Electronic height indicator for agricultural machines

This paper addresses the design and development of a low cost electronic height indicator for a self-propelled spray rig. The prime objective is to give a spray rig operator an accurate indication of the boom height above the ground by using an electronic display in the tractor cabin to improve the efficiency of chemical application. This indicator is implemented using a microcontroller and a Hall-effect sensor. The field test proves that this indicator has improved the spraying performance by eliminating human error in estimating boom height, especially during night-time and dusty conditions

Automating biomedical data science through tree-based pipeline optimization

Over the past decade, data science and machine learning has grown from a mysterious art form to a staple tool across a variety of fields in academia, business, and government. In this paper, we introduce the concept of tree-based pipeline optimization for automating one of the most tedious parts of machine learning---pipeline design. We implement a Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT) and demonstrate its effectiveness on a series of simulated and real-world genetic data sets. In particular, we show that TPOT can build machine learning pipelines that achieve competitive classification accuracy and discover novel pipeline operators---such as synthetic feature constructors---that significantly improve classification accuracy on these data sets. We also highlight the current challenges to pipeline optimization, such as the tendency to produce pipelines that overfit the data, and suggest future research paths to overcome these challenges. As such, this work represents an early step toward fully automating machine learning pipeline design.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, to appear in EvoBIO 2016 proceeding

Trade Openness and Economic Growth

https://louis.uah.edu/research-horizons/1249/thumbnail.jp

Trade Openness and Economic Growth

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between trade openness and economic growth. A simple graphical illustration of the relevant variables is used to examine this relationship. Data is obtained from The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. Quarterly data from 1990 to 2017 is used for this research. The results suggest that the relationship between trade openness and economic growth is not straight forward. Additional analysis will have to be done to reach more definitive conclusions

Death receptor 3 regulates distinct pathological attributes of acute versus chronic murine allergic lung inflammation

The Death Receptor 3 (DR3)/Tumour Necrosis Factor-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) axis stimulates effector T cells and type 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2) that trigger cytokine release and drive disease pathology in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including murine models of acute allergic lung inflammation (ALI). The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of DR3 in chronic ALI compared to acute ALI, using mice genetically deficient in the DR3 gene (DR3ko). Results showed DR3 expression in the lungs of wild-type mice was up-regulated following induction of acute ALI and this increased expression was maintained in chronic disease. DR3ko mice were resistant to cellular accumulation within the alveolar passages in acute, but not chronic ALI. However, DR3ko mice displayed reduced immuno-histopathology and goblet cell hyperplasia; hallmarks of the asthmatic phenotype; in chronic, but not acute ALI. These data suggest DR3 is a potential therapeutic target, involved in temporally distinct aspects of ALI progression and pathogenesis

Electronic height indicator for agricultural machines

This paper addresses the design and development of a low cost electronic height indicator for a self-propelled spray rig. The prime objective is to give a spray rig operator an accurate indication of the boom height above the ground by using an electronic display in the tractor cabin to improve the efficiency of chemical application. This indicator is implemented using a microcontroller and a Hall-effect sensor. The field test proves that this indicator has improved the spraying performance by eliminating human error in estimating boom height, especially during night-time and dusty conditions

Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME / CFS

ME/CFS is a medically contested illness and its understanding, framing and treatment has been the subject of heated debate. This paper examines why framing the condition as a psychiatric issue—what we refer to as ‘psychiatrisation’—has been so heavily contested by patients and activists. We argue that this contestation is not simply about stigmatising mental health conditions, as some have suggested, but relates to how people diagnosed with mental illness are treated in society, psychiatry and the law. We highlight the potentially harmful consequences of psychiatrisation which can lead to people’s experiential knowledge being discredited. This stems, in part, from a psychiatric-specific form of ‘epistemic injustice’ which can result in unhelpful, unwanted and forced treatments. This understanding helps explain why the psychiatrisation of ME/CFS has become the focus of such bitter debate and why psychiatry itself has become such a significant field of contention, for both ME/CFS patients and mental health service users/survivors. Notwithstanding important differences, both reject the way psychiatry denies patient explanations and understandings, and therefore share a collective struggle for justice and legitimation. Reasons why this shared struggle has not resulted in alliances between ME and mental health activists are noted

Recurrent subacute visual loss presenting in a 52-year-old Caucasian woman with chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy is a recently described form of recurrent isolated subacute optic neuropathy. The condition is highly responsive to systemic steroid treatment and prone to relapse on steroid withdrawal. A complete work up for demyelination, autoimmune disease and sarcoidosis must be made before considering chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with isolated subacute optic neuropathy. There was no evidence of demyelination, autoimmunity or sarcoidosis. There was an abrupt and prompt response to systemic corticosteroids and a relapse of the condition on steroid withdrawal.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy requires careful consideration and differentiation from demyelinating optic neuritis and ischemic optic neuropathy since the treatment is different and the outcome without treatment is likely to be poor. The importance of identifying these patients has considerable clinical implications as the condition is highly responsive to steroids.</p

Targeting cancer metabolism: a therapeutic window opens

Genetic events in cancer activate signalling pathways that alter cell metabolism. Clinical evidence has linked cell metabolism with cancer outcomes. Together, these observations have raised interest in targeting metabolic enzymes for cancer therapy, but they have also raised concerns that these therapies would have unacceptable effects on normal cells. However, some of the first cancer therapies that were developed target the specific metabolic needs of cancer cells and remain effective agents in the clinic today. Research into how changes in cell metabolism promote tumour growth has accelerated in recent years. This has refocused efforts to target metabolic dependencies of cancer cells as a selective anticancer strategy.Burroughs Wellcome FundSmith Family FoundationStarr Cancer ConsortiumDamon Runyon Cancer Research FoundationNational Institutes of Health (U.S.