On the use of space photography for identifying transportation routes: A summary of problems

It has been widely suggested that space photography may be used for updating maps of transportation networks. Proponents of the argument have suggested that color space photographs of the resolution obtained with Hasselblad 80 mm lenses (about 300 feet) contain enough useful information to update the extensions of major U. S. highways. The present study systematically documents for the Dallas-Fort Worth area the potential of such space photography in detecting, and to a lesser degree identifying, the existing road networks. Color separation plates and an enlargement of the color photograph were produced and all visible roads traced onto transparencies for study. Major roads and roads under construction were the most visible while lower class roads and roads in urban areas had the poorest return. Road width and classification were found to be the major determinant in visibility, varying from 100 per cent visible for divided highways to 15 per cent visible of bladed earth roads. In summary, space photographs of this resolution proved to be difficult to use for accurate road delineation. Only super highways in rural areas with the greatest road-width were completely identifiable, the width being about 1/3 that of the resolution cell

Behavioral metabolution: the adaptive and evolutionary potential of metabolism-based chemotaxis

We use a minimal model of metabolism-based chemotaxis to show how a coupling between metabolism and behavior can affect evolutionary dynamics in a process we refer to as behavioral metabolution. This mutual influence can function as an in-the-moment, intrinsic evaluation of the adaptive value of a novel situation, such as an encounter with a compound that activates new metabolic pathways. Our model demonstrates how changes to metabolic pathways can lead to improvement of behavioral strategies, and conversely, how behavior can contribute to the exploration and fixation of new metabolic pathways. These examples indicate the potentially important role that the interplay between behavior and metabolism could have played in shaping adaptive evolution in early life and protolife. We argue that the processes illustrated by these models can be interpreted as an unorthodox instantiation of the principles of evolution by random variation and selective retention. We then discuss how the interaction between metabolism and behavior can facilitate evolution through (i) increasing exposure to environmental variation, (ii) making more likely the fixation of some beneficial metabolic pathways, (iii) providing a mechanism for in-the-moment adaptation to changes in the environment and to changes in the organization of the organism itself, and (iv) generating conditions that are conducive to speciatio

The results of using a tendon autograft as a new rotator cable for patients with a massive rotator cuff tear:a technical note and comparative outcome analysis

Background: Several surgical reconstructive options are available to treat massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs). The rotator cable has an important function and we evaluated the clinical result after arthroscopic reconstruction of the rotator cable with an autograft tendon. Methods: A prospective pilot study was performed with inclusion of four patients, average age of 64 years, with an irreparable MRCT. The patients underwent an arthroscopic reconstruction of the rotator cable with the use of the long head of biceps tendon autograft, except for one which was reconstructed with a hamstring tendon. Pre- and postsurgically, the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and an MRI was performed. Clinical results of the study group were compared with clinical results of comparable cohort of patients with a MRCT, treated non-operatively with physiotherapy. Results: The CMS score increased after surgery in three of the four patients. The improvement of CMS score was comparable to the improvement of the CMS score encountered in a comparable cohort. The MRI at 12 months follow-up showed that the reconstructed rotator cable was disintegrated in all patients and the rotator cuff was detached and retracted. Conclusions: In our pilot study, arthroscopic reconstruction of the rotator cable using a tendon autograft failed over time and showed no clinical benefit in comparison to the non-operative treatment with physiotherapy. Trial registration: The regional Medical Ethical Committee (Zwolle) gave approval at 14th of October 2016 and assigned no. 16.06100

Robust principal component analysis of electromagnetic arrays with missing data

We describe a new algorithm for robust principal component analysis (PCA) of electromagnetic (EM) array data, extending previously developed multivariate methods to include arrays with large data gaps, and only partial overlap between site occupations. Our approach is based on a criss-cross regression scheme in which polarization parameters and spatial modes are alternately estimated with robust regression procedures. The basic scheme can be viewed as an expectation robust (ER) algorithm, of the sort that has been widely discussed in the statistical literature in the context of robust PCA, but with details of the scheme tailored to the physical specifics of EM array observations. We have tested our algorithm with synthetic and real data, including data denial experiments where we have created artificial gaps, and compared results obtained with full and incomplete data arrays. These tests reveal that for modest amounts of missing data (up to 20 per cent or so) the algorithm performs well, reproducing essentially the same dominant spatial modes that would be obtained from analysis of the complete array. The algorithm thus makes multivariate analysis practical for the first time for large heterogeneous arrays, as we illustrate by application to two different EM arrays.Keywords: Time series analysis, Geomagnetic induction, Magnetotelluri

A Minimal Model of Metabolism Based Chemotaxis

Since the pioneering work by Julius Adler in the 1960's, bacterial chemotaxis has been predominantly studied as metabolism-independent. All available simulation models of bacterial chemotaxis endorse this assumption. Recent studies have shown, however, that many metabolism-dependent chemotactic patterns occur in bacteria. We hereby present the simplest artificial protocell model capable of performing metabolism-based chemotaxis. The model serves as a proof of concept to show how even the simplest metabolism can sustain chemotactic patterns of varying sophistication. It also reproduces a set of phenomena that have recently attracted attention on bacterial chemotaxis and provides insights about alternative mechanisms that could instantiate them. We conclude that relaxing the metabolism-independent assumption provides important theoretical advances, forces us to rethink some established pre-conceptions and may help us better understand unexplored and poorly understood aspects of bacterial chemotaxis

Arthroscopic isolated long head of biceps tenotomy in patients with degenerative rotator cuff tears:mid-term clinical results and prognostic factors

INTRODUCTION: The long head of biceps tendon is frequently involved in degenerative rotator cuff tears. Therefore, this study explored the clinical results of an isolated biceps tenotomy and identified prognostic factors for improvement in pain and function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2008 and 2017, an arthroscopic isolated biceps tenotomy was performed on 64 patients with a degenerative rotator cuff tear (> 65 years). Primary outcome was patient-perceived improvement in pain and function. Potential prognostic factors for improvement in pain and function were identified. RESULTS: A perceived improvement in pain was reported in 78% of the patients at three months after surgery and in 75% at a mean follow-up of 4.2 years (1-7 years; n = 55). A perceived improvement in function was observed in 49% of patients at three months and in 76% of patients at follow-up. Patients with a preoperatively normal acromiohumeral distance (> 10 mm) reported an improvement in pain and function significantly more often. Retraction of the supraspinatus tendon Patte 3 was significantly associated with worse functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A biceps tenotomy can be a reliable treatment option for patients with symptomatic degenerative cuff tears who fail conservative treatment and have a normal acromiohumeral distance (> 10 mm)

SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF TNF-a AND ITS SOLUBLE RECEPTORS DURING PSYCHOTHERAPY IN GERMAN SOLDIERS SUFFERING FROM COMBAT-RELATED PTSD

Background: Changes in serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor

Diurnal/semidiurnal polar motion excited by oceanic tidal angular momentum

The axial component of the oceanic tidal angular momentum (OTAM) has been demonstrated to be responsible for most of the diurnal and semidiurnal variations in Earth's rotational rate. In this paper we study the equatorial components of OTAM and their corresponding effects on the orientation of Earth's rotational axis, or polar motion. Three ocean tide models derived from TOPEX/Poseidon satellite altimetry are employed to predict the polar motion excited by eight major diurnal/semidiurnal tides (Q₁,O₁,P₁, K₁, N₂, M₂, S₂, K₂). The predictions are compared with geodetic measurements of polar motion from both long‐term observations and during the intensive campaign Cont94. The prograde diurnal and prograde and retrograde semidiurnal periods are treated, whereas the retrograde diurnal polar motion is not treated (because it cannot be observed directly and uniquely.) The comparison shows generally good agreement, with discrepancies typically within 10–30 micro‐arc‐ seconds for the largest tides. The eight tides collectively explain nearly 60% of the total variance in subdaily polar motion during Cont94. This establishes the dominant role of OTAM in exciting the diurnal/semidiurnal polar motion and paves the way for detailed studies of short‐period nontidal polar motion. The present accuracy, however, is inadequate to shed light on the prograde diurnal polar libration