Supervised Control of a Flying Performing Robot using its Intrinsic Sound

We present the current results of our ongoing research in achieving efficient control of a flying robot for a wide variety of possible applications. A lightweight small indoor helicopter has been equipped with an embedded system and relatively simple sensors to achieve autonomous stable flight. The controllers have been tuned using genetic algorithms to further enhance flight stability. A number of additional sensors would need to be attached to the helicopter to enable it to sense more of its environment such as its current location or the location of obstacles like the walls of the room it is flying in. The lightweight nature of the helicopter very much restricts the amount of sensors that can be attached to it. We propose utilising the intrinsic sound signatures of the helicopter to locate it and to extract features about its current state, using another supervising robot. The analysis of this information is then sent back to the helicopter using an uplink to enable the helicopter to further stabilise its flight and correct its position and flight path without the need for additional sensors

Managing uncertainty in sound based control for an autonomous helicopter

In this paper we present our ongoing research using a multi-purpose, small and low cost autonomous helicopter platform (Flyper ). We are building on previously achieved stable control using evolutionary tuning. We propose a sound based supervised method to localise the indoor helicopter and extract meaningful information to enable the helicopter to further stabilise its flight and correct its flightpath. Due to the high amount of uncertainty in the data, we propose the use of fuzzy logic in the signal processing of the sound signature. We discuss the benefits and difficulties using type-1 and type-2 fuzzy logic in this real-time systems and give an overview of our proposed system

The Effect of Geometric Defects and Porosity on the Mechanical Behavior of Additively Manufactured SS 316L and AlSi10Mg Components

Additive manufacturing (AM) is becoming increasingly popular in the automotive, aerospace, energy and healthcare industries. Standards for critical defect sizes and porosity levels in AM materials have not been established. A critical porosity manufactured defect relationship which can qualify components for safe use needs to be developed. Defects including a quarter crack, an internal void, and a through-hole were intentionally manufactured into SS 316L and AlSi10Mg AM tubular tensile specimens to investigate and improve the understanding of the ductility-defect-porosity relationship of AM Metals. SS 316L and AlSi10Mg compression specimens were tested from different build heights and locations on the build plate to explore the effects of spatial location on the material properties. Thin single edge notch tensile fracture toughness specimens with AM notch and diamond saw notch were studied to investigate the apparent fracture toughness of thin AM specimens. Levels of porosity were introduced by reduced laser power in all the AlSi10Mg specimens. This study helps define the relationship between defects, porosity, and ductility of AM SS 316L and AlSi10Mg and compares this relationship to conventional metals. From the results of this study, AM SS 316L and AM AlSi10Mg follow conventional knowledge about stress concentration and ductility for metals. There was no significant difference in fracture toughness between the AM and diamond saw notch in the fracture toughness specimens. The SS 316L compression specimens closer to the build plate had increased material properties while the AlSi10Mg compression specimens had similar material properties throughout. The material properties of the SS 316L and AlSi10Mg compression specimens varied by the build plate location. Geometric defects decreased the ductility and strength for all the tubular tensile specimens. With a significant increase in porosity, the mechanical behavior started to be dominated by the porosity over the intentionally manufactured geometric defects. The mechanical behavior of the ductile SS 316L tubular specimens was driven by the reduction in the cross-sectional area while the more brittle AlSi10Mg was driven by stress concentrations. From this study, AM SS 316L and AlSi10Mg produced by selective laser melting had similar mechanical behavior to traditional ductile and brittle metals

A Systematic Review of Lifestyle Interventions for Chronic Diseases in Rural Communities

Background: Rural Americans suffer disproportionately from lifestyle-related chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer). Interventions that consider the distinctive characteristics of rural communities (e.g., access to healthcare, income, and education) are needed. As an initial step in planning future research, we completed a systematic review of dietary intake and physical activity interventions targeting rural populations. Methods: Manuscripts focused on dietary intake and physical activity and published through March 15, 2016, were identified by use of PubMed and CINAHL databases and MeSH terms and keyword searches. Results: A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Six involved randomized controlled trials; 7 used quasi-experimental designs; 4 had a pre-/post-design; and 1 was an observational study. Eight studies were multi-site (or multi-county), and 3 focused on churches. Primary emphasis by racial/ethnic group included: African Americans (6); Whites (2); Hispanics (3); and two or more groups (7). Most studies (17) sampled adults; one included children. Two studies targeted families. Conclusions: Additional lifestyle intervention research is needed to identify effective approaches promoting healthy diet and exercise and chronic disease prevention in rural communities. Studies that include rigorous designs, adequate sample sizes, and generalizable results are needed to overcome the limitations of published studies

SIRT1 Activity Is Linked to Its Brain Region-Specific Phosphorylation and Is Impaired in Huntington’s Disease Mice

Huntingtons disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which there are no disease-modifying treatments. SIRT1 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that is implicated in maintaining neuronal health during development, differentiation and ageing. Previous studies suggested that the modulation of SIRT1 activity is neuroprotective in HD mouse models, however, the mechanisms controlling SIRT1 activity are unknown. We have identified a striatum-specific phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanism of SIRT1 induction under normal physiological conditions, which is impaired in HD. We demonstrate that SIRT1 activity is down-regulated in the brains of two complementary HD mouse models, which correlated with altered SIRT1 phosphorylation levels. This SIRT1 impairment could not be rescued by the ablation of DBC1, a negative regulator of SIRT1, but was linked to changes in the sub-cellular distribution of AMPK-α1, a positive regulator of SIRT1 function. This work provides insights into the regulation of SIRT1 activity with the potential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies

Analysis of Toxic Amyloid Fibril Interactions at Natively Derived Membranes by Ellipsometry

There is an ongoing debate regarding the culprits of cytotoxicity associated with amyloid disorders. Although small pre-fibrillar amyloid oligomers have been implicated as the primary toxic species, the fibrillar amyloid material itself can also induce cytotoxicity. To investigate membrane disruption and cytotoxic effects associated with intact and fragmented fibrils, the novel in situ spectroscopic technique of Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry (TIRE) was used. Fibril lipid interactions were monitored using natively derived whole cell membranes as a model of the in vivo environment. We show that fragmented fibrils have an increased ability to disrupt these natively derived membranes by causing a loss of material from the deposited surface when compared with unfragmented fibrils. This effect was corroborated by observations of membrane disruption in live cells, and by dye release assay using synthetic liposomes. Through these studies we demonstrate the use of TIRE for the analysis of protein-lipid interactions on natively derived lipid surfaces, and provide an explanation on how amyloid fibrils can cause a toxic gain of function, while entangled amyloid plaques exert minimal biological activity

Cessation of X-ray Pulsation of GX 1+4

We report results from our weekly monitoring campaign on the X-ray pulsar GX 1+4 with the {\em Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer} satellite. The spin-down trend of GX 1+4 was continuing, with the pulsar being at its longest period ever measured (about 138.7 s). At the late stage of the campaign, the source entered an extended faint state, when its X-ray (2-60 keV) flux decreased significantly to an average level of $\sim 3 \times 10^{-10} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}$. It was highly variable in the faint state; the flux dropped to as low as $\sim 3 \times 10^{-11} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}$. In several observations during this period, the X-ray pulsation became undetectable. We can, therefore, conclude conservatively that the pulsed fraction, which is normally $\gtrsim$ 70% (peak-to-peak), must have decreased drastically in those cases. This is very similar to what was observed of GX 1+4 in 1996 when it became similarly faint in X-ray. In fact, the flux at which the cessation of X-ray pulsation first occurred is nearly the same as it was in 1996. We suggest that we have, once again, observed the propeller effect in GX 1+4, a phenomenon that is predicted by theoretical models of accreting X-ray pulsars.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures (available at http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~cui/ftp/cuifigs.tar.gz). To appear in Ap

Blood-based bioenergetic profiling is related to differences in brain morphology in African Americans with Type 2 diabetes.

Blood-based bioenergetic profiling has promising applications as a minimally invasive biomarker of systemic bioenergetic capacity. In the present study, we examined peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) mitochondrial function and brain morphology in a cohort of African Americans with long-standing Type 2 diabetes. Key parameters of PBMC respiration were correlated with white matter, gray matter, and total intracranial volumes. Our analyses indicate that these relationships are primarily driven by the relationship of systemic bioenergetic capacity with total intracranial volume, suggesting that systemic differences in mitochondrial function may play a role in overall brain morphology

TEACH Kitchen: a Chronological Review of Accomplishments

Background: The Eating and Cooking Healthy (TEACH) Kitchen was founded at the Medical College of Georgia in 2015 as a nutrition-based intervention to combat the high prevalence of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases in the area of Augusta, Georgia. Despite the importance of diet in the management of chronic diseases, inadequate nutrition education among patients and healthcare providers presents a barrier. The purpose of TEACH Kitchen is to address this gap. Methods: TEACH Kitchen is as a student-led initiative that promotes healthy cooking among medical students and patients with chronic diseases. Healthy nutrition and cooking classes are held during the academic year. Participants spend four weeks on each of four modules: obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Data collection, which began in January 2017, is currently on going. TEACH Kitchen has collaborated with Augusta University, Sodexo, and Kohl’s. Results: Currently, TEACH Kitchen has enrolled 14 patients and 6 children. Anticipated results include measurements of preand post-intervention changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and competence in nutrition, as well as differences in clinical indicators, including body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profile, and HbA1c. Conclusions: TEACH Kitchen is the first medical school-based nutrition/cooking education initiative in Augusta, Georgia. It provides patients and medical students with hands-on healthy nutrition/cooking experience with the goal of decreasing the prevalence and improving the outcome of obesity-related diseases

Estimating potential forest NPP, biomass and their climatic sensitivity in New England using a dynamic ecosystem model

Accurate estimation of forest net primary productivity (NPP), biomass, and their sensitivity to changes in temperature and precipitation is important for understanding the fluxes and pools of terrestrial carbon resulting from anthropogenically driven climate change. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate potential forest NPP and biomass for New England using a regional ecosystem model, (2) compare modeled forest NPP and biomass with other reported data for New England, and (3) examine the sensitivity of modeled forest NPP to historical climatic variation. We addressed these objectives using the regional ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS implemented with eight plant functional types representing New England forests. We ran the model using 30-arc second spatial resolution climate data in monthly timesteps for the period 1901-2006. The modeled forest NPP and biomass were compared to empirically-based MODIS and FIA estimates of NPP and U.S. forest biomass. Our results indicate that forest NPP in New England averages 428 g C m-2yr-1 and ranges from 333 to 541 g C m-2yr-1 for the baseline period (1971- 2000), while forest biomass averages 135 Mg/ha and ranges from 77 to 242 Mg/ha. Modeled forest biomass decreased at a rate of 0.11 Mg/ha (R2=0.74) per year in the period 1901-1949 but increased at a rate of 0.25 Mg/ha (R2=0.95) per year in the period 1950-2006. Estimates of NPP and biomass depend on forest type: spruce-fir had the lowest mean of 395 g C m-2yr-1 and oak forest had the highest mean of 468 g C m-2yr-1. Similarly, forest biomass was highest in oak (153 Mg/ha) and lowest in red-jack pine (118 Mg/ ha) forests. The modeled NPP for New England agrees well with FIA-based estimates from similar forests in the mid-Atlantic region but was smaller than MODIS NPP estimates for New England. Nevertheless, the modeled inter-annual variability of NPP was strongly correlated with the MODIS NPP data. The modeled biomass agrees well with U.S. forest biomass data for New England but was less than FIA-based estimates in the mid-Atlantic region. For the region as a whole, the modeled NPP and biomass are within the ranges of MODIS- and FIA-based estimates. Forest NPP was sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation: NPP was positively related to temperatures in April, May and October but negatively related to summer temperature. Increases in precipitation in the growing season enhanced forest NPP. © 2010 Tang et al