Chemiluminescent Tags for Tracking Insect Movement in Darkness: Application to Moth Photo-Orientation

The flight tracks of Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) flying toward a 5 watt incandescent light bulb were recorded under low light conditions with the aid of a camera-mounted photomultiplier and a glowing marker technique. Small felt pads bearing a chemiluminescent (glowi ma­erial, Cyalume®, were affixed to the abdomens of free-flying moths. insects orienting to a dim incandescent bulb were easily visible to the naked eye and were clearly captured on videotape. On their initial approach to the light source, M. sexta were found to orient at a mean angle of -0.220 ± 2.70 (mean ± SEM). The speed of the initial approach flight (OA ± 0.03 m/s) was significantly faster than the speed immediately after passing the light (0.29 ± 0.02 m/s; t =6.4, PM. sexta initially fly approximately at a light source and only after passing it, do they engage in circular flight around the source. M. sexta flight to lights does not entirely match any paths predicted by several light orientation mechanisms, including the commonly invoked light compass theory

A randomised, double-blind, four-way, crossover trial comparing the 24-h FEV₁ profile for once-daily versus twice-daily treatment with olodaterol, a novel long-acting β₂-agonist, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: This randomised, double-blind, four-way, crossover, Phase II study compared the 24-h forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) profile of alternative dosing frequencies of two total daily doses of olodaterol (5 and 10 mu g) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Patients received olodaterol 2 mu g twice daily (BID), 5 mu g BID, 5 mu g once daily (QD) and 10 mu g QD in a randomised sequence over 3-week treatment periods. Co-primary end points were FEV, area under the curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC(0-12)) and area under the curve from 12 to 24 h (AUC(12-24)) responses. Additional lung-function responses, pharmacokinetics and safety were assessed. Results: 47 patients were treated. All olodaterol doses provided significant increases in FEV, versus baseline (p < 0.001) and FEV, time profiles were nearly identical for olodaterol 5 and 10 mu g QD. Olodaterol 5 pg QD demonstrated improved FEV, AUC(0-12) and similar AUC(12-24) versus 2 mu g BID. Olodaterol 5 mu g QD showed slightly increased FEV, AUC(0-12) but lower AUC(12-24) compared to 5 mu g BID. Bronchodilation over 24 h was similar for olodaterol 5 pg QD and BID. All doses were well tolerated. Conclusions: Olodaterol 5 pg QD is efficacious in COPD, with a superior bronchodilatory profile compared to 2 mu g BID, which is close to the same total daily dose, and a similar degree of bronchodilation over 24 h compared with double the daily dose (administered as 10 pg QD or 5 mu g BID)

Powerline perching with a fixed-wing UAV

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-112).Small and micro UAVs have enabled a number of new mission capabilities, including navigating in and around buildings and performing perch-and-stare surveillance. However, one of the primary limitations of these small vehicles is endurance, simply because they cannot carry sufficient power for long missions. Recent advances in fixed-wing perching have made it possible to consider a new solution to this problem - landing on a powerline to recharge. Furthermore, because a current carrying conductor generates a magnetic field, a unique opportunity exists to use the powerline not just for recharging, but for localization as well. In this thesis, we seek to develop technologies that will enable a fixed-wing aircraft to land on a powerline using only the powerline's magnetic field and an inertial measurement unit for localization. To achieve this goal, an experimental set-up and preliminary sensing hardware are developed to detect the magnetic field at least 4 meters from the wire. Then, the necessary signal processing and state estimation algorithms are applied to achieve successful localization and overcome problematic field ambiguities. Following this, an onboard sensing system is developed and the high speed tracking of a perching trajectory is demonstrated experimentally. Finally, the position error associated with the aircraft tracking algorithm is analyzed carefully and assessed to be suitable for achieving closed loop perching. The work culminates in a light weight, 30 gram, on-board sensor system with the capability of estimating the position of a perching aircraft in real time at update rates up to 320 Hz, positional accuracies ranging from 2 to 20 centimeters, and delays of about 17 Ms.by Joseph L. Moore.S.M

Direct Laser Fabrication of a Gas Turbine Engine Component - Microstructure and Properties - Part I

This paper presents the development of a new technique for the production of abrasive turbine blade tips by direct laser processing. This superalloy cermet component is an integral part of the low pressure turbine sealing system in a demonstrator engine. Direct laser fabrication of this component fiom a bed a loose powder results in significant cost savings and improved performance over the currently employed production technique. The technology has been demonstrated by fabricating a prototype lot of 100 blade tips, which will be subjected to an engine test. This is the first instance of a direct fabrication method applied to the production of functional engine hardware. This research was funded by the United States Air Force contract F33615-94- C-2424 titled "Affordable Turbine Blade Tips".Mechanical Engineerin

Détresse psychologique chez les personnes atteintes du VIH à Montréal

Le présent article décrit les préoccupations psychologiques reliées au VIH dans un échantillon montréalais de 128 personnes atteintes du virus, qui ont participé à une enquête nationale plus large sur les besoins et les services en santé mentale en rapport avec cette infection au Canada. Nous avons examiné les problèmes psychologiques causés par le VIH à Montréal, en comparaison d'autres villes du Canada, et dans divers sous-groupes définis selon le sexe, l'âge, le diagnostic et le facteur de risque. Les résultats montrent que même si l'infection au VIH a de fortes et profondes incidences sur la santé mentale, il existe des différences dans les genres de préoccupations et de problèmes qui affligent des groupes particuliers de répondants montréalais. L'incertitude de l'avenir et l'incapacité de réaliser ses buts dans la vie, ainsi que des sentiments d'impuissance et de peur face aux conséquences neurologiques virtuelles du VIH, étaient des sources majeures de détresse psychologique. Les sentiments de dépression, d'anxiété et de colère, de même que les inquiétudes soulevées par une détérioration physique croissante, la douleur, le danger d'infecter autrui, la confidentialité et la situation financière, étaient des sujets d'angoisse prédominants parmi les sous-groupes étudiés. Les différences entre les répondants en termes de sources de revenu, d'âge et de sexe et, dans une moindre mesure, de diagnostic et de facteur de risque, étaient associées à des niveaux variables de détresse psychologique. Bien que les répondants de Montréal (et de Vancouver) étaient moins angoissés que ceux de Toronto et de Halifax, cette divergence semblait tenir principalement à des différences d'âge et de revenu. Les données de l'enquête pourront servir aux décideurs et aux planificateurs du domaine de la santé à mettre au point les services nécessaires pour répondre aux besoins psychologiques des adultes atteints du VIH.This paper describes the HIV-related mental health concerns of a sample of 128 persons with HIV infection in Montréal who participated in a larger national survey of HIV-related mental health needs and services in Canada. We examined mental health distress in persons with HIV infection in Montréal compared to other cities in Canada, and in subgroups of HIV-infected Montrealers defined on the basis of sex, age, diagnosis, and risk factor status. Results demonstrate that although HIV infection has a strong and far reaching impact on mental health, there are differences in the types of concerns and issues that are distressing to specific groups of Montréal respondents. Uncertainty about the future and not being able to realize life goals, as well as feelings of helplessness and fears about potential adverse neurological consequences of HIV disease, were major sources of psychological distress. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger, as well as concerns about increasing physical disability, pain, infecting others, confidentiality, and finances were predominant concerns among specific subgroups. Differences between respondents in terms of source of income, age, and sex, and to a lesser extent diagnosis and risk factor status, were associated with varying levels of mental health distress. Although respondents in Montréal (and Vancouver) were more distressed than respondents in Toronto and Halifax, these differences appear to be due primarily to differences in age and source of income. Findings from this study will be useful to policy makers and health planners in developing services to meet the mental health needs of HIV infected adults

An Empirically Based Calculation of the Extragalactic Infrared Background

Using the excellent observed correlations among various infrared wavebands with 12 and 60 micron luminosities, we calculate the 2-300 micron spectra of galaxies as a function of luminosity. We then use 12 micron and 60 micron galaxy luminosity functions derived from IRAS data, together with recent data on the redshift evolution of galaxy emissivity, to derive a new, empirically based IR background spectrum from stellar and dust emission in galaxies. Our best estimate for the IR background is of order 2-3 nW/m^2/sr with a peak around 200 microns reaching 6-8 nW/m^2/sr. Our empirically derived background spectrum is fairly flat in the mid-IR, as opposed to spectra based on modeling with discrete temperatures which exhibit a "valley" in the mid-IR. We also derive a conservative lower limit to the IR background which is more than a factor of 2 lower than our derived flux.Comment: 14 pages AASTeX, 2 .ps figures, the Astrophysical Journal, in pres

Ninth DOD/NASA/FAA Conference on Fibrous Composites in Structural Design, volume 1

This publication contains the proceedings of the Ninth DOD/NASA/FAA conference on Fibrous Composites in structural Design. Presentations were made in the following areas of composite structural design: perspectives in composites; design methodology; design applications; design criteria; supporting technology; damage tolerance; and manufacturing

Antibiotic Spacers in Shoulder Arthroplasty: Comparison of Stemmed and Stemless Implants.

Background: Antibiotic spacers in shoulder periprosthetic joint infection deliver antibiotics locally and provide temporary stability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences between stemmed and stemless spacers. Methods: All spacers placed from 2011 to 2013 were identified. Stemless spacers were made by creating a spherical ball of cement placed in the joint space. Stemmed spacers had some portion in the humeral canal. Operative time, complications, reimplantation, reinfection, and range of motion were analyzed. Results: There were 37 spacers placed: 22 were stemless and 15 were stemmed. The stemless spacer population was older (70.9 ± 7.8 years vs. 62.8 ± 8.4 years, p = 0.006). The groups had a similar percentage of each gender (stemless group, 45% male vs. stemmed group, 40% male; p = 0.742), body mass index (stemless group, 29.1 ± 6.4 kg/m2 vs. stemmed group, 31.5 ± 8.3 kg/m2; p = 0.354) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (stemless group, 4.2 ± 1.2 vs. stemmed group, 4.2 ± 1.7; p = 0.958). Operative time was similar (stemless group, 127.5 ± 37.1 minutes vs. stemmed group, 130.5 ± 39.4 minutes). Two stemless group patients had self-resolving radial nerve palsies. Within the stemless group, 15 of 22 (68.2%) underwent reimplantation with 14 of 15 having forward elevation of 109° ± 23°. Within the stemmed group, 12 of 15 (80.0%, p = 0.427) underwent reimplantation with 8 of 12 having forward elevation of 94° ± 43° (range, 30° to 150°; p = 0.300). Two stemmed group patients had axillary nerve palsies, one of which self-resolved but the other did not. One patient sustained dislocation of reverse shoulder arthroplasty after reimplantation. One stemless group patient required an open reduction and glenosphere exchange of dislocated reverse shoulder arthroplasty at 6 weeks after reimplantation. Conclusions: Stemmed and stemless spacers had similar clinical outcomes. When analyzing all antibiotic spacers, over 70% were converted to revision arthroplasties. The results of this study do not suggest superiority of either stemmed or stemless antibiotic spacers

Creep Behavior of Passive Bovine Extraocular Muscle

This paper characterized bovine extraocular muscles (EOMs) using creep, which represents long-term stretching induced by a constant force. After preliminary optimization of testing conditions, 20 fresh EOM samples were subjected to four different loading rates of 1.67, 3.33, 8.33, and 16.67%/s, after which creep was observed for 1,500 s. A published quasilinear viscoelastic (QLV) relaxation function was transformed to a creep function that was compared with data. Repeatable creep was observed for each loading rate and was similar among all six anatomical EOMs. The mean creep coefficient after 1,500 seconds for a wide range of initial loading rates was at 1.37 ± 0.03 (standard deviation, SD). The creep function derived from the relaxation-based QLV model agreed with observed creep to within 2.7% following 16.67%/s ramp loading. Measured creep agrees closely with a derived QLV model of EOM relaxation, validating a previous QLV model for characterization of EOM biomechanics