Simulation evaluation of a low-altitude helicopter flight guidance system adapted for a helmet-mounted display

A computer aiding concept for low-altitude helicopter flight was developed and evaluated in a real-time piloted simulation. The concept included an optimal control trajectory-generation algorithm based upon dynamic programming and a helmet-mounted display (HMD) presentation of a pathway-in-the-sky, a phantom aircraft, and flight-path vector/predictor guidance symbology. The trajectory-generation algorithm uses knowledge of the global mission requirements, a digital terrain map, aircraft performance capabilities, and advanced navigation information to determine a trajectory between mission way points that seeks valleys to minimize threat exposure. The pilot evaluation was conducted at NASA ARC moving base Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) by pilots representing NASA, the U.S. Army, the Air Force, and the helicopter industry. The pilots manually tracked the trajectory generated by the algorithm utilizing the HMD symbology. The pilots were able to satisfactorily perform the tracking tasks while maintaining a high degree of awareness of the outside world

Bostonia. Volume 3

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Communicating the relevance of paleo research in the current societal environment

It is not an easy task for paleoscientists to communicate the relevance of their research to policy makers and funders. However, an increase in catastrophic environmental calamities related to climate change (e.g. landslide, droughts, flooding) demands a response both in terms of policy-making and future governmental decisions. Often, climate change in the recent past was linked to major shifts in human behavior, which masks the relative contribution of humans and nature. For example, the 4.2 ka BP aridification event was so severe that it may have triggered the collapse of several large civilizations (the Old Kingdom in Egypt and the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia; Gibbons 1993). Compilations of long-term records of past variability can help reduce the uncertainties on past, present and future climate changes, and thus support informed societal decisions. Therefore, policymakers should (and some may argue, must) consider the long-term perspective provided by paleoscience research

E-learning as a tool for knowledge transfer through traditional and independent study at two UK higher educational institutes: a case study

Much has been made of the advances in computer aided learning activities. Websites, virtual campus, the increased use of Web CT and chat rooms and further advances in the use of WebCT are becoming more commonplace in UK universities. This paper looks for ways of changing higher education students’ perception of the usefulness of recommended internet web sites for learning purposes, with the intention of increasing the usage rate of recommended module web-sites. The change could represent an adaptation of the existing, well-known technology to change students’ perception regarding its potentially formative role. Subsequently, the outcomes from this preliminary research could be used in order to enhance the quality of the Internet use for teaching and learning purposes

Shifting perspectives on coastal impacts and adaptation

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports reflect evolving attitudes in adapting to sea-level rise by taking a systems approach and recognizing that multiple responses exist to achieve a less hazardous coast.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 12

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University’s main alumni publication

Chordal Editing is Fixed-Parameter Tractable

Graph modification problems typically ask for a small set of operations that transforms a given graph to have a certain property. The most commonly considered operations include vertex deletion, edge deletion, and edge addition; for the same property, one can define significantly different versions by allowing different operations. We study a very general graph modification problem that allows all three types of operations: given a graph and integers k(1), k(2), and k(3), the CHORDAL EDITING problem asks whether G can be transformed into a chordal graph by at most k(1) vertex deletions, k(2) edge deletions, and k(3) edge additions. Clearly, this problem generalizes both CHORDAL DELETION and CHORDAL COMPLETION (also known as MINIMUM FILL-IN). Our main result is an algorithm for CHORDAL EDITING in time 2(O(klog k)). n(O(1)), where k:=k(1) + k(2) + k(3) and n is the number of vertices of G. Therefore, the problem is fixed-parameter tractable parameterized by the total number of allowed operations. Our algorithm is both more efficient and conceptually simpler than the previously known algorithm for the special case CHORDAL DELETION

The Effect of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Improving Joint Range of Motion in Active Individuals: A Critically Appraised Topic

CLINICAL SCENARIO In all activities that require physical movement, whether in athletics or in other daily tasks, it is important for joints to have adequate range of motion and flexibility. Soft tissue restrictions are very common pathologies in healthcare. Although a decrease in myofascial range of motion can arise from a variety of reasons such as biomechanical deformities, autoimmune diseases, or age, it is often caused by overtraining or musculoskeletal injuries in active populations. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization techniques are gaining popularity to assist in treating various soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal pathologies. The belief is that by applying a stimulus to the soft tissue around a joint, it will increase the number of fibroblasts, through localized inflammation, and result in a realignment of collagen fibers2. While some studies have shown positive outcomes of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), there has been limited evidence to determine the efficacy of this modality in improving joint range of motion (ROM)

BMQ

BMQ: Boston Medical Quarterly was published from 1950-1966 by the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals