An overview of the Douglas Aircraft Company Aeroelastic Design Optimization Program (ADOP)

From a program manager's viewpoint, the history, scope and architecture of a major structural design program at Douglas Aircraft Company called Aeroelastic Design Optimization Program (ADOP) are described. ADOP was originally intended for the rapid, accurate, cost-effective evaluation of relatively small structural models at the advanced design level, resulting in improved proposal competitiveness and avoiding many costly changes later in the design cycle. Before release of the initial version in November 1987, however, the program was expanded to handle very large production-type analyses

Noninnatist alternatives to the negative evidence hypothesis

Journal ArticleIn this commentary we consider three issues. First, we suggest that Crain's definition of innateness is not biologically plausible. Second, we show how the criteria he uses as hallmarks of innateness can have alternative explanations. Finally, we reinterpret his research findings on grounds that do not involve innatist explanations

Response styles, bipolar risk, and mood in students:the Behaviours Checklist

Objectives An Integrative Cognitive Model of mood swings and bipolar disorder proposes that extreme positive and negative appraisals about internal states trigger ascent and descent behaviours, contributing to the onset and maintenance of mood swings. This study investigated the reliability and validity of a new inventory, the Behaviours Checklist (BC), by measuring associations with appraisals, response styles to positive and negative affect, bipolar risk, mania, and depression. Design Correlational analogue study. Methods Students (N = 134) completed the BC alongside measures of appraisals, response styles to positive and negative mood, mania, depression, and hypomanic personality (bipolar risk). Results The BC was of adequate reliability and showed good validity. Ascent behaviours and appraisals predicted bipolar risk, whereas descent behaviours and appraisals were associated with depression. Conclusions Appraisals, ascent, and descent behaviours may play an important role in the development and maintenance of mood swings. Limitations and research recommendations are outlined. Practitioner points Extreme positive and negative appraisals of internal states, and subsequent behavioural responses (ascent and descent behaviours), are associated with bipolar risk and bipolar mood symptoms in a student sample. These processes are involved with mood dysregulation in clinical populations as well as bipolar risk in students, with implications for mood management

Shape-changing nanomagnets: A new approach to in vivo biosensing

The idea that optical color can be determined by size and shape is well known at the nanoscale. Colors of quantum dots and plasmonic nanostructures, for example, can be tuned through particle size and shape. Among others, this has directly enabled many different multi-colored nanoparticle labels that underpin a host of optically-based in vitro bioimaging applications, including multiplexed high-throughput bioassays and colorimetric sensing and visualization of biomolecular processes and function. Imaging and sensing in more realistic in vivo environments is more challenging, however. Optical probes can be sized or shaped to yield resonances closer to the more optically favorable near-infrared window, but optical penetration, signal intensity, and spatial resolution, still deteriorate rapidly with increasing depth beneath the surface. But what about in the radio-frequency (RF) portion of the spectrum? Are there any analogous nanoparticle structures that can shift the frequency, or equivalently color, of RF signals for which penetration and/or distortion through biological tissue would no longer be a limitation and where imaging and sensing would be naturally immune to any photostability, phototoxicity, and autofluoresence background issues? Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Verbal Descriptions of Cue Direction Affect Object Desirability

Approach-avoidance behaviors are observed across a broad range of species. For humans, we tend move toward things we like, and away from things we dislike. Previous research tested whether repeatedly shifting visuo-spatial attention toward an object in response to eye gaze cues can increase liking for that object. Here, we tested whether a gaze-liking effect can occur for verbal descriptions of looking behavior without shifts of attention. Also, we tested the gaze specificity hypothesis – that the liking effect is specific to gaze cues – by comparing the effect of different types of cue (pointing gestures and arrow cues). In Experiment 1, participants (N = 205) were split into 5 groups according to the type of cue that was described as directed either toward or away from an object. The results show that (1) attention is not necessary; the liking effect was recorded for verbal descriptions of looking, (2) the effect also occurs for descriptions of pointing and arrows, and (3) the liking effect is enhanced for gaze cues compared to arrows, consistent with the gaze specificity hypothesis. Results from a further experiment suggest that the effect is not due to demand compliance. We conclude that the gaze-liking effect occurs for verbal descriptions of eye gaze. Indeed, because our method bypasses altogether the use of visual cues, objects, and shifts in visual selective attention, our paradigm appears to be more sensitive at tapping into the fundamental approach-avoidance response that mediate the implicit liking effect. As such, it offers new opportunities for research investigations in the future

Social movement unionism? : an analysis of labour organisations strategies in the global political economy

This thesis examines the extent to which the modern labour movement is utilising social movement unionism as a form of organisation in the modern political economy. A multi-level analytical approach utilises a Gramscian inspired theoretical framework to look at developments at the national, regional, and global levels of the labour movement in the modern global political economy. Issues at stake are i) understanding the issues affecting the labour movement in the age of globalisation; ii) the degree to which social movement unionism presents the labour movement a framework for renewal; iii) the extent to which key themes of social movement unionism are being implemented by those within the labour movement at all levels; and iv) whether there exists at present a form of labour organisation that presents a true test for social movement unionism. This thesis adds to contemporary literature by combining analysis of existing academic debates with original primary material (a series of interviews with several key figures within the labour movement), in order that the relevancy of contemporary academic arguments for tangible developments surrounding the labour movement is determined. The insights gained from these interviews are incorporated into the body of this thesis. After an outline of initial points of contextualisation in chapter one, chapter two moves to provide the theoretical framework for this research. Chapter three discusses issues of globalisation that affect the labour movement. The thesis then moves to analyse tangible issues surrounding the labour movement, with chapter four outlining the British labour movement's experiences and responses to challenges faced. Chapter five analyses the degree to which the European level presents a viable framework for the internationalisation of the labour movement, whilst chapter six shifts focus to the global level. At this point it will be argued that non-traditional labour organisations and social forums provide potential catalysts for the widespread adoption of social movement unionism. The final chapter provides concluding arguments and a revisiting of the researches main points.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceESRCGBUnited Kingdo

Thalamocortical Inputs Show Post-Critical-Period Plasticity

SummaryExperience-dependent plasticity in the adult brain has clinical potential for functional rehabilitation following central and peripheral nerve injuries. Here, plasticity induced by unilateral infraorbital (IO) nerve resection in 4-week-old rats was mapped using MRI and synaptic mechanisms were elucidated by slice electrophysiology. Functional MRI demonstrates a cortical potentiation compared to thalamus 2 weeks after IO nerve resection. Tracing thalamocortical (TC) projections with manganese-enhanced MRI revealed circuit changes in the spared layer 4 (L4) barrel cortex. Brain slice electrophysiology revealed TC input strengthening onto L4 stellate cells due to an increase in postsynaptic strength and the number of functional synapses. This work shows that the TC input is a site for robust plasticity after the end of the previously defined critical period for this input. Thus, TC inputs may represent a major site for adult plasticity in contrast to the consensus that adult plasticity mainly occurs at cortico-cortical connections

Metabolism of steroidal lactones by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola CBS 161.60 results in a mechanistically unique intramolecular ring-D cyclization resulting in C-14 spiro-lactones

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.The fungus Corynespora cassiicola metabolises exogenous steroids in a unique and highly specific manner. Central to this, is the ability of this organism to functionalise substrates (androgens, progestogens) at the highly stereochemically hindered 8β-position of the steroid nucleus. A recent study has identified that 8β-hydroxylation occurs through inverted binding in a 9α-hydroxylase. In order to discern the metabolic fate of more symmetrical molecules, we have investigated the metabolism of a range of steroidal analogues functionalised with ring-D lactones, but differing in their functional group stereochemistry at carbon-3. Remarkably, the 3α-functionalised steroidal lactones underwent a mechanistically unique two step intramolecular cyclisation resulting in the generation of a ring-D spiro-carbolactone. This rapid rearrangement initiated with hydroxylation at carbon 14 followed by transesterification, resulting in ring contraction with formation of a butyrolactone at carbon-14. Remarkably this rearrangement was found to be highly dependent on the stereochemistry at carbon-3, with the β-analogues only undergoing 9α-hydroxylation. The implications of these findings and their mechanistic bases are discussed

Nutritional Ketosis Alters Fuel Preference and Thereby Endurance Performance in Athletes.

Ketosis, the metabolic response to energy crisis, is a mechanism to sustain life by altering oxidative fuel selection. Often overlooked for its metabolic potential, ketosis is poorly understood outside of starvation or diabetic crisis. Thus, we studied the biochemical advantages of ketosis in humans using a ketone ester-based form of nutrition without the unwanted milieu of endogenous ketone body production by caloric or carbohydrate restriction. In five separate studies of 39 high-performance athletes, we show how this unique metabolic state improves physical endurance by altering fuel competition for oxidative respiration. Ketosis decreased muscle glycolysis and plasma lactate concentrations, while providing an alternative substrate for oxidative phosphorylation. Ketosis increased intramuscular triacylglycerol oxidation during exercise, even in the presence of normal muscle glycogen, co-ingested carbohydrate and elevated insulin. These findings may hold clues to greater human potential and a better understanding of fuel metabolism in health and disease