In Moving Color: Motion Controlled Art Program

Computer hardware has greatly expanded from the standard keyboard and mouse. Touch screens seem to be taking over that field. Recently a new technology has been developed that offers an alternative to touch screens. Myo is a motion controlled armband that uses hand and arm gestures to control various Bluetooth devices. The objective of this research is to create a game or write a program that uses Myo’s capabilities as its main control device. The primary focus of the game will be drawing and painting. Expectations include using Myo to draw on a blank canvas, control the utensil color, control the utensil size, as well as change the type of utensil. This research will investigate the language compatibility of Myo which is capable of using several languages such as Java, C++, Python, and many adaptations to other languages. The research project will experiment with multiple languages to see which one is the most compatible for its purpose. Myo is still in development stages so as the research is being conducted, more possibilities may open up. New gestures are being recorded which can be translated into tasks. Future research will experiment with what these developers have in store for Myo, and expand the project to test Myo’s limits

Preliminary engineering report for design of a subscale ejector/diffuser system for high expansion ratio space engine testing

The design of a subscale jet engine driven ejector/diffuser system is examined. Analytical results and preliminary design drawings and plans are included. Previously developed performance prediction techniques are verified. A safety analysis is performed to determine the mechanism for detonation suppression

Deep Percutaneous Penetration into Muscles and Joints: Update

Transdermal drug delivery is a multifactorial process with variable penetration mechanisms.  Adverse effects associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ (NSAIDs) use in treatment for joint and muscle diseases are sufficiently severe to consider topical application.  A drug's lipophilicity, fraction unbound and permeability found in the viable skin are some of the physiochemical factors influencing the delivery mechanism of transdermal absorption. These and other variables play a role in determining if the drug reaches the deep tissues via direct penetration from dermal or systemic blood redistribution.  Pharmacokinetic models have been developed to help elucidate penetration routes and efficacy for various drugs. Improvements in modes of transdermal delivery through active research projects including relevant animal models and human translational research may introduce advances in clinical development of treatments

Criteria of geotourism valorization specified for various recipients // Kryteria waloryzacji geoturystycznej na potrzeby różnego rodzaju odbiorców

The following paper presents methodology of valorization of geotourism objects adapted to meet the expectations and needs of various groups of potential recipients: tourists (casual, witting, hobbyist), educators (school teachers, academic staff, guides, organizers) and investors (owners, managers). Any geotourism object can be valorized using four principal categories of criteria: visual, cognitive, functional and investing. Each category is evaluated separately and selection of particular criteria depends on the needs of given recipient. //W artykule zaproponowano sposób waloryzacji obiektów geoturystycznych uwzględniający potrzeby potencjalnych odbiorców: turystów (przypadkowy, świadomy, pasjonat), edukatorów (nauczyciel szkolny i akademicki, przewodnik, organizator turystyki specjalistycznej), inwestorów (właściciel, zarządca). Na ocenę obiektu składają się cztery główne kryteria: wartość wizualna, wartość poznawcza, wartość użytkowa oraz warunki i potrzeby inwestycyjne. Każde z kryteriów oceniane jest osobno, a o ważności i doborze kryterium decyduje samodzielnie odbiorca waloryzacji

Let your maps be fuzzy!—Class probabilities and floristic gradients as alternatives to crisp mapping for remote sensing of vegetation

Mapping vegetation as hard classes based on remote sensing data is a frequently applied approach, even though this crisp, categorical representation is not in line with nature\u27s fuzziness. Gradual transitions in plant species composition in ecotones and faint compositional differences across different patches are thus poorly described in the resulting maps. Several concepts promise to provide better vegetation maps. These include (1) fuzzy classification (a.k.a. soft classification) that takes the probability of an image pixel\u27s class membership into account and (2) gradient mapping based on ordination, which describes plant species composition as a floristic continuum and avoids a categorical description of vegetation patterns. A systematic and comprehensive comparison of these approaches is missing to date. This paper hence gives an overview of the state of the art in fuzzy classification and gradient mapping and compares the approaches in a case study. The advantages and disadvantages of the approaches are discussed and their performance is compared to hard classification (a.k.a. crisp or boolean classification). Gradient mapping best conserves the information in the original data and does not require an a priori categorization. Fuzzy classification comes close in terms of information loss and likewise preserves the continuous nature of vegetation, however, still relying on a priori classification. The need for a priori classification may be a disadvantage or, in other cases, an advantage because it allows using categorical input data instead of the detailed vegetation records required for ordination. Both approaches support spatially explicit accuracy analyses, which further improves the usefulness of the output maps. Gradient mapping and fuzzy classification offer various advantages over hard classification, can always be transformed into a crisp map and are generally applicable to various data structures. We thus recommend the use of these approaches over hard classification for applications in ecological research

RNA-sequencing of a mouse-model of spinal muscular atrophy reveals tissue-wide changes in splicing of U12-dependent introns

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by insufficient levels of the Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. SMN is expressed ubiquitously and functions in RNA processing pathways that include trafficking of mRNA and assembly of snRNP complexes. Importantly, SMA severity is correlated with decreased snRNP assembly activity. In particular, the minor spliceosomal snRNPs are affected, and some U12-dependent introns have been reported to be aberrantly spliced in patient cells and animal models. SMA is characterized by loss of motor neurons, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. It is likely that aberrant splicing of genes expressed in motor neurons is involved in SMA pathogenesis, but increasing evidence indicates that pathologies also exist in other tissues. We present here a comprehensive RNA-seq study that covers multiple tissues in an SMA mouse model. We show elevated U12-intron retention in all examined tissues from SMA mice, and that U12-dependent intron retention is induced upon siRNA knock-down of SMN in HeLa cells. Furthermore, we show that retention of U12-dependent introns is mitigated by ASO treatment of SMA mice and that many transcriptional changes are reversed. Finally, we report on missplicing of several Ca2+ channel genes that may explain disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis in SMA and activation of Cdk5

Different areas of chronic stress and their associations with depression

Background: Research shows a connection between stress and depression, but there is little differentiation between areas of stress, making it difficult to identify and address specific areas in the context of public health measures. We utilized a multi-dimensional approach to chronic stress to better understand the relationship between different areas of stress and depression. Methods: We conducted linear regression analyses and used data from a sub-sample of the LIFE-Adult-Study (N = 1008) to analyze the connection between nine different areas of chronic stress (TICS) and depression (CES-D). In the second analysis, we controlled for sociodemographic variables, personality, physical activity, and social support. Results: There was a significant positive association between the stress domains Excessive Demands from Work, Lack of Social Recognition, Social Isolation, and Chronic Worrying and depression and a significant negative association between Pressure to Perform and depression. After adding control variables, only Pressure to Perform, Social Isolation, and Chronic Worrying remained significant predictors. Conclusions: By focusing on the connections between chronic stress and depression, researchers can help identify the areas that matter most and contribute to the creation of meaningful and efficient interventions. On the basis of our results, measures for the prevention of depression that focus on the reduction of worrying and social isolation are recommended

Effect of transport length on in vivo oxidative status and breast meat characteristics in outdoor-reared chicken genotypes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of transport length on in vivo oxidative status and breast meat characteristics in two chicken genotypes reared under free range conditions. A total of 200 male chicks, 100 from fast-growing (Ross 308) and 100 from medium-growing (Naked Neck) strain were used. Fifty-six of these, 28 for genotype, before slaughtering, were randomly allocated to 2 pre-slaughter conditions: absence (0 h) or 4 h of transport. The transport length significantly affected the in vivo oxidative status of broiler greatly reducing the α and δ-tocopherol, retinol and lutein + zeaxanthin content of plasma, and increased the oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) in both strains. Concerning meat quality, the pH (0, 2 and 24 h post-mortem) of breast muscles of chickens transported for 4 h, showed higher values, and respect to strains, Naked Neck had lower values. The pH values were negatively correlated with the lightness (2–24 h) and the shear force of meat. The transport length significantly affected the fatty acid profile of breast muscle, with a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids and an increase in TBARS value. Even the antioxidants content of breast was reduced by chicken transport (α-tocotrienol, α-, δ-tocopherol and lutein + zeaxanthin), especially in Naked Neck birds. In conclusion, the results indicate that transport for 4 h prior to slaughter, negatively affect the meat quality of poultry. Slow-growing chickens seem more sensible to stress transport due to the higher kinetic behaviour of these strains

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Measuring beta-diversity by remote sensing: a challenge for biodiversity monitoring

Biodiversity includes multiscalar and multitemporal structures and processes, with different levels of functional organization, from genetic to ecosystemic levels. One of the mostly used methods to infer biodiversity is based on taxonomic approaches and community ecology theories. However, gathering extensive data in the field is difficult due to logistic problems, overall when aiming at modelling biodiversity changes in space and time, which assumes statistically sound sampling schemes. In this view, airborne or satellite remote sensing allow to gather information over wide areas in a reasonable time. Most of the biodiversity maps obtained from remote sensing have been based on the inference of species richness by regression analysis. On the contrary, estimating compositional turnover (beta-diversity) might add crucial information related to relative abundance of different species instead of just richness. Presently, few studies have addressed the measurement of species compositional turnover from space. Extending on previous work, in this manuscript we propose novel techniques to measure beta-diversity from airborne or satellite remote sensing, mainly based on: i) multivariate statistical analysis, ii) the spectral species concept, iii) self-organizing feature maps, iv) multi- dimensional distance matrices, and the v) Rao's Q diversity. Each of these measures allow to solve one or several issues related to turnover measurement. This manuscript is the first methodological example encompassing (and enhancing) most of the available methods for estimating beta-diversity from remotely sensed imagery and potentially relate them to species diversity in the field