A standing vehicle occupant is likely to sustain a more severe injury than one who has flexed knees in an under‐vehicle explosion : a cadaveric study

The lower limb of military vehicle occupants has been the most injured body part due to undervehicle explosions in recent conflicts. Understanding the injury mechanism and causality of injury severity could aid in developing better protection. Therefore, we tested 4 different occupant postures (seated, brace, standing, standing with knee locked in hyper‐extension) in a simulated under‐vehicle explosion (solid blast) using our traumatic injury simulator in the laboratory; we hypothesised that occupant posture would affect injury severity. No skeletal injury was observed in the specimens in seated and braced postures. Severe, impairing injuries were observed in the foot of standing and hyper‐extended specimens. These results demonstrate that a vehicle occupant whose posture at the time of the attack incorporates knee flexion is more likely to be protected against severe skeletal injury to the lower leg.

Use of cadavers and anthropometric test devices (ATDs) for assessing lower limb injury outcome from under‐vehicle explosions

Lower extremities are particularly susceptible to injury in an under‐vehicle explosion. Operational fitness of military vehicles is assessed through anthropometric test devices (ATDs) in full‐scale blast tests. The aim of this study was to compare the response between the Hybrid‐III ATD, the MiL‐Lx ATD and cadavers in our traumatic injury simulator, which is able to replicate the response of the vehicle floor in an under‐vehicle explosion. All specimens were fitted with a combat boot and tested on our traumatic injury simulator in a seated position. The load recorded in the ATDs was above the tolerance levels recommended by NATO in all tests; no injuries were observed in any of the 3 cadaveric specimens. The Hybrid‐III produced higher peak forces than the MiL‐Lx. The time to peak strain in the calcaneus of the cadavers was similar to the time to peak force in the ATDs. Maximum compression of the sole of the combat boot was similar for cadavers and MiL‐Lx, but significantly greater for the Hybrid‐III. These results suggest that the MiL‐Lx has a more biofidelic response to under‐vehicle explosive events compared to the Hybrid‐III. Therefore, it is recommended that mitigation strategies are assessed using the MiL‐Lx surrogate and not the Hybrid‐III.

Accessibility of pores in coal to methane and carbon dioxide

Fluid–solid interactions in natural and engineered porous solids underlie a variety of technological processes, including geological storage of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, enhanced coal bed methane recovery, membrane separation, and heterogeneous catalysis. The size, distribution and interconnectivity of pores, the chemical and physical properties of the solid and fluid phases collectively dictate how fluid molecules migrate into and through the micro- and meso-porous media, adsorb and ultimately react with the solid surfaces. Due to the high penetration power and relatively short wavelength of neutrons, smallangle neutron scattering (SANS) as well as ultra small-angle scattering (USANS) techniques are ideally suited for assessing the phase behavior of confined fluids under pressure as well as for evaluating the total porosity in engineered and natural porous systems including coal. Here we demonstrate that SANS and USANS can be also used for determining the fraction of the pore volume that is actually accessible to fluids as a function of pore sizes and study the fraction of inaccessible pores as a function of pore size in three coals from the Illinois Basin (USA) and Bowen Basin (Australia). Experiments were performed at CO2 and methane pressures up to 780 bar, including pressures corresponding to zero average contrast condition (ZAC), which is the pressure where no scattering from the accessible pores occurs. Scattering curves at the ZAC were compared with the scattering from same coals under vacuum and analysed using a newly developed approach that shows that the volume fraction of accessible pores in these coals varies between �90% in the macropore region to �30% in the mesopore region and the variation is distinctive for each of the examined coals. The developed methodology may be also applied for assessing the volume of accessible pores in other natural underground formations of interest for CO2 sequestration, such as saline aquifers as well as for estimating closed porosity in engineered porous solids of technological importance.

Why 'down under' is a cut above: a comparison of rates of and reasons for caesarean section in England and Australia

Background Most studies examining determinants of rising rates of caesarean section have examined patterns in documented reasons for caesarean over time in a single location. Further insights could be gleaned from cross-cultural research that examines practice patterns in locations with disparate rates of caesarean section at a single time point. Methods We compared both rates of and main reason for pre-labour and intrapartum caesarean between England and Queensland, Australia, using data from retrospective cross-sectional surveys of women who had recently given birth in England (n = 5,250) and Queensland (n = 3,467). Results Women in Queensland were more likely to have had a caesarean birth (36.2%) than women in England (25.1% of births; OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.28-1.61), after adjustment for obstetric characteristics. Between-country differences were found for rates of pre-labour caesarean (21.2% vs. 12.2%) but not for intrapartum caesarean or assisted vaginal birth. Compared to women in England, women in Queensland with a history of caesarean were more likely to have had a pre-labour caesarean and more likely to have had an intrapartum caesarean, due only to a previous caesarean. Among women with no previous caesarean, Queensland women were more likely than women in England to have had a caesarean due to suspected disproportion and failure to progress in labour. Conclusions The higher rates of caesarean birth in Queensland are largely attributable to higher rates of caesarean for women with a previous caesarean, and for the main reason of having had a previous caesarean. Variation between countries may be accounted for by the absence of a single, comprehensive clinical guideline for caesarean section in Queensland. Keywords: Caesarean section; Childbirth; Pregnancy; Cross-cultural comparison; Vaginal birth after caesarean; Previous caesarean section; Patient-reported data; Quality improvement

Energy-based motion control of marine vehicles using interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control : a survey

This paper reviews some recent results in motion control of marine vehicles using a technique called Interconnection and Damping Assignment Passivity-based Control (IDA-PBC). This approach to motion control exploits the fact that vehicle dynamics can be described in terms of energy storage, distribution, and dissipation, and that the stable equilibrium points of mechanical systems are those at which the potential energy attains a minima. The control forces are used to transform the closed-loop dynamics into a port-controlled Hamiltonian system with dissipation. This is achieved by shaping the energy-storing characteristics of the system, modifying its interconnection structure (how the energy is distributed), and injecting damping. The end result is that the closed-loop system presents a stable equilibrium (hopefully global) at the desired operating point. By forcing the closed-loop dynamics into a Hamiltonian form, the resulting total energy function of the system serves as a Lyapunov function that can be used to demonstrate stability. We consider the tracking and regulation of fully actuated unmanned underwater vehicles, its extension to under-actuated slender vehicles, and also manifold regulation of under-actuated surface vessels. The paper is concluded with an outlook on future research.

Total energy shaping of a class of underactuated Port-Hamiltonian Systems using a new set of closed-loop potential shape variables

This paper proposes a method for designing set-point regulation controllers for a class of underactuated mechanical systems in Port-Hamiltonian System (PHS) form. A new set of potential shape variables in closed loop is proposed, which can replace the set of open loop shape variables-the configuration variables that appear in the kinetic energy. With this choice, the closed-loop potential energy contains free functions of the new variables. By expressing the regulation objective in terms of these new potential shape variables, the desired equilibrium can be assigned and there is freedom to reshape the potential energy to achieve performance whilst maintaining the PHS form in closed loop. This complements contemporary results in the literature, which preserve the open-loop shape variables. As a case study, we consider a robotic manipulator mounted on a flexible base and compensate for the motion of the base while positioning the end effector with respect to the ground reference. We compare the proposed control strategy with special cases that correspond to other energy shaping strategies previously proposed in the literature.

Simultaneous expression of the bacterial Dictyoglomus thermophilum xynB gene under three different Trichoderma reesei promoters

Multiple copies of expression cassettes driven by the Trichoderma reesei xylanase 2 (xyn2) and cellobiohydrolase 2 (cbh2) promoters were introduced into the recombinant T. reesei EC-21 generated to express a thermostable Dictyoglomus thermophilum xylanase (XynB) under the egl2 promoter for further improvement of the enzyme yield. The transformants were screened based on increased XynB activity only. Multiple promoter transformant MPP-4 expressing the xynB gene under all the three promoters was found to be the highest producer of XynB, giving a 65% increase in yield compared to the parental single-promoter recombinant EC-21. The multiple-promoter transformant strains harboured six to nine copies of the xynB gene. Amongst the three promoters, egl2 seemed to have the strongest effect on XynB expression. The shotgun approach we used proved to be effective for rapid enhancement of protein expression using three promoters active at the near-neutral pH of the cultivation medium.

Expression of a bacterial xylanase in Trichoderma reesei under the egl2 and cbh2 glycosyl hydrolase gene promoters

Expression vectors were constructed for Trichoderma reesei using the promoters, secretion signals and the modular structure of the efficiently expressed and secreted cellulase enzymes EGL2 (Cel5A) and CBH2 (Cel6A) as a prelude to establishing a platform where a gene of interest can be expressed under several promoters simultaneously. The designs featured (i) EGL2sigpro (egl2 promoter and secretion signal), (ii) EGL2cbmlin (egl2 promoter, secretion signal, EGL2 cellulose binding module and linker), (iii) CBH2sigpro (cbh2 promoter and secretion signal) and (iv) CBH2cbmlin (cbh2 promoter, secretion signal, CBH2 cellulose binding module and linker). Recombinant vectors were introduced individually into the high protein-secreting T. reesei RUT-C30 strain to generate single-promoter transformants expressing the Dictyoglomus thermophilum xynB gene that encodes a thermophilic xylanase enzyme (XynB). Ten transformants producing XynB representing each of the four different types of vectors were selected for further testing and the highest XynB production was achieved from a transformant containing 1–2 copies of the EGL2cbmlin vector. Best xylanase producers did not show any particular pattern in terms of the number of gene copies and their mode of integration into the chromosomal DNA. Transformants generated with the cbmlin-type vectors produced multiple forms of XynB which were decorated with various N- and O-glycans. One of the O-glycans was identified as hexuronic acid, whose presence had not been observed previously in the glycosylation patterns of T. reesei.

Identification of Mendel's white flower character

Background The genetic regulation of flower color has been widely studied, notably as a character used by Mendel and his predecessors in the study of inheritance in pea. Methodology/Principal Findings We used the genome sequence of model legumes, together with their known synteny to the pea genome to identify candidate genes for the A and A2 loci in pea. We then used a combination of genetic mapping, fast neutron mutant analysis, allelic diversity, transcript quantification and transient expression complementation studies to confirm the identity of the candidates. Conclusions/Significance We have identified the pea genes A and A2. A is the factor determining anthocyanin pigmentation in pea that was used by Gregor Mendel 150 years ago in his study of inheritance. The A gene encodes a bHLH transcription factor. The white flowered mutant allele most likely used by Mendel is a simple G to A transition in a splice donor site that leads to a mis-spliced mRNA with a premature stop codon, and we have identified a second rare mutant allele. The A2 gene encodes a WD40 protein that is part of an evolutionarily conserved regulatory complex.

Experimental and numerical characteristics of portable water-filled road safety barrier system under different impact conditions

This research has developed an innovative road safety barrier system that will enhance roadside safety. In doing so, the research developed new knowledge in the field of road crash mitigation for high speed vehicle impact involving plastic road safety barriers. This road safety barrier system has the required feature to redirecting an errant vehicle with limited lateral displacement. Research was carried out using dynamic computer simulation technique support by experimental testing. Future road safety barrier designers may use the information in this research as a design guideline to improve the performance and redirectional capability of the road safety barrier system. This will lead to better safety conditions on the roadways and potentially save lives.

Analysing the Prospects of a Successful Application Under s 180 of the Property Law Act 1974 (Qld)

Section 180 of the Property Law Act 1974 (Qld) makes provision for an applicant to seek a statutory right of user over a neighbour’s property where such right of use is reasonably necessary in the interests of effective use in any reasonable manner of the dominant land. In recent years, the Queensland courts have been confronted with a number of such applications. Litigation has also been common in New South Wales which has a statutory provision in largely similar terms. This article seeks to identify those factors that have underpinned successful applications, the obstacles that an applicant may encounter and the considerations that have guided the courts when considering the associated issues of compensation and costs.

Port-Hamiltonian theory of motion control for marine craft

Port-Hamiltonian Systems (PHS) have a particular form that incorporates explicitly a function of the total energy in the system (energy function) and also other functions that describe structure of the system in terms of energy distribution. For PHS, the product of the input and output variables gives the rate of energy change. This type of systems have the property that under certain conditions on the energy function, the system is passive; and thus, stable. Therefore, if one can design a controller such that the closed-loop system retains - or takes - a PHS form, such closed-loop system will inherit the properties of passivity and stability. In this paper, the classical model of marine craft is put into a PHS form. It is shown that models used for positioning control do not have a PHS form due to a kinematic transformation, but a control design can be done such that the closed-loop system takes a PHS form. It is further shown how integral action can be added and how the PHS-form can be exploited to provide a procedure for control design that ensures passivity and thus stability.

Effect of handling and fixation processes on fluorescence spectroscopy of mouse skeletal muscles under two-photon excitation

We investigated the effects of handling and fixation processes on the two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy of endogenous fluorophors in mouse skeletal muscle. The skeletal muscle was handled in one of two ways: either sectioned without storage or sectioned following storage in a freezer. The two-photon fluorescence spectra measured for different storage or fixation periods show a differential among those samples that were stored in water or were fixed either in formalin or methanol. The spectroscopic results indicate that formalin was the least disruptive fixative, having only a weak effect on the two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy of muscle tissue, whereas methanol had a significant influence on one of the autofluorescence peaks. The two handling processes yielded similar spectral information, indicating no different effects between them.

Accelerometer validity and placement for detection of changes in physical activity in dogs under controlled conditions on a treadmill

The objective of the research was to determine the optimal location and method of attachment for accelerometer-based motion sensors, and to validate their ability to differentiate rest and increases in speed in healthy dogs moving on a treadmill. Two accelerometers were placed on a harness between the scapulae of dogs with one in a pouch and one directly attached to the harness. Two additional accelerometers were placed (pouched and not pouched) ventrally on the dog's collar. Data were recorded in 1. s epochs with dogs moving in stages lasting 3. min each on a treadmill: (1) at rest, lateral recumbency, (2) treadmill at 0% slope, 3. km/h, (3) treadmill at 0% slope, 5. km/h, (4) treadmill at 0% slope, 7. km/h, (5) treadmill at 5% slope, 5. km/h, and; (6) treadmill at 5% slope, 7. km/h. Only the harness with the accelerometer in a pouch along the dorsal midline yielded statistically significant increases (P< 0.05) in vector magnitude as walking speed of the dogs increased (5-7. km/h) while on the treadmill. Statistically significant increases in vector magnitude were detected in the dogs as the walking speed increased from 5 to 7. km/h, however, changes in vector magnitude were not detected when activity intensity was increased as a result of walking up a 5% grade. Accelerometers are a valid and objective tool able to discriminate between and monitor different levels of activity in dogs in terms of speed of movement but not in energy expenditure that occurs with movement up hill.

Assessing resilience of water supply systems under the impacts of climate change

This project was a step forward in developing the scientific basis for a methodology to assess the resilience of water supply systems under the impacts of climate change. The improved measure of resilience developed in this project provides an approach to assess the ability of water supply systems to absorb the pressure due changing climate while sustaining supply, and their speed of recovery in case of failure. The approach developed can be applied to any generic water supply system.