EUCOM’s POL Capability & Capacity Gaps – Single Fuel Concept Follow On

NPS NRP Project PosterThis research effort will analyze fuel supply and distribution capabilities during Phase II operations in the European theater when operating under the single fuels concept. This effort will build on two prior works by the research team: the first study focused on the logistics benefit provided by the single fuel concept in the Pacific (UNCLAS); the second study explored the current logistics capability and capacity gaps surrounding POL distribution in the EUCOM theater (SECRET/NOFORN). The proposed study will explore how switching to a single fuel operational concept will impact those gaps and will address what policy could be changed and/or assets procured to lessen those capability gaps.N4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

EUCOM’s POL Capability & Capacity Gaps – Single Fuel Concept Follow On

NPS NRP Executive SummaryThis research effort will analyze fuel supply and distribution capabilities during Phase II operations in the European theater when operating under the single fuels concept. This effort will build on two prior works by the research team: the first study focused on the logistics benefit provided by the single fuel concept in the Pacific (UNCLAS); the second study explored the current logistics capability and capacity gaps surrounding POL distribution in the EUCOM theater (SECRET/NOFORN). The proposed study will explore how switching to a single fuel operational concept will impact those gaps and will address what policy could be changed and/or assets procured to lessen those capability gaps.N4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Sustainable Energy at Coastal Facilities

NPS NRP Project PosterThis research effort examined the paths to further adoption of sustainable energy at coastal facilities. It examined current technical, financial, legal, and policy challenges that have hindered past efforts to incorporate more renewable energy and that are priorities to be considered for future renewable energy projects. The research team gathered data and information through an examination of literature and interviews with subject matter experts familiar with coastal facilities and with experts in the renewable energy sector. The team conducted two case studies of US Coast Guard Station Monterey (CA) and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (TX) to provide additional context for the adoption of sustainable renewable energy at coastal facilities. Additionally, research was conducted on mechanisms for microgrid financing to demonstrate how a facility may finance microgrid installation and further adoption of renewable energy and microgrids. Researchers found that there are some common core challenges for installing and using microgrids. These challenges include zoning issues, environmental considerations, infrastructure barriers, financing issues, conflicting safety standards, technical obstacles, and administrative hurdles. Researchers found that some challenges can be lessened, avoided, or accounted for with advance preparation and awareness ahead of time. Further analysis of region-specific challenges would provide more context for consideration of sustainable energy and implementation of microgrids. Further study is also required to understand the details of an appropriate financial acquisition agreement with a quantification of the benefits and costs of microgrids over time. Finally, the processes for contracting out microgrid design and construction and identifying suitable contractors is recommended.NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare CenterN4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Sustainable Energy at Coastal Facilities

NPS NRP Technical ReportThis research effort examined the paths to further adoption of sustainable energy at coastal facilities. It examined current technical, financial, legal, and policy challenges that have hindered past efforts to incorporate more renewable energy and that are priorities to be considered for future renewable energy projects. The research team gathered data and information through an examination of literature and interviews with subject matter experts familiar with coastal facilities and with experts in the renewable energy sector. The team conducted two case studies of US Coast Guard Station Monterey (CA) and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (TX) to provide additional context for the adoption of sustainable renewable energy at coastal facilities. Additionally, research was conducted on mechanisms for microgrid financing to demonstrate how a facility may finance microgrid installation and further adoption of renewable energy and microgrids. Researchers found that there are some common core challenges for installing and using microgrids. These challenges include zoning issues, environmental considerations, infrastructure barriers, financing issues, conflicting safety standards, technical obstacles, and administrative hurdles. Researchers found that some challenges can be lessened, avoided, or accounted for with advance preparation and awareness ahead of time. Further analysis of region-specific challenges would provide more context for consideration of sustainable energy and implementation of microgrids. Further study is also required to understand the details of an appropriate financial acquisition agreement with a quantification of the benefits and costs of microgrids over time. Finally, the processes for contracting out microgrid design and construction and identifying suitable contractors is recommended.NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare CenterN4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Sustainable Energy at Coastal Facilities

NPS NRP Executive SummaryThis research effort examined the paths to further adoption of sustainable energy at coastal facilities. It examined current technical, financial, legal, and policy challenges that have hindered past efforts to incorporate more renewable energy and that are priorities to be considered for future renewable energy projects. The research team gathered data and information through an examination of literature and interviews with subject matter experts familiar with coastal facilities and with experts in the renewable energy sector. The team conducted two case studies of US Coast Guard Station Monterey (CA) and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (TX) to provide additional context for the adoption of sustainable renewable energy at coastal facilities. Additionally, research was conducted on mechanisms for microgrid financing to demonstrate how a facility may finance microgrid installation and further adoption of renewable energy and microgrids. Researchers found that there are some common core challenges for installing and using microgrids. These challenges include zoning issues, environmental considerations, infrastructure barriers, financing issues, conflicting safety standards, technical obstacles, and administrative hurdles. Researchers found that some challenges can be lessened, avoided, or accounted for with advance preparation and awareness ahead of time. Further analysis of region-specific challenges would provide more context for consideration of sustainable energy and implementation of microgrids. Further study is also required to understand the details of an appropriate financial acquisition agreement with a quantification of the benefits and costs of microgrids over time. Finally, the processes for contracting out microgrid design and construction and identifying suitable contractors is recommended.NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare CenterN4 - Fleet Readiness & LogisticsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The pyramidalis-anterior pubic ligament-adductor longus complex (PLAC) and its role with adductor injuries: a new anatomical concept.

PURPOSE: Adductor longus injuries are complex. The conflict between views in the recent literature and various nineteenth-century anatomy books regarding symphyseal and perisymphyseal anatomy can lead to difficulties in MRI interpretation and treatment decisions. The aim of the study is to systematically investigate the pyramidalis muscle and its anatomical connections with adductor longus and rectus abdominis, to elucidate injury patterns occurring with adductor avulsions. METHODS: A layered dissection of the soft tissues of the anterior symphyseal area was performed on seven fresh-frozen male cadavers. The dimensions of the pyramidalis muscle were measured and anatomical connections with adductor longus, rectus abdominis and aponeuroses examined. RESULTS: The pyramidalis is the only abdominal muscle anterior to the pubic bone and was found bilaterally in all specimens. It arises from the pubic crest and anterior pubic ligament and attaches to the linea alba on the medial border. The proximal adductor longus attaches to the pubic crest and anterior pubic ligament. The anterior pubic ligament is also a fascial anchor point connecting the lower anterior abdominal aponeurosis and fascia lata. The rectus abdominis, however, is not attached to the adductor longus; its lateral tendon attaches to the cranial border of the pubis; and its slender internal tendon attaches inferiorly to the symphysis with fascia lata and gracilis. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a strong direct connection between the pyramidalis muscle and adductor longus tendon via the anterior pubic ligament, and it introduces the new anatomical concept of the pyramidalis-anterior pubic ligament-adductor longus complex (PLAC). Knowledge of these anatomical relationships should be employed to aid in image interpretation and treatment planning with proximal adductor avulsions. In particular, MRI imaging should be employed for all proximal adductor longus avulsions to assess the integrity of the PLAC

Mitochondrial DNA Variant Discovery and Evaluation in Human Cardiomyopathies through Next-Generation Sequencing

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may cause maternally-inherited cardiomyopathy and heart failure. In homoplasmy all mtDNA copies contain the mutation. In heteroplasmy there is a mixture of normal and mutant copies of mtDNA. The clinical phenotype of an affected individual depends on the type of genetic defect and the ratios of mutant and normal mtDNA in affected tissues. We aimed at determining the sensitivity of next-generation sequencing compared to Sanger sequencing for mutation detection in patients with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. We studied 18 patients with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and two with suspected mitochondrial disease. We “shotgun” sequenced PCR-amplified mtDNA and multiplexed using a single run on Roche's 454 Genome Sequencer. By mapping to the reference sequence, we obtained 1,300× average coverage per case and identified high-confidence variants. By comparing these to >400 mtDNA substitution variants detected by Sanger, we found 98% concordance in variant detection. Simulation studies showed that >95% of the homoplasmic variants were detected at a minimum sequence coverage of 20× while heteroplasmic variants required >200× coverage. Several Sanger “misses” were detected by 454 sequencing. These included the novel heteroplasmic 7501T>C in tRNA serine 1 in a patient with sudden cardiac death. These results support a potential role of next-generation sequencing in the discovery of novel mtDNA variants with heteroplasmy below the level reliably detected with Sanger sequencing. We hope that this will assist in the identification of mtDNA mutations and key genetic determinants for cardiomyopathy and mitochondrial disease

Multi-ancestry meta-analysis of tobacco use disorder prioritizes novel candidate risk genes and reveals associations with numerous health outcomes

Tobacco use disorder (TUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder in the world. Genetic factors influence smoking behaviors, and although strides have been made using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify risk variants, the majority of variants identified have been for nicotine consumption, rather than TUD. We leveraged five biobanks to perform a multi-ancestral meta-analysis of TUD (derived via electronic health records, EHR) in 898,680 individuals (739,895 European, 114,420 African American, 44,365 Latin American). We identified 88 independent risk loci; integration with functional genomic tools uncovered 461 potential risk genes, primarily expressed in the brain. TUD was genetically correlated with smoking and psychiatric traits from traditionally ascertained cohorts, externalizing behaviors in children, and hundreds of medical outcomes, including HIV infection, heart disease, and pain. This work furthers our biological understanding of TUD and establishes EHR as a source of phenotypic information for studying the genetics of TUD

The relevance of rich club regions for functional outcome post-stroke is enhanced in women

This study aimed to investigate the influence of stroke lesions in predefined highly interconnected (rich-club) brain regions on functional outcome post-stroke, determine their spatial specificity and explore the effects of biological sex on their relevance. We analyzed MRI data recorded at index stroke and similar to 3-months modified Rankin Scale (mRS) data from patients with acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the multisite MRI-GENIE study. Spatially normalized structural stroke lesions were parcellated into 108 atlas-defined bilateral (sub)cortical brain regions. Unfavorable outcome (mRS > 2) was modeled in a Bayesian logistic regression framework. Effects of individual brain regions were captured as two compound effects for (i) six bilateral rich club and (ii) all further non-rich club regions. In spatial specificity analyses, we randomized the split into "rich club" and "non-rich club" regions and compared the effect of the actual rich club regions to the distribution of effects from 1000 combinations of six random regions. In sex-specific analyses, we introduced an additional hierarchical level in our model structure to compare male and female-specific rich club effects. A total of 822 patients (age: 64.7[15.0], 39% women) were analyzed. Rich club regions had substantial relevance in explaining unfavorable functional outcome (mean of posterior distribution: 0.08, area under the curve: 0.8). In particular, the rich club-combination had a higher relevance than 98.4% of random constellations. Rich club regions were substantially more important in explaining long-term outcome in women than in men. All in all, lesions in rich dub regions were associated with increased odds of unfavorable outcome. These effects were spatially specific and more pronounced in women.Peer reviewe