Goal Engagement during the School-Work Transition: Beneficial for All, Particularly for Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haase, Claudia M.; Heckhausen, Jutta; Koller, Olaf

2008-01-01

The school-to-work transition presents a substantial regulatory challenge for youth in modern societies. Based on the action-phase model of developmental regulation, we investigated the effects of goal engagement on transition outcomes in a high-density longitudinal study of noncollege-bound German adolescents (N = 362). Career-related goal…

Managing invasive plants in natural areas: Moving beyond weed control

Treesearch

Dean Pearson; Yvette Ortega

2009-01-01

Exotic invasive plants present one of the greatest challenges to natural resource management. These weeds can alter entire communities and ecosystems, substantially degrading important ecosystem services such as forage for wild and domestic herbivores, water and soil quality, recreational values, and wildlife habitat. Traditionally, weed management in natural areas has...

22 CFR 208.735 - Under what conditions do I get an additional opportunity to challenge the facts on which the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENTWIDE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION (NONPROCUREMENT) Suspension... information contained in the Notice of Suspension; (3) The issues raised in your presentation in opposition to...'s office, or a State or local prosecutor's office, that substantial interests of the government in...

22 CFR 208.735 - Under what conditions do I get an additional opportunity to challenge the facts on which the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENTWIDE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION (NONPROCUREMENT) Suspension... information contained in the Notice of Suspension; (3) The issues raised in your presentation in opposition to...'s office, or a State or local prosecutor's office, that substantial interests of the government in...

Preservation Challenges in a Changing Political Climate: A Report from Russia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kislovskaya, Galina

In Russia today, substantial political, economic, and social changes directly affect the preservation efforts of libraries and archives. Prepared by the Deputy Director General of the M. I. Rudomino All-Russia State Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow, this report presents a distinctly Russian perspective on the ways in which libraries and…

Large airtanker use and outcomes in suppressing wildland fires in the United States

Treesearch

David E. Calkin; Crystal S. Stonesifer; Matthew P. Thompson; Charles W. McHugh

2014-01-01

Wildfire activity in the United States incurs substantial costs and losses, and presents challenges to federal, state, tribal and local agencies that have responsibility for wildfire management. Beyond the potential socioeconomic and ecological losses, and the monetary costs to taxpayers due to suppression, wildfire management is a dangerous occupation. Aviation...

24 CFR 594.23 - Approval and certification procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES JOHN HEINZ NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Award and... to challenge in a substantial manner the certifications made by the applicant pursuant to § 594.30... that tends to challenge in a substantial manner an applicant's certification, HUD may require further...

Scheduling Earth Observing Fleets Using Evolutionary Algorithms: Problem Description and Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Globus, Al; Crawford, James; Lohn, Jason; Morris, Robert; Clancy, Daniel (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We describe work in progress concerning multi-instrument, multi-satellite scheduling. Most, although not all, Earth observing instruments currently in orbit are unique. In the relatively near future, however, we expect to see fleets of Earth observing spacecraft, many carrying nearly identical instruments. This presents a substantially new scheduling challenge. Inspired by successful commercial applications of evolutionary algorithms in scheduling domains, this paper presents work in progress regarding the use of evolutionary algorithms to solve a set of Earth observing related model problems. Both the model problems and the software are described. Since the larger problems will require substantial computation and evolutionary algorithms are embarrassingly parallel, we discuss our parallelization techniques using dedicated and cycle-scavenged workstations.

26 CFR 301.6114-1 - Treaty-based return positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... substantial probability of successful defense if challenged. (3) Examples. The application of section 6114 and... petroleum tax would lack a substantial probability of successful defense if challenged, and Z must disclose... nonresident alien is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base of operations in the United...

26 CFR 301.6114-1 - Treaty-based return positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... substantial probability of successful defense if challenged. (3) Examples. The application of section 6114 and... petroleum tax would lack a substantial probability of successful defense if challenged, and Z must disclose... nonresident alien is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base of operations in the United...

26 CFR 301.6114-1 - Treaty-based return positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... substantial probability of successful defense if challenged. (3) Examples. The application of section 6114 and... petroleum tax would lack a substantial probability of successful defense if challenged, and Z must disclose... nonresident alien is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base of operations in the United...

26 CFR 301.6114-1 - Treaty-based return positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... substantial probability of successful defense if challenged. (3) Examples. The application of section 6114 and... petroleum tax would lack a substantial probability of successful defense if challenged, and Z must disclose... nonresident alien is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base of operations in the United...

26 CFR 301.6114-1 - Treaty-based return positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... substantial probability of successful defense if challenged. (3) Examples. The application of section 6114 and... petroleum tax would lack a substantial probability of successful defense if challenged, and Z must disclose... nonresident alien is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base of operations in the United...

Academic Expectations and Well-Being from School to Work during the Economic Downturn

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salmela-Aro, Katariina

2012-01-01

Educational transitions and the transition from school to working life present substantial challenges for youth in modern societies. In addition to the drastic changes taking place in their personal lives as they navigate the educational ladder and the transition to work life, young adults today face profound changes in society as well. In…

Resource Sharing in an Electronic Age: Past, Present, and Future.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Adrian

Librarians' work has become more challenging and complex over the past 15 years. Fifteen years ago, the telephone was a librarian's most used and most effective instrument, and librarians mostly relied on the resources within their own walls. In that era, resource sharing placed substantial burdens on larger libraries, and the resources of smaller…

Evidence-Based Social Skills Interventions for Students at Risk for EBD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gresham, Frank

2015-01-01

Children and youth with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) present substantial challenges for schools, teachers, parents, and peers. Social skills interventions have been shown to be effective for this population. Meta-analytic reviews of this literature show that about 65% of students with EBD will improve when given social…

Nanomedicine for safe healing of bone trauma: Opportunities and challenges

PubMed Central

Behzadi, Shahed; Luther, Gaurav A.; Harris, Mitchel B.; Farokhzad, Omid C.; Mahmoudi, Morteza

2017-01-01

Historically, high-energy extremity injuries resulting in significant soft-tissue trauma and bone loss were often deemed unsalvageable and treated with primary amputation. With improved soft-tissue coverage and nerve repair techniques, these injuries now present new challenges in limb-salvage surgery. High-energy extremity trauma is pre-disposed to delayed or unpredictable bony healing and high rates of infection, depending on the integrity of the soft-tissue envelope. Furthermore, orthopedic trauma surgeons are often faced with the challenge of stabilizing and repairing large bony defects while promoting an optimal environment to prevent infection and aid bony healing. During the last decade, nanomedicine has demonstrated substantial potential in addressing the two major issues intrinsic to orthopedic traumas (i.e., high infection risk and low bony reconstruction) through combatting bacterial infection and accelerating/increasing the effectiveness of the bone-healing process. This review presents an overview and discusses recent challenges and opportunities to address major orthopedic trauma through nanomedical approaches. PMID:28918266

Engineering of the LISA Pathfinder mission—making the experiment a practical reality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warren, Carl; Dunbar, Neil; Backler, Mike

2009-05-01

LISA Pathfinder represents a unique challenge in the development of scientific spacecraft—not only is the LISA Test Package (LTP) payload a complex integrated development, placing stringent requirements on its developers and the spacecraft, but the payload also acts as the core sensor and actuator for the spacecraft, making the tasks of control design, software development and system verification unusually difficult. The micro-propulsion system which provides the remaining actuation also presents substantial development and verification challenges. As the mission approaches the system critical design review, flight hardware is completing verification and the process of verification using software and hardware simulators and test benches is underway. Preparation for operations has started, but critical milestones for LTP and field effect electric propulsion (FEEP) lie ahead. This paper summarizes the status of the present development and outlines the key challenges that must be overcome on the way to launch.

Trauma-Informed Part C Early Intervention: A Vision, A Challenge, A New Reality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilkerson, Linda; Graham, Mimi; Harris, Deborah; Oser, Cindy; Clarke, Jane; Hairston-Fuller, Tody C.; Lertora, Jessica

2013-01-01

Federal directives require that any child less than 3 years old with a substantiated case of abuse be referred to the early intervention (EI) system. This article details the need and presents a vision for a trauma-informed EI system. The authors describe two exemplary program models which implement this vision and recommend steps which the field…

Rapid Development and Distribution of Mobile Media-Rich Clinical Practice Guidelines Nationwide in Colombia.

PubMed

Flórez-Arango, José F; Sriram Iyengar, M; Caicedo, Indira T; Escobar, German

2017-01-01

Development and electronic distribution of Clinical Practice Guidelines production is costly and challenging. This poster presents a rapid method to represent existing guidelines in auditable, computer executable multimedia format. We used a technology that enables a small number of clinicians to, in a short period of time, develop a substantial amount of computer executable guidelines without programming.

The climate-wildfire-air quality system: interactions and feedbacks across spatial and temporal scales

Treesearch

E. Natasha Stavros; Donald McKenzie; Narasimhan Larkin

2014-01-01

Future climate change and its effects on social and ecological systems present challenges for preserving valued ecosystem services, including local and regional air quality. Wildfire is a major source of air-quality impact in some locations, and a substantial contributor to pollutants of concern, including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are regulated to...

The Education of Australian School Students with the Most Severe Intellectual Disabilities: Where Have We Been and Where Could We Go? A Discussion Primer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyons, Gordon; Cassebohm, Michele

2012-01-01

The education of Australian students with the most severe intellectual disabilities continues to present substantial challenges to policymakers, practitioners and families. These are complex and involve philosophy and ethics generally, and curriculum assessment and pedagogy specifically. In light of the various phases of development for an…

Project Career: A qualitative examination of five college students with traumatic brain injuries.

PubMed

Nardone, Amanda; Sampson, Elaine; Stauffer, Callista; Leopold, Anne; Jacobs, Karen; Hendricks, Deborah J; Elias, Eileen; Chen, Hui; Rumrill, Phillip

2015-01-01

Project Career is an interprofessional five-year development project designed to improve the employment success of undergraduate college and university students with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The case study information was collected and synthesized by the project's Technology and Employment Coordinators (TECs) at each of the project's three university sites. The project's evaluation is occurring independently through JBS International, Inc. Five case studies are presented to provide an understanding of student participants' experiences within Project Career. Each case study includes background on the student, engagement with technology, vocational supports, and interactions with his/her respective TEC. A qualitative analysis from the student's case notes is provided within each case study, along with a discussion of the overall qualitative analysis. Across all five students, the theme Positive Outcomes was mentioned most often in the case notes. Of all the different type of challenges, Cognitive Challenges were most often mentioned during meetings with the TECs, followed by Psychological Challenges, Physical Challenges, Other Challenges, and Academic Challenges, respectively. Project Career is providing academic enrichment and career enhancement that may substantially improve the unsatisfactory employment outcomes that presently await students with TBI following graduation.

Pediatric palliative care and pediatric medical ethics: opportunities and challenges.

PubMed

Feudtner, Chris; Nathanson, Pamela G

2014-02-01

The fields of pediatric palliative care (PPC) and pediatric medical ethics (PME) overlap substantially, owing to a variety of historical, cultural, and social factors. This entwined relationship provides opportunities for leveraging the strong communication skills of both sets of providers, as well as the potential for resource sharing and research collaboration. At the same time, the personal and professional relationships between PPC and PME present challenges, including potential conflict with colleagues, perceived or actual bias toward a palliative care perspective in resolving ethical problems, potential delay or underuse of PME services, and a potential undervaluing of the medical expertise required for PPC consultation. We recommend that these challenges be managed by: (1) clearly defining and communicating clinical roles of PPC and PME staff, (2) developing questions that may prompt PPC and PME teams to request consultation from the other service, (3) developing explicit recusal criteria for PPC providers who also provide PME consultation, (4) ensuring that PPC and PME services remain organizationally distinct, and (5) developing well-defined and broad scopes of practice. Overall, the rich relationship between PPC and PME offers substantial opportunities to better serve patients and families facing difficult decisions.

Control of Future Air Traffic Systems via Complexity Bound Management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexandrov, Natalia

2013-01-01

The complexity of the present system for managing air traffic has led to "discreteness" in approaches to creating new concepts: new concepts are created as point designs, based on experience, expertise, and creativity of the proposer. Discrete point designs may be highly successful but they are difficult to substantiate in the face of equally strong substantiation of competing concepts, as well as the state of the art in concept evaluation via simulations. Hybrid concepts may present a compromise - the golden middle. Yet a hybrid of sometimes in principle incompatible concepts forms another point design that faces the challenge of substantiation and validation. We are faced with the need to re-design the air transportation system ab initio. This is a daunting task, especially considering the problem of transitioning from the present system to any fundamentally new system. However, design from scratch is also an opportunity to reconsider approaches to new concept development. In this position paper we propose an approach, Optimized Parametric Functional Design, for systematic development of concepts for management and control of airspace systems, based on optimization formulations in terms of required system functions and states. This reasoning framework, realizable in the context of ab initio system design, offers an approach to deriving substantiated airspace management and control concepts. With growing computational power, we hope that the approach will also yield a methodology for actual dynamic control of airspace

When Cloud Computing Meets with Semantic Web: A New Design for E-Portfolio Systems in the Social Media Era

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Paul; Ng, Chen Kee; Lim, Gloria

2010-01-01

The need, use, benefit and potential of e-portfolios have been analysed and discussed by a substantial body of researchers in the education community. However, the development and implementation approaches of e-portfolios to date have faced with various challenges and limitations. This paper presents a new approach of an e-portfolio system design…

The RAPIDD ebola forecasting challenge: Synthesis and lessons learnt.

PubMed

Viboud, Cécile; Sun, Kaiyuan; Gaffey, Robert; Ajelli, Marco; Fumanelli, Laura; Merler, Stefano; Zhang, Qian; Chowell, Gerardo; Simonsen, Lone; Vespignani, Alessandro

2018-03-01

Infectious disease forecasting is gaining traction in the public health community; however, limited systematic comparisons of model performance exist. Here we present the results of a synthetic forecasting challenge inspired by the West African Ebola crisis in 2014-2015 and involving 16 international academic teams and US government agencies, and compare the predictive performance of 8 independent modeling approaches. Challenge participants were invited to predict 140 epidemiological targets across 5 different time points of 4 synthetic Ebola outbreaks, each involving different levels of interventions and "fog of war" in outbreak data made available for predictions. Prediction targets included 1-4 week-ahead case incidences, outbreak size, peak timing, and several natural history parameters. With respect to weekly case incidence targets, ensemble predictions based on a Bayesian average of the 8 participating models outperformed any individual model and did substantially better than a null auto-regressive model. There was no relationship between model complexity and prediction accuracy; however, the top performing models for short-term weekly incidence were reactive models with few parameters, fitted to a short and recent part of the outbreak. Individual model outputs and ensemble predictions improved with data accuracy and availability; by the second time point, just before the peak of the epidemic, estimates of final size were within 20% of the target. The 4th challenge scenario - mirroring an uncontrolled Ebola outbreak with substantial data reporting noise - was poorly predicted by all modeling teams. Overall, this synthetic forecasting challenge provided a deep understanding of model performance under controlled data and epidemiological conditions. We recommend such "peace time" forecasting challenges as key elements to improve coordination and inspire collaboration between modeling groups ahead of the next pandemic threat, and to assess model forecasting accuracy for a variety of known and hypothetical pathogens. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Lab-on-a-Chip Sensor for Monitoring Perchlorate in Ground and Surface Water

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

uses zwitterionic surfactants was immobilized on either a conventional or membrane-based stationary phase (electrostatic ion chromatography ) em...substantially higher than that of drinking water. A novel extraction method incorporat- ing the fundamentals of electrostatic ion chromatography (EIC) was...electrostatic ion chromatography (EIC), is presented as a way to overcome this challenge. Two extraction formats, employing either a packed bed or a monolith

Xenon (e,2e) triple differential cross sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mydlowski, Robert D.; Walters, H. R. J.; Whelan, Colm T.

2015-05-01

Recently there have been published some interesting experiments on the outer shell of xenon performed in doubly symmetric energy sharing arrangements. These experiments present a substantial challenge to theory, not only have we an extremely complex target but the kinematics are such that the key few body effects of exchange, distortion and post collisional electron-electron interaction (pci) and target polarization are likely to be at their strongest and the TDCS will be sensitive to them and their interference. Theoretical results will be presented and compared with experiment

Promises and challenges in solid-state lighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schubert, Fred

2010-03-01

Lighting technologies based on semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer unprecedented promises that include three major benefits: (i) Gigantic energy savings enabled by efficient conversion of electrical energy to optical energy; (ii) Substantial positive contributions to sustainability through reduced emissions of global-warming gases, acid-rain gases, and toxic substances such as mercury; and (iii) The creation of new paradigms in lighting driven by the unique controllability of solid-state lighting sources. Due to the powerful nature of these benefits, the transition from conventional lighting sources to solid-state lighting is virtually assured. This presentation will illustrate the new world of lighting and illustrate the pervasive changes to be expected in lighting, displays, communications, and biotechnology. The presentation will also address the formidable challenges that must be addressed to continue the further advancement of solid-state lighting technology. These challenges offer opportunities for research and innovation. Specific challenges include light management, carrier transport, and optical design. We will present some innovative approaches in order to solve known technical challenges faced by solid-state lighting. These approaches include the demonstration and use of new optical thin-film materials with a continuously tunable refractive index. These approaches also include the use of polarization-matched structures that reduce the polarization fields in GaInN LEDs and the hotly debated efficiency droop, that is, the decreasing LED efficiency at high currents.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for respiratory diseases: Current challenges and perspectives, March 31 - April 1, 2016, Tours, France.

PubMed

Desoubeaux, Guillaume; Reichert, Janice M; Sleeman, Matthew; Reckamp, Karen L; Ryffel, Bernhard; Adamczewski, Jörg P; Sweeney, Theresa D; Vanbever, Rita; Diot, Patrice; Owen, Caroline A; Page, Clive; Lerondel, Stéphanie; Le Pape, Alain; Heuze-Vourc'h, Nathalie

2016-01-01

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics have tremendous potential to benefit patients with lung diseases, for which there remains substantial unmet medical need. To capture the current state of mAb research and development in the area of respiratory diseases, the Research Center of Respiratory Diseases (CEPR-INSERM U1100), the Laboratory of Excellence "MAbImprove," the GDR 3260 "Antibodies and therapeutic targeting," and the Grant Research program ARD2020 "Biotherapeutics" invited speakers from industry, academic and government organizations to present their recent research results at the Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies for Respiratory Diseases: Current challenges and perspectives congress held March 31 - April 1, 2016 in Tours, France.

Accounting for reciprocal host-microbiome interactions in experimental science.

PubMed

Stappenbeck, Thaddeus S; Virgin, Herbert W

2016-06-09

Mammals are defined by their metagenome, a combination of host and microbiome genes. This knowledge presents opportunities to further basic biology with translation to human diseases. However, the now-documented influence of the metagenome on experimental results and the reproducibility of in vivo mammalian models present new challenges. Here we provide the scientific basis for calling on all investigators, editors and funding agencies to embrace changes that will enhance reproducible and interpretable experiments by accounting for metagenomic effects. Implementation of new reporting and experimental design principles will improve experimental work, speed discovery and translation, and properly use substantial investments in biomedical research.

The Plastic Surgeon at Work and Play: Surgeon Health, Practice Stress, and Work–Home Balance

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Plastic surgeon wellness encompasses physical and mental health, considered in the context of practice stress. In addition, the challenges of work–home balance can lead to substantial negative impact on the surgeon, family, staff, and patients. The data-driven impact of each of these three components with personal vignettes, both individually and collectively, is presented by Michael Bentz, MD as the 2016 presidential address of American Association of Plastic Surgeons. PMID:27826476

The Plastic Surgeon at Work and Play: Surgeon Health, Practice Stress, and Work-Home Balance.

PubMed

Bentz, Michael L

2016-10-01

Plastic surgeon wellness encompasses physical and mental health, considered in the context of practice stress. In addition, the challenges of work-home balance can lead to substantial negative impact on the surgeon, family, staff, and patients. The data-driven impact of each of these three components with personal vignettes, both individually and collectively, is presented by Michael Bentz, MD as the 2016 presidential address of American Association of Plastic Surgeons.

The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National (HBSC) study: origins, concept, history and development 1982-2008.

PubMed

Currie, Candace; Nic Gabhainn, Saoirse; Godeau, Emmanuelle

2009-09-01

This paper traces the history of the HBSC study from its origins in the early 1980's to the present day describing how it was first conceptualised scientifically and how this influenced issues of study design. The challenges of managing a cross-national study are explained as are changes and adaptations over time with growth of the study from 3 to over forty country members. The key partnership with the World Health Organisation and its benefits are presented. With developments in scientific management and theoretical perspectives, HBSC has made a substantial contribution to the area of youth health. The last decade has seen increased dissemination to policy makers and evidence that scientific information arising from the study has influenced strategic policy development and practical health improvement programmes. This paper considers some of the key success factors and challenges for the study as it attempts to maximise its scientific output and channels the research findings into health improvement for young people. Future challenges for the study are also considered.

Recent Advances and Future Opportunities to Address Challenges in Offloading Diabetic Feet: A Mini-Review.

PubMed

Crews, Ryan T; King, Abagayle L; Yalla, Sai V; Rosenblatt, Noah J

2018-01-16

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a substantial dilemma for geriatric individuals with diabetes. The breakdown in tissue associated with DFU is typically a result of repetitive cycles of physical stress placed on the feet during weight-bearing activity. Accordingly, a key tenet in healing as well as preventing DFU is the use of offloading footwear to redistribute physical stress away from high stress locations such as bony prominences. Over the last several years there has been a substantial amount of effort directed at better understanding and implementing the practice of offloading. A review of this work as well as relevant technological advances is presented in this paper. Specifically, we will discuss the following topics in association with offloading diabetic feet: achieving optimal offloading, dosing activity/physical stress, thermal monitoring to detect preulcerative tissue damage, adherence with offloading devices, and optimizing the user experience. In addition to presenting progress to date, potential directions for further advancement are discussed. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: ‘Normal behaviour’ and relative maturity

PubMed Central

Ford-Jones, Polly Christine

2015-01-01

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed disorders in children, yet it remains poorly understood. Substantial controversy exists regarding correct diagnosis of ADHD, and areas of subjectivity in diagnosis have been identified. Concerns for appropriate diagnosis are critical in terms of children’s educational outcomes, as well as health concerns associated with the use and potential overuse of stimulant medications. There exists a relative-age effect in which children who are relatively younger than their peers and born closest to the school start age cut-off are more frequently diagnosed and treated for ADHD. Additionally, substantial variation exists in ADHD diagnosis between boys and girls, with boys often presenting with more stereotypical symptoms. Both the relative-age effect and variation in sex diagnosis, as well as the challenges of early preschool diagnosis, emphasize the importance of considering relative maturity in ADHD diagnosis of children. Implications and knowledge translation strategies for practitioners, parents and the education system are presented. PMID:26038639

Pigeons trade efficiency for stability in response to level of challenge during confined flight.

PubMed

Williams, C David; Biewener, Andrew A

2015-03-17

Individuals traversing challenging obstacles are faced with a decision: they can adopt traversal strategies that minimally disrupt their normal locomotion patterns or they can adopt strategies that substantially alter their gait, conferring new advantages and disadvantages. We flew pigeons (Columba livia) through an array of vertical obstacles in a flight arena, presenting them with this choice. The pigeons selected either a strategy involving only a slight pause in the normal wing beat cycle, or a wings-folded posture granting reduced efficiency but greater stability should a misjudgment lead to collision. The more stable but less efficient flight strategy was not used to traverse easy obstacles with wide gaps for passage but came to dominate the postures used as obstacle challenge increased with narrower gaps and there was a greater chance of a collision. These results indicate that birds weigh potential obstacle negotiation strategies and estimate task difficulty during locomotor pattern selection.

Pigeons trade efficiency for stability in response to level of challenge during confined flight

PubMed Central

Williams, C. David; Biewener, Andrew A.

2015-01-01

Individuals traversing challenging obstacles are faced with a decision: they can adopt traversal strategies that minimally disrupt their normal locomotion patterns or they can adopt strategies that substantially alter their gait, conferring new advantages and disadvantages. We flew pigeons (Columba livia) through an array of vertical obstacles in a flight arena, presenting them with this choice. The pigeons selected either a strategy involving only a slight pause in the normal wing beat cycle, or a wings-folded posture granting reduced efficiency but greater stability should a misjudgment lead to collision. The more stable but less efficient flight strategy was not used to traverse easy obstacles with wide gaps for passage but came to dominate the postures used as obstacle challenge increased with narrower gaps and there was a greater chance of a collision. These results indicate that birds weigh potential obstacle negotiation strategies and estimate task difficulty during locomotor pattern selection. PMID:25733863

Oncology nurses’ communication challenges with patients and families: A qualitative study

PubMed Central

Banerjee, Smita C.; Manna, Ruth; Coyle, Nessa; Shen, Megan Johnson; Pehrson, Cassandra; Zaider, Talia; Hammonds, Stacey; Krueger, Carol A.; Parker, Patricia A.; Bylund, Carma L.

2016-01-01

The benefits of effective communication in an oncology setting are multifold and include the overall well-being of patients and health professionals, adherence to treatment regimens, psychological functioning, and improvements in quality of life. Nevertheless, there are substantial barriers and communication challenges reported by oncology nurses. This study was conducted to present a summary of communication challenges faced by oncology nurses. From November 2012 to March 2014, 121 inpatient nurses working in the oncology setting participated in an online pre-training qualitative survey that asked nurses to describe common communication challenges in communicating empathy and discussing death, dying, and end-of-life (EOL) goals of care. The results revealed six themes that describe the challenges in communicating empathically: dialectic tensions, burden of carrying bad news, lack of skills for providing empathy, perceived institutional barriers, challenging situations, and perceived dissimilarities between the nurse and the patient. The results for challenges in discussing death, dying and EOL goals of care revealed five themes: dialectic tensions, discussing specific topics related to EOL, lack of skills for providing empathy, patient/family characteristics, and perceived institutional barriers. This study emphasizes the need for institutions to provide communication skills training to their oncology nurses for navigating through challenging patient interactions. PMID:26278636

Oncology nurses' communication challenges with patients and families: A qualitative study.

PubMed

Banerjee, Smita C; Manna, Ruth; Coyle, Nessa; Shen, Megan Johnson; Pehrson, Cassandra; Zaider, Talia; Hammonds, Stacey; Krueger, Carol A; Parker, Patricia A; Bylund, Carma L

2016-01-01

The benefits of effective communication in an oncology setting are multifold and include the overall well-being of patients and health professionals, adherence to treatment regimens, psychological functioning, and improvements in quality of life. Nevertheless, there are substantial barriers and communication challenges reported by oncology nurses. This study was conducted to present a summary of communication challenges faced by oncology nurses. From November 2012 to March 2014, 121 inpatient nurses working in the oncology setting participated in an online pre-training qualitative survey that asked nurses to describe common communication challenges in communicating empathy and discussing death, dying, and end-of-life (EOL) goals of care. The results revealed six themes that describe the challenges in communicating empathically: dialectic tensions, burden of carrying bad news, lack of skills for providing empathy, perceived institutional barriers, challenging situations, and perceived dissimilarities between the nurse and the patient. The results for challenges in discussing death, dying and EOL goals of care revealed five themes: dialectic tensions, discussing specific topics related to EOL, lack of skills for providing empathy, patient/family characteristics, and perceived institutional barriers. This study emphasizes the need for institutions to provide communication skills training to their oncology nurses for navigating through challenging patient interactions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Current Developments and Challenges in the Search for a Naturally Selected Diels-Alderase

PubMed Central

Kim, Hak Joong; Ruszczycky, Mark W.; Liu, Hung-wen

2012-01-01

Only a very few examples of enzymes known to catalyze pericyclic reactions have been reported, and presently no enzyme has been demonstrated unequivocally to catalyze a Diels-Alder reaction. Nevertheless, research into secondary metabolism has led to the discovery of numerous natural products exhibiting the structural hallmarks of [4+2] cycloadditions, prompting efforts to characterize the responsible enzymatic processes. These efforts have resulted in a growing collection of enzymes believed to catalyze pericyclic [4+2] cycloaddition reactions; however, in each case the complexity of the substrates and catalytic properties of these enzymes poses significant challenges in substantiating these hypotheses. Herein we consider the principles motivating these efforts and the enzymological systems currently under investigation. PMID:22260931

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for respiratory diseases: Current challenges and perspectives, March 31 – April 1, 2016, Tours, France

PubMed Central

Desoubeaux, Guillaume; Reichert, Janice M.; Sleeman, Matthew; Reckamp, Karen L.; Ryffel, Bernhard; Adamczewski, Jörg P.; Sweeney, Theresa D.; Vanbever, Rita; Diot, Patrice; Owen, Caroline A.; Page, Clive; Lerondel, Stéphanie; Le Pape, Alain; Heuze-Vourc'h, Nathalie

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics have tremendous potential to benefit patients with lung diseases, for which there remains substantial unmet medical need. To capture the current state of mAb research and development in the area of respiratory diseases, the Research Center of Respiratory Diseases (CEPR-INSERM U1100), the Laboratory of Excellence “MAbImprove,” the GDR 3260 “Antibodies and therapeutic targeting,” and the Grant Research program ARD2020 “Biotherapeutics” invited speakers from industry, academic and government organizations to present their recent research results at the Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies for Respiratory Diseases: Current challenges and perspectives congress held March 31 – April 1, 2016 in Tours, France. PMID:27266390

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2013 Designing Greener Chemicals Award

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 2013 award winner, Cargill, Inc., developed a vegetable-oil-based transformer fluid that is much less flammable, provides superior performance, is less toxic, and has a substantially lower carbon footprint.

Violence in transience: nursing care of battered migrant women.

PubMed

Rodriguez, R

1993-01-01

Nurses working with migrant farm worker women face serious challenges. Poverty, language, and cultural differences between farm worker women and health care providers present substantial barriers to women obtaining access to the health care system. These differences are especially important in instances of domestic violence. The transient life style of migrant farm workers, combined with geographic and social isolation, make it especially difficult for health care providers to meet the needs of migrant battered women. Strategies for working with migrant battered women are offered.

Loophole-free Bell test with one atom and less than one photon on average

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

Sangouard, N.; Bancal, J.-D.; Gisin, N.

2011-11-15

We consider the entanglement between two internal states of a single atom and two photon number states describing either the vacuum or a single photon and thus containing, on average, less than one photon. We show that this intriguing entanglement can be characterized through substantial violations of a Bell inequality by performing homodyne detections on the optical mode. We present the experimental challenges that need to be overcome to pave the way toward a loophole-free Bell test.

The Challenge of Teacher Retention in Urban Schools: Evidence of Variation from a Cross-Site Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papay, John P.; Bacher-Hicks, Andrew; Page, Lindsay C.; Marinell, William H.

2017-01-01

Substantial teacher turnover poses a challenge to staffing public schools with effective teachers. The scope of the teacher retention challenge across school districts, however, remains poorly defined. Applying consistent data practices and analytical techniques to administrative data sets from 16 urban districts, we document substantial…

Challenges and Instructional Approaches Impacting the Literacy Performance of English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markham, Paul L.; Gordon, Karen E.

2007-01-01

For English Language Learners (ELLs), the process of becoming literate in English is daunting. Not only are these students faced with the same literacy challenges faced by native English-speaking students, but they are also challenged with extensive diversity issues relating to substantial differences in linguistic, cultural, and academic…

Ozone from Wildfires: Peering through the Smog

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaffe, D. A.; Baylon, P.; Wigder, N. L.; Collier, S.; Zhou, S.; Zhang, Q.; Alvarado, M. J.

2014-12-01

In the western US, many areas are near the current air quality standard for O3. Yet there is substantial inter-annual variability (IAV) in the number of days that exceed the O3 air quality threshold (currently 75 ppbv for an 8-hour average). We propose that wildfires are the dominant cause for this IAV. However there are large uncertainties around O3 production from wildfires due to numerous complicating factors. Ozone formation in wildfire plumes differs substantially from urban O3 production in several ways: substantial variations in the emissions, much larger aerosol loadings, a much greater variety of reactive and oxygenated VOCs, rapid and substantial formation of PAN and very different sources of HOx in the plume. These factors make it challenging to model wildfire impacts on photochemistry in the usual way. In this presentation we will show examples of three common situations based on data from the Mt. Bachelor Observatory: Rapid O3 formation (within one day) in a wildfire plume. Slow, but substantial, O3 formation (over days to a week) in a wildfire plume. No detectable O3 formation in a wildfire plume. We will interpret these results with respect to the observed NOy mixing ratios, the photochemical environment, the combustion efficiency, the plume transport and other factors and suggest some key experiments and modeling studies that can help further our understanding of wildfire O3 production.

Peer-Assessment in Higher Education--Twenty-First Century Practices, Challenges and the Way Forward

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashenafi, Michael Mogessie

2017-01-01

Peer assessment in higher education has been studied for decades. Despite the substantial amount of research carried out, peer assessment has yet to make significant advances. This review identifies themes of recent research and highlights the challenges that have hampered its advance. Most of these challenges arise from the manual nature of peer…

Defense Infrastructure: Challenges Increase Risks for Providing Timely Infrastructure Support for Army Installations Expecting Substantial Personnel Growth

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

Office Why GAO Did This Study Highlights Accountability Integrity Reliability September 2007 DEFENSE INFRASTRUCTURE Challenges Increase Risks for...authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative. It addresses (1) the challenges and associated risks the Army faces in providing for timely...but it faces several complex implementation challenges that risk late provision of needed infrastructure to adequately support incoming personnel

Breast cancer and neurofibromatosis type 1: a diagnostic challenge in patients with a high number of neurofibromas.

PubMed

Da Silva, André Vallejo; Rodrigues, Fabiana Resende; Pureza, Mônica; Lopes, Vania Gloria Silami; Cunha, Karin Soares

2015-03-26

Neurofibromatosis 1 is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans, presenting with multiple neurofibromas and an increased risk of various benign and malignant tumors, including breast cancer. In this paper we report a case of a woman with neurofibromatosis 1 and the challenge associated with detecting an advanced breast cancer because of numerous skin neurofibromas, which were responsible for a substantial delay in cancer diagnosis. Literature concerning the association of neurofibromatosis 1 and breast cancer is reviewed and discussed. Best practice guidelines for breast cancer detection are not sufficient for the screening of neurofibromatosis 1 carriers. A more intensive clinical and imaging approach should be used if the same early detection rate as in non-neurofibromatosis 1 women is to be achieved.

Challenges in the analysis of complex systems: introduction and overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastings, Harold M.; Davidsen, Jörn; Leung, Henry

2017-12-01

One of the main challenges of modern physics is to provide a systematic understanding of systems far from equilibrium exhibiting emergent behavior. Prominent examples of such complex systems include, but are not limited to the cardiac electrical system, the brain, the power grid, social systems, material failure and earthquakes, and the climate system. Due to the technological advances over the last decade, the amount of observations and data available to characterize complex systems and their dynamics, as well as the capability to process that data, has increased substantially. The present issue discusses a cross section of the current research on complex systems, with a focus on novel experimental and data-driven approaches to complex systems that provide the necessary platform to model the behavior of such systems.

Professional Ethics for Digital Age Psychiatry: Boundaries, Privacy, and Communication.

PubMed

Sabin, James E; Harland, Jonathan Clark

2017-09-01

Internet and social media use continue to expand rapidly. Many patients and psychiatrists are bringing digital technologies into the treatment process, but relatively little attention has been paid to the ethical challenges in doing this. This review presents ethical guidelines for psychiatry in the digital age. Surveys demonstrate that patients are eager to make digital technologies part of their treatment. Substantial numbers search for professional and personal information about their therapists. Attitudes among psychiatrists about using digital technologies with patients range from dread to enthusiastic adoption. Digital technologies create four major ethical challenges for psychiatry: managing clinical boundaries; maintaining privacy and confidentiality; establishing realistic expectations regarding digital communications; and upholding professional ideals. Traditional ethical expectations are valid for the evolving digital arena, but guidance must be adapted for actual application in practice.

MO-DE-207-04: Imaging educational program on solutions to common pediatric imaging challenges

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

Krishnamurthy, R.

This imaging educational program will focus on solutions to common pediatric imaging challenges. The speakers will present collective knowledge on best practices in pediatric imaging from their experience at dedicated children’s hospitals. The educational program will begin with a detailed discussion of the optimal configuration of fluoroscopes for general pediatric procedures. Following this introduction will be a focused discussion on the utility of Dual Energy CT for imaging children. The third lecture will address the substantial challenge of obtaining consistent image post -processing in pediatric digital radiography. The fourth and final lecture will address best practices in pediatric MRI includingmore » a discussion of ancillary methods to reduce sedation and anesthesia rates. Learning Objectives: To learn techniques for optimizing radiation dose and image quality in pediatric fluoroscopy To become familiar with the unique challenges and applications of Dual Energy CT in pediatric imaging To learn solutions for consistent post-processing quality in pediatric digital radiography To understand the key components of an effective MRI safety and quality program for the pediatric practice.« less

Fuselage mounted anti-collision lights utilizing high power LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lundberg, John; Machi, Nicolo; Mangum, Scott; Singer, Jeffrey

2005-09-01

As LEDs continue to improve in efficacy and total light output, they are increasingly finding their way in to new applications in the aviation industry as well as adjacent markets. One function that is particularly challenging and may reap substantial benefits from this new technology is the fuselage mounted anti-collision light. Anti-collision lights provide conspicuity for the aircraft by periodically emitting bright flashes of light. The color, light distribution and intensity levels for these lights are all closely regulated through Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) documents. These lighting requirements, along with thermal, environmental and aerodynamic requirements, drive the overall design. In this paper, we will discuss the existing technologies used in anti-collision lights and the advantages and challenges associated with an LED solution. Particular attention will be given to the optical, thermal, electrical and aerodynamic aspects associated with an LED approach. A specific case study will be presented along with some of the challenges that have arisen during the design process. These challenges include the addition of an integrated covert anti-collision lighting.

Rethinking Environmental Protection: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World.

PubMed

Burke, Thomas A; Cascio, Wayne E; Costa, Daniel L; Deener, Kacee; Fontaine, Thomas D; Fulk, Florence A; Jackson, Laura E; Munns, Wayne R; Orme-Zavaleta, Jennifer; Slimak, Michael W; Zartarian, Valerie G

2017-03-01

From climate change to hydraulic fracturing, and from drinking water safety to wildfires, environmental challenges are changing. The United States has made substantial environmental protection progress based on media-specific and single pollutant risk-based frameworks. However, today’s environmental problems are increasingly complex and new scientific approaches and tools are needed to achieve sustainable solutions to protect the environment and public health. In this article, we present examples of today’s environmental challenges and offer an integrated systems approach to address them. We provide a strategic framework and recommendations for advancing the application of science for protecting the environment and public health. We posit that addressing 21st century challenges requires transdisciplinary and systems approaches, new data sources, and stakeholder partnerships. To address these challenges, we outline a process driven by problem formulation with the following steps: a ) formulate the problem holistically, b ) gather and synthesize diverse information, c ) develop and assess options, and d ) implement sustainable solutions. This process will require new skills and education in systems science, with an emphasis on science translation. A systems-based approach can transcend media- and receptor-specific bounds, integrate diverse information, and recognize the inextricable link between ecology and human health.

Rethinking Environmental Protection: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World

PubMed Central

Burke, Thomas A.; Cascio, Wayne E.; Costa, Daniel L.; Deener, Kacee; Fontaine, Thomas D.; Fulk, Florence A.; Jackson, Laura E.; Munns, Wayne R.; Orme-Zavaleta, Jennifer; Slimak, Michael W.; Zartarian, Valerie G.

2017-01-01

Summary: From climate change to hydraulic fracturing, and from drinking water safety to wildfires, environmental challenges are changing. The United States has made substantial environmental protection progress based on media-specific and single pollutant risk-based frameworks. However, today’s environmental problems are increasingly complex and new scientific approaches and tools are needed to achieve sustainable solutions to protect the environment and public health. In this article, we present examples of today’s environmental challenges and offer an integrated systems approach to address them. We provide a strategic framework and recommendations for advancing the application of science for protecting the environment and public health. We posit that addressing 21st century challenges requires transdisciplinary and systems approaches, new data sources, and stakeholder partnerships. To address these challenges, we outline a process driven by problem formulation with the following steps: a) formulate the problem holistically, b) gather and synthesize diverse information, c) develop and assess options, and d) implement sustainable solutions. This process will require new skills and education in systems science, with an emphasis on science translation. A systems-based approach can transcend media- and receptor-specific bounds, integrate diverse information, and recognize the inextricable link between ecology and human health. PMID:28248180

A computerized test battery for the assessment of cardiovascular reactivity.

PubMed

Debski, T T; Kamarck, T W; Jennings, J R; Young, L W; Eddy, M J; Zhang, Y X

1991-01-01

Recent evidence has suggested a possible relationship between the tendency to exhibit excessive cardiovascular reactions during psychological challenge and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Valid techniques for reliably assessing such reactions are, however, minimally available. A test battery for the assessment of cardiovascular reactivity to experimental challenge is currently being developed at the University of Pittsburgh in conjunction with the University of Miami and Duke University. An IBM-AT compatible microcomputer is being used for the concurrent collection of physiological data and presentation of the laboratory stressors. Digitized cardiovascular data being collected include EKG, Impedance Cardiogram (ICG), phonocardiogram, and a peripheral pulse wave measure. Blood pressure readings are also being collected and stored on disk. The computer presents three challenging video games, each designed to elicit cardiovascular reactions. Processing programs are being used and developed for the standardized scoring of the digitized signals. To assist in epidemiological research a mobile testing unit has been assembled for the easy administration of the test battery in varying geographical locations. The test battery being developed will increase the feasibility of epidemiological and clinical assessment of stress-induced cardiovascular responses which may substantiate a link between reactivity and cardiovascular disease.

Addressing neuropsychiatric disturbances during rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury: current and future methods

PubMed Central

Arciniegas, David B.

2011-01-01

Cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and sensorimotor disturbances are the principal clinical manifestations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) throughout the early postinjury period. These post-traumatic neuropsychiatric disturbances present substantial challenges to patients, their families, and clinicians providing their rehabilitative care, the optimal approaches to which remain incompletely developed. In this article, a neuropsychiairically informed, neurobiologically anchored approach to understanding and meeting challenges is described. The foundation for thai approach is laid, with a review of clinical case definitions of TBI and clarification of their intended referents. The differential diagnosis of event-related neuropsychiatric disturbances is considered next, after which the clinical and neurobiological heterogeneity within the diagnostic category of TBI are discussed. The clinical manifestations of biomechanical force-induced brain dysfunction are described as a state of post-traumatic encephalopathy (PTE) comprising several phenomenologically distinct stages, PTE is then used as a framework for understanding and clinically evaluating the neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI encountered commonly during the early post-injury rehabilitation period, and for considering the types and timings of neurorehabilitative interventions. Finally, directions for future research that may address productively the challenges to TBI rehabilitation presented by neuropsychiatric disturbances are considered. PMID:22034400

Earth Science Project Office (ESPO) Field Experiences During ORACLES, ATom, KORUS and POSIDON

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salazar, Vidal; Zavaleta, Jhony

2017-01-01

Very often, scientific field campaigns entail years of planning and incur substantial cost, especially if they involve the operation of large research aircraft in remote locations. Deploying and operating these aircrafts even for short periods of time poses challenges that, if not addressed properly, can have significant negative consequences and potentially jeopardize the success of a scientific campaign. Challenges vary from country to country and range from safety, health, and security risks to differences in cultural and social norms. Our presentation will focus on sharing experiences on the ESPO 2016 conducted field campaigns ORACLES, ATom, KORUS and POSIDON. We will focus on the best practices, lessons learned, international relations and coordination aspects of the country-specific experiences. This presentation will be part of the ICARE Conference (2nd International Conference on Airborne Research for the Environment (ICARE 2017) that will focus on "Developing the infrastructure to meet future scientific challenges". This unique conference and gathering of facility support experts will not only allow for dissemination and sharing of knowledge but also promote collaboration and networking among groups that support scientific research using airborne platforms around the globe.

Case management considerations of progressive dementia in a home setting.

PubMed

Pierce, Mary Ellen

2010-01-01

Nursing theory, research, and best practice guidelines contribute substantially to the field of dementia care. Interventional plans are challenged most by those dementias considered progressive and deteriorative in nature, requiring ongoing reassessment and modification of care practices as the clinical course changes. The purpose of this article is to provide guidelines for case managers in the development of effective, individualized care plans for clients with progressive dementia residing in a home setting. The application of these guidelines is illustrated through the presentation of an actual case. The practice setting is a private home in the Pacific Northwest. Geriatric case management is provided by an RN case manager. Progressive dementia presents challenges to home care. Professional case management using comprehensive, holistic assessment, collaborative approaches, and best practice fundamentals serve to create an effective, individualized plan of care. The increasing geriatric population presents great opportunities for case managers in strategic management for creating successful home care models in clients with progressive dementia. Use of nursing diagnoses, dementia research, and collaborative approaches with families and other medical providers creates a viable alternative for clients with progressive dementia.

Progress in Application of the Neurosciences to an Understanding of Human Learning: The Challenge of Finding a Middle-Ground Neuroeducational Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, O. Roger

2014-01-01

Modern neuroscientific research has substantially enhanced our understanding of the human brain. However, many challenges remain in developing a strong, brain-based theory of human learning, especially in complex environments such as educational settings. Some of the current issues and challenges in our progress toward developing comprehensive…

Convergence of agricultural intensification and climate change in the midwestern United States: Implications for soil and water conservation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Society faces substantial challenges to expand food production while adapting to climatic changes and ensuring ecosystem services are maintained. A convergence of these issues is occurring in the Midwestern United States, i.e., the ‘cornbelt’ region that provides substantial grain supplies to world ...

A Comment on a Haunting Number and a Challenge for Psychology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodolfa, Emil; Davis, Diana

2003-01-01

The past decade has seen a substantial increase in the publication rate of lesbian-, gay-, and bisexual-related research and theoretical articles in major counseling journals, and their content is consistently affirmative. However, this substantial increase comprises only 2% of all articles published. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual research appears…

MEMS microdisplays: overview and markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchaud, Jérémie; Nowak, Olivier

2006-04-01

MEMS based microdisplays have been given a lot of attention recently since the DLP based products have started to generate substantial revenues for Texas Instrument. Other companies are trying to enter this promising market with similar or alternative concepts. How will he MEMS-based microdisplay market develop until the end of the decade? May other mass markets emerge such as displays for cell phones? Is anyone in the position to challenge TI? This paper presents the results of the analysis of MEMS microdisplay applications and markets in the NEXUS III study.

MEMS microdisplays: overview and markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchaud, Jérémie; Wicht, Henning

2006-01-01

MEMS based microdisplays have been given a lot of attention recently since the DLP based products have started to generate substantial revenues for Texas Instrument. Other companies are trying to enter this promising market with similar or alternative concepts. How will he MEMS-based microdisplay market develop until the end of the decade? May other mass markets emerge such as displays for cell phones? Is anyone in the position to challenge TI? This paper presents the results of the analysis of MEMS microdisplay applications and markets in the NEXUS III study.

Increasing conversion efficiency of two-step photon up-conversion solar cell with a voltage booster hetero-interface.

PubMed

Asahi, Shigeo; Kusaki, Kazuki; Harada, Yukihiro; Kita, Takashi

2018-01-17

Development of high-efficiency solar cells is one of the attractive challenges in renewable energy technologies. Photon up-conversion can reduce the transmission loss and is one of the promising concepts which improve conversion efficiency. Here we present an analysis of the conversion efficiency, which can be increased by up-conversion in a single-junction solar cell with a hetero-interface that boosts the output voltage. We confirm that an increase in the quasi-Fermi gap and substantial photocurrent generation result in a high conversion efficiency.

Crisis Management of Accidental Extubation in a Prone-Positioned Patient with Klippel-Feil Syndrome.

PubMed

Spond, Matthew; Burns, Tyler; Rosenbaum, Thea; Lienhart, Kristen

2016-06-15

We present the case of an accidental extubation in a prone-positioned patient with a challenging airway because of Klippel-Feil syndrome and previous cervical spine fusions. The surgical procedure was well underway when this occurred, which added substantially to the difficulties produced by this event. We herein highlight the corrective steps we took in our case. We also recommend the need for a comprehensive preoperative briefing with all operating room personnel together with an action plan for how to prevent this particular scenario.

[Review of driver fatigue/drowsiness detection methods].

PubMed

Wang, Lei; Wu, Xiaojuan; Yu, Mengsun

2007-02-01

Driver fatigue/drowsiness is one of the important causes of serious traffic accidents and results in so many people deaths or injuries, but also substantial directly and indirectly economic expenses. Therefore, many countries make great effort on how to detect drowsiness during driving. In this paper, we introduce the recent developments of driver fatigue/drowsiness detection technology of world wide and try to classify the existing methods into several kinds according to different features measured, and analyzed. Finally, the challenges faced to fatigue/drowsiness detection technology and the development trend are presented.

The role of myocardial viability in contemporary cardiac practice.

PubMed

Jamiel, Abdelrahman; Ebid, Mohamad; Ahmed, Amjad M; Ahmed, Dalia; Al-Mallah, Mouaz H

2017-07-01

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains the single most common cause of death worldwide. Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a major sequel of coronary artery disease. The economic health burden of IHD is substantial. In patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI), the extent of viable myocardium (VM) directly affects the short- and long-term outcome. There is a considerable collection of observational data showing substantial improvement in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction when the need for revascularization is guided by preoperative assessment of viability and hibernation. However, a major challenge for present cardiovascular imaging is to identify better ways to assess viable but inadequately perfused myocardium and thus optimize selection of patients for coronary revascularization. Several non-invasive techniques have been developed to detect signs of viability. Hence, our aim is to provide the reader a state-of-the art review for the assessment of myocardial viability.

'They never talked to me about... ': Perspectives on aged care resident transfer to emergency departments.

PubMed

Arendts, Glenn; Popescu, Aurora; Howting, Denise; Quine, Susan; Howard, Kirsten

2015-06-01

To explore perspectives of three groups concerning transfers from aged care facilities to emergency departments. We sought to reveal factors influencing transfer decisions; how active each group was in making decisions; and to what extent groups ceded decision-making to others. Semi-structured interviews of 11 residents, 14 relatives and 17 staff with content analysis of interview transcripts. The three groups substantially differed in their involvement with initiating, and attitudes towards, transfer. Residents were least likely to be involved in the decision, yet most likely to support transfer. Staff felt conflicted between their desire to provide optimal treatment for one ill resident, and their obligations to other residents under care. Staff perspectives were largely consistent with published data, but we describe new results for other informant groups. Group expectations and preferences differ substantially. Service delivery to meet all preferences presents a challenge for health service design. © 2013 ACOTA.

Teaching Facial Expressions of Emotion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lierheimer, Kristin; Stichter, Janine

2011-01-01

Many students with exceptionalities, such as Aaron, display challenging behaviors that have a substantial impact on their quality of life and greatly disrupt the educational process (Matson, Wilkins, & Macken, 2009; Westling, 2010). Challenging behavior often causes academic and social difficulties for the students displaying the behavior,…

Changing tracks as situations change: humanitarian and health response along the Liberia-Côte d'Ivoire border.

PubMed

Derderian, Katharine

2014-10-01

In recent years, protracted crises and fragile post-conflict settings have challenged the co-existence, and even the linear continuum, of relief and development aid. Forced migration has tested humanitarian and development paradigms where sudden-onset emergencies, violence and displacement arise alongside ongoing development work. Drawing on Médecins Sans Frontières interventions in the region from December 2010 to May 2011, this paper examines aid and healthcare responses to displacement in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; it focuses on challenges to the maintenance of preparedness for such foreseeable emergencies and to adaptation in response to changing situations of displacement and insecurity. This 'backsliding' from development to emergency remains a substantial challenge to aid; yet, in exactly such cases, it also presents the opportunity to ensure access to medical care that is much more urgently needed in times of crisis, including the suspension of user fees for medical care. © 2014 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2014.

Physiological and Psychological Challenges of Increasing Physical Activity and Exercise in Patients at Risk of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Critical Review

PubMed Central

Crews, Ryan T.; Schneider, Kristin L.; Yalla, Sai V.; Reeves, Neil D.; Vileikyte, Loretta

2017-01-01

Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are common challenges among individuals at risk of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). While substantial research exists on physical activity interventions in adults with diabetes, those at greatest risk for foot ulceration were often excluded or not well-represented. Both at-risk patients and their clinicians may be hesitant to increase physical activity due to their perception of DFU risks. Physical activity is not contraindicated for those at risk of DFU, yet patients at risk present with unique barriers to initiating increases in physical activity. This review focuses upon the physiological and psychological challenges of increasing physical activity and exercise in patients at risk of DFUs. Offloading, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, depression, pain, self-efficacy and social support, DFU risk-specific beliefs and emotions, and research to date on exercise interventions in this population are all discussed. Additionally, recommendations for implementing and researching physical activity interventions for individuals at risk for DFU are provided. PMID:27155091

Measuring coverage in MNCH: design, implementation, and interpretation challenges associated with tracking vaccination coverage using household surveys.

PubMed

Cutts, Felicity T; Izurieta, Hector S; Rhoda, Dale A

2013-01-01

Vaccination coverage is an important public health indicator that is measured using administrative reports and/or surveys. The measurement of vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries using surveys is susceptible to numerous challenges. These challenges include selection bias and information bias, which cannot be solved by increasing the sample size, and the precision of the coverage estimate, which is determined by the survey sample size and sampling method. Selection bias can result from an inaccurate sampling frame or inappropriate field procedures and, since populations likely to be missed in a vaccination coverage survey are also likely to be missed by vaccination teams, most often inflates coverage estimates. Importantly, the large multi-purpose household surveys that are often used to measure vaccination coverage have invested substantial effort to reduce selection bias. Information bias occurs when a child's vaccination status is misclassified due to mistakes on his or her vaccination record, in data transcription, in the way survey questions are presented, or in the guardian's recall of vaccination for children without a written record. There has been substantial reliance on the guardian's recall in recent surveys, and, worryingly, information bias may become more likely in the future as immunization schedules become more complex and variable. Finally, some surveys assess immunity directly using serological assays. Sero-surveys are important for assessing public health risk, but currently are unable to validate coverage estimates directly. To improve vaccination coverage estimates based on surveys, we recommend that recording tools and practices should be improved and that surveys should incorporate best practices for design, implementation, and analysis.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: From Colonization to Cure

PubMed Central

Shields, Kelsey; Araujo-Castillo, Roger V.; Theethira, Thimmaiah G.; Alonso, Carolyn D.; Kelly, Ciaran

2015-01-01

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasingly prevalent, dangerous and challenging to prevent and manage. Despite intense national and international attention the incidence of primary and of recurrent CDI (PCDI and RCDI, respectively) have risen rapidly throughout the past decade. Of major concern is the increase in cases of RCDI resulting in substantial morbidity, morality and economic burden. RCDI management remains challenging as there is no uniformly effective therapy, no firm consensus on optimal treatment, and reliable data regarding RCDI-specific treatment options is scant. Novel therapeutic strategies are critically needed to rapidly, accurately, and effectively identify and treat patients with, or at-risk for, RCDI. In this review we consider the factors implicated in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of RCDI, evaluate current management options for RCDI and explore novel and emerging therapies. PMID:25930686

Attitudes of health science students towards teaching practices, examinations, and other related issues.

PubMed

Shephard, R J; Ashley, M J

1979-03-01

A brief multiple choice questionnaire explored the attitudes of students enrolled in several health science faculties (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and physical and health education). A substantial proportion indicated a wish for more challenging lectures. On the other hand, the majority of students devoted less than one hour of personal study per week to required 'courses', interest in health-related 'courses' being particularly weak. Small textbooks with minimal references were desired, and relatively little use was made of free lecture handouts. Financial constraints had little influence on personal study, but affected textbook purchase. The demand for 'handouts' would have been reduced by a charge. Frequent term examinations as a stimulus to learning were favoured by all groups, as were full or challenging presentations by instructors. Team teaching, although favoured generally, was not equally appealing to all groups.

Cancer control falls squarely within the province of the psychological sciences.

PubMed

Green McDonald, Paige; O'Connell, Mary; Suls, Jerry

2015-01-01

Against the background of cancer as a contemporary public health challenge, this article presents a selective overview of psychological science contributions to cancer control research, practice, and policy. Initial contributions were circumscribed to awareness campaigns and the assessment of emotional responses to diagnosis and treatment. As evidence linking certain behaviors to cancer risk and outcomes accumulated, psychology emerged as a "hub science" in the Nation's cancer control program. Despite substantial accomplishments, new societal trends further challenge our ability to reduce risk, incidence, and deaths from cancer and enhance quality of life for cancer survivors. Evidence generated from psychological research conducted within each cell of Pasteur's quadrant continues to be relevant and necessary for effective 21st-century approaches to cancer prevention and control at the individual, clinical, and population levels. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved.

Present Challenges, Critical Needs, and Future Technological Directions for NASA's GN and C Engineering Discipline

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dennehy, Cornelius J.

2010-01-01

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently undergoing a substantial redirection. Notable among the changes occurring within NASA is the stated emphasis on technology development, integration, and demonstration. These new changes within the Agency should have a positive impact on the GN&C discipline given the potential for sizeable investments for technology development and in-space demonstrations of both Autonomous Rendezvous & Docking (AR&D) systems and Autonomous Precision Landing (APL) systems. In this paper the NASA Technical Fellow for Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) provides a summary of the present technical challenges, critical needs, and future technological directions for NASA s GN&C engineering discipline. A brief overview of the changes occurring within NASA that are driving a renewed emphasis on technology development will be presented as background. The potential benefits of the planned GN&C technology developments will be highlighted. This paper will provide a GN&C State-of-the-Discipline assessment. The discipline s readiness to support the goals & objectives of each of the four NASA Mission Directorates is evaluated and the technical challenges and barriers currently faced by the discipline are summarized. This paper will also discuss the need for sustained investments to sufficiently mature the several classes of GN&C technologies required to implement NASA crewed exploration and robotic science missions.

Leapfrogging Pedagogy: A Design Approach to Making Change in Challenging Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crichton, Susan

2014-01-01

At a time of substantial change, globalization, and ubiquitous access to information, educators struggle to change even the most basic aspects of their classrooms. This is especially true for those in challenging contexts where many perpetuate the "mind numbing" practice of rote instruction. This paper describes a collaborative…

Female Faculty: Challenges and Choices in the United States and Beyond

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Samble, Jennifer N.

2008-01-01

Substantial amounts of research and data detail the challenges female faculty face in the academy. These include unequal pay for similarly situated individuals, disparities between female representation within the professoriate and student population, and perceptions and accepted modes of behavior that have the effect of disenfranchising women as…

Choosing High-Yield Tasks for the Mathematical Development of Practicing Secondary Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Epperson, James A. Mendoza; Rhoads, Kathryn

2015-01-01

Many mathematics teacher educators encounter the challenge of creating or choosing mathematical tasks that evoke important mathematical insights and connections yet remain firmly grounded in school mathematics. This challenge increases substantially when trying to meet the needs of practicing secondary mathematics teachers pursuing graduate work…

Primary progressive aphasia: a clinical approach.

PubMed

Marshall, Charles R; Hardy, Chris J D; Volkmer, Anna; Russell, Lucy L; Bond, Rebecca L; Fletcher, Phillip D; Clark, Camilla N; Mummery, Catherine J; Schott, Jonathan M; Rossor, Martin N; Fox, Nick C; Crutch, Sebastian J; Rohrer, Jonathan D; Warren, Jason D

2018-06-01

The primary progressive aphasias are a heterogeneous group of focal 'language-led' dementias that pose substantial challenges for diagnosis and management. Here we present a clinical approach to the progressive aphasias, based on our experience of these disorders and directed at non-specialists. We first outline a framework for assessing language, tailored to the common presentations of progressive aphasia. We then consider the defining features of the canonical progressive nonfluent, semantic and logopenic aphasic syndromes, including 'clinical pearls' that we have found diagnostically useful and neuroanatomical and other key associations of each syndrome. We review potential diagnostic pitfalls and problematic presentations not well captured by conventional classifications and propose a diagnostic 'roadmap'. After outlining principles of management, we conclude with a prospect for future progress in these diseases, emphasising generic information processing deficits and novel pathophysiological biomarkers.

Peptic ulcer disease.

PubMed

Lanas, Angel; Chan, Francis K L

2017-08-05

The rapidly declining prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and widespread use of potent anti-secretory drugs means peptic ulcer disease has become substantially less prevalent than it was two decades ago. Management has, however, become more challenging than ever because of the threat of increasing antimicrobial resistance worldwide and widespread use of complex anti-thrombotic therapy in the ageing population. Peptic ulcers not associated with H pylori infection or the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are now also imposing substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This Seminar aims to provide a balanced overview of the latest advances in the pathogenetic mechanisms of peptic ulcers, guidelines on therapies targeting H pylori infection, approaches to treatment of peptic ulcer complications associated with anti-inflammatory analgesics and anti-thrombotic agents, and the unmet needs in terms of our knowledge and management of this increasingly challenging condition. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Astronomy: On the Bleeding Edge of Scholarly Infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borgman, Christine; Sands, A.; Wynholds, L. A.

2013-01-01

The infrastructure for scholarship has moved online, making data, articles, papers, journals, catalogs, and other scholarly resources nodes in a deeply interconnected network. Astronomy has led the way on several fronts, developing tools such as ADS to provide unified access to astronomical publications and reaching agreement on a common data file formats such as FITS. Astronomy also was among the first fields to establish open access to substantial amounts of observational data. We report on the first three years of a long-term research project to study knowledge infrastructures in astronomy, funded by the NSF and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Early findings indicate that the availability and use of networked technologies for integrating scholarly resources varies widely within astronomy. Substantial differences arise in the management of data between ground-based and space-based missions and between subfields of astronomy, for example. While large databases such as SDSS and MAST are essential resources for many researchers, much pointed, ground-based observational data exist only on local servers, with minimal curation. Some astronomy data are easily discoverable and usable, but many are not. International coordination activities such as IVOA and distributed access to high-level data products servers such as SIMBAD and NED are enabling further integration of published data. Astronomers are tackling yet more challenges in new forms of publishing data, algorithms, visualizations, and in assuring interoperability with parallel infrastructure efforts in related fields. New issues include data citation, attribution, and provenance. Substantial concerns remain for the long term discoverability, accessibility, usability, and curation of astronomy data and other scholarly resources. The presentation will outline these challenges, how they are being addressed by astronomy and related fields, and identify concerns and accomplishments expressed by the astronomers we have interviewed and observed.

Challenges of International Higher Education Students in a Foreign Country: A Qualitative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khodabandelou, Rouhollah; Karimi, Leila; Ehsani, Maryam

2015-01-01

Over the last several years, the number of international students attending colleges and universities in Malaysia has increased substantially. While the number of international students pursuing undergraduate and post graduate studies in Malaysian higher education institutions has increased, it is curious that some limitations and challenges exist…

BE PROACTIVE: "Including Students With Challenging Behavior in Your Classroom"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchem, Katherine J.

2005-01-01

Many teachers feel unprepared to deal with disruptive behavior and believe this substantially interferes with their teaching and their ability to successfully include children with disabilities (Schumm & Vaughn, 1995). In addition to the stress of dealing with never-ending piles of paperwork, working with challenging students may be one of the…

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness: Legislative Oversight Agencies' Efforts to Achieve Utilization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanLandingham, Gary R.

2006-01-01

While legislative oversight offices, like many evaluation and policy analysis units, face substantial challenges in promoting use of their work by policymakers, they often have not taken steps to overcome these challenges by adopting the strategies suggested by the evaluation literature. Although the offices seek utilization, they have not fully…

The Entry Experiences, Challenges, and Mediating Strategies of Public School Superintendents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutton, David M.

2012-01-01

The public school superintendent's role has changed substantially over time, and the work of superintendents is more complex, demanding, and challenging than ever before. Recent studies indicate that 70% to 80% of the nation's superintendents will leave their positions over the next five years, suggesting the imminent entry of many new…

Efficient Computation Of Behavior Of Aircraft Tires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanner, John A.; Noor, Ahmed K.; Andersen, Carl M.

1989-01-01

NASA technical paper discusses challenging application of computational structural mechanics to numerical simulation of responses of aircraft tires during taxing, takeoff, and landing. Presents details of three main elements of computational strategy: use of special three-field, mixed-finite-element models; use of operator splitting; and application of technique reducing substantially number of degrees of freedom. Proposed computational strategy applied to two quasi-symmetric problems: linear analysis of anisotropic tires through use of two-dimensional-shell finite elements and nonlinear analysis of orthotropic tires subjected to unsymmetric loading. Three basic types of symmetry and combinations exhibited by response of tire identified.

The status of indoor air pollution.

PubMed Central

Esmen, N A

1985-01-01

Indoor air pollution, specifically restricted in its meaning to chemicals in home indoor air environment, presents a new and probably an important challenge to the researchers of the air pollution field. The general overview of this topic suggests that the voluminous data generated in the past ten or so years have only defined the rudiments of the problem, and significant areas of research still exist. Among the important areas where information is lacking, the exposures to contaminants generated by the use of consumer products and through hobbies and crafts represent perhaps the most urgent need for substantial research. PMID:4085429

Clinical Trial Design in Neuroendocrine Tumors.

PubMed

Halperin, Daniel M; Yao, James C

2016-02-01

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) present tremendous opportunities for productive clinical investigation, but substantial challenges as well. Investigators must be aware of common pitfalls in study design, informed by an understanding of the history of trials in the field, to make the best use of available data and our patient volunteers. We believe the salient issues in clinical trial design and interpretation in the NET field are patient homogeneity, standardized response assessment, and rigorous design and execution. Whether designing or interpreting a study in patients with NET, these principles should drive assessment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comments on the commercialization of expendable launch vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trilling, D. R.

1984-01-01

The President's national space policy encourages private sector investment and involvement in civil space activities. Last November, the President designated the Department of Transportation as lead agency for the commercialization of expendable launch vehicles. This presents a substantial challenge to the United States Government, since the guidelines and requirements that are set now will have great influence on whether American firms can become a viable competitive industry in the world launch market. There is a dual need to protect public safety and free the private sector launch industry from needless regulatory barriers so that it can grow and prosper.

A Fractional Cartesian Composition Model for Semi-Spatial Comparative Visualization Design.

PubMed

Kolesar, Ivan; Bruckner, Stefan; Viola, Ivan; Hauser, Helwig

2017-01-01

The study of spatial data ensembles leads to substantial visualization challenges in a variety of applications. In this paper, we present a model for comparative visualization that supports the design of according ensemble visualization solutions by partial automation. We focus on applications, where the user is interested in preserving selected spatial data characteristics of the data as much as possible-even when many ensemble members should be jointly studied using comparative visualization. In our model, we separate the design challenge into a minimal set of user-specified parameters and an optimization component for the automatic configuration of the remaining design variables. We provide an illustrated formal description of our model and exemplify our approach in the context of several application examples from different domains in order to demonstrate its generality within the class of comparative visualization problems for spatial data ensembles.

Enhanced Tumor Retention Effect by Click Chemistry for Improved Cancer Immunochemotherapy.

PubMed

Mei, Ling; Liu, Yayuan; Rao, Jingdong; Tang, Xian; Li, Man; Zhang, Zhirong; He, Qin

2018-05-30

Because of the limited drug concentration in tumor tissues and inappropriate treatment strategies, tumor recurrence and metastasis are critical challenges for effectively treating malignancies. A key challenge for effective delivery of nanoparticles is to reduce uptake by reticuloendothelial system and to enhance the permeability and retention effect. Herein, we demonstrated Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry triggered the aggregation of azide/alkyne-modified micelles, enhancing micelles accumulation in tumor tissues. In addition, combined doxorubicin with the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A, an agonist of toll-like receptor4, generated immunogenic cell death, which further promoted maturity of dendritic cells, antigen presentation and induced strong effector T cells in vivo. Following combined with anti-PD-L1 therapy, substantial antitumor and metastasis inhibitory effects were achieved because of the reduced PD-L1 expression and regulatory T cells. In addition, effective long-term immunity from memory T cell responses protected mice from tumor recurrence.

Challenges in systematic reviews: synthesis of topics related to the delivery, organization, and financing of health care.

PubMed

Bravata, Dena M; McDonald, Kathryn M; Shojania, Kaveh G; Sundaram, Vandana; Owens, Douglas K

2005-06-21

Some important health policy topics, such as those related to the delivery, organization, and financing of health care, present substantial challenges to established methods for evidence synthesis. For example, such reviews may ask: What is the effect of for-profit versus not-for-profit delivery of care on patient outcomes? Or, which strategies are the most effective for promoting preventive care? This paper describes innovative methods for synthesizing evidence related to the delivery, organization, and financing of health care. We found 13 systematic reviews on these topics that described novel methodologic approaches. Several of these syntheses used 3 approaches: conceptual frameworks to inform problem formulation, systematic searches that included nontraditional literature sources, and hybrid synthesis methods that included simulations to address key gaps in the literature. As the primary literature on these topics expands, so will opportunities to develop additional novel methods for performing high-quality comprehensive syntheses.

Development of the metrology and imaging of cellulose nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Postek, Michael T.; Vladár, András; Dagata, John; Farkas, Natalia; Ming, Bin; Wagner, Ryan; Raman, Arvind; Moon, Robert J.; Sabo, Ronald; Wegner, Theodore H.; Beecher, James

2011-02-01

The development of metrology for nanoparticles is a significant challenge. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are one group of nanoparticles that have high potential economic value but present substantial challenges to the development of the measurement science. Even the largest trees owe their strength to this newly appreciated class of nanomaterials. Cellulose is the world's most abundant natural, renewable, biodegradable polymer. Cellulose occurs as whisker-like microfibrils that are biosynthesized and deposited in plant material in a continuous fashion. The nanocrystals are isolated by hydrolyzing away the amorphous segments leaving the acid resistant crystalline fragments. Therefore, the basic raw material for new nanomaterial products already abounds in nature and is available to be utilized in an array of future materials. However, commercialization requires the development of efficient manufacturing processes and nanometrology to monitor quality. This paper discusses some of the instrumentation, metrology and standards issues associated with the ramping up for production and use of CNCs.

Transfer Learning for Activity Recognition: A Survey

PubMed Central

Cook, Diane; Feuz, Kyle D.; Krishnan, Narayanan C.

2013-01-01

Many intelligent systems that focus on the needs of a human require information about the activities being performed by the human. At the core of this capability is activity recognition, which is a challenging and well-researched problem. Activity recognition algorithms require substantial amounts of labeled training data yet need to perform well under very diverse circumstances. As a result, researchers have been designing methods to identify and utilize subtle connections between activity recognition datasets, or to perform transfer-based activity recognition. In this paper we survey the literature to highlight recent advances in transfer learning for activity recognition. We characterize existing approaches to transfer-based activity recognition by sensor modality, by differences between source and target environments, by data availability, and by type of information that is transferred. Finally, we present some grand challenges for the community to consider as this field is further developed. PMID:24039326

Monitoring patients with continuous-flow ventricular assist devices outside of the intensive care unit: novel challenges to bedside nursing.

PubMed

O'Shea, Genevieve; Teuteberg, Jeffrey J; Severyn, Donald A

2013-03-01

Ventricular assist devices provide therapeutic options for patients with severe heart failure who have exhausted available medical therapies. With restoration of organ perfusion with ventricular assist devices, the heart failure resolves and quality of life and functional status improve. The current generation of continuous-flow devices present novel challenges to the clinical assessment of patients by substantially reducing or nearly eliminating any palpable pulse. Patients therefore generally have inadequate arterial pulsatility for most noninvasive monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters or automated blood pressure cuffs to work accurately. This article describes the function of continuous-flow devices and how this function affects common monitoring options, as well as how to clinically assess recipients of continuous-flow devices to promptly identify those whose condition may be deteriorating or who may be receiving inadequate perfusion.

Combining Video, Audio and Lexical Indicators of Affect in Spontaneous Conversation via Particle Filtering

PubMed Central

Savran, Arman; Cao, Houwei; Shah, Miraj; Nenkova, Ani; Verma, Ragini

2013-01-01

We present experiments on fusing facial video, audio and lexical indicators for affect estimation during dyadic conversations. We use temporal statistics of texture descriptors extracted from facial video, a combination of various acoustic features, and lexical features to create regression based affect estimators for each modality. The single modality regressors are then combined using particle filtering, by treating these independent regression outputs as measurements of the affect states in a Bayesian filtering framework, where previous observations provide prediction about the current state by means of learned affect dynamics. Tested on the Audio-visual Emotion Recognition Challenge dataset, our single modality estimators achieve substantially higher scores than the official baseline method for every dimension of affect. Our filtering-based multi-modality fusion achieves correlation performance of 0.344 (baseline: 0.136) and 0.280 (baseline: 0.096) for the fully continuous and word level sub challenges, respectively. PMID:25300451

Combining Video, Audio and Lexical Indicators of Affect in Spontaneous Conversation via Particle Filtering.

PubMed

Savran, Arman; Cao, Houwei; Shah, Miraj; Nenkova, Ani; Verma, Ragini

2012-01-01

We present experiments on fusing facial video, audio and lexical indicators for affect estimation during dyadic conversations. We use temporal statistics of texture descriptors extracted from facial video, a combination of various acoustic features, and lexical features to create regression based affect estimators for each modality. The single modality regressors are then combined using particle filtering, by treating these independent regression outputs as measurements of the affect states in a Bayesian filtering framework, where previous observations provide prediction about the current state by means of learned affect dynamics. Tested on the Audio-visual Emotion Recognition Challenge dataset, our single modality estimators achieve substantially higher scores than the official baseline method for every dimension of affect. Our filtering-based multi-modality fusion achieves correlation performance of 0.344 (baseline: 0.136) and 0.280 (baseline: 0.096) for the fully continuous and word level sub challenges, respectively.

Linking Environmental Research and Practice: Lessons From The Integration of Climate Science and Water Management in the Western United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferguson, D. B.; Rice, J.; Woodhouse, C. A.

2015-12-01

Efforts to better connect scientific research with people and organizations involved in environmental decision making are receiving increased interest and attention. Some of the challenges we currently face, however—including complex questions associated with climate change—present unique challenges because of their scale and scope. Focused research on the intersections between environment and society has provided substantial insight into dynamics of large-scale environmental change and the related impacts on people, natural resources, and ecosystems, yet our ability to connect this research to real-world decision making remains limited. Addressing these complex environmental problems requires broad cooperation between scientists and those who may apply research results in decision making, but there are few templates for guiding the growing number of scientists and practitioners now engaging in this kind of cooperative work. This presentation will offer a set of heuristics for carrying out collaborative work between scientists and practitioners. These heuristics were derived from research that examined the direct experiences of water resources professionals and climate researchers who have been working to integrate science and practice.

Recreational drugs. Societal and professional issues.

PubMed

Solari-Twadell, P A

1991-06-01

Recreational drug use presents a challenge to society and, in particular, the profession of nursing. Recreational drug use must be appreciated for the implications it presents for the episodes of abuse and development of chronic health problems. The effects and recreational use of volatile substances, cannabis, opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, psychedelics, and designer drugs as well as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine must be acknowledged and understood if options for change are to be considered. The resultant cost of recreational drug use as well as health care implications, public safety, and prevention are significant issues society is faced with today. These issues will continue to be significant unless the current posture toward recreational drug use and abuse is addressed. The profession of nursing continues to be faced with the problems associated with recreational drug use not only through caring for clients, but immediately by the effects of recreational drug use on individual professional nurses. To respond effectively, nursing education and nursing research must be challenged to create an emphasis on this focus. Only through this type of multifocal approach will long-term substantial change be affected for the betterment of future generations.

Planning for the future workforce in hematology research

PubMed Central

Abkowitz, Janis L.; Coller, Barry S.; DiMichele, Donna M.

2015-01-01

The medical research and training enterprise in the United States is complex in both its scope and implementation. Accordingly, adaptations to the associated workforce needs present particular challenges. This is particularly true for maintaining or expanding national needs for physician-scientists where training resource requirements and competitive transitional milestones are substantial. For the individual, these phenomena can produce financial burden, prolong the career trajectory, and significantly influence career pathways. Hence, when national data suggest that future medical research needs in a scientific area may be met in a less than optimal manner, strategies to expand research and training capacity must follow. This article defines such an exigency for research and training in nonneoplastic hematology and presents potential strategies for addressing these critical workforce needs. The considerations presented herein reflect a summary of the discussions presented at 2 workshops cosponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Society of Hematology. PMID:25758827

Planning for the future workforce in hematology research.

PubMed

Hoots, W Keith; Abkowitz, Janis L; Coller, Barry S; DiMichele, Donna M

2015-04-30

The medical research and training enterprise in the United States is complex in both its scope and implementation. Accordingly, adaptations to the associated workforce needs present particular challenges. This is particularly true for maintaining or expanding national needs for physician-scientists where training resource requirements and competitive transitional milestones are substantial. For the individual, these phenomena can produce financial burden, prolong the career trajectory, and significantly influence career pathways. Hence, when national data suggest that future medical research needs in a scientific area may be met in a less than optimal manner, strategies to expand research and training capacity must follow. This article defines such an exigency for research and training in nonneoplastic hematology and presents potential strategies for addressing these critical workforce needs. The considerations presented herein reflect a summary of the discussions presented at 2 workshops cosponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Society of Hematology.

High Risk Aortic Valve Replacement - The Challenges of Multiple Treatment Strategies with an Evolving Technology.

PubMed

Booth, K; Beattie, R; McBride, M; Manoharan, G; Spence, M; Jones, J M

2016-01-01

Deciding on the optimal treatment strategy for high risk aortic valve replacement is challenging. Transcatheter Aortic Valve implantation (TAVI) has been available in our centre as an alternative treatment modality for patients since 2008. We present our early experience of TAVI and SAVR (surgical Aortic Valve Replacement) in high risk patients who required SAVR because TAVI could not be performed. The database for Surgical aortic valve and Transcatheter aortic valve replacement referrals was interrogated to identify relevant patients. Survival to hospital discharge was 95.5% in the forty five patients who had SAVR when TAVI was deemed technically unsuitable. One year survival was 86%. Defining who is appropriate for TAVI or high risk SAVR is challenging and multidisciplinary team discussion has never been more prudent in this field of evolving technology with ever decreasing risks of surgery. The introduction of TAVI at our institution has seen a rise in our surgical caseload by approximately by 25%. Overall, the option of aortic valve intervention is being offered to more patients in general which is a substantial benefit in the treatment of aortic valve disease.

Experimental realization of underdense plasma photocathode wakefield acceleration at FACET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherkl, Paul

2017-10-01

Novel electron beam sources from compact plasma accelerator concepts currently mature into the driving technology for next generation high-energy physics and light source facilities. Particularly electron beams of ultra-high brightness could pave the way for major advances for both scientific and commercial applications, but their generation remains tremendously challenging. The presentation outlines the experimental demonstration of the world's first bright electron beam source from spatiotemporally synchronized laser pulses injecting electrons into particle-driven plasma wakefields at FACET. Two distinctive types of operation - laser-triggered density downramp injection (``Plasma Torch'') and underdense plasma photocathode acceleration (``Trojan Horse'') - and their intermediate transitions are characterized and contrasted. Extensive particle-in-cell simulations substantiate the presentation of experimental results. In combination with novel techniques to minimize the beam energy spread, the acceleration scheme presented here promises ultra-high beam quality and brightness.

Flaws in the LNT single-hit model for cancer risk: An historical assessment.

PubMed

Calabrese, Edward J

2017-10-01

The LNT single-hit model was derived from the Nobel Prize-winning research of Herman J. Muller who showed that x-rays could induce gene mutations in Drosophila and that the dose response for these so-called mutational events was linear. Lewis J. Stadler, another well-known and respected geneticist at the time, strongly disagreed with and challenged Muller's claims. Detailed evaluations by Stadler over a prolonged series of investigations revealed that Muller's experiments had induced gross heritable chromosomal damage instead of specific gene mutations as had been claimed by Muller at his Nobel Lecture. These X-ray-induced alterations became progressively more frequent and were of larger magnitude (more destructive) with increasing doses. Thus, Muller's claim of having induced discrete gene mutations represented a substantial speculative overreach and was, in fact, without proof. The post hoc arguments of Muller to support his gene mutation hypothesis were significantly challenged and weakened by a series of new findings in the areas of cytogenetics, reverse mutation, adaptive and repair processes, and modern molecular methods for estimating induced genetic damage. These findings represented critical and substantial limitations to Muller's hypothesis of X-ray-induced gene mutations. Furthermore, they challenged the scientific foundations used in support of the LNT single-hit model by severing the logical nexus between Muller's data on radiation-induced inheritable alterations and the LNT single-hit model. These findings exposed fundamental scientific flaws that undermined not only the seminal recommendation of the 1956 BEAR I Genetics Panel to adopt the LNT single-hit Model for risk assessment but also any rationale for its continued use in the present day. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Design, Implementation, and Interpretation Challenges Associated with Tracking Vaccination Coverage Using Household Surveys

PubMed Central

Cutts, Felicity T.; Izurieta, Hector S.; Rhoda, Dale A.

2013-01-01

Vaccination coverage is an important public health indicator that is measured using administrative reports and/or surveys. The measurement of vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries using surveys is susceptible to numerous challenges. These challenges include selection bias and information bias, which cannot be solved by increasing the sample size, and the precision of the coverage estimate, which is determined by the survey sample size and sampling method. Selection bias can result from an inaccurate sampling frame or inappropriate field procedures and, since populations likely to be missed in a vaccination coverage survey are also likely to be missed by vaccination teams, most often inflates coverage estimates. Importantly, the large multi-purpose household surveys that are often used to measure vaccination coverage have invested substantial effort to reduce selection bias. Information bias occurs when a child's vaccination status is misclassified due to mistakes on his or her vaccination record, in data transcription, in the way survey questions are presented, or in the guardian's recall of vaccination for children without a written record. There has been substantial reliance on the guardian's recall in recent surveys, and, worryingly, information bias may become more likely in the future as immunization schedules become more complex and variable. Finally, some surveys assess immunity directly using serological assays. Sero-surveys are important for assessing public health risk, but currently are unable to validate coverage estimates directly. To improve vaccination coverage estimates based on surveys, we recommend that recording tools and practices should be improved and that surveys should incorporate best practices for design, implementation, and analysis. PMID:23667334

Surpassing Mt. Everest: extreme flight performance of alpine bumble-bees.

PubMed

Dillon, Michael E; Dudley, Robert

2014-02-01

Animal flight at altitude involves substantial aerodynamic and physiological challenges. Hovering at high elevations is particularly demanding from the dual perspectives of lift and power output; nevertheless, some volant insects reside and fly at elevations in excess of 4000 m. Here, we demonstrate that alpine bumble-bees possess substantial aerodynamic reserves, and can sustain hovering flight under hypobaria at effective elevations in excess of 9000 m, i.e. higher than Mt. Everest. Modulation of stroke amplitude and not wingbeat frequency is the primary means of compensation for overcoming the aerodynamic challenge. The presence of such excess capacity in a high-altitude bumble-bee is surprising and suggests intermittent behavioural demands for extreme flight performance supplemental to routine foraging.

The Challenge to States: Preserving College Access and Affordability in a Time of Crisis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, 2009

2009-01-01

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 represents both an opportunity and a challenge for states to set priorities. A substantial portion of these one-time federal funds can be used to reposition higher education strategically to protect access and quality and to stimulate the increased cost effectiveness and degree productivity…

Prevalence of Psychiatric Diagnoses and Challenging Behaviors in a Community-Based Population of Adults with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grey, Ian; Pollard, Jill; McClean, Brian; MacAuley, Niall; Hastings, Richard

2010-01-01

Previous research has suggested substantial variation in prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and also differential patterns of associations between psychiatric disorders and challenging behaviors in people with ID. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of specific…

Compartments, Customers, or Convergence?: Evolving Challenges to IT Progress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Gregory A.

2007-01-01

For most of the past decade, IT leaders in higher education felt on top of things. Challenges were usually comprehensible and addressable, doing reasonable things yielded reasonable results, and for the most part, IT was a substantial contributor to institutional progress. But these days, IT leaders rarely feel on top of things. Instead, some days…

Ethics, Collaboration, and Presentation Methods for Local and Traditional Knowledge for Understanding Arctic Change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsons, M. A.; Gearheard, S.; McNeave, C.

2009-12-01

Local and traditional knowledge (LTK) provides rich information about the Arctic environment at spatial and temporal scales that scientific knowledge often does not have access to (e.g. localized observations of fine-scale ecological change potentially from many different communities, or local sea ice and conditions prior to 1950s ice charts and 1970s satellite records). Community-based observations and monitoring are an opportunity for Arctic residents to provide ‘frontline’ observations and measurements that are an early warning system for Arctic change. The Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA) was established in response to the growing number of community-based and community-oriented research and observation projects in the Arctic. ELOKA provides data management and user support to facilitate the collection, preservation, exchange, and use of local observations and knowledge. Managing these data presents unique ethical challenges in terms of appropriate use of rare human knowledge and ensuring that knowledge is not lost from the local communities and not exploited in ways antithetical to community culture and desires. Local Arctic residents must be engaged as true collaborative partners while respecting their perspectives, which may vary substantially from a western science perspective. At the same time, we seek to derive scientific meaning from the local knowledge that can be used in conjunction with quantitative science data. This creates new challenges in terms of data presentation, knowledge representations, and basic issues of metadata. This presentation reviews these challenges, some initial approaches to addressing them, and overall lessons learned and future directions.

Antioxidant and Associated Capacities of Camu Camu (Myrciaria dubia): A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Langley, Paul C.; Pergolizzi, Joseph V.; Taylor, Robert

2015-01-01

Abstract An aging population in the United States presents important challenges for patients and physicians. The presence of inflammation can contribute to an accelerated aging process, the increasing presence of comorbidities, oxidative stress, and an increased prevalence of chronic pain. As patient-centered care is embracing a multimodal, integrative approach to the management of disease, patients and physicians are increasingly looking to the potential contribution of natural products. Camu camu, a well-researched and innovative natural product, has the potential to contribute, possibly substantially, to this management paradigm. The key issue is to raise camu camu's visibility through increased emphasis on its robust evidentiary base and its various formulations, as well as making consumers, patients, and physicians more aware of its potential. A program to increase the visibility of camu camu can contribute substantially not only to the management of inflammatory conditions and its positive contribution to overall good health but also to its potential role in many disease states. PMID:25275221

Antioxidant and associated capacities of Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia): a systematic review.

PubMed

Langley, Paul C; Pergolizzi, Joseph V; Taylor, Robert; Ridgway, Caroline

2015-01-01

An aging population in the United States presents important challenges for patients and physicians. The presence of inflammation can contribute to an accelerated aging process, the increasing presence of comorbidities, oxidative stress, and an increased prevalence of chronic pain. As patient-centered care is embracing a multimodal, integrative approach to the management of disease, patients and physicians are increasingly looking to the potential contribution of natural products. Camu camu, a well-researched and innovative natural product, has the potential to contribute, possibly substantially, to this management paradigm. The key issue is to raise camu camu's visibility through increased emphasis on its robust evidentiary base and its various formulations, as well as making consumers, patients, and physicians more aware of its potential. A program to increase the visibility of camu camu can contribute substantially not only to the management of inflammatory conditions and its positive contribution to overall good health but also to its potential role in many disease states.

The interaction between thermodynamic stability and buried free cysteines in regulating the functional half-life of fibroblast growth factor-1.

PubMed

Lee, Jihun; Blaber, Michael

2009-10-16

Protein biopharmaceuticals are an important and growing area of human therapeutics; however, the intrinsic property of proteins to adopt alternative conformations (such as during protein unfolding and aggregation) presents numerous challenges, limiting their effective application as biopharmaceuticals. Using fibroblast growth factor-1 as model system, we describe a cooperative interaction between the intrinsic property of thermostability and the reactivity of buried free-cysteine residues that can substantially modulate protein functional half-life. A mutational strategy that combines elimination of buried free cysteines and secondary mutations that enhance thermostability to achieve a substantial gain in functional half-life is described. Furthermore, the implementation of this design strategy utilizing stabilizing mutations within the core region resulted in a mutant protein that is essentially indistinguishable from wild type as regard protein surface and solvent structure, thus minimizing the immunogenic potential of the mutations. This design strategy should be generally applicable to soluble globular proteins containing buried free-cysteine residues.

Sensitivity of climate mitigation strategies to natural disturbances

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

Le Page, Yannick LB; Hurtt, George; Thomson, Allison M.

2013-02-19

The present and future concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide depends on both anthropogenic and natural sources and sinks of carbon. Most proposed climate mitigation strategies rely on a progressive transition to carbon12 efficient technologies to reduce industrial emissions, substantially supported by policies to maintain or enhance the terrestrial carbon stock in forests and other ecosystems. This strategy may be challenged if terrestrial sequestration capacity is affected by future climate feedbacks, but how and to what extent is little understood. Here, we show that climate mitigation strategies are highly sensitive to future natural disturbance rates (e.g. fires, hurricanes, droughts), because ofmore » potential effect of disturbances on the terrestrial carbon balance. Generally, altered disturbance rates affect the pace of societal and technological transitions required to achieve the mitigation target, with substantial consequences on the energy sector and on the global economy. Understanding the future dynamics and consequences of natural disturbances on terrestrial carbon balance is thus essential for developing robust climate mitigation strategies and policies« less

DNA methylation-based classification of central nervous system tumours.

PubMed

Capper, David; Jones, David T W; Sill, Martin; Hovestadt, Volker; Schrimpf, Daniel; Sturm, Dominik; Koelsche, Christian; Sahm, Felix; Chavez, Lukas; Reuss, David E; Kratz, Annekathrin; Wefers, Annika K; Huang, Kristin; Pajtler, Kristian W; Schweizer, Leonille; Stichel, Damian; Olar, Adriana; Engel, Nils W; Lindenberg, Kerstin; Harter, Patrick N; Braczynski, Anne K; Plate, Karl H; Dohmen, Hildegard; Garvalov, Boyan K; Coras, Roland; Hölsken, Annett; Hewer, Ekkehard; Bewerunge-Hudler, Melanie; Schick, Matthias; Fischer, Roger; Beschorner, Rudi; Schittenhelm, Jens; Staszewski, Ori; Wani, Khalida; Varlet, Pascale; Pages, Melanie; Temming, Petra; Lohmann, Dietmar; Selt, Florian; Witt, Hendrik; Milde, Till; Witt, Olaf; Aronica, Eleonora; Giangaspero, Felice; Rushing, Elisabeth; Scheurlen, Wolfram; Geisenberger, Christoph; Rodriguez, Fausto J; Becker, Albert; Preusser, Matthias; Haberler, Christine; Bjerkvig, Rolf; Cryan, Jane; Farrell, Michael; Deckert, Martina; Hench, Jürgen; Frank, Stephan; Serrano, Jonathan; Kannan, Kasthuri; Tsirigos, Aristotelis; Brück, Wolfgang; Hofer, Silvia; Brehmer, Stefanie; Seiz-Rosenhagen, Marcel; Hänggi, Daniel; Hans, Volkmar; Rozsnoki, Stephanie; Hansford, Jordan R; Kohlhof, Patricia; Kristensen, Bjarne W; Lechner, Matt; Lopes, Beatriz; Mawrin, Christian; Ketter, Ralf; Kulozik, Andreas; Khatib, Ziad; Heppner, Frank; Koch, Arend; Jouvet, Anne; Keohane, Catherine; Mühleisen, Helmut; Mueller, Wolf; Pohl, Ute; Prinz, Marco; Benner, Axel; Zapatka, Marc; Gottardo, Nicholas G; Driever, Pablo Hernáiz; Kramm, Christof M; Müller, Hermann L; Rutkowski, Stefan; von Hoff, Katja; Frühwald, Michael C; Gnekow, Astrid; Fleischhack, Gudrun; Tippelt, Stephan; Calaminus, Gabriele; Monoranu, Camelia-Maria; Perry, Arie; Jones, Chris; Jacques, Thomas S; Radlwimmer, Bernhard; Gessi, Marco; Pietsch, Torsten; Schramm, Johannes; Schackert, Gabriele; Westphal, Manfred; Reifenberger, Guido; Wesseling, Pieter; Weller, Michael; Collins, Vincent Peter; Blümcke, Ingmar; Bendszus, Martin; Debus, Jürgen; Huang, Annie; Jabado, Nada; Northcott, Paul A; Paulus, Werner; Gajjar, Amar; Robinson, Giles W; Taylor, Michael D; Jaunmuktane, Zane; Ryzhova, Marina; Platten, Michael; Unterberg, Andreas; Wick, Wolfgang; Karajannis, Matthias A; Mittelbronn, Michel; Acker, Till; Hartmann, Christian; Aldape, Kenneth; Schüller, Ulrich; Buslei, Rolf; Lichter, Peter; Kool, Marcel; Herold-Mende, Christel; Ellison, David W; Hasselblatt, Martin; Snuderl, Matija; Brandner, Sebastian; Korshunov, Andrey; von Deimling, Andreas; Pfister, Stefan M

2018-03-22

Accurate pathological diagnosis is crucial for optimal management of patients with cancer. For the approximately 100 known tumour types of the central nervous system, standardization of the diagnostic process has been shown to be particularly challenging-with substantial inter-observer variability in the histopathological diagnosis of many tumour types. Here we present a comprehensive approach for the DNA methylation-based classification of central nervous system tumours across all entities and age groups, and demonstrate its application in a routine diagnostic setting. We show that the availability of this method may have a substantial impact on diagnostic precision compared to standard methods, resulting in a change of diagnosis in up to 12% of prospective cases. For broader accessibility, we have designed a free online classifier tool, the use of which does not require any additional onsite data processing. Our results provide a blueprint for the generation of machine-learning-based tumour classifiers across other cancer entities, with the potential to fundamentally transform tumour pathology.

Decoupled Method for Reconstruction of Surface Conditions From Internal Temperatures On Ablative Materials With Uncertain Recession Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliver, A. Brandon

2017-01-01

Obtaining measurements of flight environments on ablative heat shields is both critical for spacecraft development and extremely challenging due to the harsh heating environment and surface recession. Thermocouples installed several millimeters below the surface are commonly used to measure the heat shield temperature response, but an ill-posed inverse heat conduction problem must be solved to reconstruct the surface heating environment from these measurements. Ablation can contribute substantially to the measurement response making solutions to the inverse problem strongly dependent on the recession model, which is often poorly characterized. To enable efficient surface reconstruction for recession model sensitivity analysis, a method for decoupling the surface recession evaluation from the inverse heat conduction problem is presented. The decoupled method is shown to provide reconstructions of equivalent accuracy to the traditional coupled method but with substantially reduced computational effort. These methods are applied to reconstruct the environments on the Mars Science Laboratory heat shield using diffusion limit and kinetically limited recession models.

The challenges and rewards of engaging a skeptical public

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Findings published in this issue suggest that a substantial subset of the Israeli public generally trusts government, yet is determined to make their own judgments about the need for precautionary action in certain types of public health emergencies. This reflective approach, which may be common in other countries as well, poses a substantial challenge to achieving desired levels of compliance, particularly when the threat requires swift and concerted action. The aim of this commentary is to discuss both the challenges and the rewards of engaging a public that wants to weigh evidence prior to taking action in an emergency, rather than defer to expert judgment. While engaging a skeptical public can be difficult, a reflective public acknowledges that preparedness is a shared responsibility of government and individuals and may be receptive to messages about the need for household and community self-sufficiency in a disaster. This is a commentary on the article “Analysis of Public Responses to Preparedness Policies” by Velan and colleagues. PMID:23537194

Protective immunity of a modified-live cyprinid herpesvirus 3 vaccine in koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) 13 months after vaccination.

PubMed

O'Connor, Matthew R; Farver, Thomas B; Malm, Kirsten V; Yun, Susan C; Marty, Gary D; Salonius, Kira; Dishon, Arnon; Weber, E P Scott

2014-10-01

To evaluate the long-term protective immunity of a cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV3) vaccine in naïve koi (Cyprinus carpio koi). 72 koi. Procedures-Vaccinated koi (n = 36) and unvaccinated control koi (36) were challenge exposed to a wild-type CyHV3 strain (KHVp8 F98-50) 13 months after vaccination. The CyHV3 vaccine provided substantial protective immunity against challenge exposure. The proportional mortality rate was less in vaccinated koi (13/36 [36%]) than in unvaccinated koi (36/36 [100%]). For koi that died during the experiment, mean survival time was significantly greater in vaccinated than in unvaccinated fish (17 vs 10 days). The CyHV3 vaccine provided substantial protective immunity against challenge exposure with CyHV3 13 months after vaccination. This provided evidence that koi can be vaccinated annually with the CyHV3 vaccine to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity rates associated with CyHV3 infection.

Antiretroviral Therapy for the Prevention of HIV Transmission: What Will It Take?

PubMed Central

McNairy, Margaret L.; El-Sadr, Wafaa M.

2014-01-01

The evidence in support of use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is encouraging and has stimulated optimism for achieving a dramatic change in the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. Yet, there are substantial challenges that, if not addressed, could be the Achilles’ heel for this concept. These challenges require strengthening every step of the HIV care continuum, including expansion of HIV testing to reach all those with HIV infection, effective linkage to and retention in care, timely initiation of ART, and high levels of treatment adherence with viral load suppression. Also important is the identification of individuals with acute HIV infection whose contribution to HIV transmission may be substantial. Implementation research is needed to identify strategies that address these challenges and to determine the efficacy of ART for prevention in key populations as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of combination strategies for HIV prevention at the population level. PMID:24429438

The future of the Amazon: new perspectives from climate, ecosystem and social sciences.

PubMed

Betts, Richard A; Malhi, Yadvinder; Roberts, J Timmons

2008-05-27

The potential loss or large-scale degradation of the tropical rainforests has become one of the iconic images of the impacts of twenty-first century environmental change and may be one of our century's most profound legacies. In the Amazon region, the direct threat of deforestation and degradation is now strongly intertwined with an indirect challenge we are just beginning to understand: the possibility of substantial regional drought driven by global climate change. The Amazon region hosts more than half of the world's remaining tropical forests, and some parts have among the greatest concentrations of biodiversity found anywhere on Earth. Overall, the region is estimated to host about a quarter of all global biodiversity. It acts as one of the major 'flywheels' of global climate, transpiring water and generating clouds, affecting atmospheric circulation across continents and hemispheres, and storing substantial reserves of biomass and soil carbon. Hence, the ongoing degradation of Amazonia is a threat to local climate stability and a contributor to the global atmospheric climate change crisis. Conversely, the stabilization of Amazonian deforestation and degradation would be an opportunity for local adaptation to climate change, as well as a potential global contributor towards mitigation of climate change. However, addressing deforestation in the Amazon raises substantial challenges in policy, governance, sustainability and economic science. This paper introduces a theme issue dedicated to a multidisciplinary analysis of these challenges.

Meeting the Challenges of Higher Education in India through Open Educational Resources: Policies, Practices, and Implications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thakran, Archana; Sharma, Ramesh C.

2016-01-01

Over the past two decades, the education sector in India has undergone a substantial transformation. Recent advances in technology have provided access to high quality educational resources and information on the Internet. This article examines the role of open educational resources (OER) in addressing the challenges of higher education in India,…

Challenges to Developmental Regulation across the Life Course: What Are They and Which Individual Differences Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heckhausen, Jutta; Wrosch, Carsten

2016-01-01

We discuss the major processes involved in individuals' motivation and self-regulation of goal striving throughout the life course. While much is regulated based on the biological and societal scaffolding of lifespan development, certain challenges for motivation and self-regulation are more substantial and need to be managed by the individual,…

Changing Forest Values and Ecosystem Management

Treesearch

David N. Bengston

1994-01-01

There is substantial evidence that we are currently in a period of rapid and significant change in forest values. Some have charged that managing forests in ways that are responsive to diverse and changing forest values is the main challenge faced by public forest managers. To tackle this challenge, we need to address the following questions: (1) What is the nature of...

Establishment of Stable, Cell-Mediated Immunity that Makes "Susceptible" Mice Resistant to Leishmania major

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bretscher, Peter A.; Wei, Guojian; Menon, Juthika N.; Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle

1992-07-01

Cell-mediated, but not antibody-mediated, immune responses protect humans against certain pathogens that produce chronic diseases such as leishmaniasis. Effective vaccination against such pathogens must therefore produce an immunological "imprint" so that stable, cell-mediated immunity is induced in all individuals after natural infection. BALB/c mice "innately susceptible" to Leishmania major produce antibodies after substantial infection. In the present study, "susceptible" mice injected with a small number of parasites mounted a cell-mediated response and acquired resistance to a larger, normally pathogenic, challenge. This vaccination strategy may be applicable in diseases in which protection is dependent on cell-mediated immunity.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a cause of neonatal suppurative parotitis: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

PubMed

Donovan, Sean T; Rohman, Grant T; Selph, John P; Rajan, Roy; Stocks, Rosemary M; Thompson, Jerome W

2013-06-01

Suppurative parotitis is an uncommon entity identified in newborns. While Staphylococcus aureus has been frequently identified as the causative pathogen among the few patients diagnosed with neonatal suppurative parotitis (NSP), there has only been one prior case described in the literature that was due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Because of its virulence, MRSA presents new and substantial challenges for the surgeon; we describe two cases of NSP caused by MRSA and the subsequent surgical intervention necessitated for cure. We also include a review of all cases of NSP described in the English-language literature.

Innovative Educational Initiatives to Train Psychodynamic Psychiatrists in Underserved Areas of the World.

PubMed

Alfonso, César A; Michael, Marco Christian; Elvira, Sylvia Detri; Zakaria, Hazli; Kalayasiri, Rasmon; Adlan, Aida Syarinaz A; Moinalghorabaei, Mahdieh; Lukman, Petrin Redayani; San'ati, Mohammad; Duchonova, Katerina; Sullivan, Timothy B

2018-06-01

Psychodynamic psychiatry remains a challenging subject to teach in underserved areas, where enthusiasm to learn is substantial. Besides logistical and psychiatric workforce shortcomings, sensible cultural adaptations to make psychodynamic psychiatry relevant outside of high-income countries require creative effort. Innovative pedagogical methods that include carefully crafted mentoring and incorporate videoconferencing in combination with site visits can be implemented through international collaborations. Emphasis on mentoring is essential to adequately train future psychodynamic psychotherapy supervisors. Examples of World Psychiatric Association initiatives in countries such as Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, and Thailand are presented as possible models to emulate elsewhere. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

National environmental observing system to mitigate the effects of nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) attacks: strategic and tactical

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleming, Rex J.

2003-09-01

The challenge of obtaining an adequate environmental support system to help mitigate the effects of various terrorist generated plumes is articulated and a fiscally responsible solution is presented. A substantially improved national system of upper air data observing systems serves as a powerful information source prior to a terrorist event. A mobile tactical observing system for measuring the environment and for measuring the composition and intensity of the plume is implemented immediately following an event. Only proven and tested technologies are used. Program costs, benefits for the fight against terrorism, and multiple benefits to other aspects of the economy are summarized.

Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen

PubMed Central

May, Robin C.; Stone, Neil R.H.; Wiesner, Darin L.; Bicanic, Tihana; Nielsen, Kirsten

2016-01-01

Cryptococcosis is a globally distributed invasive fungal infection that is caused by species within the genus Cryptococcus which presents substantial therapeutic challenges. Although natural human-to-human transmission has never been observed, recent work has identified multiple virulence mechanisms that enable cryptococci to infect, disseminate within and ultimately kill their human host. In this Review, we describe these recent discoveries that illustrate the intricacy of host-pathogen interactions and reveal new details about the host immune responses that either help to protect against disease or increase host susceptibility. In addition, we discuss how this improved understanding of both the host and the pathogen informs potential new avenues for therapeutic development. PMID:26685750

Cryptococcus: from environmental saprophyte to global pathogen.

PubMed

May, Robin C; Stone, Neil R H; Wiesner, Darin L; Bicanic, Tihana; Nielsen, Kirsten

2016-02-01

Cryptococcosis is a globally distributed invasive fungal infection that is caused by species within the genus Cryptococcus which presents substantial therapeutic challenges. Although natural human-to-human transmission has never been observed, recent work has identified multiple virulence mechanisms that enable cryptococci to infect, disseminate within and ultimately kill their human host. In this Review, we describe these recent discoveries that illustrate the intricacy of host-pathogen interactions and reveal new details about the host immune responses that either help to protect against disease or increase host susceptibility. In addition, we discuss how this improved understanding of both the host and the pathogen informs potential new avenues for therapeutic development.

Improving operating room safety

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Despite the introduction of the Universal Protocol, patient safety in surgery remains a daily challenge in the operating room. This present study describes one community health system's efforts to improve operating room safety through human factors training and ultimately the development of a surgical checklist. Using a combination of formal training, local studies documenting operating room safety issues and peer to peer mentoring we were able to substantially change the culture of our operating room. Our efforts have prepared us for successfully implementing a standardized checklist to improve operating room safety throughout our entire system. Based on these findings we recommend a multimodal approach to improving operating room safety. PMID:19930577

Obstacles facing Africa's young climate scientists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dike, Victor Nnamdi; Addi, Martin; Andang'o, Hezron Awiti; Attig, Bahar Faten; Barimalala, Rondrotiana; Diasso, Ulrich Jacques; Du Plessis, Marcel; Lamine, Salim; Mongwe, Precious N.; Zaroug, Modathir; Ochanda, Valentine Khasenye

2018-06-01

Current and future climate change poses a substantial threat to the African continent. Young scientists are needed to advance Earth systems science on the continent, but they face significant challenges.

Challenges to recruitment and retention of African Americans in the gene-environment trial of response to dietary interventions (GET READI) for heart health

PubMed Central

Kennedy, Betty M.; Harsha, David W.; Bookman, Ebony B.; Hill, Yolanda R.; Rankinen, Tuomo; Rodarte, Ruben Q.; Murla, Connie D.

2011-01-01

In this paper, challenges to recruiting African Americans specifically for a dietary feeding trial are examined, learning experiences gained and suggestions to overcome these challenges in future trials are discussed. A total of 333 individuals were randomized in the trial and 234 (167 sibling pairs and 67 parents/siblings) completed the dietary intervention and required DNA blood sampling for genetic analysis. The trial used multiple strategies for recruitment. Hand distributed letters and flyers through mass distribution at various churches resulted in the largest number (n = 153, 46%) of African Americans in the trial. Word of mouth accounted for the second largest number (n = 120, 36%) and included prior study participants. These two recruitment sources represented 82% (n = 273) of the total number of individuals randomized in GET READI. The remaining 18% (n = 60) consisted of a combination of sources including printed message on check stubs, newspaper articles, radio and TV appearances, screening events and presentations. Though challenging, the recruitment efforts for GET READI produced a significant number of African American participants despite the inability to complete the trial as planned because of low recruitment yields. Nevertheless, the recruitment process produced substantial numbers that successfully completed all study requirements. PMID:21865154

The role of chemistry in the energy challenge.

PubMed

Schlögl, Robert

2010-02-22

Chemistry with its key targets of providing materials and processes for conversion of matter is at the center stage of the energy challenge. Most energy conversion systems work on (bio)chemical energy carriers and require for their use suitable process and material solutions. The enormous scale of their application demands optimization beyond the incremental improvement of empirical discoveries. Knowledge-based systematic approaches are mandatory to arrive at scalable and sustainable solutions. Chemistry for energy, "ENERCHEM" contributes in many ways already today to the use of fossil energy carriers. Optimization of these processes exemplified by catalysis for fuels and chemicals production or by solid-state lightning can contribute in the near future substantially to the dual challenge of energy use and climate protection being in fact two sides of the same challenge. The paper focuses on the even greater role that ENERCHEM will have to play in the era of renewable energy systems where the storage of solar energy in chemical carries and batteries is a key requirement. A multidisciplinary and diversified approach is suggested to arrive at a stable and sustainable system of energy conversion processes. The timescales for transformation of the present energy scenario will be decades and the resources will be of global economic dimensions. ENERCHEM will have to provide the reliable basis for such technologies based on deep functional understanding.

Integral Images: Efficient Algorithms for Their Computation and Storage in Resource-Constrained Embedded Vision Systems

PubMed Central

Ehsan, Shoaib; Clark, Adrian F.; ur Rehman, Naveed; McDonald-Maier, Klaus D.

2015-01-01

The integral image, an intermediate image representation, has found extensive use in multi-scale local feature detection algorithms, such as Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF), allowing fast computation of rectangular features at constant speed, independent of filter size. For resource-constrained real-time embedded vision systems, computation and storage of integral image presents several design challenges due to strict timing and hardware limitations. Although calculation of the integral image only consists of simple addition operations, the total number of operations is large owing to the generally large size of image data. Recursive equations allow substantial decrease in the number of operations but require calculation in a serial fashion. This paper presents two new hardware algorithms that are based on the decomposition of these recursive equations, allowing calculation of up to four integral image values in a row-parallel way without significantly increasing the number of operations. An efficient design strategy is also proposed for a parallel integral image computation unit to reduce the size of the required internal memory (nearly 35% for common HD video). Addressing the storage problem of integral image in embedded vision systems, the paper presents two algorithms which allow substantial decrease (at least 44.44%) in the memory requirements. Finally, the paper provides a case study that highlights the utility of the proposed architectures in embedded vision systems. PMID:26184211

Integral Images: Efficient Algorithms for Their Computation and Storage in Resource-Constrained Embedded Vision Systems.

PubMed

Ehsan, Shoaib; Clark, Adrian F; Naveed ur Rehman; McDonald-Maier, Klaus D

2015-07-10

The integral image, an intermediate image representation, has found extensive use in multi-scale local feature detection algorithms, such as Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF), allowing fast computation of rectangular features at constant speed, independent of filter size. For resource-constrained real-time embedded vision systems, computation and storage of integral image presents several design challenges due to strict timing and hardware limitations. Although calculation of the integral image only consists of simple addition operations, the total number of operations is large owing to the generally large size of image data. Recursive equations allow substantial decrease in the number of operations but require calculation in a serial fashion. This paper presents two new hardware algorithms that are based on the decomposition of these recursive equations, allowing calculation of up to four integral image values in a row-parallel way without significantly increasing the number of operations. An efficient design strategy is also proposed for a parallel integral image computation unit to reduce the size of the required internal memory (nearly 35% for common HD video). Addressing the storage problem of integral image in embedded vision systems, the paper presents two algorithms which allow substantial decrease (at least 44.44%) in the memory requirements. Finally, the paper provides a case study that highlights the utility of the proposed architectures in embedded vision systems.

Modelling the Contribution of Long-range Transport of Ammonium Nitrates to Urban Air Pollution and Human Exposure in the United Kingdom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reis, S.; Vieno, M.; Beck, R.; Ots, R.; Moring, A.; Steinle, S.; Heal, M. R.; Doherty, R. M.

2014-12-01

Urban air pollution and its effects on human health remain to be a challenge in spite of substantial reductions in the emissions of air pollutants (e.g. sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides) over the past decades in Europe. While primary pollutants play a vital role in urban air pollution, recent model studies highlight and quantify the relevance of long-range transport of secondary pollution (e.g. secondary inorganic aerosols such as ammonium sulphates and nitrates, or ground level ozone) for the exceedance of local air quality limit values in urban areas across Europe. This contribution can be seen in recurring episodes, for instance in spring 2014, with very high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Paris, London and other European cities, as well as in elevated background levels throughout the year. While we will focus on the contribution to exceedances of PM2.5 limit values here, this transboundary transport has wider implications for the deposition of reactive nitrogen far from the source as well. As local authorities are tasked with ensuring the attainment of air quality limit values, exceedances caused by long-range transport, with emissions originating from sources outside of their jurisdiction present substantial challenges. Furthermore, while policy measures have successfully addressed emissions from large point sources in the past, and made progress towards reducing pollution from road vehicles, emissions of ammonia from agricultural sources - a key component for the long-range transport of secondary inorganic aerosols - have remained relatively stable in Europe. Using the example of Europe and the UK, we demonstrate in our presentation how atmospheric chemistry transport modelling across different scales (from regional to local) can provide vital insight in the mechanisms of and relative contributions to the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols. In addition, we illustrate how this modelling capability can inform the design of efficient control strategies by quantifying the effect of different policy measures targeted at specific source sectors, and highlight the role of transboundary air pollution to local air pollution challenges.

Dust and Debris Tolerant Retractable Cover Connector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, Mark E. (Inventor); Dokos, Adam G. (Inventor); Townsend, III, Ivan I. (Inventor); Carlson, Jeffrey W. (Inventor); Bastin, Gary L. (Inventor); Murtland, Kevin A. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A debris exclusion and removal apparatus for connectors which have retractable cover configurations which include internal wafers that clean the connectors prior to mating. XXXX connectors. More particularly, embodiments relate to dust tolerant connectors. Some embodiments also relate to an intelligent connector system capable of detecting damage to or faults within a conductor and then rerouting the energy to a non-damaged spare conductor. Discussion Connectors of the present invention may be used to transfer electrical current, fluid, and gas in a wide variety of environments containing dust and other debris, wherein that debris may present substantial challenges. For example, lunar/Martian dust intrusion and/or accumulation in connectors used to transfer oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc., may lead to larger system failures as well as loss of life in extraterrestrial human exploration endeavors. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may also be suitable for use where connectors must resist water intrusion, such as terrestrial deep water operations.

Reflections on the present and future of upper limb prostheses.

PubMed

Farina, Dario; Amsüss, Sebastian

2016-01-01

Despite progress in research and media attention on active upper limb prostheses, presently the most common commercial upper limb prosthetic devices are not fundamentally different from solutions offered almost one century ago. Limited information transfer for both control and sensory-motor integration and challenges in socket technology have been major obstacles. By analysing the present state-of-the-art and academic achievements, we provide our opinion on the future of upper limb prostheses. We believe that surgical procedures for muscle reinnervation and osseointegration will become increasingly clinically relevant; muscle electrical signals will remain the main clinical means for prosthetic control; and chronic electrode implants, first in muscles (control), then in nerves (sensory feedback), will become viable clinical solutions. After decades of suspended clinically relevant progress, it is foreseeable that a new generation of upper limb prostheses will enter the market in the near future based on such advances, thereby offering substantial clinical benefit for patients.

Implementing the No Child Left Behind Act: Using Student Engagement to Improve Adolescent Literacy. NCREL Quick Key 10 Action Guide

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Learning Point Associates / North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), 2005

2005-01-01

Literacy instruction does not end with reading success in early grades. As students move to middle and high school, new challenges emerge that can affect literacy achievement. Even for students who achieve early reading and writing success, the literacy demands of middle and high school can pose substantial challenges. Older students must be able…

Trends in Education Access and Financing during the Transition in Central And Eastern Europe. Social Challenges of Transition Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laporte, Bruno; Ringold, Dena

This paper is one in a series of reports based upon data from the "Social Challenges of Transition (SCT)" database. This cross-country study examines empirical trends in access to and financing of education in nine Central and East European countries. The study substantially improves the understanding of the impact of transition on…

Gaussian and linear deconvolution of LC-MS/MS chromatograms of the eight aminobutyric acid isomers

PubMed Central

Vemula, Harika; Kitase, Yukiko; Ayon, Navid J.; Bonewald, Lynda; Gutheil, William G.

2016-01-01

Isomeric molecules present a challenge for analytical resolution and quantification, even with MS-based detection. The eight-aminobutyric acid (ABA) isomers are of interest for their various biological activities, particularly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the d- and l-isomers of β-aminoisobutyric acid (β-AIBA; BAIBA). This study aimed to investigate LC-MS/MS-based resolution of these ABA isomers as their Marfey's (Mar) reagent derivatives. HPLC was able to separate three Mar-ABA isomers l-β-ABA (l-BABA), and l- and d-α-ABA (AABA) completely, with three isomers (GABA, and d/l-BAIBA) in one chromatographic cluster, and two isomers (α-AIBA (AAIBA) and d-BABA) in a second cluster. Partially separated cluster components were deconvoluted using Gaussian peak fitting except for GABA and d-BAIBA. MS/MS detection of Marfey's derivatized ABA isomers provided six MS/MS fragments, with substantially different intensity profiles between structural isomers. This allowed linear deconvolution of ABA isomer peaks. Combining HPLC separation with linear and Gaussian deconvolution allowed resolution of all eight ABA isomers. Application to human serum found a substantial level of l-AABA (13 μM), an intermediate level of l-BAIBA (0.8 μM), and low but detectable levels (<0.2 μM) of GABA, l-BABA, AAIBA, d-BAIBA, and d-AABA. This approach should be useful for LC-MS/MS deconvolution of other challenging groups of isomeric molecules. PMID:27771391

Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators During Implementation of a Complex Model of Group Prenatal Care in Six Urban Sites

PubMed Central

Novick, Gina; Womack, Julie A.; Lewis, Jessica; Stasko, Emily C.; Rising, Sharon S.; Sadler, Lois S.; Cunningham, Shayna C.; Tobin, Jonathan N.; Ickovics, Jeannette R.

2016-01-01

Group prenatal care improves perinatal outcomes, but implementing this complex model places substantial demands on settings designed for individual care. To describe perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Centering Pregnancy Plus (CP+) group prenatal care, 24 in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 clinicians, staff, administrators, and study personnel in six of the 14 sites of a randomized trial of the model. All sites served low-income, minority women. Sites for the present evaluation were selected for variation in location, study arm, and initial implementation response. Implementing CP+ was challenging in all sites, requiring substantial adaptations of clinical systems. All sites had barriers to meeting the model’s demands, but how sites responded to these barriers affected whether implementation thrived or struggled. Thriving sites had organizational cultures that supported innovation, champions who advocated for CP+, and staff who viewed logistical demands as manageable hurdles. Struggling sites had bureaucratic organizational structures and lacked buy-in and financial resources, and staff were overwhelmed by the model’s challenges. Findings suggested that implementing and sustaining health care innovation requires new practices and different ways of thinking, and health systems may not fully recognize the magnitude of change required. Consequently, evidence-based practices are modified or discontinued, and outcomes may differ from those in the original controlled studies. Before implementing new models of care, clinical settings should anticipate model demands and assess capacity for adapting to the disruptions of innovation. PMID:26340483

Lidar Measurements of Wind, Moisture and Boundary Layer Evolution in a Dryline During IHOP2002

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demoz, Belay; Evans, Keith; DiGirolamo, Paolo; Wang, Zhien; Whiteman, David; Schwemmer, Geary; Gentry, Bruce; Miller, David

2003-01-01

Variability in the convective boundary layer moisture, wind and temperature fields and their importance in the forecasting and understanding of storms have been discussed in the literature. These variations have been reported in relation to frontal zones, stationary boundaries and during horizontal convective rolls. While all three vary substantially in the convective boundary layer, moisture poses a particular challenge. Moisture or water vapor concentration (expressed as a mass mixing ratio, g/kg), is conserved in all meteorological processes except condensation and evaporation. The water vapor mixing ratio often remains distinct across an air -mass boundary even when the temperature difference is indistinct. These properties make it an ideal choice in visualizing and understanding many of the atmosphere's dynamic features. However, it also presents a unique measurement challenge because water vapor content can vary by more than three orders of magnitude in the troposphere. Characterization of the 3D-distribution of water vapor is also difficult as water vapor observations can suffer from large sampling errors and substantial variability both in the vertical and horizontal. This study presents groundbased measurements of wind, boundary layer structure and water vapor mixing ratio measurements observed by three co-located lidars. This presentation will focus on the evolution and variability of moisture and wind in the boundary layer during a dry line event that occurred on 22 May 2002. These data sets and analyses are unique in that they combine simultaneous measurements of wind, moisture and CBL structure to study the detailed thermal variability in and around clear air updrafts during a dryline event. It will quantify the variation caused by, in and around buoyant plumes and across a dryline. The data presented here were collected in the panhandle of Oklahoma as part of the International BO Project (IHOP-2002), a field experiment that took place over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) of the United States from 13 May to 30 June 2002. The chief goal of IHOP-2002 is to improve characterization of the four-dimensional (4-D) distribution of water vapor and its application to improving the understanding and prediction of convection

Lidar Measurements of Wind, Moisture, and Boundary Layer Evolution in a Dry Line during 1HOP 2002

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demoz, Belay; Evans, Keith; DiGirolamo, Paolo; Wang, Zhe-In; Whiteman, David; Schwemmer, Geary; Gentry, Bruce; Miller, David; Palm, Stephen

2002-01-01

Variability in the convective boundary layer moisture, wind and temperature fields and their importance in the forecasting and understanding of storms have been discussed in the literature. These . variations have been reported in relation to frontal zones, stationary boundaries and during horizontal convective rolls. While all three vary substantially in the convective boundary layer, moisture poses a particular challenge. Moisture or water vapor concentration (expressed as a mass mixing ratio, g/kg), is conserved in all meteorological processes except condensation and evaporation. The water vapor mixing ratio often remains distinct across an air-mass boundary even when the temperature difference is indistinct. These properties make it an ideal choice in visualizing and understanding many of the atmosphere's dynamic features. However, it also presents a unique measurement challenge because water vapor content can vary by more than three orders of magnitude in the troposphere. Characterization of the 3D-distribution of water vapor is also difficult as water vapor observations can suffer from large sampling errors and substantial variability both in the vertical and horizontal. This study presents ground-based measurements of wind, boundary layer structure and water vapor mixing ratio measurements observed by three co-located lidars. This presentation will focus on the evolution and variability of moisture and wind in the boundary layer during a dry line event that occurred on 22 May 2002. These data sets and analyses are unique in that they combine simultaneous measurements of wind, moisture and CBL structure to study the detailed thermal variability in and around clear air updrafts during a dryline event. It will quantify the variation caused by, in and around buoyant plumes and across a dryline. The data presented here were collected in the panhandle of Oklahoma as part of the International H2O Project (MOP-2002), a field experiment that took place over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) of the United States from 13 May to 30 June 2002. The chief goal of MOP-2002 is to improve characterization of the four-dimensional (4-D) distribution of water vapor and its application to improving the understanding and prediction of convection

Enabling responsible public genomics.

PubMed

Conley, John M; Doerr, Adam K; Vorhaus, Daniel B

2010-01-01

As scientific understandings of genetics advance, researchers require increasingly rich datasets that combine genomic data from large numbers of individuals with medical and other personal information. Linking individuals' genetic data and personal information precludes anonymity and produces medically significant information--a result not contemplated by the established legal and ethical conventions governing human genomic research. To pursue the next generation of human genomic research and commerce in a responsible fashion, scientists, lawyers, and regulators must address substantial new issues, including researchers' duties with respect to clinically significant data, the challenges to privacy presented by genomic data, the boundary between genomic research and commerce, and the practice of medicine. This Article presents a new model for understanding and addressing these new challenges--a "public genomics" premised on the idea that ethically, legally, and socially responsible genomics research requires openness, not privacy, as its organizing principle. Responsible public genomics combines the data contributed by informed and fully consenting information altruists and the research potential of rich datasets in a genomic commons that is freely and globally available. This Article examines the risks and benefits of this public genomics model in the context of an ambitious genetic research project currently under way--the Personal Genome Project. This Article also (i) demonstrates that large-scale genomic projects are desirable, (ii) evaluates the risks and challenges presented by public genomics research, and (iii) determines that the current legal and regulatory regimes restrict beneficial and responsible scientific inquiry while failing to adequately protect participants. The Article concludes by proposing a modified normative and legal framework that embraces and enables a future of responsible public genomics.

24 CFR 570.404 - Historically Black colleges and universities program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS Special... which tends to challenge in a substantial manner the certifications made by the applicant, the required...

Age-period-cohort analysis of infectious disease mortality in urban-rural China, 1990-2010.

PubMed

Li, Zhi; Wang, Peigang; Gao, Ge; Xu, Chunling; Chen, Xinguang

2016-03-31

Although a number of studies on infectious disease trends in China exist, these studies have not distinguished the age, period, and cohort effects simultaneously. Here, we analyze infectious disease mortality trends among urban and rural residents in China and distinguish the age, period, and cohort effects simultaneously. Infectious disease mortality rates (1990-2010) of urban and rural residents (5-84 years old) were obtained from the China Health Statistical Yearbook and analyzed with an age-period-cohort (APC) model based on Intrinsic Estimator (IE). Infectious disease mortality is relatively high at age group 5-9, reaches a minimum in adolescence (age group 10-19), then rises with age, with the growth rate gradually slowing down from approximately age 75. From 1990 to 2010, except for a slight rise among urban residents from 2000 to 2005, the mortality of Chinese residents experienced a substantial decline, though at a slower pace from 2005 to 2010. In contrast to the urban residents, rural residents experienced a rapid decline in mortality during 2000 to 2005. The mortality gap between urban and rural residents substantially narrowed during this period. Overall, later birth cohorts experienced lower infectious disease mortality risk. From the 1906-1910 to the 1941-1945 birth cohorts, the decrease of mortality among urban residents was significantly faster than that of subsequent birth cohorts and rural counterparts. With the rapid aging of the Chinese population, the prevention and control of infectious disease in elderly people will present greater challenges. From 1990 to 2010, the infectious disease mortality of Chinese residents and the urban-rural disparity have experienced substantial declines. However, the re-emergence of previously prevalent diseases and the emergence of new infectious diseases created new challenges. It is necessary to further strengthen screening, immunization, and treatment for the elderly and for older cohorts at high risk.

The Development of Titanium Alloys for Application in the Space Shuttle Main Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halchak, John A.; Jerman, Gregory A.; Zimmerman, Frank R.

2010-01-01

The high-strength-to-weight ratio of titanium alloys, particularly at cryogenic temperatures, make them attractive for application in rocket engines - offering the potential of superior performance while minimizing component weight. This was particularly attractive for rotating components, such as pump impellers, where titanium alloys presented the potential to achieve a major advance in rotational tip speed, with a reduction in stages and resultant saving in pump weight and complexity. The investigation into titanium alloys for application in cryogenic turbopumps began in the early 1960's. However, it was found that the reactivity of titanium limited applications and produced unique processing challenges. Specialized chemical compositions and processing techniques had to be developed. A substantial amount of material properties testing and trials in experimental turbopumps occurred, ultimately leading to application in the Space Shuttle Main Engine. One particular alloy stood out for use at liquid hydrogen temperatures, Ti-5Al-2.5Sn ELI. This alloy was employed for several critical components. This presentation deals with the development effort, the challenges that were encountered and operational experiences with Ti-5Al-2.5Sn ELI in the SSME.

Telling plant species apart with DNA: from barcodes to genomes

PubMed Central

Li, De-Zhu; van der Bank, Michelle

2016-01-01

Land plants underpin a multitude of ecosystem functions, support human livelihoods and represent a critically important component of terrestrial biodiversity—yet many tens of thousands of species await discovery, and plant identification remains a substantial challenge, especially where material is juvenile, fragmented or processed. In this opinion article, we tackle two main topics. Firstly, we provide a short summary of the strengths and limitations of plant DNA barcoding for addressing these issues. Secondly, we discuss options for enhancing current plant barcodes, focusing on increasing discriminatory power via either gene capture of nuclear markers or genome skimming. The former has the advantage of establishing a defined set of target loci maximizing efficiency of sequencing effort, data storage and analysis. The challenge is developing a probe set for large numbers of nuclear markers that works over sufficient phylogenetic breadth. Genome skimming has the advantage of using existing protocols and being backward compatible with existing barcodes; and the depth of sequence coverage can be increased as sequencing costs fall. Its non-targeted nature does, however, present a major informatics challenge for upscaling to large sample sets. This article is part of the themed issue ‘From DNA barcodes to biomes’. PMID:27481790

Physiological and psychological challenges of increasing physical activity and exercise in patients at risk of diabetic foot ulcers: a critical review.

PubMed

Crews, Ryan T; Schneider, Kristin L; Yalla, Sai V; Reeves, Neil D; Vileikyte, Loretta

2016-11-01

Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are common challenges among individuals at risk of diabetic foot ulcers. While substantial research exists on physical activity interventions in adults with diabetes, those at greatest risk for foot ulceration were often excluded or not well represented. Both at-risk patients and their clinicians may be hesitant to increase physical activity because of their perception of diabetic foot ulcer risks. Physical activity is not contraindicated for those at risk of diabetic foot ulcer, yet patients at risk present with unique barriers to initiating increases in physical activity. This review focuses upon the physiological and psychological challenges of increasing physical activity and exercise in patients at risk of diabetic foot ulcers. Offloading, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, depression, pain, self-efficacy and social support, diabetic foot ulcer risk-specific beliefs and emotions, and research to date on exercise interventions in this population are all discussed. Additionally, recommendations for implementing and researching physical activity interventions for individuals at risk for diabetic foot ulcer are provided. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In an Unpredictable and Changing Environment: Intrapreneurial Self-Capital As a Key Resource for Life Satisfaction and Flourishing

PubMed Central

Di Fabio, Annamaria; Palazzeschi, Letizia; Bucci, Ornella

2017-01-01

The twenty-first century is characterized by an unpredictable and challenging work environment, and the Intrapreneurial Self-Capital (ISC) career and life construct can be seen as a core of individual intrapreneurial resources that enables people to cope with ongoing challenges, changes, and transitions founding innovative solutions when confronted with the constraints imposed by such an environment. The ISC is a challenging construct since it can enhance behavior and attitudes through specific training, unlike personality traits, which are considered substantially stable in the literature. Against this background, the present study examined the relationship between ISC and well-being (hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being) controlling for the effects of personality traits. The Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Intrapreneurial Self-Capital Scale (ISCS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Flourishing Scale (FS) were administered to 258 Italian workers. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that ISC explained a percentage of incremental variance beyond that explained by personality traits in relation to both life satisfaction and flourishing. These results indicate that ISC is a key resource for hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being and that it offers new research and intervention opportunities. PMID:29109692

In an Unpredictable and Changing Environment: Intrapreneurial Self-Capital As a Key Resource for Life Satisfaction and Flourishing.

PubMed

Di Fabio, Annamaria; Palazzeschi, Letizia; Bucci, Ornella

2017-01-01

The twenty-first century is characterized by an unpredictable and challenging work environment, and the Intrapreneurial Self-Capital (ISC) career and life construct can be seen as a core of individual intrapreneurial resources that enables people to cope with ongoing challenges, changes, and transitions founding innovative solutions when confronted with the constraints imposed by such an environment. The ISC is a challenging construct since it can enhance behavior and attitudes through specific training, unlike personality traits, which are considered substantially stable in the literature. Against this background, the present study examined the relationship between ISC and well-being (hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being) controlling for the effects of personality traits. The Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ), the Intrapreneurial Self-Capital Scale (ISCS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Flourishing Scale (FS) were administered to 258 Italian workers. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that ISC explained a percentage of incremental variance beyond that explained by personality traits in relation to both life satisfaction and flourishing. These results indicate that ISC is a key resource for hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being and that it offers new research and intervention opportunities.

Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Challenges and Considerations.

PubMed

Romero-Sandoval, E Alfonso; Fincham, Jack E; Kolano, Ashley L; Sharpe, Brandi N; Alvarado-Vázquez, P Abigail

2018-06-01

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found substantial evidence that cannabis (plant) is effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults, and moderate evidence that oromucosal cannabinoids (extracts, especially nabiximols) improve short-term sleep disturbances in chronic pain. The paradoxical superiority of the cannabis plant over cannabinoid molecules represents a challenge for the medical community and the established processes that define modern pharmacy. The expanding and variable legalization of cannabis in multiple states nationwide represents an additional challenge for patients and the medical community because recreational and medicinal cannabis are irresponsibly overlapped. Cannabis designed for recreational use (containing high levels of active ingredients) is increasingly available to patients with chronic pain who do not find relief with current pharmacologic entities, which exposes patients to potential harm. This article analyzes the available scientific evidence to address controversial questions that the current state of cannabis poses for health care professionals and chronic pain patients and sets the basis for a more open discussion about the role of cannabis in modern medicine for pain management. A critical discussion on these points, the legal status of cannabis, and considerations for health care providers is presented. © 2018 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

24 CFR 570.440 - Application requirements for insular area grants funded under section 106.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES COMMUNITY... past performance under this program, that tends to challenge in a substantial manner the jurisdiction's...

Scaling by shrinking: empowering single-cell ‘omics’ with microfluidic devices

PubMed Central

Prakadan, Sanjay M.; Shalek, Alex K.; Weitz, David A.

2017-01-01

Recent advances in cellular profiling have demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in the behaviour of cells once deemed ‘identical’, challenging fundamental notions of cell ‘type’ and ‘state’. Not surprisingly, these findings have elicited substantial interest in deeply characterizing the diversity, interrelationships and plasticity among cellular phenotypes. To explore these questions, experimental platforms are needed that can extensively and controllably profile many individual cells. Here, microfluidic structures—whether valve-, droplet- or nanowell-based—have an important role because they can facilitate easy capture and processing of single cells and their components, reducing labour and costs relative to conventional plate-based methods while also improving consistency. In this article, we review the current state-of-the-art methodologies with respect to microfluidics for mammalian single-cell ‘omics’ and discuss challenges and future opportunities. PMID:28392571

Strategies for carbohydrate model building, refinement and validation

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Sugars are the most stereochemically intricate family of biomolecules and present substantial challenges to anyone trying to understand their nomenclature, reactions or branched structures. Current crystallographic programs provide an abstraction layer allowing inexpert structural biologists to build complete protein or nucleic acid model components automatically either from scratch or with little manual intervention. This is, however, still not generally true for sugars. The need for carbohydrate-specific building and validation tools has been highlighted a number of times in the past, concomitantly with the introduction of a new generation of experimental methods that have been ramping up the production of protein–sugar complexes and glycoproteins for the past decade. While some incipient advances have been made to address these demands, correctly modelling and refining carbohydrates remains a challenge. This article will address many of the typical difficulties that a structural biologist may face when dealing with carbohydrates, with an emphasis on problem solving in the resolution range where X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy are expected to overlap in the next decade. PMID:28177313

Pooling Data from Multiple Longitudinal Studies: The Role of Item Response Theory in Integrative Data Analysis

PubMed Central

Curran, Patrick J.; Hussong, Andrea M.; Cai, Li; Huang, Wenjing; Chassin, Laurie; Sher, Kenneth J.; Zucker, Robert A.

2010-01-01

There are a number of significant challenges encountered when studying development over an extended period of time including subject attrition, changing measurement structures across group and developmental period, and the need to invest substantial time and money. Integrative data analysis is an emerging set of methodologies that overcomes many of the challenges of single sample designs through the pooling of data drawn from multiple existing developmental studies. This approach is characterized by a host of advantages, but this also introduces several new complexities that must be addressed prior to broad adoption by developmental researchers. In this paper we focus on methods for fitting measurement models and creating scale scores using data drawn from multiple longitudinal studies. We present findings from the analysis of repeated measures of internalizing symptomatology that were pooled from three existing developmental studies. We describe and demonstrate each step in the analysis and we conclude with a discussion of potential limitations and directions for future research. PMID:18331129

Bacterial Microcolonies in Gel Beads for High-Throughput Screening of Libraries in Synthetic Biology.

PubMed

Duarte, José M; Barbier, Içvara; Schaerli, Yolanda

2017-11-17

Synthetic biologists increasingly rely on directed evolution to optimize engineered biological systems. Applying an appropriate screening or selection method for identifying the potentially rare library members with the desired properties is a crucial step for success in these experiments. Special challenges include substantial cell-to-cell variability and the requirement to check multiple states (e.g., being ON or OFF depending on the input). Here, we present a high-throughput screening method that addresses these challenges. First, we encapsulate single bacteria into microfluidic agarose gel beads. After incubation, they harbor monoclonal bacterial microcolonies (e.g., expressing a synthetic construct) and can be sorted according their fluorescence by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). We determine enrichment rates and demonstrate that we can measure the average fluorescent signals of microcolonies containing phenotypically heterogeneous cells, obviating the problem of cell-to-cell variability. Finally, we apply this method to sort a pBAD promoter library at ON and OFF states.

Neuro-vestibular and Sensory-motor Challenges Associated with NASA Mission Architectures for Moon and Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paloski, William H.

2004-01-01

Data from six-month low Earth orbit space flight missions suggest that that substantial neuro-vestibular/sensory-motor adaptation will take place during six-month transit missions to and from Mars. Could intermittent or continuous artificial gravity be used to offset these effects? To what degree would the effects of adaptation to this rotational cure affect its potential benefits? Also, little information exists regarding the gravity thresholds for maintaining functional performance of complex sensory-motor tasks such as balance control and locomotion. Will sensory-motor coordination systems adapt to 30- 90 days of 1/6 g on the lunar surface or 18 months of 3/8 g on the Martian surface? Would some form of gravity replacement therapy be required on the surface? And, will transitions between 0 g and 1/6 g or 1/3 g present as great a challenge to the vestibular system as transitions between 0 g and 1 g? Concerted research and development efforts will be required to obtain the answers.

Representative concentration pathways and mitigation scenarios for nitrous oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidson, Eric A.

2012-06-01

The challenges of mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are substantially different from those for carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), because nitrogen (N) is essential for food production, and over 80% of anthropogenic N2O emissions are from the agricultural sector. Here I use a model of emission factors of N2O to demonstrate the magnitude of improvements in agriculture and industrial sectors and changes in dietary habits that would be necessary to match the four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) now being considered in the fifth assessment report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Stabilizing atmospheric N2O by 2050, consistent with the most aggressive of the RCP mitigation scenarios, would require about 50% reductions in emission factors in all sectors and about a 50% reduction in mean per capita meat consumption in the developed world. Technologies exist to achieve such improved efficiencies, but overcoming social, economic, and political impediments for their adoption and for changes in dietary habits will present large challenges.

Clearing Hurdles: The Challenges of Implementation of Mental Health Evidence-Based Practices in Under-resourced Schools.

PubMed

Eiraldi, Ricardo; Wolk, Courtney Benjamin; Locke, Jill; Beidas, Rinad

Schools have become the main provider of services to children with mental health needs. Although there is substantial literature on barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in under-resourced school districts, less has been written on how to overcome those barriers. Providing mental health services in the school setting presents a tremendous opportunity to increase access to quality mental health care for underserved youth. This review provides a brief overview of the barriers to successful implementation and sustainment of EBPs in under-resourced public schools and provides recommendations for overcoming them. The discussion is organized around an established conceptual framework adapted for the delivery of services in under-resourced schools that focuses on interdependent factors that exist at the individual-, team, school-, and macro-levels. This manuscript explores some recommendations and strategies for effectively addressing challenges related to implementation of EBPs. Research ideas are offered to bridge the research-to-practice gap that impacts many under-resourced public school districts.

Clearing Hurdles: The Challenges of Implementation of Mental Health Evidence-Based Practices in Under-resourced Schools

PubMed Central

Eiraldi, Ricardo; Wolk, Courtney Benjamin; Locke, Jill; Beidas, Rinad

2015-01-01

Schools have become the main provider of services to children with mental health needs. Although there is substantial literature on barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in under-resourced school districts, less has been written on how to overcome those barriers. Providing mental health services in the school setting presents a tremendous opportunity to increase access to quality mental health care for underserved youth. This review provides a brief overview of the barriers to successful implementation and sustainment of EBPs in under-resourced public schools and provides recommendations for overcoming them. The discussion is organized around an established conceptual framework adapted for the delivery of services in under-resourced schools that focuses on interdependent factors that exist at the individual-, team, school-, and macro-levels. This manuscript explores some recommendations and strategies for effectively addressing challenges related to implementation of EBPs. Research ideas are offered to bridge the research-to-practice gap that impacts many under-resourced public school districts. PMID:26336512

Outcome for the extremely premature neonate: how far do we push the edge?

PubMed

Boat, Anne C; Sadhasivam, Senthilkumar; Loepke, Andreas W; Kurth, Charles D

2011-07-01

Significant advances in perinatal and neonatal medicine over the last 20 years and the recent emergence of fetal surgery has resulted in anesthesia providers caring for a growing number of infants born at the margin of viability. Anesthetic management in this patient population has to take into consideration the immature function of many vital organ systems as well as the effects of the underlying disease processes, which can frequently lead to severe physiological derangements. Accordingly, premature infants presenting for major surgeries early in life can represent a significant anesthetic challenge. However, even with advanced anesthetic and surgical management and optimal intensive care, extremely premature infants face substantial postoperative morbidity and mortality, as well as prolonged hospital courses. In this article, we will discuss the following questions: How far have we come in improving outcomes of extreme prematurity? And what will the future medical and societal challenges be, as we continue to redefine the limits of viability? © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Controversies and Challenges of Ventricular Assist Device Therapy.

PubMed

Lima, Brian; Bansal, Aditya; Abraham, Jacob; Rich, Jonathan D; Lee, Sangjin S; Soleimani, Behzad; Katz, Jason N; Kilic, Ahmet; Young, John S; Patel, Chetan B; Joseph, Susan M

2018-05-15

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has emerged as an increasingly vital facet of the treatment algorithm for advanced heart failure. Growing experience with LVAD support has led to substantial improvements in outcomes, with 1-year survival rates approaching that of cardiac transplantation. These therapeutic refinements have engendered growing interests in the potential for expanding the clinical indications for LVAD therapy to patients with less advanced heart failure. The primary obstacles to this evolution of care center largely on the prevention and/or management of the adverse events associated with LVAD therapy along with patient preference. Many programs also face the mounting difficulty of balancing quality outcomes with the increased volume of implants. During the recently assembled Users Meeting organized by St. Jude Medical, heart failure clinicians from nearly 50 LVAD implanting centers discussed these and other challenges and controversies impacting the field. The present review summarizes the key insights gleaned from this meeting. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strategies for carbohydrate model building, refinement and validation.

PubMed

Agirre, Jon

2017-02-01

Sugars are the most stereochemically intricate family of biomolecules and present substantial challenges to anyone trying to understand their nomenclature, reactions or branched structures. Current crystallographic programs provide an abstraction layer allowing inexpert structural biologists to build complete protein or nucleic acid model components automatically either from scratch or with little manual intervention. This is, however, still not generally true for sugars. The need for carbohydrate-specific building and validation tools has been highlighted a number of times in the past, concomitantly with the introduction of a new generation of experimental methods that have been ramping up the production of protein-sugar complexes and glycoproteins for the past decade. While some incipient advances have been made to address these demands, correctly modelling and refining carbohydrates remains a challenge. This article will address many of the typical difficulties that a structural biologist may face when dealing with carbohydrates, with an emphasis on problem solving in the resolution range where X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy are expected to overlap in the next decade.

Enhancement of microalgal growth and biocomponent-based transformations for improved biofuel recovery: A review.

PubMed

Salama, El-Sayed; Hwang, Jae-Hoon; El-Dalatony, Marwa M; Kurade, Mayur B; Kabra, Akhil N; Abou-Shanab, Reda A I; Kim, Ki-Hyun; Yang, Il-Seung; Govindwar, Sanjay P; Kim, Sunjoon; Jeon, Byong-Hun

2018-06-01

Microalgal biomass has received much attention as feedstock for biofuel production due to its capacity to accumulate a substantial amount of biocomponents (including lipid, carbohydrate, and protein), high growth rate, and environmental benefit. However, commercial realization of microalgal biofuel is a challenge due to its low biomass production and insufficient technology for complete utilization of biomass. Recently, advanced strategies have been explored to overcome the challenges of conventional approaches and to achieve maximum possible outcomes in terms of growth. These strategies include a combination of stress factors; co-culturing with other microorganisms; and addition of salts, flue gases, and phytohormones. This review summarizes the recent progress in the application of single and combined abiotic stress conditions to stimulate microalgal growth and its biocomponents. An innovative schematic model is presented of the biomass-energy conversion pathway that proposes the transformation of all potential biocomponents of microalgae into biofuels. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neuro-vestibular and Sensory-motor Challenges Associated with NASA Mission Architectures for Moon and Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paloski, William H.

2004-01-01

Data from six-month low Earth orbit space flight missions suggest that that substantial neuro-vestibuladsensory-motor adaptation will take place during six-month transit missions to and from Mars. Could intermittent or continuous artificial gravity be used to offset these effects? To what degree would the effects of adaptation to this rotational cure affect its potential benefits? Also, little information exists regarding the gravity thresholds for maintaining functional performance of complex sensory-motor tasks such as balance control and locomotion. Will sensory-motor coordination systems adapt to 30-90 days of 1/6 g on the lunar surface or 18 months of 3/8 g on the Martian surface? Would some form of gravity replacement therapy be required on the surface? And, will transitions between 0 g and 1/6 g or 1/3 g present as great a challenge to the vestibular system as transitions between 0 g and 1 g? Concerted research and development efforts will be required to obtain the answers.

ASSESSING PARENTING IN THE CONTEXT OF REUNIFICATION OF INFANTS/TODDLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES: HOW TO FACE THE CHALLENGES?

PubMed

Vischer, Anne-Fleur W K; Grietens, Hans; Knorth, Erik J; Mulder, Hans

2017-05-01

Since a substantial portion of infants and toddlers reenter care after reunification, the question of whether family reunification is feasible needs to be answered very cautiously. How parenting is assessed is of major importance in answering this question, but the quality of these assessments is often poor. With an eye to improving current practice, we conducted an integrative review, in which we analyzed the challenges related to the assessment of parenting vis-à-vis reunification and linked relevant knowledge from research with significant know-how from practice. The challenges appear to be embedded in the struggle to define (especially good enough) parenting and the complex context of child protection. As an answer to the challenges, the integrative review resulted in a framework of four key components required for sufficient parenting-assessment practice: (a) the use and development of expertise; and (b) providing families aiming for reunification with an intervention that is intensive, (c) flexible, and (d) organized as teamwork. Providing families with such an intervention gives them the opportunity to make substantial changes in their parenting and helps professionals assess the capacity of parents to grow to an acceptable level of caretaking for their child. Further implications for research and practice are discussed. © 2017 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Computational Analysis of a Prototype Martian Rotorcraft Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Corfeld, Kelly J.; Strawn, Roger C.; Long, Lyle N.

2002-01-01

This paper presents Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes calculations for a prototype Martian rotorcraft. The computations are intended for comparison with an ongoing Mars rotor hover test at NASA Ames Research Center. These computational simulations present a new and challenging problem, since rotors that operate on Mars will experience a unique low Reynolds number and high Mach number environment. Computed results for the 3-D rotor differ substantially from 2-D sectional computations in that the 3-D results exhibit a stall delay phenomenon caused by rotational forces along the blade span. Computational results have yet to be compared to experimental data, but computed performance predictions match the experimental design goals fairly well. In addition, the computed results provide a high level of detail in the rotor wake and blade surface aerodynamics. These details provide an important supplement to the expected experimental performance data.

Use of MicroRNA biomarkers to distinguish enchondroma from low-grade chondrosarcoma.

PubMed

Zhang, Liang; Yang, Maozhou; Mayer, Theodore; Johnstone, Brian; Les, Clifford; Frisch, Nicholas; Parsons, Theodore; Mi, Qing-Sheng; Gibson, Gary

2017-03-01

Establishing a definitive diagnosis between benign enchondroma versus low-grade chondrosarcoma presents a potential challenge to both clinicians and pathologists. microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs) have proven to be effective biomarkers for the identification of tumors and tumor progression. We present analysis, both array and quantitative PCR, that shows consistently and substantially increased expression of two microRNAs, miRs-181a and -138, in low-grade chondrosarcomas compared with enchondromas. The data suggest these microRNAs would provide an analytical distinction between the chondrosarcoma and benign neoplasms that can be performed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. Together with recent publications, these data indicate that miRs-181a and -138 also play a role in tumor development and homeostasis and may provide new targets for the development of much needed therapeutic intervention.

Climate variations on Earth-like circumbinary planets

PubMed Central

Popp, Max; Eggl, Siegfried

2017-01-01

The discovery of planets orbiting double stars at close distances has sparked increasing scientific interest in determining whether Earth-analogues can remain habitable in such environments and how their atmospheric dynamics is influenced by the rapidly changing insolation. In this work we present results of the first three-dimensional numerical experiments of a water-rich planet orbiting a double star. We find that the periodic forcing of the atmosphere has a noticeable impact on the planet's climate. Signatures of the forcing frequencies related to the planet's as well as to the binary's orbital periods are present in a variety of climate indicators such as temperature and precipitation, making the interpretation of potential observables challenging. However, for Earth-like greenhouse gas concentrations, the variable forcing does not change the range of insolation values allowing for habitable climates substantially. PMID:28382929

Defining an end state for CO2 sequestration and EOR in North America

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

Friedmann, S J

2006-04-20

CO{sub 2} capture and storage (CCS) presents a challenge to long-range planners, economic interests, regulators, law-makers, and other stakeholders and decision makers. To improve and optimize the use of limited resources and finances, it is important to define an end state for CCS. This ends state should be defined around desired goals and reasonable timelines for execution. While this definition may have substantial technology, policy or economic implications, it need not be prescriptive in terms of technology pathway, policy mechanism, or economic targets. To illustrate these concerns, this paper will present a credible vision of what an end state formore » North American might look like. From that, examples of key investment and planning decisions are provided to illustrate the value of end-state characterization.« less

Geomorphic and Hydrological challenges in Africa: implications for soil and water conservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanmaercke, Matthias; Poesen, Jean

2017-04-01

Expected scenarios of climate change and population growth confront Africa with various important challenges related to food, water and energy security. Many of these challenges are closely linked to the impacts of soil erosion and other geomorphic processes, such as reduced crop yields, sedimentation of reservoirs and reduced freshwater quality. Despite the urgency and extent of many of these challenges, the causes and dynamics of these processes and their impacts remain severely understudied. This becomes apparent when the availability of e.g. soil erosion and catchment sediment export measurements for Africa is compared to that of other continents. Nonetheless, a substantial amount of geomorphic research has been conducted in Africa. Many of this work dates back from several decades ago, and were often only reported in 'gray literature' (e.g. internal reports). Here we present an overview of our current state of knowledge on soil erosion and its implications in Africa. We discuss which geomorphic process rate measurements are currently available and what can be learned from these with respect to the challenged raised above. We especially focus on our current understanding about the effectiveness of soil and water conservation techniques at various spatial and temporal scales. Based on specific case-studies (e.g. in Ethiopia and Uganda) and a meta-analysis of previous work, we highlight some research gaps, research needs and research opportunities when aiming to use Africa's soil and water resources sustainably and efficiently.

Knowledge, data and interests: Challenges in participation of diverse stakeholders in HIA

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

Negev, Maya, E-mail: negevm@bgu.ac.il

2012-02-15

Stakeholder participation is considered an integral part of HIA. However, the challenges that participation implies in a multi-disciplinary and multi-ethnic society are less studied. This paper presents the manifestations of the multiplicity of sectors and population groups in HIA and discusses the challenges that such diversity imposes. Specifically, there is no common ground between participants, as their positions entail contradictory knowledge regarding the current situation, reliance on distinct data and conflicting interests. This entails usage of multiple professional and ethnic languages, disagreements regarding the definition of health and prioritizing health issues in HIA, and divergent perceptions of risk. These differencesmore » between participants are embedded culturally, socially, individually and, maybe most importantly, professionally. This complex picture of diverse stakeholder attributes is grounded in a case study of stakeholder participation in HIA, regarding zoning of a hazardous industry site in Israel. The implication is that participatory HIAs should address the multiplicity of stakeholders and types of knowledge, data and interests in a more comprehensive way. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer This paper analyses challenges in participation of diverse stakeholders in HIA. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The multiplicity of disciplines and population groups raises fundamental challenges. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Stakeholders possess distinct and often contradictory knowledge, data and interests. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer They speak different languages, and differ on approaches to health and risk perceptions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Substantial amendments to diverse participation are needed, in HIA and generally.« less

β-Cell Autophagy in Diabetes Pathogenesis.

PubMed

Marasco, Michelle R; Linnemann, Amelia K

2018-05-01

Nearly 100 years have passed since Frederick Banting and Charles Best first discovered and purified insulin. Their discovery and subsequent improvements revolutionized the treatment of diabetes, and the field continues to move at an ever-faster pace with respect to unique treatments for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Despite these advances, we still do not fully understand how apoptosis of the insulin-producing β-cells is triggered, presenting a challenge in the development of preventative measures. In recent years, the process of autophagy has generated substantial interest in this realm due to discoveries highlighting its clear role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. As a result, the number of studies focused on islet and β-cell autophagy has increased substantially in recent years. In this review, we will discuss what is currently known regarding the role of β-cell autophagy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes pathogenesis, with an emphasis on new and exciting developments over the past 5 years. Further, we will discuss how these discoveries might be translated into unique treatments in the coming years.

Building Scientific Confidence in the Development and ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Acceptance of read-across is an ongoing challenge and several efforts are underway to identify and address major uncertainties associated with read-across. Several approaches have been proposed but to date few case studies if any have evaluated how Tox21 approaches may be instructive in substantiating category rationales, or indeed their associated read-across justifications. Here we have identified a handful of former OECD HPV categories and evaluated to what extent data from HTS assays notably that generated through ToxCast are helpful in strengthening the rationale underlying those categories and their associated read-across. A handful of categories were identified based on the overlap between the HPV chemicals and the ToxCast inventory. Those selected included the ethylene glycols and primary aliphatic alcohols categories. The findings so far are mixed, highlighting the importance of carefully interpreting the ToxCast data in its appropriate context. Slide or platform presentation at the SOT 2016 annual meeting. This is an proof of concept evaluation for a handful of regulatory categories to determine whether there is any added value of considering bioactivity data to substantiate an existing category rationale.

Integrated multi-ISE arrays with improved sensitivity, accuracy and precision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunling; Yuan, Hongyan; Duan, Zhijuan; Xiao, Dan

2017-03-01

Increasing use of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) in the biological and environmental fields has generated demand for high-sensitivity ISEs. However, improving the sensitivities of ISEs remains a challenge because of the limit of the Nernstian slope (59.2/n mV). Here, we present a universal ion detection method using an electronic integrated multi-electrode system (EIMES) that bypasses the Nernstian slope limit of 59.2/n mV, thereby enabling substantial enhancement of the sensitivity of ISEs. The results reveal that the response slope is greatly increased from 57.2 to 1711.3 mV, 57.3 to 564.7 mV and 57.7 to 576.2 mV by electronic integrated 30 Cl- electrodes, 10 F- electrodes and 10 glass pH electrodes, respectively. Thus, a tiny change in the ion concentration can be monitored, and correspondingly, the accuracy and precision are substantially improved. The EIMES is suited for all types of potentiometric sensors and may pave the way for monitoring of various ions with high accuracy and precision because of its high sensitivity.

Biofuels from food processing wastes.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhanying; O'Hara, Ian M; Mundree, Sagadevan; Gao, Baoyu; Ball, Andrew S; Zhu, Nanwen; Bai, Zhihui; Jin, Bo

2016-04-01

Food processing industry generates substantial high organic wastes along with high energy uses. The recovery of food processing wastes as renewable energy sources represents a sustainable option for the substitution of fossil energy, contributing to the transition of food sector towards a low-carbon economy. This article reviews the latest research progress on biofuel production using food processing wastes. While extensive work on laboratory and pilot-scale biosystems for energy production has been reported, this work presents a review of advances in metabolic pathways, key technical issues and bioengineering outcomes in biofuel production from food processing wastes. Research challenges and further prospects associated with the knowledge advances and technology development of biofuel production are discussed. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Separating full-length protein from aggregating proteolytic products using filter flow-through purification.

PubMed

Churion, Kelly A; Rogers, Robert E; Bayless, Kayla J; Bondos, Sarah E

2016-12-01

Separation of full-length protein from proteolytic products is challenging, since the properties used to isolate the protein can also be present in proteolytic products. Many separation techniques risk non-specific protein adhesion and/or require a lot of time, enabling continued proteolysis and aggregation after lysis. We demonstrate that proteolytic products aggregate for two different proteins. As a result, full-length protein can be rapidly separated from these fragments by filter flow-through purification, resulting in a substantial protein purity enhancement. This rapid approach is likely to be useful for intrinsically disordered proteins, whose repetitive sequence composition and flexible nature can facilitate aggregation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Earth-abundant Materials for Large-scale Solar Fuels Generation.

PubMed

Prabhakar, Rajiv Ramanujam; Cui, Wei; Tilley, S David

2018-05-30

The solar resource is immense, but the power density of light striking the Earth's surface is relatively dilute, necessitating large area solar conversion devices in order to harvest substantial amounts of power for renewable energy applications. In addition, energy storage is a key challenge for intermittent renewable resources such as solar and wind, which adds significant cost to these energies. As the majority of humanity's present-day energy consumption is based on fuels, an ideal solution is to generate renewable fuels from abundant resources such as sunlight and water. In this account, we detail our recent work towards generating highly efficient and stable Earth-abundant semiconducting materials for solar water splitting to generate renewable hydrogen fuel.

Aeronautical research in the United States - Challenges for the 1990's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petersen, Richard H.; Holmes, Bruce J.

1990-01-01

An overview is presented of NASA R&D initiatives in air transportation technologies that will dominate its efforts through the 1990s. These efforts are to be concentrated in (1) advanced subsonic transports with greater fuel economy, passenger capacity, and control effectiveness, whose design will be undertaken with state-of-the-art CFD and CAD/CAM systems; (2) a second-generation SST whose propulsion system will be substantially more fuel-efficient than that of Concorde and have far lower atmospheric emissions; and (3) a hypersonic transport predicated on the results of research into materials, cryogenic fuels, propulsion cycles, and propulsion/airframe aerodynamics integration, which will be undertaken in connection with the X-30 testbed.

Rethinking GIS Towards The Vision Of Smart Cities Through CityGML

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guney, C.

2016-10-01

Smart cities present a substantial growth opportunity in the coming years. The role of GIS in the smart city ecosystem is to integrate different data acquired by sensors in real time and provide better decisions, more efficiency and improved collaboration. Semantically enriched vision of GIS will help evolve smart cities into tomorrow's much smarter cities since geospatial/location data and applications may be recognized as a key ingredient of smart city vision. However, it is need for the Geospatial Information communities to debate on "Is 3D Web and mobile GIS technology ready for smart cities?" This research places an emphasis on the challenges of virtual 3D city models on the road to smarter cities.

The role of radionuclide imaging in the triage of patients with chest pain in the emergency department.

PubMed

Abbott, B G; Wackers, F J

2000-02-01

The triage of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain and a normal or nondiagnostic ECG poses a significant diagnostic challenge to emergency physicians and cardiologists, leading to unnecessary hospital admissions and substantial associated costs. Radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging can potentially play an important role in this setting, by providing both a safe and efficient means to risk stratify patients with a low-to-moderate likelihood of unstable angina. The proposed algorithm may serve as a strategy to improve utilization of hospital resources while safely identifying the subgroup of patients with acute chest discomfort who do not need to be admitted to the hospital.

The manned transportation system study - Defining human pathways into space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lance, Nick; Geyer, Mark S.; Gaunce, Michael T.; Anson, H. W.; Bienhoff, D. G.; Carey, D. A.; Emmett, B. R.; Mccandless, B.; Wetzel, E. D.

1992-01-01

Substantiating data developed by a NASA-industry team (NIT) for subsequent NASA decisions on the 'right' set of manned transportation elements needed for human access to space are discussed. Attention is given to the framework for detailed definition of these manned transportation elements. Identifying and defining architecture evaluation criteria, i.e., attributes, specified the amount and type of data needed for each concept under consideration. Several architectures, each beginning with today's transportation systems, were defined using representative systems to explore future options and address specific questions currently being debated. The present solutions emphasize affordability, safety, routineness, and reliability. Key issues associated with current business practices were challenged and the impact associated with these practices quantified.

How to grow transgenic Arabidopsis in the field.

PubMed

Jänkänpää, Hanna Johansson; Jansson, Stefan

2012-01-01

Arabidopsis is naturally adapted to habitats in which both biotic variables (e.g., light, wind, and humidity) and abiotic variables (e.g., competition, herbivory, and pathogen densities) strongly fluctuate. Hence, conditions in controlled growth chambers (in which Arabidopsis is typically grown for scientific experiments) differ substantially from those in natural environments. In order to mimic more closely natural conditions, we grow Arabidopsis outdoors under "semi-natural" field conditions. Performing experiments on transgenic Arabidopsis grown in the field that are sufficiently reliable for publication is challenging. In this chapter, we present some of our experiences based on 10 years of field experimentation, which may be of use to researchers seeking to perform field experiments using transgenic Arabidopsis.

Learning of state-space models with highly informative observations: A tempered sequential Monte Carlo solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svensson, Andreas; Schön, Thomas B.; Lindsten, Fredrik

2018-05-01

Probabilistic (or Bayesian) modeling and learning offers interesting possibilities for systematic representation of uncertainty using probability theory. However, probabilistic learning often leads to computationally challenging problems. Some problems of this type that were previously intractable can now be solved on standard personal computers thanks to recent advances in Monte Carlo methods. In particular, for learning of unknown parameters in nonlinear state-space models, methods based on the particle filter (a Monte Carlo method) have proven very useful. A notoriously challenging problem, however, still occurs when the observations in the state-space model are highly informative, i.e. when there is very little or no measurement noise present, relative to the amount of process noise. The particle filter will then struggle in estimating one of the basic components for probabilistic learning, namely the likelihood p (data | parameters). To this end we suggest an algorithm which initially assumes that there is substantial amount of artificial measurement noise present. The variance of this noise is sequentially decreased in an adaptive fashion such that we, in the end, recover the original problem or possibly a very close approximation of it. The main component in our algorithm is a sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) sampler, which gives our proposed method a clear resemblance to the SMC2 method. Another natural link is also made to the ideas underlying the approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). We illustrate it with numerical examples, and in particular show promising results for a challenging Wiener-Hammerstein benchmark problem.

Decentralized manufacturing of cell and gene therapies: Overcoming challenges and identifying opportunities.

PubMed

Harrison, Richard P; Ruck, Steven; Medcalf, Nicholas; Rafiq, Qasim A

2017-10-01

Decentralized or "redistributed" manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing approach for cell and gene therapies (CGTs), moving away from the "Fordist" paradigm, delivering health care locally, customized to the end user and, by its very nature, overcoming many of the challenges associated with manufacturing and distribution of high volume goods. In departing from the traditional centralized model of manufacturing, decentralized manufacturing divides production across sites or geographic regions. This paradigm shift imposes significant structural and organisational changes on a business presenting both hidden challenges that must be addressed and opportunities to be embraced. By profoundly adapting business practices, significant advantages can be realized through a democratized value chain, creation of professional-level jobs without geographic restriction to the central hub and a flexibility in response to external pressures and demands. To realize these potential opportunities, however, advances in manufacturing technology and support systems are required, as well as significant changes in the way CGTs are regulated to facilitate multi-site manufacturing. Decentralized manufacturing is likely to be the manufacturing platform of choice for advanced health care therapies-in particular, those with a high degree of personalization. The future success of these promising products will be enhanced by adopting sound business strategies early in development. To realize the benefits that decentralized manufacturing of CGTs has to offer, it is important to examine both the risks and the substantial opportunities present. In this research, we examine both the challenges and the opportunities this shift in business strategy represents in an effort to maximize the success of adoption. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Testing the attentional boundary conditions of subliminal semantic priming: the influence of semantic and phonological task sets

PubMed Central

Adams, Sarah C.; Kiefer, Markus

2012-01-01

Recent studies challenged the classical notion of automaticity and indicated that even unconscious automatic semantic processing is under attentional control to some extent. In line with our attentional sensitization model, these data suggest that a sensitization of semantic pathways by a semantic task set is necessary for subliminal semantic priming to occur while non-semantic task sets attenuate priming. In the present study, we tested whether masked semantic priming is also reduced by phonological task sets using the previously developed induction task paradigm. This would substantiate the notion that attention to semantics is necessary for eliciting unconscious semantic priming. Participants first performed semantic and phonological induction tasks that should either activate a semantic or a phonological task set. Subsequent to the induction task, a masked prime word, either associated or non-associated with the following lexical decision target word, was presented. Across two experiments, we varied the nature of the phonological induction task (word phonology vs. letter phonology) to assess whether the attentional focus on the entire word vs. single letters modulates subsequent masked semantic priming. In both experiments, subliminal semantic priming was only found subsequent to the semantic induction task, but was attenuated following either phonological induction task. These results indicate that attention to phonology attenuates subsequent semantic processing of unconsciously presented primes whether or not attention is directed to the entire word or to single letters. The present findings therefore substantiate earlier evidence that an attentional orientation toward semantics is necessary for subliminal semantic priming to be elicited. PMID:22952461

Removal of natural organic matter in drinking water treatment by coagulation: A comprehensive review.

PubMed

Sillanpää, Mika; Ncibi, Mohamed Chaker; Matilainen, Anu; Vepsäläinen, Mikko

2018-01-01

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex matrix of organic substances produced in (or channeled to) aquatic ecosystems via various biological, geological and hydrological cycles. Such variability is posing a serious challenge to most water treatment technologies, especially the ones designed to treat drinking water supplies. Lately, in addition to the fluctuating composition of NOM, a substantial increase of its concentration in fresh waters, and also municipal wastewater effluents, has been reported worldwide, which justifies the urgent need to develop highly efficient and versatile water treatment processes. Coagulation is among the most applied processes for water and wastewater treatment. The application of coagulation to remove NOM from drinking water supplies has received a great deal of attention from researchers around the world because it was efficient and helped avoiding the formation of disinfection by products (DBPs). Nonetheless, with the increased fluctuation of NOM in water (concentration and composition), the efficiency of conventional coagulation was substantially reduced, hence the need to develop enhanced coagulation processes by optimizing the operating conditions (mainly the amount coagulants and pH), developing more efficient inorganic or organic coagulants, as well as coupling coagulation with other water treatment technologies. In the present review, recent research studies dealing with the application of coagulation for NOM removal from drinking water supplies are presented and compared. In addition, integration schemes combining coagulation and other water treatment processes are presented, including membrane filtration, oxidation, adsorption and others processes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Evolution and Utility of the Burn Specific Health Scale: A Systematic Review

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

burn survivors facing substantial long-term rehabilitation and life-long physical, social and psychological challenges. A burn is one of the most...as functional, emotional, and social readjustment [5]. Sudden and serious burn precipitates cognitive and emotional challenges that affect the course...state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’’ [11]. More recently, there is agreement

Seven challenges in modeling vaccine preventable diseases.

PubMed

Metcalf, C J E; Andreasen, V; Bjørnstad, O N; Eames, K; Edmunds, W J; Funk, S; Hollingsworth, T D; Lessler, J; Viboud, C; Grenfell, B T

2015-03-01

Vaccination has been one of the most successful public health measures since the introduction of basic sanitation. Substantial mortality and morbidity reductions have been achieved via vaccination against many infections, and the list of diseases that are potentially controllable by vaccines is growing steadily. We introduce key challenges for modeling in shaping our understanding and guiding policy decisions related to vaccine preventable diseases. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Challenges and Controversies of Foot and Ankle Trauma.

PubMed

Taghavi, Cyrus E; Sandlin, Michael Isiah; Thordarson, David B

2017-02-15

Traumatic injury to the foot and ankle can result in long-term disability, which may have substantial negative implications on a patient's functional outcomes and quality of life. The diagnosis and appropriate management of these challenging injuries are not always agreed on or straightforward. In particular, the appropriate diagnosis and management of distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injuries as well as the surgical approach and role of primary subtalar arthrodesis for intra-articular calcaneal fractures are controversial.

Data reduction procedures for traffic signal systems performance measures.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

Traffic signal systems represent a substantial component of the highway transportation network in the United States. It is challenging for most agencies to find engineering resources to properly update signal policies and timing plans to accommodate ...

Practical optimization of Steiner trees via the cavity method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braunstein, Alfredo; Muntoni, Anna

2016-07-01

The optimization version of the cavity method for single instances, called Max-Sum, has been applied in the past to the minimum Steiner tree problem on graphs and variants. Max-Sum has been shown experimentally to give asymptotically optimal results on certain types of weighted random graphs, and to give good solutions in short computation times for some types of real networks. However, the hypotheses behind the formulation and the cavity method itself limit substantially the class of instances on which the approach gives good results (or even converges). Moreover, in the standard model formulation, the diameter of the tree solution is limited by a predefined bound, that affects both computation time and convergence properties. In this work we describe two main enhancements to the Max-Sum equations to be able to cope with optimization of real-world instances. First, we develop an alternative ‘flat’ model formulation that allows the relevant configuration space to be reduced substantially, making the approach feasible on instances with large solution diameter, in particular when the number of terminal nodes is small. Second, we propose an integration between Max-Sum and three greedy heuristics. This integration allows Max-Sum to be transformed into a highly competitive self-contained algorithm, in which a feasible solution is given at each step of the iterative procedure. Part of this development participated in the 2014 DIMACS Challenge on Steiner problems, and we report the results here. The performance on the challenge of the proposed approach was highly satisfactory: it maintained a small gap to the best bound in most cases, and obtained the best results on several instances in two different categories. We also present several improvements with respect to the version of the algorithm that participated in the competition, including new best solutions for some of the instances of the challenge.

Functional flexible and wearable supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yan; Zhi, Chunyi

2017-07-01

Substantial effort has been devoted to endowing flexible and wearable supercapacitors with desirable functions and solving urgent concerns regarding their practical application, particularly materials selection, air permeability, self-healability, shape memory, integration, and modularization. This gives rise to challenges with regard to both suitable materials and device fabrication. This review highlights the current state-of-the-art of these supercapacitors pertinent to materials, fabrication strategies, and performance. Challenges and solutions are also discussed to further improve their practicality. The aim of this review is to make a timely summary of this emerging field and discuss future opportunities and challenges.

Improved ligand geometries in crystallographic refinement using AFITT in PHENIX

DOE PAGES

Janowski, Pawel A.; Moriarty, Nigel W.; Kelley, Brian P.; ...

2016-08-31

Modern crystal structure refinement programs rely on geometry restraints to overcome the challenge of a low data-to-parameter ratio. While the classical Engh and Huber restraints work well for standard amino-acid residues, the chemical complexity of small-molecule ligands presents a particular challenge. Most current approaches either limit ligand restraints to those that can be readily described in the Crystallographic Information File (CIF) format, thus sacrificing chemical flexibility and energetic accuracy, or they employ protocols that substantially lengthen the refinement time, potentially hindering rapid automated refinement workflows.PHENIX–AFITTrefinement uses a full molecular-mechanics force field for user-selected small-molecule ligands during refinement, eliminating the potentiallymore » difficult problem of finding or generating high-quality geometry restraints. It is fully integrated with a standard refinement protocol and requires practically no additional steps from the user, making it ideal for high-throughput workflows.PHENIX–AFITTrefinements also handle multiple ligands in a single model, alternate conformations and covalently bound ligands. Here, the results of combiningAFITTand thePHENIXsoftware suite on a data set of 189 protein–ligand PDB structures are presented. Refinements usingPHENIX–AFITTsignificantly reduce ligand conformational energy and lead to improved geometries without detriment to the fit to the experimental data. Finally, for the data presented,PHENIX–AFITTrefinements result in more chemically accurate models for small-molecule ligands.« less

Implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus infection: progress and emerging issues in research and policy.

PubMed

Cáceres, Carlos F; Borquez, Annick; Klausner, Jeffrey D; Baggaley, Rachel; Beyrer, Chris

2016-01-01

In this article, we present recent evidence from studies focused on the implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection; discuss PrEP scale-up to date, including the observed levels of access and policy development; and elaborate on key emerging policy and research issues to consider for further scale-up, with a special focus on lower-middle income countries. The 2015 WHO Early Release Guidelines for HIV Treatment and Prevention reflect both scientific evidence and new policy perspectives. Those guidelines present a timely challenge to health systems for the scaling up of not only treatment for every person living with HIV infection but also the offer of PrEP to those at substantial risk. Delivery and uptake of both universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) and PrEP will require nation-wide commitment and could reinvigorate health systems to develop more comprehensive "combination prevention" programmes and support wider testing linked to both treatments and other prevention options for populations at highest risk who are currently not accessing services. Various gaps in current health systems will need to be addressed to achieve strategic scale-up of PrEP, including developing prioritization strategies, strengthening drug regulations, determining cost and funding sources, training health providers, supporting user adherence and creating demand. The initial steps in the scale-up of PrEP globally suggest feasibility, acceptability and likely impact. However, to prevent setbacks in less well-resourced settings, countries will need to anticipate and address challenges such as operational and health systems barriers, drug cost and regulatory policies, health providers' openness to prescribing PrEP to populations at substantial risk, demand and legal and human rights issues. Emerging problems will require creative solutions and will continue to illustrate the complexity of PrEP implementation.

Implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus infection: progress and emerging issues in research and policy

PubMed Central

Cáceres, Carlos F; Borquez, Annick; Klausner, Jeffrey D; Baggaley, Rachel; Beyrer, Chris

2016-01-01

Background In this article, we present recent evidence from studies focused on the implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection; discuss PrEP scale-up to date, including the observed levels of access and policy development; and elaborate on key emerging policy and research issues to consider for further scale-up, with a special focus on lower-middle income countries. Discussion The 2015 WHO Early Release Guidelines for HIV Treatment and Prevention reflect both scientific evidence and new policy perspectives. Those guidelines present a timely challenge to health systems for the scaling up of not only treatment for every person living with HIV infection but also the offer of PrEP to those at substantial risk. Delivery and uptake of both universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) and PrEP will require nation-wide commitment and could reinvigorate health systems to develop more comprehensive “combination prevention” programmes and support wider testing linked to both treatments and other prevention options for populations at highest risk who are currently not accessing services. Various gaps in current health systems will need to be addressed to achieve strategic scale-up of PrEP, including developing prioritization strategies, strengthening drug regulations, determining cost and funding sources, training health providers, supporting user adherence and creating demand. Conclusions The initial steps in the scale-up of PrEP globally suggest feasibility, acceptability and likely impact. However, to prevent setbacks in less well-resourced settings, countries will need to anticipate and address challenges such as operational and health systems barriers, drug cost and regulatory policies, health providers’ openness to prescribing PrEP to populations at substantial risk, demand and legal and human rights issues. Emerging problems will require creative solutions and will continue to illustrate the complexity of PrEP implementation. PMID:27760685

Solar Radiation as Driving Force In Early Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rothschild, Lynn J.; Peterson, David L. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has provided an evolutionary challenge to life on Earth in that it is both an agent of mutation and as well as a selective force. Today surface fluxes of UVR vary diurnally, seasonally, etc. Still, the UVR flux was probably substantially higher during the early phases of evolution, suggesting that its role in evolution was even more prominent during this time. In this presentation, the creative role of UVR in evolution is discussed, specifically in connection with the role that UVR may have played in the evolution of early microbial ecosystems. The presentation will include discussions of the direct influence of UVR on such processes as photosynthesis and genetic damage, as well as the indirect influence of UVR as mediated through the production of reactive oxygen species. These biological effects of UVR will be viewed against the backdrop of the physical nature of the early Earth, surely a very different place then than now.

Incorporating global components into ethics education.

PubMed

Wang, George; Thompson, Russell G

2013-03-01

Ethics is central to science and engineering. Young engineers need to be grounded in how corporate social responsibility principles can be applied to engineering organizations to better serve the broader community. This is crucial in times of climate change and ecological challenges where the vulnerable can be impacted by engineering activities. Taking a global perspective in ethics education will help ensure that scientists and engineers can make a more substantial contribution to development throughout the world. This paper presents the importance of incorporating the global and cross culture components in the ethic education. The authors bring up a question to educators on ethics education in science and engineering in the globalized world, and its importance, necessity, and impendency. The paper presents several methods for discussion that can be used to identify the differences in ethics standards and practices in different countries; enhance the student's knowledge of ethics in a global arena.

Barriers to overcome for effective cancer control in Africa.

PubMed

Harford, Joe B

2015-08-01

Cancer control in Africa is complicated due to large differences in cancer incidence between countries caused by differences in exposure to known risk factors. For example, substantial differences are seen when selected cancers in north Africa are compared with those in sub-Saharan Africa. In the future, population growth and demographic shifts are likely to have profound effects on the prevalence of cancer across the continent. Likewise, many factors outside of health care such as language differences, conflict, and poverty can affect cancer control efforts. Although cooperation in cancer control efforts is desirable, differences in cultural and geopolitical factors that characterise African countries and their populations, together with the sheer size of the continent, present unique challenges to effective cancer control. This Series paper discusses factors related to the size, diversity, and conditions within Africa that present barriers to optimal collaboration in cancer control efforts across the continent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of Double White Dwarf Binaries with Gaia, LSST and eLISA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korol, V.; Rossi, E. M.; Groot, P. J.

2017-03-01

According to simulations around 108 double degenerate white dwarf binaries are expected to be present in the Milky Way. Due to their intrinsic faintness, the detection of these systems is a challenge, and the total number of detected sources so far amounts only to a few tens. This will change in the next two decades with the advent of Gaia, the LSST and eLISA. We present an estimation of how many compact DWDs with orbital periods less than a few hours we will be able to detect 1) through electromagnetic radiation with Gaia and LSST and 2) through gravitational wave radiation with eLISA. We find that the sample of simultaneous electromagnetic and gravitational waves detections is expected to be substantial, and will provide us a powerful tool for probing the white dwarf astrophysics and the structure of the Milky Way, letting us into the era of multi-messenger astronomy for these sources.

Absolute Navigation Performance of the Orion Exploration Fight Test 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zanetti, Renato; Holt, Greg; Gay, Robert; D'Souza, Christopher; Sud, Jastesh

2016-01-01

Launched in December 2014 atop a Delta IV Heavy from the Kennedy Space Center, the Orion vehicle's Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) successfully completed the objective to stress the system by placing the un-crewed vehicle on a high-energy parabolic trajectory replicating conditions similar to those that would be experienced when returning from an asteroid or a lunar mission. Unique challenges associated with designing the navigation system for EFT-1 are presented with an emphasis on how redundancy and robustness influenced the architecture. Two Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), one GPS receiver and three barometric altimeters (BALTs) comprise the navigation sensor suite. The sensor data is multiplexed using conventional integration techniques and the state estimate is refined by the GPS pseudorange and deltarange measurements in an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) that employs UDU factorization. The performance of the navigation system during flight is presented to substantiate the design.

Rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific Region, and Challenges of Anti-Access/Area Denial & the Air-Sea Battle Strategy

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-05

Ahead 27 Conclusion 33 GLOSSARY 36 ENDNOTES 38 BIBLIOGRAPHY 42 FIGURES: Figure 1, Range of PLA Missiles and Strike Aircraft 6 (Combat...radiological agents , mines, guided rockets, mortars and artillery, electronic warfare, and short- range/man portable air defense and anti-armor...Army ( PLA ) would continue to develop substantial military capabilities to challenge the U.S. and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese

Supporting assistant practitioners during their training.

PubMed

Ripley, Kenneth; Hoad, Bridget

2016-07-27

Assistant practitioners, also known as associate practitioners, provide support to the registered healthcare workforce, practising with advanced knowledge and skills. Assistant practitioners require substantial training to obtain the skills and knowledge required for the role. This article identifies the challenges trainee assistant practitioners may encounter, and makes recommendations for how they can be best supported. The core areas where trainee assistant practitioners require support from their colleagues and mentors are workload, role clarity, mentoring, academic challenge and recognition as learners.

Leadership and Cultural Challenges in Operating the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clement, J. L.; Ritsher, J. B.; Saylor, S. A.; Kanas, N.

2006-01-01

Operating the International Space Station (ISS) involves an indefinite, continuous series of long-duration international missions, and this requires an unprecedented degree of cooperation across multiple sites, organizations, and nations. ISS flight controllers have had to find ways to maintain effective team performance in this challenging new context. The goal of this study was to systematically identify and evaluate the major leadership and cultural challenges faces by ISS flight controllers, and to highlight the approaches that they have found most effective to surmount these challenges. We conducted a qualitative survey using a semi-structured interview. Subjects included 14 senior NASA flight controllers who were chosen on the basis of having had substantial experience working with international partners. Data were content analyzed using an iterative process with multiple coders and consensus meetings to resolve discrepancies. To further explore the meaning of the interview findings, we also conducted some new analyses of data from a previous questionnaire study of Russian and American ISS mission control personnel. The interview data showed that respondents had substantial consensus on several leadership and cultural challenges and on key strategies for dealing with them, and they offered a wide range of specific tactics for implementing these strategies. Surprisingly few respondents offered strategies for addressing the challenge of working with team members whose native language is not American English. The questionnaire data showed that Americans think it is more important than Russians that mission control personnel speak the same dialect of one shared common language. Although specific to the ISS program, our results are consistent with recent management, cultural, and aerospace research. We aim to use our results to improve training for current and future ISS flight controllers.

Applied aerodynamics: Challenges and expectations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peterson, Victor L.; Smith, Charles A.

1993-01-01

Aerospace is the leading positive contributor to this country's balance of trade, derived largely from the sale of U.S. commercial aircraft around the world. This powerfully favorable economic situation is being threatened in two ways: (1) the U.S. portion of the commercial transport market is decreasing, even though the worldwide market is projected to increase substantially; and (2) expenditures are decreasing for military aircraft, which often serve as proving grounds for advanced aircraft technology. To retain a major share of the world market for commercial aircraft and continue to provide military aircraft with unsurpassed performance, the U.S. aerospace industry faces many technological challenges. The field of applied aerodynamics is necessarily a major contributor to efforts aimed at meeting these technological challenges. A number of emerging research results that will provide new opportunities for applied aerodynamicists are discussed. Some of these have great potential for maintaining the high value of contributions from applied aerodynamics in the relatively near future. Over time, however, the value of these contributions will diminish greatly unless substantial investments continue to be made in basic and applied research efforts. The focus: to increase understanding of fluid dynamic phenomena, identify new aerodynamic concepts, and provide validated advanced technology for future aircraft.

Axisymmetric shell analysis of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster field joint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.; Anderson, Melvin S.

1989-01-01

The Space Shuttle Challenger (STS 51-L) accident led to an intense investigation of the structural behavior of the solid rocket booster (SRB) tang and clevis field joints. The presence of structural deformations between the clevis inner leg and the tang, substantial enough to prevent the O-ring seals from eliminating hot gas flow through the joints, has emerged as a likely cause of the vehicle failure. This paper presents results of axisymmetric shell analyses that parametrically assess the structural behavior of SRB field joints subjected to quasi-steady-state internal pressure loading for both the original joint flown on mission STS 51-L and the redesigned joint recently flown on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Discussion of axisymmetric shell modeling issues and details is presented and a generic method for simulating contact between adjacent shells of revolution is described. Results are presented that identify the performance trends of the joints for a wide range of joint parameters.

Radiation curing: Science and technology

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

Pappas, S.P.

1992-01-01

The science and technology of radiation curing have progressed substantially within the last 20 years. Nevertheless, radiation-curable compositions typically command relatively small shares in many of their competitive markets. This situation signifies that potential advantages of radiation curing are not generally perceived to overcome their limitations. An important objective of this book is to address this issue, within the scope of the subjects offered, by providing the present state of knowledge and by identifying the directions and challenges for future studies. The first chapter introduces radiation curing. Chapter 2 offers the first systematic presentation of inorganic and organometallic photoinitiators. Chaptersmore » 3 and 4 present the analytical techniques of photocalorimetry and real-time infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Recent advances in resin technology are offered in Chapters 5 and 6, which constitute the first comprehensive accounts of (meth)acrylated silicones and vinyl ethers, respectively. Radiation-curable coatings, printing inks, and adhesives are discussed in Chapters 7-9, respectively. Chapter 10 offers a discussion on photopolymer imaging systems.« less

Strategies for Energy Efficient Resource Management of Hybrid Programming Models

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

Li, Dong; Supinski, Bronis de; Schulz, Martin

2013-01-01

Many scientific applications are programmed using hybrid programming models that use both message-passing and shared-memory, due to the increasing prevalence of large-scale systems with multicore, multisocket nodes. Previous work has shown that energy efficiency can be improved using software-controlled execution schemes that consider both the programming model and the power-aware execution capabilities of the system. However, such approaches have focused on identifying optimal resource utilization for one programming model, either shared-memory or message-passing, in isolation. The potential solution space, thus the challenge, increases substantially when optimizing hybrid models since the possible resource configurations increase exponentially. Nonetheless, with the accelerating adoptionmore » of hybrid programming models, we increasingly need improved energy efficiency in hybrid parallel applications on large-scale systems. In this work, we present new software-controlled execution schemes that consider the effects of dynamic concurrency throttling (DCT) and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) in the context of hybrid programming models. Specifically, we present predictive models and novel algorithms based on statistical analysis that anticipate application power and time requirements under different concurrency and frequency configurations. We apply our models and methods to the NPB MZ benchmarks and selected applications from the ASC Sequoia codes. Overall, we achieve substantial energy savings (8.74% on average and up to 13.8%) with some performance gain (up to 7.5%) or negligible performance loss.« less

Efficient and lightweight current leads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bromberg, L.; Dietz, A. J.; Michael, P. C.; Gold, C.; Cheadle, M.

2014-01-01

Current leads generate substantial cryogenic heat loads in short length High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) distribution systems. Thermal conduction, as well as Joule losses (I2R) along the current leads, comprises the largest cryogenic loads for short distribution systems. Current leads with two temperature stages have been designed, constructed and tested, with the goal of minimizing the electrical power consumption, and to provide thermal margin for the cable. We present the design of a two-stage current lead system, operating at 140 K and 55 K. This design is very attractive when implemented with a turbo-Brayton cycle refrigerator (two-stage), with substantial power and weight reduction. A heat exchanger is used at each temperature station, with conduction-cooled stages in-between. Compact, efficient heat exchangers are challenging, because of the gaseous coolant. Design, optimization and performance of the heat exchangers used for the current leads will be presented. We have made extensive use of CFD models for optimizing hydraulic and thermal performance of the heat exchangers. The methodology and the results of the optimization process will be discussed. The use of demountable connections between the cable and the terminations allows for ease of assembly, but require means of aggressively cooling the region of the joint. We will also discuss the cooling of the joint. We have fabricated a 7 m, 5 kA cable with second generation HTS tapes. The performance of the system will be described.

Implementation and Performance of a GPS/INS Tightly Coupled Assisted PLL Architecture Using MEMS Inertial Sensors

PubMed Central

Tawk, Youssef; Tomé, Phillip; Botteron, Cyril; Stebler, Yannick; Farine, Pierre-André

2014-01-01

The use of global navigation satellite system receivers for navigation still presents many challenges in urban canyon and indoor environments, where satellite availability is typically reduced and received signals are attenuated. To improve the navigation performance in such environments, several enhancement methods can be implemented. For instance, external aid provided through coupling with other sensors has proven to contribute substantially to enhancing navigation performance and robustness. Within this context, coupling a very simple GPS receiver with an Inertial Navigation System (INS) based on low-cost micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors is considered in this paper. In particular, we propose a GPS/INS Tightly Coupled Assisted PLL (TCAPLL) architecture, and present most of the associated challenges that need to be addressed when dealing with very-low-performance MEMS inertial sensors. In addition, we propose a data monitoring system in charge of checking the quality of the measurement flow in the architecture. The implementation of the TCAPLL is discussed in detail, and its performance under different scenarios is assessed. Finally, the architecture is evaluated through a test campaign using a vehicle that is driven in urban environments, with the purpose of highlighting the pros and cons of combining MEMS inertial sensors with GPS over GPS alone. PMID:24569773

Best Practices of Collaboration in Arctic Research: How to Succeed, or Fail, in Cross-Disciplinary Efforts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiggins, H. V.

2014-12-01

The rapid physical and social changes currently underway in the Arctic - and changes in the way in which we study and manage the region - require coordinated research efforts to improve our understanding of the Arctic's physical, biological, and social systems. At the same time, policy-makers and Arctic communities need decision-support tools and synthesized information to respond and adapt to the "new arctic". There are enormous challenges, however, in collaboration among the disparate groups of people needed for such efforts. A carefully planned strategic approach is required to bridge the scientific disciplinary and organizational boundaries, foster cooperation between local communities and science programs, and effectively communicate between scientists and policy-makers. Efforts must draw on bodies of knowledge from project management, strategic planning, organizational development, group dynamics, and other fields. In addition, collaborations between scientific disciplines face challenges unique to scientific culture. This poster presentation will discuss best practices of building and sustaining networks of people to catalyze successful cross-disciplinary activities. Specific examples and case studies - both successes and failures - will be presented that draw on several projects at the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS; www.arcus.org), a nonprofit membership organization composed of universities and institutions that have a substantial commitment to research in the Arctic.

Finding the Funds for Health Resources.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Osorio, Jenny; Marx, Eva; Bauer, Louise

2000-01-01

Identifying, securing, and sustaining funding are the greatest challenges to establishing and maintaining school health programs. A federal/state government alliance (the School Health Program Finance Project) provides funding information; foundations and businesses provide substantial financial support. Districts should employ resource mapping to…

Optimization of offsets and cycle length using high resolution signal event data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

Traffic signal systems represent a substantial component of the highway transportation network in the United States. It is challenging for most agencies to find engineering resources to properly update signal policies and timing plans to accommodate ...

Procurement procedures and specifications for performance measure capable traffic infrastructure data collection systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-01-01

Traffic signal systems represent a substantial component of the highway transportation network in the United : States. It is challenging for most agencies to find engineering resources to properly update signal policies and : timing plans to accommod...

Matching phenotypes to whole genomes: Lessons learned from four iterations of the personal genome project community challenges.

PubMed

Cai, Binghuang; Li, Biao; Kiga, Nikki; Thusberg, Janita; Bergquist, Timothy; Chen, Yun-Ching; Niknafs, Noushin; Carter, Hannah; Tokheim, Collin; Beleva-Guthrie, Violeta; Douville, Christopher; Bhattacharya, Rohit; Yeo, Hui Ting Grace; Fan, Jean; Sengupta, Sohini; Kim, Dewey; Cline, Melissa; Turner, Tychele; Diekhans, Mark; Zaucha, Jan; Pal, Lipika R; Cao, Chen; Yu, Chen-Hsin; Yin, Yizhou; Carraro, Marco; Giollo, Manuel; Ferrari, Carlo; Leonardi, Emanuela; Tosatto, Silvio C E; Bobe, Jason; Ball, Madeleine; Hoskins, Roger A; Repo, Susanna; Church, George; Brenner, Steven E; Moult, John; Gough, Julian; Stanke, Mario; Karchin, Rachel; Mooney, Sean D

2017-09-01

The advent of next-generation sequencing has dramatically decreased the cost for whole-genome sequencing and increased the viability for its application in research and clinical care. The Personal Genome Project (PGP) provides unrestricted access to genomes of individuals and their associated phenotypes. This resource enabled the Critical Assessment of Genome Interpretation (CAGI) to create a community challenge to assess the bioinformatics community's ability to predict traits from whole genomes. In the CAGI PGP challenge, researchers were asked to predict whether an individual had a particular trait or profile based on their whole genome. Several approaches were used to assess submissions, including ROC AUC (area under receiver operating characteristic curve), probability rankings, the number of correct predictions, and statistical significance simulations. Overall, we found that prediction of individual traits is difficult, relying on a strong knowledge of trait frequency within the general population, whereas matching genomes to trait profiles relies heavily upon a small number of common traits including ancestry, blood type, and eye color. When a rare genetic disorder is present, profiles can be matched when one or more pathogenic variants are identified. Prediction accuracy has improved substantially over the last 6 years due to improved methodology and a better understanding of features. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The financial performance of labor and delivery units.

PubMed

von Gruenigen, Vivian E; Powell, Diane M; Sorboro, Susan; McCarroll, Michelle L; Kim, Unhee

2013-07-01

Hospitals and health care systems are already seeing the effect of health care reform with declining dollars. Hospital services, which had narrow financial margins in the past, will have further challenges. This article will review definitions, challenges, and potential financial solutions for labor and delivery units. Improving quality, efficiency, and cost requires substantial physician cooperation in the changing paradigm from physician-centric care to the transparent safety of teams. The financial contribution margin should increase the net revenue, but significant volumes are also needed. The challenge of this model for obstetrics is the slowing birth rate with the ultimate limitation for growth. Therefore, cost containment is imperative for sustainability. Standardization of hospital policies and procedures can improve quality and cost-savings with new incentive models. Examples include decreasing expensive pharmaceuticals, minimizing elective inductions of labor, and encouraging breast-feeding. As providers of health care to women, we all must engage in the triple aim of (1) improving the experience of care, (2) improving the health of populations, and (3) reducing per capita costs of health care. Although accountable care organizations presently are focused on Medicare populations for cost containment, all health care providers and institutions must be vigilant on both quality cost-effective care for sustainability, especially in obstetrics. Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Protecting water and wastewater infrastructure from cyber attacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panguluri, Srinivas; Phillips, William; Cusimano, John

2011-12-01

Multiple organizations over the years have collected and analyzed data on cyber attacks and they all agree on one conclusion: cyber attacks are real and can cause significant damages. This paper presents some recent statistics on cyber attacks and resulting damages. Water and wastewater utilities must adopt countermeasures to prevent or minimize the damage in case of such attacks. Many unique challenges are faced by the water and wastewater industry while selecting and implementing security countermeasures; the key challenges are: 1) the increasing interconnection of their business and control system networks, 2) large variation of proprietary industrial control equipment utilized, 3) multitude of cross-sector cyber-security standards, and 4) the differences in the equipment vendor's approaches to meet these security standards. The utilities can meet these challenges by voluntarily selecting and adopting security standards, conducting a gap analysis, performing vulnerability/risk analysis, and undertaking countermeasures that best meets their security and organizational requirements. Utilities should optimally utilize their limited resources to prepare and implement necessary programs that are designed to increase cyber-security over the years. Implementing cyber security does not necessarily have to be expensive, substantial improvements can be accomplished through policy, procedure, training and awareness. Utilities can also get creative and allocate more funding through annual budgets and reduce dependence upon capital improvement programs to achieve improvements in cyber-security.

Nanostructured lipid carriers: versatile oral delivery vehicle

PubMed Central

Poonia, Neelam; Kharb, Rajeev; Lather, Viney; Pandita, Deepti

2016-01-01

Oral delivery is the most accepted and economical route for drug administration and leads to substantial reduction in dosing frequency. However, this route still remains a challenge for the pharmaceutical industry due to poorly soluble and permeable drugs leading to poor oral bioavailability. Incorporating bioactives into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) has helped in boosting their therapeutic functionality and prolonged release from these carrier systems thus providing improved pharmacokinetic parameters. The present review provides an overview of noteworthy studies reporting impending benefits of NLCs in oral delivery and highlights recent advancements for developing engineered NLCs either by conjugating polymers over their surface or modifying their charge to overcome the mucosal barrier of GI tract for active transport across intestinal membrane. PMID:28031979

Robotics, stem cells, and brain-computer interfaces in rehabilitation and recovery from stroke: updates and advances.

PubMed

Boninger, Michael L; Wechsler, Lawrence R; Stein, Joel

2014-11-01

The aim of this study was to describe the current state and latest advances in robotics, stem cells, and brain-computer interfaces in rehabilitation and recovery for stroke. The authors of this summary recently reviewed this work as part of a national presentation. The article represents the information included in each area. Each area has seen great advances and challenges as products move to market and experiments are ongoing. Robotics, stem cells, and brain-computer interfaces all have tremendous potential to reduce disability and lead to better outcomes for patients with stroke. Continued research and investment will be needed as the field moves forward. With this investment, the potential for recovery of function is likely substantial.

Demonstration of blind quantum computing.

PubMed

Barz, Stefanie; Kashefi, Elham; Broadbent, Anne; Fitzsimons, Joseph F; Zeilinger, Anton; Walther, Philip

2012-01-20

Quantum computers, besides offering substantial computational speedups, are also expected to preserve the privacy of a computation. We present an experimental demonstration of blind quantum computing in which the input, computation, and output all remain unknown to the computer. We exploit the conceptual framework of measurement-based quantum computation that enables a client to delegate a computation to a quantum server. Various blind delegated computations, including one- and two-qubit gates and the Deutsch and Grover quantum algorithms, are demonstrated. The client only needs to be able to prepare and transmit individual photonic qubits. Our demonstration is crucial for unconditionally secure quantum cloud computing and might become a key ingredient for real-life applications, especially when considering the challenges of making powerful quantum computers widely available.

Current Concepts in Orthopedic Management of Multiple Trauma

PubMed Central

Kucukdurmaz, Fatih; Alijanipour, Pouya

2015-01-01

Multiple trauma patients frequently present challenging clinical scenarios with musculoskeletal injuries being the most common indications for surgical procedures in these patients. Despite our substantial knowledge, a universally approved objective definition for “multiple trauma” is yet to be delineated. Several controversial aspects of economics, pathophysiology, animal models, diagnosis, management and outcome of patients with multiple trauma have recently been explored and although some progress has been made, it seems that the available evidence is still inconclusive in some occasions. This manuscript revisits several current concepts of multiple trauma that have been the focus of recent investigation. We aim to provide the reader with an updated perspective based on the most recently published literature in the field of multiple trauma. PMID:26312111

Engineering clinically relevant volumes of vascularized bone

PubMed Central

Roux, Brianna M; Cheng, Ming-Huei; Brey, Eric M

2015-01-01

Vascularization remains one of the most important challenges that must be overcome for tissue engineering to be consistently implemented for reconstruction of large volume bone defects. An extensive vascular network is needed for transport of nutrients, waste and progenitor cells required for remodelling and repair. A variety of tissue engineering strategies have been investigated in an attempt to vascularize tissues, including those applying cells, soluble factor delivery strategies, novel design and optimization of bio-active materials, vascular assembly pre-implantation and surgical techniques. However, many of these strategies face substantial barriers that must be overcome prior to their ultimate translation into clinical application. In this review recent progress in engineering vascularized bone will be presented with an emphasis on clinical feasibility. PMID:25877690

The UNAM M. Sc. program in Medical Physics enters its teen years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandan, María-Ester

2010-12-01

The M.Sc. (Medical Physics) program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM, created in 1997, has graduated a substantial number of medical physicists who constitute today about 30% of the medical physics clinical workforce in the country. Up to present date (May 2010) more than 60 students have graduated, 60% of them hold clinical jobs, 20% have completed or study a Ph.D., and 15% perform activities related to this specialization. In addition to strengthening the clinical practice of medical physics, the program has served as an incentive for medical physics research in UNAM and other centers. We report the circumstances of the program origin, the evolution of its curriculum, the main achievements, and the next challenges.

Metabolic network flux analysis for engineering plant systems.

PubMed

Shachar-Hill, Yair

2013-04-01

Metabolic network flux analysis (NFA) tools have proven themselves to be powerful aids to metabolic engineering of microbes by providing quantitative insights into the flows of material and energy through cellular systems. The development and application of NFA tools to plant systems has advanced in recent years and are yielding significant insights and testable predictions. Plants present substantial opportunities for the practical application of NFA but they also pose serious challenges related to the complexity of plant metabolic networks and to deficiencies in our knowledge of their structure and regulation. By considering the tools available and selected examples, this article attempts to assess where and how NFA is most likely to have a real impact on plant biotechnology. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Safety and ergonomic considerations for an aging workforce in the US construction industry.

PubMed

Choi, Sang D

2009-01-01

The US construction workforce is aging as millions of baby boomers move toward retirement age. Older workers make a substantial contribution to construction in terms of skills and experience. However, construction is still one of the most physically demanding occupations, hence the health implications for older workers. Descriptions of injuries, illnesses and fatalities among older workers in the US construction industry from recent literature are presented along with the practical health and safety interventions that have been proposed including: ergonomic interventions, wellness programs, worksite housekeeping, training, and safety climate. Understanding the risks and hazards in specific industries could help identify training and intervention requirements to meet the challenges facing aging workers in these occupational groups.

Strengthening the evidence base for health programming in humanitarian crises.

PubMed

Ager, A; Burnham, G; Checchi, F; Gayer, M; Grais, R F; Henkens, M; Massaquoi, M B F; Nandy, R; Navarro-Colorado, C; Spiegel, P

2014-09-12

Given the growing scale and complexity of responses to humanitarian crises, it is important to develop a stronger evidence base for health interventions in such contexts. Humanitarian crises present unique challenges to rigorous and effective research, but there are substantial opportunities for scientific advance. Studies need to focus where the translation of evidence from noncrisis scenarios is not viable and on ethical ways of determining what happens in the absence of an intervention. Robust methodologies suited to crisis settings have to be developed and used to assess interventions with potential for delivery at scale. Strengthening research capacity in the low- to middle-income countries that are vulnerable to crises is also crucial. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Electrochemical Energy Storage Technologies and the Automotive Industry

ScienceCinema

Mark Verbrugge

2017-12-09

The first portion of the lecture will relate global energy challenges to trends in personal transportation. Following this introduction, a short overview of technology associated with lithium ion batteries for traction applications will be provided. Last, I shall present new research results that enable adaptive characterization of lithium ion cells. Experimental and modeling results help to clarify the underlying electrochemistry and system performance. Specifically, through chemical modification of the electrodes, it is possible to place markers within the electrodes that signal the state of charge of a battery through abrupt voltage changes during cell operation, thereby allowing full utilization of the battery in applications. In closing, I shall highlight some promising materials research efforts that are expected to lead to substantially improved battery technology

The Potential Impact of Preventive HIV Vaccines in China: Results and Benefits of a Multi-Province Modeling Collaboration

PubMed Central

Harmon, Thomas; Guo, Wei; Stover, John; Wu, Zunyou; Kaufman, Joan; Schneider, Kammerle; Liu, Li; Feng, Liao; Schwartländer, Bernard

2015-01-01

China’s commitment to implementing established and emerging HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies has led to substantial gains in terms of access to antiretroviral treatment and prevention services, but the evolving and multifaceted HIV/AIDS epidemic in China highlights the challenges of maintaining that response. This study presents modeling results exploring the potential impact of HIV vaccines in the Chinese context at varying efficacy and coverage rates, while further exploring the potential implications of vaccination programs aimed at reaching populations at highest risk of HIV infection. A preventive HIV vaccine would add a powerful tool to China’s response, even if not 100% efficacious or available to the full population. PMID:26344945

Robotics, Stem Cells and Brain Computer Interfaces in Rehabilitation and Recovery from Stroke; Updates and Advances

PubMed Central

Boninger, Michael L; Wechsler, Lawrence R.; Stein, Joel

2014-01-01

Objective To describe the current state and latest advances in robotics, stem cells, and brain computer interfaces in rehabilitation and recovery for stroke. Design The authors of this summary recently reviewed this work as part of a national presentation. The paper represents the information included in each area. Results Each area has seen great advances and challenges as products move to market and experiments are ongoing. Conclusion Robotics, stem cells, and brain computer interfaces all have tremendous potential to reduce disability and lead to better outcomes for patients with stroke. Continued research and investment will be needed as the field moves forward. With this investment, the potential for recovery of function is likely substantial PMID:25313662

AIDS: a challenge for the public health.

PubMed

Acheson, E D

1986-03-22

While the number of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been increasing worldwide, the incidence in the United Kingdom (UK) is substantially lower than in the United States (US) and several other European countries. In the UK and US, the infection is confined largely to homosexual and bisexual men, persons who abuse drugs by injection, hemophiliacs, and sexual partners of members of these groups, including heterosexual men and women. Public education must focus on methods of transmission and control of the disease. The efficacy of testing for antibodies to the HTLV-III infection is questionable because there is no cure at present. Issues of confidentiality and denial of insurance or other support to persons who test positive must be considered.

Current Challenges in the Management of Prolactinomas.

PubMed

Maiter, Dominique

2015-04-01

Although the diagnosis of prolactinoma is often straightforward and the treatment strategy has been well defined in recent guidelines, several challenging issues persist in their management. The differential diagnosis of a large pituitary tumour with moderately elevated prolactin (PRL) concentrations is sometimes difficult, and prolonged treatment with a dopamine agonist may be inappropriate when the diagnosis of a prolactinoma is not sufficiently well substantiated. Also, timely withdrawal of dopamine agonist treatment and the remaining indications of transsphenoidal surgery are still matters of debate. Last but not least, the management of resistant or aggressive prolactinomas remains a challenge for the clinician, especially when they occur in young patients.

Current Challenges in the Management of Prolactinomas

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Summary Although the diagnosis of prolactinoma is often straightforward and the treatment strategy has been well defined in recent guidelines, several challenging issues persist in their management. The differential diagnosis of a large pituitary tumour with moderately elevated prolactin (PRL) concentrations is sometimes difficult, and prolonged treatment with a dopamine agonist may be inappropriate when the diagnosis of a prolactinoma is not sufficiently well substantiated. Also, timely withdrawal of dopamine agonist treatment and the remaining indications of transsphenoidal surgery are still matters of debate. Last but not least, the management of resistant or aggressive prolactinomas remains a challenge for the clinician, especially when they occur in young patients. PMID:29632566

A Systematic Study of the Optical and Electrical Properties of Ge1-ySny and Ge1-x-ySixSny Semiconductor Alloys

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

efficient light sources and detectors continues to be the most significant fundamental challenge. Although there are several promising candidates, there has...not yet been a clear winner. A major challenge in the development of light sources and detectors comes from the fact that both silicon (Si) and...laser diodes), photo- detectors , and electro-optical modulators as well as biological and chemical sensors. Despite the substantial recent progress in

In Defence of Ubuntu

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Letseka, Moeketsi

2012-01-01

The article defends ubuntu against the assault by Enslin and Horsthemke ("Comp Educ" 40(4):545-558, 2004). It challenges claims that the Africanist/Afrocentrist project, in which the philosophy of ubuntu is central, faces numerous problems, involves substantial political, moral, epistemological and educational errors, and should…

Developing Evidence & Gathering Data about Teacher Education Program Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 2007

2007-01-01

Linking teacher practice to pupil outcomes has proven challenging for teacher educators. Methodological problems occur when linking individual teacher actions with subsequent pupil performance, including substantial intervening variables, questions about appropriate measures of student learning, issues regarding the lack of test standardization…

The decline in vitamin research funding: a missed opportunity?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: The National Nutrition Research Roadmap has called for support of greater collaborative, interdisciplinary research for multiple areas of nutrition research. However, a substantial reduction in federal funding makes responding to these calls challenging. The objective of this study was t...

Invigorating self-regulated learning strategies of mathematics among higher education students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chechi, Vijay Kumar; Bhalla, Jyoti

2017-07-01

The global market is transforming at its ever-increasing rate of knots. Consequently, the work skills challenges that current students will encounter throughout their lifetimes will be drastically different from those of present and past and proffering new-fangled opportunities and posing new challenges. However, in order to deal with tomorrow's opportunities and challenges students ought to equip with higher order cognitive skills which are substantially different from those needed in the past. In order to accomplish this intention, students must be academically self-regulated, as academic self-regulation is playing a vital role for academic success, particularly in higher education. Students must be prepared in such a way that they should take responsibility for their own learning. Self-regulation suggests activities and thinking processes that learners can engage in during his learning. Self-regulation is encompassing a number of inter-dependent aspect viz. affective beliefs, cognition and meta-cognitive skills [1]. It helps the learners to make sagacious use of their intellect and expertise [2]. As statistics has shown that the achievement of students in mathematics has persistently been poor. Along with it, mathematics is considered as one of the most important subject course in architecture, agriculture, medicine, pharmacy and especially in engineering. In spite of its importance, most of the students considered it as a dull and dry subject and their performance is remarkably low and alarming. Therefore, the present paper will highlight various factors affecting performance of higher education students in mathematics and will suggest different self-regulated learning strategies which will act as boon for higher education students.

Challenges and Facilitators to Promoting a Healthy Food Environment and Communicating Effectively with Parents to Improve Food Behaviors of School Children.

PubMed

Luesse, Hiershenee B; Paul, Rachel; Gray, Heewon L; Koch, Pamela; Contento, Isobel; Marsick, Victoria

2018-02-14

Background Childhood obesity is a major public health concern and families play an important role. Improving strategies to reach parents and directing tailored nutrition education to them is needed. Purpose To investigate the challenges and facilitators to promoting a healthy environment at home and to identify communication preferences to inform intervention strategies for effectively reaching low-income urban minority families. Procedure Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with four groups involving 16 low-income urban parents (94% female; 88% Hispanic/Latino, 12% African American) of elementary school children. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed applying Social Cognitive Theory and using in-vivo coding. Main Findings The most common barriers to parents providing healthy foods to their children were accommodating child preferences and familial opposition. Parents showed intentionality to engage in healthy behaviors, and often shared procedural knowledge for reaching health goals. The analyses of desired communication channels yielded major preferences: tailored information, information provided through multiple mediums, appropriate duration/frequency of messages, and presented from a voice of authority. Conclusion and Implication While parents expressed desires to be healthy, the home food environment presented substantial challenges. Multi-media supports such as workshops, flyers, and text messaging may be useful to facilitate the sharing of information to minimize the tensions between intentionality and reaching desired goals to be healthy. Some parents thought that information received through text messaging could be easily shared and would act as a voice of authority to support child behavior change.

[Impact of demographic changes - analysis and possible implications for the example of a specialist hospital].

PubMed

Weigl, M; Müller, A; Angerer, P

2012-05-01

The ongoing demographic development creates distinctive challenges for the management of hospitals. Due to the demographic change hospitals will be more and more dependent on the work ability and performance of an aging workforce. Therefore, age-specific work design and interventions are inevitable to create a work environment that sustainably promotes health and well-being. This study reports the work conditions, health impairments (work ability, musculoskeletal complaints), and turnover intentions (intentions to leave the organisation within the previous year, intentions to leave before official retirement age) of N=210 employees working in a specialist hospital. Age-specific analyses show that correlations between working conditions, health, and turnover intention differ substantially across the age groups. From the results an exemplary approach for the analysis and management of demography-related challenges for hospital employees has been deduced. With it, this study presents a promising strategy to identify age-related work stressors and health complaints and to promote health and well-being of hospital employees in different age groups. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Development of Android Based Powered Intelligent Wheelchair for Quadriplegic Persons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Ashutosh; Ghosh, Tathagata; Kumar, Pradeep; Bhawna, Shruthi. S.

2017-08-01

Several surveys give us the view that both children and adults benefit substantially from access towards independent mobility. With the inventions of technology, no individuals are satisfied with traditional manual operated machines. To accommodate population, researchers are using technology, originally developed for mobile robots to create ‘intelligent wheelchairs’. It’s a major challenge for quadriplegic persons as they really find it difficult to manipulate powered wheelchair during the activities of their daily living. As the Smartphone era has evolved with innovative android based applications, engineers are improving and trying to make such machines simple and cheap to the next level. In this paper, we present a development of android based powered intelligent wheelchair to assist the quadriplegic person by making them self sufficient in controlling the wheelchair. The wheels of the chair can be controlled by the voice or gesture movement or by touching the screen of the android app by the challenged persons. The system uses the Bluetooth communication to interface the microcontroller and the inbuilt sensors in the android Smartphone. According to the commands received from android phone, the kinematics of the wheels are controlled.

Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Advance Children’s Mental Health: Behavioral Parent Training As an Example

PubMed Central

Jones, Deborah J.; Forehand, Rex; Cuellar, Jessica; Kincaid, Carlye; Parent, Justin; Fenton, Nicole; Goodrum, Nada

2012-01-01

Disruptive behaviors of childhood are among the most common reasons for referral of children to mental health professionals. Behavioral parent training (BPT) is the most efficacious intervention for these problem behaviors, yet BPT is substantially underutilized beyond university research and clinic settings. With the aim of addressing this research-to-practice gap, this article highlights the considerable, but largely unrealized, potential for technology to overcome the two most pressing challenges hindering the diffusion of BPT: (1). The dearth of BPT training and supervision opportunities for therapists who work with families of children with disruptive behaviors and; (2). The failure to engage and retain families in BPT services when services are available. To this end, this review presents a theoretical framework to guide technological innovations in BPT and highlights examples of how technology is currently being harnessed to overcome these challenges. This review also discusses recommendations for using technology as a delivery vehicle to further advance the field of BPT and the potential implications of technological innovations in BPT for other areas of children’s mental health are discussed. PMID:23313761

Parallel Processing of Images in Mobile Devices using BOINC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curiel, Mariela; Calle, David F.; Santamaría, Alfredo S.; Suarez, David F.; Flórez, Leonardo

2018-04-01

Medical image processing helps health professionals make decisions for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Since some algorithms for processing images require substantial amounts of resources, one could take advantage of distributed or parallel computing. A mobile grid can be an adequate computing infrastructure for this problem. A mobile grid is a grid that includes mobile devices as resource providers. In a previous step of this research, we selected BOINC as the infrastructure to build our mobile grid. However, parallel processing of images in mobile devices poses at least two important challenges: the execution of standard libraries for processing images and obtaining adequate performance when compared to desktop computers grids. By the time we started our research, the use of BOINC in mobile devices also involved two issues: a) the execution of programs in mobile devices required to modify the code to insert calls to the BOINC API, and b) the division of the image among the mobile devices as well as its merging required additional code in some BOINC components. This article presents answers to these four challenges.

Enabling environmental metagenomics and extremophile discovery through SCODA DNA purification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lum, T.; Maydan, J.

2016-12-01

A major challenge in nucleic acid preparation from environmental samples is in the ability to separate DNA and RNA from contaminants that often co-purify with methods commonly used. This becomes even more challenging when nucleic acids are in low abundance or when enriching for high molecular weight fragments. Many column- and bead-based methods rely upon selective chemical affinity which is insufficient in dealing with similarly charged contaminants, and also often result in over fragmentation nucleic acids and substantial sample loss. Here we present a unique and alternative parameter for the separation nucleic acids based on the nonlinear response of long, charged polymers to electrophoretic fields. The synchronous coefficient of drag alteration (SCODA) technology is capable of purifying nucleic acids from highly contaminated sample matrices, with molecular weight ranges from 300 bp to over 1 Mbp, and from very low biomass origins. Using a combination of rotating dipole and quadrupole electric fields, SCODA technology concentrates ultrapure nucleic acids that enable PCR, NGS, and optical mapping applications on sample types that are otherwise difficult or impossible to analyze.

Dopamine: Just the Right Medicine for Membranes

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

Yang, Hao-Cheng; Waldman, Ruben Z.; Wu, Ming-Bang

Mussel-inspired chemistry has attracted widespread interest in membrane science and technology. Demonstrating the rapid growth of this field over the past several years, substantial progress has been achieved in both mussel-inspired chemistry and membrane surface engineering based on mussel-inspired coatings. At this stage, it is valuable to summarize the most recent and distinctive developments, as well as to frame the challenges and opportunities remaining in this field. In this review, recent advances in rapid and controllable deposition of mussel-inspired coatings, dopamine-assisted codeposition technology, and photoinitiated grafting directly on mussel-inspired coatings are presented. Some of these technologies have not yet beenmore » employed directly in membrane science. Beyond discussing advances in conventional membrane processes, emerging applications of mussel-inspired coatings in membranes are discussed, including as a skin layer in nanofiltration, interlayer in metal-organic framework based membranes, hydrophilic layer in Janus membranes, and protective layer in catalytic membranes. Finally, some critical unsolved challenges are raised in this field and some potential pathways are proposed to address them.« less

Exploring information transmission in gene networks using stochastic simulation and machine learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kyemyung; Prüstel, Thorsten; Lu, Yong; Narayanan, Manikandan; Martins, Andrew; Tsang, John

How gene regulatory networks operate robustly despite environmental fluctuations and biochemical noise is a fundamental question in biology. Mathematically the stochastic dynamics of a gene regulatory network can be modeled using chemical master equation (CME), but nonlinearity and other challenges render analytical solutions of CMEs difficult to attain. While approaches of approximation and stochastic simulation have been devised for simple models, obtaining a more global picture of a system's behaviors in high-dimensional parameter space without simplifying the system substantially remains a major challenge. Here we present a new framework for understanding and predicting the behaviors of gene regulatory networks in the context of information transmission among genes. Our approach uses stochastic simulation of the network followed by machine learning of the mapping between model parameters and network phenotypes such as information transmission behavior. We also devised ways to visualize high-dimensional phase spaces in intuitive and informative manners. We applied our approach to several gene regulatory circuit motifs, including both feedback and feedforward loops, to reveal underexplored aspects of their operational behaviors. This work is supported by the Intramural Program of NIAID/NIH.

Polymeric micelles in mucosal drug delivery: Challenges towards clinical translation.

PubMed

Sosnik, Alejandro; Menaker Raskin, Maya

2015-11-01

Polymeric micelles are nanostructures formed by the self-aggregation of copolymeric amphiphiles above the critical micellar concentration. Due to the flexibility to tailor different molecular features, they have been exploited to encapsulate motley poorly-water soluble therapeutic agents. Moreover, the possibility to combine different amphiphiles in one single aggregate and produce mixed micelles that capitalize on the features of the different components substantially expands the therapeutic potential of these nanocarriers. Despite their proven versatility, polymeric micelles remain elusive to the market and only a few products are currently undergoing advanced clinical trials or reached clinical application, all of them for the therapy of different types of cancer and administration by the intravenous route. At the same time, they emerge as a nanotechnology platform with great potential for non-parenteral mucosal administration. However, for this, the interaction of polymeric micelles with mucus needs to be strengthened. The present review describes the different attempts to develop mucoadhesive polymeric micelles and discusses the challenges faced in the near future for a successful bench-to-bedside translation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Progress and challenges in understanding planar cell polarity signaling.

PubMed

Axelrod, Jeffrey D

2009-10-01

During development, epithelial cells in some tissues acquire a polarity orthogonal to their apical-basal axis. This polarity, referred to as planar cell polarity (PCP), or tissue polarity, is essential for the normal physiological function of many epithelia. Early studies of PCP focused on insect epithelia (Lawrence, 1966 [1]), and the earliest genetic analyses were carried out in Drosophila (Held et al., 1986; Gubb and Garcia-Bellido, 1982 [2,3]). Indeed, most of our mechanistic understanding of PCP derives from the ongoing use of Drosophila as a model system. However, a range of medically important developmental defects and physiological processes are under the control of PCP mechanisms that appear to be at least partially conserved, driving considerable interest in studying PCP both in Drosophila and in vertebrate model systems. Here, I present a model of the PCP signaling mechanism based on studies in Drosophila. I highlight two areas in which our understanding is deficient, and which lead to current confusion in the literature. Future studies that shed light on these areas will substantially enhance our understanding of the fascinating yet challenging problem of understanding the mechanisms that generate PCP.

Dopamine: Just the Right Medicine for Membranes

DOE PAGES

Yang, Hao-Cheng; Waldman, Ruben Z.; Wu, Ming-Bang; ...

2018-01-09

Mussel-inspired chemistry has attracted widespread interest in membrane science and technology. Demonstrating the rapid growth of this field over the past several years, substantial progress has been achieved in both mussel-inspired chemistry and membrane surface engineering based on mussel-inspired coatings. At this stage, it is valuable to summarize the most recent and distinctive developments, as well as to frame the challenges and opportunities remaining in this field. In this review, recent advances in rapid and controllable deposition of mussel-inspired coatings, dopamine-assisted codeposition technology, and photoinitiated grafting directly on mussel-inspired coatings are presented. Some of these technologies have not yet beenmore » employed directly in membrane science. Beyond discussing advances in conventional membrane processes, emerging applications of mussel-inspired coatings in membranes are discussed, including as a skin layer in nanofiltration, interlayer in metal-organic framework based membranes, hydrophilic layer in Janus membranes, and protective layer in catalytic membranes. Finally, some critical unsolved challenges are raised in this field and some potential pathways are proposed to address them.« less

Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Complexity: A Model-Based Scenario Approach to Supporting Integrated Water Resources Management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Gupta, H.; Wagener, T.; Stewart, S.; Mahmoud, M.; Hartmann, H.; Springer, E.

2007-12-01

Some of the most challenging issues facing contemporary water resources management are those typified by complex coupled human-environmental systems with poorly characterized uncertainties. In other words, major decisions regarding water resources have to be made in the face of substantial uncertainty and complexity. It has been suggested that integrated models can be used to coherently assemble information from a broad set of domains, and can therefore serve as an effective means for tackling the complexity of environmental systems. Further, well-conceived scenarios can effectively inform decision making, particularly when high complexity and poorly characterized uncertainties make the problem intractable via traditional uncertainty analysis methods. This presentation discusses the integrated modeling framework adopted by SAHRA, an NSF Science & Technology Center, to investigate stakeholder-driven water sustainability issues within the semi-arid southwestern US. The multi-disciplinary, multi-resolution modeling framework incorporates a formal scenario approach to analyze the impacts of plausible (albeit uncertain) alternative futures to support adaptive management of water resources systems. Some of the major challenges involved in, and lessons learned from, this effort will be discussed.

Promises and Challenges of Thorium Implementation for Transuranic Transmutation - 13550

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

Franceschini, F.; Lahoda, E.; Wenner, M.

2013-07-01

This paper focuses on the challenges of implementing a thorium fuel cycle for recycle and transmutation of long-lived actinide components from used nuclear fuel. A multi-stage reactor system is proposed; the first stage consists of current UO{sub 2} once-through LWRs supplying transuranic isotopes that are continuously recycled and burned in second stage reactors in either a uranium (U) or thorium (Th) carrier. The second stage reactors considered for the analysis are Reduced Moderation Pressurized Water Reactors (RMPWRs), reconfigured from current PWR core designs, and Fast Reactors (FRs) with a burner core design. While both RMPWRs and FRs can in principlemore » be employed, each reactor and associated technology has pros and cons. FRs have unmatched flexibility and transmutation efficiency. RMPWRs have higher fuel manufacturing and reprocessing requirements, but may represent a cheaper solution and the opportunity for a shorter time to licensing and deployment. All options require substantial developments in manufacturing, due to the high radiation field, and reprocessing, due to the very high actinide recovery ratio to elicit the claimed radiotoxicity reduction. Th reduces the number of transmutation reactors, and is required to enable a viable RMPWR design, but presents additional challenges on manufacturing and reprocessing. The tradeoff between the various options does not make the choice obvious. Moreover, without an overarching supporting policy in place, the costly and challenging technologies required inherently discourage industrialization of any transmutation scheme, regardless of the adoption of U or Th. (authors)« less

Newspaper archives + text mining = rich sources of historical geo-spatial data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yzaguirre, A.; Smit, M.; Warren, R.

2016-04-01

Newspaper archives are rich sources of cultural, social, and historical information. These archives, even when digitized, are typically unstructured and organized by date rather than by subject or location, and require substantial manual effort to analyze. The effort of journalists to be accurate and precise means that there is often rich geo-spatial data embedded in the text, alongside text describing events that editors considered to be of sufficient importance to the region or the world to merit column inches. A regional newspaper can add over 100,000 articles to its database each year, and extracting information from this data for even a single country would pose a substantial Big Data challenge. In this paper, we describe a pilot study on the construction of a database of historical flood events (location(s), date, cause, magnitude) to be used in flood assessment projects, for example to calibrate models, estimate frequency, establish high water marks, or plan for future events in contexts ranging from urban planning to climate change adaptation. We then present a vision for extracting and using the rich geospatial data available in unstructured text archives, and suggest future avenues of research.

Auditory Environment Across the Life Span of Cochlear Implant Users: Insights From Data Logging.

PubMed

Busch, Tobias; Vanpoucke, Filiep; van Wieringen, Astrid

2017-05-24

We describe the natural auditory environment of people with cochlear implants (CIs), how it changes across the life span, and how it varies between individuals. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Cochlear Nucleus 6 CI sound-processor data logs. The logs were obtained from 1,501 people with CIs (ages 0-96 years). They covered over 2.4 million hr of implant use and indicated how much time the CI users had spent in various acoustical environments. We investigated exposure to spoken language, noise, music, and quiet, and analyzed variation between age groups, users, and countries. CI users spent a substantial part of their daily life in noisy environments. As a consequence, most speech was presented in background noise. We found significant differences between age groups for all auditory scenes. Yet even within the same age group and country, variability between individuals was substantial. Regardless of their age, people with CIs face challenging acoustical environments in their daily life. Our results underline the importance of supporting them with assistive listening technology. Moreover, we found large differences between individuals' auditory diets that might contribute to differences in rehabilitation outcomes. Their causes and effects should be investigated further.

Applications of superconducting bolometers in security imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luukanen, A.; Leivo, M. M.; Rautiainen, A.; Grönholm, M.; Toivanen, H.; Grönberg, L.; Helistö, P.; Mäyrä, A.; Aikio, M.; Grossman, E. N.

2012-12-01

Millimeter-wave (MMW) imaging systems are currently undergoing deployment World-wide for airport security screening applications. Security screening through MMW imaging is facilitated by the relatively good transmission of these wavelengths through common clothing materials. Given the long wavelength of operation (frequencies between 20 GHz to ~ 100 GHz, corresponding to wavelengths between 1.5 cm and 3 mm), existing systems are suited for close-range imaging only due to substantial diffraction effects associated with practical aperture diameters. The present and arising security challenges call for systems that are capable of imaging concealed threat items at stand-off ranges beyond 5 meters at near video frame rates, requiring substantial increase in operating frequency in order to achieve useful spatial resolution. The construction of such imaging systems operating at several hundred GHz has been hindered by the lack of submm-wave low-noise amplifiers. In this paper we summarize our efforts in developing a submm-wave video camera which utilizes cryogenic antenna-coupled microbolometers as detectors. Whilst superconducting detectors impose the use of a cryogenic system, we argue that the resulting back-end complexity increase is a favorable trade-off compared to complex and expensive room temperature submm-wave LNAs both in performance and system cost.

Confronting the Pedagogical Challenge of Cyber Safety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanewald, Ria

2008-01-01

Cyber violence and the antidote of cyber safety are fast becoming a global concern for governments, educational authorities, teachers, parents and children alike. Despite substantial funding for information dissemination on preventative strategies and the development of electronic responses to hinder perpetrators, the phenomenon of cyber violence…

Sorting Out the Ethics of Propaganda.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cunningham, Stanley B.

1992-01-01

Adduces a number of considerations that challenge the neutralist thesis of propaganda and which, at the same time, serve to substantiate the belief that propaganda is something wrong. Argues that a theory of propaganda, adequately considered, can and should include a broad ethical determination of propaganda. (NH)

Coast Guard : challenges for addressing budget constraints : report to congressional requesters

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-05-01

Deficit reduction efforts will create substantial pressure on the Coast : Guards budget. By fiscal year 2002, the Coast Guard is projected to have a : gap of as much as a $493 million between OMBs budget target and the : estimated cost of maint...

Climate change: a call for adaptation and mitigation strategies

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Projected climate change is expected to substantially affect crop and livestock production, and water availability and quality. Concomitantly, the agricultural community is faced with a challenge of increasing food production by more than 70% to meet demand from global population increase by the mid...

Michigan School Privatization Survey 2013

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hohman, James M.; Fryzelka, Evan E.

2014-01-01

Many of Michigan's public school districts are under substantial fiscal pressures from a combination of declining enrollment and increasing costs, particularly related to employee benefits, but most districts are responding to these challenges. One of the ways that districts can stretch their resources further is through competitive contracting…

Community-based telemonitoring for hypertension management: practical challenges and potential solutions.

PubMed

Hovey, Lauren; Kaylor, Mary Beth; Alwan, Majd; Resnick, Helaine E

2011-10-01

Older adults residing in rural areas often lack convenient, patient-centered, community-based approaches to facilitate receipt of routine care to manage common chronic conditions. Without adequate access to appropriate disease management resources, the risk of seniors' experiencing acute events related to these common conditions increases substantially. Further, poorly managed chronic conditions are costly and place seniors at increased risk of institutionalization and permanent loss of independence. Novel, telehealth-based approaches to management of common chronic conditions like hypertension may not only improve the health of older adults, but may also lead to substantial cost savings associated with acute care episodes and institutionalization. The aim of this report is to summarize practical considerations related to operations and logistics of a unique community-based telemonitoring pilot study targeting rural seniors who utilize community-based senior centers. This article reviews the technological challenges encountered during the study and proposes solutions relevant to future research and implementation of telehealth in community-based, congregate settings.

[Cause-of-death statistics and ICD, quo vadis?

PubMed

Eckert, Olaf; Vogel, Ulrich

2018-07-01

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is the worldwide binding standard for generating underlying cause-of-death statistics. What are the effects of former revisions of the ICD on underlying cause-of-death statistics and which opportunities and challenges are becoming apparent in a possible transition process from ICD-10 to ICD-11?This article presents the calculation of the exploitation grade of ICD-9 and ICD-10 in the German cause-of-death statistics and quality of documentation. Approximately 67,000 anonymized German death certificates are processed by Iris/MUSE and official German cause-of-death statistics are analyzed.In addition to substantial changes in the exploitation grade in the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, regional effects become visible. The rate of so-called "ill-defined" conditions exceeds 10%.Despite substantial improvement of ICD revisions there are long-known deficits in the coroner's inquest, filling death certificates and quality of coding. To make better use of the ICD as a methodological framework for mortality statistics and health reporting in Germany, the following measures are necessary: 1. General use of Iris/MUSE, 2. Establishing multiple underlying cause-of-death statistics, 3. Introduction of an electronic death certificate, 4. Improvement of the medical assessment of cause of death.Within short time the WHO will release the 11th revision of the ICD that will provide additional opportunities for the development of underlying cause-of-death statistics and their use in science, public health and politics. A coordinated effort including participants in the process and users is necessary to meet the related challenges.

Rotation-Induced Macromolecular Spooling of DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shendruk, Tyler N.; Sean, David; Berard, Daniel J.; Wolf, Julian; Dragoman, Justin; Battat, Sophie; Slater, Gary W.; Leslie, Sabrina R.

2017-07-01

Genetic information is stored in a linear sequence of base pairs; however, thermal fluctuations and complex DNA conformations such as folds and loops make it challenging to order genomic material for in vitro analysis. In this work, we discover that rotation-induced macromolecular spooling of DNA around a rotating microwire can monotonically order genomic bases, overcoming this challenge. We use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to directly visualize long DNA strands deforming and elongating in shear flow near a rotating microwire, in agreement with numerical simulations. While untethered DNA is observed to elongate substantially, in agreement with our theory and numerical simulations, strong extension of DNA becomes possible by introducing tethering. For the case of tethered polymers, we show that increasing the rotation rate can deterministically spool a substantial portion of the chain into a fully stretched, single-file conformation. When applied to DNA, the fraction of genetic information sequentially ordered on the microwire surface will increase with the contour length, despite the increased entropy. This ability to handle long strands of DNA is in contrast to modern DNA sample preparation technologies for sequencing and mapping, which are typically restricted to comparatively short strands, resulting in challenges in reconstructing the genome. Thus, in addition to discovering new rotation-induced macromolecular dynamics, this work inspires new approaches to handling genomic-length DNA strands.

Ecosystem consequences of changing inputs of terrestrial dissolved organic matter to lakes: current knowledge and future challenges

USGS Publications Warehouse

Solomon, Christopher T.; Jones, Stuart E.; Weidel, Brian C.; Buffam, Ishi; Fork, Megan L; Karlsson, Jan; Larsen, Soren; Lennon, Jay T.; Read, Jordan S.; Sadro, Steven; Saros, Jasmine E.

2015-01-01

Lake ecosystems and the services that they provide to people are profoundly influenced by dissolved organic matter derived from terrestrial plant tissues. These terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) inputs to lakes have changed substantially in recent decades, and will likely continue to change. In this paper, we first briefly review the substantial literature describing tDOM effects on lakes and ongoing changes in tDOM inputs. We then identify and provide examples of four major challenges which limit predictions about the implications of tDOM change for lakes, as follows: First, it is currently difficult to forecast future tDOM inputs for particular lakes or lake regions. Second, tDOM influences ecosystems via complex, interacting, physical-chemical-biological effects and our holistic understanding of those effects is still rudimentary. Third, non-linearities and thresholds in relationships between tDOM inputs and ecosystem processes have not been well described. Fourth, much understanding of tDOM effects is built on comparative studies across space that may not capture likely responses through time. We conclude by identifying research approaches that may be important for overcoming those challenges in order to provide policy- and management-relevant predictions about the implications of changing tDOM inputs for lakes.

The challenges of big data.

PubMed

Mardis, Elaine R

2016-05-01

The largely untapped potential of big data analytics is a feeding frenzy that has been fueled by the production of many next-generation-sequencing-based data sets that are seeking to answer long-held questions about the biology of human diseases. Although these approaches are likely to be a powerful means of revealing new biological insights, there are a number of substantial challenges that currently hamper efforts to harness the power of big data. This Editorial outlines several such challenges as a means of illustrating that the path to big data revelations is paved with perils that the scientific community must overcome to pursue this important quest. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

The impacts of the rise of Paragraph IV challenges on startup alliance formation and firm value in the pharmaceutical industry.

PubMed

Filson, Darren; Oweis, Ahmed

2010-07-01

Court decisions in 1998 encouraged generic producers to pursue Paragraph IV patent challenges. A follow-up decision in 2000 marked the first successful challenge involving a blockbuster and brought further attention to this pathway for generic entry. We consider the impacts of these decisions on R&D-based startups, and we focus on the propensity to form alliances as a primary channel of impact. We find substantial negative impacts on alliance formation and firm value, and only the first event's impacts are restricted to small molecules. The results suggest that policy analyses in settings with R&D-based startups should consider impacts on alliance formation.

Persistence Factors Associated with First-Year Engineering Technology Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christe, Barbara

2015-01-01

Engineering technology learners are understudied group that comprise the "T" of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Attrition from engineering technology majors is a profound and complex challenge, as substantially less than half of students who begin an engineering technology major persist through the…

Positive Peer Culture with German Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steinebach, Christoph; Steinebach, Ursula

2009-01-01

Children and youth develop the ability to surmount difficult life challenges through a combination of external supports and internal strengths. Positive peers can contribute substantially to growth in resilient coping and problem-solving skills. Positive Peer Culture (PPC) programs are designed to strengthen supportive social bonds, competence,…

Application of Hands-On Simulation Games to Improve Classroom Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamzeh, Farook; Theokaris, Christina; Rouhana, Carel; Abbas, Yara

2017-01-01

While many construction companies claim substantial productivity and profit gains when applying lean construction principles, it remains a challenge to teach these principles in a classroom. Lean construction emphasises collaborative processes and integrated delivery practices. Consequently, new teaching methods that nurture such values should…

Charter Authorizers Face Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gustafson, Joey

2013-01-01

Since the first charter school opened 20 years ago in Minnesota, charters have been a focus of school reform advocates and the subject of substantial research. Yet the regulators of the charter industry (called "authorizers" or "sponsors") remain a mystery to many. In fact, many authorizers work in isolation, developing their…

Achieving Quality Integrated Education--with or without Federal Help.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawley, Willis D.

1983-01-01

Considers the kinds of changes occurring in desegregated schools and suggests several strategies for meeting the challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities offered for improving education and racial relations. Proposes policies that the federal government can use to encourage desegregation without substantial expenditure or assertive…

Inheritance of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss spleen size and correlation with bacterial cold water disease resistance

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Infectious disease causes substantial loss in aquaculture and selective breeding for increased innate resistance offers an attractive strategy for controlling disease. In 2005, the NCCCWA implemented a selective breeding program to increase rainbow trout survival following challenge with Flavobacte...

Hotspots of inefficiency: Mapping the difference between crop production and food calorie delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassidy, E. S.; Foley, J. A.

2012-12-01

Meeting growing demands for food calories will be a substantial challenge. One place to search for solutions is in how we allocate the world's crops, and finding ways to feed more people with current crop production. Currently, a substantial proportion of crop calories are used as animal feed, and only a small fraction of those feed calories ultimately contribute to human diets. Countries like the United States and China, which together produce over a third of the world's meat, eggs and dairy, lose a substantial portion of calories and protein to the feed-to-animal conversion process. This study looks at global croplands that have a large difference between calories grown, and the food calories available for consumption. These hotspots have the potential to feed more people, while reducing environmental impacts of agriculture.;

Functional communication training to reduce challenging behavior: maintenance and application in new settings.

PubMed Central

Durand, V M; Carr, E G

1991-01-01

We evaluated the initial effectiveness, maintenance, and transferability of the results of functional communication training as an intervention for the challenging behaviors exhibited by 3 students. Assessment indicated that escape from academic demands was involved in the maintenance of the challenging behaviors. Social attention was also implicated as controlling the behavior of 1 student. The intervention involved teaching alternative assistance-seeking and attention-getting phrases to the students in an effort to replace challenging behavior with these verbal equivalents. Multiple baseline data collected across the 3 students indicated that not only did the intervention substantially reduce challenging behavior but also that these results transferred across new tasks, environments, and teachers, and were generally maintained from 18 to 24 months following the introduction of functional communication training. These results are discussed in light of recent efforts to develop effective interventions for severe challenging behavior and to understand the processes underlying transfer and maintenance of intervention effects. PMID:1890046

Cultural Challenges Faced by American Mission Control Personnel Working with International Partners

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clement, J. L.; Ritsher, J. B.

2006-01-01

Operating the International Space Station (ISS) involves an indefinite, continuous series of long-duration international missions, and this requires an unprecedented degree of cooperation across multiple sites, organizations, and nations. Both junior and senior mission control personnel have had to find ways to address the cultural challenges inherent in such work, but neither have had systematic training in how to do so. The goals of this study were to identify and evaluate the major cultural challenges faced by ISS mission control personnel and to highlight the approaches that they have found most effective to surmount these challenges. We pay particular attention to the approaches successfully employed by the senior personnel and the training needs identified by the junior personnel. We also evaluate the extent to which the identified approaches and needs are consistent across the two samples. METHODS: Participants included a sample of 14 senior ISS flight controllers and a contrasting sample of 12 more junior controllers. All participants were mission operations specialists chosen on the basis of having worked extensively with international partners. Data were collected using a semi-structured qualitative interview and content analyzed using an iterative process with multiple coders and consensus meetings to resolve discrepancies. RESULTS: The senior respondents had substantial consensus on several cultural challenges and on key strategies for dealing with them, and they offered a wide range of specific tactics for implementing these strategies. Data from the junior respondents will be presented for the first time at the meeting. DISCUSSION: Although specific to American ISS personnel, our results are consistent with recent management, cultural, and aerospace research on other populations. We aim to use our results to improve training for current and future mission control personnel working in international or multicultural mission operations teams.

Measurement of allergen-specific IgG in serum is of limited value for the management of dogs diagnosed with cutaneous adverse food reactions.

PubMed

Hagen-Plantinga, E A; Leistra, M H G; Sinke, J D; Vroom, M W; Savelkoul, H F J; Hendriks, W H

2017-02-01

Conflicting results have been reported in the literature in terms of the usefulness of serological testing for IgG against food allergens in dogs with cutaneous adverse food reaction (CAFR). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of a commercially available IgG ELISA for identifying food allergens in dogs, by challenging dogs with specific food ingredients, selected on the basis of IgG reactivity in serum samples. A total of 24 adult dogs with CAFR were enrolled into the study and 16 healthy dogs were included as a control group. Blood samples were obtained for measurement of specific IgG antibodies against 39 commonly used pet food ingredients by ELISA. Participating owners were surveyed to obtain information on their pet's dietary history. Eleven healthy control dogs and 12 dogs with CAFR were subsequently challenged in a blinded cross-over design experiment with both positive and negative food ingredients, selected on the basis of the ELISA test results. There was substantial individual variation in ELISA test results to the various food allergens, but no significant difference in IgG reactivity comparing the CAFR and control groups. None of the control dogs developed any clinical signs of an allergic reaction during the dietary challenge study. In the CAFR group, six of 12 dogs developed clinical signs after the negative challenge, and two of nine dogs developed clinical signs after the positive challenge. It was concluded that the ELISA test for dietary allergen-specific IgG is of limited value in the management of dogs with CAFR. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of virulence factors and expression of specific genes between uropathogenic Escherichia coli and avian pathogenic E. coli in a murine urinary tract infection model and a chicken challenge model.

PubMed

Zhao, Lixiang; Gao, Song; Huan, Haixia; Xu, Xiaojing; Zhu, Xiaoping; Yang, Weixia; Gao, Qingqing; Liu, Xiufan

2009-05-01

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) establish infections in extraintestinal habitats of different hosts. As the diversity, epidemiological sources and evolutionary origins of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) are so far only partially defined, in the present study,100 APEC isolates and 202 UPEC isolates were compared by their content of virulence genes and phylogenetic groups. The two groups showed substantial overlap in terms of their serogroups, phylogenetic groups and virulence genotypes, including their possession of certain genes associated with large transmissible plasmids of APEC. In a chicken challenge model, both UPEC U17 and APEC E058 had similar LD(50), demonstrating that UPEC U17 had the potential to cause significant disease in poultry. To gain further information about the similarities between UPEC and APEC, the in vivo expression of 152 specific genes of UPEC U17 and APEC E058 in both a murine urinary tract infection (UTI) model and a chicken challenge model was compared with that of these strains grown statically to exponential phase in rich medium. It was found that in the same model (murine UTI or chicken challenge), various genes of UPEC U17 and APEC E058 showed a similar tendency of expression. Several iron-related genes were upregulated in the UTI model and/or chicken challenge model, indicating that iron acquisition is important for E. coli to survive in blood or the urinary tract. Based on these results, the potential for APEC to act as human UPEC or as a reservoir of virulence genes for UPEC should be considered. Further, this study compared the transcriptional profile of virulence genes among APEC and UPEC in vivo.

Reconstruction of fire regimes through integrated paleoecological proxy data and ecological modeling.

PubMed

Iglesias, Virginia; Yospin, Gabriel I; Whitlock, Cathy

2014-01-01

Fire is a key ecological process affecting vegetation dynamics and land cover. The characteristic frequency, size, and intensity of fire are driven by interactions between top-down climate-driven and bottom-up fuel-related processes. Disentangling climatic from non-climatic drivers of past fire regimes is a grand challenge in Earth systems science, and a topic where both paleoecology and ecological modeling have made substantial contributions. In this manuscript, we (1) review the use of sedimentary charcoal as a fire proxy and the methods used in charcoal-based fire history reconstructions; (2) identify existing techniques for paleoecological modeling; and (3) evaluate opportunities for coupling of paleoecological and ecological modeling approaches to better understand the causes and consequences of past, present, and future fire activity.

In search of lonely top quarks at the Fermilab Tevatron

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

Bowen, Matthew T.; Ellis, Stephen D.; Strassler, Matthew J.

2005-10-01

Single top-quark production, via weak-interaction processes, is an important test of the standard model, potentially sensitive to new physics. However, it is becoming known that this measurement is much more challenging at the Tevatron than originally expected. We reexamine this process and suggest new methods, using shape variables, that can supplement the methods that have been discussed previously. In particular, by focusing on correlations and asymmetries, we can reduce backgrounds substantially without low acceptance for the signal. Our method also allows for a self-consistency check on the modeling of the backgrounds. However, at the present time, serious systematic problems remain,more » especially concerning the background from W-plus-jets; these must be studied further by experimentalists and theorists alike.« less

Moving image analysis to the cloud: A case study with a genome-scale tomographic study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mader, Kevin; Stampanoni, Marco

2016-01-01

Over the last decade, the time required to measure a terabyte of microscopic imaging data has gone from years to minutes. This shift has moved many of the challenges away from experimental design and measurement to scalable storage, organization, and analysis. As many scientists and scientific institutions lack training and competencies in these areas, major bottlenecks have arisen and led to substantial delays and gaps between measurement, understanding, and dissemination. We present in this paper a framework for analyzing large 3D datasets using cloud-based computational and storage resources. We demonstrate its applicability by showing the setup and costs associated with the analysis of a genome-scale study of bone microstructure. We then evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages associated with local versus cloud infrastructures.

Measurements and TCAD simulation of novel ATLAS planar pixel detector structures for the HL-LHC upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nellist, C.; Dinu, N.; Gkougkousis, E.; Lounis, A.

2015-06-01

The LHC accelerator complex will be upgraded between 2020-2022, to the High-Luminosity-LHC, to considerably increase statistics for the various physics analyses. To operate under these challenging new conditions, and maintain excellent performance in track reconstruction and vertex location, the ATLAS pixel detector must be substantially upgraded and a full replacement is expected. Processing techniques for novel pixel designs are optimised through characterisation of test structures in a clean room and also through simulations with Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD). A method to study non-perpendicular tracks through a pixel device is discussed. Comparison of TCAD simulations with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) measurements to investigate the doping profile of structures and validate the simulation process is also presented.

Molecular Force Spectroscopy on Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Baoyu; Chen, Wei; Zhu, Cheng

2015-04-01

Molecular force spectroscopy has become a powerful tool to study how mechanics regulates biology, especially the mechanical regulation of molecular interactions and its impact on cellular functions. This force-driven methodology has uncovered a wealth of new information of the physical chemistry of molecular bonds for various biological systems. The new concepts, qualitative and quantitative measures describing bond behavior under force, and structural bases underlying these phenomena have substantially advanced our fundamental understanding of the inner workings of biological systems from the nanoscale (molecule) to the microscale (cell), elucidated basic molecular mechanisms of a wide range of important biological processes, and provided opportunities for engineering applications. Here, we review major force spectroscopic assays, conceptual developments of mechanically regulated kinetics of molecular interactions, and their biological relevance. We also present current challenges and highlight future directions.

Metrics for Evaluating the Accuracy of Solar Power Forecasting: Preprint

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

Zhang, J.; Hodge, B. M.; Florita, A.

2013-10-01

Forecasting solar energy generation is a challenging task due to the variety of solar power systems and weather regimes encountered. Forecast inaccuracies can result in substantial economic losses and power system reliability issues. This paper presents a suite of generally applicable and value-based metrics for solar forecasting for a comprehensive set of scenarios (i.e., different time horizons, geographic locations, applications, etc.). In addition, a comprehensive framework is developed to analyze the sensitivity of the proposed metrics to three types of solar forecasting improvements using a design of experiments methodology, in conjunction with response surface and sensitivity analysis methods. The resultsmore » show that the developed metrics can efficiently evaluate the quality of solar forecasts, and assess the economic and reliability impact of improved solar forecasting.« less

Impact of a chromosome X STR Decaplex in deficiency paternity cases.

PubMed

Trindade-Filho, Aluisio; Ferreira, Samuel; Oliveira, Silviene F

2013-12-01

Deficiency paternity cases, characterized by the absence of the alleged father, are a challenge for forensic genetics. Here we present four cases with a female child and a deceased alleged father in which the analysis of a set of 21 or 22 autosomal STRs (AS STRs) produced results within a range of doubt when genotyping relatives of the alleged father. Aiming to increase the Paternity Index (PI) and obtain more reliable results, a set of 10 X-linked STR markers, developed by the Spanish and Portuguese Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG), was then added. Statistical analysis substantially shifted the results towards the alleged fatherhood in all four cases, with more dramatic changes when the supposed half-sister and respective mother were the relatives tested.

Impact of a chromosome X STR Decaplex in deficiency paternity cases

PubMed Central

Trindade-Filho, Aluisio; Ferreira, Samuel; Oliveira, Silviene F.

2013-01-01

Deficiency paternity cases, characterized by the absence of the alleged father, are a challenge for forensic genetics. Here we present four cases with a female child and a deceased alleged father in which the analysis of a set of 21 or 22 autosomal STRs (AS STRs) produced results within a range of doubt when genotyping relatives of the alleged father. Aiming to increase the Paternity Index (PI) and obtain more reliable results, a set of 10 X-linked STR markers, developed by the Spanish and Portuguese Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG), was then added. Statistical analysis substantially shifted the results towards the alleged fatherhood in all four cases, with more dramatic changes when the supposed half-sister and respective mother were the relatives tested. PMID:24385853

Longitudinal strain bull's eye plot patterns in patients with cardiomyopathy and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy.

PubMed

Liu, Dan; Hu, Kai; Nordbeck, Peter; Ertl, Georg; Störk, Stefan; Weidemann, Frank

2016-05-10

Despite substantial advances in the imaging techniques and pathophysiological understanding over the last decades, identification of the underlying causes of left ventricular hypertrophy by means of echocardiographic examination remains a challenge in current clinical practice. The longitudinal strain bull's eye plot derived from 2D speckle tracking imaging offers an intuitive visual overview of the global and regional left ventricular myocardial function in a single diagram. The bull's eye mapping is clinically feasible and the plot patterns could provide clues to the etiology of cardiomyopathies. The present review summarizes the longitudinal strain, bull's eye plot features in patients with various cardiomyopathies and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and the bull's eye plot features might serve as one of the cardiac workup steps on evaluating patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Do Open Source LMSs Support Personalization? A Comparative Evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerkiri, Tania; Paleologou, Angela-Maria

A number of parameters that support the LMSs capabilities towards content personalization are presented and substantiated. These parameters constitute critical criteria for an exhaustive investigation of the personalization capabilities of the most popular open source LMSs. Results are comparatively shown and commented upon, thus highlighting a course of conduct for the implementation of new personalization methodologies for these LMSs, aligned at their existing infrastructure, to maintain support of the numerous educational institutions entrusting major part of their curricula to them. Meanwhile, new capabilities arise as drawn from a more efficient description of the existing resources -especially when organized into widely available repositories- that lead to qualitatively advanced learner-oriented courses which would ideally meet the challenge of combining personification of demand and personalization of thematic content at once.

How to manage Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

PubMed Central

Buske, C; Leblond, V

2013-01-01

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is very distinct from other indolent lymphoma subtypes: by definition it is accompanied by a monoclonal IgM gammopathy; it presents always with bone marrow infiltration and often with clinical symptoms such as neuropathy or hyperviscosity. These disease characteristics and the frequently advanced age of the WM patient pose a major challenge to the treating clinician even today. Recently, there has been not only substantial progress in our understanding of the biology of WM, but we have also significantly improved our tools to prognostify and to treat patients with this disease. This review summarizes our current knowledge about WM and aims at offering a guideline for the clinical management of patients with this lymphoma subtype, covering questions on how to manage diagnosis, prognostification and treatment based on the most recent data. PMID:23385376

Reconstruction of fire regimes through integrated paleoecological proxy data and ecological modeling

PubMed Central

Iglesias, Virginia; Yospin, Gabriel I.; Whitlock, Cathy

2015-01-01

Fire is a key ecological process affecting vegetation dynamics and land cover. The characteristic frequency, size, and intensity of fire are driven by interactions between top-down climate-driven and bottom-up fuel-related processes. Disentangling climatic from non-climatic drivers of past fire regimes is a grand challenge in Earth systems science, and a topic where both paleoecology and ecological modeling have made substantial contributions. In this manuscript, we (1) review the use of sedimentary charcoal as a fire proxy and the methods used in charcoal-based fire history reconstructions; (2) identify existing techniques for paleoecological modeling; and (3) evaluate opportunities for coupling of paleoecological and ecological modeling approaches to better understand the causes and consequences of past, present, and future fire activity. PMID:25657652

Treatment of Crohn's disease in pregnant women: drug and multidisciplinary approaches.

PubMed

Cury, Didia Bismara; Moss, Alan C

2014-07-21

Inflammatory bowel disease affects a substantial number of women in their reproductive years. Pregnancy presents a number of challenges for clinicians and patients; the health of the baby needs to be balanced with the need to maintain remission in the mother. Historically, treatments for Crohn's disease (CD) were often discontinued during the pregnancy, or nursing period, due to concerns about teratogenicity. Fortunately, observational data has reported the relative safety of many agents used to treat CD, including 5-aminosalicylic acid, thiopurines, and tumor necrosis factor. Data on the long-term development outcomes of children exposed to these therapies in utero are still limited. It is most important that physicians educate the patient regarding the optimal time to conceive, discuss the possible risks, and together decide on the best management strategy.

[THE ACTUAL APPROACHES TO PROBLEM OF IMPORT SUBSTITUTION IN TH FIELD OF PRODUCTION GROWTH MEDIUM].

PubMed

Shepelin, A P; Domotenko, L V; Diatlov, I A; Mironov, A Yu; Aleshkin, V A

2015-06-01

The import substitution becomes one of strategic tasks of Russian economy as a result of imposition of economic sanctions on part of the USA, EU countries, Japan and number of other states. The development of structure and technology of production of national import substituted growth mediums permits satisfying needs of laboratory service of Russia inactive storage and to secure appropriate response to occurring challenges and new biological menaces and support bio-security of state at proper level. The presented data concerning substantiation of nomenclature of growth mediums and transport system permit satisfying in fullness the needs of clinical and sanitary microbiology in growth mediums of national production and to give up of import deliveries without decreasing of quality of microbiological studies.

Evaluating the Upset Protrusion Joining (UPJ) Method to Join magnesium Castings to Dissimilar Metals

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

Logan, Stephen D.

2015-08-19

This presentation discusses advantages and best practices for incorporating magnesium in automotive component applications to achieve substantial mass reduction, as well as some of the key challenges with respect to joining, coating, and galvanic corrosion, before providing an introduction and status update of the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense jointly sponsored Upset Protrusion Joining (UPJ) process development and evaluation project. This update includes sharing performance results of a benchmark evaluation of the self-pierce riveting (SPR) process for joining dissimilar magnesium (Mg) to aluminum (Al) materials in four unique coating configurations before introducing the UPJ concept and comparingmore » performance results of the joints made with the UPJ process to those made with the SPR process.« less

The relationship between visual attention and visual working memory encoding: A dissociation between covert and overt orienting.

PubMed

Tas, A Caglar; Luck, Steven J; Hollingworth, Andrew

2016-08-01

There is substantial debate over whether visual working memory (VWM) and visual attention constitute a single system for the selection of task-relevant perceptual information or whether they are distinct systems that can be dissociated when their representational demands diverge. In the present study, we focused on the relationship between visual attention and the encoding of objects into VWM. Participants performed a color change-detection task. During the retention interval, a secondary object, irrelevant to the memory task, was presented. Participants were instructed either to execute an overt shift of gaze to this object (Experiments 1-3) or to attend it covertly (Experiments 4 and 5). Our goal was to determine whether these overt and covert shifts of attention disrupted the information held in VWM. We hypothesized that saccades, which typically introduce a memorial demand to bridge perceptual disruption, would lead to automatic encoding of the secondary object. However, purely covert shifts of attention, which introduce no such demand, would not result in automatic memory encoding. The results supported these predictions. Saccades to the secondary object produced substantial interference with VWM performance, but covert shifts of attention to this object produced no interference with VWM performance. These results challenge prevailing theories that consider attention and VWM to reflect a common mechanism. In addition, they indicate that the relationship between attention and VWM is dependent on the memorial demands of the orienting behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

The Relationship between Visual Attention and Visual Working Memory Encoding: A Dissociation between Covert and Overt Orienting

PubMed Central

Tas, A. Caglar; Luck, Steven J.; Hollingworth, Andrew

2016-01-01

There is substantial debate over whether visual working memory (VWM) and visual attention constitute a single system for the selection of task-relevant perceptual information or whether they are distinct systems that can be dissociated when their representational demands diverge. In the present study, we focused on the relationship between visual attention and the encoding of objects into visual working memory (VWM). Participants performed a color change-detection task. During the retention interval, a secondary object, irrelevant to the memory task, was presented. Participants were instructed either to execute an overt shift of gaze to this object (Experiments 1–3) or to attend it covertly (Experiments 4 and 5). Our goal was to determine whether these overt and covert shifts of attention disrupted the information held in VWM. We hypothesized that saccades, which typically introduce a memorial demand to bridge perceptual disruption, would lead to automatic encoding of the secondary object. However, purely covert shifts of attention, which introduce no such demand, would not result in automatic memory encoding. The results supported these predictions. Saccades to the secondary object produced substantial interference with VWM performance, but covert shifts of attention to this object produced no interference with VWM performance. These results challenge prevailing theories that consider attention and VWM to reflect a common mechanism. In addition, they indicate that the relationship between attention and VWM is dependent on the memorial demands of the orienting behavior. PMID:26854532

Headaches caused by decreased intracranial pressure: diagnosis and management.

PubMed

Mokri, Bahram

2003-06-01

More patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension are now being diagnosed, and it is realized that most cases result from spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks. A broader clinical and imaging spectrum of the disorder is recognized. This paper reviews new insights into the variability of clinical manifestations, imaging features, etiological factors, anatomy of leaks, and implications of these in patient management. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension should not be equated with post-lumbar puncture headaches. In a substantial minority of patients, headaches are not orthostatic and may mimic other types of headache. Additional diverse neurological manifestations may dominate the clinical picture and patients may occasionally have no headache at all. Reports on unusual presentations of the disorder continue to appear in the literature. Furthermore, additional imaging features of cerebrospinal fluid leaks are recognized. High-flow and slow-flow leaks may present diagnostic challenges, and require modification of diagnostic studies aimed at locating the site of the leak. Stigmata of connective tissue abnormality, especially abnormalities of fibrillin and elastin, are seen in a notable minority of patients, pointing to weakness of the dural sac as one of the etiological factors. After treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, surgically or by epidural blood patch, a rebound and self-limiting intracranial hypertension may sometimes develop. In the past decade, interest in spontaneous intracranial hypotension has been rekindled, with a substantial growth of knowledge on various aspects of the disorder. We are in the learning phase, and new information will probably appear in the future, with notable diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Holistic actions are essential to combat the global public health burden of non-viral sexually transmitted infections: challenges and future perspectives.

PubMed

Unemo, Magnus

2014-06-01

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant international public health burden. These infections result in substantial morbidity, mortality and economic costs globally, and require more attention and resources internationally. This special focus issue of Expert Review of Anti Infective Therapy invited key opinion leaders to review and discuss the challenges associated with the diagnosis and treatment of non-viral STIs. The issue also elucidates the future perspectives, ways forward and holistic actions imperative to effectively combat these STIs.

Suddenly Sexy: Creative Nonfiction Rear-ends Composition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bishop, Wendy

2003-01-01

Suggests that there is a real chance right now for letting the possibilities of creative nonfiction infuse, improve, and invigorate the teaching of composition. Concludes that when allowed to explore literary nonfiction, writing students will develop a substantial set of strengths from which to undertake other disciplinary writing challenges as…

Rethinking the Role of Leadership in General Education Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gano-Phillips, Susan; Barnett, Robert W.; Kelsch, Anne; Hawthorne, Joan; Mitchell, Nancy D.; Jonson, Jessica

2011-01-01

This article addresses the importance of leadership in general education reform, using three case studies. We argue that campus leadership that fosters collaboration, trust, and a sense of stewardship among constituents is more likely to be successful in the challenging task of substantially reforming general education curricula.

Isotope labeling of rubisco subunits provides in vivo information on subcellular biosynthesis and exchange of amino acids between compartments.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The architecture of plant metabolism includes substantial duplication of metabolite pools and enzyme catalyzed reactions in different subcellular compartments. This poses considerable challenges for understanding the regulation of metabolism particularly in primary metabolism and amino acid biosynth...

Vouchers and Public Policy: When Ideology Trumps Evidence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belfield, Clive; Levin, Henry M.

2005-01-01

The economic model of education policy assumes that there is a substantial consensus on educational goals among constituencies and that the major challenge is to determine the most effective strategies for reaching those goals. Unfortunately, the debate over educational vouchers is complicated by the presence of multiple and competing goals, and…

Integrative knowledge management to enhance pharmaceutical R&D.

PubMed

Marti-Solano, Maria; Birney, Ewan; Bril, Antoine; Della Pasqua, Oscar; Kitano, Hiroaki; Mons, Barend; Xenarios, Ioannis; Sanz, Ferran

2014-04-01

Information technologies already have a key role in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), but achieving substantial advances in their use and effectiveness will depend on overcoming current challenges in sharing, integrating and jointly analysing the range of data generated at different stages of the R&D process.

Teaching Sustainability/Teaching Sustainably

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartels, Kirsten Allen, Ed.; Parker, Kelly A., Ed.

2011-01-01

Over the coming decades, every academic discipline will have to respond to the paradigm of more sustainable life practices because students will be living in a world challenged by competition for resources and climate change, and will demand that every academic discipline demonstrate substantial and corresponding relevance. This book takes as its…

Integrating Couple Teamwork Conversations into Child Welfare Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christensen, Dana; Antle, Becky; Johnson, Lisa

2008-01-01

This article summarizes the importance of and challenges to addressing couple teamwork issues in the child welfare population. Although there is substantial evidence to support the importance of healthy adult relationships for child well-being and the prevention of child maltreatment, there are a number of barriers to addressing these couple…

Coping with Quality Assurance Challenges Faced by Secondary Schools' Headteachers in Gucha District, Kenya

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mobegi, Florence Osiri; Ondigi, Benjamin A.

2011-01-01

Since independence, the Kenyan government has demonstrated its commitment to the provision of quality secondary school education through allocation of financial resources, provision of trained teachers and establishment of quality assurance department. However, despite the substantial allocation of resources, secondary schools still face major…

Report: EPA Needs to Direct More Attention, Efforts, and Funding to Enhance Its Speciation Monitoring Program for Measuring Fine Particulate Matter

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #2005-P-00004, February 7, 2005. EPA has made substantial progress in establishing a speciation monitoring network, but still faces a number of challenges in ensuring that the controls are implemented at the right sources.

Use of a Behavioral Graphic Organizer to Reduce Disruptive Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniel, Sara C.; Flower, Andrea

2015-01-01

Students with challenging behavior spend substantial amounts of time away from instruction due to behavioral problems. Time away from instruction reduces their opportunities for learning, which are critical as these students typically demonstrate academic performance below their same-age peers. After removal from instruction due to behavioral…

Conservation of native Pacific trout diversity in Western North America

Treesearch

Brooke E. Penaluna; Alicia Abadía-Cardoso; Jason B. Dunham; Francisco J. García-Dé León; Robert E. Gresswell; Arturo Ruiz Luna; Eric B. Taylor; Bradley B. Shepard; Robert Al-Chokhachy; Clint C. Muhlfeld; Kevin R. Bestgen; Kevin Rogers; Marco A. Escalante; Ernest R. Keeley; Gabriel M. Temple; Jack E. Williams; Kathleen R. Matthews; Ron Pierce; Richard L. Mayden; Ryan P. Kovach; John Carlos Garza; Kurt D. Fausch

2016-01-01

Pacific trout Oncorhynchus spp. in western North America are strongly valued in ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural views, and have been the subject of substantial research and conservation efforts. Despite this, the understanding of their evolutionary histories, overall diversity, and challenges to their conservation is incomplete. We review...

Adapting Evidence-Based Interventions for Students with Developmental Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilmore, Linda; Campbell, Marilyn; Shochet, Ian

2016-01-01

Students with developmental disabilities have many challenges with learning and adaptive behaviour, as well as a higher prevalence rate of mental health problems. Although there is a substantial body of evidence for effcacious interventions for enhancing resilience and promoting mental health in typically developing children, very few programs…

Modeling wildfire incident complexity dynamics

Treesearch

Matthew P. Thompson

2013-01-01

Wildfire management in the United States and elsewhere is challenged by substantial uncertainty regarding the location and timing of fire events, the socioeconomic and ecological consequences of these events, and the costs of suppression. Escalating U.S. Forest Service suppression expenditures is of particular concern at a time of fiscal austerity as swelling fire...

Controlled laboratory challenge demonstrates substantial additive genetic variation in resistance to Streptococcus iniae in Nile tilapia

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Streptococcus iniae is an etiologic agent of streptococcal disease in tilapia and is one of several Streptococcus spp. that negatively impact worldwide tilapia production. Methods for the prevention and control of S. iniae include vaccines, management strategies, and antibiotics. An alternative and ...

Genome editing: progress and challenges for medical applications.

PubMed

Carroll, Dana

2016-11-15

The development of the CRISPR-Cas platform for genome editing has greatly simplified the process of making targeted genetic modifications. Applications of genome editing are expected to have a substantial impact on human therapies through the development of better animal models, new target discovery, and direct therapeutic intervention.

The Unrelenting Challenge of Young Black Male Unemployment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Linda

2013-01-01

Today, young black men in many low income communities are finding themselves virtually locked out of employment opportunity. The confluence of poor schooling, low education attainment, lack of early work experience or career exposure, over-zealous arrests and incarceration, and employer reluctance to hire have rendered a substantial segment of…

Experiences of Paraprofessionals in US Preschool Special Education and General Education Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Tiara Saufley; Stanton-Chapman, Tina L.

2017-01-01

A substantial challenge confronting public education systems across the world is the employment and retention of high-quality paraprofessionals (also known as teaching assistants and educational assistants). The current study expands upon previous research by employing a mixed methods design to examine the relationship between paraprofessionals'…

Improving Publication: Advice for Busy Higher Education Academics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbs, Anita

2016-01-01

A major challenge for higher education academics is to research and publish when faced with substantial teaching responsibilities, higher student numbers, and higher output expectations. The focus of this piece is to encourage publication more generally by educators, and to build publication capacity, which academic developers can facilitate. The…

Eagle Racing: Addressing Corporate Collaboration Challenges through an Online Simulation Game

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Angehrn, Albert A.; Maxwell, Katrina

2009-01-01

Effective collaboration is necessary for corporation-wide learning, knowledge exchange, and innovation. However, it is difficult to create a corporate culture that encourages collaboration; the complexity of such collaboration is increased substantially by the diverse and distributed nature of knowledge sources and decision makers in the global…

The "adaptable human" phenomenon: Implications for recreation management in high-use wilderness

Treesearch

David N. Cole; Troy E. Hall

2008-01-01

Wilderness managers must balance providing access for wilderness recreation with protecting the special experiences wilderness provides. This balancing act is particularly challenging at popular destinations close to large metropolitan areas. Such destinations provide substantial societal benefits by allowing respite from city life and immersion in natural environments...

Stress, Sleep, Grief: Are College Students Receiving Information That Interests Them?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, Meredith; Rhee, Yeong

2013-01-01

Problem: College life brings with it many challenges for students' well-being including stress, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and difficulties with relationships. However, evidence of substantial variation in organization and availability of health-focused resources on college campuses has been documented and students' interest in health-related…

Genetic variation for tolerance to terminal heat stress in Dasypyrum villosum

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Heat stress substantially reduces the grain yield and quality of wheat and poses a major challenge to sustain productivity due to global warming. Across wheat growing regions in the US and globally, wheat often experiences terminal heat stress during the post-flowering period. Dasypyrum villosum, a ...

Plasticity during Childhood and Adolescence: Innovative Approaches to Investigating Neurocognitive Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen Kadosh, Kathrin; Linden, David E. J.; Lau, Jennifer Y. F.

2013-01-01

Adolescence is a period of profound change, which holds substantial developmental milestones, but also unique challenges to the individual. In this opinion paper, we highlight the potential of combining two recently developed behavioural and neural training techniques (cognitive bias modification and functional magnetic neuroimaging-based…

Television in the 80's: New Technologies, New Challenges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alvarez, Sally

Electronic media have undergone substantial growth and change in the past two decades, and the structure of the programming industry has also changed, with the competition for programming becoming more intense. At the same time, government has moved toward deregulation in this area, with the result being increasing concentration,…

The challenges of molecular nutrition research 1- Linking genotype to healthy nutrition

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Nutrition science finds itself at a major crossroad. On one hand we can continue the current path that along several decades has resulted in substantial advances but surrounded by conflicting messages and unsubstantiated claims that have been crumbling the trust of the general population, always eag...

Canadian Support for Elementary and Secondary Education (1998-1999).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jefferson, Anne L.

Financial support of elementary and secondary education in Canada has gone from absolute local dependence to local with some government support to local with substantial government support to current total government support with restricted, if any allowed, local support. This has been challenged on constitutional grounds in two provinces, Alberta…

Affect: A Tool to Support Pedagogical Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skattebol, Jen

2010-01-01

In the early childhood education field, the way children are conceptualised has substantially shifted in recent times. Child development theory has been unsettled as the single canon of early childhood practice. This has in turn challenged constructions of educators as keepers of a universal knowledge base, and as apolitical, non-interventionist…

Responsive Meta-Evaluation: A Participatory Approach to Enhancing Evaluation Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturges, Keith M.; Howley, Caitlin

2017-01-01

In an era of ever-deepening budget cuts and a concomitant demand for substantiated programs, many organizations have elected to conduct internal program evaluations. Internal evaluations offer advantages (e.g., enhanced evaluator program knowledge and ease of data collection) but may confront important challenges, including credibility threats,…

Ghrelin receptor antagonism of morphine-induced conditioned place preference and behavioral and accumbens dopaminergic sensitization in rats.

PubMed

Jerabek, Pavel; Havlickova, Tereza; Puskina, Nina; Charalambous, Chrysostomos; Lapka, Marek; Kacer, Petr; Sustkova-Fiserova, Magdalena

2017-11-01

An increasing number of studies over the past few years have demonstrated ghrelin's role in alcohol, cocaine and nicotine abuse. However, the role of ghrelin in opioid effects has rarely been examined. Recently we substantiated in rats that ghrelin growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R1A) appear to be involved in acute opioid-induced changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system associated with the reward processing. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether a ghrelin antagonist (JMV2959) was able to inhibit morphine-induced biased conditioned place preference and challenge-morphine-induced accumbens dopaminergic sensitization and behavioral sensitization in adult male rats. In the place preference model, the rats were conditioned for 8 days with morphine (10 mg/kg s.c.). On the experimental day, JMV2959 (3 and 6 mg/kg i.p.) or saline were administered before testing. We used in vivo microdialysis to determine changes of dopamine and its metabolites in the nucleus accumbens in rats following challenge-morphine dose (5 mg/kg s.c.) with or without JMV2959 (3 and 6 mg/kg i.p.) pretreatment, administered on the 12th day of spontaneous abstinence from morphine repeated treatment (5 days, 10-40 mg/kg). Induced behavioral changes were simultaneously monitored. Pretreatment with JMV2959 significantly and dose dependently reduced the morphine-induced conditioned place preference and significantly and dose dependently reduced the challenge-morphine-induced dopaminergic sensitization and affected concentration of by-products associated with dopamine metabolism in the nucleus accumbens. JMV2959 pretreatment also significantly reduced challenge-morphine-induced behavioral sensitization. Our present data suggest that GHS-R1A antagonists deserve to be further investigated as a novel treatment strategy for opioid addiction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A multimodal parallel architecture: A cognitive framework for multimodal interactions.

PubMed

Cohn, Neil

2016-01-01

Human communication is naturally multimodal, and substantial focus has examined the semantic correspondences in speech-gesture and text-image relationships. However, visual narratives, like those in comics, provide an interesting challenge to multimodal communication because the words and/or images can guide the overall meaning, and both modalities can appear in complicated "grammatical" sequences: sentences use a syntactic structure and sequential images use a narrative structure. These dual structures create complexity beyond those typically addressed by theories of multimodality where only a single form uses combinatorial structure, and also poses challenges for models of the linguistic system that focus on single modalities. This paper outlines a broad theoretical framework for multimodal interactions by expanding on Jackendoff's (2002) parallel architecture for language. Multimodal interactions are characterized in terms of their component cognitive structures: whether a particular modality (verbal, bodily, visual) is present, whether it uses a grammatical structure (syntax, narrative), and whether it "dominates" the semantics of the overall expression. Altogether, this approach integrates multimodal interactions into an existing framework of language and cognition, and characterizes interactions between varying complexity in the verbal, bodily, and graphic domains. The resulting theoretical model presents an expanded consideration of the boundaries of the "linguistic" system and its involvement in multimodal interactions, with a framework that can benefit research on corpus analyses, experimentation, and the educational benefits of multimodality. Copyright © 2015.

The present and the future in the diagnosis and management of celiac disease

PubMed Central

Castillo, Natalia E.; Theethira, Thimmaiah G.; Leffler, Daniel A.

2015-01-01

Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy caused by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. In celiac disease, adaptive and innate immune activation results in intestinal damage and a wide range of clinical manifestations. In the past, celiac disease was thought to result in signs and symptoms solely related to the gastrointestinal tract. Now, more than half of the adult population presents with extra-intestinal manifestations that can also be expected to improve on a gluten-free diet. For this reason, it is recommended that physicians have a low threshold of suspicion for celiac disease. Current knowledge of the immune pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease has served as a catalyst for the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutics. Over the years, highly sensitive and specific serological assays, in addition to genetic markers, have been found to target specific steps in the cascade pathway of celiac disease. Also the advent of the gluten challenge has enabled experts to design diagnostic algorithms and monitor clinical responses in clinical trials. The gluten challenge has provided substantial benefit in the advance of novel therapeutics as an adjuvant treatment to the gluten free diet. Generally, a strict gluten-free diet is highly burdensome to patients and can be limited in its efficacy. Alternative therapies—including gluten modification, modulation of intestinal permeability and immune response—could be central to the future treatment of celiac disease. PMID:25326000

North-South Corridor Demonstration Project: Ethical and Logistical Challenges in the Design of a Demonstration Study of Early Antiretroviral Treatment for Long Distance Truck Drivers along a Transport Corridor through South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia

PubMed Central

Gomez, G. B.; Venter, W. D. F.; Lange, J. M. A.; Rees, H.; Hankins, C.

2013-01-01

Background. Long-distance truck drivers are at risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV and have suboptimal access to care. New HIV prevention strategies using antiretroviral drugs to reduce transmission risk (early antiretroviral therapy (ART) at CD4 count >350 cells/μL) have shown efficacy in clinical trials. Demonstration projects are needed to evaluate “real world” programme effectiveness. We present the protocol for a demonstration study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of an early ART intervention for HIV-positive truck drivers along a transport corridor across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, as part of an enhanced strategy to improve treatment adherence and retention in care. Methods and Analysis. This demonstration study would follow an observational cohort of truck drivers receiving early treatment. Our mixed methods approach includes quantitative, qualitative, and economic analyses. Key ethical and logistical issues are discussed (i.e., choice of drug regimen, recruitment of participants, and monitoring of adherence, behavioural changes, and adverse events). Conclusion. Questions specific to the design of tailored early ART programmes are amenable to operational research approaches but present substantial ethical and logistical challenges. Addressing these in demonstration projects can inform policy decisions regarding strategies to reduce health inequalities in access to HIV prevention and treatment programmes. PMID:23606977

NAS Experiences of Porting CM Fortran Codes to HPF on IBM SP2 and SGI Power Challenge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saini, Subhash

1995-01-01

Current Connection Machine (CM) Fortran codes developed for the CM-2 and the CM-5 represent an important class of parallel applications. Several users have employed CM Fortran codes in production mode on the CM-2 and the CM-5 for the last five to six years, constituting a heavy investment in terms of cost and time. With Thinking Machines Corporation's decision to withdraw from the hardware business and with the decommissioning of many CM-2 and CM-5 machines, the best way to protect the substantial investment in CM Fortran codes is to port the codes to High Performance Fortran (HPF) on highly parallel systems. HPF is very similar to CM Fortran and thus represents a natural transition. Conversion issues involved in porting CM Fortran codes on the CM-5 to HPF are presented. In particular, the differences between data distribution directives and the CM Fortran Utility Routines Library, as well as the equivalent functionality in the HPF Library are discussed. Several CM Fortran codes (Cannon algorithm for matrix-matrix multiplication, Linear solver Ax=b, 1-D convolution for 2-D datasets, Laplace's Equation solver, and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) codes have been ported to Subset HPF on the IBM SP2 and the SGI Power Challenge. Speedup ratios versus number of processors for the Linear solver and DSMC code are presented.

Lightning Impacts on Airports - Challenges of Balancing Safety & Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steiner, Matthias; Deierling, Wiebke; Nelson, Eric; Stone, Ken

2013-04-01

Thunderstorms and lightning pose a safety risk to personnel working outdoors, such as people maintaining airport grounds (e.g., mowing grass or repairing runway lighting) or servicing aircraft on ramps (handling baggage, food service, refueling, tugging and guiding aircraft from/to gates, etc.). Since lightning strikes can cause serious injuries or death, it is important to provide timely alerts to airport personnel so that they can get to safety when lightning is imminent. This presentation discusses the challenges and uncertainties involved in using lightning information and stakeholder procedures to ensure safety of outdoor personnel while keeping ramp operations as efficient as possible considering thunderstorm impacts. The findings presented are based on extensive observations of airline operators under thunderstorm impacts. These observations reveal a complex picture with substantial uncertainties related to the (1) source of lightning information (e.g., sensor type, network, data processing) used to base ramp closure decisions on, (2) uncertainties involved in the safety procedures employed by various stakeholders across the aviation industry (yielding notably different rules being applied by multiple airlines even at a single airport), and (3) human factors issues related to the use of decision support tools and the implementation of safety procedures. This research is supported by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the FAA.

Correlated Imaging – A Grand Challenge in Chemical Analysis

PubMed Central

Masyuko, Rachel; Lanni, Eric; Sweedler, Jonathan V.; Bohn, Paul W.

2013-01-01

Correlated chemical imaging is an emerging strategy for acquisition of images by combining information from multiplexed measurement platforms to track, visualize, and interpret in situ changes in the structure, organization, and activities of interesting chemical systems, frequently spanning multiple decades in space and time. Acquiring and correlating information from complementary imaging experiments has the potential to expose complex chemical behavior in ways that are simply not available from single methods applied in isolation, thereby greatly amplifying the information gathering power of imaging experiments. However, in order to correlate image information across platforms, a number of issues must be addressed. First, signals are obtained from disparate experiments with fundamentally different figures of merit, including pixel size, spatial resolution, dynamic range, and acquisition rates. In addition, images are often acquired on different instruments in different locations, so the sample must be registered spatially so that the same area of the sample landscape is addressed. The signals acquired must be correlated in both spatial and temporal domains, and the resulting information has to be presented in a way that is readily understood. These requirements pose special challenges for image cross-correlation that go well beyond those posed in single technique imaging approaches. The special opportunities and challenges that attend correlated imaging are explored by specific reference to correlated mass spectrometric and Raman imaging, a topic of substantial and growing interest. PMID:23431559

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) of Four Interventions for Adolescents with a Substance Use Disorder

PubMed Central

French, Michael T.; Zavala, Silvana K.; McCollister, Kathryn E.; Waldron, Holly B.; Turner, Charles W.; Ozechowski, Timothy J.

2008-01-01

Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among adolescents in the U.S. continues to be a serious public health challenge. A variety of outpatient treatments for adolescent substance use disorders have been developed and evaluated. Although no specific treatment modality is effective in all settings, a number of promising adolescent interventions have emerged. As policy makers try to prioritize which programs to fund with limited public resources, the need for systematic economic evaluations of these programs is critical. The present study attempted a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of four interventions, including family-based, individual, and group cognitive behavioral approaches, for adolescents with a substance use disorder. The results indicated that treatment costs varied substantially across the four interventions. Moreover, family therapy showed significantly better substance use outcome compared to group treatment at the 4-month assessment, but group treatment was similar to the other interventions for substance use outcome at the 7-month assessment and for delinquency outcome at both the 4-month and 7-month assessments. These findings over a relatively short follow-up period suggest that the least expensive intervention (group) was the most cost effective. However, this study encountered numerous data and methodological challenges in trying to supplement a completed clinical trial with an economic evaluation. These challenges are explained and recommendations are proposed to guide future economic evaluations in this area. PMID:17600651

Engaging High School Science Teachers in Field-Based Seismology Research: Opportunities and Challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, M. D.

2015-12-01

Research experiences for secondary school science teachers have been shown to improve their students' test scores, and there is a substantial body of literature about the effectiveness of RET (Research Experience for Teachers) or SWEPT (Scientific Work Experience Programs for Teachers) programs. RET programs enjoy substantial support, and several opportunities for science teachers to engage in research currently exist. However, there are barriers to teacher participation in research projects; for example, laboratory-based projects can be time consuming and require extensive training before a participant can meaningfully engage in scientific inquiry. Field-based projects can be an effective avenue for involving teachers in research; at its best, earth science field work is a fun, highly immersive experience that meaningfully contributes to scientific research projects, and can provide a payoff that is out of proportion to a relatively small time commitment. In particular, broadband seismology deployments provide an excellent opportunity to provide teachers with field-based research experience. Such deployments are labor-intensive and require large teams, with field tasks that vary from digging holes and pouring concrete to constructing and configuring electronics systems and leveling and orienting seismometers. A recently established pilot program, known as FEST (Field Experiences for Science Teachers) is experimenting with providing one week of summer field experience for high school earth science teachers in Connecticut. Here I report on results and challenges from the first year of the program, which is funded by the NSF-CAREER program and is being run in conjunction with a temporary deployment of 15 seismometers in Connecticut, known as SEISConn (Seismic Experiment for Imaging Structure beneath Connecticut). A small group of teachers participated in a week of field work in August 2015 to deploy seismometers in northern CT; this experience followed a visit of the PI to the classroom of one of the teacher participants during spring 2015 to give a series of talks on Connecticut earthquakes and geology. This presentation will focus on the challenges and opportunities of running small, PI-driven, field-based RET programs.

Detection of dim targets in multiple environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirsky, Grace M.; Woods, Matthew; Grasso, Robert J.

2013-10-01

The proliferation of a wide variety of weapons including Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA), rockets, and small arms presents a substantial threat to both military and civilian aircraft. To address this ever-present threat, Northrop Grumman has assessed unguided threat phenomenology to understand the underlying physical principles for detection. These principles, based upon threat transit through the atmosphere, exploit a simple phenomenon universal to all objects moving through an atmosphere comprised of gaseous media to detect and track the threat in the presence of background and clutter. Threat detection has rapidly become a crucial component of aircraft survivability systems that provide situational awareness to the crew. It is particularly important to platforms which may spend a majority of their time at low altitudes and within the effective range of a large variety of weapons. Detection of these threats presents a unique challenge as this class of threat typically has a dim signature coupled with a short duration. Correct identification of each of the threat components (muzzle flash and projectile) is important to determine trajectory and intent while minimizing false alarms and maintaining a high detection probability in all environments.

A comprehensive review on droplet-based bioprinting: Past, present and future.

PubMed

Gudapati, Hemanth; Dey, Madhuri; Ozbolat, Ibrahim

2016-09-01

Droplet-based bioprinting (DBB) offers greater advantages due to its simplicity and agility with precise control on deposition of biologics including cells, growth factors, genes, drugs and biomaterials, and has been a prominent technology in the bioprinting community. Due to its immense versatility, DBB technology has been adopted by various application areas, including but not limited to, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, transplantation and clinics, pharmaceutics and high-throughput screening, and cancer research. Despite the great benefits, the technology currently faces several challenges such as a narrow range of available bioink materials, bioprinting-induced cell damage at substantial levels, limited mechanical and structural integrity of bioprinted constructs, and restrictions on the size of constructs due to lack of vascularization and porosity. This paper presents a first-time review of DBB and comprehensively covers the existing DBB modalities including inkjet, electrohydrodynamic, acoustic, and micro-valve bioprinting. The recent notable studies are highlighted, the relevant bioink biomaterials and bioprinters are expounded, the application areas are presented, and the future prospects are provided to the reader. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

TaRh2B2 and NbRh2B2: Superconductors with a chiral noncentrosymmetric crystal structure.

PubMed

Carnicom, Elizabeth M; Xie, Weiwei; Klimczuk, Tomasz; Lin, Jingjing; Górnicka, Karolina; Sobczak, Zuzanna; Ong, Nai Phuan; Cava, Robert J

2018-05-01

It is a fundamental truth in solid compounds that the physical properties follow the symmetry of the crystal structure. Nowhere is the effect of symmetry more pronounced than in the electronic and magnetic properties of materials-even the projection of the bulk crystal symmetry onto different crystal faces is known to have a substantial impact on the surface electronic states. The effect of bulk crystal symmetry on the properties of superconductors is widely appreciated, although its study presents substantial challenges. The effect of a lack of a center of symmetry in a crystal structure, for example, has long been understood to necessitate that the wave function of the collective electron state that gives rise to superconductivity has to be more complex than usual. However, few nonhypothetical materials, if any, have actually been proven to display exotic superconducting properties as a result. We introduce two new superconductors that in addition to having noncentrosymmetric crystal structures also have chiral crystal structures. Because the wave function of electrons in solids is particularly sensitive to the host material's symmetry, crystal structure chirality is expected to have a substantial effect on their superconducting wave functions. Our two experimentally obtained chiral noncentrosymmetric superconducting materials have transition temperatures to superconductivity that are easily experimentally accessible, and our basic property characterization suggests that their superconducting properties may be unusual. We propose that their study may allow for a more in-depth understanding of how chirality influences the properties of superconductors and devices that incorporate them.

Forest management in Northeast China: history, problems, and challenges.

PubMed

Yu, Dapao; Zhou, Li; Zhou, Wangming; Ding, Hong; Wang, Qingwei; Wang, Yue; Wu, Xiaoqing; Dai, Limin

2011-12-01

Studies of the history and current status of forest resources in Northeast China have become important in discussions of sustainable forest management in the region. Prior to 1998, excessive logging and neglected cultivation led to a series of problems that left exploitable forest reserves in the region almost exhausted. A substantial decrease in the area of natural forests was accompanied by severe disruption of stand structure and serious degradation of overall forest quality and function. In 1998, China shifted the primary focus of forest management in the country from wood production to ecological sustainability, adopting ecological restoration and protection as key foci of management. In the process, China launched the Natural Forest Conversion Program and implemented a new system of Classification-based Forest Management. Since then, timber harvesting levels in Northeast China have decreased, and forest area and stocking levels have slowly increased. At present, the large area of low quality secondary forest lands, along with high levels of timber production, present researchers and government agencies in China with major challenges in deciding on management models and strategies that will best protect, restore and manage so large an area of secondary forest lands. This paper synthesizes information from a number of sources on forest area, stand characteristics and stocking levels, and forest policy changes in Northeastern China. Following a brief historical overview of forest harvesting and ecological research in Northeast China, the paper discusses the current state of forest resources and related problems in forest management in the region, concluding with key challenges in need of attention in order to meet the demands for multi-purpose forest sustainability and management in the future.

Japan's Methane Hydrate R&D Program, Accomplishments and Future Challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimada, T.

2009-12-01

JOGMEC have been searching for methane hydrate offshore around Japan for use as a future energy resource as a member of the research consortium of methane hydrate resources in Japan (MH21 Research Consortium). The MH21 Research Consortium was established in 2002 to carry out "Japan's Methane Hydrate R&D Program" published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in July 2001. The program has been extended over 18 years (until 2018) and is divided into three phases. During phase 1, the following key accomplishments had been achieved. Revealed and confirmed the occurrence of methane hydrate filling pore spaces of sand layers in the marine environment for the first time in the eastern Nankai Trough. Established methodology to delineate the thick methane hydrate concentrated zones composed of alternations of highly hydrate-saturated turbidite sand mainly by geophysical measures. Evaluated the amount of gas trapped in the eastern Nankai Trough, applied a probabilistic method based on the borehole data and seismic data, contained in methane hydrate-bearing layers. Tested and achieved substantial methane gas production through the wellbore from subsurface hydrate-bearing layers by dissociating hydrates in Canadian arctic area under international collaboration. Both depressurization method and hot water circulation method were successfully conducted to produce methane gas, and the depressurization method was proved to be effective as a production method that could be utilized in the future. We accumulated a significant amount of knowledge and experience during phase 1. However, many technical and economic challenges still remain for the development of methane hydrate. The research program proceeded to phase 2 in 2009. This time we would like to present summary of phase 1 and challenges during phase 2. The author would like to express sincere appreciation to MH21 Research Consortium and METI for permission for this presentation.

Stereo vision for ecohydraulic research: Seashell reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedrich, H.; Bertin, S.; Montgomery, J. C.; Thrush, S. F.; Delmas, P.

2016-12-01

3D information of underwater topographies can be obtained more easily nowadays. In general, those measurements do not provide the spatial nor temporal detail for more specific research of dynamic processes, such as sediment transport. More recently, we have seen the advance of true interdisciplinary ecohydraulics research initiatives. One important research avenue is the interaction of organisms with flow and sediment. We have used stereo vision substantially for fluvial morphology studies over the last years, and will present and discuss the use of stereo vision in ecohydraulic research. The work is undertaken in the laboratory, and we present a workflow of reconstructing seashells. We obtain shape and dimensional information, which are important to better understand the organism's interaction in the natural water environment. Although we find that stereo vision is suitable to capture our studied organisms, the challenge of studying organisms in their natural environments persists. We discuss the limitations of our approach, and the need to fuse technical and behavioural knowledge to better manage our ecosystems.

Russian alcohol policy in the making.

PubMed

Levintova, Marya

2007-01-01

This paper examines implementation of the 2005 federal alcohol control law in the Russian Federation. The documents on the Russian Federation federal legislation on the control of the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol containing products, news reports, research, and historical documents were gathered and analysed for implementation barriers. Consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially spirits, has been one the most significant public health problems in Russia for many centuries. Prior attempts to control alcohol consumption have been unsuccessful, in part due to the government's reliance on alcohol revenue, and its inability to implement creative and manageable solutions in the light of the high drinking rates. Implementation of this legislation has been a challenge in Russia because of administrative oversight, lack of organizational preparation, and corruption. The law discussed in this paper presented a window of opportunity to ameliorate the deteriorating health status and reverse the impending mortality crisis. However, a number of barriers presented substantial setbacks toward realization of this legislation.

Wine microbiome: A dynamic world of microbial interactions.

PubMed

Liu, Youzhong; Rousseaux, Sandrine; Tourdot-Maréchal, Raphaëlle; Sadoudi, Mohand; Gougeon, Régis; Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe; Alexandre, Hervé

2017-03-04

Most fermented products are generated by a mixture of microbes. These microbial consortia perform various biological activities responsible for the nutritional, hygienic, and aromatic qualities of the product. Wine is no exception. Substantial yeast and bacterial biodiversity is observed on grapes, and in both must and wine. The diverse microorganisms present interact throughout the winemaking process. The interactions modulate the hygienic and sensorial properties of the wine. Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the nature of these interactions, with the aim of establishing better control of the two fermentations occurring during wine processing. However, wine is a very complex medium making such studies difficult. In this review, we present the current state of research on microbial interactions in wines. We consider the different kinds of interactions between different microorganisms together with the consequences of these interactions. We underline the major challenges to obtaining a better understanding of how microbes interact. Finally, strategies and methodologies that may help unravel microbe interactions in wine are suggested.

Disentangling the heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder through genetic findings

PubMed Central

Jeste, Shafali S.; Geschwind, Daniel H.

2014-01-01

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders, which presents a substantial challenge to diagnosis and treatment. Over the past decade, considerable progress has been made in the identification of genetic risk factors for ASD that define specific mechanisms and pathways underlying the associated behavioural deficits. In this Review, we discuss how some of the latest advances in the genetics of ASD have facilitated parsing of the phenotypic heterogeneity of this disorder. We argue that only through such advances will we begin to define endophenotypes that can benefit from targeted, hypothesis-driven treatments. We review the latest technologies used to identify and characterize the genetics underlying ASD and then consider three themes—single-gene disorders, the gender bias in ASD, and the genetics of neurological comorbidities—that highlight ways in which we can use genetics to define the many phenotypes within the autism spectrum. We also present current clinical guidelines for genetic testing in ASD and their implications for prognosis and treatment. PMID:24468882

Nuclear power in the 21st century: Challenges and possibilities.

PubMed

Horvath, Akos; Rachlew, Elisabeth

2016-01-01

The current situation and possible future developments for nuclear power--including fission and fusion processes--is presented. The fission nuclear power continues to be an essential part of the low-carbon electricity generation in the world for decades to come. There are breakthrough possibilities in the development of new generation nuclear reactors where the life-time of the nuclear waste can be reduced to some hundreds of years instead of the present time-scales of hundred thousand of years. Research on the fourth generation reactors is needed for the realisation of this development. For the fast nuclear reactors, a substantial research and development effort is required in many fields--from material sciences to safety demonstration--to attain the envisaged goals. Fusion provides a long-term vision for an efficient energy production. The fusion option for a nuclear reactor for efficient production of electricity has been set out in a focussed European programme including the international project of ITER after which a fusion electricity DEMO reactor is envisaged.

Resistance to exercise-induced weight loss: compensatory behavioral adaptations.

PubMed

Melanson, Edward L; Keadle, Sarah Kozey; Donnelly, Joseph E; Braun, Barry; King, Neil A

2013-08-01

In many interventions that are based on an exercise program intended to induce weight loss, the mean weight loss observed is modest and sometimes far less than what the individual expected. The individual responses are also widely variable, with some individuals losing a substantial amount of weight, others maintaining weight, and a few actually gaining weight. The media have focused on the subpopulation that loses little weight, contributing to a public perception that exercise has limited utility to cause weight loss. The purpose of the symposium was to present recent, novel data that help explain how compensatory behaviors contribute to a wide discrepancy in exercise-induced weight loss. The presentations provide evidence that some individuals adopt compensatory behaviors, that is, increased energy intake and/or reduced activity, that offset the exercise energy expenditure and limit weight loss. The challenge for both scientists and clinicians is to develop effective tools to identify which individuals are susceptible to such behaviors and to develop strategies to minimize their effect.

[Current aspects of therapy conversion for multiple sclerosis].

PubMed

Kolber, P; Luessi, F; Meuth, S G; Klotz, L; Korn, T; Trebst, C; Tackenberg, B; Kieseier, B; Kümpfel, T; Fleischer, V; Tumani, H; Wildemann, B; Lang, M; Flachenecker, P; Meier, U; Brück, W; Limmroth, V; Haghikia, A; Hartung, H-P; Stangel, M; Hohlfeld, R; Hemmer, B; Gold, R; Wiendl, H; Zipp, F

2015-10-01

In recent years the approval of new substances has led to a substantial increase in the number of course-modifying immunotherapies available for multiple sclerosis. Therapy conversion therefore represents an increasing challenge. The treatment options sometimes show complex adverse effect profiles and necessitate a long-term and comprehensive monitoring. This article presents an overview of therapy conversion of immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis in accordance with the recommendations of the Disease-Related Competence Network for Multiple Sclerosis and the German Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as the guidelines on diagnostics and therapy for multiple sclerosis of the German Society of Neurology and the latest research results. At the present point in time it should be noted that no studies have been carried out for most of the approaches for therapy conversion given here; however, the recommendations are based on theoretical considerations and therefore correspond to recommendations at the level of expert consensus, which is currently essential for the clinical daily routine.

Manufacturing Natural Killer Cells as Medicinal Products

PubMed Central

Chabannon, Christian; Mfarrej, Bechara; Guia, Sophie; Ugolini, Sophie; Devillier, Raynier; Blaise, Didier; Vivier, Eric; Calmels, Boris

2016-01-01

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells (ILC) with cytotoxic and regulatory properties. Their functions are tightly regulated by an array of inhibitory and activating receptors, and their mechanisms of activation strongly differ from antigen recognition in the context of human leukocyte antigen presentation as needed for T-cell activation. NK cells thus offer unique opportunities for new and improved therapeutic manipulation, either in vivo or in vitro, in a variety of human diseases, including cancers. NK cell activity can possibly be modulated in vivo through direct or indirect actions exerted by small molecules or monoclonal antibodies. NK cells can also be adoptively transferred following more or less substantial modifications through cell and gene manufacturing, in order to empower them with new or improved functions and ensure their controlled persistence and activity in the recipient. In the present review, we will focus on the technological and regulatory challenges of NK cell manufacturing and discuss conditions in which these innovative cellular therapies can be brought to the clinic. PMID:27895646

Resistance to exercise-induced weight loss: compensatory behavioral adaptations

PubMed Central

Melanson, Edward L.; Keadle, Sarah Kozey; Donnelly, Joseph E.; Braun, Barry; King, Neil A.

2013-01-01

In many interventions that are based on an exercise program intended to induce weight loss, the mean weight loss observed is modest and sometimes far less than the individual expected. The individual responses are also widely variable, with some individuals losing a substantial amount of weight, others maintaining weight, and a few actually gaining weight. The media have focused on the sub-population that loses little weight, contributing to a public perception that exercise has limited utility to cause weight loss. The purpose of the symposium was to present recent, novel data that help explain how compensatory behaviors contribute to a wide discrepancy in exercise-induced weight loss. The presentations provide evidence that some individuals adopt compensatory behaviors, i.e. increased energy intake and/or reduced activity, that offset the exercise energy expenditure and limit weight loss. The challenge for both scientists and clinicians is to develop effective tools to identify which individuals are susceptible to such behaviors, and to develop strategies to minimize their impact. PMID:23470300

Fostering a Healing Presence and Investigating Its Mediators

PubMed Central

KREITZER, MARY JO; BELL, IRIS R.

2008-01-01

The purpose of this paper is the exploration and explication of the complex phenomena of “healing presence” and of appropriately supportive theoretical approaches to integrate emerging models for research design. Healing presence is described as an interpersonal, intrapersonal, and transpersonal to transcendent phenomenon that leads to a beneficial, therapeutic, and/or positive spiritual change within another individual (healee) and also within the healer. An integrated framework merging knowledge from diverse fields of research develops the multiple elements of healing presence, the healer, the healee's capacity for response and the healing effect as an entangled phenomenon. A conceptual systemic model is presented, and questions and dilemmas that emerge are delineated. An integrated qualitative-quantitative research design is proposed. A systemic relationship model, which includes the healer, the healee, and persons within the healee's environment is presented. The challenges are substantial, but the research questions are meaningful and worthwhile. The goal is to foster healing at bio-psycho-social-spiritual levels of the human being. PMID:15630820

The Metamorphosis of Amphibian Toxicogenomics

PubMed Central

Helbing, Caren C.

2012-01-01

Amphibians are important vertebrates in toxicology often representing both aquatic and terrestrial forms within the life history of the same species. Of the thousands of species, only two have substantial genomics resources: the recently published genome of the Pipid, Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis, and transcript information (and ongoing genome sequencing project) of Xenopus laevis. However, many more species representative of regional ecological niches and life strategies are used in toxicology worldwide. Since Xenopus species diverged from the most populous frog family, the Ranidae, ~200 million years ago, there are notable differences between them and the even more distant Caudates (salamanders) and Caecilians. These differences include genome size, gene composition, and extent of polyploidization. Application of toxicogenomics to amphibians requires the mobilization of resources and expertise to develop de novo sequence assemblies and analysis strategies for a broader range of amphibian species. The present mini-review will present the advances in toxicogenomics as pertains to amphibians with particular emphasis upon the development and use of genomic techniques (inclusive of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and the challenges inherent therein. PMID:22435070

Secondary implementation of interactive engagement teaching techniques: Choices and challenges in a Gulf Arab context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hitt, G. W.; Isakovic, A. F.; Fawwaz, O.; Bawa'aneh, M. S.; El-Kork, N.; Makkiyil, S.; Qattan, I. A.

2014-12-01

We report on efforts to design the "Collaborative Workshop Physics" (CWP) instructional strategy to deliver the first interactive engagement (IE) physics course at Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KU), United Arab Emirates (UAE). To our knowledge, this work reports the first calculus-based, introductory mechanics course on the Arabian Peninsula using physics education research (PER)-based instruction. A brief history and present context of general university and STEM teaching in the UAE is given. We present this secondary implementation (SI) as a case study of a novel context and use it to determine if PER-based instruction can be successfully implemented far from the cultural context of the primary developer and, if so, how might such SIs differ from SIs within the United States (U.S.) in terms of criteria for and risks to their success. With these questions in view, a prereform baseline comprised of Maryland Physics Expectations in Physics survey, Force Concept Inventory (FCI), course exam grades, and English language proficiency data are used to design a hybrid implementation of Cooperative Group Problem Solving. We find that for students with high English proficiency, normalized gain on FCI improves substantially, from ⟨g⟩=0.16±0.10 prereform to ⟨g⟩=0.47±0.08 in the CWP pilot (standard errors), indicating a successful SI. However, we also find evidence that normalized gains on FCI are strongly modulated by language proficiency and discuss likely causes. Regardless of language ability, problem-solving skill is also substantially improved and course drop-fail-withdrawal rates are cut from 50% to 24%. In particular, we find evidence in postreform student interviews that prior classroom experiences, and not broader cultural expectations about education, are the more significant cause of expectations that are at odds with the classroom norms of well-functioning PER-based instruction. We present this result as evidence that PER-based innovations can be implemented across great changes in cultural context, provided that the method is thoughtfully adapted in anticipation of context and culture-specific student expectations. This case study should be valuable for future reforms at KU, the broader Gulf region, and other institutions facing similar challenges involving SI of PER-based instruction outside the U.S.

Propulsion Ground Testing: Planning for the Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruce, Robert

2003-01-01

Advanced planners are constantly being asked to plan for the provision of future test capability. Historically, this capability is provided either by substantial investment in new test facility capabilities, or in the substantial investment in the modification of pre- existing test capabilities. The key words in the previous sentence are "substantial investment". In the evolving environment of increasingly constrained resources, how is an advanced planner to plan for the provisions of such capabilities? Additionally, the conundrum exists that program formulation decisions are being made based upon both life cycle cost decisions in an environment in which the more immediate challenge of "front-end" capital investment? Often times is the linch-pin upon which early decisions are made. In such an environment, how are plans and decisions made? This paper cites examples of decisions made in the past in the area of both major test facility upgrades, as well as major new test facility investment.

Propulsion Ground Testing: Planning for the Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruce, Robert

2003-01-01

Advanced planners are constantly being asked to plan for the provision of future test capability. Historically, this capability is provided either by substantial investment in new test facility capabilities, or in the substantial investment in the modification of pre-exiting test facilities. The key words in the previous sentence are 'substantial investment.' In the evolving environment of increasingly constrained resources, how is an advanced planner to plan for the provisions of such capabilities? Additionally, the conundrum exists that program formulation decisions are being made based on both life cycle cost decisions in an environment in which the more immediate challenge of front-end capital investment oftentimes is the linchpin upon which early decisions are made. In such an environment, how are plans and decisions made? This paper cites examples of decisions made in the past in the area of both major test facility upgrades, as well as major new test facility investment.

Impact of oral and waterborne administration of rhamnolipids on the susceptibility of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to Flavobacterium columnare infection.

PubMed

Zhang, Dongdong; Beck, Benjamin H; Lange, Miles; Zhao, Honggang; Thongda, Wilawan; Ye, Zhi; Li, Chao; Peatman, Eric

2017-01-01

Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease and causes tremendous morbidity and mortality of farmed fish globally. Previously, we identified a potential lectin-mediator (a rhamnose-binding lectin; RBL1a) of F. columnare adhesion and showed higher RBL1a expression in susceptible channel catfish under basal conditions and following infection. Exposure of challenged fish to the carbohydrate ligand l-rhamnose just prior to a challenge substantially decreased columnaris mortality and pathogen adherence via the down-regulation of RBL1a. While highly effective in protecting fish from columnaris, l-rhamnose is prohibitively expensive, underscoring the need for alternative cost-effective sources of rhamnose for disease control. One such alternative may be microbially produced glycolipid compounds termed rhamnolipids (RLs), which feature abundant l-rhamnose moieties and are readily available from commercial sources. In the present study, we examined whether commercially available RLs (administered either by immersion or via feed) would function similarly to l-rhamnose in affording host protection against F. columnare. A four-week feeding trial with basal and RL top-coated diets (basal diet + RLs) was conducted in channel catfish fingerlings. Surprisingly, columnaris challenges revealed significantly lower survival following the 10 d challenge period in RL diet fed fish when compared with the basal treatment group (p < 0.001). In fish fed RLs, we observed a rapid and large-scale upregulation of RBL1a immediately after challenge combined with a suppression of mucin and lysozyme transcripts. Similarly, fish that were briefly pre-exposed to RLs by immersion and then challenged exhibited lower survival as compared to unexposed fish during a 4 d trial. In conclusion, RLs do not represent an alternative to rhamnose as an experimental treatment for protecting catfish from columnaris mortality. Further research is needed to find other affordable and efficacious alternative sources of l-rhamnose. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vaccination evokes gender-dependent protection against tularemia infection in C57BL/6Tac mice.

PubMed

Sunagar, Raju; Kumar, Sudeep; Franz, Brian J; Gosselin, Edmund J

2016-06-17

Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a Category A biothreat agent for which there currently is no FDA-approved vaccine. Thus, there is a substantial effort underway to develop an effective tularemia vaccine. While it is well established that gender can significantly impact susceptibility to primary infection, the impact of gender on vaccine efficacy is not well established. Thus, development of a successful vaccine against tularemia will require an understanding of the impact gender has on vaccine-induced protection against this organism. In this study, a role for gender in vaccine-induced protection following Ft challenge is identified for the first time. In the present study, mucosal vaccination with inactivated Ft (iFt) LVS elicited gender-based protection in C57BL/6Tac mice against respiratory challenge with Ft LVS. Specifically, vaccinated male mice were more susceptible to subsequent Ft LVS challenge. This increased susceptibility in male mice correlated with increased bacterial burden, increased tissue inflammation, and increased proinflammatory cytokine production late in post-challenge infection. In contrast, improved survival of iFt-vaccinated female mice correlated with reduced bacterial burden and enhanced levels of Ft-specific Abs in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid post-challenge. Furthermore, vaccination with a live attenuated vaccine consisting of an Ft LVS superoxide dismutase (SodB) mutant, which has proven efficacious against the highly virulent Ft SchuS4 strain, demonstrated similar gender bias in protection post-Ft SchuS4 challenge. Of particular significance is the fact that these are the first studies to demonstrate that gender differences impact disease outcome in the case of lethal respiratory tularemia following mucosal vaccination. In addition, these studies further emphasize the fact that gender differences must be a serious consideration in any future tularemia vaccine development studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mixed states in bipolar disorder - changes in DSM-5 and current treatment recommendations.

PubMed

Betzler, Felix; Stöver, Laura Apollonia; Sterzer, Philipp; Köhler, Stephan

2017-11-01

Mixed states in affective disorders represent a particular challenge in clinical routine, characterized by a complicated course of treatment and a worse treatment response. Clinical features of mixed states and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria are presented and critical discussed. We then performed a systematic review using the terms 'bipolar', 'mixed' and 'randomized' to evaluate current treatment options. For pharmacological treatment of mixed states in total, there is still insufficient data from RCTs. However, there is some evidence for efficacy in mixed states from RCTs for atypical antipsychotics, especially olanzapine, aripiprazole and asenapine as well as mood stabilizers as valproate and carbamazepine. Mixed states are of a high clinical relevance and the DSM-5 criteria substantially reduced the diagnostic threshold. Besides advantages of a better characterization of patients with former DSM-IV-defined mixed episodes, disadvantages arise for example differential diagnoses with a substantial overlap in symptoms such as borderline personality disorders. Atypical antipsychotics, valproate and carbamazepine demonstrated efficacy in a limited sample of RCTs. The number of RCTs in the treatment of mixed states is highly limited. Furthermore, nearly all studies were funded by pharmaceutical companies which may lead to an underestimation of classical mood stabilizers such as lithium.

Recruiting hard-to-reach drug-using men who have sex with men into an intervention study: Lessons learned and implications for applied research

PubMed Central

Grov, Christian; Bux, Donald; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Morgenstern, Jon

2010-01-01

Drug (ab)use researchers and service providers across the globe have been challenged with locating target populations and subsequently enrolling participants into their programs. This study presents data from nearly three years (2004–2006) of recruiting “high risk” drug-using gay and bisexual men into a New York City-based clinical research trial. During the enrollment period, two recruitment/marketing strategies were utilized: (1) marketing of the intervention research study itself to men who were in the early stages of identifying problems with their drug use and risky sexual behavior and (2) two-stage recruitment via a lower-threshold/commitment (i.e., brief survey) and subsequent offering/enrollment into the full trial upon completion of the initial visit (i.e., a foot-in-the-door). The second approach was substantially more effective in enrolling participants into the full trial (6.3 participants/month versus 2.5 participants/month). Furthermore, recruitment costs for the foot-in-the-door approach were substantially reduced ($356.57/participant versus $497.03/participant). Compared to the marketing of interventions themselves to target populations, a two-stage recruitment strategy incorporating lower-threshold interactions may be a more effective approach to recruit for interventions. PMID:20001284

Recruiting hard-to-reach drug-using men who have sex with men into an intervention study: lessons learned and implications for applied research.

PubMed

Grov, Christian; Bux, Donald; Parsons, Jeffrey T; Morgenstern, Jon

2009-01-01

Drug (ab)use researchers and service providers across the globe have been challenged with locating target populations and subsequently enrolling participants into their programs. This study presents data from nearly 3 years (2004-2006) of recruiting "high-risk" drug-using gay and bisexual men into a clinical research trial based in New York City. During the enrollment period, two recruitment/marketing strategies were utilized: (1) marketing of the intervention research study itself to men who were in the early stages of identifying problems with their drug use and risky sexual behavior and (2) two-stage recruitment via a lower-threshold/commitment (i.e., brief survey) and subsequent offering/enrollment into the full trial upon completion of the initial visit (i.e., a foot-in-the-door). The second approach was substantially more effective in enrolling participants into the full trial (6.3 participants/month vs. 2.5 participants/month). Furthermore, recruitment costs for the foot-in-the-door approach were substantially reduced ($356.57 per participant vs. $497.03 per participant). Compared to the marketing of interventions themselves to target populations, a two-stage recruitment strategy incorporating lower-threshold interactions may be a more effective approach to recruit for interventions.

Measuring the multi-frequency electrical impedance of the mouse gastrocnemius muscle using a tetrapolar technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, J.; Fogerson, P. M.; Rutkove, S. B.

2010-04-01

Electrical impedance methods can be used to evaluate and monitor neuromuscular disease states. Recently, we have applied tetrapolar surface electrical impedance methods to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rat for this purpose and substantial changes in the impedance parameters after sciatic nerve crush can be identified. In order to be able to study additional animal models of nerve and muscle disease, however, it would highly desirable to be able to perform such impedance measurements in the mouse. Yet the small size of the mouse presents a substantial technical challenge. In this study, we evaluate a basic approach for performing such measurements. A series of thin, stainless steel strip electrodes affixed to the gastrocnemius and interfaced via a separate connector to the Imp SFB7® (Impedimed, Inc), provided an effective means for obtaining impedance data in the 20-500 kHz range. After two weeks, test-retest reproducibility was good, with intra-class correlation coefficients as high 0.84 and variability as low as 12.86 ± 6.18% in the 15 mice studied. Using this approach, it may now be possible to study impedance changes in a variety of mouse models of neuromuscular disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Design or "Design"--Envisioning a Future Design Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sless, David

2012-01-01

Challenging the common grand vision of Design, this article considers "design" as a humble re-forming process based on evidence to substantiate its results. The designer is likened to a tinker who respects previous iterations of a design and seeks to retain what is useful while improving its performance. A design process is offered,…

Carving a Strong Identity: Investigating the Life Histories of Museum Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reid, Natasha S.

2013-01-01

This paper examines the need for more holistic, narrative-based research into the identities of museum educators. The author explores the increasing demands being placed on museum educators along with the substantial challenges experienced by these professionals amidst the changing climate of museums. Many museum educators feel that their museums'…

Controlled challenge experiment demonstrates substantial additive genetic variation in resistance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to Streptococcus iniae

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Streptococcus iniae is an etiologic agent of streptococcal disease in tilapia and is one of several Streptococcus spp. that negatively impact worldwide tilapia production. Methods for the prevention and control of S. iniae include vaccines, management strategies, and antibiotics. A complimentary pre...

The future of influenza A virus vaccines for swine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Economic losses due to influenza A virus (IAV) infections are substantial and a global problem, ranking among the top three major health challenges in the swine industry. Currently, H1 and H3 subtypes circulate in pigs globally associated with different combinations of N1 and N2 subtypes; however, t...

Strain diversity in the fecal indicator Escherichia coli: implications for its use as a produce pathogen surrogate

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Contamination of food and water by pathogens is a substantial public health issue in the United States. One of the challenges in protecting the public against water and foodborne illness is understanding the routes of contamination. One suspected route of food contamination is irrigation water. Surf...

Teacher-Student Relationships: A Growing Field of Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bernstein-Yamashiro, Beth; Noam, Gil G.

2013-01-01

A substantial percentage of students come to school with a number of stress factors from life circumstances, personal clinical attributes, and typical adolescent challenges. As a result, some students become disengaged from school, are unsuccessful, or drop out of school. School structures are not always equipped to respond to such problems. A…

Wildfire exposure and fuel management on western US national forests

Treesearch

Alan A. Ager; Michelle A. Day; Charles W. McHugh; Karen Short; Julie Gilbertson-Day; Mark A. Finney; David E. Calkin

2014-01-01

Substantial investments in fuel management activities on national forests in the western US are part of a national strategy to reduce human and ecological losses from catastrophic wildfire and create fire resilient landscapes. Prioritizing these investments within and among national forests remains a challenge, partly because a comprehensive assessment that establishes...

"Parisara": Developing a Collaborative, Free, Public Domain Knowledge Resource on Indian Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gadgil, Madhav

2012-01-01

To address the important challenge of taking good care of India's environment, substantial, good quality information is crucial. Unfortunately, pertinent information is in very short supply. Much of the nationally collected information lacks quality and is incomplete. Modern science has demonstrated that good information flows from an open,…

"Happiness and Education": Tilting at Windmills?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verducci, Susan

2013-01-01

This essay explores the question: Is Nel Noddings a visionary who sees past the constraints of contemporary education or is she, like Don Quixote, madly tilting at windmills in her description and defense of happiness as an educational aim? Viewing the educational aim of happiness as an ideal raises substantial challenges for the practicality of…

Conservation planning in a tropical wilderness: Opportunities and threats in the Guianan Ecoregion Complex

Treesearch

Jan Schipper; Gary Clarke; Tom Allnutt

2007-01-01

With increasingly limited resources, conservation planners are challenged to provide policymakers with conservation portfolios that: 1) are representative of all important biodiversity features, 2) incorporate socioeconomic data, 3) are flexible to change, 4) require less financial resources over the long term, 5) overcome substantial information gaps, and 6) are...

Racial Equity and Opportunity in Metro Boston Job Markets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McArdle, Nancy

2004-01-01

People of color make up a vital and growing part of Metro Boston's workforce, yet they face substantial challenges in obtaining employment (especially in faster-growing and higher-paying sectors), in reaching locations of rapid job growth, and in earning a livable income. Latinos and blacks face the greatest hurdles, yet certain Asian populations…

School-Based Interventions for Students with Substance Abuse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burrow-Sanchez, Jason J.; Jenson, William R.; Clark, Elaine

2009-01-01

Experimentation with substances is typical for many young people, but unfortunately some will go on to develop substance abuse problems that substantially affect their lives. Successfully intervening with students who use or abuse substances is a challenge for school mental health professionals across the nation. There is a need for evidence-based…

Reading Buddies: A Strategy to Increase Peer Interaction in Students with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simpson, Lisa A.; Bui, Yvonne

2017-01-01

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often challenged by social interaction and may require substantial support to interact with peers even in inclusive settings. Having adults support students with ASD during peer interactions, however, may ostracize the student from peers without disabilities. Peer-mediated strategies are needed so…

Faculty Challenges and Barriers for Research and Publication in Tajik Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kataeva, Zumrad; DeYoung, Alan J.

2018-01-01

This article investigates the current state of faculty research activity within Tajik higher education institutions (HEIs), where the level of research productivity has substantially decreased in the past three decades. As part of a larger ethnographic study on professional lives of Tajik faculty members, we investigated and found enormous…

Perceptions of Challenging Tasks and Achievement by New Zealand Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linsell, Chris; Holmes, Marilyn; Sullivan, Peter

2016-01-01

This paper examines the learning by students who were participating in a project designed to promote persistence while working on mathematical tasks. We examined their learning of mathematics concepts and learning about the processes of engaging in mathematical tasks. There were substantial increases in students' knowledge of angles and also…

Australian Wine Tourism: Establishing a Career Path at the Cellar Door

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Kim Marianne

2011-01-01

Wine tourism in Australia has grown substantially in recent years and contributes to employment opportunities in regional areas. To meet the requirements of this growing sector, workers need a considerable degree of skill-specific training; development of wine tourism personnel will be required. This article examines challenging human resource…

Value-Added and Other Methods for Measuring School Performance. Working Paper 2008-17

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Robert H.; Christian, Michael S.

2008-01-01

One of the central challenges of designing and implementing a performance pay program is developing an approach for determining which schools, teachers, and administrators have performed well enough to have earned a bonus. The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program provides grantees substantial latitude to create…

The Role of Job Challenge and Organizational Identification in Enhancing Creative Behavior among Employees in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmeli, Abraham; Cohen-Meitar, Ravit; Elizur, Dov

2007-01-01

Organizations recognize the importance of creative employees and constantly explore ways to enhance their employees' creative behavior. Creativity research has directed substantial efforts to understanding how work environment fosters creativity. Yet, this research has paid little attention to the importance of specific characteristics of the work…

Self-Reported Learning from Co-Teaching Primary Science Lessons to Peers at University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hudson, Peter; Nykvist, Shaun; Mukherjee, Michelle

2016-01-01

Universities are challenged continuously in reviews to improve teacher education, which includes providing substantial theory-practice connections for undergraduates. This study investigated second year preservice teachers' (n = 48) self-reported learning as a result of co-teaching primary science to their peers within the university setting. From…

An Analysis of Training Focused on Improving SMART Goal Setting for Specific Employee Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worden, Jeannie M.

2014-01-01

This quantitative study examined the proficiency of employee SMART goal setting following the intervention of employee SMART goal setting training. Current challenges in higher education substantiate the need for employees to align their performance with the mission, vision, and strategic directions of the organization. A performance management…

Success in Primary School. Success in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Academy for Educational Development, 2010

2010-01-01

A quality education system is not measured solely by national test scores, but by whether all students are successful in primary school. This simply stated goal is surprisingly difficult to achieve where substantial numbers of children are at risk of failing to complete a primary education. This paper explores the challenges and the diverse…

Challenging Student Behaviour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Glyn; Philp, Clare

2011-01-01

The issue of poor student behaviour within higher education institutions (HEIs) has been well documented in recent years. Although the number of reported cases constitutes a very small percentage of the overall student population in the UK, the impact of student misconduct on the rest of the student body and staff in HEIs can be substantial. For…

Liberation through Preparation: Building Capacity to Lead America's Urban Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hert, Christopher J.

2010-01-01

Achieving higher levels of learning for all children has become the 21st century educational challenge across the nation. Substantial evidence exists that principals can have a profound effect on the learning climate, educational programs, and professional norms of practice in schools; however, controversy still reigns over the effects of…

Games in Language Learning: Opportunities and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Godwin-Jones, Robert

2014-01-01

There has been a substantial increase in recent years in the interest in using digital games for language learning. This coincides with the explosive growth in multiplayer online gaming and with the proliferation of mobile games for smart phones. It also reflects the growing recognition among educators of the importance of extramural, informal…

Knowledge Mobilisation in the Polish Education System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fazlagic, Jan; Erkol, Arif

2015-01-01

Poland has made substantial progress in improving the quality of its education system in recent years. This paper aims to describe the situation of the Polish education system from a knowledge management perspective and, to some extent, through innovation policies in education. The many challenges, this paper argues, can be tackled only through…

School Culture for Students with Significant Support Needs: Belonging Is Not Enough

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carroll, Diane; Fulmer, Connie; Sobel, Donna; Garrison-Wade, Dorothy; Aragon, Lorenso; Coval, Lisa

2011-01-01

This qualitative study examined the influence of school culture on services for students with significant support needs. Students with significant support needs are defined as those who typically have cognitive impairments, often paired with sensory and physical challenges, and who require substantial supports to receive benefit from education.…

Transformative Learning Challenges in a Context of Trauma and Fear: An Educator's Story

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

John, Vaughn M.

2016-01-01

After more than three decades of development, transformative learning theory is currently a major theory of adult learning. It has also attracted substantial critique, leading to further development, application and differentiation. Recent contributions to this vast scholarship show a quest for a more unified theory. This article examines…

The Isolation of Motivational, Motoric, and Schedule Effects on Operant Performance: A Modeling Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brackney, Ryan J.; Cheung, Timothy H. C.; Neisewander, Janet L.; Sanabria, Federico

2011-01-01

Dissociating motoric and motivational effects of pharmacological manipulations on operant behavior is a substantial challenge. To address this problem, we applied a response-bout analysis to data from rats trained to lever press for sucrose on variable-interval (VI) schedules of reinforcement. Motoric, motivational, and schedule factors (effort…

Career Choices for Foreign-Educated Dentists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pitigoi-Aron, Gabriela

2011-01-01

Attracting and retaining strong faculty members in dental schools have long been challenges in the United States. Faced with an emerging crisis in the availability and quality of dental educators, many researchers have focused on analyzing data and trends related to this subject. Even though there are substantial studies that provide a picture of…

E-learning in Multicultural Environments: An Analysis of Online Flight Attendant Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Brito Neto, Jose Felix; Smith, MaryJo; Pedersen, David

2014-01-01

Throughout the first decade of this century, financial challenges in the airline industry compelled airlines to maximize competitive advantage through a focus on human resource management. Consequently, e-learning gained increasing attention as it imparted knowledge on an asynchronous and global basis with substantially reduced costs. However,…

Cold Rolled Steel and Knowledge: What Can Higher Education Learn about Productivity?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thille, Candace; Smith, Joel

2011-01-01

Higher education is simply not making substantial progress in addressing its most significant challenges: educating an increasingly diverse body of students while containing the cost that is putting postsecondary education beyond the reach of a growing percentage of the world's population. Tweaking long-standing strategies to achieve incremental…

Engineered newcastle disease virus expressing the F and G protein of AMPV-C confers protection against challenges in turkeys.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) infects the respiratory and reproductive tracts of domestic poultry, which may develop into secondary infections that can result in substantial economic losses for producers. Live attenuated vaccines appear to be the most effective in countries where the disease is prev...

Leadership Practices to Support Teaching and Learning for English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGee, Alyson; Haworth, Penny; MacIntyre, Lesieli

2015-01-01

With a substantial increase in the numbers of English language learners in schools, particularly in countries where English is the primary use first language, it is vital that educators are able to meet the needs of ethnically and linguistically changing and challenging classrooms. However, despite the recognition of the importance of effective…

Measuring Economic Impact: A Plan for Institutional Self-Defense from Taxation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morrell, Louis R.

1995-01-01

The tax-exempt status of most independent colleges and universities will likely be challenged eventually, and institutions would be wise to take preemptive action by developing arguments, both financial and cultural, to support the claim that they provide substantial benefits to the community. A Rollins College (Florida) economic impact study…

Redesigning photosynthesis to sustainably meet global food and bioenergy demand

PubMed Central

Ort, Donald R.; Merchant, Sabeeha S.; Alric, Jean; Barkan, Alice; Blankenship, Robert E.; Bock, Ralph; Croce, Roberta; Hanson, Maureen R.; Hibberd, Julian M.; Long, Stephen P.; Moore, Thomas A.; Moroney, James; Niyogi, Krishna K.; Parry, Martin A. J.; Peralta-Yahya, Pamela P.; Prince, Roger C.; Redding, Kevin E.; Spalding, Martin H.; van Wijk, Klaas J.; Vermaas, Wim F. J.; von Caemmerer, Susanne; Weber, Andreas P. M.; Yeates, Todd O.; Yuan, Joshua S.; Zhu, Xin Guang

2015-01-01

The world’s crop productivity is stagnating whereas population growth, rising affluence, and mandates for biofuels put increasing demands on agriculture. Meanwhile, demand for increasing cropland competes with equally crucial global sustainability and environmental protection needs. Addressing this looming agricultural crisis will be one of our greatest scientific challenges in the coming decades, and success will require substantial improvements at many levels. We assert that increasing the efficiency and productivity of photosynthesis in crop plants will be essential if this grand challenge is to be met. Here, we explore an array of prospective redesigns of plant systems at various scales, all aimed at increasing crop yields through improved photosynthetic efficiency and performance. Prospects range from straightforward alterations, already supported by preliminary evidence of feasibility, to substantial redesigns that are currently only conceptual, but that may be enabled by new developments in synthetic biology. Although some proposed redesigns are certain to face obstacles that will require alternate routes, the efforts should lead to new discoveries and technical advances with important impacts on the global problem of crop productivity and bioenergy production. PMID:26124102

Critical Assessment of Metagenome Interpretation – a benchmark of computational metagenomics software

PubMed Central

Sczyrba, Alexander; Hofmann, Peter; Belmann, Peter; Koslicki, David; Janssen, Stefan; Dröge, Johannes; Gregor, Ivan; Majda, Stephan; Fiedler, Jessika; Dahms, Eik; Bremges, Andreas; Fritz, Adrian; Garrido-Oter, Ruben; Jørgensen, Tue Sparholt; Shapiro, Nicole; Blood, Philip D.; Gurevich, Alexey; Bai, Yang; Turaev, Dmitrij; DeMaere, Matthew Z.; Chikhi, Rayan; Nagarajan, Niranjan; Quince, Christopher; Meyer, Fernando; Balvočiūtė, Monika; Hansen, Lars Hestbjerg; Sørensen, Søren J.; Chia, Burton K. H.; Denis, Bertrand; Froula, Jeff L.; Wang, Zhong; Egan, Robert; Kang, Dongwan Don; Cook, Jeffrey J.; Deltel, Charles; Beckstette, Michael; Lemaitre, Claire; Peterlongo, Pierre; Rizk, Guillaume; Lavenier, Dominique; Wu, Yu-Wei; Singer, Steven W.; Jain, Chirag; Strous, Marc; Klingenberg, Heiner; Meinicke, Peter; Barton, Michael; Lingner, Thomas; Lin, Hsin-Hung; Liao, Yu-Chieh; Silva, Genivaldo Gueiros Z.; Cuevas, Daniel A.; Edwards, Robert A.; Saha, Surya; Piro, Vitor C.; Renard, Bernhard Y.; Pop, Mihai; Klenk, Hans-Peter; Göker, Markus; Kyrpides, Nikos C.; Woyke, Tanja; Vorholt, Julia A.; Schulze-Lefert, Paul; Rubin, Edward M.; Darling, Aaron E.; Rattei, Thomas; McHardy, Alice C.

2018-01-01

In metagenome analysis, computational methods for assembly, taxonomic profiling and binning are key components facilitating downstream biological data interpretation. However, a lack of consensus about benchmarking datasets and evaluation metrics complicates proper performance assessment. The Critical Assessment of Metagenome Interpretation (CAMI) challenge has engaged the global developer community to benchmark their programs on datasets of unprecedented complexity and realism. Benchmark metagenomes were generated from ~700 newly sequenced microorganisms and ~600 novel viruses and plasmids, including genomes with varying degrees of relatedness to each other and to publicly available ones and representing common experimental setups. Across all datasets, assembly and genome binning programs performed well for species represented by individual genomes, while performance was substantially affected by the presence of related strains. Taxonomic profiling and binning programs were proficient at high taxonomic ranks, with a notable performance decrease below the family level. Parameter settings substantially impacted performances, underscoring the importance of program reproducibility. While highlighting current challenges in computational metagenomics, the CAMI results provide a roadmap for software selection to answer specific research questions. PMID:28967888

From Ships in the Night to Exchanges in the Piazza: Renegotiating the Researcher-Stakeholder Nexus in Climate Adaptation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, S. T.

2016-12-01

A substantial divide remains between the communities of research, embedded largely in universities and science agencies, and the communities of practice, comprising the natural-resource managers and other decision-makers in diverse federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and in private-sector enterprises and organizations. In spite of clear needs and best intentions, engagement among the respective communities is imperfect; researchers and stakeholders are often like ships passing in the night, exchanging brief, cryptic signals. A variety of boundary organizations have been developed to facilitate the communications, and a number of successful models for researcher-stakeholder exchange and engagement have been applied. At least two substantial challenges remain. First, how can the successes be scaled up and proliferated to meet the vast demands posed by climate adaptation? Second, how can the various boundary organizations most effectively foster this expansion, individually and collectively? Meeting these challenges will require coordination among the respective organizations, changes in the cultures of research and management, and careful assessment of process and outcomes.

From ships in the night to exchanges in the piazza: Renegotiating the researcher-stakeholder nexus in climate adaptation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, S. T.

2015-12-01

A substantial divide remains between the communities of research, embedded largely in universities and science agencies, and the communities of practice, comprising the natural-resource managers and other decision-makers in diverse federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and in private-sector enterprises and organizations. In spite of clear needs and best intentions, engagement among the respective communities is imperfect; researchers and stakeholders are often like ships passing in the night, exchanging brief, cryptic signals. A variety of boundary organizations have been developed to facilitate the communications, and a number of successful models for researcher-stakeholder exchange and engagement have been applied. At least two substantial challenges remain. First, how can the successes be scaled up and proliferated to meet the vast demands posed by climate adaptation? Second, how can the various boundary organizations most effectively foster this expansion, individually and collectively? Meeting these challenges will require coordination among the respective organizations, changes in the cultures of research and management, and careful assessment of process and outcomes.

The High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC: Physics and Technology Challenges for the Accelerator and the Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Burkhard

2016-04-01

In the second phase of the LHC physics program, the accelerator will provide an additional integrated luminosity of about 2500/fb over 10 years of operation to the general purpose detectors ATLAS and CMS. This will substantially enlarge the mass reach in the search for new particles and will also greatly extend the potential to study the properties of the Higgs boson discovered at the LHC in 2012. In order to meet the experimental challenges of unprecedented pp luminosity, the experiments will need to address the aging of the present detectors and to improve the ability to isolate and precisely measure the products of the most interesting collisions. The lectures gave an overview of the physics motivation and described the conceptual designs and the expected performance of the upgrades of the four major experiments, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb, along with the plans to develop the appropriate experimental techniques and a brief overview of the accelerator upgrade. Only some key points of the upgrade program of the four major experiments are discussed in this report; more information can be found in the references given at the end.

Brain enabled by next-generation neurotechnology: using multiscale and multimodal models.

PubMed

Shenoy, Krishna; Nurmikko, Arto V

2012-03-01

As many articles in this issue of IEEE Pulse demonstrate, interfacing directly with the brain presents several fundamental challenges. These challenges reside at multiple levels and span many disciplines, ranging from the need to understand brain states at the level of neural circuits to creating technological innovations to facilitate new therapeutic options. The goal of our multiuniversity research team, composed of researchers from Stanford University, Brown University, the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), and the University College London (UCL), is to substantially elevate the fundamental understanding of brain information processing and its relationship with sensation, behavior, and injury. Our team was assembled to provide expertise ranging from neuroscience to neuroengineering and to neurological and psychiatric clinical guidance, all of which are critical to the overarching research goal. By employing a suite of innovative experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Reorganization and Plasticity to Accelerate Injury Recovery (REPAIR) team has set its sights on learning how the brain and its microcircuitry react (e.g., to sudden physiological changes) and what can be done to encourage recovery from such (reversible) injury. In this article, we summarize some of the team's technical goals, approaches, and early illustrative results.

Active Learning Framework for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring: Preprint

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

Jin, Xin

2016-05-16

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) is a set of techniques that estimate the electricity usage of individual appliances from power measurements taken at a limited number of locations in a building. One of the key challenges in NILM is having too much data without class labels yet being unable to label the data manually for cost or time constraints. This paper presents an active learning framework that helps existing NILM techniques to overcome this challenge. Active learning is an advanced machine learning method that interactively queries a user for the class label information. Unlike most existing NILM systems that heuristically requestmore » user inputs, the proposed method only needs minimally sufficient information from a user to build a compact and yet highly representative load signature library. Initial results indicate the proposed method can reduce the user inputs by up to 90% while still achieving similar disaggregation performance compared to a heuristic method. Thus, the proposed method can substantially reduce the burden on the user, improve the performance of a NILM system with limited user inputs, and overcome the key market barriers to the wide adoption of NILM technologies.« less

Digital footprints: facilitating large-scale environmental psychiatric research in naturalistic settings through data from everyday technologies

PubMed Central

Bidargaddi, N; Musiat, P; Makinen, V-P; Ermes, M; Schrader, G; Licinio, J

2017-01-01

Digital footprints, the automatically accumulated by-products of our technology-saturated lives, offer an exciting opportunity for psychiatric research. The commercial sector has already embraced the electronic trails of customers as an enabling tool for guiding consumer behaviour, and analogous efforts are ongoing to monitor and improve the mental health of psychiatric patients. The untargeted collection of digital footprints that may or may not be health orientated comprises a large untapped information resource for epidemiological scale research into psychiatric disorders. Real-time monitoring of mood, sleep and physical and social activity in a substantial portion of the affected population in a naturalistic setting is unprecedented in psychiatry. We propose that digital footprints can provide these measurements from real world setting unobtrusively and in a longitudinal fashion. In this perspective article, we outline the concept of digital footprints and the services and devices that create them, and present examples where digital footprints have been successfully used in research. We then critically discuss the opportunities and fundamental challenges associated digital footprints in psychiatric research, such as collecting data from different sources, analysis, ethical and research design challenges. PMID:27922603

Play-Personas: Behaviours and Belief Systems in User-Centred Game Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canossa, Alessandro; Drachen, Anders

Game designers attempt to ignite affective, emotional responses from players via engineering game designs to incite definite user experiences. Theories of emotion state that definite emotional responses are individual, and caused by the individual interaction sequence or history. Engendering desired emotions in the audience of traditional audiovisual media is a considerable challenge; however it is potentially even more difficult to achieve the same goal for the audience of interactive entertainment, because a substantial degree of control rests in the hand of the end user rather than the designer. This paper presents a possible solution to the challenge of integrating the user in the design of interactive entertainment such as computer games by employing the "persona" framework introduced by Alan Cooper. This approach is already in use in interaction design. The method can be improved by complementing the traditional narrative description of personas with quantitative, data-oriented models of predicted patterns of user behaviour for a specific computer game Additionally, persona constructs can be applied both as design-oriented metaphors during the development of games, and as analytical lenses to existing games, e.g. for evaluation of patterns of player behaviour.

NZ Government's trend analysis of hospitalised self-harm is misleading.

PubMed

Langley, John; Cryer, Colin; Davie, Gabrielle

2008-04-01

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the trends published in the New Zealand (NZ) Government's 2006 Suicide Trends document for hospitalised self-harm are misleading. Analysis of incident self-harm events resulting in hospitalisation and reference to published material on injury outcome indicators for the NZ Injury Prevention Strategy (NZIPS). The significant increase in rates of self-harm hospitalisation presented in Suicide Trends from 1989 to a large extent reflect changes in recording practice rather than any change in self-harm in the community. Indicators with significantly fewer threats to validity suggest there has been little, if any, increase in the incidence of self-harm. The authors of Suicide Trends did not adequately specify how they defined a case and, moreover, their methods were not consistent with those used for the NZIPS indicators. The methodological challenges to producing valid indicators for the purposes of measuring trends in important non-fatal injury are substantial. Unless we accept that the usual methods of measuring trends in non-fatal injury are misleading and commit to taking up the challenge to produce and use better indicators, we will continue to run the risk of misleading ourselves and the public.

Promoting social plasticity in developmental disorders with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques

PubMed Central

Boggio, Paulo S.; Asthana, Manish K.; Costa, Thiago L.; Valasek, Cláudia A.; Osório, Ana A. C.

2015-01-01

Being socially connected directly impacts our basic needs and survival. People with deficits in social cognition might exhibit abnormal behaviors and face many challenges in our highly social-dependent world. These challenges and limitations are associated with a substantial economical and subjective impact. As many conditions where social cognition is affected are highly prevalent, more treatments have to be developed. Based on recent research, we review studies where non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques have been used to promote Social Plasticity in developmental disorders. We focused on three populations where non-invasive brain stimulation seems to be a promising approach in inducing social plasticity: Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Williams Syndrome (WS). There are still very few studies directly evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the social cognition of these populations. However, when considering the promising preliminary evidences presented in this review and the limited amount of clinical interventions available for treating social cognition deficits in these populations today, it is clear that the social neuroscientist arsenal may profit from non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for rehabilitation and promotion of social plasticity. PMID:26388712

Kick Detection at the Bit: Early Detection via Low Cost Monitoring

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

Tost, Brian; Rose, Kelly; Aminzadeh, Fred

2016-06-07

Formation fluid influxes (i.e. kicks) pose persistent challenges and operational costs during drilling operations. Implications of kicks range in scale but cumulatively result in substantial costs that affect drilling safety, environment, schedule, and infrastructure. Early kick detection presents a low-cost, easily adopted solution for avoiding well control challenges associated with kicks near the bit. Borehole geophysical tools used during the drilling process as part of the logging-while-drilling (LWD) and measurement-while-drilling (MWD) provide the advantage of offering real-time downhole data. LWD/MWD collect data on both the annulus and borehole wall. The annular data are normally treated as background, and are filteredmore » out to isolate the formation measurements. Because kicks will change the local physical properties of annular fluids, bottom-hole measurements are among the first indicators that a formation fluid has invaded the wellbore. This report describes and validates a technique for using the annular portion of LWD/MWD data to facilitate early kick detection using first order principles. The detection technique leverages data from standard and cost-effective technologies that are typically implemented during well drilling, such as MWD/LWD data in combination with mud-pulse telemetry for data transmission.« less

The Inception of OMA in the Development of Modal Testing Technology for Wind Turbines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, George H., III; Carne. Thomas G.

2008-01-01

Wind turbines are immense, flexible structures with aerodynamic forces acting on the rotating blades at harmonics of the turbine rotational frequency, which are comparable to the modal frequencies of the structure. Predicting and experimentally measuring the modal frequencies of wind turbines has been important to their successful design and operation. Performing modal tests on wind turbine structures over 100 meters tall is a substantial challenge, which has inspired innovative developments in modal test technology. For wind turbines, a further complication is that the modal frequencies are dependent on the turbine rotation speed. The history and development of a new technique for acquiring the modal parameters using output-only response data, called the Natural Excitation Technique (NExT), will be reviewed, showing historical tests and techniques. The initial attempts at output-only modal testing began in the late 1980's with the development of NExT in the 1990's. NExT was a predecessor to OMA, developed to overcome these challenges of testing immense structures excited with environmental inputs. We will trace the difficulties and successes of wind turbine modal testing from 1982 to the present. Keywords: OMA, Modal Analysis, NExT, Wind Turbines, Wind Excitation

Digital footprints: facilitating large-scale environmental psychiatric research in naturalistic settings through data from everyday technologies.

PubMed

Bidargaddi, N; Musiat, P; Makinen, V-P; Ermes, M; Schrader, G; Licinio, J

2017-02-01

Digital footprints, the automatically accumulated by-products of our technology-saturated lives, offer an exciting opportunity for psychiatric research. The commercial sector has already embraced the electronic trails of customers as an enabling tool for guiding consumer behaviour, and analogous efforts are ongoing to monitor and improve the mental health of psychiatric patients. The untargeted collection of digital footprints that may or may not be health orientated comprises a large untapped information resource for epidemiological scale research into psychiatric disorders. Real-time monitoring of mood, sleep and physical and social activity in a substantial portion of the affected population in a naturalistic setting is unprecedented in psychiatry. We propose that digital footprints can provide these measurements from real world setting unobtrusively and in a longitudinal fashion. In this perspective article, we outline the concept of digital footprints and the services and devices that create them, and present examples where digital footprints have been successfully used in research. We then critically discuss the opportunities and fundamental challenges associated digital footprints in psychiatric research, such as collecting data from different sources, analysis, ethical and research design challenges.

Looking to the future of new media in health marketing: deriving propositions based on traditional theories.

PubMed

Della, Lindsay J; Eroglu, Dogan; Bernhardt, Jay M; Edgerton, Erin; Nall, Janice

2008-01-01

Market trend data show that the media marketplace continues to rapidly evolve. Recent research shows that substantial portions of the U.S. media population are "new media" users. Today, more than ever before, media consumers are exposed to multiple media at the same point in time, encouraged to participate in media content generation, and challenged to learn, access, and use the new media that are continually entering the market. These media trends have strong implications for how consumers of health information access, process, and retain health-related knowledge. In this article we review traditional information processing models and theories of interpersonal and mass media access and consumption. We make several theory-based propositions for how traditional information processing and media consumption concepts will function as new media usage continues to increase. These propositions are supported by new media usage data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's entry into the new media market (e.g., podcasting, virtual events, blogging, and webinars). Based on these propositions, we conclude by presenting both opportunities and challenges that public health communicators and marketers will face in the future.

Synthetic Vision Displays for Planetary and Lunar Lander Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arthur, Jarvis J., III; Prinzel, Lawrence J., III; Williams, Steven P.; Shelton, Kevin J.; Kramer, Lynda J.; Bailey, Randall E.; Norman, Robert M.

2008-01-01

Aviation research has demonstrated that Synthetic Vision (SV) technology can substantially enhance situation awareness, reduce pilot workload, improve aviation safety, and promote flight path control precision. SV, and related flight deck technologies are currently being extended for application in planetary exploration vehicles. SV, in particular, holds significant potential for many planetary missions since the SV presentation provides a computer-generated view for the flight crew of the terrain and other significant environmental characteristics independent of the outside visibility conditions, window locations, or vehicle attributes. SV allows unconstrained control of the computer-generated scene lighting, terrain coloring, and virtual camera angles which may provide invaluable visual cues to pilots/astronauts, not available from other vision technologies. In addition, important vehicle state information may be conformally displayed on the view such as forward and down velocities, altitude, and fuel remaining to enhance trajectory control and vehicle system status. The paper accompanies a conference demonstration that introduced a prototype NASA Synthetic Vision system for lunar lander spacecraft. The paper will describe technical challenges and potential solutions to SV applications for the lunar landing mission, including the requirements for high-resolution lunar terrain maps, accurate positioning and orientation, and lunar cockpit display concepts to support projected mission challenges.

Invited perspective: Why I am an optimist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burges, Stephen J.

2011-03-01

I address a range of topics that provide the sociopolitical-technological setting for my professional life. I discuss some influential features of post-World War II world geopolitics, landmark technological developments of that era, and the resulting follow-up technologies that have made it possible to approach various problems in hydrology and water resources. I next address societal needs that have driven developments in hydrology and water resources engineering and follow with a discussion of the modern foundations of our science and what I think are the principal issues in hydrology. I pose three community challenges that when accomplished should advance hydrologic science: data network needs for improving the water budgets at all scales, characterizing subsurface water flow paths, and the information archiving and mining needs from instruments that will generate substantially richer data detail than have been used for most hydrologic work to the present. I then discuss several hydrologic and water resource risk-based decision issues that matter to society to illustrate how such risks have been addressed successfully in the past. I conclude with a long-term community "grand challenge," the coupled modeling of the ocean-atmosphere-landform hydrologic cycle for the purpose of long-lead time hydrologic prediction.

The Development of Modal Testing Technology for Wind Turbines: A Historical Perspective

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, George H., III; Carne, Thomas G.

2007-01-01

Wind turbines are very large, flexible structures, with aerodynamic forces on the rotating blades producing periodic forces with frequencies at the harmonics of the rotation frequency. Due to design consideration, these rotational frequencies are comparable to the modal frequencies; thus avoiding resonant conditions is a critical consideration. Consequently, predicting and experimentally validating the modal frequencies of wind turbines has been important to their successful design and operation. Performing modal tests on flexible structures over 120 meters tall is a substantial challenge, which has inspired innovative developments in modal test technology. A further trial to the analyst and experimentalist is that the modal frequencies are dependent on the turbine rotation speed, so testing a parked turbine does not fully validate the analytical predictions. The history and development of this modal testing technology will be reviewed, showing historical tests and techniques, ranging from two-meter to 100-meter turbines for both parked and rotating tests. The NExT (Natural Excitation Technique) was developed in the 1990's, as a predecessor to OMA to overcome these challenges. We will trace the difficulties and successes of wind turbine modal testing over the past twenty-five years from 1982 to the present.

The challenges of sequencing by synthesis.

PubMed

Fuller, Carl W; Middendorf, Lyle R; Benner, Steven A; Church, George M; Harris, Timothy; Huang, Xiaohua; Jovanovich, Stevan B; Nelson, John R; Schloss, Jeffery A; Schwartz, David C; Vezenov, Dmitri V

2009-11-01

DNA sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) technology, using a polymerase or ligase enzyme as its core biochemistry, has already been incorporated in several second-generation DNA sequencing systems with significant performance. Notwithstanding the substantial success of these SBS platforms, challenges continue to limit the ability to reduce the cost of sequencing a human genome to $100,000 or less. Achieving dramatically reduced cost with enhanced throughput and quality will require the seamless integration of scientific and technological effort across disciplines within biochemistry, chemistry, physics and engineering. The challenges include sample preparation, surface chemistry, fluorescent labels, optimizing the enzyme-substrate system, optics, instrumentation, understanding tradeoffs of throughput versus accuracy, and read-length/phasing limitations. By framing these challenges in a manner accessible to a broad community of scientists and engineers, we hope to solicit input from the broader research community on means of accelerating the advancement of genome sequencing technology.

Redefining Quality Measurement in Cancer Care.

PubMed

Nardi, Elizabeth A; McCanney, James; Winckworth-Prejsnar, Katy; Schatz, Alyssa A; Adelson, Kerin; Neubauer, Marcus; Smith, Mary Lou; Walters, Ronald; Carlson, Robert W

2018-05-01

Quality measurement in oncology is increasing in significance as payment schemes shift from volume to value. As demand for quality measures increases, challenges in the development of quality measures, standardization across measures, and the limitations of health information technology have become apparent. Moreover, the time and financial burden associated with developing, tracking, and reporting quality measures are substantial. Despite these challenges, best practices and leaders in the field of quality measurement in oncology have emerged. To understand the current challenges and promising practices in quality measurement and to explore future considerations for measure development and measure reporting in oncology, NCCN convened the NCCN Policy Summit: Redefining Quality Measurement in Oncology. The summit included discussion of the current quality landscape and efforts to develop quality measures, use of quality measures in various programs, patient perspective of quality, and challenges and best practices for quality reporting. Copyright © 2018 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

COMPUTATIONAL CHALLENGES IN BUILDING MULTI-SCALE AND MULTI-PHYSICS MODELS OF CARDIAC ELECTRO-MECHANICS

PubMed Central

Plank, G; Prassl, AJ; Augustin, C

2014-01-01

Despite the evident multiphysics nature of the heart – it is an electrically controlled mechanical pump – most modeling studies considered electrophysiology and mechanics in isolation. In no small part, this is due to the formidable modeling challenges involved in building strongly coupled anatomically accurate and biophyically detailed multi-scale multi-physics models of cardiac electro-mechanics. Among the main challenges are the selection of model components and their adjustments to achieve integration into a consistent organ-scale model, dealing with technical difficulties such as the exchange of data between electro-physiological and mechanical model, particularly when using different spatio-temporal grids for discretization, and, finally, the implementation of advanced numerical techniques to deal with the substantial computational. In this study we report on progress made in developing a novel modeling framework suited to tackle these challenges. PMID:24043050

Hemorrhagic cystitis: A challenge to the urologist

PubMed Central

Manikandan, R.; Kumar, Santosh; Dorairajan, Lalgudi N.

2010-01-01

Severe hemorrhagic cystitis often arises from anticancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Infectious etiologies are less common causes except in immunocompromised hosts. These cases can be challenging problems for the urologist and a source of substantial morbidity and sometimes mortality for the patients. A variety of modalities of treatment have been described for the management of hemorrhagic cystitis but there is none that is uniformly effective. Some progress has been made in the understanding and management of viral hemorrhagic cystitis. This article reviews the common causes of severe hemorrhagic cystitis and the currently available management options. PMID:20877590

Electric Propulsion Technology Development for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

During 2004, the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter project, a part of NASA's Project Prometheus, continued efforts to develop electric propulsion technologies. These technologies addressed the challenges of propelling a spacecraft to several moons of Jupiter. Specific challenges include high power, high specific impulse, long lived ion thrusters, high power/high voltage power processors, accurate feed systems, and large propellant storage systems. Critical component work included high voltage insulators and isolators as well as ensuring that the thruster materials and components could operate in the substantial Jupiter radiation environment. A review of these developments along with future plans is discussed.

First 65nm tape-out using inverse lithography technology (ILT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Chi-Yuan; Zhang, Bin; Tang, Deming; Guo, Eric; Pang, Linyong; Liu, Yong; Moore, Andrew; Wang, Kechang

2005-11-01

This paper presents SMIC's first 65nm tape out results, in particularly, using ILT. ILT mathematically determines the mask features that produce the desired on-wafer results with best wafer pattern fidelity, largest process window or both. SMIC applied it to its first 65nm tape-out to study ILT performance and benefits for deep sub-wavelength lithography. SMIC selected 3 SRAM designs as the first test case, because SRAM bit-cells contain features which are challenging lithographically. Mask patterns generated from both conventional OPC and ILT were placed on the mask side-by-side. Mask manufacturability (including fracturing, writing time, inspection, and metrology) and wafer print performance of ILT were studied. The results demonstrated that ILT achieved better CD accuracy, produced substantially larger process window than conventional OPC, and met SMIC's 65nm process window requirements.

Locally Enhanced Image Quality with Tunable Hybrid Metasurfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shchelokova, Alena V.; Slobozhanyuk, Alexey P.; Melchakova, Irina V.; Glybovski, Stanislav B.; Webb, Andrew G.; Kivshar, Yuri S.; Belov, Pavel A.

2018-01-01

Metasurfaces represent a new paradigm in artificial subwavelength structures due to their potential to overcome many challenges typically associated with bulk metamaterials. The ability to make very thin structures and change their properties dynamically makes metasurfaces an exceptional meta-optics platform for engineering advanced electromagnetic and photonic metadevices. Here, we suggest and demonstrate experimentally a tunable metasurface capable of enhancing significantly the local image quality in magnetic resonance imaging. We present a design of the hybrid metasurface based on electromagnetically coupled dielectric and metallic elements. We demonstrate how to tailor the spectral characteristics of the metasurface eigenmodes by changing dynamically the effective permittivity of the structure. By maximizing a coupling between metasurface eigenmodes and transmitted and received fields in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, we enhance the device sensitivity that results in a substantial improvement of the image quality.

Parasite-induced ER stress response in hepatocytes facilitates Plasmodium liver stage infection.

PubMed

Inácio, Patricia; Zuzarte-Luís, Vanessa; Ruivo, Margarida T G; Falkard, Brie; Nagaraj, Nagarjuna; Rooijers, Koos; Mann, Matthias; Mair, Gunnar; Fidock, David A; Mota, Maria M

2015-08-01

Upon infection of a mammalian host, Plasmodium parasites first replicate inside hepatocytes, generating thousands of new parasites. Although Plasmodium intra-hepatic development represents a substantial metabolic challenge to the host hepatocyte, how infected cells respond to and integrate this stress remains poorly understood. Here, we present proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, revealing that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in host hepatocytes upon Plasmodium berghei infection. The expression of XBP1s--the active form of the UPR mediator XBP1--and the liver-specific UPR mediator CREBH is induced by P. berghei infection in vivo. Furthermore, this UPR induction increases parasite liver burden. Altogether, our data suggest that ER stress is a central feature of P. berghei intra-hepatic development, contributing to the success of infection. © 2015 The Authors.

50 years of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses: progress and prospects.

PubMed

Adams, Michael J; Lefkowitz, Elliot J; King, Andrew M Q; Harrach, Balázs; Harrison, Robert L; Knowles, Nick J; Kropinski, Andrew M; Krupovic, Mart; Kuhn, Jens H; Mushegian, Arcady R; Nibert, Max L; Sabanadzovic, Sead; Sanfaçon, Hélène; Siddell, Stuart G; Simmonds, Peter; Varsani, Arvind; Zerbini, Francisco Murilo; Orton, Richard J; Smith, Donald B; Gorbalenya, Alexander E; Davison, Andrew J

2017-05-01

We mark the 50th anniversary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by presenting a brief history of the organization since its foundation, showing how it has adapted to advancements in our knowledge of virus diversity and the methods used to characterize it. We also outline recent developments, supported by a grant from the Wellcome Trust (UK), that are facilitating substantial changes in the operations of the ICTV and promoting dialogue with the virology community. These developments will generate improved online resources, including a freely available and regularly updated ICTV Virus Taxonomy Report. They also include a series of meetings between the ICTV and the broader community focused on some of the major challenges facing virus taxonomy, with the outcomes helping to inform the future policy and practice of the ICTV.

Parasite-induced ER stress response in hepatocytes facilitates Plasmodium liver stage infection

PubMed Central

Inácio, Patricia; Zuzarte-Luís, Vanessa; Ruivo, Margarida TG; Falkard, Brie; Nagaraj, Nagarjuna; Rooijers, Koos; Mann, Matthias; Mair, Gunnar; Fidock, David A; Mota, Maria M

2015-01-01

Upon infection of a mammalian host, Plasmodium parasites first replicate inside hepatocytes, generating thousands of new parasites. Although Plasmodium intra-hepatic development represents a substantial metabolic challenge to the host hepatocyte, how infected cells respond to and integrate this stress remains poorly understood. Here, we present proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, revealing that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in host hepatocytes upon Plasmodium berghei infection. The expression of XBP1s—the active form of the UPR mediator XBP1—and the liver-specific UPR mediator CREBH is induced by P. berghei infection in vivo. Furthermore, this UPR induction increases parasite liver burden. Altogether, our data suggest that ER stress is a central feature of P. berghei intra-hepatic development, contributing to the success of infection. PMID:26113366

Using high-order polynomial basis in 3-D EM forward modeling based on volume integral equation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruglyakov, Mikhail; Kuvshinov, Alexey

2018-05-01

3-D interpretation of electromagnetic (EM) data of different origin and scale becomes a common practice worldwide. However, 3-D EM numerical simulations (modeling)—a key part of any 3-D EM data analysis—with realistic levels of complexity, accuracy and spatial detail still remains challenging from the computational point of view. We present a novel, efficient 3-D numerical solver based on a volume integral equation (IE) method. The efficiency is achieved by using a high-order polynomial (HOP) basis instead of the zero-order (piecewise constant) basis that is invoked in all routinely used IE-based solvers. We demonstrate that usage of the HOP basis allows us to decrease substantially the number of unknowns (preserving the same accuracy), with corresponding speed increase and memory saving.

From Disorder to Mis-Order: Structural Aspects of Pathogenic Oligomerization in Conformational Diseases.

PubMed

Yiu, Chin Pang Benny; Chen, Yu Wai

2017-01-01

Proteins implicated in neurological conformational diseases contain substantial amounts of "intrinsic disorder". These native monomeric functional states may transit into some oligomeric states that have high β-sheet contents and seed the formation of insoluble amyloid fibrils. The prevailing view is that these "toxic" oligomers should be targeted for drug development. Here, an overview of the diseases was presented, within the general framework of the oligomerization of intrinsically disordered proteins. These systems pose some specific challenges to structural studies: the toxic oligomers are transient, low in concentration, and often need to be studied in a heterogeneous environment. Nevertheless, there have been much exciting progress as a result of the creative use of experimental techniques, a selection of these were outlined. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Nano-technology and nano-toxicology.

PubMed

Maynard, Robert L

2012-01-01

Rapid developments in nano-technology are likely to confer significant benefits on mankind. But, as with perhaps all new technologies, these benefits are likely to be accompanied by risks, perhaps by new risks. Nano-toxicology is developing in parallel with nano-technology and seeks to define the hazards and risks associated with nano-materials: only when risks have been identified they can be controlled. This article discusses the reasons for concern about the potential effects on health of exposure to nano-materials and relates these to the evidence of the effects on health of the ambient aerosol. A number of hypotheses are proposed and the dangers of adopting unsubstantiated hypotheses are stressed. Nano-toxicology presents many challenges and will need substantial financial support if it is to develop at a rate sufficient to cope with developments in nano-technology.

DFTB3: Extension of the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding method (SCC-DFTB).

PubMed

Gaus, Michael; Cui, Qiang; Elstner, Marcus

2012-04-10

The self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding method (SCC-DFTB) is an approximate quantum chemical method derived from density functional theory (DFT) based on a second-order expansion of the DFT total energy around a reference density. In the present study we combine earlier extensions and improve them consistently with, first, an improved Coulomb interaction between atomic partial charges, and second, the complete third-order expansion of the DFT total energy. These modifications lead us to the next generation of the DFTB methodology called DFTB3, which substantially improves the description of charged systems containing elements C, H, N, O, and P, especially regarding hydrogen binding energies and proton affinities. As a result, DFTB3 is particularly applicable to biomolecular systems. Remaining challenges and possible solutions are also briefly discussed.

Scale-adaptive compressive tracking with feature integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wei; Li, Jicheng; Chen, Xiao; Li, Shuxin

2016-05-01

Numerous tracking-by-detection methods have been proposed for robust visual tracking, among which compressive tracking (CT) has obtained some promising results. A scale-adaptive CT method based on multifeature integration is presented to improve the robustness and accuracy of CT. We introduce a keypoint-based model to achieve the accurate scale estimation, which can additionally give a prior location of the target. Furthermore, by the high efficiency of data-independent random projection matrix, multiple features are integrated into an effective appearance model to construct the naïve Bayes classifier. At last, an adaptive update scheme is proposed to update the classifier conservatively. Experiments on various challenging sequences demonstrate substantial improvements by our proposed tracker over CT and other state-of-the-art trackers in terms of dealing with scale variation, abrupt motion, deformation, and illumination changes.

Adapting large batteries of research measures for immigrants.

PubMed

Aroian, Karen J

2013-06-01

A four-step, streamlined process to adapt a large battery of measures for a study of mother-child adjustment in Arab Muslim immigrants and the lessons learned are described. The streamlined process includes adapting content, translation, pilot testing, and extensive psychometric evaluation but omits in-depth qualitative inquiry to identify the full content domain of the constructs of interest and cognitive interviews to assess how respondents interpret items. Lessons learned suggest that the streamlined process is not sufficient for certain measures, particularly when there is little published information about how the measure performs with different groups, the measure requires substantial item revision to achieve content equivalence, and the measure is both challenging to translate and has little to no redundancy. When these conditions are present, condition-specific procedures need to be added to the streamlined process.

Early events in speciation: Polymorphism for hybrid male sterility in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Reed, Laura K.; Markow, Therese A.

2004-01-01

Capturing the process of speciation early enough to determine the initial genetic causes of reproductive isolation remains a major challenge in evolutionary biology. We have found, to our knowledge, the first example of substantial intraspecific polymorphism for genetic factors contributing to hybrid male sterility. Specifically, we show that the occurrence of hybrid male sterility in crosses between Drosophila mojavensis and its sister species, Drosophila arizonae, is controlled by factors present at different frequencies in different populations of D. mojavensis. In addition, we show that hybrid male sterility is a complex phenotype; some hybrid males with motile sperm still cannot sire offspring. Because male sterility factors in hybrids between these species are not yet fixed within D. mojavensis, this system provides an invaluable opportunity to characterize the genetics of reproductive isolation at an early stage. PMID:15184657

Early events in speciation: polymorphism for hybrid male sterility in Drosophila.

PubMed

Reed, Laura K; Markow, Therese A

2004-06-15

Capturing the process of speciation early enough to determine the initial genetic causes of reproductive isolation remains a major challenge in evolutionary biology. We have found, to our knowledge, the first example of substantial intraspecific polymorphism for genetic factors contributing to hybrid male sterility. Specifically, we show that the occurrence of hybrid male sterility in crosses between Drosophila mojavensis and its sister species, Drosophila arizonae, is controlled by factors present at different frequencies in different populations of D. mojavensis. In addition, we show that hybrid male sterility is a complex phenotype; some hybrid males with motile sperm still cannot sire offspring. Because male sterility factors in hybrids between these species are not yet fixed within D. mojavensis, this system provides an invaluable opportunity to characterize the genetics of reproductive isolation at an early stage.

Engineering clinically relevant volumes of vascularized bone.

PubMed

Roux, Brianna M; Cheng, Ming-Huei; Brey, Eric M

2015-05-01

Vascularization remains one of the most important challenges that must be overcome for tissue engineering to be consistently implemented for reconstruction of large volume bone defects. An extensive vascular network is needed for transport of nutrients, waste and progenitor cells required for remodelling and repair. A variety of tissue engineering strategies have been investigated in an attempt to vascularize tissues, including those applying cells, soluble factor delivery strategies, novel design and optimization of bio-active materials, vascular assembly pre-implantation and surgical techniques. However, many of these strategies face substantial barriers that must be overcome prior to their ultimate translation into clinical application. In this review recent progress in engineering vascularized bone will be presented with an emphasis on clinical feasibility. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Effective Usability Engineering in Healthcare: A Vision of Usable and Safer Healthcare IT.

PubMed

Kushniruk, Andre; Senathirajah, Yalini; Borycki, Elizabeth

2017-01-01

Persistent problems with healthcare IT that is unusable and unsafe have been reported worldwide. In this paper we present our vision for deploying usability engineering in healthcare in a more substantive way in order to improve the current situation. The argument will be made that stronger and more substantial efforts need to be made to bring multiple usability engineering methods to bear on points in both system design and deployment (and not just as a one-time effort restricted to software product development). In addition, improved processes for ensuring the usability of commercial vendor-based systems being implemented in healthcare organizations need to be addressed. A discussion will also be provided on challenges and barriers that will need to be overcome to ensure that the heatlhcare IT that is released is both usable and safe.

Multiple pathways to identification: exploring the multidimensionality of academic identity formation in ethnic minority males.

PubMed

Matthews, Jamaal S

2014-04-01

Empirical trends denote the academic underachievement of ethnic minority males across various academic domains. Identity-based explanations for this persistent phenomenon describe ethnic minority males as disidentified with academics, alienated, and oppositional. The present work interrogates these theoretical explanations and empirically substantiates a multidimensional lens for discussing academic identity formation within 330 African American and Latino early-adolescent males. Both hierarchical and iterative person-centered methods were utilized and reveal 5 distinct profiles derived from 6 dimensions of academic identity. These profiles predict self-reported classroom grades, mastery orientation, and self-handicapping in meaningful and varied ways. The results demonstrate multiple pathways to motivation and achievement, challenging previous oversimplified stereotypes of marginalized males. This exploratory study triangulates unique interpersonal and intrapersonal attributes for promoting healthy identity development and academic achievement among ethnic minority adolescent males.

Nano-technology and nano-toxicology

PubMed Central

Maynard, Robert L.

2012-01-01

Rapid developments in nano-technology are likely to confer significant benefits on mankind. But, as with perhaps all new technologies, these benefits are likely to be accompanied by risks, perhaps by new risks. Nano-toxicology is developing in parallel with nano-technology and seeks to define the hazards and risks associated with nano-materials: only when risks have been identified they can be controlled. This article discusses the reasons for concern about the potential effects on health of exposure to nano-materials and relates these to the evidence of the effects on health of the ambient aerosol. A number of hypotheses are proposed and the dangers of adopting unsubstantiated hypotheses are stressed. Nano-toxicology presents many challenges and will need substantial financial support if it is to develop at a rate sufficient to cope with developments in nano-technology. PMID:22662021

Treatment of Crohn’s disease in pregnant women: Drug and multidisciplinary approaches

PubMed Central

Cury, Didia Bismara; Moss, Alan C

2014-01-01

Inflammatory bowel disease affects a substantial number of women in their reproductive years. Pregnancy presents a number of challenges for clinicians and patients; the health of the baby needs to be balanced with the need to maintain remission in the mother. Historically, treatments for Crohn’s disease (CD) were often discontinued during the pregnancy, or nursing period, due to concerns about teratogenicity. Fortunately, observational data has reported the relative safety of many agents used to treat CD, including 5-aminosalicylic acid, thiopurines, and tumor necrosis factor. Data on the long-term development outcomes of children exposed to these therapies in utero are still limited. It is most important that physicians educate the patient regarding the optimal time to conceive, discuss the possible risks, and together decide on the best management strategy. PMID:25083053

Monitoring CO2 emissions to gain a dynamic view of carbon allocation to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

PubMed

Slavíková, Renata; Püschel, David; Janoušková, Martina; Hujslová, Martina; Konvalinková, Tereza; Gryndlerová, Hana; Gryndler, Milan; Weiser, Martin; Jansa, Jan

2017-01-01

Quantification of carbon (C) fluxes in mycorrhizal plants is one of the important yet little explored tasks of mycorrhizal physiology and ecology. 13 CO 2 pulse-chase labelling experiments are increasingly being used to track the fate of C in these plant-microbial symbioses. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring of both the below- and aboveground CO 2 emissions remains a challenge, although it is necessary to establish the full C budget of mycorrhizal plants. Here, a novel CO 2 collection system is presented which allows assessment of gaseous CO 2 emissions (including isotopic composition of their C) from both belowground and shoot compartments. This system then is used to quantify the allocation of recently fixed C in mycorrhizal versus nonmycorrhizal Medicago truncatula plants with comparable biomass and mineral nutrition. Using this system, we confirmed substantially greater belowground C drain in mycorrhizal versus nonmycorrhizal plants, with the belowground CO 2 emissions showing large variation because of fluctuating environmental conditions in the glasshouse. Based on the assembled 13 C budget, the C allocation to the mycorrhizal fungus was between 2.3% (increased 13 C allocation to mycorrhizal substrate) and 2.9% (reduction of 13 C allocation to mycorrhizal shoots) of the plant gross photosynthetic production. Although the C allocation to shoot respiration (measured during one night only) did not differ between the mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants under our experimental conditions, it presented a substantial part (∼10%) of the plant C budget, comparable to the amount of CO 2 released belowground. These results advocate quantification of both above- and belowground CO 2 emissions in future studies.

Introducing Large-Scale Innovation in Schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotiriou, Sofoklis; Riviou, Katherina; Cherouvis, Stephanos; Chelioti, Eleni; Bogner, Franz X.

2016-08-01

Education reform initiatives tend to promise higher effectiveness in classrooms especially when emphasis is given to e-learning and digital resources. Practical changes in classroom realities or school organization, however, are lacking. A major European initiative entitled Open Discovery Space (ODS) examined the challenge of modernizing school education via a large-scale implementation of an open-scale methodology in using technology-supported innovation. The present paper describes this innovation scheme which involved schools and teachers all over Europe, embedded technology-enhanced learning into wider school environments and provided training to teachers. Our implementation scheme consisted of three phases: (1) stimulating interest, (2) incorporating the innovation into school settings and (3) accelerating the implementation of the innovation. The scheme's impact was monitored for a school year using five indicators: leadership and vision building, ICT in the curriculum, development of ICT culture, professional development support, and school resources and infrastructure. Based on about 400 schools, our study produced four results: (1) The growth in digital maturity was substantial, even for previously high scoring schools. This was even more important for indicators such as vision and leadership" and "professional development." (2) The evolution of networking is presented graphically, showing the gradual growth of connections achieved. (3) These communities became core nodes, involving numerous teachers in sharing educational content and experiences: One out of three registered users (36 %) has shared his/her educational resources in at least one community. (4) Satisfaction scores ranged from 76 % (offer of useful support through teacher academies) to 87 % (good environment to exchange best practices). Initiatives such as ODS add substantial value to schools on a large scale.

The changing face of nanomaterials: Risk assessment challenges along the value chain.

PubMed

Mattsson, Mats-Olof; Simkó, Myrtill

2017-03-01

Risk assessment (RA) of manufactured nanomaterials (MNM) is essential for regulatory purposes and risk management activities. Similar to RA of "classical" chemicals, MNM RA requires knowledge about exposure as well as of hazard potential and dose response relationships. What makes MNM RA especially challenging is the multitude of materials (which is expected to increase substantially in the future), the complexity of MNM value chains and life cycles, the accompanying possible changes in material properties over time and in contact with various environmental and organismal milieus, and the difficulties to obtain proper exposure data and to consider the proper dose metric. This article discusses these challenges and also critically overviews the current state of the art regarding MNM RA approaches. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Changing Pattern of Doctoral Education in Public Health From 1985 to 2006 and the Challenge of Doctoral Training for Practice and Leadership

PubMed Central

Declercq, Eugene; Caldwell, Karen; Hobbs, Suzanne Havala; Guyer, Bernard

2008-01-01

We examined trends in doctoral education in public health and the challenges facing practice-oriented doctor of public health (DrPH) programs. We found a rapid rise in the numbers of doctoral programs and students. Most of the increase was in PhD students who in 2006 composed 73% of the total 5247 current public health doctoral students, compared with 53% in 1985. There has also been a substantial increase (40%) in students in DrPH programs since 2002. Challenges raised by the increased demand for DrPH practice-oriented education relate to admissions, curriculum, assessment processes, and faculty hiring and promotion. We describe approaches to practice-based doctoral education taken by three schools of public health. PMID:18633094

Helping Children at Home and School II: Handouts for Families and Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canter, Andrea S., Ed.; Paige, Leslie Z., Ed.; Roth, Mark D., Ed.; Romero, Ivonne, Ed.; Carroll, Servio A., Ed.

2004-01-01

This document builds on the success of earlier editions. It includes a number of substantially revised handouts updated from the previous editions, plus many new topics that reflect the challenges parents and educators face in the 21st century. Many handouts for families are also provided in Spanish. This document is a comprehensive resource for…

Challenges and opportunities for animal conservation from renewable energy development

Treesearch

T.A. Katzner; J.A. Johnson; D.M. Evans; T.W.J. Garner; M.E. Gompper; R. Altwegg; T.A. Branch; I.J. Gordon; N. Pettorelli

2013-01-01

Global climate change is among the greatest threats confronting both human and natural systems (IPCC, 2007). A substantial component of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is from energy production, generated via the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal, natural gas and refined petroleum. Given that reduction in global energy consumption is unlikely over the next...

"Seeing the Whole Elephant": Changing Mindsets and Empowering Stakeholders to Meaningfully Manage Accountability and Improvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bush-Mecenas, Susan; Marsh, Julie A.; Montes de Oca, David; Hough, Heather

2018-01-01

School accountability and improvement policy are on the precipice of a paradigm shift. While the multiple-measure dashboard accountability approach holds great promise for promoting more meaningful learning opportunities for all students, our research indicates that this can come with substantial challenges in practice. We reflect upon the lessons…

Expanded School Sinking Fund Taxes: Infrastructure Investment, or Backtracking on Proposal A?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Patrick L.; Watkins, Scott D.; Geckil, Ilhan K.

In 1994, Michigan voters approved Proposal A, which reduced school property taxes, increased the sales tax, and established a per-pupil funding guarantee for public schools. This report describes the effects of Proposal A and challenges to it. Since Proposal A was implemented, funding for schools has grown substantially while property taxes have…

Attacking Poverty. World Development Report, 2000/2001.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World Bank, Washington, DC.

This report seeks to expand the understanding of poverty and its causes and sets out actions to create to create a world free of poverty in all its dimensions. The report both builds on past thinking and strategy and substantially broadens and deepens what is judged to be necessary to meet the challenge of reducing poverty. It argues that major…

Couple Psychoeducation for New Parents: Observed and Potential Effects on Parenting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halford, W. Kim; Petch, Jemima

2010-01-01

The transition to parenthood is a substantial challenge for many couples, and the extent to which the partners can support each other and their relationship is strongly related to the sensitivity and responsiveness of their parenting of their infant. This paper critically analyses the links between the couple relationship and parenting of infants…

A self-adjusting expandable GPS collar for male elk

Treesearch

Brian L. Dick; Scott L. Findholt; Bruce K. Johnson

2013-01-01

It is a challenge to use collars on male cervids because their neck size can increase substantially during the rut and also because of growth as the animal matures. We describe how to build a self-adjusting expandable collar for yearling or adult male Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) to which very high frequency transmitters and global...

When Cultures Clash: The Story of One School's Journey from Acculturation to Understanding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heinrich, Jill

2018-01-01

This qualitative case study examines the conflicts and challenges that one American junior high school experienced when a substantial number of African-American families migrated to the community from Chicago to secure Section 8 housing; their housing projects had recently been felled through the auspices of HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for…

Assessment of Bilingual Children with "Inattention," "Over Activity" and "Impulsivity"--Challenges and Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Özerk, Meral R.; Handorff, Jan Arne; Özerk, Kamil

2011-01-01

ADHD is one of the widespread neurological disorders among children. While a substantial amount of research have addressed the issues related to assessment practices and diagnosis criteria among majority language speaking children, ADHD among bilingual children or linguistic minority children has not yet been addressed and discussed so much in the…

DREAMing Big: Understanding the Current Context of Academic and Career Decision-Making for Undocumented Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kantamneni, Neeta; Dharmalingam, Kavitha; Tate, Jessica M.; Perlman, Beth L.; Majmudar, Chaitasi R.; Shada, Nichole

2016-01-01

Undocumented student immigrants in the United States face substantial challenges in higher education including systemic, institutional, and cultural barriers that often impede access to and success in higher education. These barriers directly influence academic and work opportunities. The purpose of this article is to discuss the myriad of factors…

The U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development: Progress and Challenges Ahead

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowe, Debra; Gentile, Susan Jane; Clevey, Lilah

2015-01-01

There has been substantial growth in Education for Sustainability (EfS) in the United States over the past 10 years. Efforts within higher education have created thousands of new programs, majors, minors, specializations, certificates, and across-the-curricula integrations of sustainability learning with an emphasis on real-world problem-solving…

Sustainability of High-Level Isolation Capabilities among US Ebola Treatment Centers.

PubMed

Herstein, Jocelyn J; Biddinger, Paul D; Gibbs, Shawn G; Le, Aurora B; Jelden, Katelyn C; Hewlett, Angela L; Lowe, John J

2017-06-01

To identify barriers to maintaining and applying capabilities of US high-level isolation units (HLIUs) used during the Ebola virus disease outbreak, during 2016 we surveyed HLIUs. HLIUs identified sustainability challenges and reported the highly infectious diseases they would treat. HLIUs expended substantial resources in development but must strategize models of sustainability to maintain readiness.

Insight into Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Awareness of Illness in Adolescent Schizophrenia Patients with and without OCD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faragian, Sarit; Kurs, Rena; Poyurovsky, Michael

2008-01-01

A substantial proportion of adolescent schizophrenia patients also has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As the reliability of OCD identification in schizophrenia has been challenged, we evaluated insight into OCD symptoms and awareness of schizophrenia, using the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale and the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental…

Partnering for Improvement: "Communities of Practice and Their Role in Scale Up." Conference Paper

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cannata, Marisa; Cohen-Vogel, Lora; Sorum, Michael

2015-01-01

The past several decades have seen a substantial amount of time, resources, and expertise focused on producing sustainable improvement in schools at scale. Research on these efforts have highlighted how complex this challenge is, as it needs to attend to building teacher support and participation, aligning with the organizational context, and…

Challenge and Change in Appalachia: The Story of Hindman Settlement School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stoddart, Jess

Founded in 1902 by Katherine Pettit and May Stone, the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, Kentucky, grew out of the Progressive movement. During the golden age of the school, 1915-32, the reputation of its academic program, health work, and other settlement activities brought substantial renown and influence to the school and its founders.…

Social Interaction and Cooperative Activities: Drawing Plans as a Means of Increasing Engagement for Children with ASD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peters, Brenda; Forlin, Chris; McInerney, Dennis; Maclean, Rupert

2013-01-01

A substantial amount of learning in schools takes place within social contexts and class-based group activities; however, social learning situations, communication and social cognition development for children with ASD can be a challenge for the children and their teachers. This paper explores what happens when children with ASD draw…

Influence of Geographic Affiliation on Student Performance in Online Geology and Meteorology Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sumrall, Jeanne L.; Clary, Renee M.; Larson, Erik B.

2017-01-01

The online learning environment can add substantial advantages to learning such as continuous access to material and the ability to foster learning through additional visual supplemental materials, but it can also add further challenges that may not be as evident when teaching traditional, face-to-face courses. An individual's place affiliation…

Effects of Fixed-Time Reinforcement Delivered by Teachers for Reducing Problem Behavior in Special Education Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomlin, Michelle; Reed, Phil

2012-01-01

The effects of fixed-time (FT) reinforcement schedules on the disruptive behavior of 4 students in special education classrooms were studied. Attention provided on FT schedules in the context of a multiple-baseline design across participants substantially decreased all students' challenging behavior. Disruptive behavior was maintained at levels…

Comparing Social Behaviour across Culture and Nations: The "What" and "Why" Questions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akande, Adebowale

2009-01-01

How is the cultural construct of individualism-collectivism related to self-esteem? This is a complex and challenging proposition. Self-esteem (i.e., a person's global, evaluative view of his/her self), has resisted unequivocal definition or clear operationalization. There is a substantial literature on self-esteem hypothesis which may be stated…

Two case studies of highly insoluble plutonium inhalation with implications for bioassay.

PubMed

Carbaugh, E H; La Bone, T R

2003-01-01

Two well characterised Pu inhalation cases show some remarkable similarities between substantially different types of Pu oxide. The circumstances of exposure, therapy, bioassay data, chemical solubility studies and dosimetry associated with these cases suggest that highly insoluble Pu may be more common than previously thought, and can pose significant challenges to bioassay programmes.

Two Case Studies of Highly Insoluble Plutonium Inhalation with Implications for Bioassay

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

Carbaugh, Eugene H.; La Bone, Thomas R.

2003-01-01

Two well-characterized Pu inhalation cases show some remarkable similarities between substantially different types of Pu oxide. The circumstances of exposure, therapy, bioassay data, chemical solubility studies, and dosimetry associated with these cases suggests taht highly insoluble Pu may be more common than previously thought, and can pose significant challenges to bioassay programs.

Rigor, Transparency, and Reporting Social Science Research: Why Guidelines Don't Have to Kill Your Story

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wharton, Tracy

2017-01-01

Dissemination of research is the most challenging aspect of building the evidence base. Despite peer review, evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of papers leave out details that are necessary to judge bias, consider replication, or initiate meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Reporting guidelines were created to ensure minimally…

The Effect of iPad Use during Independent Practice for Students with Challenging Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flower, Andrea

2014-01-01

In the classroom, time on-task is critical because it is linked to learning and success. When off-task behaviors occur, substantial learning and instructional time may be lost. Many students with disabilities struggle with remaining on-task, particularly during independent practice periods. Strategies to increase time on-task during classroom…

Research to Practice: The Future of the Regional Educational Labs. Brown Center Letters on Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitehurst, Grover J.

2010-01-01

The challenge of creating evidence-based practice bedevils a number of fields. In education, the federal government has historically placed substantial responsibility for translational research in the hands of the Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs), which were established in 1966 as part of the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act…

The Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa. Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture (1st, Washington, DC, November 1, 1985).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNamara, Robert S.

The economic crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa threatens to condemn an entire continent to human misery unless stronger action is taken to control population growth, reverse ecological devastation, eliminate distortions in domestic economic policies, and increase external development finance. Substantial increases in financial assistance to Africa are…

The Experiences of Blacks Who Obtained Doctorates from Predominantly White Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nickelberry, Tressie A.

2012-01-01

Being in a doctoral program requires a substantial amount of one's time, energy, and commitment. Doctoral students face many challenges while pursuing their degrees. For example, some may be on financial aid, work full-time, and/or have a family. While doctoral students face many hurdles, Black doctoral students face additional barriers. The…

Understanding Vocabulary Use by Native American Students and the Relationship with Special Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Costa-Guerra, Leslie; Costa-Guerra, Boris

2016-01-01

The Pueblo People of the Southwest face numerous challenges with reference to language issues. A substantial number of Native American students are placed into special education possibly due to different linguistic abilities. The over-identification of Native American students for special education programs may be due to the lack of knowledge as a…

Bias on the Bench: Sex, Judges, and Mock Trial Simulations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noblitt, Lynnette S.; Zeigler, Sara L.; Westbrook, Miranda N.

2011-01-01

Given substantial evidence of sex discrimination in the legal profession and the role of attorneys and judges in perpetuating gender stereotypes, educators have an obligation to prepare female students for the challenges they will face, educate students of both sexes about the role of bias in litigation, and seek to mitigate the influence of…

Charting a New Course to Retirement: How Charter Schools Handle Teacher Pensions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olberg, Amanda; Podgursky, Michael J.

2011-01-01

In the wake of the economic downturn that began in 2008, public schools face serious and seemingly long-term fiscal challenges. Rising pension costs are a particular concern for school districts, whose dollars help prop up state retirement plans that often have substantial unfunded liabilities. Yet public school districts have no alternatives;…

Efficient initial attacks: analysis of capacity and funding provides insights to wildfire protection planning

Treesearch

Jeremy Fried; Paul Meznarich

2014-01-01

Large wildfires in the United States pose significant challenges to fire management agencies charged with protecting lives, property, and natural resources. A vigorous initial response to a wildfire, a process referred to as "initial attack," can greatly reduce the likelihood of the fire becoming larger and causing substantial damage. Successful...

Intersection of Re-Designated National League for Nursing Centers of Excellence(TM) and Quality in Nursing Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merriam, Deborah

2013-01-01

Nursing education is challenged to meet a growing demand for nurses, while substantiating the quality of the educational experience as well as the achievement of desired student outcomes. The National League for Nursing (NLN) Centers of Excellence (COE) in Nursing Education(TM) program represents high performing nursing schools which utilize…

Generalized Partial Least Squares Approach for Nominal Multinomial Logit Regression Models with a Functional Covariate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albaqshi, Amani Mohammed H.

2017-01-01

Functional Data Analysis (FDA) has attracted substantial attention for the last two decades. Within FDA, classifying curves into two or more categories is consistently of interest to scientists, but multi-class prediction within FDA is challenged in that most classification tools have been limited to binary response applications. The functional…

FBAs and BIPs: Avoiding and Addressing Four Common Challenges Related to Fidelity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hirsch, Shanna E.; Bruhn, Allison L.; Lloyd, John Wills; Katsiyannis, Antonis

2017-01-01

There is substantial empirical evidence that the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) process is an effective means to reduce student problem behavior and increase desirable behaviors (e.g., What Works Clearinghouse, 2016). The use of an FBA as the basis for a behavior intervention plan (BIP) has been a requirement for certain disciplinary…

Clearing Hurdles: The Challenges of Implementation of Mental Health Evidence-Based Practices in Under-Resourced Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eiraldi, Ricardo; Wolk, Courtney Benjamin; Locke, Jill; Beidas, Rinad

2015-01-01

Schools have become the main provider of services to children with mental health needs. Although there is substantial literature on barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in under-resourced school districts, less has been written on how to overcome those barriers. Providing mental health services in the school setting…

Reputations, Rankings, and Realities of Social Work Schools: Challenges for Future Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldman, Ronald A.

2006-01-01

This study examines the publications in refereed professional journals that ranked American schools of social work for a 13-year period. The trends are contrasted with those reported in the most widely disseminated rankings of social work schools, namely, "U.S. News and World Report." Substantial differences emerge when findings from the 2 data…

Continuing challenges for computer-based neuropsychological tests.

PubMed

Letz, Richard

2003-08-01

A number of issues critical to the development of computer-based neuropsychological testing systems that remain continuing challenges to their widespread use in occupational and environmental health are reviewed. Several computer-based neuropsychological testing systems have been developed over the last 20 years, and they have contributed substantially to the study of neurologic effects of a number of environmental exposures. However, many are no longer supported and do not run on contemporary personal computer operating systems. Issues that are continuing challenges for development of computer-based neuropsychological tests in environmental and occupational health are discussed: (1) some current technological trends that generally make test development more difficult; (2) lack of availability of usable speech recognition of the type required for computer-based testing systems; (3) implementing computer-based procedures and tasks that are improvements over, not just adaptations of, their manually-administered predecessors; (4) implementing tests of a wider range of memory functions than the limited range now available; (5) paying more attention to motivational influences that affect the reliability and validity of computer-based measurements; and (6) increasing the usability of and audience for computer-based systems. Partial solutions to some of these challenges are offered. The challenges posed by current technological trends are substantial and generally beyond the control of testing system developers. Widespread acceptance of the "tablet PC" and implementation of accurate small vocabulary, discrete, speaker-independent speech recognition would enable revolutionary improvements to computer-based testing systems, particularly for testing memory functions not covered in existing systems. Dynamic, adaptive procedures, particularly ones based on item-response theory (IRT) and computerized-adaptive testing (CAT) methods, will be implemented in new tests that will be more efficient, reliable, and valid than existing test procedures. These additional developments, along with implementation of innovative reporting formats, are necessary for more widespread acceptance of the testing systems.

Recent Updates on Novel Approaches in Insulin Drug Delivery: A Review of Challenges and Pharmaceutical Implications.

PubMed

Pandey, Manisha; Choudhury, Hira; Yi, Cheah Xiao; Mun, Chen Wei; Ping, Goh Khang; Rou, Guee Xin; Singh, Bhalqish Jeet Kaur A/P Ambar Jeet; Jhee, Angel Ng Ann; Chin, Lee Kai; Kesharwani, Prashant; Gorain, Bapi; Hussain, Zahid

2018-05-22

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder of glucose metabolism, is mainly associated with insulin resistance to the body cells, or impaired production of insulin by the pancreatic β-cells. Insulin is mainly required to regulate glucose metabolism in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients; however, many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus also require insulin, especially when their condition cannot be controlled solely by oral hypoglycemic agents. Hence, major researches are ongoing attempting to improve the delivery of insulin in order to make it more convenient to patients who experience side effects from the conventional treatment procedure or non-adherence to insulin regimen due to multiple comorbid conditions. Conventionally, insulin is administered via subcutaneous route which is also one of the sole reasons of patient's non-compliance due to the invasiveness of this method. Several attempts have been done to improve patient compliance, reduce side effects, improve delivery adherence, and to enhance pharmaceutical performance of the insulin therapy. Despite of facing substantial challenges in developing efficient delivery systems for insulin, vast researches have been carried out for the development of smart delivery systems to delivery insulin via ocular, buccal, pulmonary, oral, transdermal, as well as rectal routes. Therefore, the present review was aimed to overview the challenges encountered with the current insulin delivery systems and to summarize recent advancements in technology of various novel insulin delivery systems being discovered and introduced in the current market. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Nonlinear estimation for arrays of chemical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yosinski, Jason; Paffenroth, Randy

2010-04-01

Reliable detection of hazardous materials is a fundamental requirement of any national security program. Such materials can take a wide range of forms including metals, radioisotopes, volatile organic compounds, and biological contaminants. In particular, detection of hazardous materials in highly challenging conditions - such as in cluttered ambient environments, where complex collections of analytes are present, and with sensors lacking specificity for the analytes of interest - is an important part of a robust security infrastructure. Sophisticated single sensor systems provide good specificity for a limited set of analytes but often have cumbersome hardware and environmental requirements. On the other hand, simple, broadly responsive sensors are easily fabricated and efficiently deployed, but such sensors individually have neither the specificity nor the selectivity to address analyte differentiation in challenging environments. However, arrays of broadly responsive sensors can provide much of the sensitivity and selectivity of sophisticated sensors but without the substantial hardware overhead. Unfortunately, arrays of simple sensors are not without their challenges - the selectivity of such arrays can only be realized if the data is first distilled using highly advanced signal processing algorithms. In this paper we will demonstrate how the use of powerful estimation algorithms, based on those commonly used within the target tracking community, can be extended to the chemical detection arena. Herein our focus is on algorithms that not only provide accurate estimates of the mixture of analytes in a sample, but also provide robust measures of ambiguity, such as covariances.