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The objective of this Bachelor's Degree Final Project is the implementation of new instrument flight procedures at Reus Airport, due to the possible traffic congestion in the area of VLA VOR, when runways 06R/L of the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport are in use together with runway 25 at LERS. Based on the results obtained, a new structure of the LERS CTR will be proposed, in order to satisfy the concerns transmitted by the Barcelona Approach air traffic controllers. Before getting down to work to achieve the objectives, it should be noted that an autonomous study of the operating principle of the instrumental procedures to be established has been carried out, to obtain a clear and concise idea of what is proposed to be done. That said, the methodology used for the design and construction of instrument procedures has been based primarily on the needs of air traffic controllers to improve the efficiency and safety of air operations, and on the steps provided by ICAO Document 8168, which provides international guidelines and standards for the construction of intrument flight operations. The results obtained, without considering signal coverage factors of the systems involved or possible conflicts with other procedures of the different aerodromes close to LERS, are satisfactory. The proposed viability and effectiveness of the new procedures is supported, with very notable implications for the optimization of arrival and approach operations. Ultimately, a proposal will be offered for the remodeling of the LERS CTR, which will contain the trajectory of the new approach corresponding to runway 25, achieving a transfer of responsibility for traffic approaching said runway to the LERS controllers.

There is a disproportionate distribution of Sailors throughout the naval aviation enterprise, as the Navy is unable to solicit Sailors to voluntarily serve in specific geographically remote locations. The topography and proximity to open airspace in these locations are ideal for the aviation community’s mission, but Sailors do not identify them as desirable places to live and raise their families. This mismatch causes friction between detailers and their constituents, leading to poor job satisfaction, command readiness, and retention efforts. Our research supports Navy leaders in managing talent within the enlisted naval aviation community. We analyzed empirical manpower data and employed two surveys to understand billet shortages and compare enlisted Sailors with their detailers to understand individual motivations, experiences, and incentive preferences, and how these values can impact the assignment process. Our survey results conclude that incentives are a worthwhile investment and are likely to increase the probability of voluntary assignment. Our recommendations include merit-based and blended cafeteria-style incentive options, a detailer optimization tool, and an increased investment in base support services. In a never-ending quest for talent, the Navy must be willing to offer the incentives that appeal to the relevant Sailor population and remain within the Navy’s budgetary constraints in order to achieve overall operational effectiveness., http://archive.org/details/assigningenliste1094564871, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Purpose: Germline mutations in the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) have been identified often in the setting of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA). To date there is no strong evidence linking germline AIP mutations to other neoplasms apart from the pituitary. Our primary objective was to investigate the prevalence of AIP gene mutations and mutations in genes that have been associated with neuroendocrine tumors in series of tumors from patients presenting with both pituitary adenomas and differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs). Methods: Pathology samples were retrieved from all pituitary adenomas in patients with concomitant DTCs, including one with a known germline AIP variant. Subsequently, two additional patients with known germline AIP variants were included, of which one presented only with a follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). Results: In total, 17 patients (14 DTCs and 15 pituitary adenomas) were investigated by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). The pituitary tumor samples revealed no mutations, while among the thyroid tumor samples BRAF (6/14, 42.9%) was the most frequently mutated gene, followed by NRAS (3/11, 27.3%). In one AIP-mutated FIPA kindred, the AIP-variant c.853C>T; p.Q285* was confirmed

In this paper we present a 28 GHz antenna in package (AiP) design for 5G applications. The antenna array is placed in the fan-out region of the eWLB (enhanced Wafer Level Ball Grid Array) package. Separate antenna arrays are used for TX and RX, which are placed on one of the two re-distribution layers (RDL) inside the package. The heatsink required for the chip operation is also used as a horn antenna to improve the design performance. The 4-element dipole array has the impedance bandwidth of almost 6 GHz (24 GHz-30 GHz) and gives a maximum gain of 9.5 dBi. Beam-steering in ± 35 deg is achieved in the azimuthal plane (H-plane) by providing different phases to the dipoles through the chip.

Naučno interesovanje za aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gen poteklo je od saznanja da su pacijenti sa inaktivirajućim AIP mutacijama predisponirani za razvoj velikih, invazivnih tumora hipofize, somatotropinoma ili prolaktinoma, koji se javljaju u mlađem dobu i otporni su na lečenje. Zebrice (Danio rerio) - (ZF) kao eksperimetalni životinjski model pružaju anatomske i fukcionalne sličnosti sa ljudskim neuroendokrinim sistemom. AIP gen je evoluciono visoko konzerviran i široko eksprimiran u organizmu. Fiziološka uloga AIP proteina u zdravoj hipofizi nije poznata. Zapažena je kolokalizacija AIP proteina sa hormonom rasta (HR) u sekretornim vezikulama somatotrofa. Prisustvo proteina AIP u serumu pokazano je proteomičkom analizom. Ciljevi: Na životinjskom modelu ZF ispitivan je uticaj inaktivacije AIP gena na tumorigenezu na nivou hipofize. Na ljudskom modelu ispitivana je fiziološka uloga AIP proteina na nivou hipofize. Pretpostavljena kosekrecija AIP i HR je ispitivana analizom serumskog nivoa AIP i HR bazno i u toku testova stimulacije ili supresije sekrecije HR kod ispitanika sa očuvanom sekrecijom HR, pacijenata sa deficitom HR (GHD) i pacijenata sa akromegalijom – nekontrolisanom hipersekrecijom HR. Studija na životinjskom modelu – Materijal i metode: Inaktivacija AIP gena - knock down (AIP KD) na embrionima ZF ostvarena je primenom antisens morfolino oligonukleotida u jednoćelijskom stadijumu razvoja. Kontrolni embrioni su tretirani neaktivnim oligonukleotidima sa 5 promenjenih baznih parova (KMo). Neinjektirani embrioni iz istog legla - wild type (WT) analizirani su kao netretirana kontrola. Svi embrioni (N=307) su inkubirani pod istim uslovima po 5 dana tokom kojih je morfometrijski analiziran njihov razvoj. Whole mount in situ hibridizacija za AIP korišćena je za ispitivanje ekspresije AIP gena kod normalnih zebrica (WT) i za potvrdu inaktivacije kod AIP KD. 120h nakon oplodnje, sprovedeno je whole mount imunobojenje ispitivanih i kontrolni, Scientific interest for aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene originates from the fact that patients with inactivating AIP mutations are predisposed to large, invasive, GH- or PRL-secreting pituitary tumours, occurring at a younger age and poorly responsive to treatment. The zebrafish (ZF) model provides anatomical and functional similarities to human neuroendocrine system. AIP is evolutionarily well conserved and widely distributed throughout organism. The role of AIP in normal pituitary function is largely unknown. AIP is co-localized with growth hormone (GH) in somatotroph secretory vesicles. Serum AIP protein was proteomically identified. We aimed at investigating the role of AIP inactivation on pituitary tumorigenesis in ZF model and investigating the physiological role of AIP at pituitary level in human model. We investigated whether AIP and GH are co-secreted by measuring serum AIP and GH levels at baseline and after GH stimulation and suppression tests using in vivo human models of normal GH secretion, patients with GH deficiency (GHD) and patients with GH hypersecretion - acromegaly. Animal model study - Material and Methods: AIP knock down (KD) ZF embryos were generated using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides injected at one-cell stage. Control embryos were injected with 5-base mispaired oligonucleotide as control morpholinos (CM). Wild type (WT) embryos from the same batch served as uninjected controls. All embryos (N=307) were incubated in the same conditions for 5 days, and assessed during development. Whole mount in situ hybridization for AIP was used to confirm the inactivation in AIP KD and to asses AIP expression in WT. At 120 hours post fertilization (hpf) whole mount immunostaining of all embryos was performed with anti-PRL antibodies (rabbit anti-salmon polyclonal 1:2000). A total of 15 embryos (5 from each group) were randomly selected for digital microscopy. Pituitary staining was assessed by image analysis software (NIH

[Background] Pituitary adenomas have a high disease burden due to tumor growth/invasion and disordered hormonal secretion. Germline mutations in genes such as MEN1 and AIP are associated with early onset of aggressive pituitary adenomas that can be resistant to medical therapy., [Aims] We performed a retrospective screening study using published risk criteria to assess the frequency of AIP and MEN1 mutations in pituitary adenoma patients in a tertiary referral center., [Methods] Pituitary adenoma patients with pediatric/adolescent onset, macroadenomas occurring ≤30 years of age, familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) kindreds and acromegaly or prolactinoma cases that were uncontrolled by medical therapy were studied genetically. We also assessed whether immunohistochemical staining for AIP (AIP-IHC) in somatotropinomas was associated with somatostatin analogs (SSA) response., [Results] Fifty-five patients met the study criteria and underwent genetic screening for AIP/MEN1 mutations. No mutations were identified and large deletions/duplications were ruled out using MLPA. In a cohort of sporadic somatotropinomas, low AIP-IHC tumors were significantly larger (P = 0.002) and were more frequently sparsely granulated (P = 0.046) than high AIP-IHC tumors. No significant relationship between AIP-IHC and SSA responses was seen., [Conclusions] Germline mutations in AIP/MEN1 in pituitary adenoma patients are rare and the use of general risk criteria did not identify cases in a large tertiary-referral setting. In acromegaly, low AIP-IHC was related to larger tumor size and more frequent sparsely granulated subtype but no relationship with SSA responsiveness was seen. The genetics of pituitary adenomas remains largely unexplained and AIP screening criteria could be significantly refined to focus on large, aggressive tumors in young patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The purpose of this study was to determine how different scanning techniques on 4DCT images impacted the perceived target volume, and how this in turn affected the dose calculation and dose distribution to the target volume. Acquired 4DCT datasets were reconstructed to form Maximum Intensity Projections (MIP), Average Intensity Projections (AIP) and free breathing datasets. Comparisons of the resultant CT number, mass density, point dose values, and dose distribution were made for the different datasets. These comparisons showed how different scanning techniques used to manipulate the 4DCT dataset affect treatment planning and dose calculation for radiotherapy for a moving tumour volume within the lungs. While the CT numbers for the AIP, MIP and the free breathing datasets were different, the resultant density values for the moving target volume showed similar results for the MIP and free breathing images. For the MIP dataset, the target volume density ranged from 1.03 g/cm3 to 1.04 g/cm3. For the Free breathing dataset, the volume density ranged from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.02 g/cm3. The AIP dataset showed lower target volume density, ranging from 0.50 g/cm3 to 0.86 g/cm3. Dose to a point was both measured and calculated for comparison as well. The calculated point dose on the different image types was calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system, while an ionization chamber was used to measure dose to a point in the phantom. Results showed lower calculated dose to a point for all the image types, in comparison to measured point dose values. However, a more clinically relevant assessment would be to compare the dose distribution to the target volume. Comparisons of the dose distribution for the different image types (the AIP, MIP and free breathing) compared to the dose distribution averaged across the 8 phases of the 4DCT dataset was made. Comparisons were also made with increasing magnitude of motion to identify if the results were the same as the magnitude o

The neural circuits that control grasping and perform related visual processing have been studied extensively in macaque monkeys. We are developing a computational model of this system, in order to better understand its function, and to explore applications to robotics. We recently modelled the neural representation of three-dimensional object shapes, and are currently extending the model to produce hand postures so that it can be tested on a robot. To train the extended model, we are developing a large database of object shapes and corresponding feasible grasps. Finally, further extensions are needed to account for the influence of higher-level goals on hand posture. This is essential because often the same object must be grasped in different ways for different purposes. The present paper focuses on a method of incorporating such higher-level goals. A proof-of-concept exhibits several important behaviours, such as choosing from multiple approaches to the same goal. Finally, we discuss a neural representation of objects that supports fast searching for analogous objects., This work was supported by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the Swedish Research Council, the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research, a DAAD-NRF Scholarship, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

In air traffic, safety is the key word. Safety is kept in numerous ways. One of these ways is with the help of Aeronautical Information (AI). AI is all information regarding air traffic, i.e. aerodrome hours of operation, weather reports and information about unserviceable navigational aids. Sometimes it happens that some of the information does not reach the pilots in the aircraft, which can have a negative impact on safety. This thesis examines the flow of AI all the way from the originator of the information to the end-user, and analyzes it to find where the errors occur. The thesis is based on the rules and regulations set by ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, two field trips to the Swedish AI provider LFV, and interviews with four airlines, Novair, NextJet, Malmö Aviation, and SAS. The results exposes where in the flow the weakness exists, and finally gives advice as to how these weaknesses can be addressed.

In air traffic, safety is the key word. Safety is kept in numerous ways. One of these ways is with the help of Aeronautical Information (AI). AI is all information regarding air traffic, i.e. aerodrome hours of operation, weather reports and information about unserviceable navigational aids. Sometimes it happens that some of the information does not reach the pilots in the aircraft, which can have a negative impact on safety. This thesis examines the flow of AI all the way from the originator of the information to the end-user, and analyzes it to find where the errors occur. The thesis is based on the rules and regulations set by ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, two field trips to the Swedish AI provider LFV, and interviews with four airlines, Novair, NextJet, Malmö Aviation, and SAS. The results exposes where in the flow the weakness exists, and finally gives advice as to how these weaknesses can be addressed.

Geometry and physics: XVI International Fall Workshop, 05 september 2008, Contains fulltext : 66972.pdf ( ) (Open Access)

Geometry and physics: XVI International Fall Workshop, 05 september 2008, Contains fulltext : 66972.pdf ( ) (Open Access)

Práce se zabývá leteckou informační službou z hlediska pojmu služba a také z hlediska organizační struktury. Je rozdělena do tří hlavních částí. Cílem první části je seznámení s LIS a vymezení její působnosti jak v mezinárodní tak ve vnitrozemské koncepci. Druhá část se zaměřuje na popis služeb a produktů LIS, včetně jejich využití. Třetí část navazuje na předchozí část a směřuje k využívání služeb LIS cestovními kancelářemi. Tato část se zaměřuje na využití LIS pro turistické účely a pro aerotaxi., This bachelor thesis cusses the aeronautical information service in terms of the concept of service and also in terms of organizational structure. This work is divided into three main parts. The goal of first part is to introduce of the LIS and the definition of its scope in both international and national concept. The second part cusses description of services and products of LIS, including their use. The third part builds on the previous section, and is discussion to use the services LIS by travel agencies. This section cusses on the use of LIS for tourism purposes and for aerotaxi., Katedra technologie a řízení dopravy, Dokončená práce s úspěšnou obhajobou

The paper describes the Urban Management Information System (UMIS) designed to monitor and evaluated the execution of the Actions and Investments Program (AIP) elaborate with the actors implied in the urban HABILITATION of neighbourhoods, policy implemented by the National Housing Counsel (CONAVI) in Venezuela. This Geographical Information and Territorial Management System, permits the visualization and recognition of the plan’s advance through the execution of the AIP and makes possible the application of corrective actions to achieve a sustainable habitat, all of which impacts positively the quality of life in poor neighbourhoods, the urban agents legitimacy and the local gobernability., Peer Reviewed

An experimental investigation was conducted in a static ground test facility to determine the flow quality of a serpentine inlet duct incorporating active flow control for several simulated flight conditions. The total pressure distortion at the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP) was then used to predict the resulting stability for a compression system. This study was conducted using a model of a compact, low observable, engine inlet duct developed by Lockheed Martin. A flow control technique using air injection through microjets at 1% of the inlet mass flow rate was developed by Lockheed Martin to improve the quality of the flow exiting the inlet duct. Both the inlet duct and the flow control technique were examined at cruise condition and off-design simulated flight conditions (angle of attack and asymmetric distortion). All of the experimental tests were run at an inlet throat Mach number of 0.55 and a resulting Reynolds number of 1.76*105 based on the hydraulic diameter at the inlet throat. For each of the flight conditions tested, the flow control scheme was found to improve the flow uniformity and reduce the inlet distortion at the AIP. For simulated cruise condition, the total pressure recovery was improved by ~2% with the addition of flow control. For the off-design conditions of angle of attack and asymmetric distortion, the total pressure recovery was improved by 1.5% and 2% respectively. All flight conditions tested showed a reduction in circumferential distortion intensity with flow control. The cruise condition case showed reduced maximum circumferential distortion of 70% with the addition of flow control. A reduction in maximum circumferential distortion of 40% occurred for the angle of attack case with flow control, and 30% for the asymmetric distortion case with flow control. The inlet total pressure distortion was used to predict the changes in stability margin of a compression system due to design and off-design flight conditions and the improvement

MBA Professional Report, The goal of sea pay has always been to motivate sailors to go to sea and to compensate the arduous nature of sea duty. This study will take sea pay one step further by analyzing sea pay as a location incentive pay. By offering a premium to sailors who choose less desirable sea duty locations, we hope to motivate more sailors to volunteer for these locations. This study will use data from the current location assignment incentive pay for overseas locations and the sea pay history to make a determination of the reaction of sailors to a location assignment incentive sea pay system., http://archive.org/details/balancingsedutyl109459966, US Navy (USN) author., Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly successful human pathogen capable of colonising and spreading easily between humans while causing a wide range of infections, including life threatening bacteraemias, endocarditis and pneumonia. Virulence gene expression is regulated primarily by the staphylococcal accessory gene regulator (agr) in a cell density-dependent manner termed quorum sensing. Strains of S. aureus, particularly community-associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA), carrying the genes for a pore forming exotoxin, the Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), have been spreading worldwide over the last 10 to 15 years. As high level production of exotoxins has been implicated in the success of the CA-MRSA clone USA300, a collection of PVL producing clinical isolates from Nottingham were studied with the aim of understanding why PVL production might vary between strains. Sequence typing of the Nottingham strain collection revealed that high PVL producing ST22 agr group 1 and low PVL producing ST30 agr group 3 strains were the most common types. PVL production was stimulated by addition of the type specific exogenous autoinducing peptide (AIP), which activates the agr sensor AgrC, and inhibited by the AgrC antagonist (ala5)AIP-1 if added before a critical cell population density was reached. Analysis of the pvl promoter identified predicted binding sites for RNA polymerase and the SarA protein family of regulators. Promoter pull down experiments confirmed the binding of several staphylococcal regulators to both the agr and pvl promoters including SarA, SarS, Rot and MgrA indicating that these are likely to play a role in the regulation of PVL production. Analysis of the agr locus of high and low PVL producing strains found that a low PVL producing ST22 agr group 1 strain TS13 had a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) conferring an N267I substitution in the cytoplasmic domain region of agrC not present in a high PVL producing ST22 strain TS14. Whole genome seq

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly successful human pathogen capable of colonising and spreading easily between humans while causing a wide range of infections, including life threatening bacteraemias, endocarditis and pneumonia. Virulence gene expression is regulated primarily by the staphylococcal accessory gene regulator (agr) in a cell density-dependent manner termed quorum sensing. Strains of S. aureus, particularly community-associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA), carrying the genes for a pore forming exotoxin, the Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), have been spreading worldwide over the last 10 to 15 years. As high level production of exotoxins has been implicated in the success of the CA-MRSA clone USA300, a collection of PVL producing clinical isolates from Nottingham were studied with the aim of understanding why PVL production might vary between strains. Sequence typing of the Nottingham strain collection revealed that high PVL producing ST22 agr group 1 and low PVL producing ST30 agr group 3 strains were the most common types. PVL production was stimulated by addition of the type specific exogenous autoinducing peptide (AIP), which activates the agr sensor AgrC, and inhibited by the AgrC antagonist (ala5)AIP-1 if added before a critical cell population density was reached. Analysis of the pvl promoter identified predicted binding sites for RNA polymerase and the SarA protein family of regulators. Promoter pull down experiments confirmed the binding of several staphylococcal regulators to both the agr and pvl promoters including SarA, SarS, Rot and MgrA indicating that these are likely to play a role in the regulation of PVL production. Analysis of the agr locus of high and low PVL producing strains found that a low PVL producing ST22 agr group 1 strain TS13 had a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) conferring an N267I substitution in the cytoplasmic domain region of agrC not present in a high PVL producing ST22 strain TS14. Whole genome seq

This thesis details research in three areas, in attempts to produce more effective inhibitors of the staphylococcal agr quorum sensing system. The non-ribosomal peptide synthase biosynthetic cluster responsible for the production of the aureusimines represents roughly 0.5% of the S. aureus genome. However, their function is yet to be elucidated. Research detailed herein develops a new reliable method for synthesis for these natural products. Efforts to discover the biological target or function of these compounds using affinity chromatography is reported. Further biological investigations revealed that the aureusimines are mild antagonists of the agr system. Weak inhibition of CCL-2 mediated chemotaxis of monocytes and staphylococcal biofilm formation is also observed. However, the main biological function of these natural pyrazinones is yet to be discovered. The staphylococcal bioreporter assays were used to eludicdate the structure-activity relationship of a series of truncated AIP-based antagonists against the AgrC1 receptor. Promising inhibitors are then evaluated against AgrC2, AgrC3 and AgrC4. Several compounds were found to be potent low nanomolar inhibitors across all four agr groups. A bioreporter assay based on the mutant receptor A101T T104V AgrC1 in which (Ala5)AIP1 is an agonist was also used to evaluate the panel of compounds. This revealed that most of these truncated AIP-based compounds are agonists of the mutant receptor, similar to (Ala5)AIP1. However, (Ala2, Leu4, Tfh5)trAIP1 (3.23) effectively inhibited activation of this bioreporter by AIP1. Compound 3.23 was also a sub-nanomolar inhibitor of AgrC1 and a low nanomolar inhibitor in other agr groups. Compound 3.23 is the most potent AgrC1 inhibitor discovered to date and, furthermore, its effects are likely to be less susceptible to mutations within the AgrC receptor. The depsipeptide natural products, solonamides, were synthesised using two uniquely different strategies. Development of a new synt