A novel updating modelling methodology for free-form surface modifications in the early stages of design

The paper describes the first implementation of a method in which an initial CAD model is updated from a physical model. The method is based on image-mapping in which an initial CAD model is updated from images of a soft rapid prototype model (RPM) which has been sculpted in order to carry out formal developments. The RP model is made by a 3Dimensional-colour printer, has a built-in contrasting grid composed by parallel planes in the X, Y and/or Z co-ordinates and has special consistency allowing it to be easily sculpted with hand modifications. During the sculpting process changes on the surface affect the lines on the RPM, which are the external presence of the internal grid planes and are corresponding to the initial CAD construction lines. These lines (profiles) then are visually contrasted by making use of identical perspective transformations and viewpoints for the virtual model and the RP model image. The initial CAD model is then updated by modifying the surface’s construction lines to match the lines on the RP image by moving control points, such as in the Z direction

Use of 3D body motion to freeform surface design

This paper presents a novel surface modelling approach by utilising a 3D motion capture system. For designing a large-sized surface, a network of splines is initially set up. Artists or designers wearing motion markers on their hands can then change shapes of the splines with their hands. Literarily they can move their bodies freely to any positions to perform their tasks. They can also move their hands in 3D free space to detail surface characteristics by their gestures. All their design motions are recorded in the motion capturing system and transferred into 3D curves and surfaces correspondingly. This paper reports this novel surface design method and some case studies

Revisión sistemática sobre los beneficios psicosociales obtenidos con intervenciones para promover el desplazamietno activo al colegio

Active commuting to schools has decreased in the last few years. The main objectives of this review were to determine which interventions are being carried out to promote active commuting, to know the quality of the research, and to analyze which psycosocial parameters can be improved. The bibliographic search was carried out in the databases of Medline, Sport Discus, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar... Finally, there were selecting a total of 23 investigations. The most frequent action is to implement programs to promote active commuting (91.30%). There are few data as yet on interventions, and approximately half of the studies fail to improve active commuting data (47.83%). Psychosocial health is not just studied only 1 study tested variables of psychosocial health. It is important to increase the number of studies, to randomize them, control external contaminants, increase the duration, and increase the psychosocial health studies.El desplazamiento activo al centro educativo ha disminuido en los últimos años. Los objetivos principales de esta revisión fueron determinar qué intervenciones se están llevando a cabo para promover el desplazamiento activo, conocer la calidad de las investigaciones y analizar qué parámetros psicosociales se han estudiado. La búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó en las bases de datos de Medline, Sport Discus, Scopus, Web of Science y Google Scholar. Finalmente, se seleccionaron 23 investigaciones que desarrollaban intervenciones para fomentar el desplazamiento activo. La intervención más frecuente es implementar programas para promover el desplazamiento activo (91.30%). Existen pocos estudios con intervenciones, y aproximadamente la mitad de los estudios no logran mejorar los datos de niveles de desplazamiento activo (47.83%). La salud psicosocial no ha sido apenas estudiada, tan solo en 1 estudio se midieron las variables de salud psicosocial. Es importante aumentar el número de estudios, aleatorizarlos, controlar contaminantes externos, aumentar la duración y desarrollar estudios de salud psicosocial

Quantifying landscape-level methane fluxes in subarctic Finland using a multiscale approach

Journal ArticleQuantifying landscape-scale methane (CH4) fluxes from boreal and arctic regions, and determining how they are controlled, is critical for predicting the magnitude of any CH4 emission feedback to climate change. Furthermore, there remains uncertainty regarding the relative importance of small areas of strong methanogenic activity, vs. larger areas with net CH4 uptake, in controlling landscape-level fluxes. We measured CH4 fluxes from multiple microtopographical subunits (sedge-dominated lawns, interhummocks and hummocks) within an aapa mire in subarctic Finland, as well as in drier ecosystems present in the wider landscape, lichen heath and mountain birch forest. An intercomparison was carried out between fluxes measured using static chambers, up-scaled using a high-resolution landcover map derived from aerial photography and eddy covariance. Strong agreement was observed between the two methodologies, with emission rates greatest in lawns. CH4 fluxes from lawns were strongly related to seasonal fluctuations in temperature, but their floating nature meant that water-table depth was not a key factor in controlling CH4 release. In contrast, chamber measurements identified net CH4 uptake in birch forest soils. An intercomparison between the aerial photography and satellite remote sensing demonstrated that quantifying the distribution of the key CH4 emitting and consuming plant communities was possible from satellite, allowing fluxes to be scaled up to a 100 km2 area. For the full growing season (May to October), ~ 1.1-1.4 g CH4 m-2 was released across the 100 km2 area. This was based on up-scaled lawn emissions of 1.2-1.5 g CH4 m-2, vs. an up-scaled uptake of 0.07-0.15 g CH4 m-2 by the wider landscape. Given the strong temperature sensitivity of the dominant lawn fluxes, and the fact that lawns are unlikely to dry out, climate warming may substantially increase CH4 emissions in northern Finland, and in aapa mire regions in general.This work was carried out within the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded Arctic Biosphere Atmosphere Coupling at Multiple Scales (ABACUS) project (a contribution to International Polar Year 2007_2008) plus NERC small grant NE/F010222/1 awarded to RB and BH. We are grateful for the support of the staff at the Kevo Subarctic Research Institute, to David Sayer for operation and maintenance of the eddy covariance apparatus, and to Lorna English for helping with the analysis of the CH4 samples. We also thank the NERC Field Spectroscopy Facility for support in ground data collection for the remote sensing analysis. Finally, we wish to express our gratitude to two anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions substantially improved the manuscript

Translational Stroke Research Using a Rabbit Embolic Stroke Model: A Correlative Analysis Hypothesis for Novel Therapy Development

Alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator, tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved treatment that can be given to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients if patients present within 3 h of an ischemic stroke. After 14 years of alteplase clinical research, evidence now suggests that the therapeutic treatment window can be expanded 4.5 h, but this is not formally approved by the FDA. Even though there remains a significant risk of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with alteplase administration, there is an increased chance of favorable outcome with tPA treatment. Over the last 30 years, the use of preclinical models has assisted with the search for new effective treatments for stroke, but there has been difficulty with the translation of efficacy from animals to humans. Current research focuses on the development of new and potentially useful thrombolytics, neuroprotective agents, and devices which are also being tested for efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials. One model in particular, the rabbit small clot embolic stroke model (RSCEM) which was developed to test tPA for efficacy, remains the only preclinical model used to gain FDA approval of a therapeutic for stroke. Correlative analyses from existing preclinical translational studies and clinical trials indicate that there is a therapeutic window ratio (ARR) of 2.43-3 between the RSCEM and AIS patients. In conclusion, the RSCEM can be used as an effective translational tool to gauge the clinical potential of new treatments

Eta Carinae and the Luminous Blue Variables

We evaluate the place of Eta Carinae amongst the class of luminous blue variables (LBVs) and show that the LBV phenomenon is not restricted to extremely luminous objects like Eta Car, but extends luminosities as low as log(L/Lsun) = 5.4 - corresponding to initial masses ~25 Msun, and final masses as low as ~10-15 Msun. We present a census of S Doradus variability, and discuss basic LBV properties, their mass-loss behaviour, and whether at maximum light they form pseudo-photospheres. We argue that those objects that exhibit giant Eta Car-type eruptions are most likely related to the more common type of S Doradus variability. Alternative atmospheric models as well as sub-photospheric models for the instability are presented, but the true nature of the LBV phenomenon remains as yet elusive. We end with a discussion on the evolutionary status of LBVs - highlighting recent indications that some LBVs may be in a direct pre-supernova state, in contradiction to the standard paradigm for massive star evolution.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures, Review Chapter in "Eta Carinae and the supernova imposters" (eds R. Humphreys and K. Davidson) new version submitted to Springe

Effect of having private health insurance on the use of health care services: the case of Spain

Background: Several stakeholders have undertaken initiatives to propose solutions towards a more sustainable health system and Spain, as an example of a European country affected by austerity measures, is looking for ways to cut healthcare budgets. Methods: The aim of this paper is to study the effect of private health insurance on health care utilization using the latest micro-data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP), the Spanish National Health Survey (SNHS) and the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). We use matching techniques based on propensity score methods: single match, four matches, bias-adjustment and allowing for heteroskedasticity. Results: The results demonstrate that people with a private health insurance, use the public health system less than individuals without double health insurance coverage. Conclusions: Our conclusions are useful when policy makers design public-private partnership policie

The price of tumor control: an analysis of rare side effects of anti-CTLA-4 therapy in metastatic melanoma from the ipilimumab network

Background: Ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) blocking antibody, has been approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and induces adverse events (AE) in up to 64% of patients. Treatment algorithms for the management of common ipilimumab-induced AEs have lead to a reduction of morbidity, e.g. due to bowel perforations. However, the spectrum of less common AEs is expanding as ipilimumab is increasingly applied. Stringent recognition and management of AEs will reduce drug-induced morbidity and costs, and thus, positively impact the cost-benefit ratio of the drug. To facilitate timely identification and adequate management data on rare AEs were analyzed at 19 skin cancer centers. Methods and Findings: Patient files (n = 752) were screened for rare ipilimumab-associated AEs. A total of 120 AEs, some of which were life-threatening or even fatal, were reported and summarized by organ system describing the most instructive cases in detail. Previously unreported AEs like drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), granulomatous inflammation of the central nervous system, and aseptic meningitis, were documented. Obstacles included patientś delay in reporting symptoms and the differentiation of steroid-induced from ipilimumab-induced AEs under steroid treatment. Importantly, response rate was high in this patient population with tumor regression in 30.9% and a tumor control rate of 61.8% in stage IV melanoma patients despite the fact that some patients received only two of four recommended ipilimumab infusions. This suggests that ipilimumab-induced antitumor responses can have an early onset and that severe autoimmune reactions may reflect overtreatment. Conclusion: The wide spectrum of ipilimumab-induced AEs demands doctor and patient awareness to reduce morbidity and treatment costs and true ipilimumab success is dictated by both objective tumor responses and controlling severe side effects

Dynamics of dental evolution in ornithopod dinosaurs.

Ornithopods were key herbivorous dinosaurs in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems, with a variety of tooth morphologies. Several clades, especially the 'duck-billed' hadrosaurids, became hugely diverse and abundant almost worldwide. Yet their evolutionary dynamics have been disputed, particularly whether they diversified in response to events in plant evolution. Here we focus on their remarkable dietary adaptations, using tooth and jaw characters to examine changes in dental disparity and evolutionary rate. Ornithopods explored different areas of dental morphospace throughout their evolution, showing a long-term expansion. There were four major evolutionary rate increases, the first among basal iguanodontians in the Middle-Late Jurassic, and the three others among the Hadrosauridae, above and below the split of their two major clades, in the middle of the Late Cretaceous. These evolutionary bursts do not correspond to times of plant diversification, including the radiation of the flowering plants, and suggest that dental innovation rather than coevolution with major plant clades was a major driver in ornithopod evolution

A New Saurolophine Dinosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Far Eastern Russia

Background: Four main dinosaur sites have been investigated in latest Cretaceous deposits from the Amur/Heilongjiang Region: Jiayin and Wulaga in China (Yuliangze Formation), Blagoveschensk and Kundur in Russia (Udurchukan Formation). More than 90% of the bones discovered in these localities belong to hollow-crested lambeosaurine saurolophids, but flat-headed saurolophines are also represented: Kerberosaurus manakini at Blagoveschensk and Wulagasaurus dongi at Wulaga. Methodology/Principal Findings: Herein we describe a new saurolophine dinosaur, Kundurosaurus nagornyi gen. et sp. nov. from the Udurchukan Formation (Maastrichtian) of Kundur, represented by disarticulated cranial and postcranial material. This new taxon is diagnosed by four autapomorphies. Conclusions/Significance: A phylogenetic analysis of saurolophines indicates that Kundurosaurus nagornyi is nested within a rather robust clade including Edmontosaurus spp. Saurolophus spp. and Prosaurolophus maximus, possibly as a sister-taxon for Kerberosaurus manakini also from the Udurchukan Formation of Far Eastern Russia. The high diversity and mosaic distribution of Maastrichtian hadrosaurid faunas in the Amur-Heilongjiang region are the result of a complex palaeogeographical history and imply that many independent hadrosaurid lineages dispersed without any problem between western America and eastern Asia at the end of the Cretaceous. © 2012 Godefroit et al.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe