“War in the Modern World, 1990-2014 (Book Review)” by Jeremy Black

Review of War in the Modern World, 1990-2014 by Jeremy Blac

Control of corn diseases in Illinois

"In cooperation with Office of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Advanced Solid State Lighting for AES Deep Space Hab Project

The advanced Solid State Lighting (SSL) assemblies augmented 2nd generation modules under development for the Advanced Exploration Systems Deep Space Habitat in using color therapy to synchronize crew circadian rhythms. Current RGB LED technology does not produce sufficient brightness to adequately address general lighting in addition to color therapy. The intent is to address both through a mix of white and RGB LEDs designing for fully addressable alertness/relaxation levels as well as more dramatic circadian shifts

Advanced Solid State Lighting for Human Evaluation Project

Lighting intensity and color have a significant impact on human circadian rhythms. Advanced solid state lighting was developed for the Advanced Exploration System (AES) Deep Space Habitat(DSH) concept demonstrator. The latest generation of assemblies using the latest commercially available LED lights were designed for use in the Bigelow Aerospace Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) simulator and the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (Hi-SEAS) habitat. Agreements with both these organizations will allow the government to receive feedback on the lights and lighting algorithms from long term human interaction

The use of cognitive clinical interviews to explore learning from video game play

As research about the learning that results when children play video games becomes more popular, questions arise about what methodological and analytical tools are most appropriate to access and document this learning. Thus far, researchers have mostly adopted pre/post assessments, ethnography, and learning analytics. In this paper we (re)introduce cognitive clinical interviews as a methodology particularly suited to answering many of the most pressing questions about games and learning. To that end we describe four challenges of studying learning in video games with pre-post assessments that we claim can be addressed by the addition of clinical interviews. We then consider how clinical interviews can help to explain and describe patterns detected from ethnographic observations and detailed game play logs

Computer Controlled Solid State Lighting Assembly to Emulate Diurnal Cycle and Improve Circadian Rhythm Control

A light system can simultaneously emulate more than one different diurnal cycle to individually improve circadian rhythm control for more than one observer by having each light fixture autonomously self-controlled. Each light fixture is mountable in respective locations to individually treat respective observers. Each light fixture includes one or more light elements mounted to a housing and are controllable to emit a selected light intensity at a selected light temperature. A micro controller is contained in the housing and includes memory containing instructions for one or more automatic diurnal cycle protocols. The micro controller is in communication with the memory and the one or more light elements to execute the instructions to configure the light fixture to vary the light intensity and the light temperature of the emitted light

Glycemic Control Patterns and Kidney Disease Progression among Primary Care Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Reducing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to near or less than 7% in patients with diabetes is associated with diminished microvascular complications, but this level is not consistently achieved. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fluctuations in HbA1c and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and estimated stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an academic primary care practice. Methods: We analyzed data from 791 diabetic primary care patients (25% white; 75% African American) enrolled between 1998 to 2002 and followed through 2008 (mean follow-up, 7.6 1.9 years). We calculated baseline and final follow-up eGFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. We examined the relationship between fluctuations in HbA1c and changes in eGFR and stage of CKD using multivariable linear and logistic regression models that controlled for demographic and clinical variables associated with CKD progression. Results: From baseline to follow-up, mean eGFR in African Americans declined to a greater extent and more rapidly than in whites. Age, mean systolic blood pressure, initial HbA1c, initial eGFR, and number of HbA1c values (all P 7% (P < .02); however, this contributed little to explaining model variance. Conclusion: These data suggest that traditional demographic and clinical risk factors remain significantly associated with changes in eGFR and that the pattern of variability in HbA1c is only modestly important in contributing to changes in eGFR among African-American and white diabetic patients in primary care

Characterizing the Performance of the Wheel Electrostatic Spectrometer

A Wheel Electrostatic Spectrometer has been developed as a surveying tool to be incorporated into a Martian rover design. Electrostatic sensors with various protruding cover insulators are embedded into a prototype rover wheel. When these insulators come into contact with a surface, a charge develops on the cover insulator through tribocharging. A charge spectrum is created by analyzing the accumulated charge on each of the dissimilar cover insulators. This charge spectrum can be used to determine differences in Martian regolith properties. In this study, we analyzed the repeatability of the measurements for this sensor package and found that the sensor repeatability lies within one standard deviation of the noise in the signal. In addition, we tested the need for neutralizing the surface charge on the cover insulators and discovered a need to discharge the sensor cover insulators after each revolution. Future work includes an electronics redesign to reduce noise and a Martian pressure static elimination tool that can be used to neutralize the charge on the sensor cover insulators after each wheel revolution

Propaganda política en México y Estados Unidos: aproximaciones teórico - metodológicas discordantes

The most used mass communication vehicle between parties or candidates during current electoral processes is the television political propaganda. However, in academic terms, there is no master theoretical framework that can contribute to the disciplinary consolidation of the topic under discussion. In this paper, a systematic review of research trends is carried out. As a result of an exploratory design, the papers regarding the subject were identified, ordered and studied. The theoretical - methodological postulates of a group of Mexican and North American authors, who have analyzed the contents and effects of the political spot, are shown here. The main finding is that there is no disciplinary consolidation in Mexico because the authors make intermittent approaches to the subject. In addition, qualitative methodologies dominate the researches that are undertaken, and usage of statistics has been marginal in quantitative ones. In contrast, in the United States there is a sophistication in the statistical models used, various theoretical assumptions have been tested, and those could make up an element that shapes the incipient analysis of political communication in Mexico and Latin America. It is concluded that the tension between qualitative and quantitative research is regional in nature: In Mexico, the pragmatism of the social sciences dominates the field; In contrast, there is a structured field in the United States.O veículo de comunicação em massa mais utilizado entre partidos ou candidatos durante processos eleitorais atuais é a propaganda política televisiva. No entanto, em termos acadêmicos, é inexistente um referencial teórico que contribua para a consolidação disciplinar do tema em discussão. Neste artigo, realiza - se uma revisão sistemática das tendências de pesquisa a respeito. Como resultado de um projeto exploratório identificaram - se, organizaram e estudaram os artigos referentes à matéria. Expomos os postulados teórico - metodológicos de um mosaico de autores, mexicanos e norte - americanos, que analisaram os conteúdos e efeitos do spot político. A principal descoberta é que no México não existe uma consolidação disciplinar devido a que os autores realizam aproximações intermitentes ao tema. Além disso, as metodologias qualitativas dominam as pesquisas empreendidas, e nas de natureza quantitativa, a estatística tem sido pouco usada. Em contraste, nos Estados Unidos há uma sofisticação nos modelos estatísticos utilizados, diversos pressupostos teóricos foram provados, e poderiam ser um elemento que configure a incipiente análise da comunicação política no México e na América Latina. Concluímos, a tensão entre a pesquisa qualitativa e quantitativa é regional, no México o pragmatismo das ciências sociais domina o campo, em contraste, nos Estados Unidos há campo estruturado.El vehículo de comunicación masiva más utilizado entre partidos o candidatos durante procesos electorales actuales es la propaganda política televisiva. Sin embargo, en términos académicos, es inexistente un marco teórico maestro que contribuya a la consolidación disciplinar del tema en discusión. En este artículo se realiza una revisión sistemática de las tendencias de investigación al respecto. Como resultado de un diseño exploratorio se identificaron, ordenaron y estudiaron los artículos referentes a la materia. Exponemos los postulados teórico - metodológicos de un mosaico de autores, mexicanos y norteamericanos, que han analizado los contenidos y efectos del spot político. El principal hallazgo es que en México no existe una consolidación disciplinar debido a que los autores realizan aproximaciones intermitentes al tema. Además, las metodologías cualitativas dominan las investigaciones emprendidas, y en las de carácter cuantitativo el uso de la estadística ha sido marginal. En contraste, en Estados Unidos hay una sofisticación en los modelos estadísticos utilizados, diversos presupuestos teóricos han sido probados, y podrían ser un elemento que configure el incipiente análisis de la comunicación política en México y Latinoamérica. Concluimos, la tensión entre la investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa es regional, en México el pragmatismo de las ciencias sociales domina el campo, en contraste, en Estados Unidos hay campo estructurado.https://revistas.udem.edu.co/index.php/anagramas/article/view/220