Development of Axisymmetric Green's function for an Exponentially Graded Inhomogeneous Elastic Solid

The present work attempts to determine the Green's function for an inhomogeneous elastic solid (also known as functionally graded material) subjected to body forces in cylindrical coordinates. Solutions are developed using classical techniques such as, separation of variables and integral transforms. The difficulties associated with integral transforms are highlighted and certain approximations are attempted to obtain solutions. The Green's function forms the most important part in developing solutions to boundary value problems using the boundary element method (BEM).No embargoAcademic Major: Mechanical Engineerin

Sociotechnical systems as applied to knowledge work

This study examines the logic behind choosing variances and the design of forums during the planning of deliberations in non-routine work environments using a Sociotechnical System design approach. This study was accomplished through review and comparison of literature on sociotechnical applications of non-routine, knowledge work environments. The traditional sociotechnical application applied to factory settings with linear and routine work tasks analyzes unit operations within an open system, identifying technical variances that contribute to problems and social roles that control the variances. A new sociotechnical approach has been developed for systems involved in non-routine, knowledge work environments. This approach focuses on deliberations formed around topics, establishes variances that lead to poor deliberations, designs forums that minimize variances and gives control of variances to discretionary coalitions. These results generally support that variances contributing to poor deliberations are well established and that organizations need only identify the key variances that contribute to problems in their system. Organizations need to understand how the key variances affect the development of knowledge and how forums can be designed to enhance deliberations. This study places specific focus on the design of information technology forums that enhance knowledge developmenthttp://www.archive.org/details/sociotechnicalsy00oswaLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

La alfabetización corporal como necesidad constitutiva de un posible lenguaje corporal

La ampliación del concepto de alfabetización a otros lenguajes y discursos contemporáneos, habilita pensar sentidos y relaciones no convencionales decategorías como alfabetización, lenguaje, discurso, cultura y cuerpo. En los últimos años se han multiplicado disciplinas, libros, revistas, cátedras, entre otros, que tematizan sobre el cuerpo desde lugares tan disímiles como la estética, la salud, la educación, la felicidad, y hasta la política. Desde esta saturación de imágenes, palabras y usos del cuerpo bajo la que nos encontramos hoy, parece difícil pensar en la necesidad de una alfabetización corporal. La cotidianidad de este lenguaje, lo primitivo de su "uso", no admiten (o al menos no favorecen) pensar en la necesidad de una enseñanza. El presente trabajo apunta a esbozar algunas ideas sobre la importancia de reconsiderar el lugar de lo corporal en el sistema educativo, no con la intención de revertir historias sino apuntando a hacer visible y significativa la experiencia corporal y los espacios que la cultura ha creado a tales fine

Auxin-induced SCFTIR1-Aux/IAA interaction involves stable modification of the SCFTIR1 complex

The plant hormone auxin can regulate gene expression by destabilizing members of the Aux/IAA family of transcriptional repressors. Auxin-induced Aux/IAA degradation requires the protein-ubiquitin ligase SCFTIR1, with auxin acting to enhance the interaction between the Aux/IAAs and SCIFTIR1. SKP1, Cullin, and an F-box-containing protein (SCF)-mediated degradation is an important component of many eukaryotic signaling pathways. In all known cases to date, the interaction between the targets and their cognate SCFs is regulated by signal-induced modification of the target. The mechanism by which auxin promotes the interaction between SCFTIR1 and Aux/IAAs is not understood, but current hypotheses propose auxin-induced phosphorylation, hydroxylation, or proline isomerization of the Aux/IAAs. We found no evidence to support these hypotheses or indeed that auxin induces any stable modification of Aux/IAAs to increase their affinity for SCFTIR1. Instead, we present data suggesting that auxin promotes the SCIFTIR1-Aux/IAA interaction by affecting the SCIF component, TIR1, or proteins tightly associated with it

Saber y conocimiento del cuerpo : la construcción de la psicomotricidad en Uruguay su enseñanza en la Universidad de la República

Esta tesis presenta el resultado de una investigación sobre la constitución de la psicomotricidad en Uruguay y su enseñanza en la Universidad de la República, que implicó la indagación acerca del saber del cuerpo desplegado en las discursividades de la formación universitaria pública para la educación y la terapia psicomotriz en Uruguay entre 1978 y 2006. Subyace a este trabajo nuestro interés por aportar elementos epistémicos que permitan posteriormente analizar la influencia del discurso psicomotriz en la educación física. La metodología utilizada fue el análisis del discurso desde la perspectiva teórica de Michel Pêcheux (2013), que combinó una fase descriptiva caracterizada por el acopio de los documentos y la identificación de los rasgos que hacen a la matriz discursiva del campo, con una fase hermenéutica. Como forma de ampliar la información y validar el proceso investigativo, incluimos entrevistas a informantes calificados. A partir de la identificación de los hechos más salientes vinculados al surgimiento de la psicomotricidad, elaboramos un relato que particularizara, desde nuestra preocupación interpretativa, el desarrollo de la psicomotricidad en el país. Analizamos la relación cuerpo-educación-enseñanza buscando identificar los elementos característicos del campo de saber que se iba construyendo en el ámbito universitario. Pusimos en evidencia las diferentes concepciones sobre el movimiento, el cuerpo, las técnicas y el síntoma psicomotor que se vincularon al surgimiento y desarrollo de la psicomotricidad, y cómo estas se materializaron en nuestro ámbito. Vimos cómo desde una mirada inicial centrada en el movimiento funcional se produjo un viraje hacia el cuerpo en tanto objeto, en torno al cual se instalaron las discusiones teóricas más importantes. Observamos que la psicomotricidad se constituyó en torno a un cuerpo-otro-del-cuerpo-biológico o un noese- cuerpo-biológico, aún poco matemizado. Como rasgos característicos podemos decir que, a pesar de definirse como un cuerpo significante, permanece una tendencia a imaginalizarlo topográficamente, la cual está indisolublemente unida a la noción de desarrollo y al binomio salud-enfermedad, con escasas referencias a lo cultural, lo histórico, lo ético o lo político. En relación a la enseñanza, se trata de una formación enmarcada en la discursividad positivista pragmatista (Behares, 2011), que mantiene una relación con el saber o conocimiento marcadamente técnica, pero impregnada de una tradición experimental vinculada al saber científico. En este contexto, la práctica del psicomotricista se ha instaurado como un saber en falta que demanda. Las interrogantes que dieron surgimiento a la psicomotricidad continúan funcionando como disparadores de una forma de concebir la profesión como un saber, que está permanentemente en posición defensiva ante la técnica, pero atrapada en ella. Con esta investigación pretendemos aportar en dos sentidos: en primer lugar, al análisis de la enseñanza universitaria y sus efectos de saber, tomando en este caso a la psicomotricidad como objeto de indagación; por otro, a la generación de una matriz teórica que posibilite analizar la influencia de este discurso en la educación física, de modo de contribuir a la comprensión de los límites y los puentes de comunicación que pueden establecerse entre estas dos prácticas y campos de saber, en términos de educación del cuerpo

High Levels of Oxidative Stress and Skin Microbiome are Critical for Initiation and Development of Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice.

A balanced redox state is critical for proper healing. Although human chronic wounds are characterized by high levels of oxidative stress (OS), whether OS levels are critical for chronic wound development is not known. For these studies, we used our chronic wound model in diabetic mice that has similar characteristics as human chronic wounds, including naturally developed biofilm. We hypothesize that OS levels in wound tissues are critical for chronic wound initiation and development. We show that increased OS levels in the wound correlate with increased chronicity. Moreover, without increased OS levels, biofilm taken from chronic wounds and placed in new excision wounds do not create chronic wounds. Similarly, high OS levels in the wound tissue in the absence of the skin microbiome do not lead to chronic wounds. These findings show that both high OS levels and bacteria are needed for chronic wound initiation and development. In conclusion, OS levels in the wound at time of injury are critical for biofilm formation and chronic wound development and may be a good predictor of the degree of wound chronicity. Treating such wounds might be accomplished by managing OS levels with antioxidants combined with manipulation of the skin microbiome after debridement

Posgrados en Educación Física: tensiones de una política “irrefrenable”

En el marco de un proceso de academización de la educación física superior uruguaya, este trabajo se propone reflexionar sobre la relación entre la generación de posgrados y la producción de conocimiento, en tanto ambas se constituyen en políticas educativas universitarias. Toda política, definido su objeto, implica un enfoque normativo, un para qué actuar, un análisis prospectivo de lo que podría suceder, y una intención de proyectar un escenario deseable. En este sentido, buscamos analizar ciertas tensiones posibles entre la producción de conocimiento y la formación profesional, entre la enseñanza y la investigación, entre las demandas del mercado y el desarrollo del campo académico de la educación física. Pretendemos indagar la validez y la necesidad de posgrados en términos de su pertinencia para la producción de saber, la formación de investigadores, el fortalecimiento de la relación entre la investigación y la enseñanza propia de lo universitario, y los posibles efectos prácticos y profesionales

Marriage and risk of dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND: Being married is associated with healthier lifestyle behaviours and lower mortality and may reduce risk for dementia due to life-course factors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the association between marital status and the risk of developing dementia. METHODS: We searched medical databases and contacted experts in the field for relevant studies reporting the relationship, adjusted for age and sex, between marital status and dementia. We rated methodological quality and conducted random-effects meta-analyses to summarise relative risks of being widowed, divorced or lifelong single, compared with being married. Secondary stratified analyses with meta-regression examined the impact of clinical and social context and study methodology on findings. RESULTS: We included 15 studies with 812 047 participants. Compared with those who are married, lifelong single (relative risk=1.42 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.90)) and widowed (1.20 (1.02 to 1.41)) people have elevated risk of dementia. We did not find an association in divorced people. Further analyses showed that less education partially confounds the risk in widowhood and worse physical health the elevated risk in lifelong single people. Compared with studies that used clinical registers for ascertaining dementia diagnoses, those which clinically examined all participants found higher risk for being unmarried. CONCLUSIONS: Being married is associated with reduced risk of dementia than widowed and lifelong single people, who are also underdiagnosed in routine clinical practice. Dementia prevention in unmarried people should focus on education and physical health and should consider the possible effect of social engagement as a modifiable risk factor

Design of small interfaces

Treball desenvolupat dins el marc del programa 'International Design Project Semester'.Many modern devices with different kinds of characteristics have been invading the market in recent years and nowadays the market place is flooded with them.Users are experiencing a storm of new technology and a massive variety of new functions. This current work purposes an innovative approach for the design of small interfaces that can be used by a company to increase their own competitiveness or to develop research studies in an academic domain. With a wide range of research about concepts, interfaces, classification, products history, market tendency, user preferences, guidelines examples and ergonomics in visual and touch channels, was developed a new and effective guideline for small interfaces. With the evaluation of two systems (tablet and smartphone), was possible to do improvements on the design in order to garatee an effective guideline as the final result. The guidelines that we set out to create incorporate research into human anatomy as well as behaviour when using the Tablet. This was done with volunteering test subjects as well as close observation of each user and how they reacted to the tablet and how quickly the adapted and recognised icons within the interface. We also looked into other areas such as the social implications of owning a tablet and the typical demographics of tablet users. This research allowed use to gain a better understanding and insight into the mind of the user so we could deliver an interface to user that was not only what they needed but also one that they wanted to use