Unprotected State Research Articles

A camera trap record of Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in State Land Forest, Merapoh, Pahang, Malaysia

The Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii is poorly studied in Peninsular Malaysia. We deployed 12 camera traps to assess the wildlife diversity in the unprotected State Land Forest of Merapoh, Pahang State. During the period from August to October 2019, one Asiatic Golden Cat was photographed at a single camera trap station. This record outside the protected area network emphasizes the importance of wildlife corridors. This State Land Forest is located between Forest Reserve and Taman Negara National Park. Therefore, appropriate conservation measures must be taken in order to maintain this site as a wildlife corridor.

Biomechanical evaluation of different ankle orthoses in a simulated lateral ankle sprain in two different modes.

Ankle orthoses are commonly used for prevention of recurrent ankle sprains. While there are some data on their functional performance or restriction of range of motion, there is little knowledge on the quantifiable passive mechanical effectiveness of various devices. This study aimed to determine the prophylactic stabilization effect for commonly prescribed ankle orthoses in a simulated recurrent ankle sprain. Eleven anatomic lower leg specimens were tested in plantar flexion and hindfoot inversion in a simulated ankle sprain in a quasi‐static and dynamic test mode at 0.5°/s and 50°/s internal rotation, respectively. Tests included intact specimens, same specimens with the ruptured anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), followed by stabilization with five different semi‐rigid orthoses: AirGo Ankle Brace, Air Stirrup Ankle Brace, Dyna Ankle 50S1, MalleoLoc, and Aequi. Compared to the injured and unprotected state, two orthoses (AirGo and Air Stirrup) significantly reinforced the ankle. The Aequi ankle brace restored stability comparable to an intact joint. Dyna Ankle 50S1 and MalleoLoc provided insufficient resistance to applied internal rotation compared to the ankle with ruptured ATFL. Ankle orthoses varied significantly in their ability to stabilize the unstable ankle during an ankle sprain in both testing modes. Presented objective data on passive stabilization reveal a lack of supporting evidence for clinical application of ankle orthoses.

Investigation of a bifunctional food ingredient based on a biopolymer complex of plant origin

The article presents the results of studies on organoleptic, structural and mechanical, sanitary and hygienic quality indices and technological characteristics of a functional food ingredient with pro-and prebiotic properties. The technology of obtaining synbiotic is based on the process of immobilization of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the framework structure of the prebiotic. The raw material chosen for prebiotic production was a pulp of sugar beet, a product of processing. By physico-chemical composition of sugar beet pulp is capable of sorption of low molecular weight metabolites, toxins, radionuclides, and due to combinations of carbohydrate nature – to normalize the composition of intestinal microbiotics. In addition to using it as a “food” for microorganisms, it contributed to the protection of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria from aggressive conditions of the human digestive tract and was a protector for microorganisms, protecting them from the negative effects of the technological process – the tableting used to give the finished product a final form. The parameters of the tabletting process can affect the quantitative composition of viable microorganisms, which is associated with their deformation in an unprotected state under pressure. The amount of lactobacillus in the finished product, the tablet, was 7·108 CFU/g, and the bifidobacterium was 5·108 CFU/g, corresponding to a probiotic dose of not less than 1·108 g/cm3. An optimal shelf-life of the product, which is 9 months at a temperature of 4 ± 2 °С, was also determined. During storage, the physiological state of the probiotic component of the functional food ingredient remains practically unchanged. The porous structure of the sugar beet biopolymer complex allows the cells to be well positioned and adsorbed on its surface. The extension of the shelf life is ensured by the carbohydrate composition of the biopolymer complex of plant origin.

Mechanosensing Potentials Gate Fuel Consumption in a Bipedal DNA Nanowalker

A bipedal DNA nanowalker was recently reported to convert chemical energy into directional motion autonomously and efficiently. To elucidate its chemomechanical coupling mechanisms, three-dimensional molecular modeling is used to obtain coarse-grained foot-track binding potentials of the DNA nanowalker via unbiased and biased sampling techniques (for the potentials’ basin and high-energy edges, respectively). The binding state that is protected against fuel-induced dissociation responds asymmetrically to forward versus backward forces, unlike the unprotected state, demonstrating a mechanosensing capability to gate fuel binding. Despite complex DNA mechanics, the foot-track potential exhibits a surprisingly neat three-part profile, offering some general guidelines to rationally design efficient nanowalkers. Subsequent modeling of the bipedal walker attached to the track gives estimates of the free energy for each bipedal state, showing how the mechanosensing foot-track binding breaks the symmetry between the rear and front feet, enabling the rear foot to be selectively dissociated by fuel and generating efficient chemomechanical coupling.

Rapid ecosystem service assessment of the impact of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve on wetland benefits to local communities

Wetlands are important for biodiversity and are critical for human livelihoods, providing ecosystem services such as clean water, food and global climate regulation. Many wetlands are threatened by land-use conversion, but creating protected areas to conserve them can benefit both biodiversity and people. However, protected areas can also have socio-economic costs for local communities. At Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, there has been historical conflict over the creation of the reserve. In light of a recent proposal to expand the protected area, we explored the use of a rapid ecosystem service assessment tool (TESSA) to assess the impact of the reserve on some of the key ecosystem services the site provides. Based on the ecosystem services assessed we estimated that the economic value of KTWR as a protected area is $350,000 y−1 ($20 ha−1y−1) less than the value of the wetland in an unprotected state. However, this difference is relatively small and is affected by the limitations of the approach and sensitivity of the values to market prices and the assumptions made, so we cannot draw clear conclusions on the overall impact of the reserve in relation to local livelihoods. However, we found TESSA to be a useful tool for engaging with the stakeholder community and for highlighting the potential impacts that land use decisions can have on key ecosystem services. In the context of informing the potential expansion of the reserve, it is clear that further intensive socio-economic assessment of the potential costs and benefits is necessary.

Model-based sensor fault detection and isolation method for a vehicle dynamics control system

Conventional vehicle electronic stability control requires one steering-wheel angle sensor, one lateral acceleration sensor and one yaw rate sensor to obtain a good control performance. The control system stops working when a sensor fault is detected, which means that the vehicle runs in an unprotected state. Thus, various sensor fault diagnosis algorithms have been designed to detect and isolate the faulty sensor, but these algorithms also can be used for fault-tolerant control to preserve the safety of the vehicle. However, determining which of the different sensors is faulty is very difficult as the conventional residual comparison algorithm can only find the existence of a sensor fault but cannot locate the faulty sensor, and very few research studies have focused on this problem. In this paper, an ingenious sensor fault diagnosis algorithm is proposed. The sensor fault is detected, located and isolated by cross-checking with three different yaw rate estimates. The steering-wheel angle observer and the lateral acceleration observer are designed to provide corresponding estimated sensor signals which are employed to estimate the different yaw rates by using an extended Kalman filter. A novel decision-making process is carefully designed to locate the faulty sensor based on the different yaw rate residuals. Electronic stability control is not interrupted as the faulty sensor signal is reconfigured by the estimated signal. Experimental tests on a real car show that the proposed algorithm is efficient for detecting the sensor fault and identifying which sensor is faulty. Simulations show that the vehicle stability control strategy based on the proposed sensor fault-tolerant control algorithm has a better performance than the traditional control strategy does.

Full Protection for Graphene-Incorporated Micro-/Nanocomposites Containing Ultra-small Active Nanoparticles: the Best Li-Storage Properties

In recent years, graphene-incorporated micro-/nanocomposites represent one of the hottest developing directions for the composite materials. However, a large number of active nanoparticles (NPs) are still in the unprotected state in most constructed graphene-containing designs, which will seriously impair the effects of the graphene additives. Here, a fully protected Fe3O4-based micro-/nanocomposite (G/Fe3O4@C) is rationally developed by carbon-boxing the common graphene/Fe3O4 microparticulates (G/Fe3O4). The processes and results of full protection are tracked in detail and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen absorption–desorption isotherms, as well as scanning and transition electron microscopy. When used as the anode for lithium-ion batteries, the fully protected G/Fe3O4@C exhibits the best lithium-storage properties in terms of the highest rate capabilities and the longest cycle life compared to the common G/Fe3O4 composites and commercial Fe3O4 products. These much improved properties are mainly attributed to its novel structural features including complete protection of active Fe3O4 nanoparticles by the surface carbon box, a robust conductive network composed of nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets, ultra-small Fe3O4 NPs of 4–5 nm, abundant mesopores to accommodate the volume variation during cycling, and micrometer-sized secondary particles.

Protected Josephson Rhombus chains.

We have studied the low-energy excitations in a minimalistic protected Josephson circuit which contains two basic elements (rhombi) characterized by the π periodicity of the Josephson energy. Novel design of these elements, which reduces their sensitivity to the offset charge fluctuations, has been employed. We have observed that the lifetime T1 of the first excited state of this quantum circuit in the protected regime is increased up to 70 μs, a factor of ∼100 longer than that in the unprotected state. The quality factor ω01T1 of this qubit exceeds 106. Our results are in agreement with theoretical expectations; they demonstrate the feasibility of symmetry protection in the rhombus-based qubits fabricated with existing technology.

Time-delayed information can induce the periodic outbreaks of infectious diseases

Typically, an outbreak of infectious disease can change the behaviors of people, such as reducing out, taking vaccination, paying attention to hygiene, etc. These behavioral changes have the significant influences on the transmissions of diseases and the control effects. In order to characterize the impacts of these behavioral changes, in this paper, we propose an improved SIRS epidemic model, where susceptible individuals can be divided into two different states—unprotected state ( S u) and protected state ( S p). Susceptible individuals switch between unprotected state and protected state relying on their perceived risk of diseases. The transition probability from S u to S p increases with the number of infections they acquired. On the contrary, the transition probability from S p to S u decreases with the number of infections they acquired. Meanwhile, we assume that perceived risk of diseases estimated by people depends on the information of disease that they acquired. By Monte-Carlo method and Markov chain method, we find that the time-delayed information of diseases can induce the periodic outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Investigating the structural properties of amyloid‐like fibrils formed in vitro from β2‐microglobulin using limited proteolysis and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

The protein beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) aggregates to form classical amyloid fibrils in patients undergoing long-term haemodialysis. Amyloid-like fibrils with a cross-beta fold can also be formed from wild-type beta(2)m under acidic conditions in vitro. The morphology of such fibrils depends critically on the conditions used: incubation of beta(2)m in low ionic strength buffers at pH 2.5 results in the formation of long (microm), straight fibrils while, at pH 3.6, short (<500 nm) fibrils form. At higher ionic strengths (0.2-0.4 M) at pH 1.5-3.6, the fibrils have a distinct curved and nodular morphology. To determine the conformational properties of beta(2)m within in vitro fibrils of different morphologies, limited proteolysis of each fibril type using pepsin was performed and the resulting peptide fragments identified by tandem mass spectrometry. For comparison, the proteolytic degradation patterns of monomeric beta(2)m and seven synthetic peptides spanning the entire sequence of the intact protein were similarly analysed. The results show that fibrils with different morphologies result in distinct digestion patterns. While the curved, worm-like fibrils are relatively weakly protected from proteolysis, the long, straight fibrils formed at pH 2.5 at low ionic strength show only a single cut-site at Val9, demonstrating that substantial refolding of the initially acid-denatured and unprotected state of beta(2)m occurs during assembly. The data demonstrate that the organisation of the polypeptide chain in fibrils with different morphological features differs considerably, despite the fact that the fibrils possess a common cross-beta architecture.

The Effect of a Chemical Protective Ensemble on Intravenous Line Insertion by Emergency Medical Technicians

Protective gear is mandatory for medical personnel treating casualties in a contaminated environment. In the present study, we assessed the ability of emergency medical technicians to insert an intravenous line in this situation. Sixty emergency medical technicians were randomized to a control group, wearing fatigues, and a study group, wearing full protective gear. The ability to insert an intravenous line in healthy volunteers was assessed 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours after randomization. We found no effect of protective gear (p = 0.543) or time in protective gear (p = 0.8869) on success rate or on time needed for successful task completion (p = 0.4005 and p = 0.9021, respectively). The overall success rate was 58.6%, 65% in the unprotected state and 56% in the protected state, and the time was 303 +/- 115 and 351 +/- 113 seconds, respectively. These findings suggest that introduction of an intravenous line is possible but time consuming even after a prolonged stay in full protective gear. Alternative methods for antidotal treatment, such as the use of automatic autoinjectors for intramuscular administration, might be suggested.

Neuroprotective strategies in nature--novel clues for the treatment of stroke and trauma.

A myriad of mediators and mechanisms have been implicated as participants in the propagation of damage following stroke and traumatic brain injury. Effective neuroprotection for these conditions, however, remains elusive at the clinical level. Adaptive strategies of animal species that naturally endure severe reductions in nutrient perfusion to the brain may reveal new mechanisms of homeostatic control and tolerance with potential clinical usefulness. A variety of species appear to qualify as models of tolerance, including those that are anoxia tolerant and species capable of hibernation. Mammalian hibernation represents a state in which global physiologic functions are virtually arrested and delivery of glucose and oxygen is minimal, yet homeostatic control is maintained. The profound reduction of cerebral perfusion in hibernation would lead to rapid autolysis of brain tissue in an unprotected state, but has no adverse effects on hibernators and brain damage does not occur. In fact, even hippocampal slices from hibernating ground squirrels and cerebellar slices from anoxia-tolerant turtles show increased tolerance to a superimposed insult of aglycemia and hypoxia. Surprisingly, the cellular mechanisms and signals that trigger and maintain these adaptations remain unknown. Main targets of current investigations are the regulation of the controlled metabolic suppression in hibernation and the mechanisms of preservation of cell structure and membrane functions and integrity despite reduced energy supplies. The possibility of induction of a similar tolerant state in humans by activation of natural mechanisms of reversible cellular arrest employed by hibernators and other tolerant states would have potentially far-reaching clinical implications. This includes prevention of secondary brain damage following brain trauma and ischemia as well as induction of a state of neuroprotection under conditions of anticipated reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure, such as arterial vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, or during surgical procedures that require temporary circulatory arrest. Induction of a resistant state could also provide additional time until specialized treatment to re-open occluded blood vessels in stroke patients could be administered.

Peroneal nerve palsy after total knee arthroplasty. Assessment of predisposing and prognostic factors.

Thirty-two postoperative peroneal-nerve palsies in thirty patients were documented in a retrospective review of 10,361 consecutive total knee arthroplasties performed at one institution from 1979 through 1992. The mean age of the thirty patients was sixty-five years (range, twenty-eight to seventy-eight years). Four of these patients had had a previous proximal tibial osteotomy and five had had a previous lumbar laminectomy. Ten knees (ten patients) had preoperative valgus alignment of 12 degrees or more. A control group of 100 patients who had had total knee arthroplasty during the same period was computer-matched to the patients by age, sex, and operating surgeon. Comparison of this control group with the thirty patients showed that epidural anesthesia for postoperative control of pain (p < 0.03), previous laminectomy (p < 0.04), and preoperative valgus deformity (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with peroneal nerve palsy. The relative risk for patients who had had a previous proximal tibial osteotomy was doubled, but this was not significant (p < 0.4). To determine risk factors associated with anesthesia better, a subgroup of 4388 total knee arthroplasties performed during a five-year period (1988 through 1992) was also studied. In this sample, twenty-five peroneal-nerve palsies were documented. Eighteen occurred after epidural anesthesia (p < 0.03); five, after general anesthesia; and two, after spinal anesthesia. An important finding of this study is the high frequency of delayed presentation of peroneal nerve palsy. We believe that epidural anesthesia for postoperative control of pain leads to decreased proprioception and sensation postoperatively. It is postulated that positioning of the limb in this unprotected state may be a factor in the late development of palsy. The concept of the so-called double-crush phenomenon may partially explain the palsy seen in the patients who had had a lumbar laminectomy and asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy.

Analytical method of calculating stability of rock slopes under conditions of the two-dimensional problem and determination of the necessary anchoring force for increasing stability

1. The analytical method presented above for determining the necessary anchoring force T for a given factor of safety, based on the polygon of forces method, permits a rather rapid detemination of the magnitude and direction of this force. 2. Using the functions obtained, we can determine by trial and error the value of the factor of safety against sliding of a block in a natural (unprotected) state. 3. Programming of the analytical solution obtained on a digital computer greatly reduces the time necessary for performing the calculations.

The Case of the Naked Chicken

Among the most diverting subjects of the late Grant Wood is a composition entitled Adolescence, which he executed both as a lithograph (in 1938) and an oil (in 1940; Fig. 1). It shows a tall, gawky chicken, wearing an expression of wide-eyed curiosity, that has risen to its feet between two plump squatting hens whose censorious scowl makes them the barnyard counterpart of the artist's Daughters of Revolution. The slender, immature quality of the adolescent fowl is further emphasized by its nakedness; the bird has been plucked—or rather, its plumage has not yet developed—so that its body is covered only by a regular pattern of pinfeathers, as against the conventional appearance of the two hens. Wood thus conveys, in strikingly witty fashion, the insecure, unprotected state of his “spring chicken” in contrast to the hardened representatives of society's pecking order.

The hot-dip galvanizing of structural steel sections

The transmission of electrical power by overhead systems has involved electrical engineers in yet another branch of engineering, as certain specialists in the structural steelwork industry fabricate the towers which support current-carrying conductors.The initial cost of an electrical scheme embodying an overhead transmission system can be such that a high proportion of outlay is for the transmission of the current, and the deterioration rate of materials used in construction must be kept aslow as possible so that depreciation of capital value and maintenance costs are minimized. Steelwork in an unprotected state, erected in areas where rainfall and atmospheric pollution can be rated even as normal, deteriorates by corrosion quicker than is acceptable.The general method of protecting transmission structures against corrosion is hot-dip galvanizing, detailed examination ofwhich would be of interest only to those engaged in research on the subject. However, a useful working knowledge of the process and the ability to distinguish a good coat from a bad one can be obtained from a reasonably short study.The object of the paper is to give electrical engineers a brief description of the metallurgical construction of a zinc coat, together with some information on its expected life, and to offer a condensed description of the process, certain methods of quality control and to advise on the after-care of the finished product.

On the Unprotected State of British Commerce at Sea

On the Unprotected State of British Commerce at Sea

The British Association

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday THE number of tickets issued has now increased to 2,800, very considerably more than was expected either by the officers of the Association or by the Liver-pudlians. The roll of eminent foreigners is also much larger. In addition to those mentioned in my first letter we have now the company of Prof. Tchebichef, of St. Petersburg, one of the most distinguished of living mathematicians, Prof. Plateau of Bruges, Dr. Anton Dohrn of Jena, Prof. Von Baumhauer of Leyden, and others. Some of these have added greatly to the interest of the sections in which they took part, and have been very warmly received. Dr. Dohrn in particular was greeted with much warmth, from the fact that three weeks ago he was summoned to join the German army and had not since been heard of by his English friends. The statement of a local paper that Prof. Hofmann of Berlin is here is incorrect. A letter was, however, read from him in the Chemical section, soliciting contributions in kind from our chemical manufacturers for the needs of the German hospital service. A large audience met to-day in the Geographical section to hear Lord Milton read his paper on “Railway Routes across America;” and the lecture-room in which the Ethnological sub-section holds its meetings was crammed whilst Sir John Lubbock was discoursing on “Stone Implements from Western Africa.” The small and inconvenient Crown Court in St. George's Hall devoted to Section A had a much larger complement than usual while the Rev. F. Hewlett read his paper on “Solar Spots,” and exhibited his elaborate diagrams, showing the great interest now taken by the public in solar phenomena; although, at the same time, Section G offered a counter attraction, especially to the members connected with the town, in Mr. Mackie's and Sir E. Belcher's papers on “The Unprotected State of Liver-pool. ”The heavy rain and thick fog of yesterday morning have both cleared off, and the weather is again everything that could be desired.