Potential applications of expert systems and operations research to space station logistics functions

The applicability of operations research, artificial intelligence, and expert systems to logistics problems for the space station were assessed. Promising application areas were identified for space station logistics. A needs assessment is presented and a specific course of action in each area is suggested

Let me Google that for you:a time series analysis of seasonality in internet search trends for terms related to foot and ankle pain

BACKGROUND: The analysis of internet search traffic may present the opportunity to gain insights into general trends and patterns in information seeking behaviour related to medical conditions at a population level. For prevalent and widespread problems such as foot and ankle pain, this information has the potential to improve our understanding of seasonality and trends within these conditions and their treatments, and may act as a useful proxy for their true incidence/prevalence characteristics. This study aimed to explore seasonal effects, general trends and relative popularity of internet search terms related to foot and ankle pain over the past decade. METHODS: We used the Google Trends tool to obtain relative search engine traffic for terms relating to foot and ankle pain and common treatments from Google search and affiliated pages for major northern and southern hemisphere English speaking nations. Analysis of overall trends and seasonality including summer/winter differences was carried out on these terms. RESULTS: Searches relating to general foot pain were on average 3.4 times more common than those relating to ankle pain, and twice as common as searches relating to heel pain. Distinct seasonal effects were seen in the northern hemisphere, with large increases in search volumes in the summer months compared to winter for foot (p = 0.004, 95 % CI [22.2–32.1]), ankle (p = 0.0078, 95 % CI [20.9–35.5]), and heel pain (p = 0.004, 95 % CI [29.1–45.6]). These seasonal effects were reflected by data from Australia, with the exception of ankle pain. Annual seasonal effects for treatment options were limited to terms related to foot surgery and ankle orthoses (p = 0.031, 95 % CI [3.5–20.9]; p = 0.004, 95 % CI [7.6–25.2] respectively), again increasing in the summer months. CONCLUSIONS: A number of general trends and annual seasonal effects were found in time series internet search data for terms relating to foot and ankle pain. This data may provide insights into these conditions at population levels. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13047-015-0074-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Social networks and violence victimization and perpetration among youth: A longitudinal analysis

Interpersonal violence (IV) is a serious concern for adolescents in the United States that has devastating impacts for individuals and communities. Given the increased importance placed on friendships during adolescence, the purpose of the current study was to examine the extent to which IV experiences cluster within youths\u27 friendship networks. Participants were students (N = 1303) in grades 7th to 10th who completed surveys at the beginning and end of an academic year. Results showed that friends\u27 average perpetration (i.e., the percentage of the friends they nominated who perpetrated IV) was strongly associated with likelihood of individual perpetration at baseline but not at the follow‐up. For victimization, friends\u27 average report of victimization (i.e., the percentage of the friends they nominated who were victimized) was associated with higher likelihood reporting of victimization (at both baseline and follow‐up). Although future research is needed to understand explanatory mechanisms underlying these findings, it is possible that the effectiveness of prevention initiatives may be enhanced by incorporating peer group information

The Shake religion of Puget Sound

Gerald W. Williams Collectio

La tumba hipogea de Bolores (Torres Vedras): una aproximación interdisciplinar a la comprensión del paisaje social del Neolítico Final/Edad del Cobre de la Península Ibérica

To better understand the sociopolitical landscape of the Portuguese Estremadura during the Late Neolithic/Copper Age, interdisciplinary excavations were conducted at Bolores (Torres Vedras), in the Sizandro River Valley. Following a test season in 1986, a University of Iowa team conducted four campaigns between 2007 and 2012. Bolores is a rock-cut tomb used primarily between 2800-2600 cal BC for the burial of adults, adolescents, and children (MNI=36). The architectural, material cultural, and bioarchaeological evidence suggests that Bolores housed the remains of a distinctive group of local individuals who marked their difference from other burial populations in the Sizandro and Estremadura through material culture and tomb architecture. Social differences were denoted spatially and through offerings of material goods. No social stratification is evident, however, that would suggest a state-level society: there are no wealthy child burials and no significant health or dietary disparities within this population or between it and others in the region.Para comprender mejor el paisaje sociopolítico de la Extremadura portuguesa durante el Neolítico Final/Edad del Cobre se han llevado a cabo excavaciones interdisciplinares en Bolores (Torres Vedras), en el valle del río Sizandro. Tras una campaña de prueba en 1986, un equipo de la Universidad de Iowa realizó cuatro campañas entre 2007 y 2012. Bolores es una tumba hipogea que fue utilizada principalmente entre 2800 y 2600 cal BCE como enterramiento colectivo para adultos, adolescentes y niños (NMI=36). Los datos arquitectónicos, bioarqueológicos y de cultura material analizados hasta la fecha sugieren que Bolores albergó los restos de un grupo social distintivo compuesto de individuos locales que marcaban sus diferencias con otras poblaciones funerarias del Sizandro y Extremadura portuguesa mediante la cultura material y la arquitectura funeraria. Las diferencias sociales en la población de Bolores fueron señaladas espacialmente y marcadas mediante las ofrendas de bienes materiales. Sin embargo, no se aprecia una estratificación social significativa que sugiera una sociedad de nivel estatal: no hay enterramientos infantiles ricos, ni disparidades en la salud o dieta de esta población funeraria o entre esta población y otras en la región de Torres Vedras

Rac1-Dependent Phosphorylation and Focal Adhesion Recruitment of Myosin IIA Regulates Migration and Mechanosensing

SummaryBackgroundCell migration requires coordinated formation of focal adhesions (FAs) and assembly and contraction of the actin cytoskeleton. Nonmuscle myosin II (MII) is a critical mediator of contractility and FA dynamics in cell migration. Signaling downstream of the small GTPase Rac1 also regulates FA and actin dynamics, but its role in regulation of MII during migration is less clear.ResultsWe found that Rac1 promotes association of MIIA with FA. Live-cell imaging showed that, whereas most MIIA at the leading edge assembled into dorsal contractile arcs, a substantial subset assembled in or was captured within maturing FA, and this behavior was promoted by active Rac1. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation was necessary and sufficient for integrin- and Rac1-dependent phosphorylation of MIIA heavy chain (HC) on serine1916 (S1916) and recruitment to FA. S1916 phosphorylation of MIIA HC and localization in FA was enhanced during cell spreading and ECM stiffness mechanosensing, suggesting upregulation of this pathway during physiological Rac1 activation. Phosphomimic and nonphosphorylatable MIIA HC mutants demonstrated that S1916 phosphorylation was necessary and sufficient for the capture and assembly of MIIA minifilaments in FA. S1916 phosphorylation was also sufficient to promote the rapid assembly of FAs to enhance cell migration and for the modulation of traction force, spreading, and migration by ECM stiffness.ConclusionsOur study reveals for the first time that Rac1 and integrin activation regulates MIIA HC phosphorylation through a PKC-dependent mechanism that promotes MIIA association with FAs and acts as a critical modulator of cell migration and mechanosensing

Profiling of the molecular weight and structural isomer abundance of macroalgae-derived phlorotannins

peer-reviewedPhlorotannins are a group of complex polymers of phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) unique to macroalgae. These phenolic compounds are integral structural components of the cell wall in brown algae, but also play many secondary ecological roles such as protection from UV radiation and defense against grazing. This study employed Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry to investigate isomeric complexity and observed differences in phlorotannins derived from macroalgae harvested off the Irish coast (Fucus serratus, Fucus vesiculosus, Himanthalia elongata and Cystoseira nodicaulis). Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content assays were used as an index for producing phlorotannin fractions, enriched using molecular weight cut-off dialysis with subsequent flash chromatography to profile phlorotannin isomers in these macroalgae. These fractions were profiled using UPLC-MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and the level of isomerization for specific molecular weight phlorotannins between 3 and 16 monomers were determined. The majority of the low molecular weight (LMW) phlorotannins were found to have a molecular weight range equivalent to 4-12 monomers of phloroglucinol. The level of isomerization within the individual macroalgal species differed, resulting in substantially different numbers of phlorotannin isomers for particular molecular weights. F. vesiculosus had the highest number of isomers of 61 at one specific molecular mass, corresponding to 12 phloroglucinol units (PGUs). These results highlight the complex nature of these extracts and emphasize the challenges involved in structural elucidation of these compounds.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe