Touchstone (China)

With the features of broad frequency range and high impact level, laser shock is believed to have great potential for reproducing spacecraft pyrotechnic shock environments. However, there lack effective laser shock response (LSR) models and experimental studies to demonstrate the applicability of laser shock for simulating pyroshock environment in ground tests. To do so, a water-confined laser–matter interaction model is established to predict the laser-induced pressure load in this study. Furthermore, a laser shock mechanical model is built to simulate the laser-induced shock response, accounting for the elastoplastic behavior of the pure aluminum plates subjected to laser shock and the spatially nonuniform laser spot. The water-confined laser–matter interaction model and laser shock mechanical model collectively constitute a complete LSR model. A series of LSR experiments are conducted to validate the proposed model. The experimental results demonstrate a close agreement with the simulation results, and the results indicate that LSRs are capable of meeting the order of near-field spacecraft pyrotechnic shock response for the first time. Finally, the effects of the laser energy, the propagation distance of the shock wave, and the acceleration direction on the shock response of the aluminum plate are evaluated.

Introduction: Huntington disease (HD) is a progressive disorder characterized by significant neurodegeneration that results in severe neuropsychiatric symptoms and disordered movement. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive treatment that has been used in major depressive disorder (MDD) with great success. Case Presentation: We present a case of a patient with newly diagnosed HD, persistent MDD with suicidal ideation, and generalized anxiety disorder who was treated with rTMS and had sustained significant improvement of her mood disorder with additional improvement of her movement disorder. Conclusion: This result brings into question the use of rTMS to treat MDD and chorea in patients with HD, especially early in its course.

The metabolic environment is important for neuronal cells, such as photoreceptors. When photoreceptors undergo degeneration, as occurs during retinitis pigmentosa (RP), patients have progressive loss of vision that proceeds to full blindness. Currently, there are no available treatments for the majority of RP diseases. We performed metabolic profiling of the neural retina in a preclinical model of RP and found that TCA cycle intermediates were reduced during disease. We then determined that (a) promoting citrate production within the TCA cycle in retinal neurons during disease progression protected the photoreceptors from cell death and prolonged visual function, (b) supplementation with single metabolites within the TCA cycle provided this therapeutic effect in vivo over time, and (c) this therapeutic effect was not specific to a particular genetic mutation but had broad applicability for patients with RP and other retinal degenerative diseases. Overall, targeting TCA cycle activity in the neural retina promoted photoreceptor survival and visual function during neurodegenerative disease.

Adiponectin is essential for the regulation of tissue substrate utilization and systemic insulin sensitivity. Clinical studies have suggested a positive association of circulating adiponectin with healthspan and lifespan. However, the direct effects of adiponectin on promoting healthspan and lifespan remain unexplored. Here, we are using an adiponectin null mouse and a transgenic adiponectin overexpression model. We directly assessed the effects of circulating adiponectin on the aging process and found that adiponectin null mice display exacerbated age-related glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. Moreover, adiponectin null mice have a significantly shortened lifespan on both chow and high-fat diet. In contrast, a transgenic mouse model with elevated circulating adiponectin levels has a dramatically improved systemic insulin sensitivity, reduced age-related tissue inflammation and fibrosis, and a prolonged healthspan and median lifespan. These results support a role of adiponectin as an essential regulator for healthspan and lifespan.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The popularity of new Human-Machine-Interfaces (HMIs) comes with growing concerns for driver distraction. In part, this concern stems from a rising challenge to design systems that can make functions accessible to drivers while maintaining drivers’ ability to cope with the complex driving task. Therefore, engineers need assessment methods which can evaluate how well a user interface achieves the dual-goal of making secondary tasks accessible, while allowing safe driving. Most prior methods have emphasized measuring off-road glances during HMI use. An alternative to this is to consider both on-road and off-road glances, as done in Kircher and Ahlstrom’s AttenD algorithm [<span class="xref">1</span>]. In this study, we compared two types of prevalent visual-manual user interfaces based on AttenD. The two HMIs of interest were a touchscreen-based interface (already in production) and a remote-rotary-controller-based interface (a high-fidelity prototype). Five in-vehicle tasks were evaluated, including a continuous-control task, a shortcut task, a menu-navigation task, a list-operation task and a function-switch task. Sixteen participants’ glance behavior was manually coded to apply AttenD. Results suggested that with a higher-positioned display and haptic feedback, the rotary-controller helped drivers maintain attention to the roadway better than the touchscreen-based interface for simple continuous control and shortcut tasks. For the more complex tasks, the results were mixed with interesting insights. Additionally, the AttenD also revealed significant individual differences in attention management strategy. In summary, AttenD-like algorithms not only can compare different HMIs, but also can reveal individual attention allocation strategies.</div></div>

Obesity is frequently associated with an infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue. Adipocyte dysfunction causes a phenotypic switch of macrophages from an alternatively activated M2-like phenotype towards a proinflammatory M1 phenotype. The cross talk between adipocytes and infiltrating immune cells, in particular macrophages, is thought to contribute to local and eventually systemic inflammation. Here, we tested the phenotypic impact of a lack of adipocytes on the inflammatory status of macrophages. We took advantage of the fat apoptosis through targeted activation of caspase-8 (FAT-ATTAC) mouse model that allows for the inducible system-wide elimination of adipocytes through a proapoptotic mechanism and followed the degree and type of inflammatory response upon ablation of live adipocytes. Analysis of depots 2 wk after elimination of adipocytes resulted in markedly reduced levels of adipose tissue and a robust down-regulation of circulating adipokines. Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry on epididymal and inguinal fat depots revealed an increase of the macrophage markers F4/80 and CD11c. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we observed an up-regulation of alternatively activated M2 macrophage markers (CD206 and CD301) on the majority of F4/80 positive cells. Apoptosis of adipocytes is sufficient to initiate a large influx of macrophages into the remnant fat pads. However, these macrophages are alternatively activated, antiinflammatory M2 macrophages and not M1 cells. We conclude that adipocyte death is sufficient to initiate macrophage infiltration, and live adipocytes are required to initiate and/or sustain a proinflammatory response within the infiltrating macrophages in adipose tissue.

The pipeline infrastructure throughout Western Canada is extensive, with more than 350,000 km in Alberta alone. As the profitability of oil and gas production swings, so too does the utilization of the pipeline infrastructure. During the 1990’s, the economics of some oil and gas production was marginal and the associated pipelines were under utilized. In particular, upstream producers deactivated several under utilized pipelines. Deactivated lines were blocked in, others purged and isolated, while others were completely abandoned. The profitability of oil and gas production has improved steadily since 1999 and the industry has pursued the reactivation of many of these pipelines. In several cases, the diligence of the pipeline operator during economically tight periods was less than desirable with respect to both of these functions. Poor economics also impaired the development and preservation of good pipeline design and maintenance records. The retention of the existing records was further impaired by the numerous corporate divestments and acquisitions that occurred over the past fifteen years. The lack of good quality pipeline records has hampered efforts to reactivate many pipelines. Another feature of our economic environment is the production of alternate zones from an existing well that was previously uneconomic. These zones often produce fluids significantly different than the original well completion and may not be consistent with the design of the original pipeline. This requires re-engineering of the pipeline for the new service. The most common situation is changing from one substance to another, however, changing the maximum operating pressure, changing the design temperature or changing the flow direction may also be required. The objective of this paper is to describe some of the specific challenges in reactivating dormant pipelines and re-engineering pipelines for new service conditions. The focus of this paper will be with respect to pipelines built to CSA Z183, Z184 or Z662 standards and the Alberta Pipeline Regulation.

Developing a software consulting service with a successful software package requires the identification and production of a saleable product, control of potential legal pitfalls and the smooth shift in focus from production to sales.