussed with an emphasis on parent-child jointly constructed narratives as the meeting point of individual child and parent narratives.

Evaluation of Time Spent by Pharmacists and Nurses Based on the Location of Pharmacist Involvement in Medication History Collection.

PubMed

Chhabra, Anmol; Quinn, Andrea; Ries, Amanda

2018-01-01

Accurate history collection is integral to medication reconciliation. Studies support pharmacy involvement in the process, but assessment of global time spent is limited. The authors hypothesized the location of a medication-focused interview would impact time spent. The objective was to compare time spent by pharmacists and nurses based on the location of a medication-focused interview. Time spent by the interviewing pharmacist, admitting nurse, and centralized pharmacist verifying admission orders was collected. Patient groups were based on whether the interview was conducted in the emergency department (ED) or medical floor. The primary end point was a composite of the 3 time points. Secondary end points were individual time components and number and types of transcription discrepancies identified during medical floor interviews. Pharmacists and nurses spent an average of ten fewer minutes per ED patient versus a medical floor patient ( P = .028). Secondary end points were not statistically significant. Transcription discrepancies were identified at a rate of 1 in 4 medications. Post hoc analysis revealed the time spent by pharmacists and nurses was 2.4 minutes shorter per medication when interviewed in the ED ( P < .001). The primary outcome was statistically and clinically significant. Limitations included inability to blind and lack of cost-saving analysis. Pharmacist involvement in ED medication reconciliation leads to time savings during the admission process.

THE CHANDRA SURVEY OF THE COSMOS FIELD. II. SOURCE DETECTION AND PHOTOMETRY

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

Puccetti, S.; Vignali, C.; Cappelluti, N.

2009-12-01

The Chandra COSMOS Survey (C-COSMOS) is a large, 1.8 Ms, Chandra program that covers the central contiguous {approx}0.92 deg{sup 2} of the COSMOS field. C-COSMOS is the result of a complex tiling, with every position being observed in up to six overlapping pointings (four overlapping pointings in most of the central {approx}0.45 deg{sup 2} area with the best exposure, and two overlapping pointings in most of the surrounding area, covering an additional {approx}0.47 deg{sup 2}). Therefore, the full exploitation of the C-COSMOS data requires a dedicated and accurate analysis focused on three main issues: (1) maximizing the sensitivity when themore » point-spread function (PSF) changes strongly among different observations of the same source (from {approx}1 arcsec up to {approx}10 arcsec half-power radius); (2) resolving close pairs; and (3) obtaining the best source localization and count rate. We present here our treatment of four key analysis items: source detection, localization, photometry, and survey sensitivity. Our final procedure consists of a two step procedure: (1) a wavelet detection algorithm to find source candidates and (2) a maximum likelihood PSF fitting algorithm to evaluate the source count rates and the probability that each source candidate is a fluctuation of the background. We discuss the main characteristics of this procedure, which was the result of detailed comparisons between different detection algorithms and photometry tools, calibrated with extensive and dedicated simulations.« less

Multi-slice ptychography with large numerical aperture multilayer Laue lenses

DOE PAGES

Ozturk, Hande; Yan, Hanfei; He, Yan; ...

2018-05-09

Here, the highly convergent x-ray beam focused by multilayer Laue lenses with large numerical apertures is used as a three-dimensional (3D) probe to image layered structures with an axial separation larger than the depth of focus. Instead of collecting weakly scattered high-spatial-frequency signals, the depth-resolving power is provided purely by the intense central cone diverged from the focused beam. Using the multi-slice ptychography method combined with the on-the-fly scan scheme, two layers of nanoparticles separated by 10 μm are successfully reconstructed with 8.1 nm lateral resolution and with a dwell time as low as 0.05 s per scan point. Thismore » approach obtains high-resolution images with extended depth of field, which paves the way for multi-slice ptychography as a high throughput technique for high-resolution 3D imaging of thick samples.« less

Multi-slice ptychography with large numerical aperture multilayer Laue lenses

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

Ozturk, Hande; Yan, Hanfei; He, Yan

Here, the highly convergent x-ray beam focused by multilayer Laue lenses with large numerical apertures is used as a three-dimensional (3D) probe to image layered structures with an axial separation larger than the depth of focus. Instead of collecting weakly scattered high-spatial-frequency signals, the depth-resolving power is provided purely by the intense central cone diverged from the focused beam. Using the multi-slice ptychography method combined with the on-the-fly scan scheme, two layers of nanoparticles separated by 10 μm are successfully reconstructed with 8.1 nm lateral resolution and with a dwell time as low as 0.05 s per scan point. Thismore » approach obtains high-resolution images with extended depth of field, which paves the way for multi-slice ptychography as a high throughput technique for high-resolution 3D imaging of thick samples.« less

From cacophony to symphony: how to focus the discipline of business continuity.

PubMed

Copenhaver, John; Lindstedt, David

2010-03-01

On the 'stage' of business continuity, there is a cacophony of voices--an unfocused assortment of ideas, approaches and advice. A casual glance at any continuity trade journal quickly reveals disparate discussions about even the most fundamental of issues. The dedicated magazines and conferences are filled with anecdotes and case studies but lack a focused discussion leading towards a holistic approach to the discipline. In fact, most often these discussions are not proper conversations at all, but disjointed groupings of loosely connected topics. It is time for practitioners to organise their considerable collective talent into a structured effort to ground and defend this growing profession. It is time to move from an informal sharing of individual lessons learned to a studied discipline. This paper proposes several ways to focus thinking and energise efforts. It will offer a select few topics to help provide a framework of central focal points for research, thought and growth.

Electrophysiological Evidence for Hyperfocusing of Spatial Attention in Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Kreither, Johanna; Lopez-Calderon, Javier; Leonard, Carly J; Robinson, Benjamin M; Ruffle, Abigail; Hahn, Britta; Gold, James M; Luck, Steven J

2017-04-05

A recently proposed hyperfocusing hypothesis of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia proposes that people with schizophrenia (PSZ) tend to concentrate processing resources more narrowly but more intensely than healthy control subjects (HCS). The present study tests a key prediction of this hypothesis, namely, that PSZ will hyperfocus on information presented at the center of gaze. This should lead to greater filtering of peripheral stimuli when the task requires focusing centrally but reduced filtering of central stimuli when the task requires attending broadly in the periphery. These predictions were tested in a double oddball paradigm, in which frequent standard stimuli and rare oddball stimuli were presented at central and peripheral locations while event-related potentials were recorded. Participants were instructed to discriminate between the standard and oddball stimuli at either the central location or at the peripheral locations. PSZ and HCS showed opposite patterns of spatial bias at the level of early sensory processing, as assessed with the P1 component: PSZ exhibited stronger sensory suppression of peripheral stimuli when the task required attending narrowly to the central location, whereas HCS exhibited stronger sensory suppression of central stimuli when the task required attending broadly to the peripheral locations. Moreover, PSZ exhibited a stronger stimulus categorization response than HCS, as assessed with the P3b component, for central stimuli when the task required attending to the peripheral region. These results provide strong evidence of hyperfocusing in PSZ, which may provide a unified mechanistic account of multiple aspects of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Schizophrenia clearly involves impaired attention, but attention is complex, and delineating the precise nature of attentional dysfunction in schizophrenia has been difficult. The present study tests a new hyperfocusing hypothesis, which proposes that people with schizophrenia (PSZ) tend to concentrate processing resources more intensely but more narrowly than healthy control subjects (HCS). Using electrophysiological measures of sensory and cognitive processing, we found that PSZ were actually superior to HCS in focusing attention at the point of gaze and filtering out peripheral distractors when the task required a narrow focusing of attention. This finding of superior filtering in PSZ supports the hyperfocusing hypothesis, which may provide the mechanism underlying a broad range of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/373813-11$15.00/0.

Electrophysiological Evidence for Hyperfocusing of Spatial Attention in Schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Kreither, Johanna; Lopez-Calderon, Javier; Leonard, Carly J.; Robinson, Benjamin M.; Ruffle, Abigail; Hahn, Britta; Gold, James M.

2017-01-01

A recently proposed hyperfocusing hypothesis of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia proposes that people with schizophrenia (PSZ) tend to concentrate processing resources more narrowly but more intensely than healthy control subjects (HCS). The present study tests a key prediction of this hypothesis, namely, that PSZ will hyperfocus on information presented at the center of gaze. This should lead to greater filtering of peripheral stimuli when the task requires focusing centrally but reduced filtering of central stimuli when the task requires attending broadly in the periphery. These predictions were tested in a double oddball paradigm, in which frequent standard stimuli and rare oddball stimuli were presented at central and peripheral locations while event-related potentials were recorded. Participants were instructed to discriminate between the standard and oddball stimuli at either the central location or at the peripheral locations. PSZ and HCS showed opposite patterns of spatial bias at the level of early sensory processing, as assessed with the P1 component: PSZ exhibited stronger sensory suppression of peripheral stimuli when the task required attending narrowly to the central location, whereas HCS exhibited stronger sensory suppression of central stimuli when the task required attending broadly to the peripheral locations. Moreover, PSZ exhibited a stronger stimulus categorization response than HCS, as assessed with the P3b component, for central stimuli when the task required attending to the peripheral region. These results provide strong evidence of hyperfocusing in PSZ, which may provide a unified mechanistic account of multiple aspects of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Schizophrenia clearly involves impaired attention, but attention is complex, and delineating the precise nature of attentional dysfunction in schizophrenia has been difficult. The present study tests a new hyperfocusing hypothesis, which proposes that people with schizophrenia (PSZ) tend to concentrate processing resources more intensely but more narrowly than healthy control subjects (HCS). Using electrophysiological measures of sensory and cognitive processing, we found that PSZ were actually superior to HCS in focusing attention at the point of gaze and filtering out peripheral distractors when the task required a narrow focusing of attention. This finding of superior filtering in PSZ supports the hyperfocusing hypothesis, which may provide the mechanism underlying a broad range of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. PMID:28283557

Altered visual focus on sensorimotor control in people with chronic ankle instability.

PubMed

Terada, Masafumi; Ball, Lindsay M; Pietrosimone, Brian G; Gribble, Phillip A

2016-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of the combination of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and altered visual focus on strategies for dynamic stability during a drop-jump task. Nineteen participants with self-reported CAI and 19 healthy participants performed a drop-jump task in looking-up and looking-down conditions. For the looking-up condition, participants looked up and read a random number that flashed on a computer monitor. For the looking-down condition, participants focused their vision on the force plate. Sagittal- and frontal-plane kinematics in the hip, knee and ankle were calculated at the time points of 100 ms pre-initial foot contact to ground and at IC. The resultant vector time to stabilisation was calculated with ground reaction force data. The CAI group demonstrated less hip flexion at the point of 100 ms pre-initial contact (P < 0.01), and less hip flexion (P = 0.03) and knee flexion at initial contact (P = 0.047) compared to controls. No differences in kinematics or dynamic stability were observed in either looking-up or looking-down conditions (P > 0.05). Altered visual focus did not influence movement patterns during the drop-jump task, but the presence of CAI did. The current data suggests that centrally mediated changes associated with CAI may lead to global alterations in the sensorimotor control.

Monte Carlo based toy model for fission process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurniadi, R.; Waris, A.; Viridi, S.

2014-09-01

There are many models and calculation techniques to obtain visible image of fission yield process. In particular, fission yield can be calculated by using two calculations approach, namely macroscopic approach and microscopic approach. This work proposes another calculation approach in which the nucleus is treated as a toy model. Hence, the fission process does not represent real fission process in nature completely. The toy model is formed by Gaussian distribution of random number that randomizes distance likesthe distance between particle and central point. The scission process is started by smashing compound nucleus central point into two parts that are left central and right central points. These three points have different Gaussian distribution parameters such as mean (μCN, μL, μR), and standard deviation (σCN, σL, σR). By overlaying of three distributions, the number of particles (NL, NR) that are trapped by central points can be obtained. This process is iterated until (NL, NR) become constant numbers. Smashing process is repeated by changing σL and σR, randomly.

Cultural Differences in Values as Self-Guides.

PubMed

Cheung, Wing-Yee; Maio, Gregory R; Rees, Kerry J; Kamble, Shanmukh; Mane, Sangeetha

2016-06-01

Three studies tested whether individualism-collectivism moderates the extent to which values are endorsed as ideal self-guides and ought self-guides, and the consequences for regulatory focus and emotion. Across Studies 1 and 2, individualists endorsed values that are relatively central to the self as stronger ideals than oughts, whereas collectivists endorsed them as ideals and oughts to a similar degree. Study 2 found that individualists justified central values using reasons that were more promotion focused than prevention focused, whereas collectivists used similar amount of prevention-focused and promotion-focused reasons. In Study 3, individualists felt more dejected after violating a central (vs. peripheral) value and more agitated after violating a peripheral (vs. central) value. Collectivists felt a similar amount of dejection regardless of values centrality and more agitation after violating central (vs. peripheral) values. Overall, culture has important implications for how we regulate values that are central or peripheral to our self-concept. © 2016 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Is it time to turn our attention toward central mechanisms for post-exertional recovery strategies and performance?

PubMed Central

Rattray, Ben; Argus, Christos; Martin, Kristy; Northey, Joseph; Driller, Matthew

2015-01-01

Key Points Central fatigue is accepted as a contributor to overall athletic performance, yet little research directly investigates post-exercise recovery strategies targeting the brainCurrent post-exercise recovery strategies likely impact on the brain through a range of mechanisms, but improvements to these strategies is neededResearch is required to optimize post-exercise recovery with a focus on the brain Post-exercise recovery has largely focused on peripheral mechanisms of fatigue, but there is growing acceptance that fatigue is also contributed to through central mechanisms which demands that attention should be paid to optimizing recovery of the brain. In this narrative review we assemble evidence for the role that many currently utilized recovery strategies may have on the brain, as well as potential mechanisms for their action. The review provides discussion of how common nutritional strategies as well as physical modalities and methods to reduce mental fatigue are likely to interact with the brain, and offer an opportunity for subsequent improved performance. We aim to highlight the fact that many recovery strategies have been designed with the periphery in mind, and that refinement of current methods are likely to provide improvements in minimizing brain fatigue. Whilst we offer a number of recommendations, it is evident that there are many opportunities for improving the research, and practical guidelines in this area. PMID:25852568

Drinking water treatment for a rural karst region in Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthies, K.; Schott, C.; Anggraini, A. K.; Silva, A.; Diedel, R.; Mühlebach, H.; Fuchs, S.; Obst, U.; Brenner-Weiss, G.

2016-09-01

An interdisciplinary German-Indonesian joint research project on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) focused on the development and exemplary implementation of adapted technologies to improve the water supply situation in a model karst region in southern Java. The project involving 19 sub-projects covers exploration of water resources, water extraction, distribution as well as water quality assurance, and waste water treatment. For the water quality assurance, an appropriate and sustainable drinking water treatment concept was developed and exemplarily implemented. Monitoring results showed that the main quality issue was the contamination with hygienically relevant bacteria. Based on the gained results, a water treatment concept was developed consisting of a central sand filtration prior to the distribution network, a semi-central hygienization where large water volumes are needed to remove bacteria deriving from water distribution and a final point-of-use water treatment. This paper focuses on the development of a central sand filtration plant and some first analysis for the development of a recipe for the local production of ceramic filters for household water treatment. The first results show that arsenic and manganese are leaching from the filters made of local raw material. Though discarding the first, filtrates should be sufficient to reduce arsenic and manganese concentration effectively. Moreover, hydraulic conductivities of filter pots made of 40 % pore-forming agents are presented and discussed.

Nonlinear dynamics of an elliptic vortex embedded in an oscillatory shear flow.

PubMed

Ryzhov, Eugene A

2017-11-01

The nonlinear dynamics of an elliptic vortex subjected to a time-periodic linear external shear flow is studied numerically. Making use of the ideas from the theory of nonlinear resonance overlaps, the study focuses on the appearance of chaotic regimes in the ellipse dynamics. When the superimposed flow is stationary, two general types of the steady-state phase portrait are considered: one that features a homoclinic separatrix delineating bounded and unbounded phase trajectories and one without a separatrix (all the phase trajectories are bounded in a periodic domain). When the external flow is time-periodic, the ensuing nonlinear dynamics differs significantly in both cases. For the case with a separatrix and two distinct types of phase trajectories: bounded and unbounded, the effect of the most influential nonlinear resonance with the winding number of 1:1 is analyzed in detail. Namely, the process of occupying the central stability region associated with the steady-state elliptic critical point by the stability region associated with the nonlinear resonance of 1:1 as the perturbation frequency gradually varies is investigated. A stark increase in the persistence of the central regular dynamics region against perturbation when the resonance of 1:1 associated stability region occupies the region associated with the steady-state elliptic critical point is observed. An analogous persistence of the regular motion occurs for higher perturbation frequencies when the corresponding stability islands reach the central stability region associated with the steady-state elliptic point. An analysis for the case with the resonance of 1:2 is presented. For the second case with only bounded phase trajectories and, therefore, no separatrix, the appearance of much bigger stability islands associated with nonlinear resonances compared with the case with a separatrix is reported.

Surgical management of insertional calcific achilles tendinosis with a central tendon splitting approach.

PubMed

Johnson, Keith W; Zalavras, Charalampos; Thordarson, David B

2006-04-01

Insertional calcific Achilles tendinosis is a painful, frequently disabling condition. Numerous operative approaches for this problem have been described. This study evaluated the outcome of a central tendon splitting approach. Twenty-two patients were evaluated after a central tendon splitting approach for persistent insertional calcific Achilles tendinosis. Followup averaged 34 (11 to 64) months. Suture anchors were routinely used to augment the tendon insertion after debridement. An American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, shoewear comfort, and return to work were evaluated. A paired t-test was used to evaluate the results. Pain significantly improved from 7 points preoperatively to 33 points postoperatively (p < 0.001). Function improved significantly from 36 points to 46 points (p < 0.001). The ankle-hindfoot score improved from 53 points to 89 points (p < 0.001). Age older or younger than 50 years did not affect outcome. A central tendon splitting approach yielded good relief of pain with improved function, shoewear, and ability to work without painful postoperative scars.

On the relativity of athletic performance: a comparison perspective on performance judgments in sports.

PubMed

Damisch, Lysann; Mussweiler, Thomas

2009-01-01

Identifying the best performance at a specific point in time constitutes the central purpose of all competitive sports. In many sports, this decision is based on subjective performance judgments. In the present chapter, we consider how these judgments are formed by emphasizing the relative nature of person judgments and athletic performance judgments in particular. Specifically, we argue that athletic judgments are influenced by comparisons with prior performances thereby leading to similar judgmental consequences as have been observed in other comparison domains (e.g., social comparison). Particularly, we demonstrate that performance judgments are assimilated to judgments of the preceding performance if judges focus on similarities between the two. If judges focus on differences, however, contrast ensues. Strategies for preventing or correcting this judgmental bias are discussed.

Promising approaches to circumvent the blood-brain barrier: progress, pitfalls and clinical prospects in brain cancer

PubMed Central

Papademetriou, Iason T; Porter, Tyrone

2015-01-01

Brain drug delivery is a major challenge for therapy of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Biochemical modifications of drugs or drug nanocarriers, methods of local delivery, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption with focused ultrasound and microbubbles are promising approaches which enhance transport or bypass the BBB. These approaches are discussed in the context of brain cancer as an example in CNS drug development. Targeting to receptors enabling transport across the BBB offers noninvasive delivery of small molecule and biological cancer therapeutics. Local delivery methods enable high dose delivery while avoiding systemic exposure. BBB disruption with focused ultrasound and microbubbles offers local and noninvasive treatment. Clinical trials show the prospects of these technologies and point to challenges for the future. PMID:26488496

Responses of Cardiac Tissue to Simulated Weightlessness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tahimic, Candice; Steczina, Sonette; Terada, Masahiro; Shirazi-Fard, Yasaman; Schreurs, Ann-Sofie; Goukassian, David; Globus, Ruth

2017-01-01

Our current study aims to determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie these cardiac changes in response to spaceflight. The central hypothesis of our study is that long duration simulated weightlessness and subsequent recovery causes select and persistent changes in gene expression and oxidative defense-related pathways. In this study, we will first conduct general analyses of three-month old male and female animals, focusing on two key long-duration time points, (i.e. after 90 days of simulated weightlessness (HU) and after 90 days recovery from 90 days of HU. Both rat-specific gene arrays and qPCR will be performed focusing on genes already implicated in oxidative stress responses and cardiac disease. Gene expression analyses will be complemented by biochemical tests of frozen tissue lysates for select markers of oxidative damage.

Promising approaches to circumvent the blood-brain barrier: progress, pitfalls and clinical prospects in brain cancer.

PubMed

Papademetriou, Iason T; Porter, Tyrone

2015-01-01

Brain drug delivery is a major challenge for therapy of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Biochemical modifications of drugs or drug nanocarriers, methods of local delivery, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption with focused ultrasound and microbubbles are promising approaches which enhance transport or bypass the BBB. These approaches are discussed in the context of brain cancer as an example in CNS drug development. Targeting to receptors enabling transport across the BBB offers noninvasive delivery of small molecule and biological cancer therapeutics. Local delivery methods enable high dose delivery while avoiding systemic exposure. BBB disruption with focused ultrasound and microbubbles offers local and noninvasive treatment. Clinical trials show the prospects of these technologies and point to challenges for the future.

15. Credit JTL: Detail, oblique view of central panel point ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

15. Credit JTL: Detail, oblique view of central panel point connection at top chord; note recess in chord bar to right of joint, and missing third (central) vertical tie rod - Reading-Halls Station Bridge, U.S. Route 220, spanning railroad near Halls Station, Muncy, Lycoming County, PA

Holocene forest dynamics in central and western Mediterranean: periodicity, spatio-temporal patterns and climate influence.

PubMed

Di Rita, Federico; Fletcher, William J; Aranbarri, Josu; Margaritelli, Giulia; Lirer, Fabrizio; Magri, Donatella

2018-06-12

It is well-known that the Holocene exhibits a millennial-scale climate variability. However, its periodicity, spatio-temporal patterns and underlying processes are not fully deciphered yet. Here we focus on the central and western Mediterranean. We show that recurrent forest declines from the Gulf of Gaeta (central Tyrrhenian Sea) reveal a 1860-yr periodicity, consistent with a ca. 1800-yr climate fluctuation induced by large-scale changes in climate modes, linked to solar activity and/or AMOC intensity. We show that recurrent forest declines and dry events are also recorded in several pollen and palaeohydrological proxy-records in the south-central Mediterranean. We found coeval events also in several palaeohydrological records from the south-western Mediterranean, which however show generally wet climate conditions, indicating a spatio-temporal hydrological pattern opposite to the south-central Mediterranean and suggesting that different expressions of climate modes occurred in the two regions at the same time. We propose that these opposite hydroclimate regimes point to a complex interplay of the prevailing or predominant phases of NAO-like circulation, East Atlantic pattern, and extension and location of the North African anticyclone. At a larger geographical scale, displacements of the ITCZ, modulated by solar activity and/or AMOC intensity, may have also indirectly influenced the observed pattern.

Help Central: Creating a Help Desk and Knowledge Portal in SharePoint

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ennis, Lisa A.; Tims, Randy S.

2012-01-01

This article discusses the authors' implementation of Help Central, a site within the Lister Hill Library Collection on the University of Alabama-Birmingham's SharePoint server. Initially, Help Central was designed to address the inadequacies in the library's old, static HTML web-based support system, including haphazard issue reporting by staff…

In-flight calibration of the Hitomi Soft X-ray Spectrometer. (2) Point spread function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maeda, Yoshitomo; Sato, Toshiki; Hayashi, Takayuki; Iizuka, Ryo; Angelini, Lorella; Asai, Ryota; Furuzawa, Akihiro; Kelley, Richard; Koyama, Shu; Kurashima, Sho; Ishida, Manabu; Mori, Hideyuki; Nakaniwa, Nozomi; Okajima, Takashi; Serlemitsos, Peter J.; Tsujimoto, Masahiro; Yaqoob, Tahir

2018-03-01

We present results of inflight calibration of the point spread function of the Soft X-ray Telescope that focuses X-rays onto the pixel array of the Soft X-ray Spectrometer system. We make a full array image of a point-like source by extracting a pulsed component of the Crab nebula emission. Within the limited statistics afforded by an exposure time of only 6.9 ks and limited knowledge of the systematic uncertainties, we find that the raytracing model of 1 {^'.} 2 half-power-diameter is consistent with an image of the observed event distributions across pixels. The ratio between the Crab pulsar image and the raytracing shows scatter from pixel to pixel that is 40% or less in all except one pixel. The pixel-to-pixel ratio has a spread of 20%, on average, for the 15 edge pixels, with an averaged statistical error of 17% (1 σ). In the central 16 pixels, the corresponding ratio is 15% with an error of 6%.

Deception studies manipulating centrally acting performance modifiers: a review.

PubMed

Williams, Emily L; Jones, Hollie S; Sparks, Sandy; Marchant, David C; Micklewright, Dominic; McNaughton, Lars R

2014-07-01

Athletes anticipatorily set and continuously adjust pacing strategies before and during events to produce optimal performance. Self-regulation ensures maximal effort is exerted in correspondence with the end point of exercise, while preventing physiological changes that are detrimental and disruptive to homeostatic control. The integration of feedforward and feedback information, together with the proposed brain's performance modifiers is said to be fundamental to this anticipatory and continuous regulation of exercise. The manipulation of central, regulatory internal and external stimuli has been a key focus within deception research, attempting to influence the self-regulation of exercise and induce improvements in performance. Methods of manipulating performance modifiers such as unknown task end point, deceived duration or intensity feedback, self-belief, or previous experience create a challenge within research, as although they contextualize theoretical propositions, there are few ecological and practical approaches which integrate theory with practice. In addition, the different methods and measures demonstrated in manipulation studies have produced inconsistent results. This review examines and critically evaluates the current methods of how specific centrally controlled performance modifiers have been manipulated, within previous deception studies. From the 31 studies reviewed, 10 reported positive effects on performance, encouraging future investigations to explore the mechanisms responsible for influencing pacing and consequently how deceptive approaches can further facilitate performance. The review acts to discuss the use of expectation manipulation not only to examine which methods of deception are successful in facilitating performance but also to understand further the key components used in the regulation of exercise and performance.

Point-of-Prescription Interventions to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship

PubMed Central

Hamilton, Keith W.; Gerber, Jeffrey S.; Moehring, Rebekah; Anderson, Deverick J.; Calderwood, Michael S.; Han, Jennifer H.; Mehta, Jimish M.; Pollack, Lori A.; Zaoutis, Theoklis; Srinivasan, Arjun; Camins, Bernard C.; Schwartz, David N.; Lautenbach, Ebbing

2015-01-01

Antimicrobial stewardship is pivotal to improving patient outcomes, reducing adverse events, decreasing healthcare costs, and preventing further emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In an era in which antimicrobial resistance is increasing, judicious antimicrobial use is the responsibility of every healthcare provider. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have made headway in improving antimicrobial prescribing using such “top-down” methods as formulary restriction and prospective audit with feedback; however, engagement of prescribers has not been fully explored. Strategies that include frontline prescribers and other unit-based healthcare providers have the potential to expand stewardship, both to augment existing centralized ASPs and to provide alternative approaches to perform stewardship at healthcare facilities with limited resources. This review discusses interventions focusing on antimicrobial prescribing at the point of prescription as well as a pilot project to engage unit-based healthcare providers in antimicrobial stewardship. PMID:25595748

Effect of Air Swirler Configuration on Lean Direct Injector Flow Structure and Combustion Performance with a 7-Point Lean Direct Injector Array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hicks, Yolanda R.; Tacina, Kathleen M.; Anderson, Robert C.

2017-01-01

Studies of various injector configurations in a 7-point Lean Direct Injector (LDI) array are reported for both non-reacting (cold) flow and for Jet-A/air reacting flows. For cold flow, central recirculation zone (CRZ) formation is investigated and for reacting flows, combustor operability and dynamics are of interest. 2D Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements are described for the cold flow experiments and flame chemiluminescence imaging and dynamic pressure results are discussed for the reacting flow cases. PIV results indicate that for this configuration the close spacing between swirler elements leads to strong interaction that affects whether a CRZ forms, and pilot recess and counter-swirl helps to isolate swirlers from one another. Dynamics results focus on features identified near 500-Hz.

A Commentary on Age Segregation for Older Prisoners

PubMed Central

Kerbs, John J.; Jolley, Jennifer M.

2014-01-01

The growing number of older prisoners in state and federal prisons has fostered an important discussion in literature regarding the potential benefits of age-segregated living arrangements for older inmates. This article begins with a brief review of the reasons for America's aging prison population. Thereafter, it uses a multidisciplinary literature review to clarify a 4-point rationale for age-segregated prisons: (a) cost savings via centralized health care for older prisoners; (b) the reduction of civil liabilities for correctional systems that centralize disability services as per requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (c) the advancement of prisoner safety for older inmates; and (d) the promotion of rehabilitation by advancing treatment opportunities with a group that is most likely to desist from future criminal activity (in part) due to age-related desistance from crime. Conclusions focus on age segregation within the historical context of segregation in prison based on sociodemographic characteristics. PMID:28316366

Ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier disruption for targeted drug delivery in the central nervous system

PubMed Central

Aryal, Muna; Arvanitis, Costas D.; Alexander, Phillip M.; McDannold, Nathan

2014-01-01

The physiology of the vasculature in the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and other factors, complicates the delivery of most drugs to the brain. Different methods have been used to bypass the BBB, but they have limitations such as being invasive, non-targeted or requiring the formulation of new drugs. Focused ultrasound (FUS), when combined with circulating microbubbles, is a noninvasive method to locally and transiently disrupt the BBB at discrete targets. This review provides insight on the current status of this unique drug delivery technique, experience in preclinical models, and potential for clinical translation. If translated to humans, this method would offer a flexible means to target therapeutics to desired points or volumes in the brain, and enable the whole arsenal of drugs in the CNS that are currently prevented by the BBB. PMID:24462453

Adults with dyslexia can use cues to orient and constrain attention but have a smaller and weaker attention spotlight.

PubMed

Moores, Elisabeth; Tsouknida, Effie; Romani, Cristina

2015-06-01

We report results from two experiments assessing distribution of attention and cue use in adults with dyslexia (AwD) and in a group of typically reading controls. Experiment 1 showed normal effects of cueing in AwD, with faster responses when probes were presented within a cued area and normal effects of eccentricity and stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). In addition, AwD showed stronger benefits of a longer SOA when they had to move attention farther, and stronger effects of inclusion on the left, suggesting that cueing is particularly important in more difficult conditions. Experiment 2 tested the use of cues in a texture detection task involving a wider range of eccentricities and a shorter SOA. In this paradigm, focused attention at the central location is actually detrimental and cueing further reduces performance. Thus, if AwD have a more distributed attention, they should show a reduced performance drop at central locations and, if they do not use cues, they should show less negative effects of cueing. In contrast, AwD showed a larger drop and a positive effect of cueing. These results are better accounted for by a smaller and weaker spotlight of attention. Performance does not decrease at central locations because the attentional spotlight is already deployed with maximum intensity, which cannot be further enhanced at central locations. Instead, use of cueing helps to focus limited resources. Cues orient attention to the right area without enhancing it to the point where this is detrimental for texture detection. Implications for reading are discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New Beamlines For Protein Crystallography At The EMBL-Outstation Hamburg

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

Hermes, C.; Gehrmann, T.; Jahn, D.

2004-05-12

Three new beamlines for Protein Crystallography were built up on a bending magnet fan of the DORIS III storage ring. A 10 mrad wide fan of white Synchrotron Radiation (SR) is evenly distributed among 3 individual stations: X12, a central, wavelength-tunable station intended for anomalous scattering experiments (MAD) and fixed wavelength, high intensity stations symmetrically on either side. The fixed wavelength beamlines X11 and X13 comprise triangular, asymmetrically cut Si (111) monochromators as horizontally focusing optical elements. The tunable station is based on a fixed-exit, horizontally focusing double crystal monochromator system. Vertical focusing is achieved on all three lines bymore » trapezoidal shaped, continuous Rh-coated mirrors which can be dynamically bent. In all three lines the X-ray beam can be examined at various points on its way through the optical system by removable screens and PIN-diode based intensity monitors. Purpose built crystallographic end-stations complete the set-up. The design of individual components and their performance will be described.« less

Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: Red Cedar Gathering Company - South Ignacio Central Delivery Point

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the final synthetic minor NSR permit for the Red Cedar Gathering Company, South Ignacio Central Delivery Point, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in La Plata County, CO.

Standardized Fault-Tolerant Sensing Nodes for an Intelligent Turbine Engine Control System (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

representation of a centralized control system on a turbine engine. All actuators and sensors are point-to-point cabled to the controller ( FADEC ) which...electronics themselves. Figure 1: Centralized Control System Each function resides within the FADEC and uses Unique Point-to-Point Analog...distributed control system on the same turbine engine. The actuators and sensors interface to Smart Nodes which, in turn communicate to the FADEC via

Effects of Geometric Azimuthal Asymmetries of the PPM Stack on Electron Beam Characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kory, Carol L.

2000-01-01

The effects of geometric azimuthally asymmetric properties of a periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing stack on electron beam characteristics obtained using a fully three dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) code will be presented. The simulation model, using MAFIA (Solution of MAxwell's equations by the Finite-Integration-Algorithm), incorporates 3D behavior of the beam immersed in static fields calculated directly from the exact geometry and material properties of the 3D magnetic focusing structure. The Hughes 8916H, 18-40 GHz helical TWT for the millimeter-wave power module (MMPM) was used as a prototype. Firstly, the effects of C-magnets used at the input and output of the TWT to allow for coupling of the RF signal into and out of the tube are considered. The 8916H input and output C-magnets differ because coaxial couplers are used at the input and waveguide couplers are used at the output The repositioning of the beam from its central axis due to the inclusion of the output C-magnet was found to be most significant. The modeled output C-magnet and its orientation in the Cartesian coordinate system is shown, and a two-dimensional beam profile including the output C-magnet is also shown. A table presents the shift of the beam center off the central axis relative to the average radius of the beam at the longitudinal points A, B and C designated on an enclosed figure. Secondly, the addition of shunts, or rectangular iron pieces applied manually by a skilled technician in order to improve beam transmission, is considered. The shunts are applied to the top of the tube; thus, azimuthal symmetry of the focusing stack is interrupted. Although shunts are typically added during RF focusing, they are also typically added at the input section of the tube where RF forces are minimal, making an electron optics analysis meaningful. Because several shunts are usually applied to one pole piece, the simulations have been simplified by modeling a half washer with the same radius and longitudinal length as a shunt over the entire x, positive-y half of the transverse plane. A modeled pole piece and shunt as described are shown. Lastly, in order to study the effects of magnet misalignments, a magnet in the PPM stack was arbitrarily chosen and adjusted so that its central axis was shifted both 0.7 percent and 1.0 percent of the magnet outer diameter in the positive-y direction. In practice, positioning the magnets so that their central axis is accurately aligned with the central axis of the tube is challenging. Thus, it is a strong possibility that one or more magnets will be misaligned relative to the tube central axis.

Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: BP America Production Company - Salvador I/II Central Delivery Point

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the final synthetic minor NSR permit for the BP America Production Company, Salvador I/II Central Delivery Point, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in La Plata County, CO.

Guided wave radiation from a point source in the proximity of a pipe bend

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

Brath, A. J.; Nagy, P. B.; Simonetti, F.

Throughout the oil and gas industry corrosion and erosion damage monitoring play a central role in managing asset integrity. Recently, the use of guided wave technology in conjunction with tomography techniques has provided the possibility of obtaining point-by-point maps of wall thickness loss over the entire volume of a pipeline section between two ring arrays of ultrasonic transducers. However, current research has focused on straight pipes while little work has been done on pipe bends which are also the most susceptible to developing damage. Tomography of the bend is challenging due to the complexity and computational cost of the 3-Dmore » elastic model required to accurately describe guided wave propagation. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a 2-D anisotropic inhomogeneous acoustic model which represents a generalization of the conventional unwrapping used for straight pipes. The shortest-path ray-tracing method is then applied to the 2-D model to compute ray paths and predict the arrival times of the fundamental flexural mode, A0, excited by a point source on the straight section of pipe entering the bend and detected on the opposite side. Good agreement is found between predictions and experiments performed on an 8” diameter (D) pipe with 1.5 D bend radius. The 2-D model also reveals the existence of an acoustic lensing effect which leads to a focusing phenomenon also confirmed by the experiments. The computational efficiency of the 2-D model makes it ideally suited for tomography algorithms.« less

Form and Function in the Evolution of Grammar.

PubMed

Newmeyer, Frederick J

2017-03-01

This article focuses on claims about the origin and evolution of language from the point of view of the formalist-functionalist debate in linguistics. In linguistics, an account of a grammatical phenomenon is considered "formal" if it accords center stage to the structural properties of that phenomenon, and "functional" if it appeals to the language user's communicative needs or to domain-general human capacities. The gulf between formalism and functionalism has been bridged in language evolution research, in that some leading formalists, Ray Jackendoff for one, appeal to functional mechanisms such as natural selection. In Jackendoff's view, the biological evolution of language has proceeded in stages, each stage improving communicative efficiency. This article calls into question that idea, pointing to the fact that well-understood purely historical processes suffice to explain the emergence of many grammatical properties. However, one central aspect of formalist linguistic theorizing-the idea of the autonomy of syntax-poses a challenge to the idea, central to most functionalist approaches, that the nature of grammar is a product of purely historical (as opposed to biological) evolution. The article concludes with a discussion of the origins of the autonomy of syntax, speculating that it may well have arisen over evolutionary (as opposed to historical) time. Copyright © 2016 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Aspects of the zero Λ limit in the AdS/CFT correspondence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldeira Costa, R. N.

2014-11-01

We examine the correspondence between QFT observables and bulk solutions in the context of AdS/CFT in the limit as the cosmological constant Λ →0 . We focus specifically on the spacetime metric and a nonbackreacting scalar in the bulk, compute the one-point functions of the dual operators, and determine the necessary conditions for the correspondence to admit a well-behaved zero-Λ limit. We discuss holographic renormalization in this limit and find that it requires schemes that partially break diffeomorphism invariance of the bulk theory. In the specific case of three bulk dimensions, we compute the zero-Λ limit of the holographic Weyl anomaly and reproduce the central charge that arises in the central extension of bms3 . We compute holographically the energy and momentum of those QFT states dual to flat cosmological solutions and to the Kerr solution and find an agreement with the bulk theory. We also compute holographically the renormalized two-point function of a scalar operator in the zero-Λ limit and find it to be consistent with that of a conformal operator in two dimensions fewer. Finally, our results can be used in a new definition of asymptotic Ricci flatness at null infinity based on the zero-Λ limit of asymptotically Einstein manifolds.

Identifying States of a Financial Market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Münnix, Michael C.; Shimada, Takashi; Schäfer, Rudi; Leyvraz, Francois; Seligman, Thomas H.; Guhr, Thomas; Stanley, H. Eugene

2012-09-01

The understanding of complex systems has become a central issue because such systems exist in a wide range of scientific disciplines. We here focus on financial markets as an example of a complex system. In particular we analyze financial data from the S&P 500 stocks in the 19-year period 1992-2010. We propose a definition of state for a financial market and use it to identify points of drastic change in the correlation structure. These points are mapped to occurrences of financial crises. We find that a wide variety of characteristic correlation structure patterns exist in the observation time window, and that these characteristic correlation structure patterns can be classified into several typical ``market states''. Using this classification we recognize transitions between different market states. A similarity measure we develop thus affords means of understanding changes in states and of recognizing developments not previously seen.

Identifying states of a financial market.

PubMed

Münnix, Michael C; Shimada, Takashi; Schäfer, Rudi; Leyvraz, Francois; Seligman, Thomas H; Guhr, Thomas; Stanley, H Eugene

2012-01-01

The understanding of complex systems has become a central issue because such systems exist in a wide range of scientific disciplines. We here focus on financial markets as an example of a complex system. In particular we analyze financial data from the S&P 500 stocks in the 19-year period 1992-2010. We propose a definition of state for a financial market and use it to identify points of drastic change in the correlation structure. These points are mapped to occurrences of financial crises. We find that a wide variety of characteristic correlation structure patterns exist in the observation time window, and that these characteristic correlation structure patterns can be classified into several typical "market states". Using this classification we recognize transitions between different market states. A similarity measure we develop thus affords means of understanding changes in states and of recognizing developments not previously seen.

Theories on anxiety in Freud and Melanie Klein. Their metapsychological status.

PubMed

De Bianchedi, E T; Scalozub De Boschan, L; De Cortiñas, L P; De Piccolo, E G

1988-01-01

This paper presents a comparative study of the theories on anxiety formulated by Freud and Melanie Klein, with particular emphasis on the questions of its origin, its meaning for the individual and its function in both theoretical systems. The purpose of this comparative analysis is to offer an instrument which helps frame the theoretical discussions in psychoanalysis in an epistemological context. The authors hold that for Freud anxiety is considered as one more amongst the various manifestations of mental life, which his general theories try to explain, whereas for Melanie Klein anxiety and its destinies occupies a central place in her theories on mental functioning. The differences in both theories, which the authors of this paper describe, especially as to origin, function and meaning of anxiety, respond partially to the different metapsychological points of view with which both authors focus mental life--points of view which they have themselves investigated in a previous paper.

Forest fire spatial pattern analysis in Galicia (NW Spain).

PubMed

Fuentes-Santos, I; Marey-Pérez, M F; González-Manteiga, W

2013-10-15

Knowledge of fire behaviour is of key importance in forest management. In the present study, we analysed the spatial structure of forest fire with spatial point pattern analysis and inference techniques recently developed in the Spatstat package of R. Wildfires have been the primary threat to Galician forests in recent years. The district of Fonsagrada-Ancares is one of the most seriously affected by fire in the region and, therefore, the central focus of the study. Our main goal was to determine the spatial distribution of ignition points to model and predict fire occurrence. These data are of great value in establishing enhanced fire prevention and fire fighting plans. We found that the spatial distribution of wildfires is not random and that fire occurrence may depend on ownership conflicts. We also found positive interaction between small and large fires and spatial independence between wildfires in consecutive years. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An In-depth Examination of Farmers' Perceptions of Targeting Conservation Practices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalcic, Margaret; Prokopy, Linda; Frankenberger, Jane; Chaubey, Indrajeet

2014-10-01

Watershed managers have largely embraced targeting of agricultural conservation as a way to manage strategically non-point source pollution from agricultural lands. However, while targeting of particular watersheds is not uncommon, targeting farms and fields within a specific watershed has lagged. In this work, we employed a qualitative approach, using farmer interviews in west-central Indiana to better understand their views on targeting. Interviews focused on adoption of conservation practices on farmers' lands and identified their views on targeting, disproportionality, and monetary incentives. Results show consistent support for the targeting approach, despite dramatic differences in farmers' views of land stewardship, in their views about disproportionality of water quality impacts, and in their trust in conservation programming. While the theoretical concept of targeting was palatable to all participants, many raised concerns about its practical implementation, pointing to the need for flexibility when applying targeting solutions and revealing misgivings about the government agencies that perform targeting.

A pilot study using an infrared imaging system in prevention of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection ulcer bleeding.

PubMed

Yoshida, Yukinaga; Matsuda, Koji; Tamai, Naoto; Yoshizawa, Kai; Nikami, Toshiki; Ishiguro, Haruya; Tajiri, Hisao

2014-01-01

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial gastric neoplasm is a curative method. The aim of this study was to detect potential nonbleeding visible vessels (NBVVs) by using an infrared imaging (IRI) system. A total of 24 patients (25 lesions) were consecutively enrolled between March 2010 and December 2010. The day after ESD, endoscopist A (K.M.), who was blinded to the actual procedure of ESD, performed esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) of the post-ESD ulcer base using the IRI system. Endoscopist A marked gray/blue points in the hard-copy images with the IRI system. After the first procedure, endoscopist B (Y.Y.), who was blinded to the results recorded by endoscopist A, performed a second EGD with white light endoscopy and administered water-jet pressure with the maximum level of an Olympus flushing pump onto the post-ESD ulcer base. This test can cause iatrogenic bleeding via application of pressure to NBVV in the post-ESD ulcer. The IRI system detected 58 gray points and 71 blue points. The post-ESD ulcer was divided into the central area and the peripheral area. There were 14 gray points (24 %) in the central area and 44 gray points (76 %) in the peripheral area. There were 19 blue points (27 %) in the central area and 52 blue points (73 %) in the peripheral area. There was no significant difference when comparing the distribution of gray points and blue points. Bleeding occurred with a water-jet pressure in 11 of 58 gray points and in none of the blue points (P = 0.000478). Among the gray points, bleeding in response to a water-jet pressure occurred in 2 points in the central area and in 9 points in the peripheral area. The IRI system detects visible vessels (VVs) that are in no need of coagulation as blue points, and VVs have a potential risk of bleeding as gray points.

Clinical measurement of the height of the interproximal contact area in maxillary anterior teeth.

PubMed

Sghaireen, Mohd G; Al-Zarea, Bader K; Al-Shorman, Hisham M; Al-Omiri, Mahmoud K

2013-11-01

To clinically quantify the apicoincisal height of interproximal areas directly in patients' mouths. Thirty participants (11 females and 9 males, mean age=26±1.5 years) were recruited into this study. Measurement of interproximal contact areas was carried out directly in patients' mouths using digital caliper (TERENSA, USA) with measuring accuracy of 0.01 mm. The interproximal contact areas that were measured are: central incisor to central incisor, central incisor to lateral incisor, lateral incisor to canine, and canine to first premolar on both sides of the jaw. Statistical significance was based on probability values less than 0.05 (p<0.05). The largest contact point was the one present between central incisors and it ranged from 2.9 to 6.5 mm. On the other hand, the contact point between canine and first premolar was the smallest on both sides of the arch and ranged from 0.6 to 2.5 mm. The dimensions of the contact points declined as we move from anterior area backwards. Statistical analysis using t-test showed that there were significant differences between the measurements of interproximal points of each tooth (P<0.05). the apicogingival dimension of the contact point decreased as we moved from anterior to posterior teeth. The contact area between the central incisors was largest and the one between canine and premolar was the smallest. This study is the first to report direct intra-oral clinical measurement of contact points. Clinical evaluation of contact point dimensions using digital caliber is a viable, quick and accurate method to use.

Sensitivity analysis of heliostat aiming strategies and receiver size on annual thermal production of a molten salt external receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servert, Jorge; González, Ana; Gil, Javier; López, Diego; Funes, Jose Felix; Jurado, Alfonso

2017-06-01

Even though receiver size and aiming strategy are to be jointly analyzed to optimize the thermal energy that can be extracted from a solar tower receiver, customarily, they have been studied as separated problems. The main reason is the high-level of detail required to define aiming strategies, which are often simplified in annual simulation models. Aiming strategies are usually focused on obtaining a homogeneous heat flux on the central receiver, with the goal to minimize the maximum heat flux value that may lead to damaging it. Some recent studies have addressed the effect of different aiming strategies on different receiver types, but they have only focused on the optical efficiency. The receiver size is also an additional parameter that has to be considered: larger receiver sizes provide a larger aiming surface and a reduction on spillage losses, but require higher investment while penalizing the thermal performance of the receiver due to the greater external convection losses. The present paper presents a sensitivity analysis of both factors for a predefined solar field at a fixed location, using a central receiver and molten salts as HTF. The analysis includes the design point values and annual energy outputs comparing the effect on the optical performance (measured using a spillage factor) and thermal energy production.

Oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with Tourette's syndrome.

PubMed

Wenzel, Claudia; Wurster, Ulrich; Müller-Vahl, Kirsten R

2011-02-01

Since a postinfectious or autoimmune etiology is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of Tourette's syndrome (TS), we investigated oligoclonal bands (OB) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), indicating a humoral immune response in the central nervous system. CSF examinations including isoelectric focusing to analyze the presence of OB were performed in 21 TS patients [17 men/4 women, mean age = 29 ± 12 (SD) years]. Isoelectric focusing showed the presence of positive OB in 6, borderline bands in 2, and serum and CSF bands ("mirrored pattern") in another 2 patients. Clinical data did not correlate with CSF findings. Thus, 38% (8 of 21) of our patients exhibited pathological CSF bands. Since none of them suffered from another disease known to be associated with OB, our results suggest an association with the pathogenesis of TS itself and point to an involvement of immunological mechanisms in TS pathology. Copyright © 2010 Movement Disorder Society.

IL-6 as a Druggable Target in Psoriasis: Focus on Pustular Variants

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a cutaneous inflammatory disorder stemming from abnormal, persistent activation of the interleukin- (IL-)23/Th17 axis. Pustular psoriasis (PP) is a clinicopathological variant of psoriasis, histopathologically defined by the predominance of intraepidermal collections of neutrophils. Although PP pathogenesis is thought to largely follow that of (PV), recent evidences point to a more central role for IL-1, IL-36, and IL-6 in the development of PP. We review the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of PV and PP, focusing on its cross-talk with cytokines of the IL-23/Th17 axis. Clinical inhibitors of IL-6 signaling, including tocilizumab, have shown significant effectiveness in the treatment of several inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis; accordingly, anti-IL-6 agents may potentially represent future promising therapies for the treatment of PP. PMID:25126586

Multitarget drug design strategy in Alzheimer's disease: focus on cholinergic transmission and amyloid-β aggregation.

PubMed

Simoni, Elena; Bartolini, Manuela; Abu, Izuddin F; Blockley, Alix; Gotti, Cecilia; Bottegoni, Giovanni; Caporaso, Roberta; Bergamini, Christian; Andrisano, Vincenza; Cavalli, Andrea; Mellor, Ian R; Minarini, Anna; Rosini, Michela

2017-06-01

Alzheimer pathogenesis has been associated with a network of processes working simultaneously and synergistically. Over time, much interest has been focused on cholinergic transmission and its mutual interconnections with other active players of the disease. Besides the cholinesterase mainstay, the multifaceted interplay between nicotinic receptors and amyloid is actually considered to have a central role in neuroprotection. Thus, the multitarget drug-design strategy has emerged as a chance to face the disease network. By exploiting the multitarget approach, hybrid compounds have been synthesized and studied in vitro and in silico toward selected targets of the cholinergic and amyloidogenic pathways. The new molecules were able to target the cholinergic system, by joining direct nicotinic receptor stimulation to acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and to inhibit amyloid-β aggregation. The compounds emerged as a suitable starting point for a further optimization process.

Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: BP America Production Company - Treating Site #8 Central Delivery Point

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the response to public comments and the final synthetic minor NSR permit for the BP America Production Company, Treating Site #8 Central Delivery Point, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in La Plata County, CO.

Characterization of smallholder pig breeding practices within a rural commune of North Central Vietnam.

PubMed

Ieda, Nahoko; Van Bui, Quang; Nguyen, Nga Thi Duong; Lapar, Lucy; Marshall, Karen

2015-08-01

This case study focused on a pig production system in a rural area of North Central Vietnam, with a focus on describing household pig breeding practices and estimating herd demographic parameters, particularly on reproduction. One hundred five households undertaking small-scale piglet production were surveyed, with information gathered on 3268 individual pigs. Pig keeping contributed variably to the overall household livelihood portfolio, with female household members as the main decision makers, contributors to labor, and beneficiaries of income from the pig enterprise. All households kept between one and four young or adult sows, with 69% of these sows of a local breed type (predominantly Mong Cai), 28% a cross between a local sow and an exotic sow (predominantly Large White), and the remainder (3%) as exotic sows. Eighty-eight percent of the piglets produced were cross-bred, while 12% were local breed. No adult males were kept by the surveyed households, reflecting the common use of artificial insemination for mating purposes. The most common breeding system practiced-the keeping of Mong Cai females and production of cross-bred piglets-capitalizes on the small body size and high fecundity of the sows and the fast growth rate and leanness of the cross-bred piglets. The survey tool used, which was based on farmer recall of events over the preceding 12-month period, appeared to give reasonable results although some recall bias could be detected. This case study will serve as an entry point to planned broader scale characterization and development of pig breeding systems in North Central Vietnam.

Scenario planning.

PubMed

Enzmann, Dieter R; Beauchamp, Norman J; Norbash, Alexander

2011-03-01

In facing future developments in health care, scenario planning offers a complementary approach to traditional strategic planning. Whereas traditional strategic planning typically consists of predicting the future at a single point on a chosen time horizon and mapping the preferred plans to address such a future, scenario planning creates stories about multiple likely potential futures on a given time horizon and maps the preferred plans to address the multiple described potential futures. Each scenario is purposefully different and specifically not a consensus worst-case, average, or best-case forecast; nor is scenario planning a process in probabilistic prediction. Scenario planning focuses on high-impact, uncertain driving forces that in the authors' example affect the field of radiology. Uncertainty is the key concept as these forces are mapped onto axes of uncertainty, the poles of which have opposed effects on radiology. One chosen axis was "market focus," with poles of centralized health care (government control) vs a decentralized private market. Another axis was "radiology's business model," with one pole being a unified, single specialty vs a splintered, disaggregated subspecialty. The third axis was "technology and science," with one pole representing technology enabling to radiology vs technology threatening to radiology. Selected poles of these axes were then combined to create 3 scenarios. One scenario, termed "entrepreneurialism," consisted of a decentralized private market, a disaggregated business model, and threatening technology and science. A second scenario, termed "socialized medicine," had a centralized market focus, a unified specialty business model, and enabling technology and science. A third scenario, termed "freefall," had a centralized market focus, a disaggregated business model, and threatening technology and science. These scenarios provide a range of futures that ultimately allow the identification of defined "signposts" that can suggest which basic features among the "possible futures" are playing out. Scenario planning provides for the implementation of appropriate constructed strategic responses. Scenarios allow for a pre-prepared game plan available for ready use as the future unfolds. They allow a deliberative response rather than a hastily constructed, urgent response. Copyright © 2011 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Performance comparison of different thermodynamic cycles for an innovative central receiver solar power plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes-Belmonte, Miguel A.; Sebastián, Andrés; González-Aguilar, José; Romero, Manuel

2017-06-01

The potential of using different thermodynamic cycles coupled to a solar tower central receiver that uses a novel heat transfer fluid is analyzed. The new fluid, named as DPS, is a dense suspension of solid particles aerated through a tubular receiver used to convert concentrated solar energy into thermal power. This novel fluid allows reaching high temperatures at the solar receiver what opens a wide range of possibilities for power cycle selection. This work has been focused into the assessment of power plant performance using conventional, but optimized cycles but also novel thermodynamic concepts. Cases studied are ranging from subcritical steam Rankine cycle; open regenerative Brayton air configurations at medium and high temperature; combined cycle; closed regenerative Brayton helium scheme and closed recompression supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle. Power cycle diagrams and working conditions for design point are compared amongst the studied cases for a common reference thermal power of 57 MWth reaching the central cavity receiver. It has been found that Brayton air cycle working at high temperature or using supercritical carbon dioxide are the most promising solutions in terms of efficiency conversion for the power block of future generation by means of concentrated solar power plants.

On the Ethnic Origins of African Development: Chiefs and Precolonial Political Centralization

PubMed Central

Michalopoulos, Stelios; Papaioannou, Elias

2015-01-01

We report on recent findings of a fruitful research agenda that explores the importance of ethnic-specific traits in shaping African development. First, using recent surveys from Sub-Saharan African countries, we document that individuals identify with their ethnic group as often as with the nation pointing to the salience of ethnicity. Second, we focus on the various historical and contemporary functions of tribal leaders (chiefs) and illustrate their influence on various aspects of the economy and the polity. Third, we elaborate on a prominent dimension of ethnicity, that of the degree of complexity of pre-colonial political organization. Building on insights from the African historiography, we review recent works showing a strong association between pre-colonial centralization and contemporary comparative development both across and within countries. We also document that the link between pre-colonial political centralization and regional development -as captured by satellite images of light density at night-is particularly strong in areas outside the vicinity of the capitals, where due to population mixing and the salience of national institutions ethnic traits play a lesser role. Overall, our evidence is supportive to theories and narratives on the presence of a “dual” economic and institutional environment in Africa. PMID:27011760

32 CFR 242.6 - Central point of contact.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 32 National Defense 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Central point of contact. 242.6 Section 242.6 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE...

32 CFR 242.6 - Central point of contact.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 32 National Defense 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Central point of contact. 242.6 Section 242.6 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE...

32 CFR 242.6 - Central point of contact.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 32 National Defense 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Central point of contact. 242.6 Section 242.6 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE...

32 CFR 242.6 - Central point of contact.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 32 National Defense 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Central point of contact. 242.6 Section 242.6 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE...

32 CFR 242.6 - Central point of contact.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 32 National Defense 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Central point of contact. 242.6 Section 242.6 National Defense Department of Defense (Continued) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE...

Robust Vision-Based Pose Estimation Algorithm for AN Uav with Known Gravity Vector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kniaz, V. V.

2016-06-01

Accurate estimation of camera external orientation with respect to a known object is one of the central problems in photogrammetry and computer vision. In recent years this problem is gaining an increasing attention in the field of UAV autonomous flight. Such application requires a real-time performance and robustness of the external orientation estimation algorithm. The accuracy of the solution is strongly dependent on the number of reference points visible on the given image. The problem only has an analytical solution if 3 or more reference points are visible. However, in limited visibility conditions it is often needed to perform external orientation with only 2 visible reference points. In such case the solution could be found if the gravity vector direction in the camera coordinate system is known. A number of algorithms for external orientation estimation for the case of 2 known reference points and a gravity vector were developed to date. Most of these algorithms provide analytical solution in the form of polynomial equation that is subject to large errors in the case of complex reference points configurations. This paper is focused on the development of a new computationally effective and robust algorithm for external orientation based on positions of 2 known reference points and a gravity vector. The algorithm implementation for guidance of a Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 micro-UAV is discussed. The experimental evaluation of the algorithm proved its computational efficiency and robustness against errors in reference points positions and complex configurations.

Focus collimator press for a collimator for gamma ray cameras

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

York, R.N.; York, D.L.

A focus collimator press for collimators for gamma ray cameras is described comprising a pivot arm of fixed length mounted on a travelling pivot which is movable in the plane of a spaced apart work table surface in a direction toward and away from the work table. A press plate is carried at the opposite end of the fixed length pivot arm, and is maintained in registration with the same portion of the work table for pressing engagement with each undulating radiation opaque strip as it is added to the top of a collimator stack in process by movement ofmore » the travelling pivot inward toward the work table. This enables the press plate to maintain its relative position above the collimator stack and at the same time the angle of the press plate changes, becoming less acute in relation to the work table as the travelling pivot motes inwardly toward the work table. The fixed length of the pivot arm is substantially equal to the focal point of the converging apertures formed by each pair of undulating strips stacked together. Thus, the focal point of each aperture row falls substantially on the axis of the travelling pivot, and since it moves in the plane of the work table surface the focal point of each aperture row is directed to lie in the same common plane. When one of two collimator stacks made in this way is rotated 180 degrees and the two bonded together along their respective first strips, all focal points of every aperture row lie on the central axis of the completed collimator.« less

Implementation Pearls from a New Guidebook on Improving Medication Use and Outcomes with Clinical Decision Support

PubMed Central

Sirajuddin, Anwar M; Osheroff, Jerome A.; Sittig, Dean F.; Chuo, John; Velasco, Ferdinand; Collins, David A.

2012-01-01

Effective clinical decision support (CDS) is essential for addressing healthcare performance improvement imperatives, but care delivery organizations (CDO) typically struggle with CDS deployment. Ensuring safe and effective medication delivery to patients is a central focus of CDO performance improvement efforts, and this article provides an overview of best-practice strategies for applying CDS to these goals. The strategies discussed are drawn from a new guidebook, co-published and co-sponsored by more than a dozen leading organizations. Developed by scores of CDS implementers and experts, the guidebook outlines key steps and success factors for applying CDS to medication management. A central thesis is that improving outcomes with CDS interventions requires that the CDS five rights be addressed successfully. That is, the interventions must deliver the right information, to the right person, in the right format, through the right channel, at the right point in workflow. This paper provides further details about these CDS five rights, and highlights other important strategies for successful CDS programs. PMID:19894486

[Drug advertising to the general public: conceptual parameters of a risk producer practice].

PubMed

Nascimento, Alvaro César

2010-11-01

This article analyzes some concepts relating to marketing, advertising, medications, regulation and manipulation. It discusses ethical and health surveillance parameters of drugs advertising for the general public. The focus of this work is the analysis of contradictions from a conceptual point of view between the practice of pharmaceutical advertising as a tool for the increase of sales and the conquest of markets versus the policy of rational use of medicines. Academic studies and monitoring of drugs advertising conducted by the National Health Surveillance Agency show that the contents of the advertising pieces oriented towards the general public overestimate the - sometimes dubious - qualities of their medication, focusing almost exclusively on the benefits and put them in a central position in the therapeutic process. They also fail to mention the risks inherent in their use. Rather than focusing on regulatory proposals aimed at creating constraints to this practice, this article discusses the impossibility, considering the interests of public health, of the coexistence of marketing with the policies for the correct, rational and safe use of drugs.

[The centralized mycobacteriological laboratory is a necessary component of a phthisiological service in large towns of Russia].

PubMed

Dorozhkova, I R; Freĭman, G E; Moroz, A M

2007-01-01

The paper presents the main points of the authors' own concept of the centralization of mycobacteriological service in large towns of the Russian Federation. The main points of step-by-step organizational and methodological measures required to solve this problem are described in detail. Consecutive measures to realize the proposed mycobacteriological service centralization model originated in January 2004 on a model of the Moscow Eastern Administrative District with 1380 thousand inhabitants are described.

The application of hazard analysis and critical control points and risk management in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs.

PubMed

Bonan, Brigitte; Martelli, Nicolas; Berhoune, Malik; Maestroni, Marie-Laure; Havard, Laurent; Prognon, Patrice

2009-02-01

To apply the Hazard analysis and Critical Control Points method to the preparation of anti-cancer drugs. To identify critical control points in our cancer chemotherapy process and to propose control measures and corrective actions to manage these processes. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points application began in January 2004 in our centralized chemotherapy compounding unit. From October 2004 to August 2005, monitoring of the process nonconformities was performed to assess the method. According to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points method, a multidisciplinary team was formed to describe and assess the cancer chemotherapy process. This team listed all of the critical points and calculated their risk indexes according to their frequency of occurrence, their severity and their detectability. The team defined monitoring, control measures and corrective actions for each identified risk. Finally, over a 10-month period, pharmacists reported each non-conformity of the process in a follow-up document. Our team described 11 steps in the cancer chemotherapy process. The team identified 39 critical control points, including 11 of higher importance with a high-risk index. Over 10 months, 16,647 preparations were performed; 1225 nonconformities were reported during this same period. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points method is relevant when it is used to target a specific process such as the preparation of anti-cancer drugs. This method helped us to focus on the production steps, which can have a critical influence on product quality, and led us to improve our process.

Designing Interactive Multimedia Instruction to Address Soldiers’ Learning Needs

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

A point of need design seeks to identify and meet specific learning needs. It does so by focusing on the learning needs of an identified group ...instructional design and tailored training techniques to address the Army Learning Model (ALM) point of need concept. The point of need concept focuses both on ...developing six IMI exemplars focused on point of need training, including three variations of needs-focused designs : familiarization, core, and tailored

Metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptors and prostate cancer associations: biochemical and pathophysiological evidences

PubMed Central

Quagliariello, Vincenzo; Rossetti, Sabrina; Cavaliere, Carla; Di Palo, Rossella; Lamantia, Elvira; Castaldo, Luigi; Nocerino, Flavia; Ametrano, Gianluca; Cappuccio, Francesca; Malzone, Gabriella; Montanari, Micaela; Vanacore, Daniela; Romano, Francesco Jacopo; Piscitelli, Raffaele; Iovane, Gelsomina; Pepe, Maria Filomena; Berretta, Massimiliano; D'Aniello, Carmine; Perdonà, Sisto; Muto, Paolo; Botti, Gerardo; Ciliberto, Gennaro; Veneziani, Bianca Maria; De Falco, Francesco; Maiolino, Piera; Caraglia, Michele; Montella, Maurizio; Iaffaioli, Rosario Vincenzo; Facchini, Gaetano

2017-01-01

This review summarizes the main pathophysiological basis of the relationship between metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptor exposure and prostate cancer that is the most common cancer among men in industrialized countries. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic and hormonal factors having a central role in the initiation and recurrence of many western chronic diseases including hormonal-related cancers and it is considered as the worlds leading health problem in the coming years. Many biological factors correlate metabolic syndrome to prostate cancer and this review is aimed to focus, principally, on growth factors, cytokines, adipokines, central obesity, endocrine abnormalities and exposure to specific endocrine disruptors, a cluster of chemicals, to which we are daily exposed, with a hormone-like structure influencing oncogenes, tumor suppressors and proteins with a key role in metabolism, cell survival and chemo-resistance of prostate cancer cells. Finally, this review will analyze, from a molecular point of view, how specific foods could reduce the relative risk of incidence and recurrence of prostate cancer or inhibit the biological effects of endocrine disruptors on prostate cancer cells. On the basis of these considerations, prostate cancer remains a great health problem in terms of incidence and prevalence and interventional studies based on the treatment of metabolic syndrome in cancer patients, minimizing exposure to endocrine disruptors, could be a key point in the overall management of this disease. PMID:28389628

Metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptors and prostate cancer associations: biochemical and pathophysiological evidences.

PubMed

Quagliariello, Vincenzo; Rossetti, Sabrina; Cavaliere, Carla; Di Palo, Rossella; Lamantia, Elvira; Castaldo, Luigi; Nocerino, Flavia; Ametrano, Gianluca; Cappuccio, Francesca; Malzone, Gabriella; Montanari, Micaela; Vanacore, Daniela; Romano, Francesco Jacopo; Piscitelli, Raffaele; Iovane, Gelsomina; Pepe, Maria Filomena; Berretta, Massimiliano; D'Aniello, Carmine; Perdonà, Sisto; Muto, Paolo; Botti, Gerardo; Ciliberto, Gennaro; Veneziani, Bianca Maria; De Falco, Francesco; Maiolino, Piera; Caraglia, Michele; Montella, Maurizio; Iaffaioli, Rosario Vincenzo; Facchini, Gaetano

2017-05-02

This review summarizes the main pathophysiological basis of the relationship between metabolic syndrome, endocrine disruptor exposure and prostate cancer that is the most common cancer among men in industrialized countries. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic and hormonal factors having a central role in the initiation and recurrence of many western chronic diseases including hormonal-related cancers and it is considered as the world's leading health problem in the coming years. Many biological factors correlate metabolic syndrome to prostate cancer and this review is aimed to focus, principally, on growth factors, cytokines, adipokines, central obesity, endocrine abnormalities and exposure to specific endocrine disruptors, a cluster of chemicals, to which we are daily exposed, with a hormone-like structure influencing oncogenes, tumor suppressors and proteins with a key role in metabolism, cell survival and chemo-resistance of prostate cancer cells. Finally, this review will analyze, from a molecular point of view, how specific foods could reduce the relative risk of incidence and recurrence of prostate cancer or inhibit the biological effects of endocrine disruptors on prostate cancer cells. On the basis of these considerations, prostate cancer remains a great health problem in terms of incidence and prevalence and interventional studies based on the treatment of metabolic syndrome in cancer patients, minimizing exposure to endocrine disruptors, could be a key point in the overall management of this disease.

The Unicellular State as a Point Source in a Quantum Biological System

PubMed Central

Torday, John S.; Miller, William B.

2016-01-01

A point source is the central and most important point or place for any group of cohering phenomena. Evolutionary development presumes that biological processes are sequentially linked, but neither directed from, nor centralized within, any specific biologic structure or stage. However, such an epigenomic entity exists and its transforming effects can be understood through the obligatory recapitulation of all eukaryotic lifeforms through a zygotic unicellular phase. This requisite biological conjunction can now be properly assessed as the focal point of reconciliation between biology and quantum phenomena, illustrated by deconvoluting complex physiologic traits back to their unicellular origins. PMID:27240413

Exploring behavior of an unusual megaherbivore: A spatially explicit foraging model of the hippopotamus

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewison, R.L.; Carter, J.

2004-01-01

Herbivore foraging theories have been developed for and tested on herbivores across a range of sizes. Due to logistical constraints, however, little research has focused on foraging behavior of megaherbivores. Here we present a research approach that explores megaherbivore foraging behavior, and assesses the applicability of foraging theories developed on smaller herbivores to megafauna. With simulation models as reference points for the analysis of empirical data, we investigate foraging strategies of the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). Using a spatially explicit individual based foraging model, we apply traditional herbivore foraging strategies to a model hippopotamus, compare model output, and then relate these results to field data from wild hippopotami. Hippopotami appear to employ foraging strategies that respond to vegetation characteristics, such as vegetation quality, as well as spatial reference information, namely distance to a water source. Model predictions, field observations, and comparisons of the two support that hippopotami generally conform to the central place foraging construct. These analyses point to the applicability of general herbivore foraging concepts to megaherbivores, but also point to important differences between hippopotami and other herbivores. Our synergistic approach of models as reference points for empirical data highlights a useful method of behavioral analysis for hard-to-study megafauna. ?? 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Semantic focusing allows fully automated single-layer slide scanning of cervical cytology slides.

PubMed

Lahrmann, Bernd; Valous, Nektarios A; Eisenmann, Urs; Wentzensen, Nicolas; Grabe, Niels

2013-01-01

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) in conjunction with Whole-Slide Imaging (WSI) enables the objective and sensitive and quantitative evaluation of biomarkers in cytology. However, the complex three-dimensional distribution of cells on LBC slides requires manual focusing, long scanning-times, and multi-layer scanning. Here, we present a solution that overcomes these limitations in two steps: first, we make sure that focus points are only set on cells. Secondly, we check the total slide focus quality. From a first analysis we detected that superficial dust can be separated from the cell layer (thin layer of cells on the glass slide) itself. Then we analyzed 2,295 individual focus points from 51 LBC slides stained for p16 and Ki67. Using the number of edges in a focus point image, specific color values and size-inclusion filters, focus points detecting cells could be distinguished from focus points on artifacts (accuracy 98.6%). Sharpness as total focus quality of a virtual LBC slide is computed from 5 sharpness features. We trained a multi-parameter SVM classifier on 1,600 images. On an independent validation set of 3,232 cell images we achieved an accuracy of 94.8% for classifying images as focused. Our results show that single-layer scanning of LBC slides is possible and how it can be achieved. We assembled focus point analysis and sharpness classification into a fully automatic, iterative workflow, free of user intervention, which performs repetitive slide scanning as necessary. On 400 LBC slides we achieved a scanning-time of 13.9±10.1 min with 29.1±15.5 focus points. In summary, the integration of semantic focus information into whole-slide imaging allows automatic high-quality imaging of LBC slides and subsequent biomarker analysis.

Status homophily, sexual identity, and lesbian social ties.

PubMed

Logan, Laura S

2013-01-01

The literature on friendship and social networks finds that individuals form social ties with people who are like them--a much studied concept called homophily. However, few studies have explicitly examined sexual identity as a point of homophily. Scholars from multiple disciplines have long argued that sexuality influences the organization of our social worlds, yet most studies of friendship and social networks under-examine or overlook the influence of sexual identity. This study addresses that gap by looking at status homophily among lesbian social ties to examine the influence of sexual identity, as well as gender, race, class, and family, on their personal networks. Using survey data from 544 U.S. lesbian respondents, the findings make visible some of the factors and forces that shape social ties for lesbians. The results point to the importance of sexuality as an organizing element of social life, and suggest that studies that examine social networks or friendships more often make sexual identity, gender, and intersecting social locations a central focus.

3D measurement using circular gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harding, Kevin

2013-09-01

3D measurement using methods of structured light are well known in the industry. Most such systems use some variation of straight lines, either as simple lines or with some form of encoding. This geometry assumes the lines will be projected from one side and viewed from another to generate the profile information. But what about applications where a wide triangulation angle may not be practical, particularly at longer standoff distances. This paper explores the use of circular grating patterns projected from a center point to achieve 3D information. Originally suggested by John Caulfield around 1990, the method had some interesting potential, particularly if combined with alternate means of measurement from traditional triangulation including depth from focus methods. The possible advantages of a central reference point in the projected pattern may offer some different capabilities not as easily attained with a linear grating pattern. This paper will explore the pros and cons of the method and present some examples of possible applications.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE THERMAL NEUTRON CALIBRATION UNIT, TNF2, AT LNMRI/IRD.

PubMed

Astuto, A; Fernandes, S S; Patrão, K C S; Fonseca, E S; Pereira, W W; Lopes, R T

2018-02-21

The standard thermal neutron flux unit, TNF2, in the Brazilian National Ionizing Radiation Metrology Laboratory was rebuilt. Fluence is still achieved by moderating of four 241Am-Be sources with 0.6 TBq each. The facility was again simulated and redesigned with graphite core and paraffin added graphite blocks surrounding it. Simulations using the MCNPX code on different geometric arrangements of moderator materials and neutron sources were performed. The resulting neutron fluence quality in terms of intensity, spectrum and cadmium ratio was evaluated. After this step, the system was assembled based on the results obtained from the simulations and measurements were performed with equipment existing in LNMRI/IRD and by simulated equipment. This work focuses on the characterization of a central chamber point and external points around the TNF2 in terms of neutron spectrum, fluence and ambient dose equivalent, H*(10). This system was validated with spectra measurements, fluence and H*(10) to ensure traceability.

Mechanisms of thermal acclimation to exercise and heat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nadel, E. R.; Pandolf, K. B.; Roberts, M. F.; Stolwijk, J. A. J.

1974-01-01

By plotting local sweating rate from a given area against the central sweating drive (which is analogous to esophageal temperature, when mean skin temperature is constant), it is possible to determine the characteristic gain constant of that area as well as its point of zero central drive. An increase in the gain constant as a result of acclimation would indicate an increased sensitivity of the sweating mechanism per unit of central sweating drive, i.e., enhanced peripheral sensitivity. A displacement of the point of zero central drive as a result of acclimation would indicate that central mechanisms are responsible for the heightened sweating response. The study was undertaken to provide information about whether central or peripheral physiological mechanisms provide for increased sweating capabilities during acclimation, and about whether the increased sweating capabilities in heat acclimation and physical training are provided for by the same mechanisms.

[Comparing the ranges of defect measured with standard white on white and Pulsar perimetries].

PubMed

González de la Rosa, M; González-Hernández, M; García-Feijoo, J; Sánchez Méndez, M; García-Sánchez, J

2011-04-01

Normal thresholds on Pulsar perimetry fall faster than those of standard perimetry in the peripheral visual field. Two related studies were performed. Firstly, the frequency distributions of glaucoma defects on standard automated perimetry (SAP) and the relationship of the centre and periphery (Study A) were studied first, followed by an attempt to establish the limits of pulsar perimetry (Study B). A: frequency of defects was calculated in 78.663 SAP perimetries (G1-TOP, Octopus 1-2-3, Haag-Streit). Study B: 204 eyes with mean defect (MD-SAP) lower than 9 dB were examined 8.92 ± 4.19 times with SAP (TOP-32, Octopus 311) and temporal modulation perimetry (T30W, Pulsar Perimeter, Haag-Streit). Study A: 50.7% of the SAP examinations showed MD values lower than 9 dB and 32.7% bellow 6 dB. The MD correlation of the central 20° with the MD of the most peripheral points was r=0.933. Study B: in cases with MD-TOP-32 lower than 6 dB, SAP had the maximum possibility of detecting defect in 0.02% of points and Pulsar in 0.29%. In subjects with MD-TOP-32 between 6 and 9 dB frequencies were 0.38% in SAP and 3.5% in Pulsar (5.1% for eccentricities higher than 20°). Pulsar allows detecting defects, without range limitations, in the initial half of SAP frequencies expected on glaucoma patients. In order to study the progression of deeper defects the examination should focus on the central points, where the dynamic range of both systems is more equivalent. Copyright © 2010 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Ecological Niche Modeling for the Prediction of the Geographic Distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tunisia

PubMed Central

Chalghaf, Bilel; Chlif, Sadok; Mayala, Benjamin; Ghawar, Wissem; Bettaieb, Jihène; Harrabi, Myriam; Benie, Goze Bertin; Michael, Edwin; Salah, Afif Ben

2016-01-01

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a very complex disease involving multiple factors that limit its emergence and spatial distribution. Prediction of cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemics in Tunisia remains difficult because most of the epidemiological tools used so far are descriptive in nature and mainly focus on a time dimension. The purpose of this work is to predict the potential geographic distribution of Phlebotomus papatasi and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in Tunisia using Grinnellian ecological niche modeling. We attempted to assess the importance of environmental factors influencing the potential distribution of P. papatasi and cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major. Vectors were trapped in central Tunisia during the transmission season using CDC light traps (John W. Hock Co., Gainesville, FL). A global positioning system was used to record the geographical coordinates of vector occurrence points and households tested positive for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major. Nine environmental layers were used as predictor variables to model the P. papatasi geographical distribution and five variables were used to model the L. major potential distribution. Ecological niche modeling was used to relate known species' occurrence points to values of environmental factors for these same points to predict the presence of the species in unsampled regions based on the value of the predictor variables. Rainfall and temperature contributed the most as predictors for sand flies and human case distributions. Ecological niche modeling anticipated the current distribution of P. papatasi with the highest suitability for species occurrence in the central and southeastern part of Tunisian. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that governorates of Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid, and Kairouan are at highest epidemic risk. PMID:26856914

Ecological Niche Modeling for the Prediction of the Geographic Distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tunisia.

PubMed

Chalghaf, Bilel; Chlif, Sadok; Mayala, Benjamin; Ghawar, Wissem; Bettaieb, Jihène; Harrabi, Myriam; Benie, Goze Bertin; Michael, Edwin; Salah, Afif Ben

2016-04-01

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a very complex disease involving multiple factors that limit its emergence and spatial distribution. Prediction of cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemics in Tunisia remains difficult because most of the epidemiological tools used so far are descriptive in nature and mainly focus on a time dimension. The purpose of this work is to predict the potential geographic distribution of Phlebotomus papatasi and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in Tunisia using Grinnellian ecological niche modeling. We attempted to assess the importance of environmental factors influencing the potential distribution of P. papatasi and cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major. Vectors were trapped in central Tunisia during the transmission season using CDC light traps (John W. Hock Co., Gainesville, FL). A global positioning system was used to record the geographical coordinates of vector occurrence points and households tested positive for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major. Nine environmental layers were used as predictor variables to model the P. papatasi geographical distribution and five variables were used to model the L. major potential distribution. Ecological niche modeling was used to relate known species' occurrence points to values of environmental factors for these same points to predict the presence of the species in unsampled regions based on the value of the predictor variables. Rainfall and temperature contributed the most as predictors for sand flies and human case distributions. Ecological niche modeling anticipated the current distribution of P. papatasi with the highest suitability for species occurrence in the central and southeastern part of Tunisian. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that governorates of Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid, and Kairouan are at highest epidemic risk. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Impact of structural and autocyclic basin-floor topography on the depositional evolution of the deep-water Valparaiso forearc basin, central Chile

USGS Publications Warehouse

Laursen, J.; Normark, W.R.

2003-01-01

The Valparaiso Basin constitutes a unique and prominent deep-water forearc basin underlying a 40-km by 60-km mid-slope terrace at 2.5-km water depth on the central Chile margin. Seismic-reflection data, collected as part of the CONDOR investigation, image a 3-3.5-km thick sediment succession that fills a smoothly sagged, margin-parallel, elongated trough at the base of the upper slope. In response to underthrusting of the Juan Ferna??ndez Ridge on the Nazca plate, the basin fill is increasingly deformed in the seaward direction above seaward-vergent outer forearc compressional highs. Syn-depositional growth of a large, margin-parallel monoclinal high in conjunction with sagging of the inner trough of the basin created stratal geometries similar to those observed in forearc basins bordered by large accretionary prisms. Margin-parallel compressional ridges diverted turbidity currents along the basin axis and exerted a direct control on sediment depositional processes. As structural depressions became buried, transverse input from point sources on the adjacent upper slope formed complex fan systems with sediment waves characterising the overbank environment, common on many Pleistocene turbidite systems. Mass failure as a result of local topographic inversion formed a prominent mass-flow deposit, and ultimately resulted in canyon formation and hence a new focused point source feeding the basin. The Valparaiso Basin is presently filled to the spill point of the outer forearc highs, causing headward erosion of incipient canyons into the basin fill and allowing bypass of sediment to the Chile Trench. Age estimates that are constrained by subduction-related syn-depositional deformation of the upper 700-800m of the basin fill suggest that glacio-eustatic sea-level lowstands, in conjunction with accelerated denudation rates, within the past 350 ka may have contributed to the increase in simultaneously active point sources along the upper slope as well as an increased complexity of proximal depositional facies.

A 3D gravity and magnetic model for the Entenschnabel area (German North Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dressel, Ingo; Barckhausen, Udo; Heyde, Ingo

2018-01-01

In this study, we focus on structural configuration of the Entenschnabel area, a part of the German exclusive economic zone within the North Sea, by means of gravity and magnetic modelling. The starting point of the 3D modelling approach is published information on subseafloor structures for shallow depths, acquired by wells and seismic surveys. Subsequent gravity and magnetic modelling of the structures of the deeper subsurface builds on this geophysical and geological information and on gravity and magnetic data acquired during a research cruise to the Entenschnabel area. On the one hand, our 3D model shows the density and susceptibility distribution of the sediments and the crust. In addition, the potential field modelling provides evidence for a differentiation between lower and upper crust. The thickness distribution of the crust is also discussed with respect to the tectonic framework. Furthermore, gravity as well as magnetic modelling points to an intrusive complex beneath the Central Graben within the Entenschnabel area. On the other hand, this work provides a geological-geophysical consistent 3D gravity and magnetic model that can be used as a starting point for further investigation of this part of the German North Sea.

Simultaneous reconstruction of multiple depth images without off-focus points in integral imaging using a graphics processing unit.

PubMed

Yi, Faliu; Lee, Jieun; Moon, Inkyu

2014-05-01

The reconstruction of multiple depth images with a ray back-propagation algorithm in three-dimensional (3D) computational integral imaging is computationally burdensome. Further, a reconstructed depth image consists of a focus and an off-focus area. Focus areas are 3D points on the surface of an object that are located at the reconstructed depth, while off-focus areas include 3D points in free-space that do not belong to any object surface in 3D space. Generally, without being removed, the presence of an off-focus area would adversely affect the high-level analysis of a 3D object, including its classification, recognition, and tracking. Here, we use a graphics processing unit (GPU) that supports parallel processing with multiple processors to simultaneously reconstruct multiple depth images using a lookup table containing the shifted values along the x and y directions for each elemental image in a given depth range. Moreover, each 3D point on a depth image can be measured by analyzing its statistical variance with its corresponding samples, which are captured by the two-dimensional (2D) elemental images. These statistical variances can be used to classify depth image pixels as either focus or off-focus points. At this stage, the measurement of focus and off-focus points in multiple depth images is also implemented in parallel on a GPU. Our proposed method is conducted based on the assumption that there is no occlusion of the 3D object during the capture stage of the integral imaging process. Experimental results have demonstrated that this method is capable of removing off-focus points in the reconstructed depth image. The results also showed that using a GPU to remove the off-focus points could greatly improve the overall computational speed compared with using a CPU.

D Central Line Extraction of Fossil Oyster Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djuricic, A.; Puttonen, E.; Harzhauser, M.; Mandic, O.; Székely, B.; Pfeifer, N.

2016-06-01

Photogrammetry provides a powerful tool to digitally document protected, inaccessible, and rare fossils. This saves manpower in relation to current documentation practice and makes the fragile specimens more available for paleontological analysis and public education. In this study, high resolution orthophoto (0.5 mm) and digital surface models (1 mm) are used to define fossil boundaries that are then used as an input to automatically extract fossil length information via central lines. In general, central lines are widely used in geosciences as they ease observation, monitoring and evaluation of object dimensions. Here, the 3D central lines are used in a novel paleontological context to study fossilized oyster shells with photogrammetric and LiDAR-obtained 3D point cloud data. 3D central lines of 1121 Crassostrea gryphoides oysters of various shapes and sizes were computed in the study. Central line calculation included: i) Delaunay triangulation between the fossil shell boundary points and formation of the Voronoi diagram; ii) extraction of Voronoi vertices and construction of a connected graph tree from them; iii) reduction of the graph to the longest possible central line via Dijkstra's algorithm; iv) extension of longest central line to the shell boundary and smoothing by an adjustment of cubic spline curve; and v) integration of the central line into the corresponding 3D point cloud. The resulting longest path estimate for the 3D central line is a size parameter that can be applied in oyster shell age determination both in paleontological and biological applications. Our investigation evaluates ability and performance of the central line method to measure shell sizes accurately by comparing automatically extracted central lines with manually collected reference data used in paleontological analysis. Our results show that the automatically obtained central line length overestimated the manually collected reference by 1.5% in the test set, which is deemed sufficient for the selected paleontological application, namely shell age determination.

[Analysis of palpation laws of muscle meridian focus on knee osteoarthritis].

PubMed

Zhang, Shu-Jian; Zhang, Xiao-Qing; Han, Yu; Li, Chun-Ri; Dong, Bao-Qiang

2012-03-01

To explore the distribution regulars of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions in knee osteoarthritis patients. Seven hundred and sixty-five knees were selected in 516 cases of knee osteoarthritis. Under the guidance of muscle meridian theory, with the anatomical features of muscle meridian focus, the frequency and the location where the proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions appeared were calculated by palpation. Of all the points, 11 835 points of proximal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out by palpation, and 9455 points of distal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out. The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian of Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyang, Foot-Shaoyang and three foot Yin meridians appeared at proximal points of knee were 37.1% (4388/11 835), 34.9% (4127/11 835), 9.5% (1129/11 835) and 18.5% (2191/11 835) respectively; and the percentage of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian appeared at distal points of knee were 24.7% (2333/9455), 25.2% (2380/9455), 28.5% (2700/9455) and 21.6% (2042/9455). The proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian in knee osteoarthritis patients are closely related with anatomy structure and biomechanical characteristics; the distribution regulars of focus of muscle meridians study provides evidence for the selection of effective treatment points from different clinical acupuncture therapies.

Towards more sustainable diets: Insights from the food philosophies of "gourmets" and their relevance for policy strategies.

PubMed

Schösler, Hanna; de Boer, Joop

2018-08-01

Food has become a central focus for the achievement of sustainability objectives. One of the current challenges is that promoting food sustainability requires much more attention to cultural and social contexts and the food philosophies of specific groups of consumers. The present paper focuses on those consumers in the Netherlands who intrinsically appreciate the taste and the quality of food (hereafter "gourmets"). Our expectation was that, due to their respect for the origin of food and their distance from mainstream food culture, the gourmets may be able to reveal practices and cultural assumptions that help to find entry points for promoting more sustainable food choices among the general population. Drawing on literature about gastronomy, Slow Food and craft consumption, fifteen in-depth interviews were held to examine the food philosophies of individual gourmets from a health and sustainability perspective. The results demonstrated how the values of pleasure of taste, food competences and social relatedness may contribute to the extent of complementarity between culinary and ethical principles. Entry points for promoting change in a more sustainable direction include a shift from quantity to quality, such as meals with less but better meat, a shift towards making meals less focused on meat and a general open-mindedness towards other eating styles (a new look at vegetables), a shift to planning for a competent use of leftovers and a shift in willingness to accept limitations on food choices, such as the seasonal unavailability of food. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Color-coded topography and shaded relief map of the lunar near side and far side hemispheres

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2003-01-01

This publication is a set of three sheets of topographic maps that presents color-coded topographic data digitally merged with shaded relief data. Adopted figure: The figure for the Moon, used for the computation of the map projection, is a sphere with a radius of 1737.4 km. Because the Moon has no surface water, and hence no sea level, the datum (the 0 km contour) for elevations is defined as the radius of 1737.4 km. Coordinates are based on the mean Earth/polar axis (M.E.) coordinates system, the z axis is the axis of the Moon's rotation, and the x axis is the mean Earth direction. The center of mass is the origin of the coordinate system. The equator lies in the x-y plane and the prime meridian lies in the x-z plane with east longitude values being positive. Projection: The projection is Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area Projection. The scale factor at the central latitude and central longitude point is 1:10,000,000. For the near side hemisphere the central latitude and central longitude point is at 0° and 0°. For the far side hemisphere the central latitude and central longitude point is at 0° and 180°.

Chandra Observations of the M31

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia, Michael; Lavoie, Anthony R. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

We report on Chandra observations of the nearest Spiral Galaxy, M3l, The nuclear source seen with previous X-ray observatories is resolved into five point sources. One of these sources is within 1 arc-sec of the M31 central super-massive black hole. As compared to the other point sources in M3l. this nuclear source has an unusually soft spectrum. Based on the spatial coincidence and the unusual spectrum. we identify this source with the central black hole. A bright transient is detected 26 arc-sec to the west of the nucleus, which may be associated with a stellar mass black hole. We will report on a comparison of the x-ray spectrum of the diffuse emission and point sources seen in the central few arcmin

Imaging performance of annular apertures. IV - Apodization and point spread functions. V - Total and partial energy integral functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tschunko, H. F. A.

1983-01-01

Reference is made to a study by Tschunko (1979) in which it was discussed how apodization modifies the modulation transfer function for various central obstruction ratios. It is shown here how apodization, together with the central obstruction ratio, modifies the point spread function, which is the basic element for the comparison of imaging performance and for the derivation of energy integrals and other functions. At high apodization levels and lower central obstruction (less than 0.1), new extended radial zones are formed in the outer part of the central ring groups. These transmutation of the image functions are of more than theoretical interest, especially if the irradiance levels in the outer ring zones are to be compared to the background irradiance levels. Attention is then given to the energy distribution in point images generated by annular apertures apodized by various transmission functions. The total energy functions are derived; partial energy integrals are determined; and background irradiance functions are discussed.

Influence of the corneal optical zone on the point-spread function of the human eye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rol, Pascal O.; Parel, Jean-Marie A.

1992-08-01

In refractive surgery, a number of surgical techniques have been developed to correct ametropia (refractive defaults) of the eye by changing the exterior shape of the cornea. Because the air-cornea interface makes up for about two thirds of the refractive power of the eye, a refractive correction can be obtained by a suitable reshaping of the cornea. Postoperatively, it is usually observed that the corneal region consists of two or more zones which are characterized by different optical parameters exhibiting in particular different focal distances. Under normal circumstances, only the central area of the cornea is involved in the formation of the retinal image. However, if part of the light entering the eye through peripheral portions of the cornea with refractive properties different from the central area can pass the pupil, an out-of-focus `ghost' image may be overlaid on the retina causing a blur. In such a case the resolution, and the contrast performance of the eye which is expected from a successful operation, may be reduced. This study is an attempt to quantify the vision blur as a function of the diameter of the central zone, i.e., the optical zone which is of importance for vision.

Central Alaska Network vital signs monitoring plan

USGS Publications Warehouse

MacCluskie, Margaret C.; Oakley, Karen L.; McDonald, Trent; Wilder, Doug

2005-01-01

Denali National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve have been organized into the Central Alaska Network (CAKN) for the purposes of carrying out ecological monitoring activities under the National Park Services’ Vital Signs Monitoring program. The Phase III Report is the initial draft of the Vital Signs Monitoring Plan for the Central Alaska Network. It includes updated material from the Phase I and II documents. This report, and draft protocols for 11 of the network’s Vital Signs, were peer reviewed early in 2005. Review comments were incorporated into the document bringing the network to the final stage of having a Vital Signs Monitoring Plan. Implementation of the program will formally begin in FY 2006. The broad goals of the CAKN monitoring program are to: (1) better understand the dynamic nature and condition of park ecosystems; and (2) provide reference points for comparisons with other, altered environments. The focus of the CAKN program will be to monitor ecosystems in order to detect change in ecological components and in the relationships among the components. Water quality monitoring is fully integrated within the CAKN monitoring program. A monitoring program for lentic (non-moving water) has been determined, and the program for lotic systems (moving water) is under development.

[A critical analysis of the degree of care humanization in the Hospitals of the Provincia Romana San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli (FBF)].

PubMed

Verginelli, Flavia; Gallo, Rosaria; Teti, Annalisa; Franco, Claudia; Piscioneri, Patrizia; Pimpinella, Giovanni; Fiore, Rosalia; Primavera, Angela; Sorrentino, Adriana; Guglielmucci, Giovanni; Venditti, Michele; Carbone, Alberto; Iannuzzo, Mariateresa; Seroni, Giampiero; Civello, Pietro; Cardarelli, Maria; Roberti, Giovanni

2018-01-01

In the Hospitals of the Ordine della Provincia Romana San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli (FBF) (consisting of four hospitals located in three Italian regions) Patient Centeredness has always been considered a central point. In 2015, the Central Hospitals' Health Direction decided to use a check-list for the evaluation of the degree of Patient Centered Care Facilities, drawn up by the National Agency for Regional Health Services (Age.Na.S) during the 2010 Research Project "Experimentation and transfer of organizational empowerment models for evaluating and improving the quality of health services." The aim of the work was to measure the "Patient Centered Care degree" of the FBF structures by means of the Age.Na.S. check-list in order to identify effective and sustainable improvement measures, and to evaluate the applicability and the critical points of the questionnaire. The check-list was divided into four areas: care systems oriented at citizen's respect and centrality; physical accessibility, liveability and comfort of the places of care; access to information, simplification and transparency; care of the relationship with the patient and the citizen. The four areas were divided into 12 sub-areas, 29 criteria and 144 items with sub-items (248 questions), defined as quantitative or qualitative variables allowing for an evaluation of observed reality. Some items from different areas have been grouped into Focus and Operational Units (UU.OO./Facilities). The results of the Age.Na.S. study were used to compare the results obtained in the Roman Province FBF structures with the national ones. The Medical Directors and the responsible of FBF Quality Systems completed the cheek-list. A working group within the Central Hospitals' Health Direction analysed the data and processed the results, using the same scores provided by Age.Na.S.. The analysis of the results was divided into three levels. Focus and UU.OO./Facilities scores were calculated based on Age.Na.S. The distinction into three levels of analysis allowed for a thorough study of results, from the evaluation of the areas to the items. By comparing the results, the overall final value (range 6-6.5) and single area scores are close to the national average for beds number category in all the FBF hospitals. The most critical criteria, recurring in different levels are: 1.1.2 (Activities/projects to promote sociability and continuity with the outside world); 3.2.3 (Content and accessibility of the website); 4.1.2 (Training and support to the staff for the care of the relationship with the patient) and 4.2.3 (Training of the front-office staff), which had a < 4 score in at least three hospitals and generally achieve a value below the national average (level II and III of analysis). The analysis was extremely useful for detecting positive and negative aspects in the structures under examination. It also permitted to plan improvement measures based on set priorities and objective criteria, aimed at enforcing organizational empowerment models for improving the quality of patient-focused health services. However, during the compilation we found difficulties related to the applicability of the questionnaire. Indeed some questions, while having the same impact on the overall score, are less relevant, considering the patient centrality as main aim. It would be desirable that Age.Na.S. considers in a future survey the observations from hospitals joining previous investigations, in order to facilitate the use of the questionnaire and to improve this tool, which proved to be highly effective.

Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pushnik, J.

2012-12-01

The next generation will confront an increased number of global issues that interface the complexities of socioeconomic perspectives, environmental stability, poverty and development. Recently California State University Chico undertook a general education reform, providing a unique opportunity to craft a general education pathway to prepare students for these challenges by focusing a curriculum on sustainability. The Sustainability Pathway emphasizes a system thinking approach to help students understand and be able to address a set of problems involving the biosphere processes, human institutions and the economic vitality. The curriculum intentionally integrates courses from across the disciplines of natural sciences, social sciences, agriculture, engineering, economics, arts and humanities into a central focused theme of sustainability. The diverse backgrounds and academic focus of the participating faculty has necessitate the development of a common language and a cohesion within the curriculum. To address these needs a faculty learning community (FLC) was established to build on a common set of case studies. Three regional environmental water related issues were selected that had demonstrable socioeconomic, equity/ethical dimensions and environmental consequences. These case studies are Klamath River basin in northern California, the Bay-Delta project in the central part of the state and the Sultan Sea in southern California. Members of the FLC has contributed a perspective from their academic discipline which includes proposed reading lists, web based resources and PowerPoint presentations which are housed in common web- based resource repository. The pedagogical rational is to create linkages and cohesion among the courses in the curriculum by iteratively examining these case studies as basis for development of a multidisciplinary perspective as students progress through their general education.

Endocannabinoids in Body Weight Control.

PubMed

Horn, Henrike; Böhme, Beatrice; Dietrich, Laura; Koch, Marco

2018-05-30

Maintenance of body weight is fundamental to maintain one's health and to promote longevity. Nevertheless, it appears that the global obesity epidemic is still constantly increasing. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid messengers that are involved in overall body weight control by interfering with manifold central and peripheral regulatory circuits that orchestrate energy homeostasis. Initially, blocking of eCB signaling by first generation cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) inverse agonists such as rimonabant revealed body weight-reducing effects in laboratory animals and men. Unfortunately, rimonabant also induced severe psychiatric side effects. At this point, it became clear that future cannabinoid research has to decipher more precisely the underlying central and peripheral mechanisms behind eCB-driven control of feeding behavior and whole body energy metabolism. Here, we will summarize the most recent advances in understanding how central eCBs interfere with circuits in the brain that control food intake and energy expenditure. Next, we will focus on how peripheral eCBs affect food digestion, nutrient transformation and energy expenditure by interfering with signaling cascades in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, fat depots and endocrine glands. To finally outline the safe future potential of cannabinoids as medicines, our overall goal is to address the molecular, cellular and pharmacological logic behind central and peripheral eCB-mediated body weight control, and to figure out how these precise mechanistic insights are currently transferred into the development of next generation cannabinoid medicines displaying clearly improved safety profiles, such as significantly reduced side effects.

The Central Nervous System and Bone Metabolism: An Evolving Story.

PubMed

Dimitri, Paul; Rosen, Cliff

2017-05-01

Our understanding of the control of skeletal metabolism has undergone a dynamic shift in the last two decades, primarily driven by our understanding of energy metabolism. Evidence demonstrating that leptin not only influences bone cells directly, but that it also plays a pivotal role in controlling bone mass centrally, opened up an investigative process that has changed the way in which skeletal metabolism is now perceived. Other central regulators of bone metabolism have since been identified including neuropeptide Y (NPY), serotonin, endocannabinoids, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), adiponectin, melatonin and neuromedin U, controlling osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, proliferation and function. The sympathetic nervous system was originally identified as the predominant efferent pathway mediating central signalling to control skeleton metabolism, in part regulated through circadian genes. More recent evidence points to a role of the parasympathetic nervous system in the control of skeletal metabolism either through muscarinic influence of sympathetic nerves in the brain or directly via nicotinic receptors on osteoclasts, thus providing evidence for broader autonomic skeletal regulation. Sensory innervation of bone has also received focus again widening our understanding of the complex neuronal regulation of bone mass. Whilst scientific advance in this field of bone metabolism has been rapid, progress is still required to understand how these model systems work in relation to the multiple confounders influencing skeletal metabolism, and the relative balance in these neuronal systems required for skeletal growth and development in childhood and maintaining skeletal integrity in adulthood.

Tools to manage the enterprise-wide picture archiving and communications system environment.

PubMed

Lannum, L M; Gumpf, S; Piraino, D

2001-06-01

The presentation will focus on the implementation and utilization of a central picture archiving and communications system (PACS) network-monitoring tool that allows for enterprise-wide operations management and support of the image distribution network. The MagicWatch (Siemens, Iselin, NJ) PACS/radiology information system (RIS) monitoring station from Siemens has allowed our organization to create a service support structure that has given us proactive control of our environment and has allowed us to meet the service level performance expectations of the users. The Radiology Help Desk has used the MagicWatch PACS monitoring station as an applications support tool that has allowed the group to monitor network activity and individual systems performance at each node. Fast and timely recognition of the effects of single events within the PACS/RIS environment has allowed the group to proactively recognize possible performance issues and resolve problems. The PACS/operations group performs network management control, image storage management, and software distribution management from a single, central point in the enterprise. The MagicWatch station allows for the complete automation of software distribution, installation, and configuration process across all the nodes in the system. The tool has allowed for the standardization of the workstations and provides a central configuration control for the establishment and maintenance of the system standards. This report will describe the PACS management and operation prior to the implementation of the MagicWatch PACS monitoring station and will highlight the operational benefits of a centralized network and system-monitoring tool.

Solar thermal plant impact analysis and requirements definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gupta, Y. P.

1980-01-01

Progress on a continuing study comprising of ten tasks directed at defining impact and requirements for solar thermal power systems (SPS), 1 to 10 MWe each in capacity, installed during 1985 through year 2000 in a utility or a nonutility load in the United States is summarized. The point focus distributed receiver (PFDR) solar power systems are emphasized. Tasks 1 through 4, completed to date, include the development of a comprehensive data base on SPS configurations, their performance, cost, availability, and potential applications; user loads, regional characteristics, and an analytic methodology that incorporates the generally accepted utility financial planning methods and several unique modifications to treat the significant and specific characteristics of solar power systems deployed in either central or distributed power generation modes, are discussed.

In your face: transcendence in embodied interaction

PubMed Central

Gallagher, Shaun

2014-01-01

In cognitive psychology, studies concerning the face tend to focus on questions about face recognition, theory of mind (ToM) and empathy. Questions about the face, however, also fit into a very different set of issues that are central to ethics. Based especially on the work of Levinas, philosophers have come to see that reference to the face of another person can anchor conceptions of moral responsibility and ethical demand. Levinas points to a certain irreducibility and transcendence implicit in the face of the other. In this paper I argue that the notion of transcendence involved in this kind of analysis can be given a naturalistic interpretation by drawing on recent interactive approaches to social cognition found in developmental psychology, phenomenology, and the study of autism. PMID:25071523

To what extent does diagnosis matter? Dementia diagnosis, trouble interpretation and caregiving network dynamics.

PubMed

Brossard, Baptiste; Carpentier, Normand

2017-05-01

Contemporary research into health and mental health treats diagnosis as a central step in understanding illness management and trajectory; consequently, in the last two decades, sociology of diagnosis has attained increasing influence within medical sociology. Deeply embedded in social constructionism, the set of research divides between those who focus on the social and historical construction of diagnoses as categories, and those who see diagnosis as a process. Regarding the latter, this approach explores the constitution of the medical production, highlighting how it constitutes a starting point for entering a 'sick role', for being labelled, for naming one's problem and by extension, for framing one's illness narrative. © 2016 Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.

Microwave focusing with uniaxially symmetric gradient index metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wheeland, Sara; Sternberg, Oren; Perez, Israel; Rockway, John D.

2016-09-01

Previous efforts to create a metamaterial lens in the microwave X band frequency range focused on the development of a device with biaxial symmetry. This allows for focusing solely along the central axis of propagation. For applications involving wave direction or energy diversion, focusing may be required off the central axis. This work explores a metamaterial device with uniaxial symmetry, namely in the direction of propagation. Ray-trace optimization and full-wave finite element simulations contribute to the design of the lens. By changing the placement of the focus, we achieve further control of the focus parameters. While the present work uses coils, the unit cell can consist of any structure or material.

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

Schlichenmaier, M

Recently, Lax operator algebras appeared as a new class of higher genus current-type algebras. Introduced by Krichever and Sheinman, they were based on Krichever's theory of Lax operators on algebraic curves. These algebras are almost-graded Lie algebras of currents on Riemann surfaces with marked points (in-points, out-points and Tyurin points). In a previous joint article with Sheinman, the author classified the local cocycles and associated almost-graded central extensions in the case of one in-point and one out-point. It was shown that the almost-graded extension is essentially unique. In this article the general case of Lax operator algebras corresponding to several in- andmore » out-points is considered. As a first step they are shown to be almost-graded. The grading is given by splitting the marked points which are non-Tyurin points into in- and out-points. Next, classification results both for local and bounded cocycles are proved. The uniqueness theorem for almost-graded central extensions follows. To obtain this generalization additional techniques are needed which are presented in this article. Bibliography: 30 titles.« less

Anthropology from a Kantian point of view: toward a cosmopolitan conception of human nature.

PubMed

Louden, Robert B

2008-12-01

Anthropology was a new field of study when Kant first began lecturing on it in 1772, and Kant himself was the first academic to teach regular courses in this area. As is well known, his own approach to anthropology is self-described as 'pragmatic', and Kant's pragmatic anthropology differs markedly from the anthropologies that other early contributors to the new discipline were advocating. In this essay I focus on a fundamental feature of Kant's anthropology that has been under-appreciated in previous discussions; namely, the particular conception of human nature that he believes anthropology, when pursued properly, leads to. I call this conception a cosmopolitan conception of human nature. In addition to establishing the central importance of this idea for Kant's project in anthropology, I also try in this essay to unravel some of its ambiguities and tensions as well as to highlight its underlying moral motives. The cosmopolitan conception of human nature that is central to Kant's anthropology is a further indication of the significance of his anthropology for ethics.

A database of the coseismic effects following the 30 October 2016 Norcia earthquake in Central Italy

PubMed Central

Villani, Fabio; Civico, Riccardo; Pucci, Stefano; Pizzimenti, Luca; Nappi, Rosa; De Martini, Paolo Marco; Villani, Fabio; Civico, Riccardo; Pucci, Stefano; Pizzimenti, Luca; Nappi, Rosa; De Martini, Paolo Marco; Agosta, F.; Alessio, G.; Alfonsi, L.; Amanti, M.; Amoroso, S.; Aringoli, D.; Auciello, E.; Azzaro, R.; Baize, S.; Bello, S.; Benedetti, L.; Bertagnini, A.; Binda, G.; Bisson, M.; Blumetti, A.M.; Bonadeo, L.; Boncio, P.; Bornemann, P.; Branca, S.; Braun, T.; Brozzetti, F.; Brunori, C.A.; Burrato, P.; Caciagli, M.; Campobasso, C.; Carafa, M.; Cinti, F.R.; Cirillo, D.; Comerci, V.; Cucci, L.; De Ritis, R.; Deiana, G.; Del Carlo, P.; Del Rio, L.; Delorme, A.; Di Manna, P.; Di Naccio, D.; Falconi, L.; Falcucci, E.; Farabollini, P.; Faure Walker, J.P.; Ferrarini, F.; Ferrario, M.F.; Ferry, M.; Feuillet, N.; Fleury, J.; Fracassi, U.; Frigerio, C.; Galluzzo, F.; Gambillara, R.; Gaudiosi, G.; Goodall, H.; Gori, S.; Gregory, L.C.; Guerrieri, L.; Hailemikael, S.; Hollingsworth, J.; Iezzi, F.; Invernizzi, C.; Jablonská, D.; Jacques, E.; Jomard, H.; Kastelic, V.; Klinger, Y.; Lavecchia, G.; Leclerc, F.; Liberi, F.; Lisi, A.; Livio, F.; Lo Sardo, L.; Malet, J.P.; Mariucci, M.T.; Materazzi, M.; Maubant, L.; Mazzarini, F.; McCaffrey, K.J.W.; Michetti, A.M.; Mildon, Z.K.; Montone, P.; Moro, M.; Nave, R.; Odin, M.; Pace, B.; Paggi, S.; Pagliuca, N.; Pambianchi, G.; Pantosti, D.; Patera, A.; Pérouse, E.; Pezzo, G.; Piccardi, L.; Pierantoni, P.P.; Pignone, M.; Pinzi, S.; Pistolesi, E.; Point, J.; Pousse, L.; Pozzi, A.; Proposito, M.; Puglisi, C.; Puliti, I.; Ricci, T.; Ripamonti, L.; Rizza, M.; Roberts, G.P.; Roncoroni, M.; Sapia, V.; Saroli, M.; Sciarra, A.; Scotti, O.; Skupinski, G.; Smedile, A.; Soquet, A.; Tarabusi, G.; Tarquini, S.; Terrana, S.; Tesson, J.; Tondi, E.; Valentini, A.; Vallone, R.; Van der Woerd, J.; Vannoli, P.; Venuti, A.; Vittori, E.; Volatili, T.; Wedmore, L.N.J.; Wilkinson, M.; Zambrano, M.

2018-01-01

We provide a database of the coseismic geological surface effects following the Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake that hit central Italy on 30 October 2016. This was one of the strongest seismic events to occur in Europe in the past thirty years, causing complex surface ruptures over an area of >400 km2. The database originated from the collaboration of several European teams (Open EMERGEO Working Group; about 130 researchers) coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. The observations were collected by performing detailed field surveys in the epicentral region in order to describe the geometry and kinematics of surface faulting, and subsequently of landslides and other secondary coseismic effects. The resulting database consists of homogeneous georeferenced records identifying 7323 observation points, each of which contains 18 numeric and string fields of relevant information. This database will impact future earthquake studies focused on modelling of the seismic processes in active extensional settings, updating probabilistic estimates of slip distribution, and assessing the hazard of surface faulting. PMID:29583143

Tracking instrument and control for solar concentrators. Final technical report, October 1979-January 1981

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

Gray, J; Kuhlman, J

1981-01-31

The tracker uses a single photo sensor, and a rotating aperature to obtain tracking accuracies better than 1.5 mrads (0.1 degs). Peak signal detection is used to eliminate tracking of false sources, i.e., clouds, etc. A prism is employed to obtain an extended field of view (150 degs axially - 360 degs radially). The tracker digitally measures the Suns displacement angle relative to the concentrator axis, and repositions it incrementally. This arrangement permits the use of low cost non-servo motors. The local controller contains microprocessor based electronics, incorporating digital signal processing. A single controller may be time shared by amore » maximum of sixteen trackers, providing a high performance, cost effective solar tracking system, suitable for both line and point focus concentrators. An installation may have the local controller programmed as a standalone unit or slaved to a central controller. When used with a central controller, dynamic data monitoring and logging is available, together with the ability to change system modes and parameters, as desired.« less

Seeing Central African forests through their largest trees

PubMed Central

Bastin, J.-F.; Barbier, N.; Réjou-Méchain, M.; Fayolle, A.; Gourlet-Fleury, S.; Maniatis, D.; de Haulleville, T.; Baya, F.; Beeckman, H.; Beina, D.; Couteron, P.; Chuyong, G.; Dauby, G.; Doucet, J.-L.; Droissart, V.; Dufrêne, M.; Ewango, C.; Gillet, J.F.; Gonmadje, C.H.; Hart, T.; Kavali, T.; Kenfack, D.; Libalah, M.; Malhi, Y.; Makana, J.-R.; Pélissier, R.; Ploton, P.; Serckx, A.; Sonké, B.; Stevart, T.; Thomas, D.W.; De Cannière, C.; Bogaert, J.

2015-01-01

Large tropical trees and a few dominant species were recently identified as the main structuring elements of tropical forests. However, such result did not translate yet into quantitative approaches which are essential to understand, predict and monitor forest functions and composition over large, often poorly accessible territories. Here we show that the above-ground biomass (AGB) of the whole forest can be predicted from a few large trees and that the relationship is proved strikingly stable in 175 1-ha plots investigated across 8 sites spanning Central Africa. We designed a generic model predicting AGB with an error of 14% when based on only 5% of the stems, which points to universality in forest structural properties. For the first time in Africa, we identified some dominant species that disproportionally contribute to forest AGB with 1.5% of recorded species accounting for over 50% of the stock of AGB. Consequently, focusing on large trees and dominant species provides precise information on the whole forest stand. This offers new perspectives for understanding the functioning of tropical forests and opens new doors for the development of innovative monitoring strategies. PMID:26279193

Get It through Your Thick Head: Emerging Principles in Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology Redefine Central Nervous System "Immune Privilege".

PubMed

Solomos, Andreas C; Rall, Glenn F

2016-04-20

The central nervous system (CNS) coordinates all aspects of life, autonomic and sentient, though how it has evolved to contend with pathogenic infections remains, to a great degree, a mystery. The skull and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provide protection from blunt force contacts, and it was once thought that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was a fortress that restricted pathogen entry and limited inflammation. Recent studies, however, have caused a revision of this viewpoint: the CNS is monitored by blood-borne lymphocytes, but can use alternative strategies to prevent or resolve many pathogenic challenges. In this Review, we discuss emerging principles that indicate how the CNS is immunologically unique from peripheral tissues. We focus on developments that include glymphatics, recently characterized brain lymphatic vessels, distinctions in innate and adaptive immune strategies, novel points of entry for neurotropic viruses, and, finally, how the periphery can influence CNS homeostasis and immune responses within the brain. Collectively, these attributes demand a re-evaluation of immunity in the brain: not privileged, but distinct.

Seeing Central African forests through their largest trees.

PubMed

Bastin, J-F; Barbier, N; Réjou-Méchain, M; Fayolle, A; Gourlet-Fleury, S; Maniatis, D; de Haulleville, T; Baya, F; Beeckman, H; Beina, D; Couteron, P; Chuyong, G; Dauby, G; Doucet, J-L; Droissart, V; Dufrêne, M; Ewango, C; Gillet, J F; Gonmadje, C H; Hart, T; Kavali, T; Kenfack, D; Libalah, M; Malhi, Y; Makana, J-R; Pélissier, R; Ploton, P; Serckx, A; Sonké, B; Stevart, T; Thomas, D W; De Cannière, C; Bogaert, J

2015-08-17

Large tropical trees and a few dominant species were recently identified as the main structuring elements of tropical forests. However, such result did not translate yet into quantitative approaches which are essential to understand, predict and monitor forest functions and composition over large, often poorly accessible territories. Here we show that the above-ground biomass (AGB) of the whole forest can be predicted from a few large trees and that the relationship is proved strikingly stable in 175 1-ha plots investigated across 8 sites spanning Central Africa. We designed a generic model predicting AGB with an error of 14% when based on only 5% of the stems, which points to universality in forest structural properties. For the first time in Africa, we identified some dominant species that disproportionally contribute to forest AGB with 1.5% of recorded species accounting for over 50% of the stock of AGB. Consequently, focusing on large trees and dominant species provides precise information on the whole forest stand. This offers new perspectives for understanding the functioning of tropical forests and opens new doors for the development of innovative monitoring strategies.

Neuroimaging in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: beyond the frontostriatal circuitry.

PubMed

Cherkasova, Mariya V; Hechtman, Lily

2009-10-01

To review the findings of structural and functional neuroimaging studies in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with a focus on abnormalities reported in brain regions that lie outside the frontostriatal circuitry, which is currently believed to play a central role in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Relevant publications were found primarily by searching the MEDLINE and PubMed databases using the keywords ADHD and the abbreviations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, positron emission tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography. The reference lists of the articles found through the databases were then reviewed for the purpose of finding additional articles. There is now substantial evidence of structural and functional alterations in regions outside the frontostriatal circuitry in ADHD, most notably in the cerebellum and the parietal lobes. Although there is compelling evidence suggesting that frontostriatal dysfunction may be central to the pathophysiology of ADHD, the neuroimaging findings point to distributed neural substrates rather than a single one. More research is needed to elucidate the nature of contributions of nonfrontostriatal regions to the pathophysiology of ADHD.

A database of the coseismic effects following the 30 October 2016 Norcia earthquake in Central Italy.

PubMed

Villani, Fabio; Civico, Riccardo; Pucci, Stefano; Pizzimenti, Luca; Nappi, Rosa; De Martini, Paolo Marco

2018-03-27

We provide a database of the coseismic geological surface effects following the Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake that hit central Italy on 30 October 2016. This was one of the strongest seismic events to occur in Europe in the past thirty years, causing complex surface ruptures over an area of >400 km 2 . The database originated from the collaboration of several European teams (Open EMERGEO Working Group; about 130 researchers) coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. The observations were collected by performing detailed field surveys in the epicentral region in order to describe the geometry and kinematics of surface faulting, and subsequently of landslides and other secondary coseismic effects. The resulting database consists of homogeneous georeferenced records identifying 7323 observation points, each of which contains 18 numeric and string fields of relevant information. This database will impact future earthquake studies focused on modelling of the seismic processes in active extensional settings, updating probabilistic estimates of slip distribution, and assessing the hazard of surface faulting.

A database of the coseismic effects following the 30 October 2016 Norcia earthquake in Central Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villani, Fabio; Civico, Riccardo; Pucci, Stefano; Pizzimenti, Luca; Nappi, Rosa; de Martini, Paolo Marco; Villani, Fabio; Civico, Riccardo; Pucci, Stefano; Pizzimenti, Luca; Nappi, Rosa; de Martini, Paolo Marco; Agosta, F.; Alessio, G.; Alfonsi, L.; Amanti, M.; Amoroso, S.; Aringoli, D.; Auciello, E.; Azzaro, R.; Baize, S.; Bello, S.; Benedetti, L.; Bertagnini, A.; Binda, G.; Bisson, M.; Blumetti, A. M.; Bonadeo, L.; Boncio, P.; Bornemann, P.; Branca, S.; Braun, T.; Brozzetti, F.; Brunori, C. A.; Burrato, P.; Caciagli, M.; Campobasso, C.; Carafa, M.; Cinti, F. R.; Cirillo, D.; Comerci, V.; Cucci, L.; de Ritis, R.; Deiana, G.; Del Carlo, P.; Del Rio, L.; Delorme, A.; di Manna, P.; di Naccio, D.; Falconi, L.; Falcucci, E.; Farabollini, P.; Faure Walker, J. P.; Ferrarini, F.; Ferrario, M. F.; Ferry, M.; Feuillet, N.; Fleury, J.; Fracassi, U.; Frigerio, C.; Galluzzo, F.; Gambillara, R.; Gaudiosi, G.; Goodall, H.; Gori, S.; Gregory, L. C.; Guerrieri, L.; Hailemikael, S.; Hollingsworth, J.; Iezzi, F.; Invernizzi, C.; Jablonská, D.; Jacques, E.; Jomard, H.; Kastelic, V.; Klinger, Y.; Lavecchia, G.; Leclerc, F.; Liberi, F.; Lisi, A.; Livio, F.; Lo Sardo, L.; Malet, J. P.; Mariucci, M. T.; Materazzi, M.; Maubant, L.; Mazzarini, F.; McCaffrey, K. J. W.; Michetti, A. M.; Mildon, Z. K.; Montone, P.; Moro, M.; Nave, R.; Odin, M.; Pace, B.; Paggi, S.; Pagliuca, N.; Pambianchi, G.; Pantosti, D.; Patera, A.; Pérouse, E.; Pezzo, G.; Piccardi, L.; Pierantoni, P. P.; Pignone, M.; Pinzi, S.; Pistolesi, E.; Point, J.; Pousse, L.; Pozzi, A.; Proposito, M.; Puglisi, C.; Puliti, I.; Ricci, T.; Ripamonti, L.; Rizza, M.; Roberts, G. P.; Roncoroni, M.; Sapia, V.; Saroli, M.; Sciarra, A.; Scotti, O.; Skupinski, G.; Smedile, A.; Soquet, A.; Tarabusi, G.; Tarquini, S.; Terrana, S.; Tesson, J.; Tondi, E.; Valentini, A.; Vallone, R.; van der Woerd, J.; Vannoli, P.; Venuti, A.; Vittori, E.; Volatili, T.; Wedmore, L. N. J.; Wilkinson, M.; Zambrano, M.

2018-03-01

We provide a database of the coseismic geological surface effects following the Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake that hit central Italy on 30 October 2016. This was one of the strongest seismic events to occur in Europe in the past thirty years, causing complex surface ruptures over an area of >400 km2. The database originated from the collaboration of several European teams (Open EMERGEO Working Group; about 130 researchers) coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. The observations were collected by performing detailed field surveys in the epicentral region in order to describe the geometry and kinematics of surface faulting, and subsequently of landslides and other secondary coseismic effects. The resulting database consists of homogeneous georeferenced records identifying 7323 observation points, each of which contains 18 numeric and string fields of relevant information. This database will impact future earthquake studies focused on modelling of the seismic processes in active extensional settings, updating probabilistic estimates of slip distribution, and assessing the hazard of surface faulting.

Does fiscal discipline towards subnational governments affect citizens' well-being? Evidence on health.

PubMed

Piacenza, Massimiliano; Turati, Gilberto

2014-02-01

This paper aims to assess the impact on citizens' well-being of fiscal discipline imposed by the central government on subnational governments. Because healthcare policies involve strategic interactions between different layers of governments in many different countries, we focus on a particular dimension of well-being, namely citizens' health. We model fiscal discipline by considering government expectations of future deficit bailouts from the central government. We then study how these bailout expectations affect the expenditure for healthcare policies carried out by decentralized governments. To investigate this issue, we separate efficient health spending from inefficiencies by estimating an input requirement frontier. This allows us to assess the effects of bailout expectations on both the structural component of health expenditure and its deviations from the 'best practice'. The evidence from the 15 Italian ordinary statute regions (observed from 1993 to 2006) points out that bailout expectations do not significantly influence the position of the frontier, thus not affecting citizens' health. However, they do appear to exert a remarkable impact on excess spending. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Scattered radiation doses absorbed by technicians at different distances from X-ray exposure: Experiments on prosthesis.

PubMed

Chiang, Hsien-Wen; Liu, Ya-Ling; Chen, Tou-Rong; Chen, Chun-Lon; Chiang, Hsien-Jen; Chao, Shin-Yu

2015-01-01

This work aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of scattered radiation doses induced by exposure to the portable X-ray, the C-arm machine, and to simulate the radiologist without a shield of lead clothing, radiation doses absorbed by medical staff at 2 m from the central exposure point. With the adoption of the Rando Phantom, several frequently X-rayed body parts were exposed to X-ray radiation, and the scattered radiation doses were measured by ionization chamber dosimeters at various angles from the patient. Assuming that the central point of the X-ray was located at the belly button, five detection points were distributed in the operation room at 1 m above the ground and 1-2 m from the central point horizontally. The radiation dose measured at point B was the lowest, and the scattered radiation dose absorbed by the prosthesis from the X-ray's vertical projection was 0.07 ±0.03 μGy, which was less than the background radiation levels. The Fluke biomedical model 660-5DE (400 cc) and 660-3DE (4 cc) ion chambers were used to detect air dose at a distance of approximately two meters from the central point. The AP projection radiation doses at point B was the lowest (0.07±0.03 μGy) and the radiation doses at point D was the highest (0.26±0.08 μGy) .Only taking the vertical projection into account, the radiation doses at point B was the lowest (0.52 μGy), and the radiation doses at point E was the highest (4 μGy).The PA projection radiation at point B was the lowest (0.36 μGy) and the radiation doses at point E was the highest(2.77 μGy), occupying 10-32% of the maximum doses. The maximum dose in five directions was nine times to the minimum dose. When the PX and the C-arm machine were used, the radiation doses at a distance of 2 m were attenuated to the background radiation level. The radiologist without a lead shield should stand at point B of patient's feet. Accordingly, teaching materials on radiation safety for radiological interns and clinical technicians were formulated.

Adaptive Localization of Focus Point Regions via Random Patch Probabilistic Density from Whole-Slide, Ki-67-Stained Brain Tumor Tissue

PubMed Central

Alomari, Yazan M.; MdZin, Reena Rahayu

2015-01-01

Analysis of whole-slide tissue for digital pathology images has been clinically approved to provide a second opinion to pathologists. Localization of focus points from Ki-67-stained histopathology whole-slide tissue microscopic images is considered the first step in the process of proliferation rate estimation. Pathologists use eye pooling or eagle-view techniques to localize the highly stained cell-concentrated regions from the whole slide under microscope, which is called focus-point regions. This procedure leads to a high variety of interpersonal observations and time consuming, tedious work and causes inaccurate findings. The localization of focus-point regions can be addressed as a clustering problem. This paper aims to automate the localization of focus-point regions from whole-slide images using the random patch probabilistic density method. Unlike other clustering methods, random patch probabilistic density method can adaptively localize focus-point regions without predetermining the number of clusters. The proposed method was compared with the k-means and fuzzy c-means clustering methods. Our proposed method achieves a good performance, when the results were evaluated by three expert pathologists. The proposed method achieves an average false-positive rate of 0.84% for the focus-point region localization error. Moreover, regarding RPPD used to localize tissue from whole-slide images, 228 whole-slide images have been tested; 97.3% localization accuracy was achieved. PMID:25793010

Chandra Detects Enigmatic Point X-ray Sources in the Cat's Eye and the Helix Nebulae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guerrero, M. A.; Gruendl, R. A.; Chu, Y.-H.; Kaler, J. B.; Williams, R. M.

2000-12-01

Central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) with Teff greater than 100,000 K are expected to emit soft X-rays that peak below 0.1 keV. Chandra ACIS-S observations of the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) and the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) have detected point X-ray sources at their central stars. The point X-ray source at the central star of the Cat's Eye is both unknown previously and unexpected because the stellar temperature is only ~50,000 K. In contrast, the point X-ray source at the central star of the Helix was previously detected by ROSAT and its soft X-ray emission is expected because the stellar temperature is ~100,000 K. However, the Helix X-ray source also shows a harder X-ray component peaking at 0.8 keV that is unexpected and for which Chandra has provided the first high-resolution spectrum for detailed analysis. The spectra of the point X-ray sources in the Cat's Eye and the Helix show line features indicating an origin of thermal plasma emission. The spectrum of the Helix source can be fit by Raymond & Smith's model of plasma emission at ~9*E6 K. The spectrum of the Cat's Eye source has too few counts for a spectral fit, but appears to be consistent with plasma emission at 2-3*E6 K. The X-ray luminosities of both sources are ~5*E29 erg s-1. The observed plasma temperatures are too high for accretion disks around white dwarfs, but they could be ascribed to coronal X-ray emission. While central stars of PNe are not known to have coronae, the observed spectra are consistent with quiescent X-ray emission from dM flare stars. On the other hand, neither the central star of the Helix or the Cat's Eye are known to have a binary companion. It is possible that the X-rays from the Cat's Eye's central star originate from shocks in the stellar wind, but the central star of the Helix does not have a measurable fast stellar wind. This work is supported by the CXC grant number GO0-1004X.

Transit traverse in Missouri, 1900-1937. Part 7, Central Missouri, 1902-37

USGS Publications Warehouse

Staack, John George

1940-01-01

This bulletin, which for convenience is to be published in eight parts, contains the results of all transit traverse* done In Missouri through 1937 by the Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, including those heretofore published. (See page X.) Each of the parts deals with one of eight sections into which the State has been divided for this purpose and which have been designated northeastern, northwestern, southeastern, southwestern, central, east-central, south-central, and west-central Missouri. In each part descriptions of the points for which geodetic positions have been determined are listed according to the quadrangles in which the points occur. Results of transit traverse other than that done by the Geological Survey have not been included.Central Missouri, as the term is used in this bulletin and as the subject of part 7 of the bulletin, is that section of the State lying between latitudes 36°00' and 39°30' and between longitudes 92°00' and 93°30'.

Transit traverse in Missouri, 1900-1937. Part 8, West-central Missouri, 1906-37

USGS Publications Warehouse

Staack, John G.

1940-01-01

This bulletin, which for convenience is to be published in eight parts, contains the results of all transit traverse* done In Missouri through 1937 by the Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, including those heretofore published. (See page X.) Each of the parts deals with one of eight sections into which the State has been divided for this purpose and which have been designated northeastern, northwestern, southeastern, southwestern, central, east-central, south-central, and west-central Missouri. In each part descriptions of the points for which geodetic positions have been determined are listed according to the quadrangles in which the points occur. Results of transit traverse other than that done by the Geological Survey have not been included.West-central Missouri, as the term is used in this bulletin and as the subject of part 8 of the bulletin, is that section of the State lying between latitudes 38°00' and 39°30' and west of longitude 93°30'.

Are tender point injections beneficial: the role of tonic nociception in fibromyalgia.

PubMed

Staud, Roland

2006-01-01

Characteristic symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) include widespread pain, fatigue, sleep abnormalities, and distress. FM patients show psychophysical evidence for mechanical, thermal, and electrical hyperalgesia. To fulfill FM criteria, the mechanical hyperalgesia needs to be widespread and present in at least 11 out of 18 well-defined body areas (tender points). Peripheral and central abnormalities of nociception have been described in FM and these changes may be relevant for the increased pain experienced by these patients. Important nociceptor systems in the skin and muscle seem to undergo profound changes in FM patients by yet unknown mechanisms. These changes may result from the release of algesic substances after muscle or other soft tissue injury. These pain mediators can sensitize important nociceptor systems, including the transient receptor potential channel, vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1), acid sensing ion channel (ASIC) receptors, and purino-receptors (P2X3). Subsequently, tissue mediators of inflammation and nerve growth factors can excite these receptors and cause substantial changes in pain sensitivity. FM pain is widespread and does not seem to be restricted to tender points (TP). It frequently comprises multiple areas of deep tissue pain (trigger points) with adjacent much larger areas of referred pain. Analgesia of areas of extensive nociceptive input has been found to provide often long lasting local as well as general pain relief. Thus interventions aimed at reducing local FM pain seem to be effective but need to focus less on tender points but more on trigger points (TrP) and other body areas of heightened pain and inflammation.

Eye Accommodation, Personality, and Autonomic Balance.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-11-01

Wenger and Ellington, 1943, and by a technique introduced by Porges, 1976), refractive error (measured by dark focus, near and far points using a...focus, near and far points using a polarized vernier optometer), and introversion - extraversion (Eysenck Personality Inventory introversion...Porges, 1976), refractive error (measured by dark focus, near and far points using a polarized vernier optometer), and introversion - extraversion

Equilibrium-point control of human elbow-joint movement under isometric environment by using multichannel functional electrical stimulation

PubMed Central

Matsui, Kazuhiro; Hishii, Yasuo; Maegaki, Kazuya; Yamashita, Yuto; Uemura, Mitsunori; Hirai, Hiroaki; Miyazaki, Fumio

2014-01-01

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is considered an effective technique for aiding quadriplegic persons. However, the human musculoskeletal system has highly non-linearity and redundancy. It is thus difficult to stably and accurately control limbs using FES. In this paper, we propose a simple FES method that is consistent with the motion-control mechanism observed in humans. We focus on joint motion by a pair of agonist-antagonist muscles of the musculoskeletal system, and define the “electrical agonist-antagonist muscle ratio (EAA ratio)” and “electrical agonist-antagonist muscle activity (EAA activity)” in light of the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, respectively, to extract the equilibrium point and joint stiffness from electromyography (EMG) signals. These notions, the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, are based on the hypothesis that the equilibrium point and stiffness of the agonist-antagonist motion system are controlled by the central nervous system. We derived the transfer function between the input EAA ratio and force output of the end-point. We performed some experiments in an isometric environment using six subjects. This transfer-function model is expressed as a cascade-coupled dead time element and a second-order system. High-speed, high-precision, smooth control of the hand force were achieved through the agonist-antagonist muscle stimulation pattern determined by this transfer function model. PMID:24987326

Equilibrium-point control of human elbow-joint movement under isometric environment by using multichannel functional electrical stimulation.

PubMed

Matsui, Kazuhiro; Hishii, Yasuo; Maegaki, Kazuya; Yamashita, Yuto; Uemura, Mitsunori; Hirai, Hiroaki; Miyazaki, Fumio

2014-01-01

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is considered an effective technique for aiding quadriplegic persons. However, the human musculoskeletal system has highly non-linearity and redundancy. It is thus difficult to stably and accurately control limbs using FES. In this paper, we propose a simple FES method that is consistent with the motion-control mechanism observed in humans. We focus on joint motion by a pair of agonist-antagonist muscles of the musculoskeletal system, and define the "electrical agonist-antagonist muscle ratio (EAA ratio)" and "electrical agonist-antagonist muscle activity (EAA activity)" in light of the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, respectively, to extract the equilibrium point and joint stiffness from electromyography (EMG) signals. These notions, the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, are based on the hypothesis that the equilibrium point and stiffness of the agonist-antagonist motion system are controlled by the central nervous system. We derived the transfer function between the input EAA ratio and force output of the end-point. We performed some experiments in an isometric environment using six subjects. This transfer-function model is expressed as a cascade-coupled dead time element and a second-order system. High-speed, high-precision, smooth control of the hand force were achieved through the agonist-antagonist muscle stimulation pattern determined by this transfer function model.

The Weak Coherence Account: Detail-Focused Cognitive Style in Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Happe, Francesca; Frith, Uta

2006-01-01

"Weak central coherence" refers to the detail-focused processing style proposed to characterise autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The original suggestion of a core deficit in central processing resulting in failure to extract global form/meaning, has been challenged in three ways. First, it may represent an outcome of superiority in local…

77 FR 26511 - Announcing a National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) Workshop

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-04

... possible case studies that are expected to form a central focus of collaborative efforts. The workshop will... possible case studies that are expected to form a central focus of collaborative efforts. The workshop will... together experts from industry, government and academia under one roof to develop practical, interoperable...

Effects of anthropogenic nitrogen input on the aquatic food webs of river ecosystem in central Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohte, N.; Togashi, H.; Tokuchi, N.; Yoshimura, M.; Kato, Y.; Ishikawa, N. F.; Osaka, K.; Kondo, M.; Tayasu, I.

2014-12-01

To evaluate the impact of the anthropogenic nitrogen input to the river ecosystem, we conducted the monitoring on nutrient status of river waters and food web structures of aquatic organisms. Especially, changes of sources and concentration of nitrate (NO3-) in river water were focused to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic nitrogen loadings from agricultural and residential areas. Stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N) of aquatic organisms has also intensively been monitored not only to describe their food web structure, but also to detect the influences of extraneous nitrogen inputs. Field samplings an observation campaigns were conducted in the Arida river watershed located in central part of Japan at four different seasons from September 2011 to October 2012. Five observation points were set from headwaters to the point just above the brackish waters starts. Water samples for chemical analysis were taken at the observation points for each campaign. Organisms including leaf litters, benthic algae, aquatic insects, crustacean, and fishes were sampled at each point quantitatively. Results of the riverine survey utilizing 5 regular sampling points showed that δ15N of nitrate (NO3-) increased from forested upstream (˜2 ‰) to the downstream (˜7 ‰) due to the sewage loads and fertilizer effluents from agricultural area. Correspondingly the δ15N of benthic algae and aquatic insects increased toward the downstream. This indicates that primary producers of each reach strongly relied on the local N sources and it was utilized effectively in their food web. Simulation using a GIS based mixing model considering the spatial distributions of human population density and fertilizer effluents revealed that strongest impacts of N inputs was originated from organic fertilizers applied to orchards in the middle to lower parts of catchment. Differences in δ15N between primary producers and predators were 6-7 ‰ similarly at all sampling points. Food web structural analysis using food network unfolding technique based on observed δ15N suggested that the structure of nutrient pyramid did not differ significantly along the riverine positions, while the members of species in each trophic revel changed and the impact of anthropogenic N input was visible along the river.

Resident training in point-of-care testing.

PubMed

Campbell, Sheldon; Howanitz, Peter J

2007-06-01

Although central laboratory testing has been the norm for the last few decades and point-of-care testing (POCT) is considered an emerging area, physicians were performing POCT long before the existence of central laboratory testing. As medical directors of POCT programs, pathologists need the basic knowledge and skills associated with directing laboratory-based testing programs as well as additional knowledge and skills about testing at the point of care. Although the essential elements of quality testing are the same for laboratory-based and POCT, the enormous variety of settings, technologies, and workers involved present unique challenges.

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

Kang, Hyun-Ju; Chung, Chin-Wook, E-mail: joykang@hanyang.ac.kr; Choi, Hyeok

A modified central difference method (MCDM) is proposed to obtain the electron energy distribution functions (EEDFs) in single Langmuir probes. Numerical calculation of the EEDF with MCDM is simple and has less noise. This method provides the second derivatives at a given point as the weighted average of second order central difference derivatives calculated at different voltage intervals, weighting each by the square of the interval. In this paper, the EEDFs obtained from MCDM are compared to those calculated via the averaged central difference method. It is found that MCDM effectively suppresses the noises in the EEDF, while the samemore » number of points are used to calculate of the second derivative.« less

Global chaotization of fluid particle trajectories in a sheared two-layer two-vortex flow.

PubMed

Ryzhov, Evgeny A; Koshel, Konstantin V

2015-10-01

In a two-layer quasi-geostrophic approximation, we study the irregular dynamics of fluid particles arising due to two interacting point vortices embedded in a deformation flow consisting of shear and rotational components. The two vortices are arranged within the bottom layer, but an emphasis is on the upper-layer fluid particle motion. Vortices moving in one layer induce stirring of passive scalars in the other layer. This is of interest since point vortices induce singular velocity fields in the layer they belong to; however, in the other layer, they induce regular velocity fields that generally result in a change in passive particle stirring. If the vortices are located at stagnation points, there are three different types of the fluid flow. We examine how properties of each flow configuration are modified if the vortices are displaced from the stagnation points and thus circulate in the immediate vicinity of these points. To that end, an analysis of the steady-state configurations is presented with an emphasis on the frequencies of fluid particle oscillations about the elliptic stagnation points. Asymptotic relations for the vortex and fluid particle zero-oscillation frequencies are derived in the vicinity of the corresponding elliptic points. By comparing the frequencies of fluid particles with the ones of the vortices, relations between the parameters that lead to enhanced stirring of fluid particles are established. It is also demonstrated that, if the central critical point is elliptic, then the fluid particle trajectories in its immediate vicinity are mostly stable making it harder for the vortex perturbation to induce stirring. Change in the type of the central point to a hyperbolic one enhances drastically the size of the chaotic dynamics region. Conditions on the type of the central critical point also ensue from the derived asymptotic relations.

[Centralization of health services in primary care in summer: Patients and professionals view during two consecutive years].

PubMed

Giménez, N; Martínez, J M; Clanchet, T

2015-01-01

The Spanish primary health care, gateway and pillar of the Health Care System has his resources increasingly constrained by current crisis. To know the opinion of users and professionals on two primary care centers which centralized in August 2011 and 2012 the attendance of seven primary care centers. Two questionnaires were designed: a telephone survey of a random sample of users and a self-completed questionnaire for health care professionals. The variables were scored on a scale of 1-10 (low to high). Cronbach's coefficient α>0,84. 1293 people responded (836 users and 357 professionals). Users rated, in 2011, the satisfaction with 6.7 points in August and 7.3 points the rest of the year (P<.001). And, in 2012, with 7.7 points in August and 8.1 points the rest of the year (P<.001). Health care professionals, rated their satisfaction with 6.8 points in 2011 and 7.3 points in 2012. The waiting time was the only variable best scores in August that the rest of the year. The perception of the solution given in consultation did not change. Satisfaction, marking, care and treatment were highest rated in the regular center than in the reference center (P<.001). The centralization of primary health care during periods of reduced demand could reduce costs while maintaining quality. The experience of centralizing primary care services during August was perceived as acceptable and improved over time. Users showed a slight, but significant, preference for their usual primary care center. Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

China Report: Political, Sociological and Military Affairs. No. 440

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-07-26

is comprised of 25 persons. The chairman of the commmssion is Zeng Tianjie [2582 1131 4634], and vice chairmen are Zuo Hongtao [1563 3163 3447...Comrade Qian Yunlu pointed out: Speeding up the development of broadcasting and television work is a demand raised by the central leadership and the...contributions to achieving them. Comrade Qian Yunlu said: The secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has pointed out that radio and television are the most

Realtime control of multiple-focus phased array heating patterns based on noninvasive ultrasound thermography.

PubMed

Casper, Andrew; Liu, Dalong; Ebbini, Emad S

2012-01-01

A system for the realtime generation and control of multiple-focus ultrasound phased-array heating patterns is presented. The system employs a 1-MHz, 64-element array and driving electronics capable of fine spatial and temporal control of the heating pattern. The driver is integrated with a realtime 2-D temperature imaging system implemented on a commercial scanner. The coordinates of the temperature control points are defined on B-mode guidance images from the scanner, together with the temperature set points and controller parameters. The temperature at each point is controlled by an independent proportional, integral, and derivative controller that determines the focal intensity at that point. Optimal multiple-focus synthesis is applied to generate the desired heating pattern at the control points. The controller dynamically reallocates the power available among the foci from the shared power supply upon reaching the desired temperature at each control point. Furthermore, anti-windup compensation is implemented at each control point to improve the system dynamics. In vitro experiments in tissue-mimicking phantom demonstrate the robustness of the controllers for short (2-5 s) and longer multiple-focus high-intensity focused ultrasound exposures. Thermocouple measurements in the vicinity of the control points confirm the dynamics of the temperature variations obtained through noninvasive feedback. © 2011 IEEE

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) is welcomed to the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) is welcomed to the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

Relationship quality and relationship context as antecedents of person- and task-focused interpersonal citizenship behavior.

PubMed

Settoon, Randall P; Mossholder, Kevin W

2002-04-01

A model hypothesizing relationship quality and relationship context as antecedents of two complementary forms of interpersonal citizenship behavior (ICB) was tested. Measures with coworkers as the frame of reference were used to collect data from 273 individuals working in 2 service-oriented organizations. As hypothesized, variables reflecting relationship quality were associated with person-focused ICB, as mediated by empathic concern. Also as hypothesized, a relationship context variable, network centrality, exhibited a direct relationship with task-focused ICB. Unexpectedly, network centrality was directly associated with person-focused ICB. and empathic concern was associated with task-focused ICB. The results are discussed, and implications for research and practice are offered.

Federated learning of predictive models from federated Electronic Health Records.

PubMed

Brisimi, Theodora S; Chen, Ruidi; Mela, Theofanie; Olshevsky, Alex; Paschalidis, Ioannis Ch; Shi, Wei

2018-04-01

In an era of "big data," computationally efficient and privacy-aware solutions for large-scale machine learning problems become crucial, especially in the healthcare domain, where large amounts of data are stored in different locations and owned by different entities. Past research has been focused on centralized algorithms, which assume the existence of a central data repository (database) which stores and can process the data from all participants. Such an architecture, however, can be impractical when data are not centrally located, it does not scale well to very large datasets, and introduces single-point of failure risks which could compromise the integrity and privacy of the data. Given scores of data widely spread across hospitals/individuals, a decentralized computationally scalable methodology is very much in need. We aim at solving a binary supervised classification problem to predict hospitalizations for cardiac events using a distributed algorithm. We seek to develop a general decentralized optimization framework enabling multiple data holders to collaborate and converge to a common predictive model, without explicitly exchanging raw data. We focus on the soft-margin l 1 -regularized sparse Support Vector Machine (sSVM) classifier. We develop an iterative cluster Primal Dual Splitting (cPDS) algorithm for solving the large-scale sSVM problem in a decentralized fashion. Such a distributed learning scheme is relevant for multi-institutional collaborations or peer-to-peer applications, allowing the data holders to collaborate, while keeping every participant's data private. We test cPDS on the problem of predicting hospitalizations due to heart diseases within a calendar year based on information in the patients Electronic Health Records prior to that year. cPDS converges faster than centralized methods at the cost of some communication between agents. It also converges faster and with less communication overhead compared to an alternative distributed algorithm. In both cases, it achieves similar prediction accuracy measured by the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) of the classifier. We extract important features discovered by the algorithm that are predictive of future hospitalizations, thus providing a way to interpret the classification results and inform prevention efforts. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of longitudinal aberration in an ion-optical system on the properties of a focused beam

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

Getmanov, V.N.; Ikryanov, I.M.; Savchenko, O.Ya.

1994-11-01

Modelling of the processes involved in the passage of a beam through a system of high-voltage electrodes with allowance made for the thermal and grid spreads of transverse particle velocities constitutes a three-dimensional problem that is difficult to solve with modern computers. In the present work, an analytic method has been developed that reduces this problem to a two-dimensional one. The method corresponds to approximating a marked longitudinal aberration in an ion-optical system (IOS), when the effective emittance of the beam during its high-voltage shaping increases severalfold, this being characteristic of all IOS know thus far. Fully justified in thismore » case is the statement that a unique relationship exists between the coordinates r and z, which respectively characterize the location of the particle on the emitter and the point of intersection of the axis by the particle (or the point of maximum approach of the particle to the axis), and also between r and {alpha} ({alpha}being the angle between the particle trajectory in the focusing region and the axis of the system). This statement leads to a hyperbolic law of increase in current density in the central portion of the focused beam and thus confirms the validity of this law. The calculations were compared with experimental data on the focusing of a 0.4-MeV proton beam with a current of 20-75 mA and a diameter of 2-5 mm in the crossover under conditions in which the effective emittance of the beam, as a result of aberrations during its high-voltage shaping, increased by a factor of 3 or more (in kilovolts), and the calculated trajectories for 20 of 40 mm at the emitter are shown, where the markers D8 and D9 denote the positions of multiwire beam profile sensors.« less

INTERIOR FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF CENTRAL SECTION, VIEW FACING WEST. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

INTERIOR FROM MEZZANINE LEVEL OF CENTRAL SECTION, VIEW FACING WEST. - Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Aircraft Storehouse, Between Midway & Card Streets at Enterprise Avenue intersection, Ewa, Honolulu County, HI

Dynamical correlation functions of the quadratic coupling spin-Boson model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Da-Chuan; Tong, Ning-Hua

2017-06-01

The spin-boson model with quadratic coupling is studied using the bosonic numerical renormalization group method. We focus on the dynamical auto-correlation functions {C}O(ω ), with the operator \\hat{O} taken as {\\hat{{{σ }}}}x, {\\hat{{{σ }}}}z, and \\hat{X}, respectively. In the weak-coupling regime α < {α }{{c}}, these functions show power law ω-dependence in the small frequency limit, with the powers 1+2s, 1+2s, and s, respectively. At the critical point α ={α }{{c}} of the boson-unstable quantum phase transition, the critical exponents y O of these correlation functions are obtained as {y}{{{σ }}x}={y}{{{σ }}z}=1-2s and {y}X=-s, respectively. Here s is the bath index and X is the boson displacement operator. Close to the spin flip point, the high frequency peak of {C}{{{σ }}x}(ω ) is broadened significantly and the line shape changes qualitatively, showing enhanced dephasing at the spin flip point. Project supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB921704), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11374362), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China, and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China (Grant No. 15XNLQ03).

Radio-frequency ring applicator: energy distributions measured in the CDRH phantom.

PubMed

van Rhoon, G C; Raskmark, P; Hornsleth, S N; van den Berg, P M

1994-11-01

SAR distributions were measured in the CDRH phantom, a 1 cm fat-equivalent shell filled with an abdomen-equivalent liquid (sigma = 0.4-1.0 S m-1; dimensions 22 x 32 x 57 cm) to demonstrate the feasibility of the ring applicator to obtain deep heating. The ring electrodes were fixed in a PVC tube; diameter 48 cm, ring width 20 cm and gap width between both rings 31.6 cm. Radio-frequency energy was fed to the electrodes at eight points. The medium between the electrodes and the phantom was deionised water. The SAR distribution in the liquid tissue volume was obtained by a scanning E-field probe measuring the E-field in all three directions. With equal amplitude and phase applied to all feeding points, a uniform SAR distribution was measured in the central cross-section at 30 MHz. With RF energy supplied to only four adjacent feeding points (others were connected to a 50 omega load), the feasibility to perform amplitude steering was demonstrated; SAR values above 50% of the maximum SAR were measured in one quadrant only. SAR distributions obtained at 70 MHz showed an improved focusing ability; a maximum at the centre exists for an electric conductivity of the abdomen-equivalent tissue of 0.6 and 0.4 S m-1.

Evaluating Diagnostic Point-of-Care Tests in Resource-Limited Settings

PubMed Central

Drain, Paul K; Hyle, Emily P; Noubary, Farzad; Freedberg, Kenneth A; Wilson, Douglas; Bishai, William; Rodriguez, William; Bassett, Ingrid V

2014-01-01

Diagnostic point-of-care (POC) testing is intended to minimize the time to obtain a test result, thereby allowing clinicians and patients to make an expeditious clinical decision. As POC tests expand into resource-limited settings (RLS), the benefits must outweigh the costs. To optimize POC testing in RLS, diagnostic POC tests need rigorous evaluations focused on relevant clinical outcomes and operational costs, which differ from evaluations of conventional diagnostic tests. Here, we reviewed published studies on POC testing in RLS, and found no clearly defined metric for the clinical utility of POC testing. Therefore, we propose a framework for evaluating POC tests, and suggest and define the term “test efficacy” to describe a diagnostic test’s capacity to support a clinical decision within its operational context. We also proposed revised criteria for an ideal diagnostic POC test in resource-limited settings. Through systematic evaluations, comparisons between centralized diagnostic testing and novel POC technologies can be more formalized, and health officials can better determine which POC technologies represent valuable additions to their clinical programs. PMID:24332389

Tori sequences as remnants of multiple accreting periods of Kerr SMBHs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pugliese, D.; Stuchlík, Z.

2018-03-01

Super-massive black holes (SMBHs) hosted in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can be characterized by multi-accreting periods as the attractors interact with the environment during their life-time. These multi-accretion episodes should leave traces in the matter orbiting the attractor. Counterrotating and even misaligned structures orbiting around the SMBHs would be consequences of these episodes. Our task in this work is to consider situations where such accretions occur and to trace their remnants represented by several toroidal accreting fluids, corotating or counterrotating relative to the central Kerr attractor, and created in various regimes during the evolution of matter configurations around SMBHs. We focus particularly on the emergence of matter instabilities, i.e., tori collisions, accretion onto the central Kerr black hole, or creation of jet-like structures (proto-jets). Each orbiting configuration is governed by the general relativistic hydrodynamic Boyer condition of equilibrium configurations of rotating perfect fluid. We prove that sequences of configurations and hot points, where an instability occurs, characterize the Kerr SMBHs, depending mainly on their spin-mass ratios. The occurrence of tori accretion or collision are strongly constrained by the fluid rotation with respect to the central black hole and the relative rotation with respect to each other. Our investigation provides characteristic of attractors where traces of multi-accreting episodes can be found and observed.

A Contrastive Study of Determiner Usage in EST Research Articles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Master, Peter

1993-01-01

The determiners in English include three categories: predeterminers, central determiners, and postdeterminers. The focus of the present study is the central determiners because they comprise the largest group and because a minimum of one central determiner is required in the generation of any noun phrase. Furthermore, the central determiners have…

18. Detail view of central pivot pier, drive gear rack, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

18. Detail view of central pivot pier, drive gear rack, and stabilizing wheel, looking southwest - India Point Railroad Bridge, Spanning Seekonk River between Providence & East Providence, Providence, Providence County, RI

Discrepancy-based error estimates for Quasi-Monte Carlo III. Error distributions and central limits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoogland, Jiri; Kleiss, Ronald

1997-04-01

In Quasi-Monte Carlo integration, the integration error is believed to be generally smaller than in classical Monte Carlo with the same number of integration points. Using an appropriate definition of an ensemble of quasi-random point sets, we derive various results on the probability distribution of the integration error, which can be compared to the standard Central Limit Theorem for normal stochastic sampling. In many cases, a Gaussian error distribution is obtained.

Proof of concept Laplacian estimate derived for noninvasive tripolar concentric ring electrode with incorporated radius of the central disc and the widths of the concentric rings.

PubMed

Makeyev, Oleksandr; Lee, Colin; Besio, Walter G

2017-07-01

Tripolar concentric ring electrodes are showing great promise in a range of applications including braincomputer interface and seizure onset detection due to their superiority to conventional disc electrodes, in particular, in accuracy of surface Laplacian estimation. Recently, we proposed a general approach to estimation of the Laplacian for an (n + 1)-polar electrode with n rings using the (4n + 1)-point method for n ≥ 2 that allows cancellation of all the truncation terms up to the order of 2n. This approach has been used to introduce novel multipolar and variable inter-ring distances concentric ring electrode configurations verified using finite element method. The obtained results suggest their potential to improve Laplacian estimation compared to currently used constant interring distances tripolar concentric ring electrodes. One of the main limitations of the proposed (4n + 1)-point method is that the radius of the central disc and the widths of the concentric rings are not included and therefore cannot be optimized. This study incorporates these two parameters by representing the central disc and both concentric rings as clusters of points with specific radius and widths respectively as opposed to the currently used single point and concentric circles. A proof of concept Laplacian estimate is derived for a tripolar concentric ring electrode with non-negligible radius of the central disc and non-negligible widths of the concentric rings clearly demonstrating how both of these parameters can be incorporated into the (4n + 1)-point method.

Delineating Focus Areas for Bird Conservation in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region

Treesearch

Jane A. Fitzgerald; C. Diane True; David D. Diamond; Troy Ettel; Laurel Moore; Timothy A. Nigh; Shawchyi Vorisek; Greg Wathen

2005-01-01

This paper reports on a process used to identify landscape-scale focus areas for the conservation of priority grassland, grass-shrubland, wetland and forest-woodland birds in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region (CHBCR). The areas were delineated by biologists and other technical staff of partner agencies and organizations in the CHBCR with the use of...

The deathly hallows: Harry Potter and adolescent development.

PubMed

Rosegrant, John

2009-12-01

The enormous popularity of the Harry Potter books points to the deep resonance readers feel with the psychological issues they bring to life. Three developmental issues provide central themes: the necessity for partial disenchantment and increasing attunement to reality, while retaining a capacity for wonder; repudiation or endorsement of the narcissistic solution to life's difficulties; and aggression and castration fantasies while growing into adult power. These developmental issues are particularly acute during adolescence but start earlier and continue to be reworked throughout the life span, accounting for the books' appeal to a wide age-range of readers despite their apparent focus on adolescence. These developmental themes are explored in order to better understand the Harry Potter books, as, conversely, the books are explored in order to better understand these themes.

Evaluation of solar thermal power plants using economic and performance simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

El-Gabawali, N.

1980-01-01

An energy cost analysis is presented for central receiver power plants with thermal storage and point focusing power plants with electrical storage. The present approach is based on optimizing the size of the plant to give the minimum energy cost (in mills/kWe hr) of an annual plant energy production. The optimization is done by considering the trade-off between the collector field size and the storage capacity for a given engine size. The energy cost is determined by the plant cost and performance. The performance is estimated by simulating the behavior of the plant under typical weather conditions. Plant capital and operational costs are estimated based on the size and performance of different components. This methodology is translated into computer programs for automatic and consistent evaluation.

Diffractive optics for quasi-direct space-to-time pulse shaping.

PubMed

Mínguez-Vega, Gladys; Mendoza-Yero, Omel; Lancis, Jesús; Gisbert, Rafael; Andrés, Pedro

2008-10-13

The strong chromatic behavior associated with a conventional diffractive lens is fully exploited to propose a novel optical device for pulse shaping in the femtosecond regime. This device consists of two optical elements: a spatially patterned circularly symmetric mask and a kinoform diffractive lens, which are facing each other. The system performs a mapping between the spatial position of the masking function expressed in the squared radial coordinate and the temporal position in the output waveform. This space-to-time conversion occurs at the chromatic focus of the diffractive lens, and makes it possible to tailor the output central wavelength along the axial location of the output point. Inspection of the validity of our device is performed by means of computer simulations involving the generation of femtosecond optical packets.

Neuronal expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors in zebrafish.

PubMed

Rohs, Patricia; Ebert, Alicia M; Zuba, Ania; McFarlane, Sarah

2013-12-01

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is important for a host of developmental processes such as proliferation, differentiation, tissue patterning, and morphogenesis. In vertebrates, FGFs signal through a family of four fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR 1-4), one of which is duplicated in zebrafish (FGFR1). Here we report the mRNA expression of the five known zebrafish fibroblast growth factor receptors at five developmental time points (24, 36, 48, 60, and 72h postfertilization), focusing on expression within the central nervous system. We show that the receptors have distinct and dynamic expression in the developing zebrafish brain, eye, inner ear, lateral line, and pharynx. In many cases, the expression patterns are similar to those of homologous FGFRs in mouse, chicken, amphibians, and other teleosts. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A selective array activation method for the generation of a focused source considering listening position.

PubMed

Song, Min-Ho; Choi, Jung-Woo; Kim, Yang-Hann

2012-02-01

A focused source can provide an auditory illusion of a virtual source placed between the loudspeaker array and the listener. When a focused source is generated by time-reversed acoustic focusing solution, its use as a virtual source is limited due to artifacts caused by convergent waves traveling towards the focusing point. This paper proposes an array activation method to reduce the artifacts for a selected listening point inside an array of arbitrary shape. Results show that energy of convergent waves can be reduced up to 60 dB for a large region including the selected listening point. © 2012 Acoustical Society of America

Assessment of the sustainability of dual-purpose farms by the IDEA method in the subtropical area of central Mexico.

PubMed

Salas-Reyes, Isela Guadalupe; Arriaga-Jordán, Carlos Manuel; Rebollar-Rebollar, Samuel; García-Martínez, Anastacio; Albarrán-Portillo, Benito

2015-08-01

The objective of this study was to assess the sustainability of 10 dual-purpose cattle farms in a subtropical area of central Mexico. The IDEA method (Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles) was applied, which includes the agroecological, socio-territorial and economic scales (scores from 0 to 100 points per scale). A sample of 47 farms from a total of 91 registered in the local livestock growers association was analysed with principal component analysis and cluster analysis. From results, 10 farms were selected for the in-depth study herein reported, being the selection criterion continuous milk production throughout the year. Farms had a score of 88 and 86 points for the agroecological scale in the rainy and dry seasons. In the socio-territorial scale, scores were 73 points for both seasons, being the component of employment and services the strongest. Scores for the economic scale were 64 and 56 points for the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, when no economic cost for family labour is charged, which decreases to 59 and 45 points when an opportunity cost for family labour is considered. Dual-purpose farms in the subtropical area of central Mexico have a medium sustainability, with the economic scale being the limiting factor, and an area of opportunity.

Norepinephrine transporter blocker atomoxetine increases salivary alpha amylase.

PubMed

Warren, Christopher M; van den Brink, Ruud L; Nieuwenhuis, Sander; Bosch, Jos A

2017-04-01

It has been suggested that central norepinephrine (NE) activity may be inferred from increases in salivary alpha-amylase (SAA), but data in favor of this proposition are limited. We administered 40mg of atomoxetine, a selective NE transporter blocker that increases central NE levels, to 24 healthy adult participants in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Atomoxetine administration significantly increased SAA secretion and concentrations at 75-180min after treatment (more than doubling baseline levels). Consistent with evidence that elevation in central NE is a co-determinant of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, salivary cortisol also approximately doubled at the same time points. Moreover, changes in salivary cortisol positively correlated with SAA (0.44

Modifying upper-limb inter-joint coordination in healthy subjects by training with a robotic exoskeleton.

PubMed

Proietti, Tommaso; Guigon, Emmanuel; Roby-Brami, Agnès; Jarrassé, Nathanaël

2017-06-12

The possibility to modify the usually pathological patterns of coordination of the upper-limb in stroke survivors remains a central issue and an open question for neurorehabilitation. Despite robot-led physical training could potentially improve the motor recovery of hemiparetic patients, most of the state-of-the-art studies addressing motor control learning, with artificial virtual force fields, only focused on the end-effector kinematic adaptation, by using planar devices. Clearly, an interesting aspect of studying 3D movements with a robotic exoskeleton, is the possibility to investigate the way the human central nervous system deals with the natural upper-limb redundancy for common activities like pointing or tracking tasks. We asked twenty healthy participants to perform 3D pointing or tracking tasks under the effect of inter-joint velocity dependant perturbing force fields, applied directly at the joint level by a 4-DOF robotic arm exoskeleton. These fields perturbed the human natural inter-joint coordination but did not constrain directly the end-effector movements and thus subjects capability to perform the tasks. As a consequence, while the participants focused on the achievement of the task, we unexplicitly modified their natural upper-limb coordination strategy. We studied the force fields direct effect on pointing movements towards 8 targets placed in the 3D peripersonal space, and we also considered potential generalizations on 4 distinct other targets. Post-effects were studied after the removal of the force fields (wash-out and follow up). These effects were quantified by a kinematic analysis of the pointing movements at both end-point and joint levels, and by a measure of the final postures. At the same time, we analysed the natural inter-joint coordination through PCA. During the exposition to the perturbative fields, we observed modifications of the subjects movement kinematics at every level (joints, end-effector, and inter-joint coordination). Adaptation was evidenced by a partial decrease of the movement deviations due to the fields, during the repetitions, but it occurred only on 21% of the motions. Nonetheless post-effects were observed in 86% of cases during the wash-out and follow up periods (right after the removal of the perturbation by the fields and after 30 minutes of being detached from the exoskeleton). Important inter-individual differences were observed but with small variability within subjects. In particular, a group of subjects showed an over-shoot with respect to the original unexposed trajectories (in 30% of cases), but the most frequent consequence (in 55% of cases) was the partial persistence of the modified upper-limb coordination, adopted at the time of the perturbation. Temporal and spatial generalizations were also evidenced by the deviation of the movement trajectories, both at the end-effector and at the intermediate joints and the modification of the final pointing postures towards targets which were never exposed to any field. Such results are the first quantified characterization of the effects of modification of the upper-limb coordination in healthy subjects, by imposing modification through viscous force fields distributed at the joint level, and could pave the way towards opportunities to rehabilitate pathological arm synergies with robots.

INTERIOR FROM WESTERN SECTION, THROUGH CENTRAL SECTION, TO EASTERN SECTION, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

INTERIOR FROM WESTERN SECTION, THROUGH CENTRAL SECTION, TO EASTERN SECTION, VIEW FACING NORTHEAST. - Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Aircraft Storehouse, Between Midway & Card Streets at Enterprise Avenue intersection, Ewa, Honolulu County, HI

Direct determination of geometric alignment parameters for cone-beam scanners

PubMed Central

Mennessier, C; Clackdoyle, R; Noo, F

2009-01-01

This paper describes a comprehensive method for determining the geometric alignment parameters for cone-beam scanners (often called calibrating the scanners or performing geometric calibration). The method is applicable to x-ray scanners using area detectors, or to SPECT systems using pinholes or cone-beam converging collimators. Images of an alignment test object (calibration phantom) fixed in the field of view of the scanner are processed to determine the nine geometric parameters for each view. The parameter values are found directly using formulae applied to the projected positions of the test object marker points onto the detector. Each view is treated independently, and no restrictions are made on the position of the cone vertex, or on the position or orientation of the detector. The proposed test object consists of 14 small point-like objects arranged with four points on each of three orthogonal lines, and two points on a diagonal line. This test object is shown to provide unique solutions for all possible scanner geometries, even when partial measurement information is lost by points superimposing in the calibration scan. For the many situations where the cone vertex stays reasonably close to a central plane (for circular, planar, or near-planar trajectories), a simpler version of the test object is appropriate. The simpler object consists of six points, two per orthogonal line, but with some restrictions on the positioning of the test object. This paper focuses on the principles and mathematical justifications for the method. Numerical simulations of the calibration process and reconstructions using estimated parameters are also presented to validate the method and to provide evidence of the robustness of the technique. PMID:19242049

Alcohol and Substance Use in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: The Role of Siblings

PubMed Central

Kothari, Brianne H.; Sorenson, Paul; Bank, Lew; Snyder, Jim

2014-01-01

Interpersonal relationships both within and outside the family have been a central part of alcohol and substance use research. Many studies have focused on the role of parents and peers; fewer studies have focused on siblings. This paper examined siblings' roles in ATOD use patterns and trajectories in the context of familial and non-familial factors across time. First, intraclass correlations (ICCs) were used to examine the degree to which older siblings' ATOD use was associated with younger siblings' ATOD use. Second, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the degree to which individual, parent, sibling and peer factors over time were associated with adolescents' and young adults' ATOD use. It should be noted that developmentally proximal predictors were utilized in these models and within-family replication was also examined. Results demonstrate strong associations between older and younger siblings' ATOD use. Moreover, the developmentally proximal sibling variables were predictive of younger sibling ATOD use in the context of other variables across all substances. Study findings are discussed in terms of identifying promising and potentially malleable points of intervention for future investigators. PMID:25484550

Alcohol and Substance Use in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: The Role of Siblings.

PubMed

Kothari, Brianne H; Sorenson, Paul; Bank, Lew; Snyder, Jim

2014-08-08

Interpersonal relationships both within and outside the family have been a central part of alcohol and substance use research. Many studies have focused on the role of parents and peers; fewer studies have focused on siblings. This paper examined siblings' roles in ATOD use patterns and trajectories in the context of familial and non-familial factors across time. First, intraclass correlations (ICCs) were used to examine the degree to which older siblings' ATOD use was associated with younger siblings' ATOD use. Second, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the degree to which individual, parent, sibling and peer factors over time were associated with adolescents' and young adults' ATOD use. It should be noted that developmentally proximal predictors were utilized in these models and within-family replication was also examined. Results demonstrate strong associations between older and younger siblings' ATOD use. Moreover, the developmentally proximal sibling variables were predictive of younger sibling ATOD use in the context of other variables across all substances. Study findings are discussed in terms of identifying promising and potentially malleable points of intervention for future investigators.

"The Neurosis That Has Possessed Us": Political Repression in the Cold War Medical Profession.

PubMed

Chowkwanyun, Merlin

2018-04-27

Political repression played a central role in shaping the political complexion of the American medical profession, the policies it advocated, and those allowed to function comfortably in it. Previous work on the impact of McCarthyism and medicine focuses heavily on the mid-century failure of national health insurance (NHI) and medical reform organizations that suffered from McCarthyist attacks. The focus is national and birds-eye but says less about the impact on day-to-day life of physicians caught in a McCarthyist web; and how exactly the machinery of political repression within the medical profession worked on the ground. This study shifts orientation by using the abrupt dismissal of three Los Angeles physicians from their jobs as a starting point for exploring these dynamics. I argue that the rise of the medical profession and the repressive state in the mid-century, frequently studied apart, worked hand-in-hand, with institutions from each playing symbiotic and mutually reinforcing roles. I also explore tactics of resistance - rhetorical and organizational - to medical repression by physicians who came under attack.

Oxytocin and the social brain: neural mechanisms and perspectives in human research.

PubMed

Kanat, Manuela; Heinrichs, Markus; Domes, Gregor

2014-09-11

The present paper summarizes functional imaging studies investigating the effects of intranasal oxytocin (OT) on brain responses to social stimuli. We aim to integrate previous research, point to unresolved issues and highlight perspectives for future studies. The studies so far have focused on identifying neural circuits underlying social information processing which are particularly sensitive to modulations by exogenous OT. Most consistently, stimulus-related responses of the amygdala and associated areas within the prefrontal and temporal cortices have been found to be modulated by OT administration. However, there are a number of unresolved issues related to the possible role of sex differences and hormonal status, genetic variability, and individual differences in socio-cognitive functioning. Future studies focusing on these open questions are expected to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the role of the central OT system in humans and may provide the basis for novel treatment approaches for mental disorders characterized by social deficits. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav. © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Developing an intelligence analysis process through social network analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waskiewicz, Todd; LaMonica, Peter

2008-04-01

Intelligence analysts are tasked with making sense of enormous amounts of data and gaining an awareness of a situation that can be acted upon. This process can be extremely difficult and time consuming. Trying to differentiate between important pieces of information and extraneous data only complicates the problem. When dealing with data containing entities and relationships, social network analysis (SNA) techniques can be employed to make this job easier. Applying network measures to social network graphs can identify the most significant nodes (entities) and edges (relationships) and help the analyst further focus on key areas of concern. Strange developed a model that identifies high value targets such as centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities. SNA lends itself to the discovery of these high value targets and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has investigated several network measures such as centrality, betweenness, and grouping to identify centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities. Using these network measures, a process for the intelligence analyst has been developed to aid analysts in identifying points of tactical emphasis. Organizational Risk Analyzer (ORA) and Terrorist Modus Operandi Discovery System (TMODS) are the two applications used to compute the network measures and identify the points to be acted upon. Therefore, the result of leveraging social network analysis techniques and applications will provide the analyst and the intelligence community with more focused and concentrated analysis results allowing them to more easily exploit key attributes of a network, thus saving time, money, and manpower.

The Role of the Ligamentum Flavum Area as a Morphological Parameter of Lumbar Central Spinal Stenosis.

PubMed

Kim, Young Uk; Park, Jun Young; Kim, Doo Hwan; Karm, Myung-Hwan; Lee, Jae-Young; Yoo, Jee In; Chon, Sung Won; Suh, Jeong Hun

2017-03-01

Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum (LF) has been considered as a major cause of lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS). Previous studies have found that ligamentum flavum thickness (LFT) is correlated with aging, disc degeneration, and lumbar spinal stenosis. However, hypertrophy is different from thickness. Thus, to evaluate hypertrophy of the whole LF, we devised a new morphological parameter, called the ligamentum flavum area (LFA). We hypothesized that the LFA is a key morphologic parameter in the diagnosis of LCSS. Retrospective observational study. The single center study in Seoul, Republic of Korea. LF samples were collected from 166 patients with LCSS, and from 167 controls who underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of a routine medical examination. T1-weighted axial MR imageswere acquired at the facet joint level from individual patients. We measured the LFA and LFT at the L4-L5 intervertebral level on MRI using a picture archiving and communications system. The LFA was measured as the cross-sectional area of the whole LF at the L4-L5 stenotic level. The LFT was measured by drawing a line along the side of the ligament facing the spinal canal and along the laminar side of the ligament curve and then measuring the thickest point at the L4-L5 level. The average LFA was 96.56 ± 30.74 mm2 in the control group and 132.69 ± 32.68 mm2 in the LCSS group. The average LFT was 3.61 ± 0.72 mm in the control group and 4.24 ± 0.97 mm in the LCSS group. LCSS patients had significantly higher LFA (P < 0.001) and LFT (P < 0.001). Regarding the validity of both LFA and LFT as predictors of LCSS, Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed that the best cut-off point for the LFA was 105.90 mm2, with 80.1% sensitivity, 76.0% specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.78 - 0.87). The best cut off-point of the LFT was 3.74 mm, with 70.5% sensitivity, 66.5% specificity, and AUC of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.66 - 0.77). The principal methodological limitation was the retrospective observational nature. Anatomically, degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis can involve the central canal, foramina, and lateral recess. However, we focused on LCSS only. Although the LFT and LFA were both significantly associated with LCSS, the LFA was a more sensitive measurement parameter. Thus, to evaluate LCSS patients, the treating doctor should more carefully analyze the LFA than LFT.Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval number: S2015-1328-0001Key words: Ligamentum flavum, ligamentum flavum area, ligamentum flavum thickness, lumbar central spinal stenosis, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, morphological parameter, cross-sectional area, optimal cut-off point.

The Woodlands, Texas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McHaney, Larry J.; Bernhardt, Jerry

1988-01-01

The authors describe the "central project" concept for implementing technology education while addressing education reform. The central project is a topic around which students, teachers, administrators, and the community focus their energies as a team. At McCullough High School (Texas), the central project involved design and…

A preliminary assessment of small steam Rankine and Brayton point-focusing solar modules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roschke, E. J.; Wen, L.; Steele, H.; Elgabalawi, N.; Wang, J.

1979-01-01

A preliminary assessment of three conceptual point-focusing distributed solar modules is presented. The basic power conversion units consist of small Brayton or Rankine engines individually coupled to two-axis, tracking, point-focusing solar collectors. An array of such modules can be linked together, via electric transport, to form a small power station. Each module also can be utilized on a stand-alone basis, as an individual power source.

27 CFR 9.75 - Central Coast.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Mountain, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 1956, Photorevised 1980; (31) Half Moon Bay, California, scale..., Año Nuevo, Franklin Point, Pigeon Point, San Gregorio, Half Moon Bay, Montara Mountain and San...

27 CFR 9.75 - Central Coast.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Mountain, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 1956, Photorevised 1980; (31) Half Moon Bay, California, scale..., Año Nuevo, Franklin Point, Pigeon Point, San Gregorio, Half Moon Bay, Montara Mountain and San...

27 CFR 9.75 - Central Coast.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... Mountain, California, scale 1:24,000, dated 1956, Photorevised 1980; (31) Half Moon Bay, California, scale..., Año Nuevo, Franklin Point, Pigeon Point, San Gregorio, Half Moon Bay, Montara Mountain and San...

Silurian to Early Carboniferous plate tectonic model of Central Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golonka, Jan; Barmuta, Jan; Barmuta, Maria

2014-05-01

The presented plate tectonic model focuses on Silurian to Early Carboniferous evolution of Central Europe with special attention given to the Sudetes region (north and north-east part of the Bohemian Massif). During our studies, we tested alternative models focused on the position of the Armorican terranes, known as the Armorican Terrane Assembly (ATA) (e.g.: Matte, 2001) and tried to refine the existing reconstructions, which describe Armorica as an individual continent during the Late Silurian and Devonian (e.g. Lewandowski, 2003, Winchester, 2002). Our plate tectonic model depict that these small blocks were scattered along the northern margin of Gondwana, where they formed the "Armorican Spour" as suggested by Kroner and Romer (2013). The seaways were present between blocks. Because of the north dipping subduction zone along the southern margin of the Laurussia continent the back-arc basin and island arc were formed. The narrowing of the Rheic ocean led to the complicated collision of Gondwana and Laurussia. Three main stages of this event can be distinguished: (1) collision of the Armorican Spour with the Laurussian island arc, (2) back-arc basin closure, (3) final Gondwana and Laurussian collision. Those stages correlate well with Variscan Subduction Zone System proposed by Kroner and Romer (2013). Interactive modeling performed in GPlates, shows that the presented model is valid from kinematic and geometrical point of view. Kroner U., Romer R., L., 2013, Two plates - many subduction zones: the Variscan orogeny reconsidered. Gondwana Research, 24: 298-329. Lewandowski M., 2003, Assembly of Pangea: Combined paleomagnetic and paleoclimatic approach, Advances in Geophysics, 46: 199-236 Matte P., 2001, The Variscan collage and orogeny (480 290 Ma) and the tectonic definition of the Armorica microplate: a review. Terra Nova, 13: 122¨C128. Winchester J., A., The Pace TMR Network Team, 2002, Palaeozoic amalgamation of Central Europe: new results from recent geological and geophysical investigations, Tectonophysics, 360: 5-21

Environmental assessments in the built environment: crucial yet underdeveloped

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinonen, Jukka; Horvath, Arpad; Junnila, Seppo

2015-03-01

Environmental assessments have been developed with increasing emphasis since the wide-scale emergence of environmental concerns in the 1970s. However, after decades there is still plenty of room left for development. These assessments are also rapidly becoming more and more crucial as we seem to be reaching the boundaries of the carrying capacity of our planet. Assessments of the emissions from the built environment and especially of the interactions between human communities and emissions are in a very central role in the quest to solve the great problem of sustainable living. Policy- makers and professionals in various fields urgently need reliable data on the current conditions and realistic future projections, as well as robust and scientifically defensible models for decision making. This recognition was the main motivation to call for this Focus Issue, and the published contributions truly highlight the same point. This editorial provides brief summaries and discussions on the 16 articles of the Focus Issue, depicting the several interesting perspectives they offer to advance the state of the art. Now we encourage academics, practitioners, government, industry, individual consumers, and other decision makers to utilize the available findings and develop the domain of environmental assessment of the built environment further. Indeed, we hope that this Focus Issue is merely a kernel of a significantly large future body of literature.

Integrating psychology within the globalizing world: a requiem to the post-modernist experiment with Wissenschaft.

PubMed

Valsiner, Jaan

2009-03-01

Since the new beginning in 2007 of Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science we have brought out to the open both the reasons why the ever-widening research enterprise in psychology has largely failed to produce general knowledge, and to point to promising new directions in the field. The post-modernist turn in psychology is now over, and it is an interesting task to return to creating a universal science of psychology that is context-sensitive, and culture-inclusive. The latter goal entails a renewed focus upon qualitative analyses of time-based processes, close attention to the phenomena under study, and systematic (single-system-based-usually labeled idiographic) focus in empirical investigations. Through these three pathways centrality of human experiencing of culturally constructed worlds is restored as the core of psychological science. Universal principles are evident in each and every single case. Transcending post-modernist deconstruction of science happens through active international participation and a renewed focus on creating general theories. Contemporary psychology is global in ways that no longer can any country's socio-political world view dominate the field. Such international equality of contributions grants innovation of the core of the discipline, and safeguards it against assuming any single cultural myth-story as the axiomatic basis for the discipline.

Innovative assistive technology in Finnish public elderly-care services: a focus on productivity.

PubMed

Melkas, Helinä

2013-01-01

The study investigates ways in which technology use may help municipalities improve productivity in elderly-care services. A case study of Finnish elderly-care services provides responses concerning impacts, decisions and options in technology use. The research data were collected during a 'smart home pilot' implemented in four housing service units. Over 60 assistive devices were introduced in the smart homes used during short-term housing periods. Both customers and care staff's experiences as well as processes related to the use of assistive devices were investigated on the basis of survey questionnaires, interviews and feedback. Assistive device-related operational processes were investigated with the help of concepts of 'resource focus', 'lost motion' and 'intermediate storage'. Four central operational processes were identified. Design and desirability as well as costs, such as opportunity costs of assistive devices were also a focus. Significant factors related to productivity were disclosed in this way. Technology use versus productivity needs to be 'circled' from the points of view of individual users, workplaces, service processes, and larger technology options. There must be long-term patience to introduce technology properly into use to produce positive impacts on productivity. Customers and care staff have an interlinked, vital role to play as decision-makers' informants.

Focusing elliptical laser beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchant, A. B.

1984-03-01

The spot formed by focusing an elliptical laser beam through an ordinary objective lens can be optimized by properly filling the objective lens. Criteria are given for maximizing the central irradiance and the line-spread function. An optimized spot is much less elliptical than the incident laser beam. For beam ellipticities as high as 2:1, this spatial filtering reduces the central irradiance by less than 14 percent.

Rapid Categorization of Foveal and Extrafoveal Natural Images: Associated ERPs and Effects of Lateralization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fize, Denis; Fabre-Thorpe, Michele; Richard, Ghislaine; Doyon, Bernard; Thorpe, Simon J.

2005-01-01

Humans are fast and accurate at performing an animal categorization task with natural photographs briefly flashed centrally. Here, this central categorization task is compared to a three position task in which photographs could appear randomly either centrally, or at 3.6 [degrees] eccentricity (right or left) of the fixation point. A mild…

Multivariate assessment of the central-cardiorespiratory network structure in neuropathological disease.

PubMed

Schulz, Steffen; Haueisen, Jens; Bär, Karl-Juergen; Voss, Andreas

2018-06-22

The new interdisciplinary field of network physiology is getting more and more into the focus of interest in medicine. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is well described in schizophrenia (SZO). However, the linear and nonlinear coupling between the ANS and central nervous system (CNS) is only partly addressed until now. This coupling can be assumed as a feedback-feedforward network, reacting with flexible and adaptive responses to internal and external factors. Approach: For the first time, in this study, we investigated linear and nonlinear short-term central-cardiorespiratory couplings of 17 patients suffering from paranoid schizophrenia (SZO) in comparison to 17 age-gender matched healthy subjects (CON) analyzing heart rate (HR), respiration (RESP) and the power of frontal EEG activity (PEEG). The objective is to determine how the different regulatory aspects of the CNS-ANS compose the central-cardiorespiratory network (CCRN). To quantify these couplings within the CCRN the normalized short time partial directed coherence (NSTPDC) and the new multivariate high-resolution joint symbolic dynamics (mHRJSD) were applied. Main results: We found that the CCRN in SZO is characterized as a bidirectional one, with stronger central driving mechanisms (PEEG→HR) towards HR regulation than vice versa, and with stronger respiratory influence (RESP→PEEG) on central activity than vice versa. This suggests that the central-cardiorespiratory process (closed-loop) is mainly focusing on adapting the HR via the sinoatrial node than focusing on respiratory regulation. On the other side, the feedback-loop from ANS to CNS is strongly dominated via respiratory activity. Significance: We could demonstrate a considerably significantly different central-cardiorespiratory network structure in schizophrenia with strong central influence on the cardiac system and a strong respiratory influence on the central nervous system. Moreover, this study provides a more in-depth understanding of the interplay of the central and autonomic regulatory network in healthy subjects and schizophrenic patients. . © 2018 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

Central Configurations of the Curved N-Body Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diacu, Florin; Stoica, Cristina; Zhu, Shuqiang

2018-06-01

We consider the N-body problem of celestial mechanics in spaces of nonzero constant curvature. Using the concept of effective potential, we define the moment of inertia for systems moving on spheres and hyperbolic spheres and show that we can recover the classical definition in the Euclidean case. After proving some criteria for the existence of relative equilibria, we find a natural way to define the concept of central configuration in curved spaces using the moment of inertia and show that our definition is formally similar to the one that governs the classical problem. We prove that, for any given point masses on spheres and hyperbolic spheres, central configurations always exist. We end with results concerning the number of central configurations that lie on the same geodesic, thus extending the celebrated theorem of Moulton to hyperbolic spheres and pointing out that it has no straightforward generalization to spheres, where the count gets complicated even for two bodies.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (left) greets U.S. Representative Ric Keller during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (left) greets U.S. Representative Ric Keller during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (right) greets Florida Congressman Tom Feeney during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (right) greets Florida Congressman Tom Feeney during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

Interior-Point Methods for Linear Programming: A Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, J. N.; Singh, D.

2002-01-01

The paper reviews some recent advances in interior-point methods for linear programming and indicates directions in which future progress can be made. Most of the interior-point methods belong to any of three categories: affine-scaling methods, potential reduction methods and central path methods. These methods are discussed together with…

A smart market for nutrient credit trading to incentivize wetland construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raffensperger, John F.; Prabodanie, R. A. Ranga; Kostel, Jill A.

2017-03-01

Nutrient trading and constructed wetlands are widely discussed solutions to reduce nutrient pollution. Nutrient markets usually include agricultural nonpoint sources and municipal and industrial point sources, but these markets rarely include investors who construct wetlands to sell nutrient reduction credits. We propose a new market design for trading nutrient credits, with both point source and non-point source traders, explicitly incorporating the option of landowners to build nutrient removal wetlands. The proposed trading program is designed as a smart market with centralized clearing, done with an optimization. The market design addresses the varying impacts of runoff over space and time, and the lumpiness of wetland investments. We simulated the market for the Big Bureau Creek watershed in north-central Illinois. We found that the proposed smart market would incentivize wetland construction by assuring reasonable payments for the ecosystem services provided. The proposed market mechanism selects wetland locations strategically taking into account both the cost and nutrient removal efficiencies. The centralized market produces locational prices that would incentivize farmers to reduce nutrients, which is voluntary. As we illustrate, wetland builders' participation in nutrient trading would enable the point sources and environmental organizations to buy low cost nutrient credits.

Investigations of Multiple Swirl-Venturi Fuel Injector Concepts: Recent Experimental Optical Measurement Results for 1-Point, 7-Point, and 9-Point Configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hicks, Yolanda R.; Anderson, Robert C.; Tedder, Sarah A.; Tacina, Kathleen M.

2015-01-01

This paper presents results obtained during testing in optically-accessible, JP8-fueled, flame tube combustors using swirl-venturi lean direct injection (LDI) research hardware. The baseline LDI geometry has 9 fuel/air mixers arranged in a 3 x 3 array within a square chamber. 2-D results from this 9-element array are compared to results obtained in a cylindrical combustor using a 7-element array and a single element. In each case, the baseline element size remains the same. The effect of air swirler angle, and element arrangement on the presence of a central recirculation zone are presented. Only the highest swirl number air swirler produced a central recirculation zone for the single element swirl-venturi LDI and the 9-element LDI, but that same swirler did not produce a central recirculation zone for the 7-element LDI, possibly because of strong interactions due to element spacing within the array.

Removal of central obscuration and spiders for coronagraphy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, L.; Nishikawa, J.; Murakami, N.; Tamura, M.

2006-06-01

We present a method to remove the central obscuration and spiders, or any kind of geometry inside a telescope pupil. The technique relies on the combination of a first focal plane diffracting mask, and a complex amplitude pupil mask. In this combination, the central obscuration and eventual spider arms patterns in the re-imaged pupil (after the diffracting mask) are filled with coherent light. Adding an appropriate complex amplitude pupil mask allows virtually any kind of pupil shaping (in both amplitude and/or phase). We show that the obtained output pupil can feed a high efficiency coronagraph (any kind) with a very reasonable overall throughput and good performance even when considering pointing errors. In this paper, we specifically assess the performance of this technique when using apodized entrance pupils. This technique is relevant for ground based telescopes foreseeing the advent of higher order (so called ExAO) adaptive optics systems providing very high Strehl ratios. Some feasibility points are also discussed. adaptive optics systems providing very high Strehl ratios. Some feasibility points are also discussed.

Identifying the role of initial wave parameters on tsunami focusing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aydın, Baran

2018-04-01

Unexpected local tsunami amplification, which is referred to as tsunami focusing, is attributed to two different mechanisms: bathymetric features of the ocean bottom such as underwater ridges and dipolar shape of the initial wave itself. In this study, we characterize the latter; that is, we explore how amplitude and location of the focusing point vary with certain geometric parameters of the initial wave such as its steepness and crest length. Our results reveal two important features of tsunami focusing: for mild waves maximum wave amplitude increases significantly with transverse length of wave crest, while location of the focusing point is almost invariant. For steep waves, on the other hand, increasing crest length dislocates focusing point significantly, while it causes a rather small increase in wave maximum.

Effects of Stigmatization on Gay Men Living with HIV/AIDS in a Central-Eastern European Context: A Qualitative Analysis from Hungary

PubMed Central

Takács, J.; Kelly, J.A.; P. Tóth, T.; Mocsonaki, L.; Amirkhanian, Y.A.

2012-01-01

This qualitative study highlights the social dynamics affecting people living with HIV (PLH) in Hungary and in the Central-Eastern European region. The study focused on the special needs and concerns of men living with HIV/AIDS as well as changes in their social relationships and institutional support provision, coping strategies and patterns of social functioning, especially in the context of social stigmatization. Consistent with international qualitative research findings in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention, the present study contributes to a fuller understanding of relationship between sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS related risks and risk perceptions as well as homosexuality-and HIV/AIDS stigma-related social exclusion in a previously under-researched socio-cultural setting. The findings of our study point to several barriers to effective HIV prevention, which should be overcome to improve the present situation by lessening the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS-and homosexuality-related stigma within the gay community, the general population and especially among service providers. One of the main barriers is the lack of public health programs specifically targeting MSM in Hungary, where the predominant mode of HIV transmission remains sex between men. PMID:23439743

The BIG Data Center: from deposition to integration to translation

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Biological data are generated at unprecedentedly exponential rates, posing considerable challenges in big data deposition, integration and translation. The BIG Data Center, established at Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG), Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides a suite of database resources, including (i) Genome Sequence Archive, a data repository specialized for archiving raw sequence reads, (ii) Gene Expression Nebulas, a data portal of gene expression profiles based entirely on RNA-Seq data, (iii) Genome Variation Map, a comprehensive collection of genome variations for featured species, (iv) Genome Warehouse, a centralized resource housing genome-scale data with particular focus on economically important animals and plants, (v) Methylation Bank, an integrated database of whole-genome single-base resolution methylomes and (vi) Science Wikis, a central access point for biological wikis developed for community annotations. The BIG Data Center is dedicated to constructing and maintaining biological databases through big data integration and value-added curation, conducting basic research to translate big data into big knowledge and providing freely open access to a variety of data resources in support of worldwide research activities in both academia and industry. All of these resources are publicly available and can be found at http://bigd.big.ac.cn. PMID:27899658

The Human Central Pattern Generator for Locomotion.

PubMed

Minassian, Karen; Hofstoetter, Ursula S; Dzeladini, Florin; Guertin, Pierre A; Ijspeert, Auke

2017-03-01

The ability of dedicated spinal circuits, referred to as central pattern generators (CPGs), to produce the basic rhythm and neural activation patterns underlying locomotion can be demonstrated under specific experimental conditions in reduced animal preparations. The existence of CPGs in humans is a matter of debate. Equally elusive is the contribution of CPGs to normal bipedal locomotion. To address these points, we focus on human studies that utilized spinal cord stimulation or pharmacological neuromodulation to generate rhythmic activity in individuals with spinal cord injury, and on neuromechanical modeling of human locomotion. In the absence of volitional motor control and step-specific sensory feedback, the human lumbar spinal cord can produce rhythmic muscle activation patterns that closely resemble CPG-induced neural activity of the isolated animal spinal cord. In this sense, CPGs in humans can be defined by the activity they produce. During normal locomotion, CPGs could contribute to the activation patterns during specific phases of the step cycle and simplify supraspinal control of step cycle frequency as a feedforward component to achieve a targeted speed. Determining how the human CPGs operate will be essential to advance the theory of neural control of locomotion and develop new locomotor neurorehabilitation paradigms.

The Impact of Oxidative Stress Factors on the Viability, Senescence, and Methylation Status of Olfactory Bulb-Derived Glial Cells Isolated from Human Cadaver Donors.

PubMed

Marycz, Krzysztof; Kornicka, Katarzyna; Grzesiak, Jakub; Tomaszewski, Krzysztof A; Szarek, Dariusz; Kopacz, Paweł

2017-01-01

The olfactory bulb (OB) is a unique structure in the central nervous system that retains the ability to create new neuronal connections. Glial cells isolated from the OB have been recently considered as a novel and promising tool to establish an effective therapy for central nervous system injuries. Due to the hindered access to autologous tissue for cell isolation, an allogeneic source of tissues obtained postmortem has been proposed. In this study, we focused on the morphological and molecular characteristics of human OB-derived glial cells isolated postmortem, at different time points after a donor's death. We evaluated the proliferative activity of the isolated cells, and investigated the ultrastructure of the mitochondria, the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and the activity of superoxide dismutase. The data obtained clearly indicate that the duration of ischemia is crucial for the viability/senescence rate of OB-derived glial cells. The OB can be isolated during autopsy and still stand as a source of viable glial cells, but ischemia duration is a major factor limiting its potential usefulness in therapies. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Financial and economic determinants of collective action: The case of wastewater management

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

Brunner, Norbert, E-mail: norbert.brunner@cemds.org; Starkl, Markus, E-mail: markus.starkl@boku.ac.at

Where public environmental funds support development of wastewater infrastructure, funding institutions ensure the economic use of funds, while the beneficiaries minimize their own costs. In rural areas, there is often a choice between decentralized or centralized (multi-village) systems: if the centralized system is most economic, then only this system is eligible for public funding. However, its implementation requires a voluntary cooperation of the concerned communities, who need to organize themselves to develop and run the infrastructure. The paper analyzes the social determinants of collaboration in a generic case study, using the following variables: method of (economic) assessment, modeled by themore » social discount rate, funding policy, modeled by the funding rate, and users' self-organization, modeled by cost sharing. In a borderline situation, where the centralized system turns out to be most economic, but this assessment is contingent on the assessment method, collective action may fail: the advantages of collective action from funding are too small to outweigh organizational deficiencies. Considering in this situation sanitation as a human right, authors recommend using innovative forms of organization and, if these fail, reassessing either the amount of funding or the eligibility for funding of more acceptable alternatives. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A generic case study models collective action and funding in wastewater management. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Determinants of success: economic assessment, funding policy and self-organization. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Success indicators: conflict rate, funds needed to make cost shares fair. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Method for analyzing centralized vs. decentralized disputes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer If collective action has less benefits, innovative cost sharing may ensure success.« less

Quantum critical environment assisted quantum magnetometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaseem, Noufal; Omkar, S.; Shaji, Anil

2018-04-01

A central qubit coupled to an Ising ring of N qubits, operating close to a critical point is investigated as a potential precision quantum magnetometer for estimating an applied transverse magnetic field. We compute the quantum Fisher information for the central, probe qubit with the Ising chain initialized in its ground state or in a thermal state. The non-unitary evolution of the central qubit due to its interaction with the surrounding Ising ring enhances the accuracy of the magnetic field measurement. Near the critical point of the ring, Heisenberg-like scaling of the precision in estimating the magnetic field is obtained when the ring is initialized in its ground state. However, for finite temperatures, the Heisenberg scaling is limited to lower ranges of N values.

[Centralization versus decentralization. Hematology].

PubMed

Borregaard, Niels

2006-04-10

Clinical haematology is the result of teamwork among dedicated specialists in pathology, molecular diagnostics, imaging, radiotherapy and the haematologist, who in turn can focus on only a limited fraction of the various and highly complex diseases that together constitute clinical haematology. The treatment of patients should be centralized in departments large enough to permit internal subspecialization and to provide expert service focused on haematology. No more than three such hematology centers are needed in Denmark.

SN 1986J VLBI. IV. The Nature of the Central Component

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bietenholz, Michael F.; Bartel, Norbert

2017-12-01

We report on Very Large Array measurements between 1 and 45 GHz of the evolving radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of SN 1986J, made in conjunction with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging. The SED of SN 1986J is unique among supernovae, and shows an inversion point and a high-frequency turnover. Both are due to the central component seen in the VLBI images, and both are progressing downward in frequency with time. The optically thin spectral index of the central component is almost the same as that of the shell. We fit a simple model to the evolving SED consisting of an optically thin shell and a partly absorbed central component. The evolution of the SED is consistent with that of a homologously expanding system. Both components are fading, but the shell is fading more rapidly. We conclude that the central component is physically inside the expanding shell, and not a surface hotspot central only in projection. Our observations are consistent with the central component being due to interaction of the shock with the dense and highly structured circumstellar medium that resulted from a period of common-envelope evolution of the progenitor. However, a young pulsar-wind nebula or emission from an accreting black hole can also not be ruled out at this point.

Centrality measures highlight proton traps and access points to proton highways in kinetic Monte Carlo trajectories

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

Krueger, Rachel A.; Haibach, Frederick G.; Fry, Dana L.

2015-04-21

A centrality measure based on the time of first returns rather than the number of steps is developed and applied to finding proton traps and access points to proton highways in the doped perovskite oxides: AZr{sub 0.875}D{sub 0.125}O{sub 3}, where A is Ba or Sr and the dopant D is Y or Al. The high centrality region near the dopant is wider in the SrZrO{sub 3} systems than the BaZrO{sub 3} systems. In the aluminum-doped systems, a region of intermediate centrality (secondary region) is found in a plane away from the dopant. Kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) trajectories show that thismore » secondary region is an entry to fast conduction planes in the aluminum-doped systems in contrast to the highest centrality area near the dopant trap. The yttrium-doped systems do not show this secondary region because the fast conduction routes are in the same plane as the dopant and hence already in the high centrality trapped area. This centrality measure complements kMC by highlighting key areas in trajectories. The limiting activation barriers found via kMC are in very good agreement with experiments and related to the barriers to escape dopant traps.« less

Focus on quantum Einstein gravity Focus on quantum Einstein gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambjorn, Jan; Reuter, Martin; Saueressig, Frank

2012-09-01

The gravitational asymptotic safety program summarizes the attempts to construct a consistent and predictive quantum theory of gravity within Wilson's generalized framework of renormalization. Its key ingredient is a non-Gaussian fixed point of the renormalization group flow which controls the behavior of the theory at trans-Planckian energies and renders gravity safe from unphysical divergences. Provided that the fixed point comes with a finite number of ultraviolet-attractive (relevant) directions, this construction gives rise to a consistent quantum field theory which is as predictive as an ordinary, perturbatively renormalizable one. This opens up the exciting possibility of establishing quantum Einstein gravity as a fundamental theory of gravity, without introducing supersymmetry or extra dimensions, and solely based on quantization techniques that are known to work well for the other fundamental forces of nature. While the idea of gravity being asymptotically safe was proposed by Steven Weinberg more than 30 years ago [1], the technical tools for investigating this scenario only emerged during the last decade. Here a key role is played by the exact functional renormalization group equation for gravity, which allows the construction of non-perturbative approximate solutions for the RG-flow of the gravitational couplings. Most remarkably, all solutions constructed to date exhibit a suitable non-Gaussian fixed point, lending strong support to the asymptotic safety conjecture. Moreover, the functional renormalization group also provides indications that the central idea of a non-Gaussian fixed point providing a safe ultraviolet completion also carries over to more realistic scenarios where gravity is coupled to a suitable matter sector like the standard model. These theoretical successes also triggered a wealth of studies focusing on the consequences of asymptotic safety in a wide range of phenomenological applications covering the physics of black holes, early time cosmology and the big bang, as well as TeV-scale gravity models testable at the Large Hadron Collider. On different grounds, Monte-Carlo studies of the gravitational partition function based on the discrete causal dynamical triangulations approach provide an a priori independent avenue towards unveiling the non-perturbative features of gravity. As a highlight, detailed simulations established that the phase diagram underlying causal dynamical triangulations contains a phase where the triangulations naturally give rise to four-dimensional, macroscopic universes. Moreover, there are indications for a second-order phase transition that naturally forms the discrete analog of the non-Gaussian fixed point seen in the continuum computations. Thus there is a good chance that the discrete and continuum computations will converge to the same fundamental physics. This focus issue collects a series of papers that outline the current frontiers of the gravitational asymptotic safety program. We hope that readers get an impression of the depth and variety of this research area as well as our excitement about the new and ongoing developments. References [1] Weinberg S 1979 General Relativity, an Einstein Centenary Survey ed S W Hawking and W Israel (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

A note on libration point orbits, temporary capture and low-energy transfers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fantino, E.; Gómez, G.; Masdemont, J. J.; Ren, Y.

2010-11-01

In the circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP) the weak stability boundary (WSB) is defined as a boundary set in the phase space between stable and unstable motion relative to the second primary. At a given energy level, the boundaries of such region are provided by the stable manifolds of the central objects of the L1 and L2 libration points, i.e., the two planar Lyapunov orbits. Besides, the unstable manifolds of libration point orbits (LPOs) around L1 and L2 have been identified as responsible for the weak or temporary capture around the second primary of the system. These two issues suggest the existence of natural dynamical channels between the Earth's vicinity and the Sun-Earth libration points L1 and L2. Furthermore, it has been shown that the Sun-Earth L2 central unstable manifolds can be linked, through an heteroclinic connection, to the central stable manifolds of the L2 point in the Earth-Moon three-body problem. This concept has been applied to the design of low energy transfers (LETs) from the Earth to the Moon. In this contribution we consider all the above three issues, i.e., weak stability boundaries, temporary capture and low energy transfers, and we discuss the role played by the invariant manifolds of LPOs in each of them. The study is made in the planar approximation.

The "Best Worst" Field Optimization and Focusing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughnn, David; Moore, Ken; Bock, Noah; Zhou, Wei; Ming, Liang; Wilson, Mark

2008-01-01

A simple algorithm for optimizing and focusing lens designs is presented. The goal of the algorithm is to simultaneously create the best and most uniform image quality over the field of view. Rather than relatively weighting multiple field points, only the image quality from the worst field point is considered. When optimizing a lens design, iterations are made to make this worst field point better until such a time as a different field point becomes worse. The same technique is used to determine focus position. The algorithm works with all the various image quality metrics. It works with both symmetrical and asymmetrical systems. It works with theoretical models and real hardware.

Point-Focusing Solar-Power Distributed Receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lucas, J. W.

1985-01-01

Two-volume annual report describes development work aimed at achieving large-scale production of modular, point-focusing distributed receivers (PFDR's) for solar-powered generation of electricity or thermal power for industrial use.

External Review Teams Training in Central America

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silva-Trivino; Moises; Ramirez-Gatica, Soledad

2004-01-01

Many Latin American countries have started actions to promote a higher education quality assurance system. Central America appears as a regional effort that includes universities from all seven countries under the initiative of Central American University Higher Council (CSUCA). After focusing in quality management and self-study processes, CSUCA…

Neural blockade during exercise augments central command's contribution to carotid baroreflex resetting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Querry, R. G.; Smith, S. A.; Stromstad, M.; Ide, K.; Raven, P. B.; Secher, N. H.

2001-01-01

This investigation was designed to determine central command's role on carotid baroreflex (CBR) resetting during exercise. Nine volunteer subjects performed static and rhythmic handgrip exercise at 30 and 40% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), respectively, before and after partial axillary neural blockade. Stimulus-response curves were developed using the neck pressure-neck suction technique and a rapid pulse train protocol (+40 to -80 Torr). Regional anesthesia resulted in a significant reduction in MVC. Heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were used as indexes of central command and were elevated during exercise at control force intensity after induced muscle weakness. The CBR function curves were reset vertically with a minimal lateral shift during control exercise and exhibited a further parallel resetting during exercise with neural blockade. The operating point was progressively reset to coincide with the centering point of the CBR curve. These data suggest that central command was a primary mechanism in the resetting of the CBR during exercise. However, it appeared that central command modulated the carotid-cardiac reflex proportionately more than the carotid-vasomotor reflex.

Re-envisioning Addiction Treatment: A Six-Point Plan

PubMed Central

Kellogg, Scott H.

2012-01-01

This article is focused on improving the quality of addiction treatment. Based on observations that patients are leaving treatment too early and/or are continuing to use substances during their care, the authors propose six actions that could help reorient and revitalize this kind of clinical work: (1) conceptualize and treat addictive disorders within a psychiatric/mental health framework; (2) make the creation of a strong therapeutic alliance a core part of the healing process; (3) understand patients’ addictions and other problems using models based on multiple internal parts, voices, or modes; (4) make contingency management and the use of positive reinforcement systems a standard and central practice in all treatment settings; (5) envision long-term change and healing through the lens of identity theory; and (6) integrate the growing developments in recovery culture with formal treatment. PMID:22754086

Addicted to Pain: A Preliminary Model of Sexual Masochism as Addiction.

PubMed

Kurt, Holly; Ronel, Natti

2017-11-01

An exploratory, qualitative, phenomenological study focused on the experience of pain while participating in sexual masochistic acts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine individuals (four female, five male) who regularly participate in sexually masochistic acts and point to pain as central to their experience. Qualitative analysis of the data revealed several key characteristics of the participant's experience: the first time, intoxication, craving and withdrawal, tolerance, pain as control, and the pain inducing partner. The findings indicate that the way pain is experienced while mitigated through masochistic behavior creates an addictive process that coincides with a chronic behavioral spin contextualization. This article presents a preliminary model of addiction to physical pain in light of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) definition of substance-related and addictive disorders and the behavioral spin theory.

Resource Allocation in Healthcare: Implications of Models of Medicine as a Profession

PubMed Central

Kluge, Eike-Henner W.

2007-01-01

For decades, the problem of how to allocate healthcare resources in a just and equitable fashion has been the subject of concerted discussion and analysis, yet the issue has stubbornly resisted resolution. This article suggests that a major reason for this is that the discussion has focused exclusively on the nature and status of the material resources, and that the nature and role of the medical profession have been entirely ignored. Because physicians are gatekeepers to healthcare resources, their role in allocation is central from a process perspective. This article identifies 3 distinct interpretations of the nature of medicine, shows how each mandates a different method of allocation, and argues that unless an appropriate model of medicine is developed that acknowledges the valid points contained in each of the 3 approaches, the allocation problem will remain unsolvable. PMID:17435657

Use of physical restraint in nursing homes: clinical‐ethical considerations

PubMed Central

Gastmans, C; Milisen, K

2006-01-01

This article gives a brief overview of the state of the art concerning physical restraint use among older persons in nursing homes. Within this context we identify some essential values and norms that must be observed in an ethical evaluation of physical restraint. These values and norms provide the ethical foundation for a number of concrete recommendations that could give clinical and ethical support to caregivers when they make decisions about physical restraint. Respect for the autonomy and overall wellbeing of older persons, a proportional assessment of the advantages and disadvantages, a priority focus on the alternatives to physical restraint, individualised care, interdisciplinary decision making, and an institutional policy are the central points that make it possible to deal responsibly with the use of physical restraint for older persons in nursing homes. PMID:16507658

A scheme for solving the plane-plane challenge in force measurements at the nanoscale.

PubMed

Siria, Alessandro; Huant, Serge; Auvert, Geoffroy; Comin, Fabio; Chevrier, Joel

2010-05-19

Non-contact interaction between two parallel flat surfaces is a central paradigm in sciences. This situation is the starting point for a wealth of different models: the capacitor description in electrostatics, hydrodynamic flow, thermal exchange, the Casimir force, direct contact study, third body confinement such as liquids or films of soft condensed matter. The control of parallelism is so demanding that no versatile single force machine in this geometry has been proposed so far. Using a combination of nanopositioning based on inertial motors, of microcrystal shaping with a focused-ion beam (FIB) and of accurate in situ and real-time control of surface parallelism with X-ray diffraction, we propose here a "gedanken" surface-force machine that should enable one to measure interactions between movable surfaces separated by gaps in the micrometer and nanometer ranges.

[The distribution of the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) in the humid savanna zone (Central African Republic). Evaluation of prospective entomological techniques].

PubMed

Blanc, F; Gouteux, J P; Cuisance, D; Pounekrozou, E; N'Dokoué, F; Le Gall, F

1991-06-01

Two trapping methods were compared during a survey of the distribution of tsetse flies in the Mbororo cattle breeding area of the Central African Republic: (a) several traps dispersed throughout the riverine forest galleries and remaining only one day at each site: (b) one sentinel trap placed at the cattle drinking point and remaining for several days. The latter method was more reliable and is therefore recommended. The concentration of tsetse flies at the drinking points was negligible during the rainy season.

Generation-based memory synchronization in a multiprocessor system with weakly consistent memory accesses

DOEpatents

Ohmacht, Martin

2017-08-15

In a multiprocessor system, a central memory synchronization module coordinates memory synchronization requests responsive to memory access requests in flight, a generation counter, and a reclaim pointer. The central module communicates via point-to-point communication. The module includes a global OR reduce tree for each memory access requesting device, for detecting memory access requests in flight. An interface unit is implemented associated with each processor requesting synchronization. The interface unit includes multiple generation completion detectors. The generation count and reclaim pointer do not pass one another.

Generation-based memory synchronization in a multiprocessor system with weakly consistent memory accesses

DOEpatents

Ohmacht, Martin

2014-09-09

In a multiprocessor system, a central memory synchronization module coordinates memory synchronization requests responsive to memory access requests in flight, a generation counter, and a reclaim pointer. The central module communicates via point-to-point communication. The module includes a global OR reduce tree for each memory access requesting device, for detecting memory access requests in flight. An interface unit is implemented associated with each processor requesting synchronization. The interface unit includes multiple generation completion detectors. The generation count and reclaim pointer do not pass one another.

"Estoy viejo" [I'm old]: internalized ageism as self-referential, negative, ageist speech in the Republic of Panama.

PubMed

Campos, Irma D; Stripling, Ashley M; Heesacker, Martin

2012-12-01

Ageism is a form of discrimination that anyone may experience at some point in life (Palmore 2004). Yet ageism is rarely the focus of behavioral research (Nelson 2005). Age can be understood as a social construct that reflects social norms (Lemus and Exposito 2005). Based on our review of the published literature, there were two studies on perceptions of aging among Latina/os in the United States (Beyene et al. 2002; Sarkisian et al. 2006). These studies investigated perceptions and expectations of aging among older Latina/o adults rather than direct experiences of ageism. It is important to note that Latina/os are not a homogenous group and that there are within-group differences. For this reason, this study explored internalized, negative ageism specifically in the Republic of Panama. Although Panama has unique characteristics, it also reflects Central American culture and therefore should provide initial insights regarding Central American self-referential, negative, ageist talk, which we labeled "Estoy viejo." Flanagan's Critical Incident Technique was used to access and understand participants' (ages 18-65) negative ageist talk (n=159). Participants who reported engaging in "Estoy viejo." (46.3% of those sampled) were significantly younger than participants who did not (p< .05). One potential explanation is that younger participants may have been more influenced by North American culture and its strongly negative ageist stereotypes than older participants, who may have identified primarily with Central American culture.

Solar tower cavity receiver aperture optimization based on transient optical and thermo-hydraulic modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schöttl, Peter; Bern, Gregor; van Rooyen, De Wet; Heimsath, Anna; Fluri, Thomas; Nitz, Peter

2017-06-01

A transient simulation methodology for cavity receivers for Solar Tower Central Receiver Systems with molten salt as heat transfer fluid is described. Absorbed solar radiation is modeled with ray tracing and a sky discretization approach to reduce computational effort. Solar radiation re-distribution in the cavity as well as thermal radiation exchange are modeled based on view factors, which are also calculated with ray tracing. An analytical approach is used to represent convective heat transfer in the cavity. Heat transfer fluid flow is simulated with a discrete tube model, where the boundary conditions at the outer tube surface mainly depend on inputs from the previously mentioned modeling aspects. A specific focus is put on the integration of optical and thermo-hydraulic models. Furthermore, aiming point and control strategies are described, which are used during the transient performance assessment. Eventually, the developed simulation methodology is used for the optimization of the aperture opening size of a PS10-like reference scenario with cavity receiver and heliostat field. The objective function is based on the cumulative gain of one representative day. Results include optimized aperture opening size, transient receiver characteristics and benefits of the implemented aiming point strategy compared to a single aiming point approach. Future work will include annual simulations, cost assessment and optimization of a larger range of receiver parameters.

The South Central Superpave Center: Report of Activities

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-12-01

The planning of the South Central Superpave Center (SCSC) began in mid-1994. The Center hired its first staff in early 1995 and was fully staffed by June 1995, at which point it became fully operational. This report describes SCSC activities that too...

Efficient High Order Central Schemes for Multi-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi Equations: Talk Slides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Levy, Doron; Biegel, Brian R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This viewgraph presentation presents information on the attempt to produce high-order, efficient, central methods that scale well to high dimension. The central philosophy is that the equations should evolve to the point where the data is smooth. This is accomplished by a cyclic pattern of reconstruction, evolution, and re-projection. One dimensional and two dimensional representational methods are detailed, as well.

Prospective Durability Testing of a Vascular Access Phantom

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

ultrasound guidance when obtaining central venous access.19,20 The increasing use of ultrasound guidance for vascular access has created an educational...with difficult intravenous access. Ann Emerg Med. 2005;46:456-61. 7. Gallieni M, Cozzolino M. Uncomplicated central vein catheterization of high risk...al. Randomized, controlled clinical trial of point-of-care limited ultrasonography assistance of central venous cannulation: The third sonography

The QACITS pointing sensor: from theory to on-sky operation on Keck/NIRC2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huby, Elsa; Absil, Olivier; Mawet, Dimitri; Baudoz, Pierre; Femenıa Castellã, Bruno; Bottom, Michael; Ngo, Henry; Serabyn, Eugene

2016-07-01

Small inner working angle coronagraphs are essential to benefit from the full potential of large and future extremely large ground-based telescopes, especially in the context of the detection and characterization of exoplanets. Among existing solutions, the vortex coronagraph stands as one of the most effective and promising solutions. However, for focal-plane coronagraph, a small inner working angle comes necessarily at the cost of a high sensitivity to pointing errors. This is the reason why a pointing control system is imperative to stabilize the star on the vortex center against pointing drifts due to mechanical flexures, that generally occur during observation due for instance to temperature and/or gravity variations. We have therefore developed a technique called QACITS1 (Quadrant Analysis of Coronagraphic Images for Tip-tilt Sensing), which is based on the analysis of the coronagraphic image shape to infer the amount of pointing error. It has been shown that the flux gradient in the image is directly related to the amount of tip-tilt affecting the beam. The main advantage of this technique is that it does not require any additional setup and can thus be easily implemented on all current facilities equipped with a vortex phase mask. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of the QACITS sensor at Keck/NIRC2, where an L-band AGPM has been recently commissioned (June and October 2015), successfully validating the QACITS estimator in the case of a centrally obstructed pupil. The algorithm has been designed to be easily handled by any user observing in vortex mode, which is available for science in shared risk mode since 2016B.

Radon Concentration in Groundwater in the Central Region of Gyeongju, Korea - 13130

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

Lee, Jung Min; Lee, A. Rim; Park, Chan Hee

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a well known cause of lung cancer through inhalation. Nevertheless, stomach cancer can also occur if radon-containing water is ingested. This study measured the radon concentration in groundwater for drinking or other domestic uses in the central region of Gyeongju, Korea. The groundwater samples were taken from 11 points chosen from the 11 administrative districts in the central region of Gyeongju by selecting a point per district considering the demographic distribution including the number of tourists who visit the ancient ruins and archaeological sites. The mean radon concentrations in the groundwatermore » samples ranged from 14.38 to 9050.73 Bq.m{sup -3}, which were below the recommendations by the U.S. EPA and WHO. (authors)« less

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC Director Jim Kennedy (center) makes a presentation to NASA and other officials about the benefits of locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC Director Jim Kennedy (center) makes a presentation to NASA and other officials about the benefits of locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) listens to Congressman Tom Feeney (second from left) during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At right is U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) listens to Congressman Tom Feeney (second from left) during a tour of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At right is U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

A Model for Selection of Eyespots on Butterfly Wings.

PubMed

Sekimura, Toshio; Venkataraman, Chandrasekhar; Madzvamuse, Anotida

2015-01-01

The development of eyespots on the wing surface of butterflies of the family Nympalidae is one of the most studied examples of biological pattern formation.However, little is known about the mechanism that determines the number and precise locations of eyespots on the wing. Eyespots develop around signaling centers, called foci, that are located equidistant from wing veins along the midline of a wing cell (an area bounded by veins). A fundamental question that remains unsolved is, why a certain wing cell develops an eyespot, while other wing cells do not. We illustrate that the key to understanding focus point selection may be in the venation system of the wing disc. Our main hypothesis is that changes in morphogen concentration along the proximal boundary veins of wing cells govern focus point selection. Based on previous studies, we focus on a spatially two-dimensional reaction-diffusion system model posed in the interior of each wing cell that describes the formation of focus points. Using finite element based numerical simulations, we demonstrate that variation in the proximal boundary condition is sufficient to robustly select whether an eyespot focus point forms in otherwise identical wing cells. We also illustrate that this behavior is robust to small perturbations in the parameters and geometry and moderate levels of noise. Hence, we suggest that an anterior-posterior pattern of morphogen concentration along the proximal vein may be the main determinant of the distribution of focus points on the wing surface. In order to complete our model, we propose a two stage reaction-diffusion system model, in which an one-dimensional surface reaction-diffusion system, posed on the proximal vein, generates the morphogen concentrations that act as non-homogeneous Dirichlet (i.e., fixed) boundary conditions for the two-dimensional reaction-diffusion model posed in the wing cells. The two-stage model appears capable of generating focus point distributions observed in nature. We therefore conclude that changes in the proximal boundary conditions are sufficient to explain the empirically observed distribution of eyespot focus points on the entire wing surface. The model predicts, subject to experimental verification, that the source strength of the activator at the proximal boundary should be lower in wing cells in which focus points form than in those that lack focus points. The model suggests that the number and locations of eyespot foci on the wing disc could be largely controlled by two kinds of gradients along two different directions, that is, the first one is the gradient in spatially varying parameters such as the reaction rate along the anterior-posterior direction on the proximal boundary of the wing cells, and the second one is the gradient in source values of the activator along the veins in the proximal-distal direction of the wing cell.

Central Asian mountain Rhithrogenini (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) with pointed and ephemeropteroid claws in the winged stages.

PubMed

Kluge, Nikita J

2015-08-03

Among mountain species of Heptageniidae from Central Asia, six species belonging to the taxa Cinygmula McDunnough 1933, Himalogena Kluge 2004 and Caucasiron Kluge 1997 have all claws of the winged stages (subimago and imago) pointed. In this area Cinygmula is represented by two species: C. hutchinsoni (Traver 1939) (with pointed claws) and C. joosti Braasch 1977 (with the more typical ephemeropteroid claws); for both species all stages of both sexes associated by rearing are redescribed. The Central Asian mountain taxon Himalogena includes seven species: Rhithrogena (Himalogena) tianshanica Brodsky 1930, Rh. (H.) pamirica sp. n., Rh. (H.) carnivora sp. n., Rh. (H.) semicarnivora sp. n., Rh. (H.) stackelbergi Sinitshenkova 1973, Rh. (H.) gunti sp. n. and Rh. (H.) nepalensis Braasch 1984; for five of them, all stages of both sexes associated by rearing are redescribed; Rh. (H.) semicarnivora is known as male imagoes reared from larvae; Rh. (H.) nepalensis formerly known only as larvae, is redescribed based on an anomalous female imago (with gynandromorphism caused by helminth in abdomen) reared from the larval stage. Among these species, Rh. (H.) tianshanica, Rh. (H.) pamirica, Rh. (H.) carnivora and Rh. (H.) semicarnivora have mandibles and the labrum modified for carnivorism, while the other three species have the usual Rhithrogena mouth apparatus. Imagoes and subimagoes of Rh. (H.) pamirica, Rh. (H.) carnivora, Rh. (H.) gunti and Rh. (H.) nepalensis, have both claws of each leg pointed, while the other species have ephemeropteroid claws. Corrections to the description of Rh. minima Sinitshenkova 1973 claw denticulation and to original figure references are given. The taxon Ironopsis/g1 is represented by two species in the Central Asian mountains: Epeorus (Caucasiron) guttatus (Braasch & Soldán 1979) (with pointed claws) and Epeorus (Ironopsis) rheophilus (Brodsky 1930) (with ephemeropteroid claws); for both species all stages of both sexes associated by rearing are redescribed. The character distribution patterns of pointed and ephemeropteroid claws within mayfly phylogeny leads one to assume that both types of claws repeatedly change back and forth within Ephemeroptera. However, within Heptageniidae, those species whose winged stages have pointed claws have overlapping ranges of distribution limited to high mountain systems of Central Asia; their larvae inhabit the same biotopes (stones in rapid streams), have the same habitat and can come into contact with one another when they aggregate on a stone. These observations allow for a hypothesis that explains the repeated change to pointed claws from ephemeropteroid claws among various Heptageniidae species via horizontal transfer of some hereditary factor during the evolutionary history of each of those species with the peculiar claw morphology.

A Small System—High-Resolution Study of Metabolic Adaptation in the Central Metabolic Pathway to Temperate Climates in Drosophila melanogaster

PubMed Central

Lavington, Erik; Cogni, Rodrigo; Kuczynski, Caitlin; Koury, Spencer; Behrman, Emily L.; O’Brien, Katherine R.; Schmidt, Paul S.; Eanes, Walter F.

2014-01-01

In this article, we couple the geographic variation in 127 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies in genes of 46 enzymes of central metabolism with their associated cis-expression variation to predict latitudinal or climatic-driven gene expression changes in the metabolic architecture of Drosophila melanogaster. Forty-two percent of the SNPs in 65% of the genes show statistically significant clines in frequency with latitude across the 20 local population samples collected from southern Florida to Ontario. A number of SNPs in the screened genes are also associated with significant expression variation within the Raleigh population from North Carolina. A principal component analysis of the full variance–covariance matrix of latitudinal changes in SNP-associated standardized gene expression allows us to identify those major genes in the pathway and its associated branches that are likely targets of natural selection. When embedded in a central metabolic context, we show that these apparent targets are concentrated in the genes of the upper glycolytic pathway and pentose shunt, those controlling glycerol shuttle activity, and finally those enzymes associated with the utilization of glutamate and pyruvate. These metabolites possess high connectivity and thus may be the points where flux balance can be best shifted. We also propose that these points are conserved points associated with coupling energy homeostasis and energy sensing in mammals. We speculate that the modulation of gene expression at specific points in central metabolism that are associated with shifting flux balance or possibly energy-state sensing plays a role in adaptation to climatic variation. PMID:24770333

A Point to Share: Streamlining Access Services Workflow through Online Collaboration, Communication, and Storage with Microsoft SharePoint

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diffin, Jennifer; Chirombo, Fanuel; Nangle, Dennis; de Jong, Mark

2010-01-01

This article explains how the document management team (circulation and interlibrary loan) at the University of Maryland University College implemented Microsoft's SharePoint product to create a central hub for online collaboration, communication, and storage. Enhancing the team's efficiency, organization, and cooperation was the primary goal.…

Sagittal focusing Laue monochromator

DOEpatents

Zhong,; Zhong, Hanson [Stony Brook, NY; Jonathan, Hastings [Wading River, NY; Jerome, Kao [Stanford, CA; Chi-Chang, Lenhard [Setauket, NY; Anthony, Siddons [Medford, NY; David Peter, Zhong [Cutchogue, NY; Hui, [Coram, NY

2009-03-24

An x-ray focusing device generally includes a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof, a rail unit fixed with respect to the pivotable slide, a forward crystal for focusing x-rays disposed at the forward end of the pivotable slide and a rearward crystal for focusing x-rays movably coupled to the pivotable slide and the fixed rail unit at a distance rearward from the forward crystal. The forward and rearward crystals define reciprocal angles of incidence with respect to the pivot point, wherein pivoting of the slide about the pivot point changes the incidence angles of the forward and rearward crystals while simultaneously changing the distance between the forward and rearward crystals.

3D dosimetry by optical-CT scanning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oldham, Mark

2006-12-01

The need for an accurate, practical, low-cost 3D dosimetry system is becoming ever more critical as modern dose delivery techniques increase in complexity and sophistication. A recent report from the Radiological Physics Center (RPC) (1), revealed that 38% of institutions failed the head-and-neck IMRT phantom credentialing test at the first attempt. This was despite generous passing criteria (within 7% dose-difference or 4mm distance-to-agreement) evaluated at a half-dozen points and a single axial plane. The question that arises from this disturbing finding is - what percentage of institutions would have failed if a comprehensive 3D measurement had been feasible, rather than measurements restricted to the central film-plane and TLD points? This question can only be adequately answered by a comprehensive 3D-dosimetry system, which presents a compelling argument for its development as a clinically viable low cost dosimetry solution. Optical-CT dosimetry is perhaps the closest system to providing such a comprehensive solution. In this article, we review the origins and recent developments of optical-CT dosimetry systems. The principle focus is on first generation systems known to have highest accuracy but longer scan times.

An Integrated Chemical Environment to Support 21st-Century Toxicology.

PubMed

Bell, Shannon M; Phillips, Jason; Sedykh, Alexander; Tandon, Arpit; Sprankle, Catherine; Morefield, Stephen Q; Shapiro, Andy; Allen, David; Shah, Ruchir; Maull, Elizabeth A; Casey, Warren M; Kleinstreuer, Nicole C

2017-05-25

SUMMARY : Access to high-quality reference data is essential for the development, validation, and implementation of in vitro and in silico approaches that reduce and replace the use of animals in toxicity testing. Currently, these data must often be pooled from a variety of disparate sources to efficiently link a set of assay responses and model predictions to an outcome or hazard classification. To provide a central access point for these purposes, the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods developed the Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) web resource. The ICE data integrator allows users to retrieve and combine data sets and to develop hypotheses through data exploration. Open-source computational workflows and models will be available for download and application to local data. ICE currently includes curated in vivo test data, reference chemical information, in vitro assay data (including Tox21 TM /ToxCast™ high-throughput screening data), and in silico model predictions. Users can query these data collections focusing on end points of interest such as acute systemic toxicity, endocrine disruption, skin sensitization, and many others. ICE is publicly accessible at https://ice.ntp.niehs.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1759.

An Integrated Chemical Environment to Support 21st-Century Toxicology

PubMed Central

Bell, Shannon M.; Phillips, Jason; Sedykh, Alexander; Tandon, Arpit; Sprankle, Catherine; Morefield, Stephen Q.; Shapiro, Andy; Allen, David; Shah, Ruchir; Maull, Elizabeth A.; Casey, Warren M.

2017-01-01

Summary: Access to high-quality reference data is essential for the development, validation, and implementation of in vitro and in silico approaches that reduce and replace the use of animals in toxicity testing. Currently, these data must often be pooled from a variety of disparate sources to efficiently link a set of assay responses and model predictions to an outcome or hazard classification. To provide a central access point for these purposes, the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods developed the Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) web resource. The ICE data integrator allows users to retrieve and combine data sets and to develop hypotheses through data exploration. Open-source computational workflows and models will be available for download and application to local data. ICE currently includes curated in vivo test data, reference chemical information, in vitro assay data (including Tox21TM/ToxCast™ high-throughput screening data), and in silico model predictions. Users can query these data collections focusing on end points of interest such as acute systemic toxicity, endocrine disruption, skin sensitization, and many others. ICE is publicly accessible at https://ice.ntp.niehs.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1759 PMID:28557712

Brain death and the historical understanding of bioethics.

PubMed

Belkin, Gary S

2003-07-01

In a 1968 Report, the Ad Hoc Committee of the Harvard Medical School to Examine the Definition of Brain Death promulgated influential criteria for the idea and practice known as "brain death." Before and since the Committee met, brain death has been a focal point of visions and nightmares of medical progress, purpose, and moral authority. Critics of the Committee felt it was deaf to apparently central moral considerations and focused on the self-serving purpose of expanding transplantation. Historical characterizations of the uses and meanings of brain death and the work of the Committee have tended to echo these themes, which means also generally repeating a widely held bioethical self-understanding of how the field appeared-that is, as a necessary antidote of moral expertise. This paper looks at the Committee and finds that historical depictions of it have been skewed by such a bioethical agenda. Entertaining different possibilities as to the motives and historical circumstances behind the Report it famously produced may point to not only different histories of the Committee, but also different perspectives on the historical legacy and role of bioethics as a discourse for addressing anxieties about medicine.

Responsibility for Curriculum Evaluation in Centralized Systems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deschamp, Phil; McGaw, Barry

1979-01-01

While responsibility for curriculum development in Australia is devolving to the local level, the state systems, in the name of accountability, are retaining responsibility for curriculum evaluation. This article examines the curriculum centralization/decentralization patterns in Australia's states, points out the paradoxes in such systems, and…

Polygonal shaft hole rotor

DOEpatents

Hussey, John H.; Rose, John Scott; Meystrik, Jeffrey J.; White, Kent Lee

2001-01-23

A laminated rotor for an induction motor has a plurality of ferro-magnetic laminations mounted axially on a rotor shaft. Each of the plurality of laminations has a central aperture in the shape of a polygon with sides of equal length. The laminations are alternatingly rotated 180.degree. from one another so that the straight sides of the polygon shaped apertures are misaligned. As a circular rotor shaft is press fit into a stack of laminations, the point of maximum interference occurs at the midpoints of the sides of the polygon (i.e., at the smallest radius of the central apertures of the laminations). Because the laminates are alternatingly rotated, the laminate material at the points of maximum interference yields relatively easily into the vertices (i.e., the greatest radius of the central aperture) of the polygonal central aperture of the next lamination as the shaft is inserted into the stack of laminations. Because of this yielding process, the amount of force required to insert the shaft is reduced, and a tighter fit is achieved.

Review and analysis of existing mobile phone applications for health care-associated infection prevention.

PubMed

Schnall, Rebecca; Iribarren, Sarah J

2015-06-01

The expanding number of mobile health applications (apps) holds potential to reduce and eliminate health care-associated infections (HAIs) in clinical practice. The purpose of this review was to identify and provide an overview of the apps available to support prevention of HAIs and to assess their functionality and potential uses in clinical care. We searched 3 online mobile app stores using the following terms: infection prevention, prevention, hand hygiene, hand washing, and specific HAI terms (catheter-associated urinary tract infection [CAUTI], central line-associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infection, and ventilator associated pneumonia [VAP]). Search queries yielded a total of 2,646 potentially relevant apps, of which 17 met our final inclusion criteria. The areas of focus were CAUTI (n = 1, 5.9%), VAP (n = 1, 5.9%), environmental monitoring (n = 2, 11.8%), and hand hygiene (n = 2, 11.8%); the remainder (n = 11, 64.7%) were focused on >1 area (eg, multiple infection prevention bundles, infection prevention guidelines). Almost all of the apps (70.6%) had a maximum of two functions. Mobile apps may help reduce HAI by providing easy access to guidelines, hand hygiene monitoring support, or step-by-step procedures aimed at reducing infections at the point of clinical care. Given the dearth of available apps and the lack of functionality with those that are available, there is a need for further development of mobile apps for HAI prevention at the point of care. Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of spatial organization on a novel auxotrophic interaction among soil microbes

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Xue; ZerfaB, Christian; Feng, Song; ...

2018-03-23

Here, a key prerequisite to achieve a deeper understanding of microbial communities and to engineer synthetic ones is to identify the individual metabolic interactions among key species and how these interactions are affected by different environmental factors. Deciphering the physiological basis of species–species and species–environment interactions in spatially organized environments requires reductionist approaches using ecologically and functionally relevant species. To this end, we focus here on a defined system to study the metabolic interactions in a spatial context among the plant-beneficial endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, and the soil-dwelling model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Focusing on the growth dynamics of S. indicamore » under defined conditions, we identified an auxotrophy in this organism for thiamine, which is a key co-factor for essential reactions in the central carbon metabolism. We found that S. indica growth is restored in thiamine-free media, when co-cultured with B. subtilis. The success of this auxotrophic interaction, however, was dependent on the spatial and temporal organization of the system; the beneficial impact of B. subtilis was only visible when its inoculation was separated from that of S. indica either in time or space. These findings describe a key auxotrophic interaction in the soil among organisms that are shown to be important for plant ecosystem functioning, and point to the potential importance of spatial and temporal organization for the success of auxotrophic interactions. These points can be particularly important for engineering of minimal functional synthetic communities as plant seed treatments and for vertical farming under defined conditions.« less

Impact of spatial organization on a novel auxotrophic interaction among soil microbes.

PubMed

Jiang, Xue; Zerfaß, Christian; Feng, Song; Eichmann, Ruth; Asally, Munehiro; Schäfer, Patrick; Soyer, Orkun S

2018-06-01

A key prerequisite to achieve a deeper understanding of microbial communities and to engineer synthetic ones is to identify the individual metabolic interactions among key species and how these interactions are affected by different environmental factors. Deciphering the physiological basis of species-species and species-environment interactions in spatially organized environments requires reductionist approaches using ecologically and functionally relevant species. To this end, we focus here on a defined system to study the metabolic interactions in a spatial context among the plant-beneficial endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, and the soil-dwelling model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Focusing on the growth dynamics of S. indica under defined conditions, we identified an auxotrophy in this organism for thiamine, which is a key co-factor for essential reactions in the central carbon metabolism. We found that S. indica growth is restored in thiamine-free media, when co-cultured with B. subtilis. The success of this auxotrophic interaction, however, was dependent on the spatial and temporal organization of the system; the beneficial impact of B. subtilis was only visible when its inoculation was separated from that of S. indica either in time or space. These findings describe a key auxotrophic interaction in the soil among organisms that are shown to be important for plant ecosystem functioning, and point to the potential importance of spatial and temporal organization for the success of auxotrophic interactions. These points can be particularly important for engineering of minimal functional synthetic communities as plant seed treatments and for vertical farming under defined conditions.

Impact of spatial organization on a novel auxotrophic interaction among soil microbes

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

Jiang, Xue; ZerfaB, Christian; Feng, Song

Here, a key prerequisite to achieve a deeper understanding of microbial communities and to engineer synthetic ones is to identify the individual metabolic interactions among key species and how these interactions are affected by different environmental factors. Deciphering the physiological basis of species–species and species–environment interactions in spatially organized environments requires reductionist approaches using ecologically and functionally relevant species. To this end, we focus here on a defined system to study the metabolic interactions in a spatial context among the plant-beneficial endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, and the soil-dwelling model bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Focusing on the growth dynamics of S. indicamore » under defined conditions, we identified an auxotrophy in this organism for thiamine, which is a key co-factor for essential reactions in the central carbon metabolism. We found that S. indica growth is restored in thiamine-free media, when co-cultured with B. subtilis. The success of this auxotrophic interaction, however, was dependent on the spatial and temporal organization of the system; the beneficial impact of B. subtilis was only visible when its inoculation was separated from that of S. indica either in time or space. These findings describe a key auxotrophic interaction in the soil among organisms that are shown to be important for plant ecosystem functioning, and point to the potential importance of spatial and temporal organization for the success of auxotrophic interactions. These points can be particularly important for engineering of minimal functional synthetic communities as plant seed treatments and for vertical farming under defined conditions.« less

Adapted cuing technique: facilitating sequential phoneme production.

PubMed

Klick, S L

1994-09-01

ACT is a visual cuing technique designed to facilitate dyspraxic speech by highlighting the sequential production of phonemes. In using ACT, cues are presented in such a way as to suggest sequential, coarticulatory movement in an overall pattern of motion. While using ACT, the facilitator's hand moves forward and back along the side of her (or his) own face. Finger movements signal specific speech sounds in formations loosely based on the manual alphabet for the hearing impaired. The best movements suggest the flowing, interactive nature of coarticulated phonemes. The synergistic nature of speech is suggested by coordinated hand motions which tighten and relax, move quickly or slowly, reflecting the motions of the vocal tract at various points during production of phonemic sequences. General principles involved in using ACT include a primary focus on speech-in-motion, the monitoring and fading of cues, and the presentation of stimuli based on motor-task analysis of phonemic sequences. Phonemic sequences are cued along three dimensions: place, manner, and vowel-related mandibular motion. Cuing vowels is a central feature of ACT. Two parameters of vowel production, focal point of resonance and mandibular closure, are cued. The facilitator's hand motions reflect the changing shape of the vocal tract and the trajectory of the tongue that result from the coarticulation of vowels and consonants. Rigid presentation of the phonemes is secondary to the facilitator's primary focus on presenting the overall sequential movement. The facilitator's goal is to self-tailor ACT in response to the changing needs and abilities of the client.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer focus-aid enhanced mask

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick

2000-01-01

A phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer system (PS/PDI) employing a PS/PDI mask that includes a PDI focus aid is provided. The PDI focus aid mask includes a large or secondary reference pinhole that is slightly displaced from the true or primary reference pinhole. The secondary pinhole provides a larger capture tolerance for interferometrically performing fine focus. With the focus-aid enhanced mask, conventional methods such as the knife-edge test can be used to perform an initial (or rough) focus and the secondary (large) pinhole is used to perform interferometric fine focus. Once the system is well focused, high accuracy interferometry can be performed using the primary (small) pinhole.

Do learning collaboratives strengthen communication? A comparison of organizational team communication networks over time.

PubMed

Bunger, Alicia C; Lengnick-Hall, Rebecca

Collaborative learning models were designed to support quality improvements, such as innovation implementation by promoting communication within organizational teams. Yet the effect of collaborative learning approaches on organizational team communication during implementation is untested. The aim of this study was to explore change in communication patterns within teams from children's mental health organizations during a year-long learning collaborative focused on implementing a new treatment. We adopt a social network perspective to examine intraorganizational communication within each team and assess change in (a) the frequency of communication among team members, (b) communication across organizational hierarchies, and (c) the overall structure of team communication networks. A pretest-posttest design compared communication among 135 participants from 21 organizational teams at the start and end of a learning collaborative. At both time points, participants were asked to list the members of their team and rate the frequency of communication with each along a 7-point Likert scale. Several individual, pair-wise, and team level communication network metrics were calculated and compared over time. At the individual level, participants reported communicating with more team members by the end of the learning collaborative. Cross-hierarchical communication did not change. At the team level, these changes manifested differently depending on team size. In large teams, communication frequency increased, and networks grew denser and slightly less centralized. In small teams, communication frequency declined, growing more sparse and centralized. Results suggest that team communication patterns change minimally but evolve differently depending on size. Learning collaboratives may be more helpful for enhancing communication among larger teams; thus, managers might consider selecting and sending larger staff teams to learning collaboratives. This study highlights key future research directions that can disentangle the relationship between learning collaboratives and team networks.

General practitioners uses and perceptions of voluntary electronic feedback on treatment outcomes - a qualitative study.

PubMed

Lippert, Maria Laura; Kousgaard, Marius Brostrøm; Bjerrum, Lars

2014-11-30

Currently, there is a strong focus on the diffusion and implementation of indicator-based technologies for assessing and improving the quality of care in general practice. The aim of this study was to explore how and for what purposes indicator-based feedback is used by the general practitioners (GPs) and how they perceive it to contribute to their work. Qualitative interviews with nine GPs in two regions in Denmark. The main selection criterion was that the informants had experience with retrieving electronic feedback. The data generation was explorative and open-ended and the analysis took an iterative approach with continuous refinement of themes that emerged from the data. The study identified two main uses of feedback: i) Administration of a regular disease control schedule for patients with chronic disease and ii) Routine monitoring of outcomes for purposes of resource prioritisation and medication management. Both uses were deemed valuable by the GPs, but also as an additional extra to the clinical core task. All the GPs experienced the feedback to be of limited relevance to the most central and challenging aspects of clinical work understood as the care for individuals. This led to different reactions: Some GPs would use the feedback as a point of departure for broader deliberations about individual patient needs and treatment approaches. For others, the perceived limitations decreased their overall motivation to seek feedback. The study points to the importance of clarifying limitations as well as possibilities with respect to different aspects of clinical quality when introducing indicator-based technologies to practitioners. The results also emphasize that an indicator-based approach to quality improvement should not stand alone in general practice since some of the most central and challenging aspects of clinical work are not covered by this approach.

Orthodontic intrusion of maxillary incisors: a 3D finite element method study

PubMed Central

Saga, Armando Yukio; Maruo, Hiroshi; Argenta, Marco André; Maruo, Ivan Toshio; Tanaka, Orlando Motohiro

2016-01-01

Objective: In orthodontic treatment, intrusion movement of maxillary incisors is often necessary. Therefore, the objective of this investigation is to evaluate the initial distribution patterns and magnitude of compressive stress in the periodontal ligament (PDL) in a simulation of orthodontic intrusion of maxillary incisors, considering the points of force application. Methods: Anatomic 3D models reconstructed from cone-beam computed tomography scans were used to simulate maxillary incisors intrusion loading. The points of force application selected were: centered between central incisors brackets (LOAD 1); bilaterally between the brackets of central and lateral incisors (LOAD 2); bilaterally distal to the brackets of lateral incisors (LOAD 3); bilaterally 7 mm distal to the center of brackets of lateral incisors (LOAD 4). Results and Conclusions: Stress concentrated at the PDL apex region, irrespective of the point of orthodontic force application. The four load models showed distinct contour plots and compressive stress values over the midsagittal reference line. The contour plots of central and lateral incisors were not similar in the same load model. LOAD 3 resulted in more balanced compressive stress distribution. PMID:27007765

A fast learning method for large scale and multi-class samples of SVM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Yu; Guo, Huiming

2017-06-01

A multi-class classification SVM(Support Vector Machine) fast learning method based on binary tree is presented to solve its low learning efficiency when SVM processing large scale multi-class samples. This paper adopts bottom-up method to set up binary tree hierarchy structure, according to achieved hierarchy structure, sub-classifier learns from corresponding samples of each node. During the learning, several class clusters are generated after the first clustering of the training samples. Firstly, central points are extracted from those class clusters which just have one type of samples. For those which have two types of samples, cluster numbers of their positive and negative samples are set respectively according to their mixture degree, secondary clustering undertaken afterwards, after which, central points are extracted from achieved sub-class clusters. By learning from the reduced samples formed by the integration of extracted central points above, sub-classifiers are obtained. Simulation experiment shows that, this fast learning method, which is based on multi-level clustering, can guarantee higher classification accuracy, greatly reduce sample numbers and effectively improve learning efficiency.

Ethanol and corticotropin releasing factor receptor modulation of central amygdala neurocircuitry: An update and future directions.

PubMed

Silberman, Yuval; Winder, Danny G

2015-05-01

The central amygdala is a critical brain region for many aspects of alcohol dependence. Much of the work examining the mechanisms by which the central amygdala mediates the development of alcohol dependence has focused on the interaction of acute and chronic ethanol with central amygdala corticotropin releasing factor signaling. This work has led to a great deal of success in furthering the general understanding of central amygdala neurocircuitry and its role in alcohol dependence. Much of this work has primarily focused on the hypothesis that ethanol utilizes endogenous corticotropin releasing factor signaling to upregulate inhibitory GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala. Work that is more recent suggests that corticotropin releasing factor also plays an important role in mediating anxiety-like behaviors via the enhancement of central amygdala glutamatergic transmission, implying that ethanol/corticotropin releasing factor interactions may modulate excitatory neurotransmission in this brain region. In addition, a number of studies utilizing optogenetic strategies or transgenic mouse lines have begun to examine specific central amygdala neurocircuit dynamics and neuronal subpopulations to better understand overall central amygdala neurocircuitry and the role of neuronal subtypes in mediating anxiety-like behaviors. This review will provide a brief update on this literature and describe some potential future directions that may be important for the development of better treatments for alcohol addiction. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimization of Focusing by Strip and Pixel Arrays

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

Burke, G J; White, D A; Thompson, C A

Professor Kevin Webb and students at Purdue University have demonstrated the design of conducting strip and pixel arrays for focusing electromagnetic waves [1, 2]. Their key point was to design structures to focus waves in the near field using full wave modeling and optimization methods for design. Their designs included arrays of conducting strips optimized with a downhill search algorithm and arrays of conducting and dielectric pixels optimized with the iterative direct binary search method. They used a finite element code for modeling. This report documents our attempts to duplicate and verify their results. We have modeled 2D conducting stripsmore » and both conducting and dielectric pixel arrays with moment method and FDTD codes to compare with Webb's results. New designs for strip arrays were developed with optimization by the downhill simplex method with simulated annealing. Strip arrays were optimized to focus an incident plane wave at a point or at two separated points and to switch between focusing points with a change in frequency. We also tried putting a line current source at the focus point for the plane wave to see how it would work as a directive antenna. We have not tried optimizing the conducting or dielectric pixel arrays, but modeled the structures designed by Webb with the moment method and FDTD to compare with the Purdue results.« less

Ambulatory Pulse Wave Velocity Is a Stronger Predictor of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality Than Office and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Hemodialysis Patients.

PubMed

Sarafidis, Pantelis A; Loutradis, Charalampos; Karpetas, Antonios; Tzanis, Georgios; Piperidou, Alexia; Koutroumpas, Georgios; Raptis, Vasilios; Syrgkanis, Christos; Liakopoulos, Vasilios; Efstratiadis, Georgios; London, Gérard; Zoccali, Carmine

2017-07-01

Arterial stiffness and augmentation of aortic blood pressure (BP) measured in office are known cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients. This study examines the prognostic significance of ambulatory brachial BP, central BP, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and heart rate-adjusted augmentation index [AIx(75)] in this population. A total of 170 hemodialysis patients underwent 48-hour ambulatory monitoring with Mobil-O-Graph-NG during a standard interdialytic interval and followed-up for 28.1±11.2 months. The primary end point was a combination of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. Secondary end points included: (1) all-cause mortality; (2) cardiovascular mortality; and (3) a combination of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, resuscitation after cardiac arrest, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for heart failure. During follow-up, 37(21.8%) patients died and 46(27.1%) had cardiovascular events. Cumulative freedom from primary end point was similar for quartiles of predialysis-systolic BP (SBP), 48-hour peripheral-SBP, and central-SBP, but was progressively longer for increasing quartiles for 48-hour peripheral-diastolic BP and central-diastolic BP and shorter for increasing quartiles of 48-hour central pulse pressure (83.7%, 71.4%, 69.0%, 62.8% [log-rank P =0.024]), PWV (93.0%, 81.0%, 57.1%, 55.8% [log-rank P <0.001]), and AIx(75) (88.4%, 66.7%, 69.0%, 62.8% [log-rank P =0.014]). The hazard ratios for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and the combined outcome were similar for quartiles of predialysis-SBP, 48-hour peripheral-SBP, and central-SBP, but were increasing with higher ambulatory PWV and AIx(75). In multivariate analysis, 48-hour PWV was the only vascular parameter independently associated with the primary end point (hazard ratios, 1.579; 95% confidence intervals, 1.187-2.102). Ambulatory PWV, AIx(75), and central pulse pressure are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, whereas office and ambulatory SBP are not. These findings further support that arterial stiffness is the prominent cardiovascular risk factor in hemodialysis. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

New pediatric vision screener, part II: electronics, software, signal processing and validation.

PubMed

Gramatikov, Boris I; Irsch, Kristina; Wu, Yi-Kai; Guyton, David L

2016-02-04

We have developed an improved pediatric vision screener (PVS) that can reliably detect central fixation, eye alignment and focus. The instrument identifies risk factors for amblyopia, namely eye misalignment and defocus. The device uses the birefringence of the human fovea (the most sensitive part of the retina). The optics have been reported in more detail previously. The present article focuses on the electronics and the analysis algorithms used. The objective of this study was to optimize the analog design, data acquisition, noise suppression techniques, the classification algorithms and the decision making thresholds, as well as to validate the performance of the research instrument on an initial group of young test subjects-18 patients with known vision abnormalities (eight male and 10 female), ages 4-25 (only one above 18) and 19 controls with proven lack of vision issues. Four statistical methods were used to derive decision making thresholds that would best separate patients with abnormalities from controls. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each method, and the most suitable one was selected. Both the central fixation and the focus detection criteria worked robustly and allowed reliable separation between normal test subjects and symptomatic subjects. The sensitivity of the instrument was 100 % for both central fixation and focus detection. The specificity was 100 % for central fixation and 89.5 % for focus detection. The overall sensitivity was 100 % and the overall specificity was 94.7 %. Despite the relatively small initial sample size, we believe that the PVS instrument design, the analysis methods employed, and the device as a whole, will prove valuable for mass screening of children.

Swiftly moving focus points and forming shapes through the scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Vinh; Sahoo, Sujit Kumar; Tang, Dongliang; Dang, Cuong

2018-02-01

Propagation of light through scattering media such as ground glass or biological tissue limits the quality and intensity of focusing point. Wave front shaping technique which uses spatial light modulator (SLM) devices to reshape the field profile of incoming light, is considered as one of the most effective and convenient methods. Advanced biomedical or manufacturing applications require drawing various contours or shapes quickly and precisely. However, creating each shape behind the scattering medium needs different phase profiles, which are time consuming to optimize or measure. Here, we demonstrate a technique to draw various shapes or contours behind the scattering medium by swiftly moving the focus point without any mechanical movements. Our technique relies on the existence of speckle correlation property in scattering media, also known as optical memory effect. In our procedure, we first modulate the phase-only SLM to create the focus point on the other side of scattering medium. Then, we digitally shift the preoptimized phase profile on the SLM and ramp it to tilt the beam accordingly. Now, the incoming beam with identical phase profile shines on the same scattering region at a tilted angle to regenerate the focus point at the desired position due to memory effect. Moreover, with linear combination of different field patterns, we can generate a single phase profile on SLM to produce two, three or more focus points simultaneously on the other side of a turbid medium. Our method could provide a useful tool for prominent applications such as opto-genetic excitation, minimally invasive laser surgery and other related fields.

Fine Guidance Sensing for Coronagraphic Observatories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brugarolas, Paul; Alexander, James W.; Trauger, John T.; Moody, Dwight C.

2011-01-01

Three options have been developed for Fine Guidance Sensing (FGS) for coronagraphic observatories using a Fine Guidance Camera within a coronagraphic instrument. Coronagraphic observatories require very fine precision pointing in order to image faint objects at very small distances from a target star. The Fine Guidance Camera measures the direction to the target star. The first option, referred to as Spot, was to collect all of the light reflected from a coronagraph occulter onto a focal plane, producing an Airy-type point spread function (PSF). This would allow almost all of the starlight from the central star to be used for centroiding. The second approach, referred to as Punctured Disk, collects the light that bypasses a central obscuration, producing a PSF with a punctured central disk. The final approach, referred to as Lyot, collects light after passing through the occulter at the Lyot stop. The study includes generation of representative images for each option by the science team, followed by an engineering evaluation of a centroiding or a photometric algorithm for each option. After the alignment of the coronagraph to the fine guidance system, a "nulling" point on the FGS focal point is determined by calibration. This alignment is implemented by a fine alignment mechanism that is part of the fine guidance camera selection mirror. If the star images meet the modeling assumptions, and the star "centroid" can be driven to that nulling point, the contrast for the coronagraph will be maximized.

Comparison of Travel-Time and Amplitude Measurements for Deep-Focusing Time-Distance Helioseismology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pourabdian, Majid; Fournier, Damien; Gizon, Laurent

2018-04-01

The purpose of deep-focusing time-distance helioseismology is to construct seismic measurements that have a high sensitivity to the physical conditions at a desired target point in the solar interior. With this technique, pairs of points on the solar surface are chosen such that acoustic ray paths intersect at this target (focus) point. Considering acoustic waves in a homogeneous medium, we compare travel-time and amplitude measurements extracted from the deep-focusing cross-covariance functions. Using a single-scattering approximation, we find that the spatial sensitivity of deep-focusing travel times to sound-speed perturbations is zero at the target location and maximum in a surrounding shell. This is unlike the deep-focusing amplitude measurements, which have maximum sensitivity at the target point. We compare the signal-to-noise ratio for travel-time and amplitude measurements for different types of sound-speed perturbations, under the assumption that noise is solely due to the random excitation of the waves. We find that, for highly localized perturbations in sound speed, the signal-to-noise ratio is higher for amplitude measurements than for travel-time measurements. We conclude that amplitude measurements are a useful complement to travel-time measurements in time-distance helioseismology.

[Efficiency of high-volume hemofiltration in patients with severe sepsis and intracranial hypertension].

PubMed

Musaeva, T S; Berdnikov, A P; Goncharenko, S I; Denisova, E A

2014-01-01

We performed a retrospective study in 68 patients (144 procedures) with severe sepsis and intracranial hypertension measured by the pressure in the central retinal vein. The patients underwent high-volume hemofiltration (HV-HF) for extrarenal indications. Increased pressure in the central retinal vein was accompanied by critical points of cerebral perfusion pressure and the growth of neurological deficit with inhibition level of consciousness to coma 1. In this case, IHV-HF may be associated with the formation of the critical points of cerebral perfihsion and severe disorders of microcirculation and the lack of resolution of tissue hypoperfusion. In case of intracranial hypertension IHV-HF is not effective in the category of patients where there is a combination ΔpCO2 > 5.9 mm Hg level and GCS <10 points.

Central neuropathic pain in MS is due to distinct thoracic spinal cord lesions.

PubMed

Okuda, Darin T; Melmed, Kara; Matsuwaki, Takashi; Blomqvist, Anders; Craig, Arthur D Bud

2014-08-01

To determine a neuro-anatomic cause for central neuropathic pain (CNP) observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Parallel clinical and neuro-anatomical studies were performed. A clinical investigation of consecutively acquired MS patients with and without CNP (i.e. cold allodynia or deep hyperesthesia) within a single MS center was pursued. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between an upper central thoracic spinal cord focus to central pain complaints. To identify the hypothesized autonomic interneurons with bilateral descending projections to lumbosacral sensory neurons, retrograde single- and double-labeling experiments with CTb and fluorescent tracers were performed in three animal species (i.e. rat, cat, and monkey). Clinical data were available in MS patients with (n = 32; F:23; median age: 34.6 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 27.4-45.5)) and without (n = 30; F:22; median age: 36.6 years [IQR: 31.6-47.1]) CNP. The value of a central focus between T1-T6 in relation to CNP demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.8-99.9) and specificity of 83.3% (95% CI: 65.3-94.4). A significant relationship between CNP and a centrally located focus within the thoracic spine was also observed (odds ratio [OR]: 155.0 [95% CI lower limit: 16.0]; P < 0.0001, two-tailed Fisher exact test). In all animal models, neurons with bilateral descending projections to the lumbosacral superficial dorsal horn were concentrated in the autonomic intermediomedial nucleus surrounding the mid-thoracic central canal. Our observations provide the first evidence for the etiology of CNP. These data may assist with the development of refined symptomatic therapies and allow for insights into unique pain syndromes observed in other demyelinating subtypes.

The Central Coherence Account of Autism Revisited: Evidence from the ComFor Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noens, Ilse L. J.; van Berckelaer-Onnes, Ina A.

2008-01-01

According to the central coherence account, people with autism have a tendency to focus on local rather than global processing. However, there is considerable controversy about the locus of the weak drive for central coherence. Some studies support enhanced bottom-up processing, whereas others claim reduced top-down feedback. The results of the…

Education and Social Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halász, Gábor

2015-01-01

This article evaluates the outcomes of the efforts of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to make their education systems more effective in enhancing broader social and economic goals. It focuses on those 11 Central and Eastern European countries which became members of the EU in 2004 or following this date. First, it presents a short…

Psychoanalysis and the brain - why did freud abandon neuroscience?

PubMed

Northoff, Georg

2012-01-01

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was initially a neuroscientist but abandoned neuroscience completely after he made a last attempt to link both in his writing, "Project of a Scientific Psychology," in 1895. The reasons for his subsequent disregard of the brain remain unclear though. I here argue that one central reason may be that the approach to the brain during his time was simply not appealing to Freud. More specifically, Freud was interested in revealing the psychological predispositions of psychodynamic processes. However, he was not so much focused on the actual psychological functions themselves which though were the prime focus of the neuroscience at his time and also in current Cognitive Neuroscience. Instead, he probably would have been more interested in the brain's resting state and its constitution of a spatiotemporal structure. I here assume that the resting state activity constitutes a statistically based virtual structure extending and linking the different discrete points in time and space within the brain. That in turn may serve as template, schemata, or grid for all subsequent neural processing during stimulus-induced activity. As such the resting state' spatiotemporal structure may serve as the neural predisposition of what Freud described as "psychological structure." Hence, Freud and also current neuropsychoanalysis may want to focus more on neural predispositions, the necessary non-sufficient conditions, rather than the neural correlates, i.e., sufficient, conditions of psychodynamic processes.

A note on a boundary sine-Gordon model at the free-Fermion point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murgan, Rajan

2018-02-01

We investigate the free-Fermion point of a boundary sine-Gordon model with nondiagonal boundary interactions for the ground state using auxiliary functions obtained from T  -  Q equations of a corresponding inhomogeneous open spin-\\frac{1}{2} XXZ chain with nondiagonal boundary terms. In particular, we obtain the Casimir energy. Our result for the Casimir energy is shown to agree with the result from the TBA approach. The analytical result for the effective central charge in the ultraviolet (UV) limit is also verified from the plots of effective central charge for intermediate values of volume.

Multipurpose Arcade Combat Simulator (MACS) Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-10-01

that shooters are aiming at the center of mass of each target to the best of their abilities. It then computes the central point of the three-round shot...group, measures the distance between this central point and the actual center of the target, and uses this distance as a constant offset value, which...WAE LIto, SIT 3 CLA HO CHANGE 151100 CM? $111 ,10-Im6%AAG ISE LEST30 IF$ SCREEN OCO ias NEXT 2 syltJ4 NSK L91T1)S Olt ?ILA ,r6 SORDERA COLo0 410 Ltx7 2

High Power Hydrogen Injector with Beam Focusing for Plasma Heating

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

Deichuli, P.P.; Ivanov, A.A.; Korepanov, S.A.

2005-01-15

High power neutral beam injector has been developed with the atom energy of 25 keV, a current of 60 A, and several milliseconds pulse duration. Six of these injectors will be used for upgrade of the atomic injection system at central cell of a Gas Dynamic Trap (GDT) device and 2 injectors are planned for SHIP experiment.The injector ion source is based on an arc discharge plasma box. The plasma emitter is produced by a 1 kA arc discharge in hydrogen. A multipole magnetic field produced with permanent magnets at the periphery of the plasma box is used to increasemore » its efficiency and improve homogeneity of the plasma emitter. The ion beam is extracted by a 4-electrodes ion optical system (IOS). Initial beam diameter is 200 mm. The grids of the IOS have a spherical curvature for geometrical focusing of the beam. The optimal IOS geometry and grid potentials were found with the numerical simulation to provide precise beam formation. The measured angular divergence of the beam is 0.02 rad, which corresponds to the 2.5 cm Gaussian radius of the beam profile measured at focal point.« less

Learning to doctor: tinkering with visibility in residency training.

PubMed

Wallenburg, Iris; Bont, Antoinette; Heineman, Maas-Jan; Scheele, Fedde; Meurs, Pauline

2013-05-01

Medical doctors in teaching hospitals aim to serve the two central goals of patient care and medical training. Whereas patient care asks for experience, expertise and close supervision, medical training requires space to practise and the 'invisibility' of medical residents. Yet current reforms in postgraduate medical training point to an increasing emphasis on the measurable visibility of residents. Drawing on an ethnographic study of gynaecology training in The Netherlands, this article demonstrates that in daily clinical routines multiple practices of residents' visibility (visibilities) coexist. The article lists four visibilities: staging residents, negotiating supervision, playing the invisibility game and filming surgical operations. The article shows how attending physicians and medical residents tinker with these visibilities in daily clinical work to provide good care while enacting learning space, highlighting the increasing importance of visualising technologies in clinical work. Moreover, the article contributes to traditional sociological accounts on medical education, shifting the focus from medical education as a social institution to the practices of medical training itself. Such a focus on practice helps to gain an understanding of how the current reform challenges clinicians' educational activities. © 2012 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness © 2012 Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Adaptive Focusing For Ultrasonic Transcranial Brain Therapy: First In Vivo Investigation On 22 Sheep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pernot, Mathieu; Aubry, Jean-François; Tanter, Mickael; Boch, Anne Laure; Kujas, Michelle; Fink, Mathias

2005-03-01

A high power prototype dedicated to trans-skull therapy has been tested in vivo on 22 sheep. The array is made of 300 high power transducers working at 1MHz central frequency and is able to achieve 400 bars at focus in water during five seconds with a 50% percent duty cycle. In the first series of experiments, 10 sheep were treated and sacrificed immediately after treatment. A complete craniotomy was performed on half of the treated animal models in order to get a reference model. On the other half, minimally invasive surgery has been performed: a hydrophone was inserted at a given target location inside the brain through a craniotomy of a few mm2. A time reversal experiment was then conducted through the skull bone with the therapeutic array to treat the targeted point. Thanks to the high power technology of the prototype, trans-skull adaptive treatment could be achieved. In a second series of experiments, 12 animals were divided into three groups and sacrificed respectively one, two or three weeks after treatment. Finally, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and histological examination were performed to confirm tissue damage.

Ultrasonic brain therapy: First trans-skull in vivo experiments on sheep using adaptive focusing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pernot, Mathieu; Aubry, Jean-Francois; Tanter, Michael; Fink, Mathias; Boch, Anne-Laure; Kujas, Michèle

2004-05-01

A high-power prototype dedicated to trans-skull therapy has been tested in vivo on 20 sheep. The array is made of 200 high-power transducers working at 1-MHz central and is able to reach 260 bars at focus in water. An echographic array connected to a Philips HDI 1000 system has been inserted in the therapeutic array in order to perform real-time monitoring of the treatment. A complete craniotomy has been performed on half of the treated animal models in order to get a reference model. On the other animals, a minimally invasive surgery has been performed thanks to a time-reversal experiment: a hydrophone was inserted at the target inside the brain thanks to a 1-mm2 craniotomy. A time-reversal experiment was then conducted through the skull bone with the therapeutic array to treat the targeted point. For all the animals a specified region around the target was treated thanks to electronic beam steering. Animals were finally divided into three groups and sacrificed, respectively, 0, 1, and 2 weeks after treatment. Finally, histological examination confirmed tissue damage. These in vivo experiments highlight the strong potential of high-power time-reversal technology.

Neurotoxic effects of gasoline and gasoline constituents.

PubMed Central

Burbacher, T M

1993-01-01

This overview was developed as part of a symposium on noncancer end points of gasoline and key gasoline components. The specific components included are methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary amyl methyl ether, butadiene, benzene, xylene, toluene, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol. The overview focuses on neurotoxic effects related to chronic low-level exposures. A few general conclusions and recommendations can be made based on the results of the studies to date. a) All the compounds reviewed are neuroactive and, as such, should be examined for their neurotoxicity. b) For most of the compounds, there is a substantial margin of safety between the current permissible exposure levels and levels that would be expected to cause overt signs of neurotoxicity in humans. This is not the case for xylene, toluene, and methanol, however, where neurologic effects are observed at or below the current Threshold Limit Value. c) For most of the compounds, the relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle neurotoxic effects has not been studied. Studies therefore should focus on examining the dose-response relationship between chronic low-level exposure and subtle changes in central nervous system function. PMID:8020437

A Heideggerian defense of therapeutic cloning.

PubMed

Svenaeus, Fredrik

2007-01-01

Debates about the legitimacy of embryonic stem-cell research have largely focused on the type of ethical value that should be accorded to the human embryo in vitro. In this paper, I try to show that, to broaden the scope of these debates, one needs to articulate an ontology that does not limit itself to biological accounts, but that instead focuses on the embryo's place in a totality of relevance surrounding and guiding a human practice. Instead of attempting to substantiate the ethical value of the embryo exclusively by pointing out that it has potentiality for personhood, one should examine the types of practices in which the embryo occurs and focus on the ends inherent to these practices. With this emphasis on context, it becomes apparent that the embryo's ethical significance can only be understood by elucidating the attitudes that are established towards it in the course of specific activities. The distinction between fertilized embryos and cloned embryos proves to be important in this contextual analysis, since, from the point of view of practice, the two types of embryos appear to belong to different human practices: (assisted) procreation and medical research, respectively. In my arguments, I highlight the concepts of practice, technology, and nature, as they have been analyzed in the phenomenological tradition, particularly by Martin Heidegger. I come to the conclusion that therapeutic cloning should be allowed, provided that it turns out to be a project that benefits medical science in its aim to battle diseases. Important precautions have to be taken, however, in order to safeguard the practice of procreation from becoming perverted by the aims and attitudes of medical science when the two practices intersect. The threat in question needs to be taken seriously, since it concerns the structure and goal of practices which are central to our very self understanding as human beings.

OCULUS SeaTM: integrated maritime surveillance platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanellopoulos, Sotirios A.; Katsoulis, Stavros; Motos, Dionysis; Lampropoulos, Vassilis; Margonis, Chris; Dimitros, Kostantinos; Thomopoulos, Stelios C. A.

2015-05-01

OCULUS Sea™ is a C2 platform for Integrated Maritime Surveillance. The platform consists of "loosely coupled" National/ Regional and Local C2 Centers which are "centrally governed". "Loosely coupled" as C2 Centers are located separately, share their Situational Pictures via a Message Oriented Middleware but preserve their administrational and operational autonomy. "Centrally governed" as there exists a central governance mechanism at the NCC that registers, authenticates and authorizes Regional and Local C2 centers into the OCULUS Sea network. From operational point of view, OCULUS Sea has been tested under realistic conditions during the PERSEUS [3] Eastern Campaign and has been positively evaluated by Coast Guard officers from Spain and Greece. From Research and Development point of view, OCULUS Sea can act as a test bed for validating any technology development is this domain in the near future.

Influence of voice focus on tongue movement in speech.

PubMed

Bressmann, Tim; de Boer, Gillian; Marino, Viviane Cristina de Castro; Fabron, Eliana Maria Gradim; Berti, Larissa Cristina

2017-01-01

The present study evaluated global aspects of lingual movement during sentence production with backward and forward voice focus. Nine female participants read a sentence with a variety of consonants in a normal condition and with backward and forward voice focus. Midsagittal tongue movement was recorded with ultrasound. Tongue height over time at an anterior, a central, and a posterior measurement angle was measured. The outcome measures were speech rate, cumulative distance travelled, and average movement speed of the tongue. There were no differences in speech rate between the different conditions. The cumulative distance travelled by the tongue and the average speed indicated that the posterior tongue travelled a smaller cumulative distance and at a slower speed in the forward focus condition. The central tongue moved a larger cumulative distance and at a higher speed in the backward focus condition. The study offers first insights on how tongue movement is affected by different voice focus settings and illustrates the plasticity of tongue movement in speech.

Automatic Monitoring of Tunnel Deformation Based on High Density Point Clouds Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, L.; Zhong, R.; Sun, H.; Wu, Q.

2017-09-01

An automated method for tunnel deformation monitoring using high density point clouds data is presented. Firstly, the 3D point clouds data are converted to two-dimensional surface by projection on the XOY plane, the projection point set of central axis on XOY plane named Uxoy is calculated by combining the Alpha Shape algorithm with RANSAC (Random Sampling Consistency) algorithm, and then the projection point set of central axis on YOZ plane named Uyoz is obtained by highest and lowest points which are extracted by intersecting straight lines that through each point of Uxoy and perpendicular to the two -dimensional surface with the tunnel point clouds, Uxoy and Uyoz together form the 3D center axis finally. Secondly, the buffer of each cross section is calculated by K-Nearest neighbor algorithm, and the initial cross-sectional point set is quickly constructed by projection method. Finally, the cross sections are denoised and the section lines are fitted using the method of iterative ellipse fitting. In order to improve the accuracy of the cross section, a fine adjustment method is proposed to rotate the initial sectional plane around the intercept point in the horizontal and vertical direction within the buffer. The proposed method is used in Shanghai subway tunnel, and the deformation of each section in the direction of 0 to 360 degrees is calculated. The result shows that the cross sections becomes flat circles from regular circles due to the great pressure at the top of the tunnel

27 CFR 9.79 - Lake Michigan Shore.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...) Starting at the most northern point, the intersection the Kalamazoo River with Lake Michigan. (2) Then southeast along the winding course of the Kalamazoo River for approximately 35 miles until it intersects the Penn Central railroad line just south of the City of Otsego. (3) Then south along the Penn Central...

The influence of central command on baroreflex resetting during exercise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raven, Peter B.; Fadel, Paul J.; Smith, Scott A.

2002-01-01

The arterial baroreflex functions as a negative feedback system regulating blood pressure around an established operating point. Paradoxically, a parallel increase in heart rate and blood pressure manifests during exercise. Experimental evidence suggests these events are caused, in part, by a rapid resetting of the baroreflex by central command.

The United States Strategic Bombing Surveys, (European War) (Pacific War)

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-10-01

traffic between the Ruhr and points on the north coast and in central Germany . By October 14, traffic on the Rhine had been interdicted by a bomb that...the National Load Dispatcher, and secret minutes of the Central Planning Committee . Fears that their extreme vulnerability would be discovered were...fighting and other defensive resources of surrounding communities and, as a final resort, on mobile reserves deployed by the central government through

Dynamic reflexivity in action: an armchair walkthrough of a qualitatively driven mixed-method and multiple methods study of mindfulness training in schoolchildren.

PubMed

Cheek, Julianne; Lipschitz, David L; Abrams, Elizabeth M; Vago, David R; Nakamura, Yoshio

2015-06-01

Dynamic reflexivity is central to enabling flexible and emergent qualitatively driven inductive mixed-method and multiple methods research designs. Yet too often, such reflexivity, and how it is used at various points of a study, is absent when we write our research reports. Instead, reports of mixed-method and multiple methods research focus on what was done rather than how it came to be done. This article seeks to redress this absence of emphasis on the reflexive thinking underpinning the way that mixed- and multiple methods, qualitatively driven research approaches are thought about and subsequently used throughout a project. Using Morse's notion of an armchair walkthrough, we excavate and explore the layers of decisions we made about how, and why, to use qualitatively driven mixed-method and multiple methods research in a study of mindfulness training (MT) in schoolchildren. © The Author(s) 2015.

The Nuka System of Care: improving health through ownership and relationships.

PubMed

Gottlieb, Katherine

2013-01-01

Southcentral Foundation's Nuka System of Care, based in Anchorage, Alaska, is a result of a customer-driven overhaul of what was previously a bureaucratic system centrally controlled by the Indian Health Service. Alaska Native people are in control as the "customer-owners" of this health care system. The vision and mission focus on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness and working together as a Native Community. Coupled with operational principles based on relationships, core concepts and key points, this framework has fostered an environment for creativity, innovation and continuous quality improvement. Alaska Native people have received national and international recognition for their work and have set high standards for performance excellence, community engagement, and overall impact on population health. In this article, the health care transformation led by Alaska Native people is described and the benefits and results of customer ownership and the relationship-based Nuka System of Care are discussed.

The Nuka System of Care: improving health through ownership and relationships

PubMed Central

Gottlieb, Katherine

2013-01-01

Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care, based in Anchorage, Alaska, is a result of a customer-driven overhaul of what was previously a bureaucratic system centrally controlled by the Indian Health Service. Alaska Native people are in control as the “customer-owners” of this health care system. The vision and mission focus on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness and working together as a Native Community. Coupled with operational principles based on relationships, core concepts and key points, this framework has fostered an environment for creativity, innovation and continuous quality improvement. Alaska Native people have received national and international recognition for their work and have set high standards for performance excellence, community engagement, and overall impact on population health. In this article, the health care transformation led by Alaska Native people is described and the benefits and results of customer ownership and the relationship-based Nuka System of Care are discussed. PMID:23984269

[Health education in Brazil: from Paulo Freire to today].

PubMed

Masselli, Maria Cecilia; Vieira, Carla Maria; Oliveira, Nayara L S; Smeke, Elizabeth L M

2013-01-01

This paper examines the experience of Brazil in the area of health education integrated in popular education movements. More specifically, the paper discusses the link between health education and popular education, focusing in particular on the work of Paulo Freire. Anti-slavery movements, protest movements against social inequalities and the reconstruction of democracy after the end of the military dictatorship (1965-1984) provided fertile ground for a dynamic process of change--a process illustrated by the creation of the Unified Health System. These developments occurred in a context of social change and unrest. Since then, other actors and other forms of action have emerged, though creativity and popular empowerment remain central to the process of change. However, in popular education, nothing is set in stone and new issues have emerged, as Paulo Freire had predicted. The point is to recognize that popular education applied to health, or rather integrating health, is constantly changing and developing.

The role of insulin receptor signaling in the brain.

PubMed

Plum, Leona; Schubert, Markus; Brüning, Jens C

2005-03-01

The insulin receptor (IR) is expressed in various regions of the developing and adult brain, and its functions have become the focus of recent research. Insulin enters the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood-brain barrier by receptor-mediated transport to regulate food intake, sympathetic activity and peripheral insulin action through the inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis and reproductive endocrinology. On a molecular level, some of the effects of insulin converge with those of the leptin signaling machinery at the point of activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), resulting in the regulation of ATP-dependent potassium channels. Furthermore, insulin inhibits neuronal apoptosis via activation of protein kinase B in vitro, and it regulates phosphorylation of tau, metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein and clearance of beta-amyloid from the brain in vivo. These findings indicate that neuronal IR signaling has a direct role in the link between energy homeostasis, reproduction and the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

A Conceptual framework of Strategy, Structure and Innovative Behaviour for the Development of a Dynamic Simulation Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konstantopoulos, Nikolaos; Trivellas, Panagiotis; Reklitis, Panagiotis

2007-12-01

According to many researchers of organizational theory, a great number of problems encountered by the manufacturing firms are due to their failure to foster innovative behaviour by aligning business strategy and structure. From this point of view, the fit between strategy and structure is essential in order to facilitate firms' innovative behaviour. In the present paper, we adopt Porter's typology to operationalise business strategy (cost leadership, innovative and marketing differentiation, and focus). Organizational structure is built on four dimensions (centralization, formalization, complexity and employees' initiatives to implement new ideas). Innovativeness is measured as product innovation, process and technological innovation. This study provides the necessary theoretical framework for the development of a dynamic simulation method, although the simulation of social events is a quite difficult task, considering that there are so many alternatives (not all well understood).

Volusia Blue Spring - A Hydrological Treasure

USGS Publications Warehouse

German, Edward R.

2008-01-01

Springs are natural openings in the ground through which water beneath the surface discharges into hydrologic features such as lakes, rivers, or the ocean. The beautiful springs and spring rivers are among Florida's most valued natural resources; their gemlike refreshing waters have been a focal point of life from prehistoric times to the present (2008). The steady flow of freshwater at a nearly constant water temperature attracted animals now long absent from Florida's landscape. Fossil remains and human artifacts, discovered by divers from many spring runs, attest to the importance of springs to the State's earliest inhabitants. Explorers of Florida, from Ponce de Leon to John and William Bartram and others, often mentioned the springs that were scattered across central and northern Florida. As colonists and settlers began to inhabit Florida, springs continued to be the focus of human activity, becoming sites of missions, towns, and steamboat landings.

[Role of vitamin D in allergic diseases: Current research status].

PubMed

Sperl, A; Klimek, L

2015-05-01

Recent research has focused on the relationship between vitamin D and allergy development. Results show that on the one hand a vitamin D deficiency can be responsible for the emergence of allergies, however, on the other hand a vitamin-D (over-) substitution was also seen in context with an increased allergy development. This article provides an overview on the current state of research and points at the problematic aspects that accompany the assessment of these studies. The paradoxic effect of vitamin D is currently being explained by epigenetic programming in pregnancy, by too low vitamin-D levels or excessive supplementation in newborns. Very recently, a gender-specific impact of vitamin D is also being discussed. For a final assessment of vitamin-D effects on the emergence of allergies, further research is necessary. Due to a high level of heterogeneity among current observational studies regarding central aspects of the discussion, randomised clinical trials are recommended.

Ceramide induced mitophagy and tumor suppression

PubMed Central

Dany, Mohammed; Ogretmen, Besim

2015-01-01

Sphingolipids are bioactive lipid effectors, which are involved in the regulation of various cellular signaling pathways. Sphingolipids play essential roles in controlling cell inflammation, proliferation, death, migration, senescence, metastasis and autophagy. Alterations in sphingolipid metabolism has been also implicated in many human cancers. Macroautophagy (referred to here as autophagy) is a form of nonselective sequestering of cytosolic materials by double membrane structures, autophagosomes, which can be either protective or lethal for cells. Ceramide, a central molecule of sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the regulation of autophagy at various levels, including the induction of lethal mitophagy, a selective autophagy process to target and eliminate damaged mitochondria. In this review, we focused on recent studies with regard to the regulation of autophagy, in particular lethal mitophagy, by ceramide, and aimed at providing discussion points for various context-dependent roles and mechanisms of action of ceramide in controlling mitophagy. PMID:25634657

Collagens--structure, function, and biosynthesis.

PubMed

Gelse, K; Pöschl, E; Aigner, T

2003-11-28

The extracellular matrix represents a complex alloy of variable members of diverse protein families defining structural integrity and various physiological functions. The most abundant family is the collagens with more than 20 different collagen types identified so far. Collagens are centrally involved in the formation of fibrillar and microfibrillar networks of the extracellular matrix, basement membranes as well as other structures of the extracellular matrix. This review focuses on the distribution and function of various collagen types in different tissues. It introduces their basic structural subunits and points out major steps in the biosynthesis and supramolecular processing of fibrillar collagens as prototypical members of this protein family. A final outlook indicates the importance of different collagen types not only for the understanding of collagen-related diseases, but also as a basis for the therapeutical use of members of this protein family discussed in other chapters of this issue.

Small solar thermal electric power plants with early commercial potential

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, H. E.; Bisantz, D. J.; Clayton, R. N.; Heiges, H. H.; Ku, A. C.

1979-01-01

Cost-effective small solar thermal electric power plants (1- to 10-MW nominal size) offer an attractive way of helping the world meet its future energy needs. The paper describes the characteristics of a conceptual near-term plant (about 1 MW) and a potential 1990 commercial version. The basic system concept is one in which steam is generated using two-axis tracking, parabolic dish, and point-focusing collectors. The steam is transported through low-loss piping to a central steam turbine generator unit where it is converted to electricity. The plants have no energy storage and their output power level varies with the solar insolation level. This system concept, which is firmly based on state-of-the-art technology, is projected to offer one of the fastest paths for U.S. commercialization of solar thermal electric power plants through moderate technology advances and mass production.

Visual evoked potentials and selective attention to points in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Van Voorhis, S.; Hillyard, S. A.

1977-01-01

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded to sequences of flashes delivered to the right and left visual fields while subjects responded promptly to designated stimuli in one field at a time (focused attention), in both fields at once (divided attention), or to neither field (passive). Three stimulus schedules were used: the first was a replication of a previous study (Eason, Harter, and White, 1969) where left- and right-field flashes were delivered quasi-independently, while in the other two the flashes were delivered to the two fields in random order (Bernoulli sequence). VEPs to attended-field stimuli were enhanced at both occipital (O2) and central (Cz) recording sites under all stimulus sequences, but different components were affected at the two scalp sites. It was suggested that the VEP at O2 may reflect modality-specific processing events, while the response at Cz, like its auditory homologue, may index more general aspects of selective attention.

Physical Therapy for Neurological Conditions in Geriatric Populations.

PubMed

Carmeli, Eli

2017-01-01

With more of the world's population surviving longer, individuals often face age-related neurology disorders and decline of function that can affect lifestyle and well-being. Despite neurophysiological changes affecting the brain function and structure, the aged brain, in some degree, can learn and relearn due to neuroplasticity. Recent advances in rehabilitation techniques have produced better functional outcomes in age-related neurological conditions. Physical therapy (PT) of the elderly individual focuses in particular on sensory-motor impairments, postural control coordination, and prevention of sarcopenia. Geriatric PT has a significant influence on quality of life, independent living, and life expectancy. However, in many developed and developing countries, the profession of PT is underfunded and understaffed. This article provides a brief overview on (a) age-related disease of central nervous system and (b) the principles, approaches, and doctrines of motor skill learning and point out the most common treatment models that PTs use for neurological patients.

A probabilistic storm transposition approach for estimating exceedance probabilities of extreme precipitation depths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foufoula-Georgiou, E.

1989-05-01

A storm transposition approach is investigated as a possible tool of assessing the frequency of extreme precipitation depths, that is, depths of return period much greater than 100 years. This paper focuses on estimation of the annual exceedance probability of extreme average precipitation depths over a catchment. The probabilistic storm transposition methodology is presented, and the several conceptual and methodological difficulties arising in this approach are identified. The method is implemented and is partially evaluated by means of a semihypothetical example involving extreme midwestern storms and two hypothetical catchments (of 100 and 1000 mi2 (˜260 and 2600 km2)) located in central Iowa. The results point out the need for further research to fully explore the potential of this approach as a tool for assessing the probabilities of rare storms, and eventually floods, a necessary element of risk-based analysis and design of large hydraulic structures.

Retrieving fear memories, as time goes by…

PubMed Central

Do Monte, Fabricio H.; Quirk, Gregory J.; Li, Bo; Penzo, Mario A.

2016-01-01

Fear conditioning researches have led to a comprehensive picture of the neuronal circuit underlying the formation of fear memories. In contrast, knowledge about the retrieval of fear memories is much more limited. This disparity may stem from the fact that fear memories are not rigid, but reorganize over time. To bring clarity and raise awareness on the time-dependent dynamics of retrieval circuits, we review current evidence on the neuronal circuitry participating in fear memory retrieval at both early and late time points after conditioning. We focus on the temporal recruitment of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, and its BDNFergic efferents to the central nucleus of the amygdala, for the retrieval and maintenance of fear memories. Finally, we speculate as to why retrieval circuits change across time, and the functional benefits of recruiting structures such as the paraventricular nucleus into the retrieval circuit. PMID:27217148

Physical Therapy for Neurological Conditions in Geriatric Populations

PubMed Central

Carmeli, Eli

2017-01-01

With more of the world’s population surviving longer, individuals often face age-related neurology disorders and decline of function that can affect lifestyle and well-being. Despite neurophysiological changes affecting the brain function and structure, the aged brain, in some degree, can learn and relearn due to neuroplasticity. Recent advances in rehabilitation techniques have produced better functional outcomes in age-related neurological conditions. Physical therapy (PT) of the elderly individual focuses in particular on sensory–motor impairments, postural control coordination, and prevention of sarcopenia. Geriatric PT has a significant influence on quality of life, independent living, and life expectancy. However, in many developed and developing countries, the profession of PT is underfunded and understaffed. This article provides a brief overview on (a) age-related disease of central nervous system and (b) the principles, approaches, and doctrines of motor skill learning and point out the most common treatment models that PTs use for neurological patients. PMID:29270402

Dialogical communication and empowering social work practice.

PubMed

Natland, Sidsel

2015-01-01

How to succeed in facilitating for empowering processes within social work practice is a central topic in both theoretical discussions and regarding its principles in practice. With a particular focus on how dialogical communication can play a part in order to practice empowering social work, through this text the author frames HUSK as a project facilitating the underpinning humanistic approaches in social work. Dialogical communication and its philosophical base is presented and recognized as a means to achieve empowering social work as well as highlighting the importance of the humanistic approach. The author also underscores how HUSK projects in themselves were enabled because of the required collaboration between service users, professionals, and researchers that signified HUSK. This is pinpointed as having potential for a future research agenda as well as pointing at how the outcomes of the projects may impact future social work practice when the goal is to conduct empowering social work.

Endocannabinoid signaling and synaptic function

PubMed Central

Castillo, Pablo E.; Younts, Thomas J.; Chávez, Andrés E.; Hashimotodani, Yuki

2012-01-01

Endocannabinoids are key modulators of synaptic function. By activating cannabinoid receptors expressed in the central nervous system, these lipid messengers can regulate several neural functions and behaviors. As experimental tools advance, the repertoire of known endocannabinoid-mediated effects at the synapse, and their underlying mechanism, continues to expand. Retrograde signaling is the principal mode by which endocannabinoids mediate short- and long-term forms of plasticity at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. However, growing evidence suggests that endocannabinoids can also signal in a non-retrograde manner. In addition to mediating synaptic plasticity, the endocannabinoid system is itself subject to plastic changes. Multiple points of interaction with other neuromodulatory and signaling systems have now been identified. Synaptic endocannabinoid signaling is thus mechanistically more complex and diverse than originally thought. In this review, we focus on new advances in endocannabinoid signaling and highlight their role as potent regulators of synaptic function in the mammalian brain. PMID:23040807

Mitochondrial Function in Sepsis

PubMed Central

Arulkumaran, Nishkantha; Deutschman, Clifford S.; Pinsky, Michael R.; Zuckerbraun, Brian; Schumacker, Paul T.; Gomez, Hernando; Gomez, Alonso; Murray, Patrick; Kellum, John A.

2015-01-01

Mitochondria are an essential part of the cellular infrastructure, being the primary site for high energy adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through oxidative phosphorylation. Clearly, in severe systemic inflammatory states, like sepsis, cellular metabolism is usually altered and end organ dysfunction not only common but predictive of long term morbidity and mortality. Clearly, interest is mitochondrial function both as a target for intracellular injury and response to extrinsic stress have been a major focus of basic science and clinical research into the pathophysiology of acute illness. However, mitochondria have multiple metabolic and signaling functions that may be central in both the expression of sepsis and its ultimate outcome. In this review, the authors address five primary questions centered on the role of mitochondria in sepsis. This review should be used as both a summary source in placing mitochondrial physiology within the context of acute illness and as a focal point for addressing new research into diagnostic and treatment opportunities these insights provide. PMID:26871665

MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION IN SEPSIS.

PubMed

Arulkumaran, Nishkantha; Deutschman, Clifford S; Pinsky, Michael R; Zuckerbraun, Brian; Schumacker, Paul T; Gomez, Hernando; Gomez, Alonso; Murray, Patrick; Kellum, John A

2016-03-01

Mitochondria are an essential part of the cellular infrastructure, being the primary site for high-energy adenosine triphosphate production through oxidative phosphorylation. Clearly, in severe systemic inflammatory states, like sepsis, cellular metabolism is usually altered, and end organ dysfunction is not only common, but also predictive of long-term morbidity and mortality. Clearly, interest is mitochondrial function both as a target for intracellular injury and response to extrinsic stress have been a major focus of basic science and clinical research into the pathophysiology of acute illness. However, mitochondria have multiple metabolic and signaling functions that may be central in both the expression of sepsis and its ultimate outcome. In this review, the authors address five primary questions centered on the role of mitochondria in sepsis. This review should be used both as a summary source in placing mitochondrial physiology within the context of acute illness and as a focal point for addressing new research into diagnostic and treatment opportunities these insights provide.

On classical de Sitter and Minkowski solutions with intersecting branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andriot, David

2018-03-01

Motivated by the connection of string theory to cosmology or particle physics, we study solutions of type II supergravities having a four-dimensional de Sitter or Minkowski space-time, with intersecting D p -branes and orientifold O p -planes. Only few such solutions are known, and we aim at a better characterisation. Modulo a few restrictions, we prove that there exists no classical de Sitter solution for any combination of D 3/ O 3 and D 7/ O 7, while we derive interesting constraints for intersecting D 5/ O 5 or D 6/ O 6, or combinations of D 4/ O 4 and D 8/ O 8. Concerning classical Minkowski solutions, we understand some typical features, and propose a solution ansatz. Overall, a central information appears to be the way intersecting D p / O p overlap each other, a point we focus on.

Synchronization and communication of cooperative sensors.

PubMed

Chételat, Olivier; Rapin, Michael; Meier, Christophe; Bischof, André; Augustyniak, Marcin K

2015-01-01

Cooperative sensors are an emerging technology consisting of autonomous sensor units working in concert to measure physiological signals requiring distant sensing points, such as biopotential (e.g., ECG) or bioimpedance (e.g., EIT). Their advantage with respect to the state-of-the-art technology is that they do not require shielded and even insulated cables to measure best quality biopotential or bioimpedance signals. Moreover, as all sensors are simply connected to a single electrical connection (which can be for instance a conductive vest) there is no connecting limitation to the miniaturization of the system or to its extension to large numbers of sensors. This results in an increase of wearability and comfort, as well as in a decrease of costs and integration challenges. However, cooperative sensors must communicate to be synchronized and to centralize the data. This paper presents possible communication strategies and focuses on the implementation of one of them that is particularly well suited for biopotential and bioimpedance measurements.

Cache-Aware Asymptotically-Optimal Sampling-Based Motion Planning

PubMed Central

Ichnowski, Jeffrey; Prins, Jan F.; Alterovitz, Ron

2014-01-01

We present CARRT* (Cache-Aware Rapidly Exploring Random Tree*), an asymptotically optimal sampling-based motion planner that significantly reduces motion planning computation time by effectively utilizing the cache memory hierarchy of modern central processing units (CPUs). CARRT* can account for the CPU’s cache size in a manner that keeps its working dataset in the cache. The motion planner progressively subdivides the robot’s configuration space into smaller regions as the number of configuration samples rises. By focusing configuration exploration in a region for periods of time, nearest neighbor searching is accelerated since the working dataset is small enough to fit in the cache. CARRT* also rewires the motion planning graph in a manner that complements the cache-aware subdivision strategy to more quickly refine the motion planning graph toward optimality. We demonstrate the performance benefit of our cache-aware motion planning approach for scenarios involving a point robot as well as the Rethink Robotics Baxter robot. PMID:25419474

Cache-Aware Asymptotically-Optimal Sampling-Based Motion Planning.

PubMed

Ichnowski, Jeffrey; Prins, Jan F; Alterovitz, Ron

2014-05-01

We present CARRT* (Cache-Aware Rapidly Exploring Random Tree*), an asymptotically optimal sampling-based motion planner that significantly reduces motion planning computation time by effectively utilizing the cache memory hierarchy of modern central processing units (CPUs). CARRT* can account for the CPU's cache size in a manner that keeps its working dataset in the cache. The motion planner progressively subdivides the robot's configuration space into smaller regions as the number of configuration samples rises. By focusing configuration exploration in a region for periods of time, nearest neighbor searching is accelerated since the working dataset is small enough to fit in the cache. CARRT* also rewires the motion planning graph in a manner that complements the cache-aware subdivision strategy to more quickly refine the motion planning graph toward optimality. We demonstrate the performance benefit of our cache-aware motion planning approach for scenarios involving a point robot as well as the Rethink Robotics Baxter robot.

Physiological mechanisms of thermoregulation in reptiles: a review.

PubMed

Seebacher, Frank; Franklin, Craig E

2005-11-01

The thermal dependence of biochemical reaction rates means that many animals regulate their body temperature so that fluctuations in body temperature are small compared to environmental temperature fluctuations. Thermoregulation is a complex process that involves sensing of the environment, and subsequent processing of the environmental information. We suggest that the physiological mechanisms that facilitate thermoregulation transcend phylogenetic boundaries. Reptiles are primarily used as model organisms for ecological and evolutionary research and, unlike in mammals, the physiological basis of many aspects in thermoregulation remains obscure. Here, we review recent research on regulation of body temperature, thermoreception, body temperature set-points, and cardiovascular control of heating and cooling in reptiles. The aim of this review is to place physiological thermoregulation of reptiles in a wider phylogenetic context. Future research on reptilian thermoregulation should focus on the pathways that connect peripheral sensing to central processing which will ultimately lead to the thermoregulatory response.

Change of focus: from intensive care towards organ donation.

PubMed

Meyer, Käthe; Bjørk, Ida T

2008-02-01

To progress from identifying a potential organ donor to implementing the actual organ donation effectively is a challenging process for all involved. The nurses might find the change of focus difficult, as the donor organ acquisition process often starts before the relatives had been informed and have had the time to reorient themselves about the severe situation of the patient and have been briefed on the option of organ donation. The purpose was to investigate the hospital-based education in organ donation at the 28 Norwegian donor hospitals, and elicit the needs of the intensive care nurses for imparting of required knowledge and support in shifting their focus from intensive care towards the process of organ procurement. Hospital-based education and guidelines in organ donation were analyzed by scrutinizing the documents available. Eleven units were found to have their own guidelines and only three hospitals had organ donation in their educational programme. Intensive care nurses at three hospitals participated in focus groups. The main finding was the need for collaboration and mutual understanding within the treatment team. Nurses expounded the multiple responsibilities that they discharged during the course of intensive care. In reorienting their focus from intensive care to donor organ procurement, the time of death was explained as the crucial turning point. The knowledge of intensive care staff and professional competence were crucial in winning the relatives' trust and were central in the communication processes. Donor hospitals should implement systematic training and debriefing, where both nurses and physicians contribute to this process. Well-prepared protocols for organ donation at hospitals can define responsibilities assigned to different members of the donor organ acquisition team.

Intercounty commuter public transit services and opportunities in the central bluegrass.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-01-01

This report reviews the current state of available public transportation services in central Kentucky, with a focus on the Lexington-Fayette County commutershed. Within the region, this report identifies the major public transportation providers, des...

Development and relationship of monogenetic and polygenetic volcanic fields in time and space.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Germa, Aurelie; Connor, Chuck; Connor, Laura; Malservisi, Rocco

2013-04-01

The classification of volcanic systems, developed by G. P. L. Walker and colleagues, relates volcano morphology to magma transport and eruption processes. In general, distributed monogenetic volcanic fields are characterized by infrequent eruptions, low average output rate, and a low spatial intensity of the eruptive vents. In contrast, central-vent-dominated systems, such as stratovolcanoes, central volcanoes and lava shields are characterized by frequent eruptions, higher average flux rates, and higher spatial intensity of eruptive vents. However, it has been observed that a stratovolcano is often associated to parasitic monogenetic vents on its flanks, related to the central silicic systems, and surrounded by an apron of monogenetic edifices that are part of the volcanic field but independent from the principal central system. It appears from spatial distribution and time-volume relationships that surface area of monogenetic fields reflects the lateral extent of the magma source region and the lack of magma focusing mechanisms. In contrast, magma is focused through a unique conduit system for polygenetic volcanoes, provided by a thermally and mechanically favorable pathway toward the surface that is maintained by frequent and favorable stress conditions. We plan to relate surface observations of spatio-temporal location of eruptive vents and evolution of the field area through time to processes that control magma focusing during ascent and storage in the crust. We choose to study fields that range from dispersed to central-vent dominated, through transitional fields (central felsic system with peripheral field of monogenetic vents independent from the rhyolitic system). We investigate different well-studied volcanic fields in the Western US and Western Europe in order to assess influence of the geodynamic setting and tectonic stress on the spatial distribution of magmatism. In summary, incremental spatial intensity maps should reveal how fast a central conduit is created during the development of a volcanic field, and how this could influence the outbreak of dispersed monogenetic volcanoes that are not geochemically linked to the central system.

A Centrality and Event Plane Detector for STAR to Complete the Phase Diagram of Quantum Chromodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halal, George; STAR Collaboration

2017-09-01

The properties of the nearly perfect liquid, Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP), which filled the universe a microsecond after the Big Bang are studied by colliding heavy-ions at relativistic energies. Our project focuses on building and testing an Event Plane Detector (EPD) for the STAR experiment and analyzing the data collected from collisions. When a minimum ionizing particle hits one of the optically-isolated tiles of this detector, which are made of scintillator plastic, it lights up. The light then travels through a wavelength-shifting fiber embedded in the tile to a clear optical fiber to be detected by silicon photo-multipliers. This detector is an improved version of the Beam-Beam Counter, which is currently at STAR. It will help us measure the centrality and event plane of collisions with more precision. Data collected will aid us in mapping out the transition phase between the QGP and hadronic matter, which evolved into the chemical elements we see today, and in searching for a unique critical point in the phase diagram of Quantum Chromodynamics matter. In 2017, a commissioning run has taken place at RHIC, colliding protons at 510 GeV and gold ions at 54.4 GeV. Some data analysis from one eighth of the EPD that is installed will also be discussed.

Comprehensive optimization process of paranasal sinus radiography.

PubMed

Saarakkala, S; Nironen, K; Hermunen, H; Aarnio, J; Heikkinen, J O

2009-04-01

The optimization of radiological examinations is important in order to reduce unnecessary patient radiation exposure. To perform a comprehensive optimization process for paranasal sinus radiography at Mikkeli Central Hospital, Finland. Patients with suspicion of acute sinusitis were imaged with a Kodak computed radiography (CR) system (n=20) and with a Philips digital radiography (DR) system (n=30) using focus-detector distances (FDDs) of 110 cm, 150 cm, or 200 cm. Patients' radiation exposure was determined in terms of entrance surface dose and dose-area product. Furthermore, an anatomical phantom was used for the estimation of point doses inside the head. Clinical image quality was evaluated by an experienced radiologist, and physical image quality was evaluated from the digital radiography phantom. Patient doses were significantly lower and image quality better with the DR system compared to the CR system. The differences in patient dose and physical image quality were small with varying FDD. Clinical image quality of the DR system was lowest with FDD of 200 cm. Further, imaging with FDD of 150 cm was technically easier for the technologist to perform than with FDD of 110 cm. After optimization, it was recommended that the DR system with FDD of 150 cm should always be used at Mikkeli Central Hospital. We recommend this kind of comprehensive approach in all optimization processes of radiological examinations.

The BIG Data Center: from deposition to integration to translation.

PubMed

2017-01-04

Biological data are generated at unprecedentedly exponential rates, posing considerable challenges in big data deposition, integration and translation. The BIG Data Center, established at Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG), Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides a suite of database resources, including (i) Genome Sequence Archive, a data repository specialized for archiving raw sequence reads, (ii) Gene Expression Nebulas, a data portal of gene expression profiles based entirely on RNA-Seq data, (iii) Genome Variation Map, a comprehensive collection of genome variations for featured species, (iv) Genome Warehouse, a centralized resource housing genome-scale data with particular focus on economically important animals and plants, (v) Methylation Bank, an integrated database of whole-genome single-base resolution methylomes and (vi) Science Wikis, a central access point for biological wikis developed for community annotations. The BIG Data Center is dedicated to constructing and maintaining biological databases through big data integration and value-added curation, conducting basic research to translate big data into big knowledge and providing freely open access to a variety of data resources in support of worldwide research activities in both academia and industry. All of these resources are publicly available and can be found at http://bigd.big.ac.cn. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - - U.S. Representative Ric Keller (left) listens intently to a presentation proposing the use of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando, as the site of NASA’s new Shared Services Center. NASA and Florida officials toured the research park as well. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the center, which would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - - U.S. Representative Ric Keller (left) listens intently to a presentation proposing the use of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando, as the site of NASA’s new Shared Services Center. NASA and Florida officials toured the research park as well. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the center, which would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

A small system--high-resolution study of metabolic adaptation in the central metabolic pathway to temperate climates in Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

Lavington, Erik; Cogni, Rodrigo; Kuczynski, Caitlin; Koury, Spencer; Behrman, Emily L; O'Brien, Katherine R; Schmidt, Paul S; Eanes, Walter F

2014-08-01

In this article, we couple the geographic variation in 127 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies in genes of 46 enzymes of central metabolism with their associated cis-expression variation to predict latitudinal or climatic-driven gene expression changes in the metabolic architecture of Drosophila melanogaster. Forty-two percent of the SNPs in 65% of the genes show statistically significant clines in frequency with latitude across the 20 local population samples collected from southern Florida to Ontario. A number of SNPs in the screened genes are also associated with significant expression variation within the Raleigh population from North Carolina. A principal component analysis of the full variance-covariance matrix of latitudinal changes in SNP-associated standardized gene expression allows us to identify those major genes in the pathway and its associated branches that are likely targets of natural selection. When embedded in a central metabolic context, we show that these apparent targets are concentrated in the genes of the upper glycolytic pathway and pentose shunt, those controlling glycerol shuttle activity, and finally those enzymes associated with the utilization of glutamate and pyruvate. These metabolites possess high connectivity and thus may be the points where flux balance can be best shifted. We also propose that these points are conserved points associated with coupling energy homeostasis and energy sensing in mammals. We speculate that the modulation of gene expression at specific points in central metabolism that are associated with shifting flux balance or possibly energy-state sensing plays a role in adaptation to climatic variation. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

iBoard/CDX User Guide for Nonfederal Individuals and Company/Organization Points of Contact

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This user guide describes the process that individuals or company/organization points of contact (POCs) must follow to submit non-EPA personnel data through the EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) iBoard application for review and approval.

Preliminary design analysis for the solar optical telescope main mirror actuator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, R. B.

1977-01-01

The resolution of the SOT Gregorian telescope was maintained if the conic foci of the elliptical secondary and parabolic primary were made to coincide within plus or minus 38 microns across the prime focus plane and to within 5 microns in focus. An error in coincidence across the focal plane caused all point images to show additional coma with all the comatic tails pointing in the same direction. An error in focus became magnified by the square of the magnification of the secondary and simply increased the diameter of the point source. Offsetting or rastering the sun may be accomplished by swinging the primary in an arc about the point of coincidence of the conic foci so long as the coincidence is kept to within the tolerance stated.

Comparing the Effect of 3 Kinds of Different Materials on the Hemostasis of the Central Venous Catheter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yan-Ming; Liang, Zhen-Zhen; Song, Chun-Lei

2016-05-01

To compare the effect of 3 kinds of different materials on the hemostasis of puncture site after central venous catheterization. Method: A selection of 120 patients with peripheral central venous catheter chemotherapy in the Affiliated Hospital of our university from January 2014 to April 2015, Randomly divided into 3 groups, using the same specification (3.5cm × 2cm) alginate gelatin sponge and gauze dressing, 3 kinds of material compression puncture point, 3 groups of patients after puncture 24 h within the puncture point of local blood and the catheter after the catheter 72 h within the catheter maintenance costs. Result: (1) The local infiltration of the puncture point in the 24 h tube: The use of alginate dressing and gelatin sponge hemostatic effect is better than that of compression gauze. The difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Compared with gelatin sponge and alginate dressing hemostatic effect, The difference was not statistically significant. (2) Tube maintenance cost: Puncture point using gelatin sponge, The local maintenance costs of the catheter within 72 h after insertion of the tube are lowest, compared with alginate dressing and gauze was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The choice of compression hemostasis material for the puncture site after PICC implantation, using gelatin sponge and gauze dressing is more effective and economic.

Consistency of mist netting and point counts in assessing landbird species richness and relative abundance during migration

Treesearch

Yong Wang; Deborah M. Finch

2002-01-01

We compared consistency of species richness and relative abundance data collected concurrently using mist netting and point counts during migration in riparian habitats along the middle Rio Grande of central New Mexico. Mist netting detected 74% and point counts detected 82% of the 197 species encountered during the study. Species that mist netting failed to capture...

African American women's perceptions of cancer clinical trials

PubMed Central

Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey; Godley, Paul; Dimartino, Lisa; White, Brandolyn; Odom, Janice; Richmond, Alan; Carpenter, William

2014-01-01

Cancer clinical trials are important for resolving cancer health disparities for several reasons; however, clinical trial participation among African Americans is significantly lower than Caucasians. This study engaged focus groups of 82 female African American cancer survivors or cancer caregivers, including those in better resourced, more urban areas and less resourced, more rural areas. Informed by an integrated conceptual model, the focus groups examined perceptions of cancer clinical trials and identified leverage points that future interventions may use to improve enrollment rates. Study findings highlight variation in community knowledge regarding cancer clinical trials, and the importance of community education regarding clinical trials and overcoming historical stigma associated with clinical research specifically and the health care system more generally. Study participants commented on the centrality of churches in their communities, and thus the promise of the church as loci of such education. Findings also suggested the value of informed community leaders as community information sources, including community members who have a previous diagnosis of cancer and clinical trial experience. The sample size and location of the focus groups may limit the generalizability of the results. Since the women in the focus groups were either cancer survivors or caregivers, they may have different experiences than nonparticipants who lack the close connection with cancer. Trust in the health system and in one's physician was seen as important factors associated with patient willingness to enroll in clinical trials, and participants suggested that physicians who were compassionate and who engaged and educated their patients would build important trust requisite for patient participation in clinical trials. PMID:24905181

Achieving diffraction-limited nanometer-scale X-ray point focus with two crossed multilayer Laue lenses: alignment challenges

DOE PAGES

Yan, Hanfei; Huang, Xiaojing; Bouet, Nathalie; ...

2017-10-16

In this article, we discuss misalignment-induced aberrations in a pair of crossed multilayer Laue lenses used for achieving a nanometer-scale x-ray point focus. We thoroughly investigate the impacts of two most important contributions, the orthogonality and the separation distance between two lenses. We find that misalignment in the orthogonality results in astigmatism at 45º and other inclination angles when coupled with a separation distance error. Theoretical explanation and experimental verification are provided. We show that to achieve a diffraction-limited point focus, accurate alignment of the azimuthal angle is required to ensure orthogonality between two lenses, and the required accuracy ismore » scaled with the ratio of the focus size to the aperture size.« less

"Glory Catalogued": The Libraries of Florence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robbins, Wendy

1983-01-01

Narration of author's visit to the libraries of Florence, Italy, focuses on city, provincial, and national libraries, including the Laurentian Library, Biblioteca Communale Centrale (city), Biblioteca Marucelliana (regional), and Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale (national). Conversations with the directors of each library are highlighted. (EJS)

POINT-OF-USE TREATMENT OF DRINKING WATER IN SAN YSIDRO, NM

EPA Science Inventory

This study was conducted to determine whether point-of-use (POU) reverse osmosis (RO) units could satisfactorily function in lieu of central treatment to remove arsenic and fluoride from the drinking water supply of San Ysidro, NM. POU treatment was evaluated for removal efficien...

Quantitative Multilevel Analysis of Central Metabolism in Developing Oilseeds of Oilseed Rape During In Vitro Culture

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

Schwender, Jorg; Hebbelmann, Inga; Heinzel, Nicholas

Seeds provide the basis for many food, feed, and fuel products. Continued increases in seed yield, composition, and quality require an improved understanding of how the developing seed converts carbon and nitrogen supplies into storage. Current knowledge of this process is often based on the premise that transcriptional regulation directly translates via enzyme concentration into flux. In an attempt to highlight metabolic control, we explore genotypic differences in carbon partitioning for in vitro cultured developing embryos of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). We determined biomass composition as well as 79 net fluxes, the levels of 77 metabolites, and 26 enzyme activitiesmore » with specific focus on central metabolism in nine selected germplasm accessions. We observed a tradeoff between the biomass component fractions of lipid and starch. With increasing lipid content over the spectrum of genotypes, plastidic fatty acid synthesis and glycolytic flux increased concomitantly, while glycolytic intermediates decreased. The lipid/starch tradeoff was not reflected at the proteome level, pointing to the significance of (posttranslational) metabolic control. Enzyme activity/flux and metabolite/flux correlations suggest that plastidic pyruvate kinase exerts flux control and that the lipid/starch tradeoff is most likely mediated by allosteric feedback regulation of phosphofructokinase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. Also, quantitative data were used to calculate in vivo mass action ratios, reaction equilibria, and metabolite turnover times. Compounds like cyclic 3',5'-AMP and sucrose-6-phosphate were identified to potentially be involved in so far unknown mechanisms of metabolic control. This study provides a rich source of quantitative data for those studying central metabolism..« less

Projecting the Local Impacts of Climate Change on a Central American Montane Avian Community

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gasner, Matthew R.; Jankowski, Jill E.; Ciecka, Anna L.; Kyle, Keiller O.; Rabenold, Kerry N.

2010-01-01

Significant changes in the climates of Central America are expected over the next century. Lowland rainforests harbor high alpha diversity on local scales (<1 km2), yet montane landscapes often support higher beta diversity on 10-100 km2 scales. Climate change will likely disrupt the altitudinal zonation of montane communities that produces such landscape diversity. Projections of biotic response to climate change have often used broad-scale modelling of geographical ranges, but understanding likely impacts on population viability is also necessary for anticipating local and global extinctions. We model species abundances and estimate range shifts for birds in the Tilaran Mountains of Costa Rica, asking whether projected changes in temperature and rainfall could be sufficient to imperil high-elevation endemics and whether these variables will likely impact communities similarly. We find that nearly half of 77 forest bird species can be expected to decline in the next century. Almost half of species projected to decline are endemic to Central America, and seven of eight species projected to become locally extinct are endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and Panam . Logistic-regression modelling of distributions and similarity in projections produced by temperature and rainfall models suggest that changes in both variables will be important. Although these projections are probably conservative because they do not explicitly incorporate biological or climate variable interactions, they provide a starting point for incorporating more realistic biological complexity into community-change models. Prudent conservation planning for tropical mountains should focus on regions with room for altitudinal reorganization of communities comprised of ecological specialists.

Quantitative Multilevel Analysis of Central Metabolism in Developing Oilseeds of Oilseed Rape during in Vitro Culture1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Schwender, Jörg; Hebbelmann, Inga; Heinzel, Nicolas; Hildebrandt, Tatjana; Rogers, Alistair; Klapperstück, Matthias; Schreiber, Falk; Borisjuk, Ljudmilla; Rolletschek, Hardy

2015-01-01

Seeds provide the basis for many food, feed, and fuel products. Continued increases in seed yield, composition, and quality require an improved understanding of how the developing seed converts carbon and nitrogen supplies into storage. Current knowledge of this process is often based on the premise that transcriptional regulation directly translates via enzyme concentration into flux. In an attempt to highlight metabolic control, we explore genotypic differences in carbon partitioning for in vitro cultured developing embryos of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). We determined biomass composition as well as 79 net fluxes, the levels of 77 metabolites, and 26 enzyme activities with specific focus on central metabolism in nine selected germplasm accessions. Overall, we observed a tradeoff between the biomass component fractions of lipid and starch. With increasing lipid content over the spectrum of genotypes, plastidic fatty acid synthesis and glycolytic flux increased concomitantly, while glycolytic intermediates decreased. The lipid/starch tradeoff was not reflected at the proteome level, pointing to the significance of (posttranslational) metabolic control. Enzyme activity/flux and metabolite/flux correlations suggest that plastidic pyruvate kinase exerts flux control and that the lipid/starch tradeoff is most likely mediated by allosteric feedback regulation of phosphofructokinase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. Quantitative data were also used to calculate in vivo mass action ratios, reaction equilibria, and metabolite turnover times. Compounds like cyclic 3′,5′-AMP and sucrose-6-phosphate were identified to potentially be involved in so far unknown mechanisms of metabolic control. This study provides a rich source of quantitative data for those studying central metabolism. PMID:25944824

Efficacy of losartan and carvedilol on central hemodynamics in hypertensives: a prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point, multicenter study.

PubMed

Kim, Eung Ju; Song, Woo-Hyuk; Lee, Jae Ung; Shin, Mi-Seung; Lee, Sahng; Kim, Byeong-Ok; Hong, Kyeong-Sun; Han, Seong Woo; Park, Chang Gyu; Seo, Hong Seog

2014-01-01

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers have shown clinical outcomes superior to those of the beta (β)-blocker atenolol, despite similar reductions in the peripheral blood pressure (BP), perhaps because of different impacts on central hemodynamics. However, few comparative studies of RAS blockers and newer vasodilating β-blockers have been performed. We compared the central hemodynamic effects of losartan and carvedilol in a prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point study. Of the 201 hypertensive patients enrolled, 182 (49.6±9.9 years, losartan group=88 and carvedilol group=94) were analyzed. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), aortic augmentation index (AIx), AIx corrected for a heart rate (HR) of 75 beats per minute (AIx@HR75) and central BP were measured noninvasively at baseline and after a 24-week treatment regimen with losartan or carvedilol. After 24 weeks, there were no between-group differences in the brachial BP, cfPWV, AIx@HR75 or central BP changes, except for a more favorable AIx effect with losartan. The changes in all measured metabolic and inflammatory parameters were also not significantly different between the two groups, except for uric acid. Losartan and carvedilol showed generally comparable effects on central hemodynamic indices, metabolic profile, inflammatory parameters and peripheral arterial pressure with a 24-week treatment.

A new neolithic circular enclosure in Central Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kretzer, Olaf

2015-08-01

Today we know about 130 neolithic enclosures in Central Europe. About 20 of them are located in Germany. In the last years, there was a great discussion about the function of the openings: Are the openings aligned with points of the solstices? Or are the openings aligned with points of rising stars?Four years ago, a new neolithic circular enclosure was found in the northern part of Thuringia. With a diameter of about 50 meters it was not so large but it was the first evidence of a neolithic culture in Thuringia: the central part of Germany!7000 years ago, people with unknown identity built up three rings with three or four openings.With the help of various measurements we were able to determine in which directions the openings were aligned. We found a link between these directions and very interesting landmarks - an amazing connection between sky and landscape.

The accuracy of real-time procedure coding by theatre nurses: a comparison with the central national system.

PubMed

Maclean, Donald; Younes, Hakim Ben; Forrest, Margaret; Towers, Hazel K

2012-03-01

Accurate and timely clinical data are required for clinical and organisational purposes and is especially important for patient management, audit of surgical performance and the electronic health record. The recent introduction of computerised theatre management systems has enabled real-time (point-of-care) operative procedure coding by clinical staff. However the accuracy of these data is unknown. The aim of this Scottish study was to compare the accuracy of theatre nurses' real-time coding on the local theatre management system with the central Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR01). Paired procedural codes were recorded, qualitatively graded for precision and compared (n = 1038). In this study, real-time, point-of-care coding by theatre nurses resulted in significant coding errors compared with the central SMR01 database. Improved collaboration between full-time coders and clinical staff using computerised decision support systems is suggested.

Recovery of central Appalachian forested watershed

Treesearch

Mary Beth Adams; James N. Kochendenfer [sic

2014-01-01

The Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) was established to conduct research in forest and watershed management in the central Appalachians. The 1868-ha FEF, located south of Parsons, West Virginia, is administered by the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service and provides a valuable point of comparison with the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (CHL), located in...

The effect of biogeographic and phylogeographic barriers on gene flow in the brown smoothhound shark, Mustelus henlei, in the northeastern Pacific

PubMed Central

Chabot, Chris L; Espinoza, Mario; Mascareñas-Osorio, Ismael; Rocha-Olivares, Axayácatl

2015-01-01

We assessed the effects of the prominent biogeographic (Point Conception and the Peninsula of Baja California) and phylogeographic barriers (Los Angeles Region) of the northeastern Pacific on the population connectivity of the brown smoothhound shark, Mustelus henlei (Triakidae). Data from the mitochondrial control region and six nuclear microsatellite loci revealed significant population structure among three populations: northern (San Francisco), central (Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, Punta Lobos, and San Felipe), and southern (Costa Rica). Patterns of long-term and contemporary migration were incongruent, with long-term migration being asymmetric and occurring in a north to south direction and a lack of significant contemporary migration observed between localities with the exception of Punta Lobos that contributed migrants to all localities within the central population. Our findings indicate that Point Conception may be restricting gene flow between the northern and central populations whereas barriers to gene flow within the central population would seem to be ineffective; additionally, a contemporary expansion of tropical M. henlei into subtropical and temperate waters may have been observed. PMID:25937903

Evaluating the sustainability of ceramic filters for point-of-use drinking water treatment.

PubMed

Ren, Dianjun; Colosi, Lisa M; Smith, James A

2013-10-01

This study evaluates the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of ceramic filters impregnated with silver nanoparticles for point-of-use (POU) drinking water treatment in developing countries. The functional unit for this analysis was the amount of water consumed by a typical household over ten years (37,960 L), as delivered by either the POU technology or a centralized water treatment and distribution system. Results indicate that the ceramic filters are 3-6 times more cost-effective than the centralized water system for reduction of waterborne diarrheal illness among the general population and children under five. The ceramic filters also exhibit better environmental performance for four of five evaluated life cycle impacts: energy use, water use, global warming potential, and particulate matter emissions (PM10). For smog formation potential, the centralized system is preferable to the ceramic filter POU technology. This convergence of social, economic, and environmental criteria offers clear indication that the ceramic filter POU technology is a more sustainable choice for drinking water treatment in developing countries than the centralized treatment systems that have been widely adopted in industrialized countries.

Improving access in gastroenterology: The single point of entry model for referrals

PubMed Central

Novak, Kerri L; Van Zanten, Sander Veldhuyzen; Pendharkar, Sachin R

2013-01-01

In 2005, a group of academic gastroenterologists in Calgary (Alberta) adopted a centralized referral intake system known as central triage. This system provided a single point of entry model (SEM) for referrals rather than the traditional system of individual practitioners managing their own referrals and queues. The goal of central triage was to improve wait times and referral management. In 2008, a similar system was developed in Edmonton at the University of Alberta Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta). SEMs have subsequently been adopted by numerous subspecialties throughout Alberta. There are many benefits of SEMs including improved access and reduced wait times. Understanding and measuring complex patient flow systems is key to improving access, and centralized intake systems provide an opportunity to better understand total demand and system bottlenecks. This knowledge is particularly important for specialties such as gastroenterology (GI), in which demand exceeds supply. While it is anticipated that SEMs will reduce wait times for GI care in Canada, the lack of sufficient resources to meet the demand for GI care necessitates additional strategies. PMID:24040629

Improving access in gastroenterology: the single point of entry model for referrals.

PubMed

Novak, Kerri; Veldhuyzen Van Zanten, Sander; Pendharkar, Sachin R

2013-11-01

In 2005, a group of academic gastroenterologists in Calgary (Alberta) adopted a centralized referral intake system known as central triage. This system provided a single point of entry model (SEM) for referrals rather than the traditional system of individual practitioners managing their own referrals and queues. The goal of central triage was to improve wait times and referral management. In 2008, a similar system was developed in Edmonton at the University of Alberta Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta). SEMs have subsequently been adopted by numerous subspecialties throughout Alberta. There are many benefits of SEMs including improved access and reduced wait times. Understanding and measuring complex patient flow systems is key to improving access, and centralized intake systems provide an opportunity to better understand total demand and system bottlenecks. This knowledge is particularly important for specialties such as gastroenterology (GI), in which demand exceeds supply. While it is anticipated that SEMs will reduce wait times for GI care in Canada, the lack of sufficient resources to meet the demand for GI care necessitates additional strategies.

The equilibrium point hypothesis and its application to speech motor control.

PubMed

Perrier, P; Ostry, D J; Laboissière, R

1996-04-01

In this paper, we address a number of issues in speech research in the context of the equilibrium point hypothesis of motor control. The hypothesis suggests that movements arise from shifts in the equilibrium position of the limb or the speech articulator. The equilibrium is a consequence of the interaction of central neural commands, reflex mechanisms, muscle properties, and external loads, but it is under the control of central neural commands. These commands act to shift the equilibrium via centrally specified signals acting at the level of the motoneurone (MN) pool. In the context of a model of sagittal plane jaw and hyoid motion based on the lambda version of the equilibrium point hypothesis, we consider the implications of this hypothesis for the notion of articulatory targets. We suggest that simple linear control signals may underlie smooth articulatory trajectories. We explore as well the phenomenon of intraarticulator coarticulation in jaw movement. We suggest that even when no account is taken of upcoming context, that apparent anticipatory changes in movement amplitude and duration may arise due to dynamics. We also present a number of simulations that show in different ways how variability in measured kinematics can arise in spite of constant magnitude speech control signals.

Spiral bacterial foraging optimization method: Algorithm, evaluation and convergence analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasaiezadeh, Alireza; Khajepour, Amir; Waslander, Steven L.

2014-04-01

A biologically-inspired algorithm called Spiral Bacterial Foraging Optimization (SBFO) is investigated in this article. SBFO, previously proposed by the same authors, is a multi-agent, gradient-based algorithm that minimizes both the main objective function (local cost) and the distance between each agent and a temporary central point (global cost). A random jump is included normal to the connecting line of each agent to the central point, which produces a vortex around the temporary central point. This random jump is also suitable to cope with premature convergence, which is a feature of swarm-based optimization methods. The most important advantages of this algorithm are as follows: First, this algorithm involves a stochastic type of search with a deterministic convergence. Second, as gradient-based methods are employed, faster convergence is demonstrated over GA, DE, BFO, etc. Third, the algorithm can be implemented in a parallel fashion in order to decentralize large-scale computation. Fourth, the algorithm has a limited number of tunable parameters, and finally SBFO has a strong certainty of convergence which is rare in existing global optimization algorithms. A detailed convergence analysis of SBFO for continuously differentiable objective functions has also been investigated in this article.

DSS 15, 45, and 65 34-meter high efficiency antenna radio frequency performance enhancement by tilt added to the subreflector during elevation angle changes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katow, M. S.

1990-01-01

The focusing adjustments of the subreflectors of an az-el Cassegrainian antenna that uses only linear motions have always ended in lateral offsets of the phase centers at the subreflector's focus points at focused positions, which have resulted in small gain losses. How lateral offsets at the two focus points were eliminated by tilting the subreflector, resulting in higher radio frequency (RF) efficiencies at all elevation angles rotated from the rigging angles are described.

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

Campigotto, M.C.; Diaferio, A.; Hernandez, X.

We discuss the phenomenology of gravitational lensing in the purely metric f (χ) gravity, an f ( R ) gravity where the action of the gravitational field depends on the source mass. We focus on the strong lensing regime in galaxy-galaxy lens systems and in clusters of galaxies. By adopting point-like lenses and using an approximate metric solution accurate to second order of the velocity field v / c , we show how, in the f (χ) = χ{sup 3/2} gravity, the same light deflection can be produced by lenses with masses smaller than in General Relativity (GR); this massmore » difference increases with increasing impact parameter and decreasing lens mass. However, for sufficiently massive point-like lenses and small impact parameters, f (χ) = χ{sup 3/2} and GR yield indistinguishable light deflection angles: this regime occurs both in observed galaxy-galaxy lens systems and in the central regions of galaxy clusters. In the former systems, the GR and f (χ) masses are compatible with the mass of standard stellar populations and little or no dark matter, whereas, on the scales of the core of galaxy clusters, the presence of substantial dark matter is required by our point-like lenses both in GR and in our approximate f (χ) = χ{sup 3/2} solution. We thus conclude that our approximate metric solution of f (χ) = χ{sup 3/2} is unable to describe the observed phenomenology of the strong lensing regime without the aid of dark matter.« less

Knowledge About Legal Regulations Regarding Organ Transplantation Among High School and University Students in Poland.

PubMed

Pawłowicz, E; Nowicki, M

2016-06-01

It has been reported in many studies that although young people have positive attitudes towards organ donation, their knowledge about transplantation is insufficient. This study focused on knowledge about legal regulations regarding organ transplantation in Poland. A 59-item, self-designed questionnaire was administered to 1011 young persons from Central Poland. Among the interviewees were 462 high school students, 184 students of the faculty of medicine, and 365 students from other faculties. The survey was divided into 4 parts: knowledge (basic information, maximum of 17 points; statistics, maximum of 5 points and legal regulations - maximum of 6 points), attitude, personal experience and general characteristics of the interviewees. High school and university students received 1.45 ± 1.24 and 1.54 ± 1.1 (P = .26) out of a maximal score of 6 with respect to knowledge of legal regulations. Medical students scored much higher (4.13 ± 1.23). Only 20 respondents (including 19 medical students) answered correctly all 6 questions. Those who were willing to donate their organs after death achieved better result than those who did not want to donate (1.6 ± 1.22 vs 1.34 ± 1.1; P = .002). Personal experiences did not influence knowledge about transplantation. Knowledge about legal regulations regarding organ transplantation is insufficient among young people. Structured, well-considered education programs at various levels of school and academic education are needed to improve public awareness and attitude. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Centralizing physician office functions. A paradigm shift.

PubMed

Croopnick, J G

1999-01-01

Recent trends show that organizations that once thought business office centralization was beneficial are re-thinking their strategies and decentralizing business office functions. This article focuses on the paradigm shift from business office centralization to decentralization and the political factors effecting this shift. It provides actual case summaries to demonstrate what has transpired, and presents an alternative strategy to establishing successful business office functions, a hybrid business office.

Advanced Technologies in Trauma Critical Care Management

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

CVL, central venous line; DVT, deep venous thrombosis; FAST, focused assessment with sonography for trauma; IVC, inferior vena cava; PIV, peripheral...either for a 1-time view of the target vein or in real time using a 1- or 2-person technique. Recently, ultrasound-guided subclavian central venous ...technologies such as bedside echocardiography, central venous pressure monitoring, and cardiac electrical velocimetry. These limitations aside, it is

Photovoltaic module mounting clip with integral grounding

DOEpatents

Lenox, Carl J.

2008-10-14

An electrically conductive mounting/grounding clip, for use with a photovoltaic assembly of the type having an electrically conductive frame, comprises an electrically conductive body. The body has a central portion and first and second spaced-apart arms extending generally perpendicular to the central portion. Each arm has an outer portion with each outer portion having an outer end. At least one frame surface-disrupting element is at each outer end. The central portion defines a plane with the frame surface-disrupting elements pointing towards the plane. In some examples each arm extends from the central portion at an acute angle to the plane.

Integrating climate change in transportation and land use scenario planning : an example from central New Mexico

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-04-01

The Central New Mexico Climate Change Scenario Planning Project, an Interagency Transportation, Land Use, and Climate Change Initiative, utilized a scenario planning process to develop a multiagency transportation- and land use-focused development st...

Pathways into and through Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farmer, Elizabeth M. Z.; Burns, Barbara J.; Phillips, Susan D.; Angold, Adrian; Costello, E. Jane

2003-01-01

Examined points of entry into mental health service system for children and adolescents and patterns of movement through five service sectors (specialty mental health services, education, general medicine, juvenile justice, child welfare). Education sector plays central role as point of entry. Interagency collaboration among education, specialty…

Good intentions, increased inequities: developing social care services in Emergency Departments in the UK.

PubMed

Bywaters, Paul; McLeod, Eileen; Fisher, Joanne; Cooke, Matthew; Swann, Garry

2011-09-01

Addressing the quality of services provided in Emergency Departments (EDs) has been a central area of development for UK government policy since 1997. Amongst other aspects of this concern has been the recognition that EDs constitute a critical boundary between the community and the hospital and a key point for the identification of social care needs. Consequently, EDs have become the focus for a variety of service developments which combine the provision of acute medical and nursing assessment and care with a range of activities in which social care is a prominent feature. One approach to this has been the establishment of multidisciplinary teams aiming to prevent re-attendance or admission, re-direct patients to other services, or speed patients through EDs with the aim of providing improved quality of care. This study, carried out between September 2007 and April 2008, was the first UK national survey of social care initiatives based in EDs and aimed to determine the objectives, organisation, extent, functions, funding and evidence on outcomes of such interventions. Eighty-three per cent of UK Type I and II EDs responded to the survey. Approximately, one-third of EDs had embedded social care teams, with two-thirds relying on referrals to external social care services. These teams varied in their focus, size and composition, leadership, availability, funding and permanence. As a result, the unintended effect has been to increase inequities in access to social care services through EDs. Three further conclusions are drawn about policy led, locally-based service development. This survey adds to international evidence pointing to the potential benefits of a variety of social care interventions being based in EDs and justifies the establishment of a research programme which can provide answers to key outstanding questions. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Expading fluvial remote sensing to the riverscape: Mapping depth and grain size on the Merced River, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richardson, Ryan T.

This study builds upon recent research in the field of fluvial remote sensing by applying techniques for mapping physical attributes of rivers. Depth, velocity, and grain size are primary controls on the types of habitat present in fluvial ecosystems. This thesis focuses on expanding fluvial remote sensing to larger spatial extents and sub-meter resolutions, which will increase our ability to capture the spatial heterogeneity of habitat at a resolution relevant to individual salmonids and an extent relevant to species. This thesis consists of two chapters, one focusing on expanding the spatial extent over which depth can be mapped using Optimal Band Ratio Analysis (OBRA) and the other developing general relations for mapping grain size from three-dimensional topographic point clouds. The two chapters are independent but connected by the overarching goal of providing scientists and managers more useful tools for quantifying the amount and quality of salmonid habitat via remote sensing. The OBRA chapter highlights the true power of remote sensing to map depths from hyperspectral images as a central component of watershed scale analysis, while also acknowledging the great challenges involved with increasing spatial extent. The grain size mapping chapter establishes the first general relations for mapping grain size from roughness using point clouds. These relations will significantly reduce the time needed in the field by eliminating the need for independent measurements of grain size for calibrating the roughness-grain size relationship and thus making grain size mapping with SFM more cost effective for river restoration and monitoring. More data from future studies are needed to refine these relations and establish their validity and generality. In conclusion, this study adds to the rapidly growing field of fluvial remote sensing and could facilitate river research and restoration.

[Radial optic neurotomy for severe central retinal vein occlusion: preliminary results].

PubMed

Le Rouic, J-F; Becquet, F; Zanlonghi, X; Péronnet, P; Pousset-Decré, C; Hermouet-Leclair, E; Ducournau, D

2003-06-01

To describe the results of radial optic neurotomy for the treatment of severe central retinal vein occlusion. Prospective noncomparative single-center study. Analysis of ten eyes of ten consecutive patients whose visual acuity was 0.1 or less. They underwent fluorescein angiography, visual field testing by automated perimetry, and macular thickness analysis by optical coherence tomography preoperatively at 3 months and at 6 months postoperatively. Mean visual acuity on an ETDRS chart increased from 30+/-12 points preoperatively to 42+/-15 points at the 3-month visit, (p=0.03), and mean macular thickness decreased from 580+/-150 micro m to 361+/-52 micro m (p=0.04). All patients had clinical improvement as determined by fundus examination and fluorescein angiography. An improvement in the central visual field was observed in all eyes. Mean visual acuity of the five patients followed-up for 6 months was 52.8+/-20 points. No visual loss was observed. None of the patients underwent laser photocoagulation or has presented with neovascularization so far. Optociliary veins developed in three eyes and a retinochoroidal anastomosis within the disk incision was observed in two eyes. These preliminary results are encouraging when compared to the reported natural progression of severe central retinal vein occlusion. A bypass of the site of occlusion is a possible mechanism for radial optic neurotomy. A randomized study should be conducted to assess the efficacy of radial optic neurotomy and determine the best candidates for surgery.

Annotating the Focus of Negation in Terms of Questions Under Discussion

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-13

more that just a propositional logic operator. The central claims of the paper are that negation conveys implicit positiv - ity more than half of the...Rooth, 1996; Roberts, 1996; Kadmon, 2001), and only indirectly leads to positiv - ity. 2 Delimiting Focus of Negation 2.1 What Focus of Negation is

Re-Imagining the Nature of (Student-Focused) Learning through Digital Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hood, Nina

2018-01-01

Digital technology is frequently positioned as being central to the establishment of a 'future focused' education system that provides high quality student-focused learning opportunities and re-envisioned educational outcomes. While recognising the potential of technology, this paper explores some of the questions about its role in education and…

Use of ceramics in point-focus solar receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smoak, R. H.; Kudirka, A. A.

1981-01-01

One of the research and development efforts in the Solar Thermal Energy Systems Project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been focused on application of ceramic components for advanced point-focus solar receivers. The impetus for this effort is a need for high efficiency, low cost solar receivers which operate in a temperature regime where use of metal components is impractical. The current status of the work on evaluation of ceramic components at JPL and elsewhere is outlined and areas where lack of knowledge is currently slowing application of ceramics are discussed. Future developments of ceramic processing technology and reliability assurance methodology should open up applications for the point-focus solar concentrator system in fuels and chemicals production, in thermochemical energy transport and storage, in detoxification of hazardous materials and in high temperature process heat as well as for electric power generation.

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

Osipov, D V

We prove noncommutative reciprocity laws on an algebraic surface defined over a perfect field. These reciprocity laws establish that some central extensions of globally constructed groups split over certain subgroups constructed by points or projective curves on a surface. For a two-dimensional local field with a last finite residue field, the local central extension which is constructed is isomorphic to the central extension which comes from the case of tame ramification of the Abelian two-dimensional local Langlands correspondence suggested by Kapranov. Bibliography: 9 titles.

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO RIPARIAN MEADOW CHARACTERIZATION AND PRIORITIZATION, CENTRAL GREAT BASIN

EPA Science Inventory

The Great Basin Ecosystem Management Research group has described the hydrological, geophysical, and geomorphic conditions that lead to the formation and maintenance of riparian meadows of central Nevada. Previous work on these systems has focused on understanding a few study mea...

Linking the Central Office and Its Schools for Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Peggy E.; Chrispeels, Janet H.

2010-01-01

Purpose: This study investigates how linkages between a central office and its schools served as administrative controls while fostering professional accountability and organizational learning. Method: Using qualitative data sources (interviews, focus groups, observations, field notes, and document reviews), the study examines how resource,…

Entanglement entropy of 2D conformal quantum critical points: hearing the shape of a quantum drum.

PubMed

Fradkin, Eduardo; Moore, Joel E

2006-08-04

The entanglement entropy of a pure quantum state of a bipartite system A union or logical sumB is defined as the von Neumann entropy of the reduced density matrix obtained by tracing over one of the two parts. In one dimension, the entanglement of critical ground states diverges logarithmically in the subsystem size, with a universal coefficient that for conformally invariant critical points is related to the central charge of the conformal field theory. We find that the entanglement entropy of a standard class of z=2 conformal quantum critical points in two spatial dimensions, in addition to a nonuniversal "area law" contribution linear in the size of the AB boundary, generically has a universal logarithmically divergent correction, which is completely determined by the geometry of the partition and by the central charge of the field theory that describes the critical wave function.

Spatial orientation of different frequencies within the echolocation beam of a Tursiops truncatus and Pseudorca crassidens.

PubMed

Ibsen, Stuart D; Nachtigall, Paul E; Krause-Nehring, Jacqueline; Kloepper, Laura; Breese, Marlee; Li, Songhai; Vlachos, Stephanie

2012-08-01

A two-dimensional array of 16 hydrophones was created to map the spatial distribution of different frequencies within the echolocation beam of a Tursiops truncatus and a Pseudorca crassidens. It was previously shown that both the Tursiops and Pseudorca only paid attention to frequencies between 29 and 42 kHz while echolocating. Both individuals tightly focused the 30 kHz frequency and the spatial location of the focus was consistently pointed toward the target. At 50 kHz the beam was less focused and less precisely pointed at the target. At 100 kHz the focus was often completely lost and was not pointed at the target. This indicates that these individuals actively focused the beam toward the target only in the frequency range they paid attention to. Frequencies outside this range were left unfocused and undirected. This focusing was probably achieved through sensorimotor control of the melon morphology and nasal air sacs. This indicates that both morphologically different species can control the spatial distribution of different frequency ranges within the echolocation beam to create consistent ensonation of desired targets.

The WEAVE focus translation system: from design to construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canchado, Manuel; Romero, Antonio; Maroto, Óscar; Tomas, Albert; Martín-Nuño, Carlos; Casalta, Joan Manel; Prida, Joaquín.; L. Aguerri, J. Alfonso; Herreros, José Miguel; Delgado, José Miguel; Burgal, José Alonso; Abrams, Don Carlos; Dee, Kevin; Dalton, Gavin; Bonifacio, Piercarlo; Trager, Scott C.; Vallenari, Antonella

2016-07-01

WEAVE is a new wide-field spectroscopy facility proposed for the prime focus of the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT), placed in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. To allow for the compensation of the effects of temperature-induced and gravity-induced image degradation, the WEAVE prime focus assembly will be translated along the telescope optical axis. The assembly comprises the prime focus corrector with integrated ADC, a central mount for the corrector, an instrument rotator and a twin-focal-plane fibre positioner. Translation is accomplished through the use of a set of purpose-built actuators; collectively referred to as the Focus Translation System (FTS), formed by four independently-controlled Focus Translation Units (FTUs), eight vanes connecting the FTUs to a central can, and a central can hosting WEAVE Instrument. Each FTU is capable of providing a maximum stroke of +/-4mm with sufficient, combined force to move the five-tonne assembly with a positional accuracy of +/-20μm at a resolution of 5μm. The coordinated movement of the four FTUs allows +/-3mm WEAVE focus adjustment in the optical axis and +/-0.015° tilt correction in one axis. The control of the FTS is accomplished through a PLC-based subsystem that receives positional demands from the higher-level Instrument Control System. SENER has been responsible for designing, manufacturing and testing the FTS and the equipment required to manipulate and store the FTS together with the instrument. This manuscript describes the final design of the FTS along with the analyses and simulations that were performed, discusses the manufacturing procedures and the results of early verification prior to integration with the telescope. The plans for mounting the whole system on the telescope are also discussed.

Neural basis of postural focus effect on concurrent postural and motor tasks: phase-locked electroencephalogram responses.

PubMed

Huang, Cheng-Ya; Zhao, Chen-Guang; Hwang, Ing-Shiou

2014-11-01

Dual-task performance is strongly affected by the direction of attentional focus. This study investigated neural control of a postural-suprapostural procedure when postural focus strategy varied. Twelve adults concurrently conducted force-matching and maintained stabilometer stance with visual feedback on ankle movement (visual internal focus, VIF) and on stabilometer movement (visual external focus, VEF). Force-matching error, dynamics of ankle and stabilometer movements, and event-related potentials (ERPs) were registered. Postural control with VEF caused superior force-matching performance, more complex ankle movement, and stronger kinematic coupling between the ankle and stabilometer movements than postural control with VIF. The postural focus strategy also altered ERP temporal-spatial patterns. Postural control with VEF resulted in later N1 with less negativity around the bilateral fronto-central and contralateral sensorimotor areas, earlier P2 deflection with more positivity around the bilateral fronto-central and ipsilateral temporal areas, and late movement-related potential commencing in the left frontal-central area, as compared with postural control with VIF. The time-frequency distribution of the ERP principal component revealed phase-locked neural oscillations in the delta (1-4Hz), theta (4-7Hz), and beta (13-35Hz) rhythms. The delta and theta rhythms were more pronounced prior to the timing of P2 positive deflection, and beta rebound was greater after the completion of force-matching in VEF condition than VIF condition. This study is the first to reveal the neural correlation of postural focusing effect on a postural-suprapostural task. Postural control with VEF takes advantage of efficient task-switching to facilitate autonomous postural response, in agreement with the "constrained-action" hypothesis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In the Shadow of the Cold War: The Caribbean and Central America in U.S. Foreign Policy. Revised Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malkasian, Mark; Davidson, Louise K.

In this document, students examine the economic and military concerns that linked the history of the Caribbean and Central America to the United States. Organized into four chapters, the first chapter examines the history of U.S. relations with the Caribbean and Central America from the early 19th century to 1961. The second chapter focuses on the…

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC Director Jim Kennedy makes a presentation to NASA and other officials about the benefits of locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At the far left is Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC Director Jim Kennedy makes a presentation to NASA and other officials about the benefits of locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At the far left is Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

Self-sustained focusing of high-density streaming plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bugaev, A.; Dobrovolskiy, A.; Goncharov, A.; Gushenets, V.; Litovko, I.; Naiko, I.; Oks, E.

2017-01-01

We describe our observations of the transport through an electrostatic plasma lens of a wide-aperture, high-current, low energy, metal-ion plasma flow produced by a cathodic arc discharge. The lens input aperture was 80 mm, the length of the lens was 140 mm, and there were three electrostatic ring electrodes located in a magnetic field formed by permanent magnets. The lens outer electrodes were grounded and the central electrode was biased up to -3 kV. The plasma was a copper plasma with directed (streaming) ion energy 20-40 eV, and the equivalent ion current was up to several amperes depending on the potential applied to the central lens electrode. We find that when the central lens electrode is electrically floating, the current density of the plasma flow at the lens focus increases by up to 40%-50%, a result that is in good agreement with a theoretical treatment based on plasma-optical principles of magnetic insulation of electrons and equipotentialization along magnetic field lines. When the central lens electrode is biased negatively, an on-axis stream of energetic electrons is formed, which can also provide a mechanism for focusing of the plasma flow. Optical emission spectra under these conditions show an increase in intensity of lines corresponding to both copper atoms and singly charged copper ions, indicating the presence of fast electrons within the lens volume. These energetic electrons, as well as accumulating on-axis and providing ion focusing, can also assist in reducing the microdroplet component in the dense, low-temperature, metal plasma.

Drivers' and non-drivers' performance in a change detection task with static driving scenes: is there a benefit of experience?

PubMed

Zhao, Nan; Chen, Wenfeng; Xuan, Yuming; Mehler, Bruce; Reimer, Bryan; Fu, Xiaolan

2014-01-01

The 'looked-but-failed-to-see' phenomenon is crucial to driving safety. Previous research utilising change detection tasks related to driving has reported inconsistent effects of driver experience on the ability to detect changes in static driving scenes. Reviewing these conflicting results, we suggest that drivers' increased ability to detect changes will only appear when the task requires a pattern of visual attention distribution typical of actual driving. By adding a distant fixation point on the road image, we developed a modified change blindness paradigm and measured detection performance of drivers and non-drivers. Drivers performed better than non-drivers only in scenes with a fixation point. Furthermore, experience effect interacted with the location of the change and the relevance of the change to driving. These results suggest that learning associated with driving experience reflects increased skill in the efficient distribution of visual attention across both the central focus area and peripheral objects. This article provides an explanation for the previously conflicting reports of driving experience effects in change detection tasks. We observed a measurable benefit of experience in static driving scenes, using a modified change blindness paradigm. These results have translational opportunities for picture-based training and testing tools to improve driver skill.

Laser-induced fluorescence detection platform for point-of-care testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berner, Marcel; Hilbig, Urs; Schubert, Markus B.; Gauglitz, Günter

2017-08-01

Point-of-care testing (POCT) devices for continuous low-cost monitoring of critical patient parameters require miniaturized and integrated setups for performing quick high-sensitivity analyses, away from central clinical laboratories. This work presents a novel and promising laser-induced fluorescence platform for measurements in direct optical test formats that leads towards such powerful POCT devices based on fluorescence-labeled immunoassays. Ultimate sensitivity of thin film photodetectors, integrated with microfluidics, and a comprehensive optimization of all system components aim at low-level signal detection in the targeted biosensor application. The setup acquires fluorescence signals from the volume of a microfluidic channel. An innovative sandwiching process forms a flow channel in the microfluidic chips by embedding laser-cut double-sided adhesive tapes. The custom fit of amorphous silicon based photodiode arrays to the geometry of the flow channel enables miniaturization, fully adequate for POCT devices. A free-beam laser excitation with line focus provides excellent alignment stability, allows for easy and reliable swapping of the disposable microfluidic chips, and therewith greatly improves the ease of use of the resulting integrated device. As a proof-of-concept of this novel in-volume measurement approach, the limit of detection for the dye DY636-COOH in pure water as a model fluorophore is examined and found to be 26 nmol l-1 .

Notebook input devices put to the age test: the usability of trackpoint and touchpad for middle-aged adults.

PubMed

Armbrüster, C; Sutter, C; Ziefle, M

2007-03-01

In two experiments, the usability of input devices integrated into computer notebooks was under study. The most common input devices, touchpad (experiment 1) and trackpoint (experiment 2) were examined. So far, the evaluation of mobile input devices has been restricted to younger users. However, due to ongoing demographic change, the main target group of mobile devices will be older users. Therefore, the present study focused on ageing effects. A total of 14 middle-aged (40-65 years) and 20 younger (20-32 years) users were compared regarding speed and accuracy of cursor control in a point-click and a point-drag-drop task. Moreover, the effects of training were addressed by examining the performance increase over time. In total, 640 trials per task and input device were executed. The results show that ageing is a central factor to be considered in input device design. Middle-aged users were significantly slower than younger users when executing the different tasks. Over time, a significant training effect was observed for both devices and both age groups, although the benefit of training was greater for the middle-aged group. Generally, the touchpad performance was higher than the trackpoint performance in both age groups, but the age-related performance decrements were less distinct when using the touchpad.

The community ecology of pathogens: coinfection, coexistence and community composition.

PubMed

Seabloom, Eric W; Borer, Elizabeth T; Gross, Kevin; Kendig, Amy E; Lacroix, Christelle; Mitchell, Charles E; Mordecai, Erin A; Power, Alison G

2015-04-01

Disease and community ecology share conceptual and theoretical lineages, and there has been a resurgence of interest in strengthening links between these fields. Building on recent syntheses focused on the effects of host community composition on single pathogen systems, we examine pathogen (microparasite) communities using a stochastic metacommunity model as a starting point to bridge community and disease ecology perspectives. Such models incorporate the effects of core community processes, such as ecological drift, selection and dispersal, but have not been extended to incorporate host-pathogen interactions, such as immunosuppression or synergistic mortality, that are central to disease ecology. We use a two-pathogen susceptible-infected (SI) model to fill these gaps in the metacommunity approach; however, SI models can be intractable for examining species-diverse, spatially structured systems. By placing disease into a framework developed for community ecology, our synthesis highlights areas ripe for progress, including a theoretical framework that incorporates host dynamics, spatial structuring and evolutionary processes, as well as the data needed to test the predictions of such a model. Our synthesis points the way for this framework and demonstrates that a deeper understanding of pathogen community dynamics will emerge from approaches working at the interface of disease and community ecology. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

NAS technical summaries: Numerical aerodynamic simulation program, March 1991 - February 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

NASA created the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) Program in 1987 to focus resources on solving critical problems in aeroscience and related disciplines by utilizing the power of the most advanced supercomputers available. The NAS Program provides scientists with the necessary computing power to solve today's most demanding computational fluid dynamics problems and serves as a pathfinder in integrating leading-edge supercomputing technologies, thus benefiting other supercomputer centers in Government and industry. This report contains selected scientific results from the 1991-92 NAS Operational Year, March 4, 1991 to March 3, 1992, which is the fifth year of operation. During this year, the scientific community was given access to a Cray-2 and a Cray Y-MP. The Cray-2, the first generation supercomputer, has four processors, 256 megawords of central memory, and a total sustained speed of 250 million floating point operations per second. The Cray Y-MP, the second generation supercomputer, has eight processors and a total sustained speed of one billion floating point operations per second. Additional memory was installed this year, doubling capacity from 128 to 256 megawords of solid-state storage-device memory. Because of its higher performance, the Cray Y-MP delivered approximately 77 percent of the total number of supercomputer hours used during this year.

Global Soil Information Facilities - Component Worldgrids.org

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reuter, H. I.; Hengl, T.

2012-04-01

GSIF (Global Soil Information Facilities) is ISRIC's framework for production of open soil data. It has been inspired by global environmental data initiatives (e.g. oneGeology, GBIF). The main practical motivation for GSIF is to build cyber-infrastructure to collate legacy (i.e., historic) soil data currently under threat of being lost forever and to generate new soil information. The objective of the component worldgrids is a (de)-central repository for collecting, storing, accessing and interacting with gridded data sets of global soil covariate data for production mapping, while being part of a larger GSIF. It is the physical implementation of the expectation that ISRIC would lead and coordinate a project to assemble a core data set of global environmental covariates to (partly) support local efforts to produce global soil property maps. Currently over 100 layers with a 5 and 1 km resolution with a global coverage can be accessed via www.worldgrids.org. Three different functionalities are implemented to extract data in an OGC complained matter: i) single point overlay ii) mass point overlay; iii) zone grid overlay with reporting of different statistical parameters. The presentation will focus on datasets, functionalities, access via the R-project and ArcGIS globalsoilmap.net Toolbox as well on future enhancements to the worldgrids platform.

Set-specific capture can be reduced by preemptively occupying a limited-capacity focus of attention.

PubMed

Moore, Katherine Sledge; Weissman, Daniel H

2011-01-01

Recent work has shown that contingent attentional capture effects can be especially large when multiple attentional sets for color guide visual search (Moore & Weissman, 2010). In particular, this research suggests that detecting a target-colored (e.g., orange) distractor leads the corresponding attentional set (e.g., identify orange letters) to enter a limited-capacity focus of attention in working memory, where it remains briefly while the distractor is being attended. Consequently, the ability to identify a differently-colored (e.g., green) target 100-300 ms later is impaired because the appropriate set (e.g., identify green letters) cannot also enter the focus of attention. In two experiments, we investigated whether such set-specific capture can be reduced by preemptively occupying the focus of attention. As predicted, a target-colored central distractor presented 233 ms before a target-colored peripheral distractor eliminated set-specific capture arising from the peripheral distractor. Moreover, this effect was observed only when the central distractor's color (e.g., orange) (a) matched a different set than the upcoming peripheral distractor's color (e.g., green) and (b) matched the same set as the upcoming central target's color (e.g., orange). We conclude that the same working memory limitations that give rise to set-specific capture can be preemptively exploited to reduce it.

Laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device

DOEpatents

Vann, Charles S.

1993-01-01

A laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device permits the focus of a single focal point of different frequency laser beams emanating from the same source point. In particular it allows the focusing of laser beam originating from the same laser device but having differing intensities so that a low intensity beam will not convert to a higher frequency when passing through a conversion crystal associated with the laser generating device. The laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device uses a cassegrain system to fold the lower frequency, low intensity beam back upon itself so that it will focus at the same focal point as a high intensity beam. An angular tilt compensating lens is mounted about the secondary mirror of the cassegrain system to assist in alignment. In addition cameras or CCD's are mounted with the primary mirror to sense the focused image. A convex lens is positioned co-axial with the cassegrain system on the side of the primary mirror distal of the secondary for use in aligning a target with the laser beam. A first alternate embodiment includes a cassegrain system using a series of shutters and an internally mounted dichroic mirror. A second alternate embodiment uses two laser focus compensating sensing and imaging devices for aligning a moving tool with a work piece.

Laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device

DOEpatents

Vann, C.S.

1993-08-31

A laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device permits the focus of a single focal point of different frequency laser beams emanating from the same source point. In particular it allows the focusing of laser beam originating from the same laser device but having differing intensities so that a low intensity beam will not convert to a higher frequency when passing through a conversion crystal associated with the laser generating device. The laser focus compensating sensing and imaging device uses a Cassegrain system to fold the lower frequency, low intensity beam back upon itself so that it will focus at the same focal point as a high intensity beam. An angular tilt compensating lens is mounted about the secondary mirror of the Cassegrain system to assist in alignment. In addition cameras or CCD's are mounted with the primary mirror to sense the focused image. A convex lens is positioned co-axial with the Cassegrain system on the side of the primary mirror distal of the secondary for use in aligning a target with the laser beam. A first alternate embodiment includes a Cassegrain system using a series of shutters and an internally mounted dichroic mirror. A second alternate embodiment uses two laser focus compensating sensing and imaging devices for aligning a moving tool with a work piece.

[Men as caregivers for their wives - two phenomenological studies of the experiences of male primary caregivers in home care arrangements. Part II: men as caregivers for their wives suffering from dementia].

PubMed

Bauernschmidt, Dorothee; Dorschner, Stephan

2014-10-01

In Germany, men participate more and more in the extensive process of caring for their relatives. Focus of the second study are husbands caring in home care for their wives suffering from dementia. Objective of the present study is to analyse the following questions, with focus on caring husbands: Firstly, how do caring husbands experience caring for their wives suffering from dementia? And secondly, how do they organise daily life? Narrative interviews with ten caring husbands were conducted. Analysis was performed using a modified phenomenological-interpretative approach as described by Diekelmann (1992). Seven central issues evolved: "Dementia is a mischievous disease …" (disease as lingering crisis); "But there is a commitment …" (relationship); "Quarrel, that's not resolved without efforts …" (conflict); "Nothing's left from that …" (loss); "The amount of care, it didn't decrease, it's getting more …" (care); "The world's getting smaller …" (limitations); "I don't dislike it when someone's around supporting me …" (support). "Being bonded" emerged as a constitutive pattern, according to which caring husbands perceive their own life situation. Caring husbands perceive and organise their wives' care situation individually. This includes their evaluation of professional assistance offers. Our findings point out the clear need for different offers of professional care givers when collaborating with caring husbands. Further research should focus on individual (long-time) care courses as well as reasons for declining professional assistance offers.

Psychoanalysis and the Brain – Why Did Freud Abandon Neuroscience?

PubMed Central

Northoff, Georg

2012-01-01

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was initially a neuroscientist but abandoned neuroscience completely after he made a last attempt to link both in his writing, “Project of a Scientific Psychology,” in 1895. The reasons for his subsequent disregard of the brain remain unclear though. I here argue that one central reason may be that the approach to the brain during his time was simply not appealing to Freud. More specifically, Freud was interested in revealing the psychological predispositions of psychodynamic processes. However, he was not so much focused on the actual psychological functions themselves which though were the prime focus of the neuroscience at his time and also in current Cognitive Neuroscience. Instead, he probably would have been more interested in the brain’s resting state and its constitution of a spatiotemporal structure. I here assume that the resting state activity constitutes a statistically based virtual structure extending and linking the different discrete points in time and space within the brain. That in turn may serve as template, schemata, or grid for all subsequent neural processing during stimulus-induced activity. As such the resting state’ spatiotemporal structure may serve as the neural predisposition of what Freud described as “psychological structure.” Hence, Freud and also current neuropsychoanalysis may want to focus more on neural predispositions, the necessary non-sufficient conditions, rather than the neural correlates, i.e., sufficient, conditions of psychodynamic processes. PMID:22485098

[COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MLVA25- AND MLVA7-TYPING ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY TO ASCERTAIN FOCAL AFFILIATION OF YERSINIA PESTIS STRAINS BY THE EXAMPLE OF ISOLATES FROM THE CENTRAL-CAUCASIAN HIGHLAND NATURAL PLAGUE FOCUS].

PubMed

Evseeva, V V; Platonov, M E; Govorunov, I G; Efremenko, D V; Kuznetsova, I V; Dentovskaya, S V; Kulichenko, A N; Anisimov, A P

2016-01-01

Comparative analysis of the MLVA25- and MLVA7-typing ability to evaluate focal belonging of Y. pestis strains by the example of bv. medievalis isolates from the Central-Caucasian highland natural plague focus was carried out. The MLVA25-types of-82 isolates from this area were determined and included into the database containing information on 949 Y. pestis strains from other natural foci of Russia and other countries. Categorical-UPGMA dendrograms were created on the bases of the data concerning all 25 VNTR loci or only seven of them, which were recommended by the experts of the Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute "Microbe" for differentiation of the Y. pestis strains according to their affiliation to specific foci. The obtained data indicated greater possibility of diagnostic mistakes in the case of the MLVA7-typing and supported expediency of division of the Central-Caucasian highland natural plague focus into two sub-foci.

Impact of Declining Rural Infrastructure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKenzie, Fiona Haslem

A study investigated the impact of declining rural community infrastructure on social, environmental, and economic well-being in Western Australia's central wheatbelt. Questionnaires were completed by 398 residents of the central wheatbelt, on-farm interviews were conducted with 68 respondents, and 4 focus groups were held in area towns.…

Effect of controlled offset of focal position in cavitation-enhanced high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goto, Kota; Takagi, Ryo; Miyashita, Takuya; Jimbo, Hayato; Yoshizawa, Shin; Umemura, Shin-ichiro

2015-07-01

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive treatment for tumors such as cancer. In this method, ultrasound is generated outside the body and focused to the target tissue. Therefore, physical and mental stresses on the patient are minimal. A drawback of the HIFU treatment is a long treatment time for a large tumor due to the small therapeutic volume by a single exposure. Enhancing the heating effect of ultrasound by cavitation bubbles may solve this problem. However, this is rather difficult because cavitation clouds tend to be formed backward from the focal point while ultrasonic intensity for heating is centered at the focal point. In this study, the focal points of the trigger pulses to generate cavitation were offset forward from those of the heating ultrasound to match the cavitation clouds with the heating patterns. Results suggest that the controlled offset of focal points makes the thermal coagulation more predictable.

Service Provision to Students: Where the Gown Best Fits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schulz, Lucy; Szekeres, Judy

2008-01-01

One of the challenges facing those responsible for service provision in universities is ensuring that service is provided at the right point in the organisation. Service delivery points can exist at the school/department level, faculty/division level or central unit/university wide level. This does not always follow organisational logic, common…

CLOSED-LOOP TREATMENT OF ELECTROLYTIC AND ELECTROLESS NICKEL RINSE WATER BY POINT-OF-USE ION EXCHANGE: A CASE STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

Many recent pilot tests have demonstrated the benefits and cost effectiveness of point-of-use treatment technologies as opposed to centralized wastewater treatment for all sizes of plating facilities. A 9-month case study at a small plating facility in Cincinnati, OH utilizing po...

Recovery Act Final Project Report -- Transportation Electrification

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

Gogineni, Kumar

2013-12-31

ChargePoint America demonstrated the viability, economic and environmental benefits of an electric vehicle-charging infrastructure. Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) arrived in late 2010, there was a substantial lack of infrastructure to support these vehicles. ChargePoint America deployed charging infrastructure in ten (10) metropolitan regions in coordination with vehicle deliveries targeting those same regions by our OEM partners: General Motors, Nissan, Fisker Automotive, Ford, smart USA, and BMW. The metropolitan regions include Central Texas (Austin/San Antonio), Bellevue/Redmond (WA), Southern Michigan, Los Angeles area (CA), New York Metro (NY), Central Florida (Orlando/Tampa), Sacramento (CA), San Francisco/San Jose (CA), Washingtonmore » DC and Boston (MA). ChargePoint America installed more than 4,600 Level 2 (220v) SAE J1772™ UL listed networked charging ports in home, public and commercial locations to support approximately 2000 program vehicles. ChargePoint collected data to analyze how individuals, businesses and local governments used their vehicles. Understanding driver charging behavior patterns will provide the DoE with critical information as EV adoption increases in the United States.« less

Bee venom acupuncture point injection for central post stroke pain: a preliminary single-blind randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Cho, Seung-Yeon; Park, Joo-Young; Jung, Woo-Sang; Moon, Sang-Kwan; Park, Jung-Mi; Ko, Chang-Nam; Park, Seong-Uk

2013-06-01

We investigated apipuncture, or acupuncture point injection with diluted bee venom, as a promising new treatment for central post stroke pain (CPSP). Bee venom, diluted to 0.005% in normal saline, was administered to the treatment group, and normal saline given to control group as twice-weekly injections for three weeks. The points were LI15, GB21, LI11, GB31, ST36 and GB39 of the affected side and the amount of injection was 0.05 ml at each point. Eight patients in each group were included in the analysis. After three weeks there were significant decreases in visual analogue pain scores compared with baseline in both groups and the treatment group improved more significantly than the control group (p = 0.009). Apipuncture significantly improved CPSP in this pilot trial. Further studies of its mechanisms and a larger and long-term follow-up trial will be needed to determine more definitely the efficacy of apipuncture and to elucidate duration of improvement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flight trajectories with maximum tangential thrust in a central Newtonian field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azizov, A. G.; Korshunova, N. A.

1983-07-01

The paper examines the two-dimensional problem of determining the optimal trajectories of a point moving with a limited per-second mass consumption in a central Newtonian field. It is shown that one of the cases in which the variational equations in the Meier formulation can be integrated in quadratures is motion with maximum tangential thrust. Trajectories corresponding to this motion are determined. By way of application, attention is given to the problem of determining the thrust which assures maximum kinetic energy for the point at the moment t = t1, corresponding to the mass consumption M0 - M1, where M0 and M1 are, respectively, the initial and final mass.

Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Pomme de Terre River Basin, west-central Minnesota

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lorenz, D.L.; Payne, G.A.

1994-01-01

Data describing the physical characteristics of stream subbasins upstream from selected points on streams in the Pomme de Terre River Basin, located in west-central Minnesota, are presented in this report. The physical characteristics are the drainage area of the subbasin, the percentage area of the subbasin covered only by lakes, the percentage area of the subbasin covered by both lakes and wetlands, the main-channel length, and the main-channel slope. The points on the stream include outlets of subbasins of at least 5 square miles, outfalls of sewage treatment plants, and locations of U.S. Geological Survey low-flow, high-flow, and continuous-record gaging stations.

Investigation of Plasma Focus in Coaxial Accelerator with Pre-Ionization of Gas,

DTIC Science & Technology

appears that when the accelerating current beyond the end of the central electrodes has sufficiently high levels a plasma focus is formed which is...obtained from an investigation of the main properties of the plasma focus in a system with a pre-ionized gas, achieved by means of an inductive electrical field.

Beyond the drug-terror nexus: drug trafficking and state-crime relations in Central Asia.

PubMed

De Danieli, Filippo

2014-11-01

In the wake of collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has transformed into a key hub along the Afghan opiates trafficking routes. Around 30 percent of the heroin manufactured in Afghanistan is estimated to be smuggled through Central Asian republics in its way to booming drug markets in Russia and Eastern Europe. Building upon available evidence and extensive fieldwork research, the article seeks to confute mainstream analyses which emphasize connections between criminal and terrorist networks. The focus is on conducive factors for the establishment of drug routes in Central Asia, the characteristics of drug related networks, and the nature of political-criminal relations across the region. It is argued that in all five Central Asia republics strategic partnerships have formed between drug traffickers and state actors around the exploitation of drug rents and that mafias' influence on politics is stronger in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the region's poorest countries. By moving the focus from narco-terror to the state-crime connections, the article provides a critical insight into political economy issues surrounding a complex and multifaceted phenomenon such as the drug trade. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Centrality of women's multiple roles: beneficial and detrimental consequences for psychological well-being.

PubMed

Martire, L M; Stephens, M A; Townsend, A L

2000-03-01

Theorists have proposed that greater centrality (personal importance) of a social role is associated with better psychological well-being but that role centrality exacerbates the negative effects of stress in that same social role on well-being. The present study found evidence to support both hypotheses in a sample of 296 women who simultaneously occupied the roles of parent care provider, mother, wife, and employee. Greater centrality of all four roles was related to better psychological well-being. As predicted, wife centrality exacerbated the effects of wife stress on life satisfaction, and employee centrality exacerbated the effects of employee stress on depressive symptoms. Contrary to prediction, centrality of the mother role buffered women from the negative effects of mother stress on depressive symptoms. These findings point to an aspect of role identity that can benefit well-being but that has complex effects in the context of role stress.

Remote adjustable focus Raman spectroscopy probe

DOEpatents

Schmucker, John E.; Blasi, Raymond J.; Archer, William B.

1999-01-01

A remote adjustable focus Raman spectroscopy probe allows for analyzing Raman scattered light from a point of interest external probe. An environmental barrier including at least one window separates the probe from the point of interest. An optical tube is disposed adjacent to the environmental barrier and includes a long working length compound lens objective next to the window. A beam splitter and a mirror are at the other end. A mechanical means is used to translated the prove body in the X, Y, and Z directions resulting in a variable focus optical apparatus. Laser light is reflected by the beam splitter and directed toward the compound lens objective, then through the window and focused on the point of interest. Raman scattered light is then collected by the compound lens objective and directed through the beam splitter to a mirror. A device for analyzing the light, such as a monochrometer, is coupled to the mirror.

Variations in morphology and PSII photosynthetic capabilities during the early development of tetraspores of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Red algae are primitive photosynthetic eukaryotes, whose spores are ideal subjects for studies of photosynthesis and development. Although the development of red alga spores has received considerable research attention, few studies have focused on the detailed morphological and photosynthetic changes that occur during the early development of tetraspores of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta). Herein, we documented these changes in this species of red algae. Results In the tetraspores, we observed two types of division, cruciate and zonate, and both could develop into multicellular bodies (disks). During the first 84 hours, tetraspores divided several times, but the diameter of the disks changed very little; thereafter, the diameter increased significantly. Scanning electron microscopy observations and analysis of histological sections revealed that the natural shape of the disk remains tapered over time, and the erect frond grows from the central protrusion of the disk. Cultivation of tissue from excised disks demonstrated that the central protrusion of the disk is essential for initiation of the erect frond. Photosynthetic (i.e., PSII) activities were measured using chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. The results indicated that freshly released tetraspores retained limited PSII photosynthetic capabilities; when the tetraspores attached to a substrate, those capabilities increased significantly. In the disk, the PSII activity of both marginal and central cells was similar, although some degree of morphological polarity was present; the PSII photosynthetic capabilities in young germling exhibited an apico-basal gradient. Conclusions Attachment of tetraspores to a substrate significantly enhanced their PSII photosynthetic capabilities, and triggered further development. The central protrusion of the disk is the growth point, may have transfer of nutritive material with the marginal cells. Within the young germling, the hetero-distribution of PSII photosynthetic capabilities might be due to the differences in cell functions. PMID:20426804

Is decentralization good for logistics systems? Evidence on essential medicine logistics in Ghana and Guatemala.

PubMed

Bossert, Thomas J; Bowser, Diana M; Amenyah, Johnnie K

2007-03-01

Efficient logistics systems move essential medicines down the supply chain to the service delivery point, and then to the end user. Experts on logistics systems tend to see the supply chain as requiring centralized control to be most effective. However, many health reforms have involved decentralization, which experts fear has disrupted the supply chain and made systems less effective. There is no consensus on an appropriate methodology for assessing the effectiveness of decentralization in general, and only a few studies have attempted to address decentralization of logistics systems. This paper sets out a framework and methodology of a pioneering exploratory study that examines the experiences of decentralization in two countries, Guatemala and Ghana, and presents suggestive results of how decentralization affected the performance of their logistics systems. The analytical approach assessed decentralization using the principal author's 'decision space' approach, which defines decentralization as the degree of choice that local officials have over different health system functions. In this case the approach focused on 15 different logistics functions and measured the relationship between the degree of choice and indicators of performance for each of the functions. The results of both studies indicate that less choice (i.e. more centralized) was associated with better performance for two key functions (inventory control and information systems), while more choice (i.e. more decentralized) over planning and budgeting was associated with better performance. With different systems of procurement in Ghana and Guatemala, we found that a system with some elements of procurement that are centralized (selection of firms and prices fixed by national tender) was positively related in Guatemala but negatively related in Ghana, where a system of 'cash and carry' cost recovery allowed more local choice. The authors conclude that logistics systems can be effectively decentralized for some functions while others should remain centralized. These preliminary findings, however, should be subject to alternative methodologies to confirm the findings.

Memories of shame experiences with others and depression symptoms: the mediating role of experiential avoidance.

PubMed

Carvalho, Sérgio; Dinis, Alexandra; Pinto-Gouveia, José; Estanqueiro, Cátia

2015-01-01

Shame experiences have been suggested to be related with psychopathological symptoms and with self-relevant beliefs. Recent studies also suggest that avoidant-focused strategies (e.g., rumination, thought suppression and dissociation) mediate the impact of shame memories and depression symptoms. However, experiential avoidance has been found to mediate the relation between early experience of abuse and psychopathological symptoms. Our goal was to test the mediating effect of experiential avoidance in the relation between both the nature of shame experiences at the hands of caregivers and the centrality of shame memories with others, and depression symptoms. Using structural equation modelling, we assessed the frequency and nature of recalled shame experiences at the hands of caregivers, the centrality of shame experiences with others throughout childhood and adolescence, experiential avoidance and depression symptomatology in 161 participants from general population. Experiential avoidance mediates the impact of shame experiences with caregivers and depression symptoms. Experiential avoidance also mediated the association between the centrality of shame experiences with others and depression symptoms. Our results suggest that shame memories with others do not per se impact on depression symptoms, but rather the unwillingness to experience them and the attempts to control them. Hence, our results emphasize the importance of addressing affect regulation processes such as avoidance when dealing with shame memories, particularly with patients who experience depression symptoms. The recall of shame experiences with caregivers is associated with the experience of depression symptoms, even when these experiences are not perceived as central points to one's life identity and story. This seems to suggest a necessity to explore these experiences in a therapeutic setting. Our findings suggest that experiential avoidance is a key process through which these memories of shame experiences impact on depression symptomatology. Hence, it seems to be of great importance to reduce experiential avoidance and help people change the way they relate with these memories. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evolution of the research collaboration network in a productive department.

PubMed

Katerndahl, David

2012-02-01

Understanding collaboration networks can facilitate the research growth of new or developing departments. The purpose of this study was to use social network analysis to understand how the research collaboration network evolved within a productive department. Over a 13-year period, a departmental faculty completed an annual survey describing their research collaborations. Data were analyzed using social network analysis. Network measures focused on connectedness, distance, groupings and heterogeneity of distribution, while measures for the research director and external collaboration focused on centrality and roles within the network. Longitudinal patterns of network collaboration were assessed using Simulation Investigation for Empirical Network Analysis software (University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands). Based upon the number of active research projects, research development can be divided into three phases. The initial development phase was characterized by increasing centralization and collaboration focused within a single subject area. During the maintenance phase, measures went through cycles, possibly because of changes in faculty composition. While the research director was not a 'key player' within the network during the first several years, external collaboration played a central role during all phases. Longitudinal analysis found that forming ties was more likely when the opportunity for network closure existed and when those around you are principal investigators (PIs). Initial development of research relied heavily upon a centralized network involving external collaboration; a central position of the research director during research development was not important. Changes in collaboration depended upon faculty gender and tenure track as well as transitivity and the 'popularity of PIs'. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

KSC-04PD-0250

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. NASA Administrator Sean OKeefe (center) is welcomed to the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the new NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASAs payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

Toward Understanding Non-Centralized Technology Support in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Robert Jonathan

2009-01-01

The focus of this research is an examination of service quality provided by non-centralized technology personnel, Local Technical Support Providers (LSPs), at a southern research university. The SERVQUAL instrument was selected to measure service quality of LSPs within the Academic Affairs Division. The rationale for selecting and testing SERVQUAL…

Court-Driven Reform and Equal Educational Opportunity: Centralization, Decentralization, and the Shifting Judicial Role

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Superfine, Benjamin Michael

2010-01-01

Judicial decisions focusing on equal educational opportunity involve significant issues of educational governance and often involve explicit questions about the extent to which authority to make educational decisions should be centralized or decentralized across various institutions and entities. This review aims at clarifying scholars'…

75 FR 16544 - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-01

... for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With Central Europe Announcement Type: New Grant... Leadership Program with Central Europe. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions... exchange activities will focus broadly on the themes of civic rights and responsibilities, leadership, and...

Assessing Child Welfare Outcomes in Central and Eastern Europe.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herczog, Maria

1998-01-01

Discusses the need to examine effectiveness of services to children and families in central and eastern Europe, focusing on programs in Hungary. Notes that financial considerations and differences in objectives have increased the importance of outcomes measurement. Reports that the pilot implementation of "Looking After Children"…

The Centrality of Ethical Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ehrich, Lisa C.; Harris, Jessica; Klenowski, Val; Smeed, Judy; Spina, Nerida

2015-01-01

Purpose: The central argument in this paper is that ethical school leadership is imperative in a context of increasing performance-driven accountability. The purpose of this paper is to focus on school principals' perceptions of how they understand ethical leadership and how they lead the ethical use of data. Design/Methodology/Approach: This…

An in vivo study of the effects on serum glucose, amylase and histopathology of the feline pancreatic tissue treated by focused ultrasound.

PubMed

Mao, Ying; Fang, Liaoqiong; Ai, Liang; Li, Chongyan; Wang, Zhibiao; Wu, Junru; Bai, Jin; Li, Faqi

2014-01-01

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant neoplasms originating in the digestive system. Focused ultrasound (FUS) treatment instead of the surgery operation has been used to treat Pancreatic cancer noninvasively in clinical trials. The endocrine and exocrine glands in pancreas provide the two unique functions for a person to be healthy. It is critically important to find out if the FUS treatment can still keep the normal functions of the two glands. The goal of this study is to examine and analyze changes in histopathology and serum glucose and amylase levels of the targeted in-vivo felines after the FUS treatment. Various percentage volumes of pancreas of felines were insonified. The FUS treatment (7.5 MHz of central frequency; 5 W of acoustical power; transducer f-number = 0.33; 6 s insonification time per point) effectively generated coagulative necrosis at the insonified site while leaving tissue outside the insonified site intact. It was also observed that all felines endured well with the FUS treatment; changes introduced to pancreatic tissue after up to 50% of a pancreas by volume was insonified by the FUS procedure did not affect its normal endocrine and exocrine functions.

Epilepsy as a Network Disorder (2): What can we learn from other network disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia, and what are the implications for translational research?

PubMed

Scharfman, Helen E; Kanner, Andres M; Friedman, Alon; Blümcke, Ingmar; Crocker, Candice E; Cendes, Fernando; Diaz-Arrastia, Ramon; Förstl, Hans; Fenton, André A; Grace, Anthony A; Palop, Jorge; Morrison, Jason; Nehlig, Astrid; Prasad, Asuri; Wilcox, Karen S; Jette, Nathalie; Pohlmann-Eden, Bernd

2018-01-01

There is common agreement that many disorders of the central nervous system are 'complex', that is, there are many potential factors that influence the development of the disease, underlying mechanisms, and successful treatment. Most of these disorders, unfortunately, have no cure at the present time, and therapeutic strategies often have debilitating side effects. Interestingly, some of the 'complexities' of one disorder are found in another, and the similarities are often network defects. It seems likely that more discussions of these commonalities could advance our understanding and, therefore, have clinical implications or translational impact. With this in mind, the Fourth International Halifax Epilepsy Conference and Retreat was held as described in the prior paper, and this companion paper focuses on the second half of the meeting. Leaders in various subspecialties of epilepsy research were asked to address aging and dementia or psychosis in people with epilepsy (PWE). Commonalities between autism, depression, aging and dementia, psychosis, and epilepsy were the focus of the presentations and discussion. In the last session, additional experts commented on new conceptualization of translational epilepsy research efforts. Here, the presentations are reviewed, and salient points are highlighted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood: Narratives of Persistence and Desistance*

PubMed Central

Giordano, Peggy C.; Johnson, Wendi L.; Manning, Wendy D.; Longmore, Monica A.; Minter, Mallory D.

2015-01-01

Prior research on patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) has documented changes over time, but few studies have focused directly on IPV desistance processes. This analysis identifies unique features of IPV, providing a rationale for the focus on this form of behavior cessation. We develop a life-course perspective on social learning as a conceptual framework and draw on qualitative interviews (n = 89) elicited from a sample of young adults who participated in a larger longitudinal study (Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study). The respondents' backgrounds reflected a range of persistence and desistance from IPV perpetration. Our analyses revealed that relationship-based motivations and changes were central features of the narratives of successful desisters, whether articulated as a stand-alone theme or in tandem with other potential “hooks” for change. The analysis provides a counterpoint to individualistic views of desistance processes, highlighting ways in which social experiences foster attitude shifts and associated behavioral changes that respondents tied to this type of behavior change. The analyses of persisters and those for whom change seemed to be a work in progress provide points of contrast and highlight barriers that limit a respondent's desistance potential. We describe implications for theories of desistance as well as for IPV prevention and intervention efforts. PMID:26538680

Solar Collector With Image-Forming Mirror Cavity to Irradiate Small Central Volume

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchele, Don; Castle, Charles; Bonoetti, Joseph A.

2001-01-01

A unique solar thermal chamber has been designed and fabricated to produce the maximum concentration of solar energy and higher temperature possible. Its primary purpose was for solar plasma propulsion experiments and related material specimen testing above 3000 K. The design not only maximized solar concentration, but also, minimized infrared heat loss. This paper provides the underlying theory and operation of the chamber and initial optical correlation to the actual fabricated hardware. The chamber is placed at the focal point of an existing primary concentrator with a 2.74 m (9 ft) focal length. A quartz lens focuses a small sun image at the inlet hole of the mirrored cavity. The lens focuses two image planes at prescribed positions; the sun at the cavity's entrance hole and the primary concentrator at the junction plane of two surfaces that form the cavity chamber. The back half is an ellipsoid reflector that produces a 1.27 cm diameter final sun image. The image is "suspended in space," 7.1 cm away from the nearest cavity surface, to minimize thermal and contaminate damage to the mirror surfaces. A hemisphere mirror makes up the front chamber and has its center of curvature at the target image, where rays leaving the target are reflected back upon themselves, minimizing radiation losses.

NGC 5195 IN M51: FEEDBACK “BURPS” AFTER A MASSIVE MEAL?

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

Schlegel, E. M.; Jones, C.; Machacek, M.

2016-06-01

We describe a double-arc-like X-ray structure lying ∼15″–30″ (∼0.8–1.7 kpc) south of the NGC 5195 nucleus, visible in the merged exposures of long Chandra pointings of M51. The curvature and orientation of the arcs argues for a nuclear origin. The arcs are radially separated by ∼15″ (∼1 kpc), but are rotated relative to each other by ∼30°. From an archival image, we find a slender H α -emitting region just outside the outer edge of the outer X-ray arc, suggesting that the X-ray-emitting gas plowed up and displaced the H α -emitting material from the galaxy core. Star formation maymore » have commenced in that arc. H α emission is present at the inner arc, but appears more complex in structure. In contrast to an explosion expected to be azimuthally symmetric, the X-ray arcs suggest a focused outflow. We interpret the arcs as episodic outbursts from the central super-massive black hole (SMBH). We conclude that NGC 5195 represents the nearest galaxy exhibiting on-going, large-scale outflows of gas, in particular, two episodes of a focused outburst of the SMBH. The arcs represent a clear demonstration of feedback.« less

From Invention to Innovation: Risk Analysis to Integrate One Health Technology in the Dairy Farm

PubMed Central

Lombardo, Andrea; Boselli, Carlo; Amatiste, Simonetta; Ninci, Simone; Frazzoli, Chiara; Dragone, Roberto; De Rossi, Alberto; Grasso, Gerardo; Mantovani, Alberto; Brajon, Giovanni

2017-01-01

Current Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) approaches mainly fit for food industry, while their application in primary food production is still rudimentary. The European food safety framework calls for science-based support to the primary producers’ mandate for legal, scientific, and ethical responsibility in food supply. The multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary project ALERT pivots on the development of the technological invention (BEST platform) and application of its measurable (bio)markers—as well as scientific advances in risk analysis—at strategic points of the milk chain for time and cost-effective early identification of unwanted and/or unexpected events of both microbiological and toxicological nature. Health-oriented innovation is complex and subject to multiple variables. Through field activities in a dairy farm in central Italy, we explored individual components of the dairy farm system to overcome concrete challenges for the application of translational science in real life and (veterinary) public health. Based on an HACCP-like approach in animal production, the farm characterization focused on points of particular attention (POPAs) and critical control points to draw a farm management decision tree under the One Health view (environment, animal health, food safety). The analysis was based on the integrated use of checklists (environment; agricultural and zootechnical practices; animal health and welfare) and laboratory analyses of well water, feed and silage, individual fecal samples, and bulk milk. The understanding of complex systems is a condition to accomplish true innovation through new technologies. BEST is a detection and monitoring system in support of production security, quality and safety: a grid of its (bio)markers can find direct application in critical points for early identification of potential hazards or anomalies. The HACCP-like self-monitoring in primary production is feasible, as well as the biomonitoring of live food producing animals as sentinel population for One Health. PMID:29218304

From Invention to Innovation: Risk Analysis to Integrate One Health Technology in the Dairy Farm.

PubMed

Lombardo, Andrea; Boselli, Carlo; Amatiste, Simonetta; Ninci, Simone; Frazzoli, Chiara; Dragone, Roberto; De Rossi, Alberto; Grasso, Gerardo; Mantovani, Alberto; Brajon, Giovanni

2017-01-01

Current Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) approaches mainly fit for food industry, while their application in primary food production is still rudimentary. The European food safety framework calls for science-based support to the primary producers' mandate for legal, scientific, and ethical responsibility in food supply. The multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary project ALERT pivots on the development of the technological invention (BEST platform) and application of its measurable (bio)markers-as well as scientific advances in risk analysis-at strategic points of the milk chain for time and cost-effective early identification of unwanted and/or unexpected events of both microbiological and toxicological nature. Health-oriented innovation is complex and subject to multiple variables. Through field activities in a dairy farm in central Italy, we explored individual components of the dairy farm system to overcome concrete challenges for the application of translational science in real life and (veterinary) public health. Based on an HACCP-like approach in animal production, the farm characterization focused on points of particular attention (POPAs) and critical control points to draw a farm management decision tree under the One Health view (environment, animal health, food safety). The analysis was based on the integrated use of checklists (environment; agricultural and zootechnical practices; animal health and welfare) and laboratory analyses of well water, feed and silage, individual fecal samples, and bulk milk. The understanding of complex systems is a condition to accomplish true innovation through new technologies. BEST is a detection and monitoring system in support of production security, quality and safety: a grid of its (bio)markers can find direct application in critical points for early identification of potential hazards or anomalies. The HACCP-like self-monitoring in primary production is feasible, as well as the biomonitoring of live food producing animals as sentinel population for One Health.

Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part I: Central America.

PubMed

Kaczmarek, Łukasz; Michalczyk, Łukasz; McInnes, Sandra J

2014-02-05

Dividing the world into nine regions, this first paper describes literature records of the limno-terrestrial tardigrades (Tardigrada) reported from Central America. Updating previously published species lists we have revised the taxonomy and provided additional habitat, geographic co-ordinates, and biogeographic comments. It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographic studies.

Classroom-Level Predictors of the Social Status of Aggression: Friendship Centralization, Friendship Density, Teacher-Student Attunement, and Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahn, Hai-Jeong; Rodkin, Philip C.

2014-01-01

This study investigated moderating effects of classroom friendship network structures (centralization and density), teacher-student attunement on aggression and popularity, and gender on changes in the social status of aggression over 1 school year. Longitudinal multilevel analyses with 2 time points (fall and spring) were conducted on a sample of…

Apollo 16 spacecraft touches down in the central Pacific Ocean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The Apollo 16 spacecraft touches down in the central Pacific Ocean at the end of its mission. Splashdown occured at 1:45:06 p.m., Thursday, April 27, 1972, at coordinates of 00:45.2 degrees south latitude and 156:11.4 degrees west longitude, a point approximately 215 miles southeast of Christmas Island. All its parachutes are fully deployed.

Invisible Higher Education: Higher Education Institutions from Central and Eastern Europe in Global Rankings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyadjieva, Pepka

2017-01-01

The starting point of this study is the argument that not only rankings of higher education institutions (HEIs) are inescapable, but so is the constant criticism to which they are subjected. Against this background, the paper discusses how HEIs from Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEECs) are (non)represented in the main global university…

The Work of Steering Instruction toward the Mathematical Point: A Decomposition of Teaching Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sleep, Laurie

2012-01-01

Despite its centrality in teaching, what it takes to identify the goals of instruction and use those goals to manage the work has yet to be articulated in ways that it can be adequately studied or taught. Using data from preservice teachers' mathematics lessons, this study identifies and illustrates seven central tasks of "steering…

Public involvement and consensus building in the Verde River Watershed in central Arizona

Treesearch

Tom Bonomo

1996-01-01

Currently an organization called the Verde Watershed Association is the central point for consensus building and public involvement in water issues in the Verde River Watershed. The association is the out growth of efforts towards the resolution of watershed issues without passing new laws, initiating regulations, or entering the win-lose arena of litigation. The...

The Miocene "Pteropod event" in the SW part of the Central Paratethys (Medvednica Mt., northern Croatia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bošnjak, Marija; Sremac, Jasenka; Vrsaljko, Davor; Aščić, Šimun; Bosak, Luka

2017-08-01

Deep marine Miocene deposits exposed sporadically in the Medvednica Mt. (northern Croatia) comprise pelagic organisms such as coccolithophores, planktic foraminifera and pteropods. The pteropod fauna from yellow marls at the Vejalnica locality (central part of Medvednica Mt.) encompasses abundant specimens of Vaginella austriaca Kittl, 1886, accompanied with scarce Clio fallauxi (Kittl, 1886). Calcareous nannoplankton points to the presence of NN5 nannozone at this locality. Highly fossiliferous grey marls at the Marija Bistrica locality (north-eastern area of Medvednica Mt.) comprise limacinid pteropods: Limacina valvatina (Reuss, 1867), L. gramensis (Rasmussen, 1968) and Limacina sp. Late Badenian (NN5 to NN6 nannozone) age of these marls is presumed on the basis of coccolithophores. Most of the determined pteropods on species level, except V. austriaca have been found and described from this region for the first time. New pteropod records from Croatia point to two pteropod horizons coinciding with the Badenian marine transgressions in Central Paratethys. These pteropod assemblages confirm the existence of W-E marine connection ("Transtethyan Trench Corridor") during the Badenian NN5 nannozone. Limacinids point to the possible immigration of the "North Sea fauna" through a northern European marine passage during the Late Badenian (end of NN5-beginning of NN6 zone), as previously presumed by some other authors.

Research on centrality of urban transport network nodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kui; Fu, Xiufen

2017-05-01

Based on the actual data of urban transport in Guangzhou, 19,150 bus stations in Guangzhou (as of 2014) are selected as nodes. Based on the theory of complex network, the network model of Guangzhou urban transport is constructed. By analyzing the degree centrality index, betweenness centrality index and closeness centrality index of nodes in the network, the level of centrality of each node in the network is studied. From a different point of view to determine the hub node of Guangzhou urban transport network, corresponding to the city's key sites and major transfer sites. The reliability of the network is determined by the stability of some key nodes (transport hub station). The research of network node centralization can provide a theoretical basis for the rational allocation of urban transport network sites and public transport system planning.

Central obscuration effects on optical synthetic aperture imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xue-wen; Luo, Xiao; Zheng, Li-gong; Zhang, Xue-jun

2014-02-01

Due to the central obscuration problem exists in most optical synthetic aperture systems, it is necessary to analyze its effects on their image performance. Based on the incoherent diffraction limited imaging theory, a Golay-3 type synthetic aperture system was used to study the central obscuration effects on the point spread function (PSF) and the modulation transfer function (MTF). It was found that the central obscuration does not affect the width of the central peak of the PSF and the cutoff spatial frequency of the MTF, but attenuate the first sidelobe of the PSF and the midfrequency of the MTF. The imaging simulation of a Golay-3 type synthetic aperture system with central obscuration proved this conclusion. At last, a Wiener Filter restoration algorithm was used to restore the image of this system, the images were obviously better.

Does the world need a global project on artificial photosynthesis?

PubMed Central

Faunce, Thomas

2015-01-01

This paper introduces a theme issue of Interface Focus derived from papers presented at the Royal Society supported meeting ‘Do we need a global project on artificial photosynthesis?’ held at Chicheley Hall in July 2014. At that meeting, leaders of national solar fuels and chemicals projects and research presented ‘state of the art’ on artificial photosynthesis (AP) in the context of the policy challenges for globalizing a practical technology to address climate change and energy and food security concerns. The discussions included contributions from many experts with legal and policy skills and uniquely focused on producing principles for prioritizing and specializing work while enhancing the funding and attendant public policy profile. To this end, representatives of major public, philanthropic and private potential stakeholders in such a project (such as the Wellcome Trust, the Moore Foundation, Shell, the Leighty Foundation, the EPSRC and Deutsche Alternative Asset Management) were invited to provide feedback at various points in the meeting. For this Interface Focus issue, speakers at the Chicheley Hall meeting were required to present a snapshot of their cutting edge research related to AP and then draw upon the Chicheley Hall discussions to innovatively analyse how their research could best be advanced by a global AP project. Such multidisciplinary policy analysis was not a skill many of these researchers were experienced or trained in. Nonetheless their efforts here represent one of the first published collections to attempt such a significant task. This introduction contains a brief summary of those papers, focusing particularly on their policy aspects. It then summarizes the core discussions that took place at the Chicheley Hall meeting and sets out some of the central ethical principles that were considered during those discussions.

Single-cell resolution fluorescence imaging of circadian rhythms detected with a Nipkow spinning disk confocal system.

PubMed

Enoki, Ryosuke; Ono, Daisuke; Hasan, Mazahir T; Honma, Sato; Honma, Ken-Ichi

2012-05-30

Single-point laser scanning confocal imaging produces signals with high spatial resolution in living organisms. However, photo-induced toxicity, bleaching, and focus drift remain challenges, especially when recording over several days for monitoring circadian rhythms. Bioluminescence imaging is a tool widely used for this purpose, and does not cause photo-induced difficulties. However, bioluminescence signals are dimmer than fluorescence signals, and are potentially affected by levels of cofactors, including ATP, O(2), and the substrate, luciferin. Here we describe a novel time-lapse confocal imaging technique to monitor circadian rhythms in living tissues. The imaging system comprises a multipoint scanning Nipkow spinning disk confocal unit and a high-sensitivity EM-CCD camera mounted on an inverted microscope with auto-focusing function. Brain slices of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the central circadian clock, were prepared from transgenic mice expressing a clock gene, Period 1 (Per1), and fluorescence reporter protein (Per1::d2EGFP). The SCN slices were cut out together with membrane, flipped over, and transferred to the collagen-coated glass dishes to obtain signals with a high signal-to-noise ratio and to minimize focus drift. The imaging technique and improved culture method enabled us to monitor the circadian rhythm of Per1::d2EGFP from optically confirmed single SCN neurons without noticeable photo-induced effects or focus drift. Using recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying a genetically encoded calcium indicator, we also monitored calcium circadian rhythms at a single-cell level in a large population of SCN neurons. Thus, the Nipkow spinning disk confocal imaging system developed here facilitates long-term visualization of circadian rhythms in living cells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Variability in alignment of central venous pressure transducer to physiologic reference point in the intensive care unit-A descriptive and correlational study.

PubMed

Sjödin, Carl; Sondergaard, Soren; Johansson, Lotta

2018-06-01

The phlebostatic axis is the most commonly used anatomical external reference point for central venous pressure measurements. Deviation in the central venous pressure transducer alignment from the phlebostatic axis causes inadequate pressure readings, which may affect treatment decisions for critically ill patients in intensive care units. The primary aim of the study was to assess the variability in central venous pressure transducer levelling in the intensive care unit. We also assessed whether patient characteristics impacted on central venous pressure transducer alignment deviation. A sample of 61 critical care nurses was recruited and asked to place a transducer at the appropriate level for central venous pressure measurement. The measurements were performed in the intensive care unit on critically ill patients in supine and Fowler's positions. The variability among the participants using eyeball levelling and a laser levelling device was calculated in both sessions and adjusted for patient characteristics. A significant variation was found among critical care nurses in the horizontal levelling of the pressure transducer placement when measuring central venous pressure in the intensive care unit. Using a laser levelling device did not reduce the deviation from the phlebostatic axis. Patient characteristics had little impact on the deviation in the measurements. The anatomical external landmark for the phlebostatic axis varied between critical care nurses, as the variation in the central venous pressure transducer placement was not reduced with a laser levelling device. Standardisation of a zero-level for vascular pressures should be considered to reduce the variability in vascular pressure readings in the intensive care unit to improve patient treatment decisions. Further studies are needed to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge and use of central venous pressure monitoring and whether assistive tools and/or routines can improve the accuracy in vascular pressure measurements in intensive care units. Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Spatial variation of soil properties and quality evaluation for arable Ustic Cambosols in central Henan Province].

PubMed

Zhang, Xue-Lei; Feng, Wan-Wan; Zhong, Guo-Min

2011-01-01

A GIS-based 500 m x 500 m soil sampling point arrangement was set on 248 points at Wenshu Town of Yuzhou County in central Henan Province, where the typical Ustic Cambosols locates. By using soil digital data, the spatial database was established, from which, all the needed latitude and longitude data of the sampling points were produced for the field GPS guide. Soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from 202 points, of which, bulk density measurement were conducted for randomly selected 34 points, and the ten soil property items used as the factors for soil quality assessment, including organic matter, available K, available P, pH, total N, total P, soil texture, cation exchange capacity (CEC), slowly available K, and bulk density, were analyzed for the other points. The soil property items were checked by statistic tools, and then, classified with standard criteria at home and abroad. The factor weight was given by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, and the spatial variation of the major 10 soil properties as well as the soil quality classes and their occupied areas were worked out by Kriging interpolation maps. The results showed that the arable Ustic Cambosols in study area was of good quality soil, over 95% of which ranked in good and medium classes and only less than 5% were in poor class.

Quantitative 3D reconstruction of airway and pulmonary vascular trees using HRCT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Susan A.; Hoford, John D.; Hoffman, Eric A.; Zerhouni, Elias A.; Mitzner, Wayne A.

1993-07-01

Accurate quantitative measurements of airway and vascular dimensions are essential to evaluate function in the normal and diseased lung. In this report, a novel method is described for three-dimensional extraction and analysis of pulmonary tree structures using data from High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT). Serially scanned two-dimensional slices of the lower left lobe of isolated dog lungs were stacked to create a volume of data. Airway and vascular trees were three-dimensionally extracted using a three dimensional seeded region growing algorithm based on difference in CT number between wall and lumen. To obtain quantitative data, we reduced each tree to its central axis. From the central axis, branch length is measured as the distance between two successive branch points, branch angle is measured as the angle produced by two daughter branches, and cross sectional area is measured from a plane perpendicular to the central axis point. Data derived from these methods can be used to localize and quantify structural differences both during changing physiologic conditions and in pathologic lungs.

Improved clinical, functional and work outcomes in spondyloarthritides during real-life adalimumab treatment in central-eastern Europe.

PubMed

Szántó, Sándor; Poór, Gyula; Opris, Daniela; Iaremenko, Oleg; Procházková, Leona; Kuuse, Reet; Nagy, Orsolya; Chernyshov, Valentyn; Géher, Pál

2016-08-01

Adalimumab effectiveness on clinical, functional and work-related outcomes was evaluated in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis treated in routine clinical practice in central-eastern Europe. Patients (n = 555) were followed for 12 months. Primary end point was percentage of patients with a treatment response (≥50% decrease from baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index or ≥1.2 point decrease from baseline in Disease Activity Index-28 joint for axial or peripheral symptoms, respectively). Functional status was evaluated by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. Working ability was evaluated by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire - Specific Health Problem. 76.1% of patients with axial symptoms and 83.5% with peripheral symptoms achieved a treatment response. Frequency of extra-articular manifestations decreased. Improvements were observed in functional status and workability. No new safety signals were observed. Adalimumab was effective and well tolerated during real-world use in central-eastern Europe.

Accurate label-free 3-part leukocyte recognition with single cell lens-free imaging flow cytometry.

PubMed

Li, Yuqian; Cornelis, Bruno; Dusa, Alexandra; Vanmeerbeeck, Geert; Vercruysse, Dries; Sohn, Erik; Blaszkiewicz, Kamil; Prodanov, Dimiter; Schelkens, Peter; Lagae, Liesbet

2018-05-01

Three-part white blood cell differentials which are key to routine blood workups are typically performed in centralized laboratories on conventional hematology analyzers operated by highly trained staff. With the trend of developing miniaturized blood analysis tool for point-of-need in order to accelerate turnaround times and move routine blood testing away from centralized facilities on the rise, our group has developed a highly miniaturized holographic imaging system for generating lens-free images of white blood cells in suspension. Analysis and classification of its output data, constitutes the final crucial step ensuring appropriate accuracy of the system. In this work, we implement reference holographic images of single white blood cells in suspension, in order to establish an accurate ground truth to increase classification accuracy. We also automate the entire workflow for analyzing the output and demonstrate clear improvement in the accuracy of the 3-part classification. High-dimensional optical and morphological features are extracted from reconstructed digital holograms of single cells using the ground-truth images and advanced machine learning algorithms are investigated and implemented to obtain 99% classification accuracy. Representative features of the three white blood cell subtypes are selected and give comparable results, with a focus on rapid cell recognition and decreased computational cost. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Van Allen Probes Science Gateway: A Centralized Data Access Point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romeo, G.; Barnes, R. J.; Ukhorskiy, A. Y.; Sotirelis, T.; Stephens, G. K.; Kessel, R.; Potter, M.

2015-12-01

The Van Allen Probes Science Gateway acts a centralized interface to the instrument Science Operation Centers (SOCs), provides mission planning tools, and hosts a number of science related activities such as the mission bibliography. Most importantly, the Gateway acts as the primary site for processing and delivering the Van Allen Probes Space Weather data to users. Over the past years, the web-site has been completely redesigned with the focus on easier navigation and improvements of the existing tools such as the orbit plotter, position calculator and magnetic footprint tool. In addition, a new data plotting facility has been added. Based on HTML5, which allows users to interactively plot Van Allen Probes science and space weather data. The user can tailor the tool to display exactly the plot they wish to see and then share this with other users via either a URL or by QR code. Various types of plots can be created, including, simple time series, data plotted as a function of orbital location, and time versus L-Shell, capability of visualizing data from both probes (A & B) on the same plot. In cooperation with all Van Allen Probes Instrument SOCs, the Science Gateway will soon be able to serve higher level data products (Level 3), and to visualize them via the above mentioned HTML5 interface. Users will also be able to create customized CDF files on the fly.

Along the Central Dogma-Controlling Gene Expression with Small Molecules.

PubMed

Schneider-Poetsch, Tilman; Yoshida, Minoru

2018-05-04

The central dogma of molecular biology, that DNA is transcribed into RNA and RNA translated into protein, was coined in the early days of modern biology. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, bacterial genetics first opened the way toward understanding life as the genetically encoded interaction of macromolecules. As molecular biology progressed and our knowledge of gene control deepened, it became increasingly clear that expression relied on many more levels of regulation. In the process of dissecting mechanisms of gene expression, specific small-molecule inhibitors played an important role and became valuable tools of investigation. Small molecules offer significant advantages over genetic tools, as they allow inhibiting a process at any desired time point, whereas mutating or altering the gene of an important regulator would likely result in a dead organism. With the advent of modern sequencing technology, it has become possible to monitor global cellular effects of small-molecule treatment and thereby overcome the limitations of classical biochemistry, which usually looks at a biological system in isolation. This review focuses on several molecules, especially natural products, that have played an important role in dissecting gene expression and have opened up new fields of investigation as well as clinical venues for disease treatment. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry Volume 87 is June 20, 2018. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Waist circumference, waist/height ratio, and neck circumference as parameters of central obesity assessment in children☆

PubMed Central

Magalhães, Elma Izze da Silva; Sant'Ana, Luciana Ferreira da Rocha; Priore, Silvia Eloiza; Franceschini, Sylvia do Carmo Castro

2014-01-01

Objective: To analyze studies that assessed the anthropometric parameters waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHR) and neck circumference (NC) as indicators of central obesity in children. Data sources: We searched PubMed and SciELO databases using the combined descriptors: "Waist circumference", "Waist-to-height ratio", "Neck circumference", "Children" and "Abdominal fat" in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Inclusion criteria were original articles with information about the WC, WHR and NC in the assessment of central obesity in children. We excluded review articles, short communications, letters and editorials. Data synthesis: 1,525 abstracts were obtained in the search, and 68 articles were selected for analysis. Of these, 49 articles were included in the review. The WC was the parameter more used in studies, followed by the WHR. Regarding NC, there are few studies in children. The predictive ability of WC and WHR to indicate central adiposity in children was controversial. The cutoff points suggested for the parameters varied among studies, and some differences may be related to ethnicity and lack of standardization of anatomical site used for measurement. Conclusions: More studies are needed to evaluate these parameters for determination of central obesity children. Scientific literature about NC is especially scarce, mainly in the pediatric population. There is a need to standardize site measures and establish comparable cutoff points between different populations. PMID:25479861

Alignment and focus of mirrored facets of a heliosat

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

Yellowhair, Julius E; Ho, Clifford Kuofei; Diver, Richard B

2013-11-12

Various technologies pertaining to aligning and focusing mirrored facets of a heliostat are described herein. Updating alignment and/or focus of mirrored facets is undertaken through generation of a theoretical image, wherein the theoretical image is indicative of a reflection of the target via the mirrored facets when the mirrored facets are properly aligned. This theoretical image includes reference points that are overlaid on an image of the target as reflected by the mirrored facets of the heliostat. A technician adjusts alignment/focus of a mirrored facet by causing reflected reference markings to become aligned with the reference points in the theoreticalmore » image.« less

Down in the Valley: Trajectories of Injection Initiation among Young Injectors in California’s Central Valley

PubMed Central

Syvertsen, Jennifer L.; Paquette, Catherine E.; Pollini, Robin A.

2017-01-01

Background Injection drug use initiation represents a critical point of public health intervention, as injection increases risk forblood borne infections including Hepatitis C and HIV. In this paper, weexplore pathways to injection initiation among youth (<=30) in the ruralcontext of California’s Central Valley, where rates of injection drug useare among the highest in the nation. Methods We draw on semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 younginjectors to examine drug use histories, including the factors that participants associated with their transition to injection drug use. Results The average age was 24.7 years (range: 20–30), 45% were female(n=9), and 30% were Latino (n=6). Participants described a variety ofpathways to injection, culminating in a first injection that involvedeither opioids (n=12) or methamphetamine (n=8). Among the opioid group, the majority used prescription opioids before transitioning to injection, while a smaller number transitioned to opioid injection from non-opioid recreational drug use. Injectors who first used prescription opioidsoften described growing up in affluent suburban areas and transitioned toinjection with peers, owing to a combination of factors related toindividual tolerance, cost, and shifting drug markets. In contrast, methamphetamine initiates grew up in less affluent families withhistories of substance use that exposed them to drugs at an early age. Methamphetamine users transitioned from smoking and snorting toinjection, often with family members or intimate partners, within broadercontexts of social disadvantage and stress. Conclusions While much of the focus on young injectors has centered onthe current opioid epidemic, our data suggest a need to consider multiple pathways toward injection initiation of different drugs. Targetedinterventions addressing the unique injection transition contexts of bothopioids and methamphetamine are urgently needed in the Central Valley ofCalifornia. PMID:28458170

Silicon central pattern generators for cardiac diseases

PubMed Central

Nogaret, Alain; O'Callaghan, Erin L; Lataro, Renata M; Salgado, Helio C; Meliza, C Daniel; Duncan, Edward; Abarbanel, Henry D I; Paton, Julian F R

2015-01-01

Cardiac rhythm management devices provide therapies for both arrhythmias and resynchronisation but not heart failure, which affects millions of patients worldwide. This paper reviews recent advances in biophysics and mathematical engineering that provide a novel technological platform for addressing heart disease and enabling beat-to-beat adaptation of cardiac pacing in response to physiological feedback. The technology consists of silicon hardware central pattern generators (hCPGs) that may be trained to emulate accurately the dynamical response of biological central pattern generators (bCPGs). We discuss the limitations of present CPGs and appraise the advantages of analog over digital circuits for application in bioelectronic medicine. To test the system, we have focused on the cardio-respiratory oscillators in the medulla oblongata that modulate heart rate in phase with respiration to induce respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). We describe here a novel, scalable hCPG comprising physiologically realistic (Hodgkin–Huxley type) neurones and synapses. Our hCPG comprises two neurones that antagonise each other to provide rhythmic motor drive to the vagus nerve to slow the heart. We show how recent advances in modelling allow the motor output to adapt to physiological feedback such as respiration. In rats, we report on the restoration of RSA using an hCPG that receives diaphragmatic electromyography input and use it to stimulate the vagus nerve at specific time points of the respiratory cycle to slow the heart rate. We have validated the adaptation of stimulation to alterations in respiratory rate. We demonstrate that the hCPG is tuneable in terms of the depth and timing of the RSA relative to respiratory phase. These pioneering studies will now permit an analysis of the physiological role of RSA as well as its any potential therapeutic use in cardiac disease. PMID:25433077

Core Emergence in a Massive Infrared Dark Cloud: A Comparison between Mid-IR Extinction and 1.3 mm Emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Shuo; Tan, Jonathan C.; Arce, Héctor G.; Caselli, Paola; Fontani, Francesco; Butler, Michael J.

2018-03-01

Stars are born from dense cores in molecular clouds. Observationally, it is crucial to capture the formation of cores in order to understand the necessary conditions and rate of the star formation process. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is extremely powerful for identifying dense gas structures, including cores, at millimeter wavelengths via their dust continuum emission. Here, we use ALMA to carry out a survey of dense gas and cores in the central region of the massive (∼105 M ⊙) infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G28.37+0.07. The observation consists of a mosaic of 86 pointings of the 12 m array and produces an unprecedented view of the densest structures of this IRDC. In this first Letter about this data set, we focus on a comparison between the 1.3 mm continuum emission and a mid-infrared (MIR) extinction map of the IRDC. This allows estimation of the “dense gas” detection probability function (DPF), i.e., as a function of the local mass surface density, Σ, for various choices of thresholds of millimeter continuum emission to define “dense gas.” We then estimate the dense gas mass fraction, f dg, in the central region of the IRDC and, via extrapolation with the DPF and the known Σ probability distribution function, to the larger-scale surrounding regions, finding values of about 5% to 15% for the fiducial choice of threshold. We argue that this observed dense gas is a good tracer of the protostellar core population and, in this context, estimate a star formation efficiency per free-fall time in the central IRDC region of ɛ ff ∼ 10%, with approximately a factor of two systematic uncertainties.

Object Selection Costs in Visual Working Memory: A Diffusion Model Analysis of the Focus of Attention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sewell, David K.; Lilburn, Simon D.; Smith, Philip L.

2016-01-01

A central question in working memory research concerns the degree to which information in working memory is accessible to other cognitive processes (e.g., decision-making). Theories assuming that the focus of attention can only store a single object at a time require the focus to orient to a target representation before further processing can…

19 CFR 19.35 - Establishment of duty-free stores (Class 9 warehouses).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... merchandise departs the Customs territory; (2) Within 25 statute miles from the exit point through which a... on-hand balance of each inventory item in each storage location, sales room, crib, mobile crib... centralized up to the point where a sale is made so as to automatically reduce the sale quantity by location...

A spatial analysis of Phytophthora ramorum symptom spread using second-order point pattern and GIS-based analyses

Treesearch

Mark Spencer; Kevin O' Hara

2006-01-01

Phytophthora ramorum is a major source of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) mortality in the tanoak/redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests of central California. This study presents a spatial analysis of the spread of the disease using second-order point pattern and GIS analyses. Our data set includes four plots...

TESTING & EVALUATION OF POINT-OF-USE (POU) AND POINT-OF-ENTRY (POE) TECHNOLOGIES FOR DRINKING WATER TREATMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Centralized water treatment and distribution are still the recommended methods for producing safe drinking water. But in reality this approach cannot and will not meet the needs of millions of homes in both the U.S. and around the world, which do not have the option of connectin...

Added Punch with PowerPoint: College Students Combine PowerPoint and Multicultural Music

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Brigetta F.

2004-01-01

While working with music teachers in training at the university level, the author learned how helpful it can be to model a curriculum that mirrors America's changing demographics. As a Native American who grew up on the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Reservation, in central Wisconsin, she discovered that Native history and culture were absent from…

40 CFR 141.100 - Criteria and procedures for public water systems using point-of-entry devices.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 23 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Criteria and procedures for public water systems using point-of-entry devices. 141.100 Section 141.100 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS Use of Non-Centralized Treatment Devices §...

Spatial Variations In The Fate And Transport Of Metals In A Mining-Influenced Stream, North Fork Clear Creek, Colorado

EPA Science Inventory

North Fork Clear Creek (NFCC) receives acid-mine drainage (AMD) from multiple abandoned mines in the Clear Creek Watershed. Point sources of AMD originate In the Black Hawk/Central City region of the stream. Water chemistry also is influenced by several non-point sources of AMD,...

Seismicity and lithospheric structure of Central Mozambique: implications for the southward propagation of the East African Rift System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fonseca, J. F. B. D.; Domingues, A.

2017-12-01

South of latitude 5ºS, there is scarce support for a single preferred location of continental rifting in SE Africa. Building on the complexity already displayed further north around the Victoria microplate, the structures associated with rifting activity are now distributed over three branches: one directed towards the SW through Zambia and into the Okawango rift in Botswana; one running offshore along the Mozambique Channel; and a central rift system through lake Malawi and Central Mozambique. Our investigation focuses on this central branch, whose tectonic relevance was highlighted by the M7 Machaze earthquake in 2006. Through the temporary deployment of 30 broadband stations in central Mozambique we were able to document that the Shire and Urema grabens linking the Malawi rift to the Machaze epicentral area are seismically active, correlating with a 300 km long narrow band of seismicity reaching the lower crust. No significant seismicity was recorded along the Mazenga graben, south of the Machaze epicentral area. A tomographic model derived from ambient noise analysis showed a strong correlation between the seismicity and a sharp NNE-SSW boundary between the fast crust of the Zimbabwe and Kaapvaal cratons and slower crust underneath the Mozambique Coastal Plains. The seismicity shuts down were this trend rotates to a more N-S direction as the Lebombo monocline is approached. 20th Century seismicity of SE Africa shows a clear cluster in time, with five M>6 earthquakes concentrated in the 1950's, distributed along the edges of the Zimbabwe craton and spanning distances of 600 km. Spatial correlation with such range is hard to reconcile with stress transmission in the crust and may point to the interaction of the cratonic root with asthenospheric flow. Under this light, the M6.5 Central Botswana earthquake of April 2017 and the M7 Machaze earthquake of 2006, both located in the vicinity of the borders of the Kaapvaal craton, may bear a similar correlation. The footprint of such earthquake clusters may be an indication of the size of future microplates; alternatively, the interaction between astenospheric flow and lithospheric heterogeneities may favor one of the competing branches to succeed in reaching the SW Indian Ridge to form a triple junction, while the other two wither.

Jedburgh Operations: Support to the French Resistance in Central France from June through September 1944

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-07

SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Jedbr’rgh Operations: Support to the French Resistance in Central France From June through September 1944 F.. AUTHOR(S...Europe, beginning with operation OVERLORD in France . This study explains the origins, purpose, and missions/tasks of the Jedburgh project . The focus of...Best Available Standard Form 298 Back (Rev 2-89) JEDBURGH OPERATI ONS: SUPPORT TO THE FRENCH RESISTANCE IN CENTRAL FRANCE FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA officials and government representatives are gathered to learn about the assets of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At the far end of the table is NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe. He is flanked, on the left, by Florida Congressman Tom Feeney and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; and on the right by U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA officials and government representatives are gathered to learn about the assets of the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. At the far end of the table is NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe. He is flanked, on the left, by Florida Congressman Tom Feeney and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson; and on the right by U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon. Central Florida leaders are proposing the research park as the site for the NASA Shared Services Center. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

The Point Sal–Point Piedras Blancas correlation and the problem of slip on the San Gregorio–Hosgri fault, central California Coast Ranges

USGS Publications Warehouse

Colgan, Joseph P.; Stanley, Richard G.

2016-01-01

Existing models for large-magnitude, right-lateral slip on the San Gregorio–Hosgri fault system imply much more deformation of the onshore block in the Santa Maria basin than is supported by geologic data. This problem is resolved by a model in which dextral slip on this fault system increases gradually from 0–10 km near Point Arguello to ∼150 km at Cape San Martin, but such a model requires abandoning the cross-fault tie between Point Sal and Point Piedras Blancas, which requires 90–100 km of right-lateral slip on the southern Hosgri fault. We collected stratigraphic and detrital zircon data from Miocene clastic rocks overlying Jurassic basement at both localities to determine if either section contained unique characteristics that could establish how far apart they were in the early Miocene. Our data indicate that these basins formed in the early Miocene during a period of widespread transtensional basin formation in the central Coast Ranges, and they filled with sediment derived from nearby pre-Cenozoic basement rocks. Although detrital zircon data do not indicate a unique source component in either section, they establish the maximum depositional age of the previously undated Point Piedras Blancas section to be 18 Ma. We also show that detrital zircon trace-element data can be used to discriminate between zircons of oceanic crust and arc affinity of the same age, a potentially useful tool in future studies of the California Coast Ranges. Overall, we find no characteristics in the stratigraphy and provenance of the Point Sal and Point Piedras Blancas sections that are sufficiently unique to prove whether they were far apart or close together in the early Miocene, making them of questionable utility as piercing points.

Aspects géométriques et intégrables des modèles de matrices aléatoires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchal, Olivier

2010-12-01

This thesis deals with the geometric and integrable aspects associated with random matrix models. Its purpose is to provide various applications of random matrix theory, from algebraic geometry to partial differential equations of integrable systems. The variety of these applications shows why matrix models are important from a mathematical point of view. First, the thesis will focus on the study of the merging of two intervals of the eigenvalues density near a singular point. Specifically, we will show why this special limit gives universal equations from the Painlevé II hierarchy of integrable systems theory. Then, following the approach of (bi) orthogonal polynomials introduced by Mehta to compute partition functions, we will find Riemann-Hilbert and isomonodromic problems connected to matrix models, making the link with the theory of Jimbo, Miwa and Ueno. In particular, we will describe how the hermitian two-matrix models provide a degenerate case of Jimbo-Miwa-Ueno's theory that we will generalize in this context. Furthermore, the loop equations method, with its central notions of spectral curve and topological expansion, will lead to the symplectic invariants of algebraic geometry recently proposed by Eynard and Orantin. This last point will be generalized to the case of non-hermitian matrix models (arbitrary beta) paving the way to "quantum algebraic geometry" and to the generalization of symplectic invariants to "quantum curves". Finally, this set up will be applied to combinatorics in the context of topological string theory, with the explicit computation of an hermitian random matrix model enumerating the Gromov-Witten invariants of a toric Calabi-Yau threefold.

Cholinesterase inhibitors for patients with Alzheimer's disease: systematic review of randomised clinical trials

PubMed Central

Kaduszkiewicz, Hanna; Zimmermann, Thomas; Beck-Bornholdt, Hans-Peter; van den Bussche, Hendrik

2005-01-01

Objectives Pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's disease focuses on correcting the cholinergic deficiency in the central nervous system with cholinesterase inhibitors. Three cholinesterase inhibitors are currently recommended: donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. This review assessed the scientific evidence for the recommendation of these agents. Data sources The terms “donepezil”, “rivastigmine”, and “galantamine”, limited by “randomized-controlled-trials” were searched in Medline (1989-November 2004), Embase (1989-November 2004), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews without restriction for language. Study selection All published, double blind, randomised controlled trials examining efficacy on the basis of clinical outcomes, in which treatment with donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine was compared with placebo in patients with Alzheimer's disease, were included. Each study was assessed independently, following a predefined checklist of criteria of methodological quality. Results 22 trials met the inclusion criteria. Follow-up ranged from six weeks to three years. 12 of 14 studies measuring the cognitive outcome by means of the 70 point Alzheimer's disease assessment scale—cognitive subscale showed differences ranging from 1.5 points to 3.9 points in favour of the respective cholinesterase inhibitors. Benefits were also reported from all 12 trials that used the clinician's interview based impression of change scale with input from caregivers. Methodological assessment of all studies found considerable flaws—for example, multiple testing without correction for multiplicity or exclusion of patients after randomisation. Conclusion Because of flawed methods and small clinical benefits, the scientific basis for recommendations of cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is questionable. PMID:16081444

Isoelectric Focusing of Cassava Protoplasts

PubMed Central

Santana, María Angélica; Villegas, Leopoldo

1991-01-01

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) protoplast was analyzed by using isoelectric focusing techniques. Two populations, representing 68 and 32% of the total sample, with mean isoelectric points of 4.48 and 4.60, were obtained using mesophyll protoplasts. The use of this technique allows demonstration of a discontinuous distribution of protoplast isoelectric point from one species according to their surface potential. Images Figure 1 PMID:16667975

Performance prediction evaluation of ceramic materials in point-focusing solar receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ewing, J.; Zwissler, J.

1979-01-01

A performance prediction was adapted to evaluate the use of ceramic materials in solar receivers for point focusing distributed applications. System requirements were determined including the receiver operating environment and system operating parameters for various engine types. Preliminary receiver designs were evolved from these system requirements. Specific receiver designs were then evaluated to determine material functional requirements.

Low-cost point-focus solar concentrator, phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, E. V.; Derbidge, T. C.; Erskine, D.; Maraschin, R. A.; Niemeyer, W. A.; Matsushita, M. J.; Overly, P. T.

1979-01-01

The results of the preliminary design study for the low cost point focus solar concentrator (LCPFSC) development program are presented. A summary description of the preliminary design is given. The design philosophy used to achieve a cost effective design for mass production is described. The concentrator meets all design requirements specified and is based on practical design solutions in every possible way.

Equity and Difference in Centralized Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macedo, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

The paper focuses on the promise of equity that underlies centralized evaluation policies and its relation to difference, or in other words to the singularity of the subject. I defend that without taking the issue of difference into consideration, there is no education, and that the unique subject is what is aspired by education. The analyses rely…

The Centrality of Engagement in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitzgerald, Hiram E.; Bruns, Karen; Sonka, Steven T.; Furco, Andrew; Swanson, Louis

2016-01-01

The centrality of engagement is critical to the success of higher education in the future. Engagement is essential to most effectively achieving the overall purpose of the university, which is focused on the knowledge enterprise. Today's engagement is scholarly, is an aspect of learning and discovery, and enhances society and higher education.…

Network Analysis with the Enron Email Corpus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hardin, J. S.; Sarkis, G.; URC, P. .

2015-01-01

We use the Enron email corpus to study relationships in a network by applying six different measures of centrality. Our results came out of an in-semester undergraduate research seminar. The Enron corpus is well suited to statistical analyses at all levels of undergraduate education. Through this article's focus on centrality, students can explore…

Recognizing the Centrality of Emotion in Diversity Courses: Commentary on "Gender in the Management Education Classroom"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spelman, Duncan

2010-01-01

This commentary adds to the analysis and recommendations presented in "Gender in the Management Education Classroom" concerning a very challenging incident focused on powerful gender/diversity dynamics. It discusses the centrality of emotion in students' experiences of diversity discussions and calls for teachers to explicitly help students…

REGIONAL EMISSIONS OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) AND CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) IN AGROECOSYSTEMS IN CENTRAL WEST REGION, BRAZIL.

EPA Science Inventory

The Central West Region in Brazil has been the focus of intense agricultural expansion since the 1970s and, nowadays, a large area of native cerrado has been converted to agricultural use. The expansion was accompanied by intensive use of fertilizer, irrigation and management pra...

Lawn Weeds and Their Control. North Central Regional Extension Publication No. 26.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN. Cooperative Extension Service.

This publication discusses lawn weed control for the twelve state north central region of the country. Written for use by homeowners, the publication focuses on weed identification and proper herbicide selection and application. Identification of weeds and safe and appropriate herbicide use are emphasized. Forty-six weed and turf plants are…

Transposition of maxillary canine to central incisor site: aetiology, treatment options and case report.

PubMed

Ali, Zohaib; Jaisinghani, Aneel C; Waring, David; Malik, Ovais

2014-09-01

Dental transposition is relatively infrequent anomaly of the developing dentition. This article focuses on canine transposition and explores the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of this challenging anomaly. Specifically, the management of a case of canine transposition involving an unerupted maxillary central incisor is described. © 2014 British Orthodontic Society.

Agricultural Producer Perceptions of Climate Change and Climate Education Needs for the Central Great Plains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hibbs, Amber Campbell; Kahl, Daniel; PytlikZillig, Lisa; Champion, Ben; Abdel-Monem, Tarik; Steffensmeier, Timothy; Rice, Charles W.; Hubbard, Kenneth

2014-01-01

The Central Great Plains Climate Education Partnership conducted focus groups throughout Kansas to gain a better understanding of farmer perceptions and attitudes towards climate change education. Results indicate concern about climatic changes, even if producers are unsure that "human caused climate change" is occurring. Participants…

Competing for Coffee Space: Development-Induced Displacement in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doutriaux, Sylvie; Geisler, Charles; Shively, Gerald

2008-01-01

Vietnam has emerged as the world's second largest producer of coffee. The benefits of this expanding coffee economy are substantial but not universal; their distribution follows ethnic lines despite government commitment to equalize welfare. Focusing on Dak Lak Province in Vietnam's Central Highlands, we investigate this commercial transformation…

The Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields (External Review Draft)

EPA Science Inventory

This report assesses the state of the science on the environmental impacts of mountaintop mines and valley fills (MTM-VF) on streams in the Central Appalachian Coalfields. Our review focused on the aquatic impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining, which, as its name suggests, ...

Will the Real Mockingbird Please Stand Up?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hipple, Theodore W.

1969-01-01

The central theme of "To Kill a Mockingbird," one of the most widely taught novels in high school English classes, is frequently misinterpreted by well-meaning teachers. Although the cause of racial justice deserves classroom attention, the central theme and the focus of the four significant parts of the novel--the opening words, the…

A Focused Report Presented to North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colorado Technical Coll., Colorado Springs.

During January 23-24, 1984, a North Central Association of Colleges and Schools evaluation team visited Colorado Technical College to conduct a comprehensive evaluation for continued accreditation at the bachelor's degree granting level. The accreditation was continued as a result, and it was recommended that a comprehensive evaluation be…

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida, takes part in the proposal for locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. The presentation was given to NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and other officials. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-02-19

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Pamella J. Dana, Ph.D., director, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development in Florida, takes part in the proposal for locating NASA’s new Shared Services Center in the Central Florida Research Park, near Orlando. The presentation was given to NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and other officials. The center would centralize NASA’s payroll, accounting, human resources, facilities and procurement offices that are now handled at each field center. The consolidation is part of the One NASA focus. Six sites around the U.S. are under consideration by NASA.

Review article: Hydrological modeling in glacierized catchments of central Asia - status and challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yaning; Li, Weihong; Fang, Gonghuan; Li, Zhi

2017-02-01

Meltwater from glacierized catchments is one of the most important water supplies in central Asia. Therefore, the effects of climate change on glaciers and snow cover will have increasingly significant consequences for runoff. Hydrological modeling has become an indispensable research approach to water resources management in large glacierized river basins, but there is a lack of focus in the modeling of glacial discharge. This paper reviews the status of hydrological modeling in glacierized catchments of central Asia, discussing the limitations of the available models and extrapolating these to future challenges and directions. After reviewing recent efforts, we conclude that the main sources of uncertainty in assessing the regional hydrological impacts of climate change are the unreliable and incomplete data sets and the lack of understanding of the hydrological regimes of glacierized catchments of central Asia. Runoff trends indicate a complex response to changes in climate. For future variation of water resources, it is essential to quantify the responses of hydrologic processes to both climate change and shrinking glaciers in glacierized catchments, and scientific focus should be on reducing uncertainties linked to these processes.

Limited Irrigation Water Management Research in Colorado, USA

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Limited Irrigation Research Farm (LIRF) is located in north-central Colorado (USA) near the city of Greeley. The research focus is to explore management objectives focused on maintaining high crop yields with limited water supplies. Researchers, which include agricultural engineers and plant phy...

Set-specific capture can be reduced by preemptively occupying a limited-capacity focus of attention

PubMed Central

Moore, Katherine Sledge; Weissman, Daniel H.

2011-01-01

Recent work has shown that contingent attentional capture effects can be especially large when multiple attentional sets for color guide visual search (Moore & Weissman, 2010). In particular, this research suggests that detecting a target-colored (e.g., orange) distractor leads the corresponding attentional set (e.g., identify orange letters) to enter a limited-capacity focus of attention in working memory, where it remains briefly while the distractor is being attended. Consequently, the ability to identify a differently-colored (e.g., green) target 100–300 ms later is impaired because the appropriate set (e.g., identify green letters) cannot also enter the focus of attention. In two experiments, we investigated whether such set-specific capture can be reduced by preemptively occupying the focus of attention. As predicted, a target-colored central distractor presented 233 ms before a target-colored peripheral distractor eliminated set-specific capture arising from the peripheral distractor. Moreover, this effect was observed only when the central distractor’s color (e.g., orange) (a) matched a different set than the upcoming peripheral distractor’s color (e.g., green) and (b) matched the same set as the upcoming central target’s color (e.g., orange). We conclude that the same working memory limitations that give rise to set-specific capture can be preemptively exploited to reduce it. PMID:21779149

Charged structure constants from modularity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Diptarka; Datta, Shouvik; Pal, Sridip

2017-11-01

We derive a universal formula for the average heavy-heavy-light structure constants for 2 d CFTs with non-vanishing u(1) charge. The derivation utilizes the modular properties of one-point functions on the torus. Refinements in N=2 SCFTs, show that the resulting Cardy-like formula for the structure constants has precisely the same shifts in the central charge as that of the thermodynamic entropy found earlier. This analysis generalizes the recent results by Kraus and Maloney for CFTs with an additional global u(1) symmetry [1]. Our results at large central charge are also shown to match with computations from the holographic dual, which suggest that the averaged CFT three-point coefficient also serves as a useful probe of detecting black hole hair.

A new species of Esagonatopus Olmi (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from Central Brazil.

PubMed

Martins, AndrÉ Luis

2018-02-15

Esagonatopus antonioi Martins sp. nov. from Central Brazil is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by having the head slightly excavated, almost flat, with granulate sculpture; the frontal line complete; the occipital carina absent; the mesosoma reticulate rugose and the scutum without lateral pointed apophyses. An updated key to the Neotropical species of the genus Esagonatopus Olmi is provided.

FNAL central email systems

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

Schmidt, Jack; Lilianstrom, Al; Pasetes, Ray

2004-10-01

The FNAL Email System is the primary point of entry for email destined for an employee or user at Fermilab. This centrally supported system is designed for reliability and availability. It uses multiple layers of protection to help ensure that: (1) SPAM messages are tagged properly; (2) All mail is inspected for viruses; and (3) Valid mail gets delivered. This system employs numerous redundant subsystems to accomplish these tasks.

Patterns of forest use and endemism in resident bird communities of north-central Michoacan, Mexico

Treesearch

Santiago Garcia; Deborah M. Finch; Gilberto Chavez Leon

1998-01-01

We compared breeding avian communities among 11 habitat types in north-central Michoacan, Mexico, to determine patterns of forest use by endemic and nonendemic resident species. Point counts of birds and vegetation measurements were conducted at 124 sampling localities from May through July, in 1994 and 1995. Six native forest types sampled were pine, pine-oak, oak-...

Glioblastoma Multiforme and Lipid Nanocapsules: A Review.

PubMed

Aparicio-Blanco, Juan; Torres-Suárez, Ana-Isabel

2015-08-01

Epidemiological data on central nervous system disorders call for a focus on the major hindrance to brain drug delivery, blood-central nervous system barriers. Otherwise, there is little chance of improving the short-term survival of patients with diseases such as glioblastoma multiforme, which is one of the brain disorders associated with many years of life lost. Targetable nanocarriers for treating malignant gliomas are a unique way to overcome low chemotherapeutic levels at target sites devoid of systemic toxicity. This review describes the currently available targetable nanocarriers, focusing particularly on one of the newest nanocarriers, lipid nanocapsules. All of the strategies that are likely to be exploited by lipid nanocapsules to bypass blood-central nervous system barriers, including the most recent targeting approaches (mesenchymal cells), and novel administration routes (convection enhanced delivery) are discussed, together with their most remarkable achievements in glioma-implanted animal models. Although these systems are promising, much research remains to be done in this field.

Intensifying weathering and land use in Iron Age Central Africa.

PubMed

Bayon, Germain; Dennielou, Bernard; Etoubleau, Joël; Ponzevera, Emmanuel; Toucanne, Samuel; Bermell, Sylvain

2012-03-09

About 3000 years ago, a major vegetation change occurred in Central Africa, when rainforest trees were abruptly replaced by savannas. Up to this point, the consensus of the scientific community has been that the forest disturbance was caused by climate change. We show here that chemical weathering in Central Africa, reconstructed from geochemical analyses of a marine sediment core, intensified abruptly at the same period, departing substantially from the long-term weathering fluctuations related to the Late Quaternary climate. Evidence that this weathering event was also contemporaneous with the migration of Bantu-speaking farmers across Central Africa suggests that human land-use intensification at that time had already made a major impact on the rainforest.

Does Europe have a centre? Reflections on the history of Western and Central Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mout, Nicolette

2006-05-01

Any definition of Central Europe based on geographical and/or historical facts causes difficulties. The line dividing Europe during the Cold War has a very limited use because it does not take into account Central Europe as a special part of the continent. Historians such as Geoffrey Barraclough, Hugh Seton-Watson and Oskar Halecki discussed the idea of a separate identity of Central Europe during the Cold War. Especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this discussion was re-opened. From a historian's point of view, the most important contributions came from Piotr Wandycz and Jeno Szucs. An imaginary centre of Europe can only be found in the continent's common history.

Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Systolic Heart Failure.

PubMed

Cowie, Martin R; Woehrle, Holger; Wegscheider, Karl; Angermann, Christiane; d'Ortho, Marie-Pia; Erdmann, Erland; Levy, Patrick; Simonds, Anita K; Somers, Virend K; Zannad, Faiez; Teschler, Helmut

2015-09-17

Central sleep apnea is associated with poor prognosis and death in patients with heart failure. Adaptive servo-ventilation is a therapy that uses a noninvasive ventilator to treat central sleep apnea by delivering servo-controlled inspiratory pressure support on top of expiratory positive airway pressure. We investigated the effects of adaptive servo-ventilation in patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and predominantly central sleep apnea. We randomly assigned 1325 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or less, an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 15 or more events (occurrences of apnea or hypopnea) per hour, and a predominance of central events to receive guideline-based medical treatment with adaptive servo-ventilation or guideline-based medical treatment alone (control). The primary end point in the time-to-event analysis was the first event of death from any cause, lifesaving cardiovascular intervention (cardiac transplantation, implantation of a ventricular assist device, resuscitation after sudden cardiac arrest, or appropriate lifesaving shock), or unplanned hospitalization for worsening heart failure. In the adaptive servo-ventilation group, the mean AHI at 12 months was 6.6 events per hour. The incidence of the primary end point did not differ significantly between the adaptive servo-ventilation group and the control group (54.1% and 50.8%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 1.31; P=0.10). All-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were significantly higher in the adaptive servo-ventilation group than in the control group (hazard ratio for death from any cause, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.55; P=0.01; and hazard ratio for cardiovascular death, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.65; P=0.006). Adaptive servo-ventilation had no significant effect on the primary end point in patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and predominantly central sleep apnea, but all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were both increased with this therapy. (Funded by ResMed and others; SERVE-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00733343.).

Taking the stairs instead: The impact of workplace design standards on health promotion strategies.

PubMed

McGann, Sarah; Jancey, Jonine; Tye, Marian

2013-01-01

Comprehensive health promotion in Western Australia has been conducted from the point of views of policy development, promotion, education and service delivery. Much of this recent work has been focused on supporting workplaces - but there has yet to be any real focus on the design of the actual physical workplace environment from a health promotion perspective. This paper is aimed at highlighting the gap in health promotion knowledge by addressing how the disciplines of architecture and health promotion can work together to challenge the regulations that dictate design practice and ultimately bridge that gap for long-term change. The overarching aim is to undertake further evidenced-based research that will inform best practice in the planning and design of workplaces to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase opportunities for physical activity. Within this wide objective this paper focuses in particular on the idea of stairs-versus-lift movement strategies within office buildings. By examining building design guidelines from a health promotion perspective we expose a central dichotomy, where health promotion posters say "Take the stairs instead" whereas the language of building design suggests that the lift is best. From a design point of view, the National Codes of Construction (NCC), formally known as the Building Codes of Australia (BCA), the essential technical regulation for all building design and construction, primarily addresses the concepts of 'egress' and 'travel distance' for escape in the event of fire, and building access in terms of universal access. Additionally, The Property Council of Australia's Guide to Office Building Quality prioritises lift performance criteria along with the quality and experience of lift use as a major grading factor. There is no provision in either set of standards for staircase quality and experience. The stairs, despite being promoted as better life choice for better health, is not promoted through these building codes nor, consequently, through the building design in actuality. It is proposed that health promotion strategies could be coupled with design-led movement strategies in workplace design so that the promotional language, such as "take the stairs instead", is balanced by the design language of the building.

Ethical issues related to screening for preeclampsia.

PubMed

Jørgensen, Jennifer M; Hedley, Paula L; Gjerris, Mickey; Christiansen, Michael

2014-09-01

The implementation of new methods of treating and preventing disease raises many question of both technical and moral character. Currently, many studies focus on developing a screening test for preeclampsia (PE), a disease complicating 2-8% of pregnancies, potentially causing severe consequences for pregnant women and their fetuses. The purpose is to develop a test that can identify pregnancies at high risk for developing PE sufficiently early in pregnancy to allow for prophylaxis. However, the question of implementing a screening test for PE does not only involve an evaluation of technical feasibility and clinical efficacy, it also requires an analysis of how the test influences the conditions and choices for those tested. This study evaluates state-of-the-art techniques for preeclampsia screening in an ethical framework, pointing out the central areas of moral relevance within the context of such screening activity. Furthermore, we propose ethical guidelines that a screening programme for PE should meet in order to become an uncontroversial addition to prenatal health care. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The necessity of a theory of biology for tissue engineering: metabolism-repair systems.

PubMed

Ganguli, Suman; Hunt, C Anthony

2004-01-01

Since there is no widely accepted global theory of biology, tissue engineering and bioengineering lack a theoretical understanding of the systems being engineered. By default, tissue engineering operates with a "reductionist" theoretical approach, inherited from traditional engineering of non-living materials. Long term, that approach is inadequate, since it ignores essential aspects of biology. Metabolism-repair systems are a theoretical framework which explicitly represents two "functional" aspects of living organisms: self-repair and self-replication. Since repair and replication are central to tissue engineering, we advance metabolism-repair systems as a potential theoretical framework for tissue engineering. We present an overview of the framework, and indicate directions to pursue for extending it to the context of tissue engineering. We focus on biological networks, both metabolic and cellular, as one such direction. The construction of these networks, in turn, depends on biological protocols. Together these concepts may help point the way to a global theory of biology appropriate for tissue engineering.

The Plurality of Harbors at Caesarea: The Southern Anchorage in Late Antiquity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratzlaff, Alexandra; Galili, Ehud; Waiman-Barak, Paula; Yasur-Landau, Assaf

2017-08-01

The engineering marvel of Sebastos, or Portus Augusti as it was called in Late Antiquity (284-638 CE), dominated Caesarea's harbor center along modern Israel's central coast but it was only one part of a larger maritime complex. The Southern Anchorage provides a case study as one portion of the Caesarea complex, as well as a node within the regional network of anchorages and small harbors. Ceramics recovered from here show a high percentage of locally, and provincially, produced storage jars engaged in maritime trade. The ceramic evidence points towards an intensified regional trade or cabotage rather than favouring long distance trade from large port to port. Working out of these small harbors, opportunities arose for greater flexibility in specialization of commodities and materials passing through the network of subsidiary ports, contributing to a more diversified market economy. This analysis provides another example in the growing focus on how these simple and semi-modified anchorages in the Eastern Mediterranean were often the predominant economic networks connecting hinterland and coastal trade.

Non-coding RNAs in lung cancer

PubMed Central

Ricciuti, Biagio; Mecca, Carmen; Crinò, Lucio; Baglivo, Sara; Cenci, Matteo; Metro, Giulio

2014-01-01

The discovery that protein-coding genes represent less than 2% of all human genome, and the evidence that more than 90% of it is actively transcribed, changed the classical point of view of the central dogma of molecular biology, which was always based on the assumption that RNA functions mainly as an intermediate bridge between DNA sequences and protein synthesis machinery. Accumulating data indicates that non-coding RNAs are involved in different physiological processes, providing for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. They are important regulators of gene expression, cellular differentiation, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and stem cell maintenance. Alterations and disruptions of their expression or activity have increasingly been associated with pathological changes of cancer cells, this evidence and the prospect of using these molecules as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, make currently non-coding RNAs among the most relevant molecules in cancer research. In this paper we will provide an overview of non-coding RNA function and disruption in lung cancer biology, also focusing on their potential as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers. PMID:25593996