Analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres

Article describes analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres

Applications of sub-audible speech recognition based upon electromyographic signals

Method and system for generating electromyographic or sub-audible signals (''SAWPs'') and for transmitting and recognizing the SAWPs that represent the original words and/or phrases. The SAWPs may be generated in an environment that interferes excessively with normal speech or that requires stealth communications, and may be transmitted using encoded, enciphered or otherwise transformed signals that are less subject to signal distortion or degradation in the ambient environment

Communication path for extreme environments

Methods and systems for using one or more radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), or other suitable signal transmitters and/or receivers, to provide a sensor information communication path, to provide location and/or spatial orientation information for an emergency service worker (ESW), to provide an ESW escape route, to indicate a direction from an ESW to an ES appliance, to provide updated information on a region or structure that presents an extreme environment (fire, hazardous fluid leak, underwater, nuclear, etc.) in which an ESW works, and to provide accumulated thermal load or thermal breakdown information on one or more locations in the region

University Centers Programs: Creative Solutions For Serving Remote Populations

University Centers programs are designed to provide University level classes to students at remote locations and to facilitate a transition from local two-year institutions to regional four-year institutions.  Although similar in concept to satellite campuses and often using technologies associated with distance learning, University Centers programs also have unique characteristics that bring additional issues and concerns that need to be addressed.  In this paper we introduce the University Centers concept and review related administrative arrangements and uses of technology.   We then explore the unique issues and concerns of University Centers, drawing upon the experiences of one university’s involvement with University Centers for examples of both opportunities and solutions.  Guidelines will be presented for universities that are considering becoming involved in a University Centers program

Lattice Kinetics of Diffusion-Limited Coalescence and Annihilation with Sources

We study the 1D kinetics of diffusion-limited coalescence and annihilation with back reactions and different kinds of particle input. By considering the changes in occupation and parity of a given interval, we derive sets of hierarchical equations from which exact expressions for the lattice coverage and the particle concentration can be obtained. We compare the mean-field approximation and the continuum approximation to the exact solutions and we discuss their regime of validity.Comment: 24 pages and 3 eps figures, Revtex, accepted for publication in J. Phys.

The spin-half Heisenberg antiferromagnet on two Archimedian lattices: From the bounce lattice to the maple-leaf lattice and beyond

We investigate the ground state of the two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet on two Archimedean lattices, namely, the maple-leaf and bounce lattices as well as a generalized $J$-$J'$ model interpolating between both systems by varying $J'/J$ from $J'/J=0$ (bounce limit) to $J'/J=1$ (maple-leaf limit) and beyond. We use the coupled cluster method to high orders of approximation and also exact diagonalization of finite-sized lattices to discuss the ground-state magnetic long-range order based on data for the ground-state energy, the magnetic order parameter, the spin-spin correlation functions as well as the pitch angle between neighboring spins. Our results indicate that the "pure" bounce ($J'/J=0$) and maple-leaf ($J'/J=1$) Heisenberg antiferromagnets are magnetically ordered, however, with a sublattice magnetization drastically reduced by frustration and quantum fluctuations. We found that magnetic long-range order is present in a wide parameter range $0 \le J'/J \lesssim J'_c/J$ and that the magnetic order parameter varies only weakly with $J'/J$. At $J'_c \approx 1.45 J$ a direct first-order transition to a quantum orthogonal-dimer singlet ground state without magnetic long-range order takes place. The orthogonal-dimer state is the exact ground state in this large-$J'$ regime, and so our model has similarities to the Shastry-Sutherland model. Finally, we use the exact diagonalization to investigate the magnetization curve. We a find a 1/3 magnetization plateau for $J'/J \gtrsim 1.07$ and another one at 2/3 of saturation emerging only at large $J'/J \gtrsim 3$.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

How much dystrophin is enough: the physiological consequences of different levels of dystrophin in the mdx mouse

Splice modulation therapy has shown great clinical promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, resulting in the production of dystrophin protein. Despite this, the relationship between restoring dystrophin to established dystrophic muscle and its ability to induce clinically relevant changes in muscle function is poorly understood. In order to robustly evaluate functional improvement, we used in situ protocols in the mdx mouse to measure muscle strength and resistance to eccentric contraction-induced damage. Here, we modelled the treatment of muscle with pre-existing dystrophic pathology using antisense oligonucleotides conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide. We reveal that 15% homogeneous dystrophin expression is sufficient to protect against eccentric contraction-induced injury. In addition, we demonstrate a >40% increase in specific isometric force following repeated administrations. Strikingly, we show that changes in muscle strength are proportional to dystrophin expression levels. These data define the dystrophin restoration levels required to slow down or prevent disease progression and improve overall muscle function once a dystrophic environment has been established in the mdx mouse model

More Tips: Communicating with Institutional Review Boards Over the Course of Your Project

This article focuses on the continuing review process required by Institutional Review Boards. It is a follow-up to a series of recent articles designed to help Extension Professionals navigate the university IRB process. The authors present general guidelines for the continuing review process and offer some issues and tips for success

Na/K-ATPase-mediated 86Rb+ uptake and asymmetrical trophectoderm localization of alpha1 and alpha3 Na/K-ATPase isoforms during bovine preattachment development.

This study evaluated Na/K-ATPase alpha 1- and alpha 3-subunit isoform polypeptide expression and localization during bovine preattachment development. Na/K-ATPase cation transport activity from the one-cell to blastocyst stage was also determined by measuring ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake. Both alpha1- and alpha 3-subunit polypeptides were detected by immunofluorescence to encircle the entire cell margins of each blastomere of inseminated zygotes, cleavage stage embryos, and morulae. Immunofluorescent localization of alpha1-subunit polypeptide in bovine blastocysts revealed an alpha1 immunofluorescence signal confined to the basolateral membrane margins of the trophectoderm and encircling the cell periphery of each inner cell mass (ICM) cell. In contrast, alpha 3-subunit polypeptide immunofluorescence was localized primarily to the apical cell surfaces of the trophectoderm with a reduced signal present in basolateral trophectoderm regions. There was no apparent alpha 3-subunit signal in the ICM. Analysis of 86Rb+ transport in vitro demonstrated ouabain-sensitive activity throughout development from the one-cell to the six- to eight-cell stage of bovine development. 86Rb+ uptake by morulae (day 6 postinsemination) did not vary significantly from uptake detected in cleavage stage embryos; however, a significant increase was measured at the blastocyst stage (P \u3c 0.05). Treatment of embryos with cytochalasin D (5 micrograms/ml) did not influence 86Rb+ uptake in cleavage stage embryos. Cytochalasin D treatment however was associated with a significant rise in ion transport in morulae and blastocysts (13.49 and 61.57 fmol/embryo/min, respectively) compared to untreated controls (2.65 and 22.83 fmol/embryo/min, respectively). Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that multiple Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms are distributed throughout the first week of mammalian development and raise the possibility that multiple isozymes of the Na/K-ATPase contribute to blastocyst formation