Direct methods for predicting movement biomechanics based upon optimal control theory with implementation in OpenSim

The aim of this study was to compare the computational performances of two direct methods for solving large-scale, nonlinear, optimal control problems in human movement. Direct shooting and direct collocation were implemented on an 8-segment, 48-muscle model of the body (24 muscles on each side) to compute the optimal control solution for maximum-height jumping. Both algorithms were executed on a freely-available musculoskeletal modeling platform called OpenSim. Direct collocation converged to essentially the same optimal solution up to 249 times faster than direct shooting when the same initial guess was assumed (3.4 h of CPU time for direct collocation vs. 35.3 days for direct shooting). The model predictions were in good agreement with the time histories of joint angles, ground reaction forces and muscle activation patterns measured for subjects jumping to their maximum achievable heights. Both methods converged to essentially the same solution when started from the same initial guess, but computation time was sensitive to the initial guess assumed. Direct collocation demonstrates exceptional computational performance and is well suited to performing predictive simulations of movement using large-scale musculoskeletal models

Commissioning of a 1.6 m long 16mm period superconducting undulator at the Australian Synchrotron

A 1.6 m long 16 mm period superconducting undulator (SCU16) has been installed and commissioned at the Australian Synchrotron. The SCU16, developed by Bilfinger Noell GmbH, is based on the SCU20 currently operating at at KIT. The SCU16 is conduction cooled with a maximum on axis field of 1.084 T and a fixed effective vacuum gap of 5.5 mm. The design and performance of the longest superconducting undulator at a light source will be presented

Current Issues on Molecular and Immunological Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) traditionally relies on smear microscopy and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical samples. With recent advances in technology, there have been numerous efforts to develop new diagnostic tests for TB that overcome the low sensitivity and specificity and long turnover time associated with current diagnostic tests. Molecular biological tests based on nucleic acid amplification have brought an unprecedented opportunity for the rapid and specific detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens. With automated sequencing analysis, species identification of mycobacteria is now easier and more accurate than with conventional methods, and rapid detection of mutations in the genes associated with resistance to TB drugs provides early information on the potential drug resistance for each clinical isolate or for clinical samples. In addition, immunological tests for the detection of M. tuberculosis antigens and antibodies to the antigens have been explored to identify individuals at risk of developing TB or with latent TB infection (LTBI). The recent introduction of commercial IFN-γ assay kits for the detection of LTBI provides a new approach for TB control even in areas with a high incidence of TB. However, these molecular and immunological tools still require further evaluation using large scale cohort studies before implementation in TB control programs

Self-Control and Peer Conformity as Predictors of Consumptive Behavior of Fashion Products in Scholarship Students

Salah satu perkembangan teknologi di Indonesia adalah aplikasi belanja daring. Hadirnya aplikasi tersebut memberikan kemudahan berbelanja kepada masyarakat sehingga menimbulkan perilaku konsumtif kepada masyrakat dan salah satunya kepada mahasiswa beasiswa. Perilaku konsumtif juga dapat dipengaruhi oleh dua faktor yaitu kontrol diri dan konformitas teman sebaya. Adapun penelitian ini untuk mengetahui apakah secara simultan ada pengaruh kontrol diri dan konformitas teman sebaya terhadap perilaku konsumtif, lalu apakah ada pengaruh secara parsial antara kontrol diri terhadap perilaku konsumtif dan apakah ada pengaruh secara parsial antara konformitas teman sebaya terhadap perilaku konsumtif pada mahasiswa beasiswa. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif dengan model regresi berganda. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling dengan subjek 201 mahasiswa beasiswa di Jawa Tengah. Pengukuran pada penelitian ini menggunakan skala kontrol diri (α=0.898), skala konformitas (α=0.896), dan skala perilaku konsumtif (α=0.898). Hasil menunjukkan secara simultan adanya pengaruh positif signifikan antara kontrol diri dan konformitas teman sebaya terhadap perilaku konsumtif (F=7.936 dan sig=0.00), lalu secara parsial adanya pengaruh negatif yang signifikan antara kontrol diri terhadap perilaku konsumtif (t=-2.527 dan sig=0.012), dan secara parsial adanya pengaruh positif secara signifikan antara konformitas terhadap perilaku konsumtif (t=2.604 dan sig=0.010). Melalui hasil ini, mahasiswa beasiswa diharapkan memiliki kontrol diri yang baik serta mengurangi konformitas agar mengurangi perilaku konsumtif.One of technology developments in Indonesia is online shopping application. The presence of this application makes peoples easy to make a purchase so that it create consumptive behaviour and one of them is scholarship students. Consumptive behavior can be efected by two factors namely self-control and peer conformity. Thus, this study aims to know the simulteanously effect of self-control and peer conformity with consumptive behavior of scholarship students, and then to know the partially effect of self-control with consumptive behavior of scholarship students, lastly to know the partially effect of peer conformity with consumptive behavior of scholarship students. The method used in this research is quantitative method with a multiple regression analysis. The sampling technique that used in this research is purposive sampling with 201 scholarship student in Central Java as subject. The measurement in this research used self-control scale (α=0.898), conformity scale (α=0.896), and consumptive behavior scale (α=0.898). The results show that simultaneously there is a positive significant effect between self-control and peer conformity on consumptive behavior (F=7.936 dan sig=0.00), and then partially there is negative effect between self-control and consumptive behavior (t=-2.527 and sig=0.012), lastly partially there is positive effect between peer conformity and consumptive behavior (t=2.604 and sig=0.010). based on the result, scholarship students are expected have a good self-control and less conformity to reduce the consumptive behavior

An Analysis to Strategy of Pulse Research in Iran Based Upon the First National Pulse Symposium Approaches

Pulse, as the second source of human nutrition, benefits from great agronomic and nutritious features. These plants are amongst the most important crops which are full of protein and are widely cultivated all over the world; having the ability to adapt to different climate measures ranging from mild to hot and from moist to very dry. The other noteworthy trait of these crops is their talent to coexist with nitrogen fixation bacteria available in the soil which plays an important role in soil fertility and sustainability. For the previously mentioned reasons and many more, pulses have been extensive fields of research. With the substitution of legumes with fallow in the wheat-fallow agricultural system, great success in product stability has been gained. Having emphasized on the importance of the issue, the first national pulse symposium with the aim of investigating the opportunities and threats facing the development of pulse in Iran was held on 20-21 Nov. 2005 in the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at the Research Center of Plant Sciences in collaboration with many scientific, research and administrative institutions. This paper aims at sketching the overview of the strategic research direction in Iran by analyzing the published papers presented in this conference and will provide the key points mentioned in the final conference manifestation

Assessment of Iranian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasms for drought tolerance

Iran is one the most important centers of diversity for chickpea in south western Asia. Landraces are well adapted to local environmental conditions, and have evolved a range of morphological, phenological and physiological mechanisms to efficiently utilize the available water in a dry environment. In order to study some of these mechanisms, 150 genotypes of chickpea (Kabuli type) were evaluated using Augmented Designs for Preliminary Yield Trials under stress (Rainfed) and nonstress (Irrigated) conditions in Research Field of Mashhad College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, during 2005-2006 growing season. Then, based on the obtained results, four candidate genotypes for drought tolerance and two susceptible ones were evaluated in a pot experiment at open door situation in stressed (25% Field Capacity) and non-stressed (Field Capacity) conditions based on a factorial trial in Randomized Complete Block Design. There were positive and highly significant correlations between quantitative drought resistance indices such as MP, GMP, STI and HM with yield in stress and nonstress conditions. Also, there were positive and high significant correlations for SSI and DRI with yield in nonstress and stress conditions, respectively. Based on drought resistance indices and DRI, MCC544, MCC696 and MCC693 genotypes were superior to others, so they can be viewed as promising genotypes for drought resistance. These results were approved using three dimensional scatter graph and multivariate biplot graph. In stress condition, there were negative and high significant correlations between yield and days to flowering. Drought stress decreased leaf area per plant in all genotypes, significantly. In stressed and non-stressed conditions, leaf area in susceptible genotypes was more than that in tolerant genotypes, thus drought tolerance may be attributed to less transpiration and water loss because of smaller leaf size and reduced leaf area expansion in tolerant genotypes when drought stress develops.Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Drought resistance indices Drought stress Earliness