Dynamic Functional Model Research Articles

Ship navigation from a Safety-II perspective: A case study of training-ship operation in coastal area

This study presents how resilience is incorporated in the everyday operation of a ship from the Safety-II perspective. The study identifies the contribution to ship safety owing to the bridge team's performance in navigating the ship. A qualitative observation and the functional resonance analysis method have been applied to analyse officers’ everyday performance. Essential functions of officer activities onboard are generated via direct observation and semi-structured interviews on the training ship Fukae-maru. System activities are modelled in terms of how the actual work happens. The specific dynamic functional model of ship navigation is obtained to further express the dynamic work of the watch officers. The result indicates that the ship officer's adaptability and flexibility beneficially contributed to the system's ability to monitor, respond, learn, and anticipate. This resilience was distinctly demonstrated through function and couplings. Furthermore, this study acknowledges human functions as a resource to cope with the complexity escalation that results from technological development for future maritime transportation.

Substance use disorder: a model of atmosphere within families living with SUD

ABSTRACT This study shares the experiences of 16 family members who have lived with a close relative with substance use disorder (SUD). Primarily, the study asks, what are the experiences of family members living with an individual with SUD? In particular, what are their experiences of affection and emotional bonds? Moreover, it asks, what are the experiences of each family member regarding cohesion and communication? Qualitative methods were used, and 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The participants were organized into groups of four: four parents, four spouses, four adult children and four siblings of individuals affected by SUD. Each group comprised two men and two women. Overall, the participants felt that SUD had harmed their families’ emotional bonds. Parents and adult children reported greater affection toward their relatives with SUD (children and parents) than spouses and siblings did toward their relatives affected by SUD (spouses and siblings). These feelings were expressed in terms of positive emotions such as compassion and hope, whereas spouses and siblings expressed more negative feelings such as hopelessness or rage. From the analysis, a proposed dynamic functional model of emotional states in the study’s families was formed, showing the dynamics of feelings and emotional bonds between specific family members and the family member with SUD (This paper is a part of a larger research project).

Термодинамічна система ґрунту, його гомеостаз і вірогідний механізм утворення структури

Goal. To substantiate the dynamic functional model of the thermodynamic system of the soil in interaction with cyclic environmental factors, to disclose internal homeostatic processes, the result of which is the reproduction of the soil structure. Methods. System analysis, theoretical — to generalize the specifics of soil structure and create its physical model; experimental — for laboratory research. Results. Laboratory hydrophysical tests of soil samples of the intact structure revealed the occurrence of hysteresis of water holding capacity of the soil, the value of which can reach 10-20%. The main reason for this phenomenon is the compression of air by liquid membranes in the pore space. The results of the influence of heating the soil sample of constant moisture saturation are presented, which fix the self-oscillating character of the dynamics of capillary potential in the soil. That testifies to the intra-porous redistribution of moisture and the local transport mechanism of convective transport of the matter. Conclusions. The interaction of soil with thermodynamic environmental factors transforms it into a micro gradient dissipative structure with the emergence of many subordinate processes. The main results of their action are the periodic increase of local thermodynamic availability of nutrition for plants and the formation of non-uniform in space cementation of dispersed particles, which become the nuclei of structural units. The concept of soil homeostasis, combining subordination processes, characterizes the level of energy consumption of the external energy flow, due to which the basic properties and structural organization of the soil are reproduced.

A dynamic functional model of diode bridge rectifier for unbalanced input voltage conditions

A dynamic functional model of diode bridge rectifier for unbalanced input voltage conditions

Jealousy as a Specific Emotion: The Dynamic Functional Model

We review the jealousy literature and present our Dynamic Functional Model of Jealousy (DFMJ), which argues that jealousy evolved and has its own unique motivational state aimed at preventing others from usurping important relationships. It has a core form that exists in infants and nonhuman animals and an elaborated form in humans that emerges as cognitive sophistication develops. The DFMJ proposes that jealousy is an unfolding process with early and late phases that can be differentially impacted by relationship and personality factors. It also notes the importance of looking at multiple concomitants of jealousy, including action tendencies. We discuss how jealousy fits with current emotion theories and suggest that theories of specific emotions need to be broadened.

Challenges for the Dynamic Functional Model of Jealousy

This comment on Chung and Harris presses for a clearer account of the motivational role of jealousy within the dynamic functional model of jealousy. It also calls into question the inclusion of “elaborated” jealousy within the emotion itself. It argues that differentiating emotional motivation from motivation toward the same goal that an emotion has requires additional resources.

Author Reply: What Jealousy Can Tell Us About Theories of Emotion

We clarify aspects of our Dynamic Functional Model of Jealousy in response to D’Arms (2018) and Stets (2018). Our model proposes that jealousy is an evolved motivational state that arises over threat by a rival to one’s relationship or some aspect of one’s relationship (such as attention, affection, or love). The formation or loss of relationships rarely occurs instantaneously. Therefore, we argue that jealousy, whose goal is to remove or reduce the rival threat, can occur over a longer time course than is often assumed in theories of specific emotions. We further suggest that other emotions such as grief and fear also can occur over extended periods. This raises challenges for emotion theories that assume that emotions must be short-lived.

Jealousy as a Specific Emotion: The Dynamic Functional Model

The article by Chung and Harris (2018) brings together an impressive array of literature to formulate a dynamic functional model of jealousy (DFMJ). There is much to like about the model. However, one concern is how it advances a theory of jealousy. Another concern is how the DFMJ operates over time, with different social groups, and cross-culturally. In general, however, the model offers a useful way to think about jealousy for the future.

Targeted Type 2 Alveolar Cell Depletion. A Dynamic Functional Model for Lung Injury Repair.

Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2) are regarded as the progenitor population of the alveolus responsible for injury repair and homeostatic maintenance. Depletion of this population is hypothesized to underlie various lung pathologies. Current models of lung injury rely on either uncontrolled, nonspecific destruction of alveolar epithelia or on targeted, nontitratable levels of fixed AEC2 ablation. We hypothesized that discrete levels of AEC2 ablation would trigger stereotypical and informative patterns of repair. To this end, we created a transgenic mouse model in which the surfactant protein-C promoter drives expression of a mutant SR39TK herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase specifically in AEC2. Because of the sensitivity of SR39TK, low doses of ganciclovir can be administered to these animals to induce dose-dependent AEC2 depletion ranging from mild (50%) to lethal (82%) levels. We demonstrate that specific levels of AEC2 depletion cause altered expression patterns of apoptosis and repair proteins in surviving AEC2 as well as distinct changes in distal lung morphology, pulmonary function, collagen deposition, and expression of remodeling proteins in whole lung that persist for up to 60 days. We believe SPCTK mice demonstrate the utility of cell-specific expression of the SR39TK transgene for exerting fine control of target cell depletion. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that specific levels of type 2 alveolar epithelial cell depletion produce characteristic injury repair outcomes. Most importantly, use of these mice will contribute to a better understanding of the role of AEC2 in the initiation of, and response to, lung injury.

Nitric oxide synthases in motion

To determine a dynamic functional model of full-length nitric oxide synthase (NOS), we are coupling Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) with our crystal structures of individual NOS components. SAXS is a solution scattering method that is well suited to capturing protein conformational changes. Our lab has solved crystal structures of all three parts of NOS enzymes: NOS oxygenase, NOS reductase and NOS calmodulin (CaM) peptide with CaM bound. Based on our crystal structures and biochemical data, we propose that the NOS FMN domain swings from the electron-accepting “IN” to an electron-donating “OUT” conformation. In the electron-accepting conformation observed in our crystal structure, the FMN is buried and positioned to accept an electron from redox partner FAD. We propose that the entire FMN domain swings “OUT” from the remainder of the reductase domain to transfer electrons to the active site heme. We are combining scattering data with atomic resolution crystal structures and molecular dynamics simulations to identify snapshots of NOS in solution. We analyze and compare FMN domain movement in different isozymes, making use of overlapping truncated constructs and post-translationally modified proteins. Our SAXS results are consistent with a large swinging movement in the FMN domain that could enable electron transfer from FMN to heme.

Types of receptive fields of the lateral geniculate body and their functional model

Functional differences between the type I and II receptive fields of the lateral geniculate body were studied in the cat. Some properties of these fields were shown to coincide with properties of "phasic" (Y type) and "tonic" (X type) of receptive fields. The type I fields have a limited range for transmission of information about the intensity of illumination; the type II fields, on the other hand, have a normal dynamic range of 2 log units. Using the number of spikes in groups as a measure of nervous activity, a neurophysiological scale of brightness corresponding to the psychological scale can be constructed on the basis of responses of the type II receptive field. It is postulated that type I receptive fields serve to transmit information on the shape of the image (spatial and temporal contrasts) and the type II fields transmit information on intensity of illumination. Investigation of the dynamic functional model showed that the type of receptive field is determined by the depth of inhibition through the interneuron. The depth of inhibition is much greater for type I than for type II.