184 research outputs found
Automated requirements analysis for a molecular watchdog timer
Dynamic systems in DNA nanotechnology are often programmed using a chemical reaction network (CRN) model as an intermediate level of abstraction. In this paper, we design and analyze a CRN model of a watchdog timer, a device commonly used to monitor the health of a safety critical system. Our process uses incremental design practices with goal-oriented requirements engineering, software verification tools, and custom software to help automate the software engineering process. The watchdog timer is comprised of three components: an absence detector, a threshold filter, and a signal amplifier. These components are separately designed and verified, and only then composed to create the molecular watchdog timer. During the requirements-design iterations, simulation, model checking, and analysis are used to verify the system. Using this methodology several incomplete requirements and design flaws were found, and the final verified model helped determine specific parameters for biological experiments
Patent Foramen Ovale: Current Pathology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Status
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is experiencing increased clinical interest as a congenital cardiac lesion persisting into adulthood. It is implicated in several serious clinical syndromes, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and systemic embolism. The PFO is now amenable to percutaneous interventional therapies, and multiple novel technologies are either available or under development for lesion closure. The PFO should be better understood to take advantage of emerging percutaneous treatment options. This paper reviews PFO anatomy, pathology, pathophysiology, and clinical impact and discusses current therapeutic options
Athletics & Recreation Master Plan SubâCommittee Final Report
In 2000 the Athletics & Recreation Department at UMass Boston Implemented a five year strategic plan that would more realistically align sports sponsorship with available financial and facility resources. We reduced the number of sports sponsored from 20 to 14 maintaining 7 sports for women and 7 sports for men. The only sports maintained without a facility were Menâs baseball and Cross Country Track. We eliminated football, swimming and indoor & outdoor track and field for men and women.
Since 2005 The Athletics & Recreation Department has been focused on University wide transition and planning efforts. In that period we have experienced three changes in the Chancellors office, two changes in Athletics Director Position and our operation has moved from a university department to a university division. We have engaged in universityâwide strategic planning and master planning while redefining the role of athletics within the campus community.
This four year process of transition & planning has been at the same time taxing and invigorating while allowing the Division of Athletics & Recreation, Special Programs & Projects to emerge as a university service entity supportive of the primary mission of the university. The division has engaged in areas of the university heretofore out of its purview. It has established internal and external partnerships that are transformative and beneficial to the entire community.
This report focuses on facilities that will allow for the established partnerships to flourish, that will uphold the new standards for high quality facilities that have been implemented over the last four years on our campus and most importantly this report addresses in a comprehensive way a vision for athletics & recreation at UMass Boston that will put us in the fore front of those institutions that offer athletics & recreation for the purpose of the health and both physical and mental wellness of students, faculty and staff. It does begin with a pride of place
Estimation of Fish Biomass Using Environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) from aquatic vertebrates has recently been used to estimate the presence of a species. We hypothesized that fish release DNA into the water at a rate commensurate with their biomass. Thus, the concentration of eDNA of a target species may be used to estimate the species biomass. We developed an eDNA method to estimate the biomass of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using laboratory and field experiments. In the aquarium, the concentration of eDNA changed initially, but reached an equilibrium after 6 days. Temperature had no effect on eDNA concentrations in aquaria. The concentration of eDNA was positively correlated with carp biomass in both aquaria and experimental ponds. We used this method to estimate the biomass and distribution of carp in a natural freshwater lagoon. We demonstrated that the distribution of carp eDNA concentration was explained by water temperature. Our results suggest that biomass data estimated from eDNA concentration reflects the potential distribution of common carp in the natural environment. Measuring eDNA concentration offers a non-invasive, simple, and rapid method for estimating biomass. This method could inform management plans for the conservation of ecosystems
Coupleâs Relationship After the Death of a Child: a Systematic Review
When a child dies, the parents must address the
changes in their relationship as well as the way that these
changes affect their individual adjustment. These two
perspectives are addressed in this systematic review. Five
databases were systematically searched for papers published
in English between January 2000 and February
2014. Of the 646 publications, 24 papers met the inclusion
criteria. The results suggest that a childâs death can cause
cohesive as well as detrimental effects on a coupleâs relationship.
Variables that may produce differential outcomes
for the marital relationship include situational factors, such
as the cause and type of death and the childâs age at the
time of death; dyad-level factors, such as surviving children,
the pre-death characteristics of the relationship,
communication and incongruent grieving; and individuallevel
factors, such as the family of originâs processing of
trauma, social support, religious affiliation and finding
meaning. Aspects such as marital quality and the coupleâs
interdependence were found to influence each parentâs individual
adjustment. Larger, prospective, ethically conducted
studies should be implemented to consolidate these
findings. Mental health professionals may benefit from a
deeper understanding of the risk and protective factors
regarding marital adjustment after a childâs death
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