Laboratory Investigation on the Effects of Conductivity on the Sensitive Early Life Stages of Fishes from the Appalachian Region

While it is known there is a link between land disturbance and elevations in ionic constituents in streams, the relationship between elevated conductivity and aquatic taxa impairment is harder to define. Multiple field studies demonstrating correlations between conductivity and fish or benthic macroinvertebrate communities have not described the mechanisms of impairment and impairment has not been demonstrated with traditional toxicity testing. In an effort to explore more sensitive sub-lethal endpoints for evaluation of instream effects of mining effluent, chronic toxicity testing was conducted on eggs and early life stages of trout species and the fathead minnow, utilizing a simulated mining discharge with elevated conductivity. Chronic toxicity testing conducted with the native taxa and sub-lethal endpoints were utilized to evaluate the relationship between conductivity and organism fitness without the variability associated with field studies. Embryo-larval and standard chronic larval toxicity testing was conducted on sensitive life stages of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using a high sulfate synthetic mine effluent. Testing was also conducted using the standard test organism, fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Comparison of the response between taxa and between life stages of individual taxa were made. Conductivities ranged from 100-2400 µS/cm in the exposures with mortality and teratogenesis being the endpoints in embryo-larval testing. Embryo exposures were initiated at fertilization in the fathead minnow tests and at 3 days old for rainbow trout, with both having EC50s greater than 2400 µS/cm. Generally, there was little sensitivity in the embryo or larval exposures with endpoints consistently \u3e2400 µS/cm. Estimated effect concentrations (IC20s) were variable between the species and the life stages indicating that not only are the tolerance levels of each species different, but the tolerance of the life stages of each species is also variable

Enabling Disabled Persons to Gain Access to Digital Media

A report describes the first phase in an effort to enhance the NaviGaze software to enable profoundly disabled persons to operate computers. (Running on a Windows-based computer equipped with a video camera aimed at the user s head, the original NaviGaze software processes the user's head movements and eye blinks into cursor movements and mouse clicks to enable hands-free control of the computer.) To accommodate large variations in movement capabilities among disabled individuals, one of the enhancements was the addition of a graphical user interface for selection of parameters that affect the way the software interacts with the computer and tracks the user s movements. Tracking algorithms were improved to reduce sensitivity to rotations and reduce the likelihood of tracking the wrong features. Visual feedback to the user was improved to provide an indication of the state of the computer system. It was found that users can quickly learn to use the enhanced software, performing single clicks, double clicks, and drags within minutes of first use. Available programs that could increase the usability of NaviGaze were identified. One of these enables entry of text by using NaviGaze as a mouse to select keys on a virtual keyboard

Is Fractional Reserve Banking Necessarily Immoral?

When Deposits are made to a bank, the bank can loan out most of it, while claiming they have the money to pay you back. When you deposit money in a bank, only a fraction of it stays on deposit; the rest is loaned out. When the person receives the loan spends it, money goes to another bank, repeating the process. Ultimately, if the central bank puts $100 of reserves into the FRB system,$1000 of money could enter the economy

EMG Analysis of Lower Extremity Muscle Activity during Wall Slides with Varying Foot Positions

Knee injuries are among the most common injuries seen in a physical therapy clinic. Nearly all rehabilitation programs following a knee injury involve quadriceps muscle strengthening. One popular and safe method of quadriceps strengthening often used is the wall slide. There is, however, debate and little research indicating whether or not changing the foot position used during wall slides alters the muscle activity during this exercise. The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the muscle activity during wall slides with feet in various positions so that more accurate rehabilitation protocols may be developed in the physical therapy clinic. Thirty participants without previous history of knee pathologies were recruited to participate in this study. The subjects were asked to perform a series of 5 wall slides in 3 different foot positions. These positions were indicated by placing marks on non-skid floor mats. Foi the first position, subjects were asked to line up their second toe and heal with a line perpendicular to the wall. Position 2 was performed by having the subjects rotate their feet so that their second toe lined up with a line 30 degrees inward from the first line with resultant hip internal rotation. The third position was obtained in the same way as the second position, with the only difference being that rotation was done in an outward direction. These 3 positions were referred to as neutral rotation, 30 degrees of internal rotation, and 30 degrees of external rotation. The order of these positions was randomly selected and the wall slides were performed to a knee flexion angle of 45 degrees. Electromyographic activity was recorded for the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and anterior tibialis muscles of the subjects\u27 dominant leg. The results of this study indicated that there is no significant difference in EMG activity of the quadriceps muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris) across foot positions. The results did, however, indicate a significant difference in EMG activity across foot positions for the anterior tibialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius muscle. These results suggested that clinicians may need to address foot position during wall slides when these muscles are involved following a knee injury. The results also suggested that the patient\u27s foot position during a wall slide is not an important factor to consider when developing a rehabilitation program for quadriceps muscle strengthening following a knee injury. Allowing the patient to perform the wall slide in a position of comfort should then be the clinician\u27s main concern

Combination Therapy of Prostate Cancer Utilizing Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Carrying TNF-a and Lactonic Sophorolipids

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer afflicting men in the United States. In recent years, advances in the field of nanotechnology have allowed for new and innovative ways to treat various types of cancer and various other diseases. Our research focuses on the treatment of the LNCaP line prostate cancer utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) loaded with soluble TNF-a and lactonic sophorolipids (LSLs). TNF-a is a cytokine responsible for apoptosis initiation, while LSLs are naturally-glycolipids shown to alleviate inflammation and improve immune response in certain diseases. We hypothesized that this combination may possess a synergistic effect, displaying greater therapeutic effects than either compound alone. We synthesized polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated IONPs to serve as a vehicle for these compounds for target-specific delivery. The surface carboxylate groups of the PAA coating can be chemically modified, allowing for binding of ligands to target cell-specific surface receptors or antigens. We conjugated our IONPs with glutamic acid with the aim of targeting the over-expressed glutamate receptors on the surface of the LNCaP cells. This combination therapy showed significant LNCaP cell death within 48 hours of incubation, while healthy cells were unaffected. The therapeutic effects were determined using cytotoxicity, MitoSOX, apoptosis, and migration assays. The results of the combined therapy suggest that these compounds may be a viable alternative to chemotherapeutic drugs in prostate cancer treatment

SAR-Based Vibration Estimation Using the Discrete Fractional Fourier Transform

A vibration estimation method for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is presented based on a novel application of the discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFRFT). Small vibrations of ground targets introduce phase modulation in the SAR returned signals. With standard preprocessing of the returned signals, followed by the application of the DFRFT, the time-varying accelerations, frequencies, and displacements associated with vibrating objects can be extracted by successively estimating the quasi-instantaneous chirp rate in the phase-modulated signal in each subaperture. The performance of the proposed method is investigated quantitatively, and the measurable vibration frequencies and displacements are determined. Simulation results show that the proposed method can successfully estimate a two-component vibration at practical signal-to-noise levels. Two airborne experiments were also conducted using the Lynx SAR system in conjunction with vibrating ground test targets. The experiments demonstrated the correct estimation of a 1-Hz vibration with an amplitude of 1.5 cm and a 5-Hz vibration with an amplitude of 1.5 mm

Dystrophic calcification and heterotopic ossification in fibrocartilaginous tissues of the spine in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)

© 2020, The Author(s). Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a prevalent noninflammatory spondyloarthropathy characterized by ectopic mineral formation along the anterolateral aspect of the vertebral column, yet little is known about its underlying pathogenesis. Our objective was to evaluate the histopathological features and composition of ectopic mineral within spinal tissues affected by DISH in humans. Thoracic spine segments from six embalmed cadaveric donors (one female and five males; median age 82 years) meeting the radiographic diagnostic criteria for DISH were evaluated using radiological, histological, and physical analyses. Overall, the histological features of ectopic mineralization at individual motion segments were heterogeneous, including regions of heterotopic ossification and dystrophic calcification. Heterotopic ossifications were characterized by woven and lamellar bone, multifocal areas of metaplastic cartilage, and bony bridges along the anterior aspect of the intervertebral disc space. Dystrophic calcifications were characterized by an amorphous appearance, a high content of calcium and phosphorus, an X-ray diffraction pattern matching that of hydroxyapatite, and radiodensities exceeding that of cortical bone. Dystrophic calcifications were found within the anterior longitudinal ligament and annulus fibrosus in motion segments both meeting and not meeting the radiographic criteria for DISH. In summary, our findings indicate that in DISH, ectopic mineral forms along the anterior aspect of the spine by both heterotopic ossification and dystrophic calcification of fibrocartilaginous tissues. Although both types of ectopic mineralization are captured by current radiographic criteria for DISH, dystrophic calcification may reflect a distinct disease process or an early stage in the pathogenesis of DISH

Overview of Intelligent Power Controller Development for Human Deep Space Exploration

Intelligent or autonomous control of an entire spacecraft is a major technology that must be developed to enable NASA to meet its human exploration goals. NASA's current long term human space platform, the International Space Station, is in low earth orbit with almost continuous communication with the ground based mission control. This permits the near real-time control by the ground of all of the core systems including power. As NASA moves beyond Low Earth Orbit, the issues of communication time-lag and lack of communication bandwidth beyond geosynchronous orbit does not permit this type of operation. This paper presents the work currently ongoing at NASA to develop an architecture for an autonomous power control system as well as the effort to assemble that controller into the framework of the vehicle mission manager and other subsystem controllers to enable autonomous control of the complete spacecraft. Due to the common problems faced in both space power systems and terrestrial power system, the potential for spin-off applications of this technology for use in micro-grids located at the edge or user end of terrestrial power grids for peak power accommodation and reliability are described

Overview of Intelligent Power Controller Development for Human Deep Space Exploration

Intelligent or autonomous control of an entire spacecraft is a major technology that must be developed to enable NASA to meet its human exploration goals. NASA's current long term human space platform, the International Space Station, is in low Earth orbit with almost continuous communication with the ground based mission control. This permits the near real-time control by the ground of all of the core systems including power. As NASA moves beyond low Earth orbit, the issues of communication time-lag and lack of communication bandwidth beyond geosynchronous orbit does not permit this type of operation. This paper presents the work currently ongoing at NASA to develop an architecture for an autonomous power control system as well as the effort to assemble that controller into the framework of the vehicle mission manager and other subsystem controllers to enable autonomous control of the complete spacecraft. Due to the common problems faced in both space power systems and terrestrial power system, the potential for spin-off applications of this technology for use in micro-grids located at the edge or user end of terrestrial power grids for peak power accommodation and reliability are described

Simulation and Control Lab Development for Power and Energy Management for NASA Manned Deep Space Missions

The development of distributed hierarchical and agent-based control systems will allow for reliable autonomous energy management and power distribution for on-orbit missions. Power is one of the most critical systems on board a space vehicle, requiring quick response time when a fault or emergency is identified. As NASAs missions with human presence extend beyond low earth orbit autonomous control of vehicle power systems will be necessary and will need to reliably function for long periods of time. In the design of autonomous electrical power control systems there is a need to dynamically simulate and verify the EPS controller functionality prior to use on-orbit. This paper presents the work at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio where the development of a controls laboratory is being completed that will be utilized to demonstrate advanced prototype EPS controllers for space, aeronautical and terrestrial applications. The control laboratory hardware, software and application of an autonomous controller for demonstration with the ISS electrical power system is the subject of this paper