Implementation of a BUS OFF recovery mechanism on a CAN bus driver

This report presents the implementation of the BUS OFF recovery mechanism on a CAN bus driver. The CAN protocol defined in 1991 by Robert Bosh GmbH implements 5 error detection mechanisms: 1. Bit Monitoring; 2. Bit Stuffing; 3. Frame Check; 4. Acknowledgement Check; 5. Cyclic Redundancy Check. If a node in a CAN bus does not return a recessive bit on its reply for a given time, it will be put in BUS OFF status and will stop transmitting information to the bus, until the BUS OFF status get cleared either manually or automatically. The implementation of this mechanism is made on a Freescale’s MC9S12XEP100 and involves modifications to its MSCAN (Scalable Controller Area Network) module configuration bits to enable both the BUS OFF and the Automatic BUS OFF recovery. The implementation also includes functions that will recover the bus from this state, manually, after pressing a button. This document describes the details on the previously mentioned mechanisms.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Atherosclerosis

Acute rupture of vulnerable plaques frequently leads to myocardial infarction and stroke. Within the last decades, several cellular and molecular players have been identified that promote atherosclerotic lesion formation, maturation and plaque rupture. It is now widely recognized that inflammation of the vessel wall and distinct leukocyte subsets are involved throughout all phases of atherosclerotic lesion development. The mechanisms that render a stable plaque unstable and prone to rupture, however, remain unknown and the identification of the vulnerable plaque remains a major challenge in cardiovascular medicine. Imaging technologies used in the clinic offer minimal information about the underlying biology and potential risk for rupture. New imaging technologies are therefore being developed, and in the preclinical setting have enabled new and dynamic insights into the vessel wall for a better understanding of this complex disease. Molecular imaging has the potential to track biological processes, such as the activity of cellular and molecular biomarkers in vivo and over time. Similarly, novel imaging technologies specifically detect effects of therapies that aim to stabilize vulnerable plaques and silence vascular inflammation. Here we will review the potential of established and new molecular imaging technologies in the setting of atherosclerosis, and discuss the cumbersome steps required for translating molecular imaging approaches into the clinic

State-Trait Anxiety and the Relationship with Patient Outcomes Following TKA

Purpose: To analyze the relationships between state (S) and trait (T) anxiety and functional outcome measure performance in patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) receiving physical therapy (PT). Methods: Nineteen patients (62.7±9.9 years) who recently underwent TKA completed testing post-TKA and at discharge that included the modified Lower Extremity Functional Scale (mLEFS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pain Catastrophizing Questionnaire (PCQ), knee range of motion (ROM), thirty-second chair stand test (30s-CST), and the timed up and go (TUG) test. Additionally, NPRS, ROM, 30s-CST, and TUG measures were taken at three and five weeks following TKA. Results: Baseline S- and T-anxiety correlated highly with baseline PCQ (ρ= .546-.676, p= .001-.016) and the 30s-CST (S-Anxiety ρ= -0.531, p= .019). Baseline S- and T-anxiety revealed strong correlations with discharge PCQ scores (S-anxiety ρ= .462-.536, p= .018-.046). The discharge S- and T-anxiety surveys also correlated with discharge measures of mLEFS (ρ= .606-.675, p= .002-.006) and NPRS (ρ= .588-.707, p= .001-.008). Conclusions and Recommendations: This study of S- and T-anxiety and its effects on outcomes following TKA procedures revealed patients’ pain, ROM, and functional outcome measures improved, while S-anxiety, T-anxiety, and PCQ scores had no significant changes from baseline to discharge. Knowing this, clinicians could be proactive and incorporate relaxation techniques, stretching, and massage as a standard means of care

Actin cytoskeleton-dependent regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor heteromers

Stress responses are highly nuanced and variable, but how this diversity is achieved by modulating receptor function is largely unknown. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptors (CRFRs), class B G protein–coupled receptors, are pivotal in mediating stress responses. Here we show that the two known CRFRs interact to form heteromeric complexes in HEK293 cells coexpressing both CRFRs and in vivo in mouse pancreas. Coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of both CRF1R and CRF2βR, along with actin in these heteromeric complexes. Inhibition of actin filament polymerization prevented the transport of CRF2βR to the cell surface but had no effect on CRF1R. Transport of CRF1R when coexpressed with CRF2βR became actin dependent. Simultaneous stimulation of cells coexpressing CRF1R+CRF2βR with their respective high-affinity agonists, CRF+urocortin2, resulted in approximately twofold increases in peak Ca2+responses, whereas stimulation with urocortin1 that binds both receptors with 10-fold higher affinity did not. The ability of CRFRs to form heteromeric complexes in association with regulatory proteins is one mechanism to achieve diverse and nuanced function

Modern Pre-School Education from the Standpoint of Self-Worth Childhood

Relevance of the studied problem is due to the reforming of the Russia education system that have begun in according to which the pre-school system is the first stage of general education and in this regard at the stage of practical implementation of reforms there is a risk of self-worth loss as the preschool period of development of the foundations of human culture in specific children’s activities. The purpose of the article is the theoretical justification of transition of childhood phenomenon from the information paradigm to the cultural-historical one, in refinement of “early childhood education” category in the context of the FSES, in disclosure of the idea of preschool self-worth. Leading approach to the theoretical justification of the author’s position is a cultural-historical system-activity approach. During the research process there are emerged number of important results: revealed and systematized the conditions for ensuring the childhood self-worth in the process of transformation of the system of preschool education into the stage of general education; was conducted the theoretical study of the need to preserve the specificity of preschool age as a basis for the formation of a full-fledged personality. Overall results of the study can help to solve the problem of formation the state educational policy aimed at improving the social status of preschool children, and may also be useful for developers of teaching materials of vocational and further education in the field of early childhood education

Interior Atmosphere: Does It Really Have an Impact on Consumer Purchasing Behavior at Self- Serving Convenience Stores?

The main aim of this study was to investigate the impact of interior store atmosphere on consumer purchasing behavior at self-serving convenience stores in Ampara District, Sri Lanka.  Today, retail industry became highly competitive with the increasing number of convenience and other types of retail stores in the area. Hence, the retailers need to be more customer focused and have to differentiate from their competitors by making their interior atmosphere more attractive to consumers and to encourage them to spend more time, money, to purchase more merchandises and to stimulate their repeat purchase intention. A survey research was employed to collect primary information from 292 customers from convenience stores in Ampara District. Interior atmospheric factors such as, music, scent, light and color were used to identify the impact of interior atmosphere on consumer purchasing behavior. Convenience sampling was employed for data collection using a questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the data. Significant interior atmospheric factors that influence consumer purchasing behavior included music, scent, light and it is found out that color has no any impact on consumer purchasing behavior. Keywords: Interior atmosphere, convenience stores, consumer behavio

The Factors Affecting the Retention of Adult Basic Education Teachers in Kentucky

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that affect retention of adult basic education teachers in Kentucky. This qualitative study utilized data from interviews conducted with former or retired adult basic education teachers in Kentucky. Vrooms expectancy theory was examined as the theoretical framework to review the outcomes and their relationship to this theory. Results from this investigation determined several significant findings, with low salary being the main determining factor that affects retention of adult basic education teachers in Kentucky. There are additional factors that affect retention of adult basic education teachers in Kentucky such as: (1) adult basic education teachers feeling underappreciated; (2) a perceived lower status of the profession in the field of education; and (3) budgeting issues resulting in many part-time teachers in the field. The results from Vroom’s (1995) expectancy theory in regard to the factors reveal a relationship does exist to some aspects of the theory. In regard to valence in Vroom’s theory, considering that the participants chose adult education because they needed a job and an income, valence explained 62% of the work motivation of the participants. However, in Vroom’s theory, expectancy is that an adult educator would continue to work because of a particular outcome, specifically, a positive outcome that leads to Vroom’s idea of instrumentality, which is a value of the second outcome associated with the first. As the participants continued to work as an adult educator, the valence was less than expected which would be a -1 in understanding Vroom’s theoretical framework. When individuals no longer value the rewards of working, the motivation ceases to exist. At that time, they will choose to leave the position. However, even though there were few to no salary increases and only benefits for full time teachers, adult education instructors still continued to teach in the field, which conflicts with Vroom’s theory of instrumentality and work motivation