Magnetic particle-mediated magnetoreception

Behavioural studies underpin the weight of experimental evidence for the existence of a magnetic sense in animals. In contrast, studies aimed at understanding the mechanistic basis of magnetoreception by determining the anatomical location, structure and function of sensory cells have been inconclusive. In this review, studies attempting to demonstrate the existence of a magnetoreceptor based on the principles of the magnetite hypothesis are examined. Specific attention is given to the range of techniques, and main animal model systems that have been used in the search for magnetite particulates. Anatomical location/cell rarity and composition are identified as two key obstacles that must be addressed in order to make progress in locating and characterizing a magnetite-based magnetoreceptor cell. Avenues for further study are suggested, including the need for novel experimental, correlative, multimodal and multidisciplinary approaches. The aim of this review is to inspire new efforts towards understanding the cellular basis of magnetoreception in animals, which will in turn inform a new era of behavioural research based on first principles.     

REACH: A program for coarse-grained biomolecular simulation

REACH (Realistic Extension Algorithm viaCovariance Hessian) is a program package for residue-scale coarse-grained biomolecular simulation. The program calculates the force constants of a residue-scale elastic network model in single-domain proteins using the variance-covariance matrix obtained from atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. Secondary-structure dependence of the force constants is integrated. The method involves self-consistent, direct mapping of atomistic simulation results onto a coarse-grained force field in an efficient automated procedure without requiring iterative fits and avoiding system dependence.

Program summary

Program title: REACHCatalogue identifier: AEDA_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEDA_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 42 244No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 3 682 118Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: FORTRAN 77Computer: x86 PCOperating system: GNU/Linux, SUSE and Red HatRAM: Depends on the system size to be calculatedWord size: 32 or 64 bitsClassification: 3External routines: LAPACK, BLASNature of problem: A direct calculation of force field for residue-scale coarse-grained biomolecular simulation derived from atomistic molecular dynamics trajectory.Solution method: A variance-covariance matrix and the associated Hessian (second-derivative) matrix are calculated from an atomistic molecular dynamics trajectory of single-domain protein internal motion and the off-diagonal Hessian matrix is fitted to that of a residue-scale elastic network model. The resulting force constants for the residue pair interactions are expressed as model functions as a function of pairwise distance.Running time: Depends on the system size and the number of MD trajectory frames used. The test run provided with the distribution takes only a few seconds to execute.     

‘Orchestrating’ sustainable crowdsourcing: A characterisation of solver brokerages

Exemplars of open innovation have revealed that intellectual property (IP) need not only be sourced through existing hierarchical or market relationships. Rather IP can be acquired from individuals and firms with whom an organization has no prior relationship. In such cases, an intermediary, operating as an innovation exchange or brokerage, frequently facilitates the development and acquisition of IP. This paper examines one type of innovation intermediary, the ‘Solver Brokerage,’ which enables innovation exchanges between organizations and unknown external firms and individuals (i.e. a crowdsourcing process). While the commercial success of Solver Brokerages indicates the potency of arguments concerning the potential of crowdsourcing, little is known about the operation of such brokerages or the crowdsourcing processes that they enable. This paper examines extant research on innovation networks, crowdsourcing, and electronic marketplaces to identify three processes (knowledge mobility, appropriability and stability) that we argue are necessary to ‘orchestrate’ crowdsourcing. Using a field study of four Solver Brokerages, an innovation seeking organization, as well as 15 innovation providers (i.e. members of the ‘crowd’), the paper illustrates the ways in which the three orchestration processes are enhanced in Solver Brokerages. It reveals that while knowledge mobility and appropriability processes can be enhanced by activities under the control of the Solver Brokerage, stability is largely determined by innovation seeking organizations and the innovation providers. The paper concludes that broker-provided value-added ‘orchestration’ services need to enable knowledge mobility and appropriability, and to ensure that ‘unsuccessful’ innovation seekers and providers appropriate sufficient value to participate again.     

On the design and development of attitude stabilization, vision-based navigation, and aerial gripping for a low-cost quadrotor

This paper presents the design and development of autonomous attitude stabilization, navigation in unstructured, GPS-denied environments, aggressive landing on inclined surfaces, and aerial gripping using onboard sensors on a low-cost, custom-built quadrotor. The development of a multi-functional micro air vehicle (MAV) that utilizes inexpensive off-the-shelf components presents multiple challenges due to noise and sensor accuracy, and there are control challenges involved with achieving various capabilities beyond navigation. This paper addresses these issues by developing a complete system from the ground up, addressing the attitude stabilization problem using extensive filtering and an attitude estimation filter recently developed in the literature. Navigation in both indoor and outdoor environments is achieved using a visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm that relies on an onboard monocular camera. The system utilizes nested controllers for attitude stabilization, vision-based navigation, and guidance, with the navigation controller implemented using a nonlinear controller based on the sigmoid function. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated by maintaining a stable hover even in the presence of wind gusts and when manually hitting and pulling on the quadrotor. Precision landing on inclined surfaces is demonstrated as an example of an aggressive maneuver, and is performed using only onboard sensing. Aerial gripping is accomplished with the addition of a secondary camera, capable of detecting infrared light sources, which is used to estimate the 3D location of an object, while an under-actuated and passively compliant manipulator is designed for effective gripping under uncertainty. The quadrotor is therefore able to autonomously navigate inside and outside, in the presence of disturbances, and perform tasks such as aggressively landing on inclined surfaces and locating and grasping an object, using only inexpensive, onboard sensors.     

Control of standing balance while using constructions stilts: comparison of expert and novice users

This study examined the control of standing balance while wearing construction stilts. Motion capture data were collected from nine expert stilt users and nine novices. Three standing conditions were analysed: ground, 60 cm stilts and an elevated platform. Each task was also performed with the head extended as a vestibular perturbation. Both expert and novice groups exhibited lower displacement of the whole body centre of mass and centre of pressure on construction stilts. Differences between the groups were only noted in the elevated condition with no stilts, where the expert group had lower levels of medial–lateral displacement of the centre of pressure. The postural manipulation revealed that the expert group had superior balance to the novice group. Conditions where stilts were worn showed lower levels of correspondence to the inverted pendulum model. Under normal conditions, both expert and novice groups were able to control their balance while wearing construction stilts.     

Information and Communication Technology Offshoring Logistics Success: A Social Exchange Perspective

As emerging countries continue to enhance the education of their workforce and modernize their infrastructures, the opportunities the information and communication technology offshoring increase. This research offers a perspective on the client–vendor relationship using social exchange theory. Our findings show that partnership mediates the relationships between communication, lack of trust, shared values, and offshoring logistics success. In addition, shared values increase trust, whereas power and partnership influence the success of offshoring logistics.