Applicability of the control configured design approach to advanced earth orbital transportation systems

The applicability of the control configured design approach (CCV) to advanced earth orbital transportation systems was studied. The baseline system investigated was fully reusable vertical take-off/horizontal landing single-stage-to-orbit vehicle and had mission requirements similar to the space shuttle orbiter. Technical analyses were made to determine aerodynamic, flight control and subsystem design characteristics. Figures of merit were assessed on vehicle dry weight and orbital payload. The results indicated that the major parameters for CCV designs are hypersonic trim, aft center of gravity, and control surface heating. Optimized CCV designs can be controllable and provide substantial payload gains over conventional non-CCV design vertical take-off vehicles

Conceptualising production, productivity and technology in pharmacy practice: a novel framework for policy, education and research.

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND: People and health systems worldwide face serious challenges due to shifting disease demographics, rising population demands and weaknesses in healthcare provision, including capacity shortages and lack of impact of healthcare services. These multiple challenges, linked with the global push to achieve universal health coverage, have made apparent the importance of investing in workforce development to improve population health and economic well-being. In relation to medicines, health systems face challenges in terms of access to needed medicines, optimising medicines use and reducing risk. In 2017, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) published global policy on workforce development ('the Nanjing Statements') that describe an envisioned future for professional education and training. The documents make clear that expanding the pharmacy workforce benefits patients, and continually improving education and training produces better clinical outcomes. AIMS AND PURPOSE: The opportunities for harnessing new technologies in pharmacy practice have been relatively ignored. This paper presents a conceptual framework for analysing production methods, productivity and technology in pharmacy practice that differentiates between dispensing and pharmaceutical care services. We outline a framework that may be employed to study the relationship between pharmacy practice and productivity, shaped by educational and technological inputs. METHOD AND RESULTS: The analysis is performed from the point of view of health systems economics. In relation to pharmaceutical care (patient-oriented practice), pharmacists are service providers; however, their primary purpose is not to deliver consultations, but to maximise the quantum of health gain they secure. Our analysis demonstrates that 'technology shock' is clearly beneficial compared with orthodox notions of productivity or incremental gain implementations. Additionally, the whole process of providing professional services using 'pharmaceutical care technologies' is governed by local institutional frames, suggesting that activities may be structured differently in different places and countries. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Addressing problems with medication use with the development of a pharmaceutical workforce that is sufficient in quantity and competence is a long-term issue. As a result of this analysis, there emerges a challenge about the profession's relationship with existing and emerging technical innovations. Our novel framework is designed to facilitate policy, education and research by providing an analytical approach to service delivery. By using this approach, the profession could develop examples of good practice in both developed and developing countries worldwide

Validating a GPS collar-based method to estimate parturition events and calving locations for two barren-ground caribou herds

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2019In remote landscapes, it is difficult and expensive to document animal behaviors such as location and timing of parturition. When aerial surveys cannot be conducted as a result of weather, personnel or fiscal constraints, analyses of GPS collar movement data may provide an alternate way to estimate parturition rates and calving ground locations. I validated two methods (population-based method and individual-based method), developed to detect calving events of sedentary woodland caribou, on multiple years of data for two different migratory barren-ground caribou herds in Alaska, the Porcupine and Fortymile herds. I compared model estimates of population parturition rates, individual calving events, calving locations and calving dates to estimates from aerial survey data for both herds. For the Porcupine herd we also compared model estimates of annual calving ground sizes and locations of concentrated calving area centroids to those found with aerial survey. More years of data would be required for additional statistical power but for both the Porcupine and Fortymile herds, we found no significant difference between the population-based and individual-based method in: 1) individual classification rate accuracy (0.85 vs. 0.88, respectively; t = -7, P = 0.09, df = 1 and 0.85 vs. 0.83, respectively; t = 0.46, P = 0.69, df = 2) or 2) annual average distance from aerial survey calving locations (8.9 vs. 7.8 km, respectively; t = 0.16, P = 0.90, and 5.2 vs. 3.7 km, respectively; t = 1.03, P = 0.20). Median date of calving was estimated within 0-3 days of that estimated by aerial survey for both methods. Population parturition rate estimates from aerial survey, the population-based and individual-based methods were not significantly different for the PCH or FCH (0.91, 0.88 and 0.95, respectively; F = 0.67, P = 0.60, df = 2, and 0.83, 0.83 and 0.96, respectively; F = 3.85, P = 0.12, df = 2). Ultimately, more years of data would be required to support or reject the lack of significant differences between methods that we observed.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish and GameChapter 1: Porcupine Caribou Herd - Validating a GPS-based method for estimating parturition events and calving locations -- Chapter 2: Fortymile Caribou Herd - Validating a GPS-based method for estimating parturition events and calving locations -- General conclusion

Parsing PARP: the enzymatic and biophysical characterization of poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerases I and II

Includes bibliographical references.2015 Summer.The ADP-ribosyl transferase (ART) family is a prominent group of at least seventeen enzymes comprised of mono (ADP-ribose) transferases (MARTs) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). Each family member contains a conserved PARP signature motif in the catalytic domain. Enzymatically active proteins, in the presence of co-factor NAD+, catalyze individual or multiple ADP-ribose groups onto themselves or other proteins in automodification and heteromodification, respectively. The act of ADP-ribosylation implicates the ART family in a multitude of cellular processes including, but not limited to, transcription, apoptosis, DNA damage, metabolism, and inflammation. The founding member of the ART family is PARP-1, a first responder to DNA damage and regulator of active gene expression. In its inactive state and as a chromatin architectural protein, PARP-1 tightly binds chromatin, thereby regulating cellular activities, signifying the importance of PARP-1 and chromatin interaction. Importantly, PARP-1 must be activated and automodified in order to bind histones and gain nucleosome assembly function. Structurally similar and in many ways thought to be functionally redundant, PARP-2 is also thought to primarily function in the DNA damage response. PARP-2 has a non-canonical DNA binding domain, and therefore it is able to recognize different types of DNA structures in comparison to PARP-1, which could suggest a unique role for PARP-2 in repair. PARP-2 has not been extensively studied in a chromatin or gene regulation context due to this assumed redundancy. Given the pronounced functional changes in PARP-1 upon automodification, it is important to better understand what exactly triggers its enzymatic activity. Similarly, due to the functional redundancy of PARP-2, insight into activators of its enzymatic activity could indicate specificity and selectivity for the protein. However, determining the details of nuclear components that activate PARP-1 and PARP-2 are limited by the availability of a reliable quantitative and kinetic assay, as well as by the availability of defined substrates. These limitations hinder the separation of potent, and thus biologically relevant, activators from weak or non-specific activators. Utilizing a fluorescence based enzyme assay adapted for this system, kinetic parameters of PARP-1 and PARP-2 allosteric activators are reported here. As proof of principle and to test the reliability of the enzymatic assay, PARP-1 and PARP-2 activity was first tested with nucleic acids and other previously reported activators, such as nucleosomes and histones. Next, potentially novel activators were tested. Notably, PARP-1 is activated in the presence of its enzymatic product, PAR, indicating a mechanism by which PARP-1 could spread at sites of DNA damage and active gene expression. PARP-2 exhibits unique activation and specificity different from that of PARP-1 through its enzymatic preference for RNA. Further, PARP-1 remains the prominent chromatin related PARP due to the weak interaction, both activity and affinity, of chromatin with PARP-2. However, while PARP-1 and PARP-2 can act individually, affinity and activity studies demonstrate a PARP-1 and PARP-2 complex suggesting that these proteins can act sequentially and simultaneously with one another during a PAR-mediated recruitment and signaling cascade. Overall, these data indicate novel functions and mechanisms for PARP-1 and PARP-2 within the nucleus as critical responders to DNA damage and gene regulation

Interpersonal interactions in instrumental lessons: teacher/students verbal and non-verbal behaviours

This study examined verbal and non-verbal teacher/student interpersonal interactions in higher education instrumental music lessons. Twenty-four lessons were videotaped and teacher/ student behaviours were analysed using a researcher-designed instrument. The findings indicate predominance of student and teacher joke among the verbal behaviours with no substantial gender differences between males and females. Deceit cues were the most frequent among the non-verbal behaviours, with the males displaying more gestures of deceit than the females. Other gender differences include the female students using courting signals towards both teacher groups and the female teachers showing interest towards the male students. The presence of positive verbal and negative non-verbal behaviours highlights the mixed messages present in teaching. Implications for instrumental teaching practice include greater focus on gender differences in interpersonal interactions and visual cues to improve communication and teacher/student relationship in the instrumental studio

Identification and Localization of Three Classes of Myosins in Pollen Tubes of \u3ci\u3eLilium longiflorum\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eNicotiana alata\u3c/i\u3e

The presence and localization of actin and myosin have been examined in pollen tubes of Lilium longiflorum and Nicotiana alata. Immunoblot analysis of pollen tube extracts with antibodies to actin, myosins IA and IB, myosin II, and myosin V reveals the presence of these contractile proteins. Immunofluorescence microscopy using various methods to preserve the pollen tubes; chemical fixation, rapid freeze fixation and freeze substitution (RF-FS) followed by rehydration or by embeddment in a methacrylate mixture, was performed to optimize preservation. Immunocytochemistry reaffirmed that actin is localized longitudinally in the active streaming lanes and near the cortical surface of the pollen tube. Myosin I was localized to the plasma membrane, larger organelles, the surface of the generative cell and the vegetative nucleus, whereas, myosin V was found in the vegetative cytoplasm in a punctate fashion representing smaller organelles. Myosin II subfragment 1 and light meromyosin were localized in a punctate fashion on the larger organelles throughout the vegetative cytoplasm. In addition, isolated generative cells and vegetative nuclei labeled only with the myosin I antibody. Competition studies indicated the specificity of the heterologous antibodies utilized in this study suggesting the presence of three classes of myosins in pollen. These results lead to the following hypothesis: Myosin I may move the generative cell and vegetative nucleus unidirectionally through the pollen tube to the tip, while myosin V moves the smaller organelles and myosins I and II move the larger organelles (bidirectionally) that are involved in growth

Association of Accelerometry-Measured Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Events in Mobility-Limited Older Adults: The LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) Study.

BACKGROUND:Data are sparse regarding the value of physical activity (PA) surveillance among older adults-particularly among those with mobility limitations. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal associations between objectively measured daily PA and the incidence of cardiovascular events among older adults in the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) study. METHODS AND RESULTS:Cardiovascular events were adjudicated based on medical records review, and cardiovascular risk factors were controlled for in the analysis. Home-based activity data were collected by hip-worn accelerometers at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months postrandomization to either a physical activity or health education intervention. LIFE study participants (n=1590; age 78.9±5.2 [SD] years; 67.2% women) at baseline had an 11% lower incidence of experiencing a subsequent cardiovascular event per 500 steps taken per day based on activity data (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.96; P=0.001). At baseline, every 30 minutes spent performing activities ≥500 counts per minute (hazard ratio, 0.75; confidence interval, 0.65-0.89 [P=0.001]) were also associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events. Throughout follow-up (6, 12, and 24 months), both the number of steps per day (per 500 steps; hazard ratio, 0.90, confidence interval, 0.85-0.96 [P=0.001]) and duration of activity ≥500 counts per minute (per 30 minutes; hazard ratio, 0.76; confidence interval, 0.63-0.90 [P=0.002]) were significantly associated with lower cardiovascular event rates. CONCLUSIONS:Objective measurements of physical activity via accelerometry were associated with cardiovascular events among older adults with limited mobility (summary score >10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery) both using baseline and longitudinal data. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01072500

Detector Description and Performance for the First Coincidence Observations between LIGO and GEO

For 17 days in August and September 2002, the LIGO and GEO interferometer gravitational wave detectors were operated in coincidence to produce their first data for scientific analysis. Although the detectors were still far from their design sensitivity levels, the data can be used to place better upper limits on the flux of gravitational waves incident on the earth than previous direct measurements. This paper describes the instruments and the data in some detail, as a companion to analysis papers based on the first data.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures 17 Sept 03: author list amended, minor editorial change

Analysis of LIGO data for gravitational waves from binary neutron stars

We report on a search for gravitational waves from coalescing compact binary systems in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. The analysis uses data taken by two of the three LIGO interferometers during the first LIGO science run and illustrates a method of setting upper limits on inspiral event rates using interferometer data. The analysis pipeline is described with particular attention to data selection and coincidence between the two interferometers. We establish an observational upper limit of $\mathcal{R}<$1.7 \times 10^{2}$per year per Milky Way Equivalent Galaxy (MWEG), with 90coalescence rate of binary systems in which each component has a mass in the range 1--3$M_\odot$.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure

Search for Gravitational Waves from Primordial Black Hole Binary Coalescences in the Galactic Halo

We use data from the second science run of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors to search for the gravitational waves from primordial black hole (PBH) binary coalescence with component masses in the range 0.2--$1.0 M_\odot$. The analysis requires a signal to be found in the data from both LIGO observatories, according to a set of coincidence criteria. No inspiral signals were found. Assuming a spherical halo with core radius 5 kpc extending to 50 kpc containing non-spinning black holes with masses in the range 0.2--$1.0 M_\odot$, we place an observational upper limit on the rate of PBH coalescence of 63 per year per Milky Way halo (MWH) with 90% confidence.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.