A comparison of penetration and damage caused by different types of arrowheads on loose and tight fit clothing

Bows and arrows are used more for recreation, sport and hunting in the Western world and tend not to be as popular a weapon as firearms or knives. Yet there are still injuries and fatalities caused by these low-velocity weapons due to their availability to the public and that a licence is not required to own them. This study aimed to highlight the penetration capabilities of aluminium arrows into soft tissue and bones in the presence of clothing. Further from that, how the type and fit of clothing as well as arrowhead type contribute to penetration capacity. In this study ballistic gelatine blocks (non-clothed and loose fit or tight fit clothed) were shot using a 24 lb weight draw recurve bow and aluminium arrows accompanied by four different arrowheads (bullet, judo, blunt and broadhead).The penetration capability of aluminium arrows was examined, and the depth of penetration was found to be dependent on the type of arrowhead used as well as by the type and fit or lack thereof of the clothing covering the block. Loose fit clothing reduced penetration with half of the samples, reducing penetration capacity by percentages between 0% and 98.33%, at a range of 10 m. While the remaining half of the samples covered with tight clothing led to reductions in penetration of between 14.06% and 94.12%.The damage to the clothing and the gelatine (puncturing, cutting and tearing) was affected by the shape of the arrowhead, with the least damaged caused by the blunt arrowheads and the most by the broadhead arrows. Clothing fibres were also at times found within the projectile tract within the gelatine showing potential for subsequent infection of an individual with an arrow wound.Ribs, femur bones and spinal columns encased in some of the gelatine blocks all showed varying levels of damage, with the most and obvious damage being exhibited by the ribs and spinal column.The information gleaned from the damage to clothing, gelatine blocks and bones could potentially be useful for forensic investigators, for example, when a body has been discovered with no weapons or gunshot residue present

Factors Affecting the Corporate Decision-Making Process of Air Transport Manufacturers

Fuel economy is a pivotal question influencing the future sale and utilization of commercial aircraft. The NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) Program Office has a program intended to accelerate the readiness of advanced technologies for energy efficient aircraft. Because the decision to develop a new airframe or engine is a major financial hazard for manufacturers, it is important to know what factors influence the decision making process. A method is described for identifying and ranking individuals and organizations involved at each stage of commercial air transport development, and the barriers that must be overcome in adopting new technologies

Initial fixation placement in face images is driven by top-down guidance

The eyes are often inspected first and for longer period during face exploration. To examine whether this saliency of the eye region at the early stage of face inspection is attributed to its local structure properties or to the knowledge of its essence in facial communication, in this study we investigated the pattern of eye movements produced by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) as they free viewed images of monkey faces. Eye positions were recorded accurately using implanted eye coils, while images of original faces, faces with scrambled eyes, and scrambled faces except for the eyes were presented on a computer screen. The eye region in the scrambled faces attracted the same proportion of viewing time and fixations as it did in the original faces, even the scrambled eyes attracted substantial proportion of viewing time and fixations. Furthermore, the monkeys often made the first saccade towards to the location of the eyes regardless of image content. Our results suggest that the initial fixation placement in faces is driven predominantly by ‘top-down’ or internal factors, such as the prior knowledge of the location of “eyes” within the context of a face

The regulation of pre-replicative complex formation in the budding yeast cell cycle

DNA replication must occur once and only once in every cell cycle to ensure that mitosis produces two daughter cells with the same complement of genomic DNA. Initiation of DNA replication depends upon pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) assembly at origins during Gl. The pre-RC includes a six-subunit origin recognition complex (ORC) and Cdc6p which together load a complex of the Mcm2-7p family of putative helicases onto chromatin. Only one ORC subunit, Orc6p, is not required for binding of the others to origins in vitro. Using a temperature sensitive orc6 mutant we have shown in vivo that although Orc6p is dispensable for binding of other ORC subunits to chromatin, it is essential for pre-RC formation and may function as an "adapter" between ORC and other pre-RC components. The activity of cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) regulates pre-RC formation in the cell cycle. CDKs inhibit the formation of pre-RCs during S phase, G2 and M phase, suggesting that inactivation of CDKs at the end of mitosis is essential for pre- RC formation in Gl. Other mitotic events may also be important for pre-RC formation. In particular, the anaphase promoting complex (APC/C), which targets mitotic proteins for proteolysis and the mitotic exit network which activates a mitotic phosphatase, Cdcl4p, have been implicated in pre-RC formation. We have found that inactivation of CDKs during mitosis bypasses the requirement for the APC/C and the mitotic exit network in DNA replication. This suggests that the only essential role for these proteins for pre-RC formation is to bring about CDK inactivation at the end of mitosis

Human annexin A6 interacts with influenza a virus protein M2 and negatively modulates infection

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights ReservedThe influenza A virus M2 ion channel protein has the longest cytoplasmic tail (CT) among the three viral envelope proteins and is well conserved between different viral strains. It is accessible to the host cellular machinery after fusion with the endosomal membrane and during the trafficking, assembly, and budding processes. We hypothesized that identification of host cellular interactants of M2 CT could help us to better understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the M2-dependent stages of the virus life cycle. Using yeast two-hybrid screening with M2 CT as bait, a novel interaction with the human annexin A6 (AnxA6) protein was identified, and their physical interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation assay and a colocalization study of virus-infected human cells. We found that small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of AnxA6 expression significantly increased virus production, while its overexpression could reduce the titer of virus progeny, suggesting a negative regulatory role for AnxA6 during influenza A virus infection. Further characterization revealed that AnxA6 depletion or overexpression had no effect on the early stages of the virus life cycle or on viral RNA replication but impaired the release of progeny virus, as suggested by delayed or defective budding events observed at the plasma membrane of virus-infected cells by transmission electron microscopy. Collectively, this work identifies AnxA6 as a novel cellular regulator that targets and impairs the virus budding and release stages of the influenza A virus life cycle.This work was supported by the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Disease (project 09080892) of the Hong Kong Government, the Area of Excellence Scheme of the University Grants Committee (grant AoE/M-12/-06 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), the French Ministry of Health, the RESPARI Pasteur Network

The genetics of virus particle shape in equine influenza A virus

Background Many human strains of influenza A virus produce highly pleomorphic virus particles that at the extremes can be approximated as either spheres of around 100 nm diameter or filaments of similar cross-section but elongated to lengths of many microns. The role filamentous virions play in the virus life cycle remains enigmatic. Objectives/Methods Here, we set out to define the morphology and genetics of virus particle shape in equine influenza A virus, using reverse genetics and microscopy of infected cells. Results and Conclusions The majority of H3N8 strains tested were found to produce filamentous virions, as did the prototype H7N7 A/eq/Prague/56 strain. The exception was the prototype H3N8 isolate, A/eq/Miami/63. Reassortment of equine influenza virus M genes from filamentous and non-filamentous strains into the non-filamentous human virus A/PR/8/34 confirmed that segment 7 is a major determinant of particle shape. Sequence analysis identified three M1 amino acid polymorphisms plausibly associated with determining virion morphology, and the introduction of these changes into viruses confirmed the importance of two: S85N and N231D. However, while either change alone affected filament production, the greatest effect was seen when the polymorphisms were introduced in conjunction. Thus, influenza A viruses from equine hosts also produce filamentous virions, and the major genetic determinants are set by the M1 protein. However, the precise sequence determinants are different to those previously identified in human or porcine viruses

Nucleozin Targets Cytoplasmic Trafficking of Viral Ribonucleoprotein-Rab11 Complexes in Influenza A Virus Infection

Novel antivirals are needed to supplement existing control strategies for influenza A virus (IAV). A promising new class of drug, exemplified by the compound nucleozin, has recently been identified that targets the viral nucleoprotein (NP). These inhibitors are thought to act as "molecular staples" that stabilize interactions between NP monomers, promoting the formation of nonfunctional aggregates. Here we detail the inhibitory mechanism of nucleozin, finding that the drug has both early- and late-acting effects on the IAV life cycle. When present at the start of infection, it inhibited viral RNA and protein synthesis. However, when added at later time points, it still potently blocked the production of infectious progeny but without affecting viral macromolecular synthesis. Instead, nucleozin blocked the cytoplasmic trafficking of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) that had undergone nuclear export, promoting the formation of large perinuclear aggregates of RNPs along with cellular Rab11. This effect led to the production of much reduced amounts of often markedly smaller virus particles. We conclude that the primary target of nucleozin is the viral RNP, not NP, and this work also provides proof of the principle that IAV replication can be effectively inhibited by blocking cytoplasmic trafficking of the viral genome.MRC grant: (G0700815), University of Cambridge/Trinity College grant: (Newton Trust), RGC Hong Kong grant: (GRF 768010 M)

Caracterização da farinha obtida a partir do resíduo fibroso de araruta (Maranta arundinacea L.

Characterization of flour destined from the fibrous residue of Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.). Arrowroot is a native plant from South America with important cultural and culinary value. Besides containing some remarkable properties and characteristics such as high digestibility and gluten free, it also offers several options of preparations that use it as a base in baked goods, porridges, and sauces. Despite its diversity of application, after the rhizome processing, there is the fibrous tuber residue left over, composed of the peel and a starchy fraction, which can be used for other purposes, thus adding more value to the product. Agroindustrial residues have been the target of research for decades, consequently, several studies have been conducted with the objective of finding ways to use this material in a responsible and conscious way. From the environmental point of view, the studies to reduce the impact of waste are considered of paramount importance, as they are related to the enhancement of the environment and the deposition of waste in ecosystems. Based on this information, the objective of this work was to develop a flour from the fibrous residue of arrowroot and determine the concentration of physicochemical, centesimal components and analyze the colorimetry present in the residue obtained from Maranta arundinacea L., as well as to evaluate its antioxidant activity and visualization of residual starch through optical microscopy. In this research, physicochemical, centesimal, colorimetric and optical microscopy analyses were performed for the characterization of the flour obtained from the residue. The results were excellent for the physicochemical parameters; centesimal, where the flour proved to be an excellent source of fiber and a possible substitute for gluten intolerant people; and in its colorimetry showing similarities to traditional flours, i.e., not affecting the color in sensory analysis. However, in the present study, when investigating the antioxidant activity, where through the extracts in DMSO, there was no detection of the free radical by the DPPH and ABTS methods. Despite this, the results suggest that the flour obtained from the residue can be considered a source of fiber, presenting beneficial effects to human health and with great potential for the food and animal industry.Caracterização da farinha obtida a partir do resíduo fibroso de Araruta (Maranta arundinacea L.). Araruta é uma planta nativa da América do Sul com importante valor cultural e culinário. Além de conter algumas propriedades e características marcantes como alta digestibilidade e ausência de glúten, também oferece diversas opções de preparações que a utilizam como base em produtos panificados, mingaus e molhos. Apesar da sua diversidade de aplicação, após o processamento do rizoma, há a sobra do resíduo fibroso do tubérculo composto por casca e uma fração mássica amilácea, que pode ser utilizado par outros fins e, assim, agregando mais valor ao produto. Os resíduos agroindustriais são alvo de pesquisas há décadas, consequentemente, diversos estudos têm sido realizados com o objetivo de encontrar formas de utilizar esse material de forma responsável e consciente. Do ponto de vista ambiental, os estudos para reduzir o impacto dos resíduos são considerados de suma importância, pois estão relacionados à valorização do meio ambiente e à deposição de resíduos nos ecossistemas. Com base nessas informações, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver uma farinha a partir do resíduo fibroso de araruta e determinar a concentração de componentes físico-químicos, centesimais e analisar a colorimetria presente no resíduo obtido de Maranta arundinacea L., bem como avaliar sua atividade antioxidante e visualização de amido residual através de microscopia óptica. Nesta pesquisa foram realizadas análises físico-químicas, centesimais, colorimetria e microscopia ópticas para a caracterização da farinha obtida a partir do resíduo. Os resultados mostraram-se excelentes para os parâmetros físico-químicos; centesimal, onde a farinha mostrou ser uma excelente fonte de fibras e possível substituinte para intolerantes a glúten; e em sua colorimetria apresentando semelhanças a farinhas tradicionais, ou seja, não afetando no quesito cor em análises sensoriais. Entretanto, no presente estudo, ao pesquisar a atividade a atividade antioxidante, onde através dos extratos em DMSO, não houve detecção do radical livre pelos métodos DPPH e ABTS. Apesar disso, os resultados sugerem que a farinha obtida a partir do resíduo pode ser considerada fonte de fibras, apresentando efeitos benéficos à saúde humana e com grande potencial para a indústria alimentícia e animal.3Nã

Response of confined aquatic biota to mine depressurization water in Beaver Creek reservoir

Beaver Creek Reservoir was formed as a result of diverting the natural flow of Beaver Creek away from mine and plant areas and southward to the Athabasca River via Poplar Creek. The diversion was initiated in the fall of 1975 with the closure of the Beaver Creek Dam; filling of the reservoir was completed in the spring of 1976. When it became necessary to remove mine depressurization water from the mining area, Syncrude was granted permission by the Government of Alberta to discharge this effluent into Beaver Creek Reservoir, on the condition that chloride levels in water entering Poplar Creek did not exceed 400 mg/L above ambient levels. The present study was designed to investigate the survival of selected organisms in Beaver Creek Reservoir during 1979. The primary objective was to determine the response of selected species of aquatic biota to saline mine depressurization water after average dilution in the Beaver Creek Reservoir. More specific requirements of the study were: a) the study was to be carried out entirely within the Beaver Creek Reservoir using test organisms held in situ; b) the study must include three sampling locations and three replicates of each test organism at each station; c) test organisms must include: periphyton (on artificial substrates), native species of fish (white sucker and fathead minnow), and native species of invertebrates (either Gammarus or Hyalella); and d) field studies were to be conducted between June and October, 1979 and were to examine both short and long term effects