Information Requirements for the Air Force Institute of Technology Under a Fee-For-Service Concept

Due to the current shift in national defense strategy, the DoD is going to have to perform new roles and missions with major reductions in resources. One of the major initiatives committed to achieving savings is Corporate Information Management, a broad program designed to help the DoD operate more efficiently by application of successful private sector business practices and better application of information technology. To meet the challenge of operating in a business-like environment AFIT must be able to maximize its competitiveness to provide customers with the quality and types of services they desire. To accomplish this task, information technology can be of benefit in identifying exactly how AFITs business processes can be improved and in assessing the future DoD policy decisions on the Institute. This study developed a top level business process model for AFITs information requirements under a fee-for-service concept. Once a comprehensive business process model is completed for AFIT, it will provide a framework on which AFIT decision-makers can assess the impacts of changes in DoD and Air Force policy on the Institute. The model will also provide a foundation for the development of an integrated information system capable of meeting AFITs future information requirements

Search for Planetary Candidates within the OGLE Stars

We propose a method to distinguish between planetary and stellar companions to stars which present a periodic decrease in brightness, interpreted as a transit. Light curves from a total of 177 stars from the OGLE project were fitted by the model which simulates planetary transits using an opaque disk in front of an image of the Sun. The simulation results yield the orbital radius in units of stellar radii, the orbital inclination angle, and the ratio of the planet to the star radii. Combining Kepler's third law with a mass-radius relation for main sequence stars, it was possible to estimate values for the masses and radii of both the primary and secondary objects. This model was successfully tested with the confirmed planets orbiting the stars HD 209458, TrES-1, OGLE-TR-10, 56, 111, 113, and 132. The method consists of selecting as planetary candidates only those objects with primary densities between 0.7 and 2.3 solar densities (F, G, and K stars) and secondaries with radius less than 1.5 Jupiter radius. The method is not able to distinguish between a planet and a dwarf star with mass less than 0.1 $M_\odot$, such as OGLE-TR-122. We propose a selection of 28 planetary candidates (OGLE-TR-49, 51, 55, 63, 71, 76, 90, 97, 100, 109, 114, 127, 130, 131, 134, 138, 140, 146, 151, 155, 159, 164, 165, 169, 170, 171, 172, and 174) for high resolution spectroscopy follow up.Comment: 4 figures, 2 table

Return to Nursing: A Meta-Synthesis of Academic Bridging Programs’ Effect on Internationally Educated Nurses

This meta-synthesis explored the effect of bridging programs on internationally educated nurses (IENs). Eight papers that met the inclusion criteria were selected for this review. There were 437 participants from eight studies who come from different parts of the globe and who settled in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. Using a grounded theory approach for data analysis, four effects of bridging programs on IENs were identified. These are: (a) the concepts from the regulatory body, the client-centred care; (b) do something better for us, for our future; (c) we have to learn English; and, (d) faculty, program coordinator and preceptors that were willing to work with them. These effects were defined and explored in light of the study samples selected for this study

Dinámica de procesos de innovación educativa mediante el análisis de redes sociales

Se analiza la temática de procesos de innovación educativa, mediante el Análisis de Redes Sociales (ARS) a fin de determinar las aristas de los procesos de innovación educativa que realizan los docentes de la carrera de Ingeniería de Sistemas de la Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI) con su respectivo orden, en el I Semestre del año 2021. Encontrando que, “documentar” es el proceso de innovación educativa que menos se realiza y el de mayor práctica es “medición de resultado”, además se identifican los procesos que tienen oportunidad de mejora en futuras estrategias de capacitación relacionadas con la innovación educativa en la carrera

Potentially toxic elements’ contamination of soils affected by mining activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite

Both sectors of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portuguese and Spanish, have been exploited since ancient times, but more intensively during and after the second half of the 19th century. Large volumes of polymetallic sulfide ore were extracted in open pits or in underground works, processed without environmental concerns, and the generated waste rocks and tailings were simply deposited in the area. Many of these mining sites were abandoned for years under the action of erosive agents, leading to the spread of trace elements and the contamination of soils, waters and sediments. Some of these mine sites have been submitted to rehabilitation actions, mostly using constructive techniques to dig and contain the contaminated tailings and other waste materials, but the remaining soil still needs to be treated with the best available techniques to recover its ecosystem functions. Besides the degraded physical structure and poor nutritional status of these soils, they have common characteristics, as a consequence of the pyrite oxidation and acid drainage produced, such as a high concentration of trace elements and low pH, which must be considered in the remediation plans. This manuscript aims to review the results from studies which have already covered these topics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, especially in its Portuguese sector, considering: (i) soils’ physicochemical characteristics; (ii) potentially toxic trace elements’ concentration; and (iii) sustainable remediation technologies to cope with this type of soil contamination. Phytostabilization, after the amelioration of the soil’s properties with organic and inorganic amendments, was investigated at the lab and field scale by several authors, and their results were also considered

Surface, Water and Air Biocharacterization - A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft Environment

A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft (SWAB) will use advanced molecular techniques to comprehensively evaluate microbes on board the space station, including pathogens (organisms that may cause disease). It also will track changes in the microbial community as spacecraft visit the station and new station modules are added. This study will allow an assessment of the risk of microbes to the crew and the spacecraft. Research Summary: Previous microbial analysis of spacecraft only identify microorganisms that will grow in culture, omitting greater than 90% of all microorganisms including pathogens such as Legionella (the bacterium which causes Legionnaires' disease) and Cryptosporidium (a parasite common in contaminated water) The incidence of potent allergens, such as dust mites, has never been systematically studied in spacecraft environments and microbial toxins have not been previously monitored. This study will use modern molecular techniques to identify microorganisms and allergens. Direct sampling of the ISS allows identification of the microbial communities present, and determination of whether these change or mutate over time. SWAB complements the nominal ISS environmental monitoring by providing a comparison of analyses from current media-based and advanced molecular-based technologies

An afferent explanation for sexual dimorphism in the aortic baroreflex of rat

Sex differences in baroreflex (BRx) function are well documented. Hormones likely contribute to this dimorphism, but many functional aspects remain unresolved. Our lab has been investigating a subset of vagal sensory neurons that constitute nearly 50% of the total population of myelinated aortic baroreceptors (BR) in female rats but less than 2% in male rats. Termed “Ah,” this unique phenotype has many of the nonoverlapping electrophysiological properties and chemical sensitivities of both myelinated A-type and unmyelinated C-type BR afferents. In this study, we utilize three distinct experimental protocols to determine if Ah-type barosensory afferents underlie, at least in part, the sex-related differences in BRx function. Electron microscopy of the aortic depressor nerve (ADN) revealed that female rats have less myelin (P < 0.03) and a smaller fiber cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) per BR fiber than male rats. Electrical stimulation of the ADN evoked compound action potentials and nerve conduction profiles that were markedly different (P < 0.01, n = 7 females and n = 9 males). Selective activation of ADN myelinated fibers evoked a BRx-mediated depressor response that was 3–7 times greater in female (n = 16) than in male (n = 17) rats. Interestingly, the most striking hemodynamic difference was functionally dependent upon the rate of myelinated barosensory fiber activation. Only 5–10 Hz of stimulation evoked a rapid, 20- to 30-mmHg reduction in arterial pressure of female rats, whereas rates of 50 Hz or higher were required to elicit a comparable depressor response from male rats. Collectively, our experimental results are suggestive of an alternative myelinated baroreceptor afferent pathway in females that may account for, at least in part, the noted sex-related differences in autonomic control of cardiovascular function

MicroRNA-200c Attenuates the Tumor-Infiltrating Capacity of Macrophages

Macrophages constitute a major part of the tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Within the tumor microenvironment, they acquire an alternatively activated, tumor-supporting phenotype. Factors released by tumor cells are crucial for the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages. In the present project, we aimed to understand the role of hsa-miR-200c-3p (miR-200c) in the interplay between tumor cells and macrophages. To this end, we employed a coculture system of MCF7 breast tumor cells and primary human macrophages and observed the transfer of miR-200c from apoptotic tumor cells to macrophages, which required intact CD36 receptor in macrophages. We further comprehensively determined miR-200c targets in macrophages by mRNA-sequencing and identified numerous migration-associated mRNAs to be downregulated by miR-200c. Consequently, miR-200c attenuated macrophage infiltration into 3-dimensional tumor spheroids. miR-200c-mediated reduction in infiltration further correlated with a miR-200c migration signature comprised of the four miR-200c-repressed, predicted targets PPM1F, RAB11FIB2, RDX, and MSN

Saliva secretory IgA kinetics in obese subjects submitted to a graded exercise test

INTRODUCTION: Secretory IgA (sIgA) is predominant immunoglobulin in secretions of the mucosal immune system. It inhibit attachment and replication of pathogenic microorganism, preventing colonization by these pathogens. Therefore, sIgA is consider the first line of defense against pathogens. Previous studies have indicated a direct link between low salivary sIgA levels with of upper respiratory tract infections (UTRI) episodes in endurance sports and elite athletes. PURPOSE: Determine the effect of a maximal graded exercise test on the saliva sIgA levels in obese adult subjects. METHODS: Eleven obese male subjects (Age 31± 1.53 years) were recruited. The Body Mass Index (BMI) and, Waist Circumference (WC) were measured. Graded exercise test was performed on an electrically-braked cycle ergometer (Lode). The Heart rate (HR) was registered using a digital pulse meter (Polar FT1 model) before, immediately finished the exercise and after 30 min post- exercise test. The saliva samples were collected alongside with HR during the test. RESULTS: The WC (110.37 ± 3.89 cm) and BMI (34.73 ± 1.62 kg/m2) values confirmed the obesity state in the participants. The HR at basal was 77.09 ± 3.10 bpm, at post exercise, the HR mean was 175.45 ± 4.94 bpm (p \u3c0.0001 vs basal). Finally, at 30 post exe, the HR was 91.81 ± 3.01 bpm (P \u3c0.0001 vs post-exe). In basal state, the sIgA concentration was 94.21 ± 13.57 µm/mL. At post exe, the sIgA mean was 175.9 ± 22.45 µm/mL (p\u3c0.05 vs basal). Finally, 30’ post-exercise the sIgA level was 91.39 ± 10.40 µm/mL. However, the sIgA was not modified by the exercise. CONCLUSION: The present work demonstrates that the salivary sIgA increases temporally as a response to the graded exercise test in obese adults. Although, the changes in the sIgA concentration was not accompanied with a major sIgA secretion in the saliva

Frequency of Mutations in Brca1 and Brca2 Genes in Women with Breast Cancer in Córdoba, Argentina

The discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes has led to the introduction of increasingly sophisticated genetic tests to measure the risk of hereditary breast cancer, among other things. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the mutation in 24 women from Córdoba with breast / ovarian cancer (BC / OC) and with at least two relatives with breast cancer. Although there are recurrent mutations, which appear repeatedly in unrelated families, with highest prevalence as in the Jewish ethnicity, this is the first study on the population of the province of Córdoba, Argentina.Fil: Lerda, Daniel Enrique. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Bella, Santiago Rafael. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Biagi Bistoni, Marta Inés. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin