A High-Precision Time Handling Library

An appropriate assessment of end-to-end network performance presumes highly efficient time tracking and measurement with precise time control of the stopping and resuming of program operation. In this paper, a novel approach to solving the problems of highly efficient and precise time measurements on PC-platforms and on ARM-architectures is proposed. A new unified High Performance Timer and a corresponding software library offer a unified interface to the known time counters and automatically identify the fastest and most reliable time source, available in the user space of a computing system. The research is focused on developing an approach of unified time acquisition from the PC hardware and accordingly substituting the common way of getting the time value through Linux system calls. The presented approach provides a much faster means of obtaining the time values with a nanosecond precision than by using conventional means. Moreover, it is capable of handling the sequential time value, precise sleep functions and process resuming. This ability means the reduction of wasting computer resources during the execution of a sleeping process from 100% （busy-wait） to 1-1.5%, whereas the benefits of very accurate process resuming times on long waits are maintained.     

Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on health outcomes: a systematic review

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of participatory ergonomic (PE) interventions for improving workers' health. The search strategy targeted six electronic databases and identified 442 potential articles. Each article was examined by pairs of reviewers for relevance (assessed a participative ergonomic workplace intervention, with at least one health outcome, published in English in peer reviewed literature). Twenty-three articles met relevance criteria and were then appraised for methodological strength. Using a best evidence synthesis approach, 12 studies that were rated as 'medium' or higher provided partial to moderate evidence that PE interventions have a positive impact on: musculoskeletal symptoms, reducing injuries and workers' compensation claims, and a reduction in lost days from work or sickness absence. However, the magnitude of the effect requires more precise definition.     

A linear algorithm for conformal 3D-to-flatness coordinates conversion

Data conversion from a 3D raster to spiral coordinates is the key function in the scanning process for Roll Powder Sintering (RPS) additive manufacturing technology. Conversion process is especially important, as it produces the basis for a processed object. There are many equations for such conformal transformation, but there is still room to improve the computation efficiency. This paper presents an efficient conversion algorithm, which processes 3D objects and linear transforming it into rolling ribbon. The new algorithm has several significant advantages over the old ones due to applying only one main linear equation. The program based on the linear algorithm is simpler, more compact and faster in comparison to other programs which use trigonometric, transcendental or other equations. The proposed algorithm has been developed and extensively tested on several parts of computer-aided design models for RPS processing.     

Current Opinion in LAIV: A Matter of Parent Virus Choice

Influenza is still a frequent seasonal infection of the upper respiratory tract, which may have deadly consequences, especially for the elderly. This is in spite of the availability of vaccines suggested for persons above 65 years of age. Two types of conventional influenza vaccines are currently licensed for use—live attenuated and inactivated vaccines. Depending on local regulatory requirements, live attenuated vaccines are produced by the reverse genetics technique or by classical reassortment in embryonated chicken eggs. Sometimes, the efficiency of classical reassortment is complicated by certain properties of the wild-type parent virus. Cases of low efficacy of vaccines have been noted, which, among other reasons, may be associated with suboptimal properties of the wild-type parent virus that are not considered when recommendations for influenza vaccine composition are made. Unfortunately, knowledge surrounding the roles of properties of the circulating influenza virus and its impact on the efficacy of the reassortment process, vaccination efficiency, the infectivity of the vaccine candidates, etc., is now scattered in different publications. This review summarizes the main features of the influenza virus that may dramatically affect different aspects of the preparation of egg-derived live attenuated vaccine candidates and their effectiveness. The author expresses her personal view, which may not coincide with the opinion of other experts in the field of influenza vaccines.     

The Functional Characterization of GCaMP3.0 Variants Specifically Targeted to Subcellular Domains

Calcium (Ca²⁺) ions play a pivotal role in physiology and cellular signaling. The intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) is about three orders of magnitude lower than the extracellular concentration, resulting in a steep transmembrane concentration gradient. Thus, the spatial and the temporal dynamics of [Ca²⁺]_i are ideally suited to modulate Ca²⁺-mediated cellular responses to external signals. A variety of highly sophisticated methods have been developed to gain insight into cellular Ca²⁺ dynamics. In addition to electrophysiological measurements and the application of synthetic dyes that change their fluorescent properties upon interaction with Ca²⁺, the introduction and the ongoing development of genetically encoded Ca²⁺ indicators (GECI) opened a new era to study Ca²⁺-driven processes in living cells and organisms. Here, we have focused on one well-established GECI, i.e., GCaMP3.0. We have systematically modified the protein with sequence motifs, allowing localization of the sensor in the nucleus, in the mitochondrial matrix, at the mitochondrial outer membrane, and at the plasma membrane. The individual variants and a cytosolic version of GCaMP3.0 were overexpressed and purified from E. coli cells to study their biophysical properties in solution. All versions were examined to monitor Ca²⁺ signaling in stably transfected cell lines and in primary cortical neurons transduced with recombinant Adeno-associated viruses (rAAV). In this comparative study, we provide evidence for a robust approach to reliably trace Ca²⁺ signals at the (sub)-cellular level with pronounced temporal resolution.     

Sperm of Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster under Space Flight

Studies of reproductive function under long-term space flight conditions are of interest in planning the exploration of deep space. Motility, including the use of various inhibitors, cellular respiration, and the content of cytoskeletal proteins were studied, assessing the level of expression of the corresponding genes in spermatozoa of Drosophila melanogaster, which were in space flight conditions for 12 days. The experiment was carried out twice on board the Russian Segment of the International Space Station. Sperm motility speed after space flight, and subsequently 16 h after landing, is reduced relative to the control by 20% (p < 0.05). In comparison with the simulation experiment, we showed that this occurs as a result of the action of overloads and readaptation to the Earth’s gravity. At the same time, cellular respiration, the content of proteins of the respiratory chain, and the expression of their genes do not change. We used kinase inhibitor 6-(dimethylamino)purine (6-DMAP) and phosphatase inhibitors; 6-DMAP restored the reduced the speed of spermatozoa in the flight group to that of the control. These results can be useful in developing a strategy for protecting reproductive health during the development of other bodies in the solar system.     

2-Mercaptobenzothiazolate complexes of rare earth metals and their electroluminescent properties

We have demonstrated the electroluminescent (EL) properties of 2-mercaptobenzothiazolate complexes of rare earth metals [Ln(mbt)₃, Ln = Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm] using simple non-doped two-layer organic light emitting diode with the configuration of indium tin oxide/N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine/Ln(mbt)₃/Yb. It was found that 2-mercaptobenzothiazolate complexes have highly efficient intra-energy transfer from the singlet to the triplet state of the ligand, and then to the excited state of the central lanthanide ions. Thus Y(mbt)₃ and Gd(mbt)₃ exhibit the broad ligand-centered emission with maximum near 600 nm and Dy(mbt)₃, Tb(mbt)₃ and Tm(mbt)₃ complexes exhibit pure sharp emission bands from the intra f–f transitions of lanthanide ions Tb³⁺: ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ (492 nm), ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ (547 nm), ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₄ (589 nm), ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₃ (624 nm); Dy³⁺: ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 (575 nm) and Tm³⁺: ³H₄–³H₆ (795 нм).     

Generalized Bose–Lin Codes, a Class of Codes Detecting Asymmetric Errors

Bose and Lin introduced a class of systematic codes for detection of binary asymmetric errors. In this note, we describe a generalization to q-ary asymmetric error detecting codes. For these codes, the possible undetectable errors are characterized and the undetectable errors of minimum weight are determined     

Waveguide probe structures for a multilayer magnetodielectric: An inverse problem

Direct and inverse problems are considered for diffraction by an open end of a rectangular waveguide (RW) with a flange that adjoins a piecewise inhomogeneous planar layered lossy medium. Also considered are similar diffraction problems for a junction of an RW and a rectangular resonator filled with a multilayer medium and a junction of two RWs, one of which contains a multilayer plate. Such open and shielded waveguide probe structures (WPSs) are used for determination and nondestructive testing of parameters of multilayer samples. The direct problem is formulated on the basis of admittance and impedance algorithms with consideration for losses existing in the medium, flange, and screens. In this case, the approximation of the given aperture field allows obtainment of explicit solutions for open and shielded WPSs in the form of integrals. Solution of the inverse problem that lies in determining thicknesses, permittivities, and permeabilities of the layers from measured values of the magnitude of the reflection coefficient is obtained by minimizing the corresponding least-squares error and by constructing artificial neural networks. In order to increase the accuracy, it is proposed to use a two-port of errors and perform measurements for several positions of the sample with respect to the flange and different impedance conditions behind the sample.     

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of heart sound reduction from lung sound recordings

Recursive least squares (RLS) adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) and wavelet transform (WT) ANC have been applied and compared for heart sound (HS) reduction from lung sounds (LS) recordings. Novel processes for quantitative and qualitative evaluation of any method for HS reduction from LS have also been proposed.