Radiation Induced Fault Detection, Diagnosis, and Characterization of Field Programmable Gate Arrays

The development of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) has been a great achievement in the world of micro-electronics. One of these devices can be programmed to do just about anything, and replace the need for thousands of individual specialized devices. Despite their great versatility, FPGAs are still extremely vulnerable to radiation from cosmic waves in space and from adversaries on the ground. Extensive research has been conducted to examine how radiation disrupts different types of FPGAs. The results show, unfortunately, that the newer FPGAs with smaller technology are even more susceptible to radiation damage than the older ones. This research incorporates and enhances current methods of radiation detection. The design consists of 15 sensor networks that each have 29 sensors. The sensors are simple inverters, but they have the ability to detect flipped bits and delay errors caused by radiation. Analyzers process the outputs of each sensor to determine if the value agrees with what is expected. This information is fed to a reporter that creates an easy-to-read output that describes which network the fault is in, what type of fault is present, how many are in the network, how long they have been there, and the percent slowdown if it is a delay issue. Each network reports any fault data, to the computer screen in real time. This design does need some improvement, but once those improvements are made and tested, this system can be incorporated with FPGA reconfiguration methods that automatically place application logic away from failing errors of the FPGA. This system has great potential to become a great too in fault mitigation

Amantadine hydrochloride in the treatment of parkinsonism: A placebo-controlled double-blind study

This report covers a review of the literature and a description of a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, of 200 mg of amantadine hydrochloride daily in the treatment of 23 parkinsonian patients. Statistical analysis of clinical results showed a significant improvement in rigidity and tremor at rest and a fair improvement in initiating movements and alertness. Subjective mood elevation was not confirmed by statistical analysis. Gait, voice control, jaw tremor and salivation showed no statistical improvement, while eye convergence may be adversely affected. Side-effects were minimal. Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel, Geigy) appears to have real value in the treatment of parkinsonism

Suite of simple metrics reveals common movement syndromes across vertebrate taxa

ecause empirical studies of animal movement are most-often site- and species-specific, we lack understanding of the level of consistency in movement patterns across diverse taxa, as well as a framework for quantitatively classifying movement patterns. We aim to address this gap by determining the extent to which statistical signatures of animal movement patterns recur across ecological systems. We assessed a suite of movement metrics derived from GPS trajectories of thirteen marine and terrestrial vertebrate species spanning three taxonomic classes, orders of magnitude in body size, and modes of movement (swimming, flying, walking). Using these metrics, we performed a principal components analysis and cluster analysis to determine if individuals organized into statistically distinct clusters. Finally, to identify and interpret commonalities within clusters, we compared them to computer-simulated idealized movement syndromes representing suites of correlated movement traits observed across taxa (migration, nomadism, territoriality, and central place foraging)

Land Mollusks of Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada

An illustrated key and description of the land snails and slugs of Northeastern United States and Southeastern CanadaOpe

Somatic rearrangements across cancer reveal classes of samples with distinct patterns of DNA breakage and rearrangement-induced hypermutability

Whole-genome sequencing using massively parallel sequencing technologies enables accurate detection of somatic rearrangements in cancer. Pinpointing large numbers of rearrangement breakpoints to base-pair resolution allows analysis of rearrangement microhomology and genomic location for every sample. Here we analyze 95 tumor genome sequences from breast, head and neck, colorectal, and prostate carcinomas, and from melanoma, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We discover three genomic factors that are significantly correlated with the distribution of rearrangements: replication time, transcription rate, and GC content. The correlation is complex, and different patterns are observed between tumor types, within tumor types, and even between different types of rearrangements. Mutations in the APC gene correlate with and, hence, potentially contribute to DNA breakage in late-replicating, low %GC, untranscribed regions of the genome. We show that somatic rearrangements display less microhomology than germline rearrangements, and that breakpoint loci are correlated with local hypermutability with a particular enrichment for C ↔ G transversions

Planning and Leveraging Event Portfolios: Towards a Holistic Theory

This conceptual paper seeks to advance the discourse on the leveraging and legacies of events by examining the planning, management, and leveraging of event portfolios. This examination shifts the common focus from analyzing single events towards multiple events and purposes that can enable cross-leveraging among different events in pursuit of attainment and magnification of specific ends. The following frameworks are proposed: (1) event portfolio planning and leveraging, and (2) analyzing events networks and inter-organizational linkages. These frameworks are intended to provide, at this infancy stage of event portfolios research, a solid ground for building theory on the management of different types and scales of events within the context of a portfolio aimed to obtain, optimize and sustain tourism, as well as broader community benefits

Discovery and saturation analysis of cancer genes across 21 tumor types

Summary While a few cancer genes are mutated in a high proportion of tumors of a given type (>20%), most are mutated at intermediate frequencies (2–20%). To explore the feasibility of creating a comprehensive catalog of cancer genes, we analyzed somatic point mutations in exome sequence from 4,742 tumor-normal pairs across 21 cancer types. We found that large-scale genomic analysis can identify nearly all known cancer genes in these tumor types. Our analysis also identified 33 genes not previously known to be significantly mutated, including genes related to proliferation, apoptosis, genome stability, chromatin regulation, immune evasion, RNA processing and protein homeostasis. Down-sampling analysis indicates that larger sample sizes will reveal many more genes, mutated at clinically important frequencies. We estimate that near-saturation may be achieved with 600–5000 samples per tumor type, depending on background mutation rate. The results help guide the next stage of cancer genomics

Current European guidelines for management of arterial hypertension: Are they adequate for use in primary care? Modelling study based on the Norwegian HUNT 2 population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies indicate that clinical guidelines using combined risk evaluation for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may overestimate risk. The aim of this study was to model and discuss implementation of the current (2007) hypertension guidelines in a general Norwegian population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Implementation of the current <it>European Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension </it>was modelled on data from a cross-sectional, representative Norwegian population study (The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 1995-97), comprising 65,028 adults, aged 20-89, of whom 51,066 (79%) were eligible for modelling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among individuals with blood pressure ≥120/80 mmHg, 93% (74% of the total, adult population) would need regular clinical attention and/or drug treatment, based on their total CVD risk profile. This translates into 296,624 follow-up visits/100,000 adults/year. In the Norwegian healthcare environment, 99 general practitioner (GP) positions would be required in the study region for this task alone. The number of GPs currently serving the adult population in the study area is 87 per 100,000 adults.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The potential workload associated with the European hypertension guidelines could destabilise the healthcare system in Norway, one of the world's most long- and healthy-living nations, by international comparison. Large-scale, preventive medical enterprises can hardly be regarded as scientifically sound and ethically justifiable, unless issues of practical feasibility, sustainability and social determinants of health are considered.</p

Sociobiological Control of Plasmid copy number

Background:&#xd;&#xa;All known mechanisms and genes responsible for the regulation of plasmid replication lie with the plasmid rather than the chromosome. It is possible therefore that there can be copy-up mutants. Copy-up mutants will have within host selective advantage. This would eventually result into instability of bacteria-plasmid association. In spite of this possibility low copy number plasmids appear to exist stably in host populations. We examined this paradox using a computer simulation model.&#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Model:&#xd;&#xa;Our multilevel selection model assumes a wild type with tightly regulated replication to ensure low copy number. A mutant with slightly relaxed replication regulation can act as a &#x201c;cheater&#x201d; or &#x201c;selfish&#x201d; plasmid and can enjoy a greater within-host-fitness. However the host of a cheater plasmid has to pay a greater cost. As a result, in host level competition, host cell with low copy number plasmid has a greater fitness. Furthermore, another mutant that has lost the genes required for conjugation was introduced in the model. The non-conjugal mutant was assumed to undergo conjugal transfer in the presence of another conjugal plasmid in the host cell.&#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Results:&#xd;&#xa;The simulatons showed that if the cost of carrying a plasmid was low, the copy-up mutant could drive the wild type to extinction or very low frequencies. Consequently, another mutant with a higher copy number could invade the first invader. This process could result into an increasing copy number. However above a certain copy number within-host selection was overcompensated by host level selection leading to a rock-paper-scissor (RPS) like situation. The RPS situation allowed the coexistence of high and low copy number plasmids. The non-conjugal &#x201c;hypercheaters&#x201d; could further arrest the copy numbers to a substantially lower level.&#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Conclusions:&#xd;&#xa;These sociobiological interactions might explain the stability of copy numbers better than molecular mechanisms of replication regulation alone

Designing a Regional System of Social Indicators to Evaluate Nonpoint Source Water Projects

A collaborative team has developed a system to measure the social outcomes of nonpoint source water projects as indicators of progress towards environmental goals. The system involves a set of core indicators, additional supplemental indicators, and a process for collecting and using the indicators. This process is supported by methodologies and instruments for data collection, analysis, and reporting that are coordinated and supported through detailed written guidance and an on-line data management tool. Its multi-state scope and application offer a unique opportunity to target, measure, and report interim resource management accomplishments consistently at multiple levels