Systems Thinking Using SSM and TRIZ for Stakeholder Engagement in Infrastructure Megaprojects

Infrastructure megaprojects straddle multiple stakeholder boundaries who have an interest in the project and are affected by the project. Multiple papers in the literature stress the need for holistic approaches to stakeholder engagement, as existing approaches only address the concerns of the noisy stakeholders. This research proposes an innovative approach in which Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used for understanding stakeholder concerns, complemented by the use of Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) for identifying innovative solutions to address conflicting stakeholder goals. The researchers simulated the stakeholder engagement of the Coimbatore metro rail project, in India, through a workshop setting in a classroom to check the feasibility of this approach for stakeholder engagement. The 15 participants of the workshop were divided into four groups representing different stakeholders of the project. Data was collected through participant observations by the authors and oral feedback from the participants. The results show that while SSM helped to capture the concerns and goals of each stakeholder, TRIZ helped to identify and dissolve conflicts among these goals through innovative solutions. The theoretical, practical and pedagogical contributions are highlighted

Monsters in Kaplan’s Logic of Demonstratives

Kaplan (1989a) insists that natural languages do not contain displacing devices that operate on character-such displacing devices are called monsters. This thesis has recently faced various empirical challenges (e.g., Schlenker 2003; Anand and Nevins 200

Synaptic Autoregulation by Metalloproteases and -Secretase

The proteoloytic machinery comprising metalloproteases and γ-secretase, an intramembrane aspartyl protease involved in Alzheimer’s disease, cleaves several substrates besides the extensively studied amyloid precursor protein (APP). Some of these substrates, such as N-cadherin, are synaptic proteins involved in synapse remodeling and maintenance. Here we show, in rat and mice that metalloproteases and γ-secretase are physiologic regulators of synapses. Both proteases are synaptic, with γ-secretase tethered at the synapse by δ-catenin, a synaptic scafolding protein which also binds to N-cadherin and, through scaffolds, to α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor (AMPAR) and a metalloprotease. Activity-dependent proteolysis by metalloproteases and γ-secretase takes place at both sides of the synapse, with the metalloprotease cleavage being N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR)-dependent. This proteolysis decreases levels of synaptic proteins and diminishes synaptic transmission. Our results suggest that activity-dependent substrate cleavage by synaptic metalloproteases and γ-secretase modifies synaptic transmission, providing a novel form of synaptic autoregulation

Creativity in Engineering Education

The paper examines the creativity in engineering education. The authors substantiate the topicality of the training of creative professionals in Russia and abroad and present training of creative professionals experience at the Department of Engineering Entrepreneurship of NR TPU. The empirical basis of the paper is the definition of the algorithm and conditions of the training of creative professionals

Synaptic Plasticity and NO-cGMP-PKG Signaling Regulate Pre- and Postsynaptic Alterations at Rat Lateral Amygdala Synapses Following Fear Conditioning

In vertebrate models of synaptic plasticity, signaling via the putative “retrograde messenger” nitric oxide (NO) has been hypothesized to serve as a critical link between functional and structural alterations at pre- and postsynaptic sites. In the present study, we show that auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning is associated with significant and long-lasting increases in the expression of the postsynaptically-localized protein GluR1 and the presynaptically-localized proteins synaptophysin and synapsin in the lateral amygdala (LA) within 24 hrs following training. Further, we show that rats given intra-LA infusion of either the NR2B-selective antagonist Ifenprodil, the NOS inhibitor 7-Ni, or the PKG inhibitor Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS exhibit significant decreases in training-induced expression of GluR1, synaptophysin, and synapsin immunoreactivity in the LA, while those rats infused with the PKG activator 8-Br-cGMP exhibit a significant increase in these proteins in the LA. In contrast, rats given intra-LA infusion of the NO scavenger c-PTIO exhibit a significant decrease in synapsin and synaptophysin expression in the LA, but no significant impairment in the expression of GluR1. Finally, we show that intra-LA infusions of the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 or the CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 impair training-induced expression of GluR1, synapsin, and synaptophysin in the LA. These findings suggest that the NO-cGMP-PKG, Rho/ROCK, and CaMKII signaling pathways regulate fear memory consolidation, in part, by promoting both pre- and post-synaptic alterations at LA synapses. They further suggest that synaptic plasticity in the LA during auditory fear conditioning promotes alterations at presynaptic sites via NO-driven “retrograde signaling”

Concurrent overexpression of amino acid permease AAP1(3a) and SUT1 sucrose transporter in pea resulted in increased seed number and changed cytokinin and protein levels

Using pea as our model crop, we sought to understand the regulatory control over the import of sugars and amino acids into the developing seeds and its importance for seed yield and quality. Transgenic peas simultaneously overexpressing a sucrose transporter and an amino acid transporter were developed. Pod walls, seed coats, and cotyledons were analysed separately, as well as leaves subtending developing pods. Sucrose, starch, protein, free amino acids, and endogenous cytokinins were measured during development. Temporal gene expression analyses (RT-qPCR) of amino acid (AAP), sucrose (SUT), and SWEET transporter family members, and those from cell wall invertase, cytokinin biosynthetic (IPT) and degradation (CKX) gene families indicated a strong effect of the transgenes on gene expression. In seed coats of the double transgenics, increased content and prolonged presence of cytokinin was particularly noticeable. The transgenes effectively promoted transition of young sink leaves into source leaves. We suggest the increased flux of sucrose and amino acids from source to sink, along with increased interaction between cytokinin and cell wall invertase in developing seed coats led to enhanced sink activity, resulting in higher cotyledon sucrose at process pea harvest, and increased seed number and protein content at maturity

TOI-5375 B: A Very Low Mass Star at the Hydrogen-Burning Limit Orbiting an Early M-type Star

The TESS mission detected a companion orbiting TIC 71268730, categorized it as a planet candidate, and designated the system TOI-5375. Our follow-up analysis using radial velocity data from the Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF), photometric data from Red Buttes Observatory (RBO), and speckle imaging with NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet Stellar Speckle Imager (NESSI) determined that the companion is a very low mass star (VLMS) near the hydrogen-burning mass limit with a mass of 0.080\pm{0.002} M_{\Sun} ($83.81\pm{2.10} M_{J}$), a radius of 0.1114^{+0.0048}_{-0.0050} R_{\Sun} (1.0841$^{0.0467}_{0.0487} R_{J}$), and brightness temperature of $2600\pm{70}$ K. This object orbits with a period of 1.721553$\pm{0.000001}$ days around an early M dwarf star (0.62\pm{0.016}M_{\Sun}). TESS photometry shows regular variations in the host star's TESS light curve, which we interpreted as activity-induced variation of $\sim$2\%, and used this variability to measure the host star's stellar rotation period of 1.9716$^{+0.0080}_{-0.0083}$ days. The TOI-5375 system provides tight constraints on stellar models of low-mass stars at the hydrogen-burning limit and adds to the population in this important region.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, Accepted to the Astronomical Journa

TOI-3785 b: A Low-Density Neptune Orbiting an M2-Dwarf Star

Using both ground-based transit photometry and high-precision radial velocity (RV) spectroscopy, we confirm the planetary nature of TOI-3785 b. This transiting Neptune orbits an M2-Dwarf star with a period of ~4.67 days, a planetary radius of 5.14 +/- 0.16 Earth Radii, a mass of 14.95 +4.10, -3.92 Earth Masses, and a density of 0.61 +0.18, -0.17 g/cm^3. TOI-3785 b belongs to a rare population of Neptunes (4 Earth Radii < Rp < 7 Earth Radii) orbiting cooler, smaller M-dwarf host stars, of which only ~10 have been confirmed. By increasing the number of confirmed planets, TOI-3785 b offers an opportunity to compare similar planets across varying planetary and stellar parameter spaces. Moreover, with a high transmission spectroscopy metric (TSM) of ~150 combined with a relatively cool equilibrium temperature of 582 +/- 16 K and an inactive host star, TOI-3785 b is one of the more promising low-density M-dwarf Neptune targets for atmospheric follow-up. Future investigation into atmospheric mass loss rates of TOI-3785 b may yield new insights into the atmospheric evolution of these low-mass gas planets around M-dwarfs.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 6 tables, Submitted to A

The Treatment of Hallucinations in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

This article reviews the treatment of hallucinations in schizophrenia. The first treatment option for hallucinations in schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication, which can induce a rapid decrease in severity. Only 8% of first-episode patients still experience mild to moderate hallucinations after continuing medication for 1 year. Olanzapine, amisulpride, ziprasidone, and quetiapine are equally effective against hallucinations, but haloperidol may be slightly inferior. If the drug of first choice provides inadequate improvement, it is probably best to switch medication after 2-4 weeks of treatment. Clozapine is the drug of choice for patients who are resistant to 2 antipsychotic agents. Blood levels should be above 350-450 mu g/ml for maximal effect. For relapse prevention, medication should be continued in the same dose. Depot medication should be considered for all patients because nonadherence is high. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be applied as an augmentation to antipsychotic medication. The success of CBT depends on the reduction of catastrophic appraisals, thereby reducing the concurrent anxiety and distress. CBT aims at reducing the emotional distress associated with auditory hallucinations and develops new coping strategies. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is capable of reducing the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations. Several meta-analyses found significantly better symptom reduction for low-frequency repetitive TMS as compared with placebo. Consequently, TMS currently has the status of a potentially useful treatment method for auditory hallucinations, but only in combination with state of the art antipsychotic treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered a last resort for treatment-resistant psychosis. Although several studies showed clinical improvement, a specific reduction in hallucination severity has never been demonstrated