An Analysis of Eye Movements With Helmet Mounted Displays

Helmet or Head-Mounted Displays (HMD) applications have expanded to include a range from advanced military cockpits to consumer glasses. However, users have documented loss of legibility while undergoing vibration. Recent research indicates that undesirable eye movement is related to the vibration frequency a user experiences. In vibrating environments, two competing eye reflexes likely contribute to eye movements. The Vestibulo-ocular Reflex responds to motion sensed in the otoliths while the pursuit reflex is driven by the visual system to maintain the desired image on the fovea. This study attempts to isolate undesirable eye motions that occur while using a HMD by participants completing simple visual tasks while experiencing vertical vibration at frequencies between 0 and 10 Hz. Data collected on participants\u27 head and helmet movements, vibration frequency, acceleration level, and visual task are compared to eye movements to develop a method to understand the source of the unintended eye movements. Through the use of Electro- Oculography (EOG) eye movements were largest when a 4 Hz vibration frequency was applied, and are significantly different from the EOG signal at 2, 8 and 10 Hz. Stepwise regression indicated that head pitch acceleration and helmet slippage pitch acceleration were correlated with EOG values

Optical Control of Signal Transduction and Other Cellular Processes

Nature uses precise spatio-temporal control to maintain proper cellular function. Being able to replicate this control is an important step in investigating proteins. The research presented here uses photo-labile “caging” groups and light to control protein function including signaling cascades, protein localization and dimerization. Cell signaling is an essential process that allows cells to respond to extracellular stimuli. Four kinases, ERK2, p38α, JNK1 and PAK1, were targeted to optochemically control signal transduction. ERK2, p38α, and JNK1 are MAP kinases that are implicated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and differentiation. PAK1 is a serine/threonine kinase that affects focal adhesion dynamic and action reorganization. Incorporation of a photocaged lysine into the ATP binding pocket of PAK1 allowed for optical control of PAK1 kinase activity and paxillin focal adhesions. Ras GTPases are membrane bound molecular switches involved in various pathways that convert stimuli into a cellular response. Membrane localization of Ras GTPases is determined by the C-terminal CaaX domain. Within the CaaX domain, cysteine residues are modified by the addition of a farnesyl group and two palmitoyl groups. Ultimately, photochemical control of membrane localization by CaaX domain signaling was used to determine the kinetics of CaaX domain processing. Src family tyrosine kinases are involved in cell proliferation, cytoskeletal alterations, differentiation, survival, adhesion, and migration and are localized to the membrane through the modification of a SH4 domain with myristoylation and palmitoylation. Optochemical control of SH4 domain mediated membrane localization was not achieved. Finally, the dimerization of FKBP12 and FRB was photochemically controlled by the development of a photo-cleavable rapamycin dimer. Rapamycin heterodimerizes FKBP12 and FRB and has been exploited as a research tool in a wide array of cellular processes. Photochemical control of protein localization and dimerization allows for precise spatial and temporal control over these processes, which will lend to the development of useful biological tools

Екологічна оцінка та потенціал туристично-рекреаційних ресурсів Бродівського району

Tourist and recreational resources are natural material prerequisite for the formation of the economics, regional development and an indispensable means of reproduction of human potential of the country. In the Lviv region significant natural, social and historical resources coupled with favorable the geographical location creat favorable conditions for the priority development of tourism and recreation. The article deals  natural and historical and cultural resources which are components of the tourism and recreation potential of Brody district, Lviv region, which has a unique geographical location, significant natural resources, rich in monuments of history and culture. Analyzed the main environmental problem of district research in the context of conservation and environmental protection, natural and cultural environment. For Brody district is characteristic not optimal structure of land use, pollution of surface water, accumulation of waste, air pollution from transport. Perspectives of development of a recreation and tourism are predetermined by action of wide spectrum natural, historical and cultural, social, economic and political factors. Measures to protect the integrity of the landscape and the natural properties of ecosystems are required to maintain the tourism potential. Natural recreational resources also needs rational of use, restoration and protection. This requires scientific justified quantity and quality of their assessments, ascertain suitability and the use of alternatives in each natural area. Defined the main directions of development of tourist and recreational potential of Brody district, which should be based on the idea of natural and historical recreation, the observance of environmental standards of the environment, preservation of natural and territorial structures and monuments of historical and cultural heritage. The priority for the district is the search for new protected areas.Туристично-рекреаційні ресурси є природною матеріальною передумовою формування відпочинкової галузі економіки, потенціалом регіонального розвитку і невід’ємними засобами відтворення людського потенціалу країни. У Львівській області значні природні та суспільно-історичні ресурси в поєднанні зі сприятливим географічним розташуванням створили вигідні умови для пріоритетності розвитку туризму та рекреації. У статті розглянуто природно-ресурсну та історико-культурну компоненти туристично-рекреаційного потенціалу Бродівського району Львівської області, який має унікальне географічне розташування, значні природні ресурси, насичений пам’ятками історії та культури. Проаналізовано основні екологічні проблеми території дослідження в контексті збереження та охорони навколишнього природного і культурного середовища. Для Бродівського району характерна неоптимальна структура землекористування, забруднення поверхневих вод, нагромадження відходів виробництва, забруднення атмосферного повітря автотранспортом. Перспективи розвитку рекреації та туризму зумовлюються дією широкого спектра природних, історико-культурних, соціальних, економічних та політичних факторів. Для збереження туристично-рекреаційного потенціалу регіонів потрібні заходи щодо охорони цілісності й природних властивостей ландшафтних екосистем. Природні рекреаційні ресурси також потребують раціонального використання, відновлення й охорони. Для цього необхідні науково-обґрунтовані кількісні та якісні їх оцінки, з’ясування придатності й альтернативності використання у тій чи іншій природній зоні. Визначено головні напрями розвитку туристично-рекреаційного потенціалу Бродівського району, що повинні базуватись на ідеї природно-історичної рекреації, дотриманні екологічних стандартів щодо чистоти довкілля, збереженні природно-територіальних структур та пам’яток історико-культурної спадщини. Для даного району пріоритетним є пошук нових територій до заповідання

Documenting the Diversity, Distribution, and Status of Maine Bumble Bees: The Maine Bumble Bee Atlas and Citizen Scientists

The Maine Bumble Bee Atlas (MBBA) is a multiyear (2015–2019) citizen science proj­ect coordinated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) in partnership with the University of Maine. The project’s goals are to increase scientific knowledge of Maine’s bumble bee fauna and raise public appreciation for native pollina­tors and their conservation. Project partners accomplish these goals by training citizen scientists to conduct surveys statewide using standardized data-collection methods and by providing outreach to both project volunteers and the public on bumble bees and native pollinator conservation. During the project’s first three years, 230 volunteers have been trained to participate in MBBA at six workshops held across the state. As of the end of the second field season, MBBA citizen scientists have documented over 10,300 species records in nearly 500 townships statewide. These data have already made a valuable contribution to species status assessments conducted by MDIFW and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. MBBA staff also maintain a website, Facebook page, and blog to keep volunteers and the public informed about the project and raise awareness of, and support for, native pollinator conservation

Аналіз водогосподарсько-екологічних проблем Хмельницької області

At the present stage, in the conditions of growing scale of anthropogenic impact on water resources, shortage of quality drinking water and climate change, priority measures should be their rational use and comprehensive conservation. The article analyzes the environmental problems of surface waters of river basins, analyzed the existing potential of water resources and the state of water use, qualitative and quantitative indicators of surface waters of river basins of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and Dniester within Khmelnytsky region. The main problems of water resources of the region are highlighted and proposals for their effective use are formulated. A feature of the Khmelnytsky region is its location in three river basins – the rivers Dniester, Southern Bug and Dnieper. The main share of water intake in the region comes from surface objects, and s unevenly distributed throughout its territory. The study shows that in the sectoral structure of general use of water in Khmelnytsky region, the largest consumer is industry (58.6 %), and among industries electricity sector is the main and largest consumer. The main environmental problem of the region is the pollution of surface water bodies with untreated and insufficiently treated return water. In the territory of Khmelnytsky region, 80 water users discharge return water into water bodies. The average annual concentrations of manganese (2–6 times), copper (4–7 times) and nitrites (2–5 times) were exceeded in all control samples from water bodies of Khmelnytsky region. There is also an increase in the total amount of discharges of pollutants, including petroleum products, suspended solids, sulfates, total iron, and copper. In addition to pollution, the problem is the current structure of land within river basins. Excessive plowing is one of the main negative factors that contributes to the deterioration of the water regime and leads to pollution of water bodies. Within the Khmelnytsky region, arable land is the dominant form of land use, their share is 50–70 %. Restoration of the quality of water bodies involves the implementation of measures to reduce the environmental risk of deterioration based on the analysis of the impact of anthropogenic factors and a set of water protection measures.На сучасному етапі в умовах зростаючих масштабів антропогенного впливу на водні ресурси, дефіциту якісної питної води та кліматичних змін першочерговими заходами повинно бути їхнє раціональне використання та всебічне збереження. У статті здійснено аналіз екологічних проблем поверхневих вод річкових басейнів, проаналізовано наявний потенціал водних ресурсів та стан водокористування, якісні та кількісні показники поверхневих вод річкових басейнів Дніпра, Південного Бугу та Дністра у межах Хмельницької області. Виокремлено найбільші проблеми водних ресурсів області та сформульовано пропозиції щодо їх ефективного використання. Особливістю Хмельницької області є її розташування у трьох водозбірних басейнах – річок Дністра, Південного Бугу та Дніпра. Основна частка водозабору області відбувається з поверхневих об’єктів і нерівномірно розподіляється по її території. В дослідженні показано, що в галузевій структурі загального використання води в Хмельницькій області найбільшим її споживачем є промисловість (58,6 %), а серед галузей промисловості основним і найбільшим водоспоживачем є електроенергетика. Основною екологічною проблемою області є забруднення поверхневих водних об’єктів неочищеними і недостатньо очищеними зворотними водами. На території Хмельницької області скид зворотних вод у водні об’єкти здійснюють 80 водокористувачів. У всіх контрольних створах водних об’єктів Хмельницької області відмічено перевищення середньорічних концентрацій Марганцю (у 2–6 разів), Міді (у 4–7 разів) та нітритів (у 2–5 разів). Спостерігається збільшення також сумарної кількості скидів забруднюючих речовин, зокрема нафтопродуктів, завислих речовин, сульфатів, Заліза загального і Міді. Окрім забруднення, проблемою є діюча структура земельних угідь у межах річкових басейнів. Надмірна розораність є одним з основних негативних чинників, що впливає на погіршення водного режиму та призводить до забруднення водних об’єктів. В межах Хмельницької області орні землі виступають домінуючою формою землекористування, їхня частка становить 50–70 %. Відновлення якісного стану водних об'єктів передбачає здійснення заходів щодо зменшення екологічного ризику погіршення їх стану на основі аналізу впливу антропогенних чинників та проведення комплексу водоохоронних заходів

Investigation on the Synthesis, Application and Structural Features of Heteroaryl 1,2-Diketones

A set of unsymmetrical heteroaryl 1,2-diketones were synthesized by a heteroarylation/oxidation sequence with up to 65% isolated yields. Palladium catalyst XPhos Pd G4 and SeO2 were the key reagents used in this methodology, and microwave irradiation was utilized to facilitate an efficient and ecofriendly process. The application of heteroaryl 1,2-diketones is demonstrated through the synthesis of an unsymmetrical 2-phenyl-3-(pyridin-3-yl)quinoxaline (5a) from 1-phenyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)ethane-1,2-dione (4a). The lowest energy conformations of 4a and 5a were located using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the M06-2X/def2-TZVP level of theory. Two lowest energy conformations of 4a differ with respect to the position of the N atom in the pyridyl ring and 0.27 kcal/mol energy difference between them corresponds to 60.4 and 39.6% at 50 °C in toluene. Four lowest energy conformations for 5a have the energy differences of 0.01, 0.03 and 0.07 kcal/mol that corresponds to 26.0, 25.7, 24.9 and 23.4%, respectively. A comparison of 4a and 5a to the less hindered analogs (oxalyl chloride and oxalic acid) is used to investigate the structural features and bonding using Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis

MR448: Bees and Their Habitats in Four New England States

Bees are crucial to pollination in unmanaged ecosystems and some crops, and their roles are increasingly understood in four states in the Northeastern U.S., abbreviated “NNE” in this paper: Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont (VT). The four states have in common many native bee and plant species, forest types, and natural communities. They share drought events and risk of wildfire (Irland 2013). They are exposed to many of the same major storms (e.g., hurricanes, Foster 1988), pollution events (Hand et al. 2014), and effects ascribed to climate change (Hayhoe et al. 2008). Beekeeping enterprises (the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, an introduced species) of various sizes exist in each of the states. By including the four states in this review, we hope to better understand wild bee distributions, inspire the expansion of floral resources to support bee populations in a strategic manner, reduce use of pesticides, create pollinator corridors, and protect subtle habitat features such as ground nest sites for solitary bees and patches of native vegetation that are free of invasive plants. Our objective in this review is to synthesize from a conservation standpoint the state of knowledge regarding bees in NNE, including their diversity, and biology especially as it relates to climate change. We review foraging and nutrition, nest ecology, parasites and parasitoids, native vs. managed bees, and interactions with plants. We then turn our focus to bee habitats, and identify 15 habitat types we find useful for recognizing essential bee resources. We discuss habitat aspects including forest succession, invasive plants, land use alterations, and agriculture including impacts of pesticides, and cover economic aspects of crop-related pollination reservoirs in NNE that demonstrate cost-effectiveness at various scales. We present habitat improvement strategies including passive and active approaches, based on the literature and our experiences in NNE, and we suggest plants for pollinator plantings. Wherever pertinent throughout the text, we highlight threats to bees in our region such as pests and pathogens, pesticides, and habitat loss. Finally, we identify gaps in knowledge that could help in prioritizing directions for future research. We hope this review will be useful to anyone seeking to protect bees and their habitats.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1029/thumbnail.jp

2012 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

The 2012 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Do wild blueberries alleviate risk factors related to the Metabolic Syndrome? 2. Development of effective intervention measures to maintain and improve food safety for wild blueberries 3. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2012 4. Development and implementation of a wild blueberry thrips IPM program, 2012 5. IPM 6. Biology of blueberry and pest insects, 2012 7. Biology of beneficial insects and blueberry pollination, 2012 8. Pesticide residues on lowbush blueberry, 2012 9. Maine wild blueberry –mummy berry research and extension 10. Efficacy of Apogee growth regulator for stimulating rhizome growth into bare spots in wild blueberry fields 11. Velpar by Matrix pre and post-emergence applications - demonstration plots 12. Wild blueberry Extension Education Program in 2012 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY: 13. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Three of a four-year study – experimental design 14. Food safety- Prevalence study of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) 15. Abundance of insect pest species and natural enemies in lowbush blueberry fields maintained under different management practices 16. Input Systems Study: Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 3 of a four-year study, disease management results 17. Plant productivity, Year Three of a four-year study 18. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Three of a four-year study, weed management results 19. Effects of organic and conventional management systems on the phosphorus solubility of lowbush blueberry barren soils 20. Systems approach to improving sustainability of wild blueberry production – soil health and chemistry measures 21. Evaluation of fungicides for control of mummy berry disease (ancillary study) 22. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production – Ancillary land-leveling study, Year Two of a four-year study (ancillary study) 23. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields – 2012 results from the 2011 trial (ancillary study) 24. Pre-emergent combinations of herbicides for weed control in wild blueberry fields – 2012 trial (ancillary study) 25. Evaluation of herbicides for control of fineleaf sheep fescue for grass control in wild blueberries (ancillary study) 26. Pre-emergence application timing and rate of Alion and Sandea in combination with Velpar or Sinbar on weed control and injury to wild blueberry (ancillary study) 27. Compost and mulch effects on soil health and nutrient dynamics in wild blueberry (ancillary study

2014 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION PAGE 1. Development of effective intervention measures to maintain and improve food safety for wild blueberries 2. Role of wild blueberries on lipid metabolism and inflammation as related to obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome ENTOMOLOGY 3. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2014 4. Pest biology and IPM, 2014 5. Biology of spotted wing drosophila, 2014 6. Biology of blueberry, beneficial insects, and blueberry pollination DISEASE MANAGEMENT 7. Research and control of mummy berry disease 8. Evaluation of fungicides for control of mummy berry on lowbush blueberry (2014) WEED MANAGEMENT 9. A 2014 preliminary trial for a Callisto-Matrix tank mix versus a traditional wild blueberry herbicide spray regimen EXTENSION 10. Wild blueberry Extension Education Program in 2014 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY – SCRI GRANT 11. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Five of a six-year study – experimental design 12. Food safety- Prevalence study of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) 13. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 5 – reports from Frank Drummond 14. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, 2014, Year 5 of a six-year study, disease management results 15. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Five of a six-year study, weed management results 16. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Five of a six year study, plant productivity 17. 2014 economic analysis of Maine blueberry production systems including an introductory risk analysis 18. Biosensor development for food safety (ancillary study) 19. Ancillary projects in disease research (ancillary study) 20. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production – Ancillary land-leveling study, Year Four of a four-year study (ancillary study) 21. 2013-14 evaluation of three pre-emergence herbicides alone and in combination with Velpar or Sinbar for effects on wild blueberry productivity and weed control – 2014 crop year results (ancillary study) 22. Evaluation of fall and spring combinations of preemergence herbicides to prevent weed resistance in wild blueberry fields, 2013-15 (ancillary study) 23. Post-harvest control of red sorrel in a non-crop blueberry field, 2012-2014 (ancillary study) 24. Post-harvest control of red sorrel in a non-crop blueberry field, 2013-2015 (ancillary study) 25. Effect of soil nutrient amendments on growth and yield of wild blueberries in Maine (ancillary study

2015 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION 1. Increasing the food safety margin of wild blueberries through improved intervention measures ENTOMOLOGY 2. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2015 3. Pest biology and IPM, 2015 4. Biology of spotted wing drosophila, 2015 5. Biology of blueberry bees, and blueberry pollination DISEASE MANAGEMENT 6. Research and control of mummy berry disease 7. Evaluation of fungicides for control of mummy berry on lowbush blueberry (2015) 8. Evaluation of fungicides for control of leafspot on lowbush blueberry (2015) WEED MANAGEMENT 9. Single vs split applications of post-emergent herbicides for spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) control in wild blueberry fields 10. Evaluation of fall applications of herbicides targeting horseweed in wild blueberry fields 11. Herbicide combinations with Sinbar and Grounded to assess efficacy on weed control in wild blueberry EXTENSION 12. Wild Blueberry Extension Education Program in 2015 INPUT SYSTEMS STUDY – SCRI GRANT PAGE 13. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Six of a six-year study – experimental design 14. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year 6 15. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, 2015, Year 6 of a six-year study, disease management results 16. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, Year Six of a six-year study, weed management results 17. Systems approach to improving the sustainability of wild blueberry production, preliminary economic comparison for 2014-15 18. Ancillary projects in disease research (ancillary study) 19. Evaluation of fall and spring combinations of preemergence herbicides to prevent weed resistance in wild blueberry fields, 2013-15 (ancillary study) 20. Post-harvest control of red sorrel in a non-crop blueberry field, 2013-2015 - crop year evaluation (ancillary study) 21. Evaluation of spring applications of herbicides targeting red sorrel in wild blueberry fields (ancillary study