7,247 research outputs found
A proposed psychological model of driving automation
This paper considers psychological variables pertinent to driver automation. It is anticipated that driving with automated systems is likely to have a major impact on the drivers and a multiplicity of factors needs to be taken into account. A systems analysis of the driver, vehicle and automation served as the basis for eliciting psychological factors. The main variables to be considered were: feed-back, locus of control, mental workload, driver stress, situational awareness and mental representations. It is expected that anticipating the effects on the driver brought about by vehicle automation could lead to improved design strategies. Based on research evidence in the literature, the psychological factors were assembled into a model for further investigation
Has the devolution of responsibility for biodiversity conservation to regional governments presented either a boon or barrier to the further implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Ecosystem Approach in the United Kingdom?
This is the author accepted manuscriptThe Ecosystem Approach of the Convention on Biological Diversity, once thought to
represent one of the most ambitious global attempts to integrate economic, social and
ecological dimensions into a holistic environmental management strategy, has been
consistently plagued by under-implementation at domestic scales around the world.
This includes the UK who have as recently as 2007 sought to recast it in a simplified
format to aid implementation by environmental managers. This paper explores how
the devolution of responsibility for biodiversity conservation to the regional assemblies
of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has started to affect a reinvigorated wave of
implementation manifesting in new and hitherto unseen iterations of the approach.
These new iterations challenge the fundamental concept of the ecosystem approach,
they offer new insights into the optimal scale and form for promoting final
implementation of environmental regimes, as well as suggesting new understandings
into notions of regionalism and localism in the UK
Quantum dot emission from site-controlled ngan/gan micropyramid arrays
InxGa1−xN quantum dots have been fabricated by the selective growth of GaN micropyramid arrays topped with InGaN/GaN quantum wells. The spatially, spectrally, and time-resolved emission properties of these structures were measured using cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging and low-temperature microphotoluminescence spectroscopy. The presence of InGaN quantum dots was confirmed directly by the observation of sharp peaks in the emission spectrum at the pyramid apices. These luminescence peaks exhibit decay lifetimes of approximately 0.5 ns, with linewidths down to 650 me
Improving healthcare system usability without real users: A semi-parallel design approach
Copyright © 2015 IGI Global. This paper describes an early stage usability study conducted on a prototype system designed to capture and analyse Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) activities. The system - PROMS 2.0, was developed by Bluespier for the trauma and orthopaedic department in Trafford Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom (UK). The Centre for Health and Social Care Informatics (CHaSCI), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) examined the system without real users, identified potential usability issues and suggested possible solutions for improvements before final release by Bluespier. Three different approaches were adopted for evaluating user interface (UI) design without users. The first approach is the Cognitive Walkthrough (CW), a task-oriented technique capable of identifying issues through action sequence required to perform a task. The second approach is action analysis which predicts the time a skilled user would need to perform a task. The third approach is heuristic evaluation which tends to identify problems based on recognised standards. Results support the argument from relevant cognitive psychology theories and user-centric design principles that UI evaluation without real users is a useful tool in yielding rapid output for subsequent enhancement. It is concluded that semi-parallel design concept could be the key to timely delivery of software design projects
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Endothelial toll-like receptor 4 maintains lung integrity via epigenetic suppression of p16INK4a.
We previously reported that the canonical innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical in maintaining lung integrity. However, the molecular mechanisms via which TLR4 mediates its effect remained unclear. In the present study, we identified distinct contributions of lung endothelial cells (Ec) and epithelial cells TLR4 to pulmonary homeostasis using genetic-specific, lung- and cell-targeted in vivo methods. Emphysema was significantly prevented via the reconstituting of human TLR4 expression in the lung Ec of TLR4-/- mice. Lung Ec-silencing of TLR4 in wild-type mice induced emphysema, highlighting the specific and distinct role of Ec-expressed TLR4 in maintaining lung integrity. We also identified a previously unrecognized role of TLR4 in preventing expression of p16INK4a , a senescence-associated gene. Lung Ec-p16INK4a -silencing prevented TLR4-/- induced emphysema, revealing a new functional role for p16INK4a in lungs. TLR4 suppressed endogenous p16INK4a expression via HDAC2-mediated deacetylation of histone H4. These findings suggest a novel role for TLR4 in maintaining of lung homeostasis via epigenetic regulation of senescence-related gene expression
Bulk viscosity of Mixed nucleon-hyperon-quark Matter in Neutron stars
We calculate the coefficient of bulk viscosity by considering the
non-leptonic weak interactions in the cores of hybrid stars with both hyperons
and quarks. We first determine the dependence of the production rate of
neutrons on the reaction rate of quarks in the non-leptonic processes, that is
. The
conversion rate, in our scenario is a complicated function of baryon
number density. We also consider medium effect of quark matter on bulk
viscosity. Using these results, we estimate the limiting rotation of the hybrid
stars, which may suppress the r-mode instability more effectively. Hybrid stars
should be the candidates for the extremely rapid rotators .Comment: This paper contains 17 pages,8 figures and 1 table and is accepted by
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ
Genome-wide Determinants of Proviral Targeting, Clonal Abundance and Expression in Natural HTLV-1 Infection
The regulation of proviral latency is a central problem in retrovirology. We postulate that the genomic integration site of human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) determines the pattern of expression of the provirus, which in turn determines the abundance and pathogenic potential of infected T cell clones in vivo. We recently developed a high-throughput method for the genome-wide amplification, identification and quantification of proviral integration sites. Here, we used this protocol to test two hypotheses. First, that binding sites for transcription factors and chromatin remodelling factors in the genome flanking the proviral integration site of HTLV-1 are associated with integration targeting, spontaneous proviral expression, and in vivo clonal abundance. Second, that the transcriptional orientation of the HTLV-1 provirus relative to that of the nearest host gene determines spontaneous proviral expression and in vivo clonal abundance. Integration targeting was strongly associated with the presence of a binding site for specific host transcription factors, especially STAT1 and p53. The presence of the chromatin remodelling factors BRG1 and INI1 and certain host transcription factors either upstream or downstream of the provirus was associated respectively with silencing or spontaneous expression of the provirus. Cells expressing HTLV-1 Tax protein were significantly more frequent in clones of low abundance in vivo. We conclude that transcriptional interference and chromatin remodelling are critical determinants of proviral latency in natural HTLV-1 infection
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Modeling the anchoring and performance of downhole equipment using an extended Gurson model
In oil and gas (O&G) exploration the well casing, in the form of a long steel tube, maintains the opening of the drilled well hole. Mechanical equipment is often inserted into the well for the purpose of well monitoring, pressure control and various operations. This downhole equipment may be mechanically connected to the pipe casing by the outward radial motion of anchoring teeth such that the inner wall casing is indented. The connection between the tool and the casing must support significant mechanical loads in the longitudinal (axial) direction of the casing, i.e. transverse to the direction of indentation, while minimizing the indentation depth in order to preserve the stiffness and strength of the casing. Consequently, a determination of the ultimate strength of the connection is of critical importance. Failure of this connection involves intense shear of the inner wall of the casing, akin to a machining operation. The critical load for axial slip can be determined experimentally or numerically (or by combination of both). In this study, detailed simulations are performed using the shear-extended GTN (Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman) model. The choice of model is motivated by the need to accurately the extensive plastic deformation associated with indentation as well as shear-dominated ductile failure on a sub-millimeter scale. The shear-extended GTN model requires a careful calibration of the model parameters by an accurate measurement of the material response. Accordingly, the casing steel was characterized by appropriate measurements under a range of stress states. The calibrated model was used to investigate an idealized two-dimensional representation of the anchoring problem, with a focus on the effect of indentation depth upon connection strength. Both the indentation of the casing inner wall by the anchoring teeth and the subsequent shear of the casing wall were simulated in detail to determine the load required to initiate and progress slip of the anchoring teeth. The results of these analyses show that the connection strength increases linearly with increasing indentation depth
Seasonal variability in food and nutrition security among children 0-3 years in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda
Optimal nutrition and good feeding of infants and young children are among the most important determinants of their health, growth and development. Due to unimodal climate in Karamoja sub-region, north eastern Uganda, achieving food security remains a development challenge in the area impacting negatively on the nutrition and health status of infants and young children. The current study, therefore, is important in providing the basis for season-based interventions to improve food and nutrition security in Karamoja sub-region. A longitudinal study involving 267 lactating mothers during harvesting season and 380 during planting season was conducted. Data were collected using Individual level Dietary Diversity questionnaire, 24-Hour Dietary Recall, and Anthropometry and were analyzed statistically. The findings indicated that except Abim district, 77.8-97.8%of the lactating mothers never attended school; 75- 100% depend on subsistence farming. Lactating mothers (29.9-41.9%) introduced complementary foods to their infants at 6 months, while the age at first introduction of any food to the infant was mostly between 4-6 months. Dietary quality of complementary foods was low across all the districts; 6.7-38.9% of the children ate foods from four or more of the seven food groups in the previous day (Minimum Dietary Diversity) in both seasons. Complementary foods were characterized by plant food sources. With exception of milk and milk products, proportion of children who consumed animal-sourced foods was low, ranging from 0% in meats to 8.9% in fish and sea foods. Energy and nutrient intakes varied according to age groups of the children across districts and season. The proportion of children below -2 Z-score also varied according to districts and it is generally higher during the planting season than the harvesting season. The median of the z-scores for height-for age and Mid Upper Arm Circumference for age ranged from -1 to -2.5. In conclusion, there were variations and disparities in dietary diversity, energy and nutrient intake as well as nutrition status of infants and young children across season and districts in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda. Therefore, interventions to combat malnutrition among children 0-3 years need to take into account seasonal variations for each of the geographical locations in Karamoja sub-region
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