Implementation of an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV)

This report thoroughly represents a proposal to AAM Metal Forming Minerva for the implementation of an AGV (Autonomous Guided Vehicle) Unit. Our recommendations are made with consideration to existing manufacturing processes and demonstrate how using an AGV would be a net positive investment for the company. By first examining the current operating costs, a three-tiered proposal is tailored based on increasing investment cost. Each tier increase encompasses the previous tiers’ proposed improvements while also growing in complexity and investment cost. The results of our research indicate that our Tier 2 proposal will provide the most benefit to our facility now and for years to come

Mixture models for distance sampling detection functions

Funding: EPSRC DTGWe present a new class of models for the detection function in distance sampling surveys of wildlife populations, based on finite mixtures of simple parametric key functions such as the half-normal. The models share many of the features of the widely-used “key function plus series adjustment” (K+A) formulation: they are flexible, produce plausible shapes with a small number of parameters, allow incorporation of covariates in addition to distance and can be fitted using maximum likelihood. One important advantage over the K+A approach is that the mixtures are automatically monotonic non-increasing and non-negative, so constrained optimization is not required to ensure distance sampling assumptions are honoured. We compare the mixture formulation to the K+A approach using simulations to evaluate its applicability in a wide set of challenging situations. We also re-analyze four previously problematic real-world case studies. We find mixtures outperform K+A methods in many cases, particularly spiked line transect data (i.e., where detectability drops rapidly at small distances) and larger sample sizes. We recommend that current standard model selection methods for distance sampling detection functions are extended to include mixture models in the candidate set.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Elders and End-of-Life Medical Decisions: Legal Context, Psychological Issues, and Recommendations to Attorneys Serving Seniors

Much more than the disposition of worldly goods must be considered when preparing legal documents for end-of-life situations. This article stresses the necessity of client autonomy in preparing dispositional gifts as well as decision planning for medical care and treatment for senior citizens, and also explains the concept of Generatively: the desire to contribute to the well-being of . . . future generations

EXPECTED PHENOTYPIC RESPONSE IN WEANING WEIGHT OF BEEF CALVES FROM SELECTION FOR DIRECT AND MATERNAL GENETIC EFFECTS

An equation is derived to predict expected phenotypic response to selection when the trait under selection is influenced by both direct and maternal genetic effects. The expected phenotypic response after the i+lth generation of selection is Pi+1 = (i+l){Delta}D + i{Delta}M + {Delta}MC where {Delta}D and {Delta}M are the averages of the genetic selection differentials of the parents for the direct and maternal effects and {Delta}MC is the maternal genetic selection differential for selected females. An example, corresponding to published reports of genetic variances and covariance for direct and maternal effects on weaning weight, illustrates the importance of the covariance term in long term response. With a large negative covariance, selection of males for direct and females for maternal genetic value would give greater expected response in progeny after the first generation than selection of females for direct genetic value

Sitagliptin as combination therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The American Diabetes Association and The European Association for the Study of Diabetes recommend metformin as the initial agent of choice in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, most patients require multiple medications to obtain glycemic control. One of the newest additions to the antidiabetic armamentarium is the class of drugs known as dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors. This novel approach focuses on harnessing the beneficial effects of GLP-1, an incretin hormone released from the gut postprandially. The first DPP-IV inhibitor approved in the United States was sitagliptin. It has been studied in both monotherapy and combination therapy. Combination studies with metformin realize a hemoglobin A1c reduction of 0.65%–1.1%. The combination of the two has a modest positive effect on body weight with the convenience of an oral route of administration. It has also been shown to be highly tolerable, efficacious and with little risk of hypoglycemia. This review will focus on combination therapy with sitagliptin with emphasis on combination with metformin

Quantitative elemental mapping of granulite-facies monazite: Textural insights and implications for petrochronology

Texturally complex monazite grains contained in two granulite-facies pelitic migmatites from southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, were mapped by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (using spot sizes < 5 µm) to quantitatively determine the spatial variation in trace element chemistry (with up to 1883 analyses per grain). The maps highlight the chemical complexity of monazite grains that have experienced multiple episodes of growth, resorption and chemical modification by dissolution-precipitation during high-grade metamorphism. Following detailed chemical characterisation of monazite compositional zones, a related U-Pb dataset is re-interpreted, allowing petrologically-significant ages to be extracted from a continuum of concordant data. Synthesis of these data with pseudosection modelling of prograde and peak conditions allows for the temporal evolution of monazite trace element chemistry to be placed in the context of the evolving P-T conditions and major phase assemblage. This approach enables a critical evaluation of three commonly used petrochronological indicators: linking Y to garnet abundance, the Eu anomaly to feldspar content, and Th/U to anatectic processes. Europium anomalies and Th/U behave in a relatively systematic fashion, suggesting that they are reliable petrochronological witnesses. However, Y systematics are variable, both within domains interpreted to have grown in a single event, between grains interpreted to be part of the same age population, and between samples that experienced similar metamorphic conditions and mineral assemblages. These observations caution against generalised petrological interpretations on the basis of Y content, as it suggests Y concentrations in monazite are controlled by domainal equilibria. The results reveal a ~45 Myr interval between prograde metamorphism and retrograde melt crystallisation in the study area, emphasising the long-lived nature of heat flow in high-grade metamorphic terranes. Such long timescales of metamorphism would be assisted by the growth, retention and dominance of high-Th suprasolidus monazite, as observed in this study, contributing to the radiogenic heating budget of mid- to lower-crustal environments. Careful characterisation of monazite grains suggests that continuum-style U-Pb datasets can be decoded to provide insights into the duration of metamorphic processes.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Visiting Fellowship Isaac Newton Trust Research Grant (RG74916

What are the benefits and risks of inhaled corticosteroids for COPD?

Q: What are the benefits and risks of inhaled corticosteroids for COPD? A: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), either alone or with a long-acting [beta] agonist (LABA), reduce the frequency of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and statistically, but not clinically, improve quality of life (QOL) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, meta-analyses of heterogeneous studies). However, ICS have no mortality benefit and don't consistently improve forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (SOR: B, meta-analyses of secondary outcomes). They increase the risk of pneumonia, oropharyngeal candidiasis, and bruising (SOR: B, meta-analyses of secondary outcomes). Withdrawal of ICS doesn't significantly increase the risk of COPD exacerbation (SOR: B, a meta-analysis)

Kingella kingae expresses type IV pili that mediate adherence to respiratory epithelial and synovial cells

Kingella kingae is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the respiratory tract and is a common cause of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Despite the increasing frequency of K. kingae disease, little is known about the mechanism by which this organism adheres to respiratory epithelium and seeds joints and bones. Previous work showed that K. kingae expresses long surface fibers that vary in surface density. In the current study, we found that these fibers are type IV pili and are necessary for efficient adherence to respiratory epithelial and synovial cells and that the number of pili expressed by the bacterium correlates with the level of adherence to synovial cells but not with the level of adherence to respiratory cells. In addition, we established that the major pilin subunit is encoded by a pilA homolog in a conserved region of the chromosome that also contains a second pilin gene and a type IV pilus accessory gene, both of which are dispensable for pilus assembly and pilus-mediated adherence. Upon examination of the K. kingae genome, we identified two genes in physically separate locations on the chromosome that encode homologs of the Neisseria PilC proteins and that have only a low level homology to each other. Examination of mutant strains revealed that both of the K. kingae PilC homologs are essential for a wild-type level of adherence to both respiratory epithelial and synovial cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that type IV pili and the two PilC homologs play important roles in mediating K. kingae adherence

The Need for Robust, Consistent Methods in Societal Exergy Accounting

© 2017 The AuthorsStudies of societal exergy use have the common aim of tracing the flow of exergy along society, and are used to gain insights into the efficiency of energy use and linkages to economic growth. However, their methodological approaches vary greatly, with significant impacts on results. Therefore, we make a review of past studies to identify, synthesize and discuss methodological differences, to contribute to a more consistent and robust approach to societal exergy accounting. Issues that should be taken into account when making methodological options are discussed and key insights are presented: (1) For mapping of primary inputs and useful exergy categories, the inclusion of all natural resources is more consistent but it has the cost of not being able to distinguish the various energy end-uses in the production of materials. (2) To estimate primary electricity, none of the methods currently used is able to capture simultaneously the efficiency of the renewable energy sector, the environmental impact and the efficiency of energy use in society. (3) To estimate final-to-useful exergy conversion efficiencies, standard thermodynamic definitions should be used because the use of proxies fails to distinguish between increases in exergy efficiency and increases in the efficiency of providing energy services

Intrachromosomal recombination mediated by the polyomavirus large T antigen

AbstractWe used a spleen necrosis virus-based retroviral vector to introduce the polyomavirus replication origin into rat cells and developed a system to analyze homologous recombination events that do not reconstitute a selectable marker. Introduction of the gene coding for the polyomavirus large T antigen into the cell lines by DNA transfection promoted high-frequency recombination between the two retroviral LTRs, leading to amplification and excision of DNA sequences. To analyze homology requirements, we constructed cell lines carrying only the replication origin without exogenous repeats. Most of the cell lines sustained high-frequency recombination, presumably by undergoing homologous recombination between repetitive DNA lying in the vicinity of the integrated origin. Our results indicate that homologous recombination promoted by large T antigen does not require recombination hot spots in the viral genome other than the replication origin and they explain the cytotoxicity observed in some cell types when large T antigen is expressed in the presence of a functional origin