Determinants of amikacin first peak concentration in critically ill patients.

PubMed

Boidin, Clément; Jenck, Sophie; Bourguignon, Laurent; Torkmani, Sejad; Roussey-Jean, Aurore; Ledochowski, Stanislas; Marry, Lucie; Ammenouche, Nacim; Dupont, Hervé; Marçon, Frédéric; Allaouchiche, Bernard; Bohé, Julien; Lepape, Alain; Goutelle, Sylvain; Friggeri, Arnaud

2018-04-16

Amikacin antimicrobial effect has been correlated with the ratio of the peak concentration (C max ) to the minimum inhibitory concentration. A target C max ≥ 60-80 mg/L has been suggested. It has been shown that such target is not achieved in a large proportion of critically ill patients in intensive care units. A retrospective analysis was performed to examine the determinants of C max ≥ 80 mg/L on the first peak in 339 critically ill patients treated by amikacin. The influence of available variables on C max target attainment was analyzed using a classification and regression tree (CART) and logistic regression. Mean C max in the 339 patients was 73.0 ± 23.9 mg/L, with a target attainment rate (TAR, C max ≥ 80 mg/L) of 37.5%. In CART analysis, the strongest predictor of amikacin target peak attainment was dose per kilogram of lean body weight (dose/LBW). TAR was 60.1% in patients with dose/LBW ≥ 37.8 vs. 19.9% in patients with lower dose/LBW (OR = 6.0 (95% CI: 3.6-10.2)). Renal function was a secondary predictor of C max . Logistic regression analysis identified dose per kilogram of ideal body weight (OR = 1.13 (95% CI: 1.09-1.17)) and creatinine clearance (OR = 0.993 (95% CI: 0.988-0.998)) as predictors of target peak achievement. Based on our results, an amikacin dose ≥ 37.8 mg/kg of LBW should be used to optimize the attainment of C max ≥ 80 mg/L after the first dose in critically ill patients. An even higher dose may be necessary in patients with normal renal function. © 2018 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Psychological Preparation for Peak Performance in Sports Competition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohuruogu, Ben; Jonathan, Ugwuanyi I.; Ikechukwu, Ugwu Jude

2016-01-01

This paper attempts to make an overview of various techniques, sport psychologist adopt in psychological preparation of athletes for peak performance. To attain peak performance in sports competitions, coaches and athletes should not base their prospect on physical training on sport skills alone rather should integrate both the mental and physical…

When unconscious rewards boost cognitive task performance inefficiently: the role of consciousness in integrating value and attainability information

PubMed Central

Zedelius, Claire M.; Veling, Harm; Aarts, Henk

2012-01-01

Research has shown that high vs. low value rewards improve cognitive task performance independent of whether they are perceived consciously or unconsciously. However, efficient performance in response to high value rewards also depends on whether or not rewards are attainable. This raises the question of whether unconscious reward processing enables people to take into account such attainability information. Building on a theoretical framework according to which conscious reward processing is required to enable higher level cognitive processing, the present research tested the hypothesis that conscious but not unconscious reward processing enables integration of reward value with attainability information. In two behavioral experiments, participants were exposed to mask high and low value coins serving as rewards on a working memory (WM) task. The likelihood for conscious processing was manipulated by presenting the coins relatively briefly (17 ms) or long and clearly visible (300 ms). Crucially, rewards were expected to be attainable or unattainable. Requirements to integrate reward value with attainability information varied across experiments. Results showed that when integration of value and attainability was required (Experiment 1), long reward presentation led to efficient performance, i.e., selectively improved performance for high value attainable rewards. In contrast, in the short presentation condition, performance was increased for high value rewards even when these were unattainable. This difference between the effects of long and short presentation time disappeared when integration of value and attainability information was not required (Experiment 2). Together these findings suggest that unconsciously processed reward information is not integrated with attainability expectancies, causing inefficient effort investment. These findings are discussed in terms of a unique role of consciousness in efficient allocation of effort to cognitive control processes. PMID:22848198

Optimality and oscillations near the edge of stability in the dynamics of autonomous vehicle platoons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, L. C.

2013-09-01

A model that includes the mechanical response of a vehicle to a demanded change in acceleration is analyzed to determine the string stability of a platoon of autonomous vehicles. The response is characterized by a first-order time constant τ and an explicit delay td. The minimum value of the acceleration feedback control gain is found from calculations of the velocity of vehicles following a lead vehicle that decelerates sharply from high speed to low speed. Larger values of ξ (in the stable range) give larger values of deceleration for vehicles in the platoon. Optimal operation is attained close to the minimum value of ξ for stability. Small oscillations are found after the main peak in deceleration for ξ in the stable region but near the transition to instability. A theory for predicting the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations is presented.

F2 layer characteristics and electrojet strength over an equatorial station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adebesin, B. O.; Adeniyi, J. O.; Adimula, I. A.; Reinisch, B. W.; Yumoto, K.

2013-09-01

The data presented in this work describes the diurnal and seasonal variation in hmF2, NmF2, and the electrojet current strength over an African equatorial station during a period of low solar activity. The F2 region horizontal magnetic element H revealed that the Solar quiet Sq(H) daily variation rises from early morning period to maximum around local noon and falls to lower values towards evening. The F2 ionospheric current responsible for the magnetic field variations is inferred to build up at the early morning hours, attaining maximum strength around 1200 LT. The Sq variation across the entire months was higher during the daytime than nighttime. This is ascribed to the variability of the ionospheric parameters like conductivity and winds structure in this region. Seasonal daytime electrojet (EEJ) current strength for June solstice, March and September equinoxes, respectively had peak values ranging within 27-35 nT (at 1400 LT) , 30-40 nT (at 1200 LT) and 35-45 nT (at 1500 LT). The different peak periods of the EEJ strength were attributed to the combined effects of the peak electron density and electric field. Lastly, the EEJ strength was observed to be higher during the equinoxes than the solstice period.

Effect of cadence selection on peak power and time of power production in elite BMX riders: A laboratory based study.

PubMed

Rylands, Lee P; Roberts, Simon J; Hurst, Howard T; Bentley, Ian

2017-07-01

The aims of this study were to analyse the optimal cadence for peak power production and time to peak power in bicycle motocross (BMX) riders. Six male elite BMX riders volunteered for the study. Each rider completed 3 maximal sprints at a cadence of 80, 100, 120 and 140 revs · min -1 on a laboratory Schoberer Rad Messtechnik (SRM) cycle ergometer in isokinetic mode. The riders' mean values for peak power and time of power production in all 3 tests were recorded. The BMX riders produced peak power (1105 ± 139 W) at 100 revs · min -1 with lower peak power produced at 80 revs · min -1 (1060 ± 69 W, (F(2,15) = 3.162; P = .266; η 2  = 0.960), 120 revs · min -1 (1077 ± 141 W, (F(2,15) = 4.348; P = .203; η 2  = 0.970) and 140 revs · min -1 (1046 ± 175 W, (F(2,15) = 12.350; P = 0.077; η 2  = 0.989). The shortest time to power production was attained at 120 revs · min -1 in 2.5 ± 1.07 s. Whilst a cadence of 80 revs · min -1 (3.5 ± 0.8 s, (F(2,15) = 2.667; P = .284; η 2  = 0.800) 100 revs · min -1 (3.00 ± 1.13 s, (F(2,15) = 24.832; P = .039; η 2  = 0.974) and 140 revs · min -1 (3.50 ± 0.88 s, (F(2,15) = 44.167; P = .006; η 2  = 0.967)) all recorded a longer time to peak power production. The results indicate that the optimal cadence for producing peak power output and reducing the time to peak power output are attained at comparatively low cadences for sprint cycling events. These findings could potentially inform strength and conditioning training to maximise dynamic force production and enable coaches to select optimal gear ratios.

Verification testing to confirm VO2max attainment in persons with spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Astorino, Todd A; Bediamol, Noelle; Cotoia, Sarah; Ines, Kenneth; Koeu, Nicolas; Menard, Natasha; Nyugen, Brianna; Olivo, Cassandra; Phillips, Gabrielle; Tirados, Ardreen; Cruz, Gabriela Velasco

2018-01-22

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) is a widely used measure of cardiorespiratory fitness, aerobic function, and overall health risk. Although VO 2 max has been measured for almost 100 yr, no standardized criteria exist to verify VO 2 max attainment. Studies document that incidence of 'true' VO 2 max obtained from incremental exercise (INC) can be confirmed using a subsequent verification test (VER). In this study, we examined efficacy of VER in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Repeated measures, within-subjects study. University laboratory in San Diego, CA. Ten individuals (age and injury duration = 33.3 ± 10.5 yr and 6.8 ± 6.2 yr) with SCI and 10 able-bodied (AB) individuals (age = 24.1 ± 7.4 yr). Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak) was determined during INC on an arm ergometer followed by VER at 105 percent of peak power output (% PPO). Gas exchange data, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) were measured during exercise. Across all participants, VO 2 peak was highly related between protocols (ICC = 0.98) and the mean difference was equal to 0.08 ± 0.11 L/min. Compared to INC, VO 2 peak from VER was not different in SCI (1.30 ± 0.45 L/min vs. 1.31 ± 0.43 L/min) but higher in AB (1.63 ± 0.40 L/min vs. 1.76 ± 0.40 L/min). Data show similar VO 2 peak between incremental and verification tests in SCI, suggesting that VER confirms VO 2 max attainment. However, in AB participants completing arm ergometry, VER is essential to validate appearance of 'true' VO 2 peak.

Better Bones Buddies: An Osteoporosis Prevention Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schrader, Susan L.; Blue, Rebecca; Horner, Arlene

2005-01-01

Although osteoporosis typically surfaces in later life, peak bone mass attained before age 20 is a key factor in its prevention. However, most American children's diets lack sufficient calcium during the critical growth periods of preadolescence and adolescence to achieve peak bone mass. "Better Bones (BB) Buddies" is an educational…

Effect of gear ratio on peak power and time to peak power in BMX cyclists.

PubMed

Rylands, Lee P; Roberts, Simon J; Hurst, Howard T

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to ascertain if gear ratio selection would have an effect on peak power and time to peak power production in elite Bicycle Motocross (BMX) cyclists. Eight male elite BMX riders volunteered for the study. Each rider performed three, 10-s maximal sprints on an Olympic standard indoor BMX track. The riders' bicycles were fitted with a portable SRM power meter. Each rider performed the three sprints using gear ratios of 41/16, 43/16 and 45/16 tooth. The results from the 41/16 and 45/16 gear ratios were compared to the current standard 43/16 gear ratio. Statistically, significant differences were found between the gear ratios for peak power (F(2,14) = 6.448; p = .010) and peak torque (F(2,14) = 4.777; p = .026), but no significant difference was found for time to peak power (F(2,14) = 0.200; p = .821). When comparing gear ratios, the results showed a 45/16 gear ratio elicited the highest peak power,1658 ± 221 W, compared to 1436 ± 129 W and 1380 ± 56 W, for the 43/16 and 41/16 ratios, respectively. The time to peak power showed a 41/16 tooth gear ratio attained peak power in -0.01 s and a 45/16 in 0.22 s compared to the 43/16. The findings of this study suggest that gear ratio choice has a significant effect on peak power production, though time to peak power output is not significantly affected. Therefore, selecting a higher gear ratio results in riders attaining higher power outputs without reducing their start time.

Impact of long-term erythrocytapheresis on growth and peak height velocity of children with sickle cell disease.

PubMed

Bavle, Abhishek; Raj, Ashok; Kong, Maiying; Bertolone, Salvatore

2014-11-01

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) lag in weight and height and have a delayed growth spurt compared to normal children. We studied the effect of long-term erythrocytapheresis (LTE) on the growth of children with SCD and the age at which they attained peak height velocity. A retrospective chart review was performed recording weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) measurements of 36 patients with SCD who received LTE every 3-5 weeks for an average duration of 5 years. The z-scores for weight, height, and BMI of these patients were compared with that of patients with SCD from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) and a sub-set of 64 controls matched for age, sex, and initial growth parameter z-scores at the start of LTE. The z-scores for all parameters improved significantly for our patients on LTE compared to match controls from CSSCD and the entire pediatric CSSCD cohort (P-value: <0.01). Peak height velocity was achieved 2 months earlier for females (P-value: 0.94) and 11 months earlier for males (P-value: 0.02), who started LTE before 14 years of age, compared to matched CSSCD controls. The study subjects who had not been on regular simple transfusions prior to starting LTE had a mean serum ferritin of 681 ng/ml after LTE for an average duration of 63 months. LTE improves the growth of children with SCD without the risk of iron overload. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A comparative study of spherical and flat-Earth geopotential modeling at satellite elevations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrott, M. H.; Hinze, W. J.; Braile, L. W.; Vonfrese, R. R. B.

1985-01-01

Flat-Earth modeling is a desirable alternative to the complex spherical-Earth modeling process. These methods were compared using 2 1/2 dimensional flat-earth and spherical modeling to compute gravity and scalar magnetic anomalies along profiles perpendicular to the strike of variably dimensioned rectangular prisms at altitudes of 150, 300, and 450 km. Comparison was achieved with percent error computations (spherical-flat/spherical) at critical anomaly points. At the peak gravity anomaly value, errors are less than + or - 5% for all prisms. At 1/2 and 1/10 of the peak, errors are generally less than 10% and 40% respectively, increasing to these values with longer and wider prisms at higher altitudes. For magnetics, the errors at critical anomaly points are less than -10% for all prisms, attaining these magnitudes with longer and wider prisms at higher altitudes. In general, in both gravity and magnetic modeling, errors increase greatly for prisms wider than 500 km, although gravity modeling is more sensitive than magnetic modeling to spherical-Earth effects. Preliminary modeling of both satellite gravity and magnetic anomalies using flat-Earth assumptions is justified considering the errors caused by uncertainties in isolating anomalies.

Analysis of Surface Roughness at Overlapping Laser Shock Peening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, F. Z.; Zhang, Z. D.; Zhou, J. Z.; Lu, J. Z.; Zhang, Y. K.

2016-02-01

The overlapping effects on surface roughness are studied when samples are treated by laser shock peening (LSP). Surface roughness of overlapped circular laser spot is calculated by ISO 25178 height parameters. The usually used overlapping styles namely isosceles-right-triangle-style (AAP) and equilateral-triangle-style (AAA) are carefully investigated when the overlapping degree in x-axis (ηx) is below 50%. Surface roughness of isosceles-right-triangle-style attains its minimum value at ηx of 29.3%, and attains its maximum value at ηx of 43.6%. Surface roughness of equilateral-triangle-style attains its minimum value at ηx of 42.3%, and attains its maximum value at ηx of 32%. Experimental results are well consistent with theoretical analysis.

Comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for the separation of pesticides in a very complex matrix.

PubMed

Mondello, Luigi; Casilli, Alessandro; Tranchida, Peter Quinto; Lo Presti, Maria; Dugo, Paola; Dugo, Giovanni

2007-11-01

The present research is focused on the development of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-rapid scanning quadrupole mass spectrometric (GC x GC-qMS) methodology for the analysis of trace-amount pesticides contained in a complex real-world sample. Reliable peak assignment was carried out by using a recently developed, dedicated pesticide MS library (for comprehensive GC analysis), characterized by a twin-filter search procedure, the first based on a minimum degree of spectral similarity and the second on the interactive use of linear retention indices (LRI). The library was constructed by subjecting mixtures of commonly used pesticides to GC x GC-qMS analysis and then deriving their pure mass spectra and LRI values. In order to verify the effectiveness of the approach, a pesticide-contaminated red grapefruit extract was analysed. The certainty of peak assignment was attained by exploiting both the enhanced separation power of dual-oven GC x GC and the highly effective search procedure.

Micromagnetic simulation study of magnetization reversal in torus-shaped permalloy nanorings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Amaresh Chandra; Giri, R.

2017-09-01

Using micromagnetic simulation, the magnetization reversal of soft permalloy rings of torus shape with major radius R varying within 20-100 nm has been investigated. The minor radius r of the torus rings was increased from 5 nm up to a maximum value rmax such that R- rmax = 10 nm. Micromagnetic simulation of in-plane hysteresis curve of these nanorings revealed that in the case of very thin rings (r ≤ 10 nm), the remanent state is found to be an onion state, whereas for all other rings, the remanent state is a vortex state. The area of the hysteresis loop was found to be decreasing gradually with the increment of r. The normalized area under the hysteresis loops (AN) increases initially with increment of r. It attains a maximum for a certain value of r = r0 and again decreases thereafter. This value r0 increases as we decrease R and as a result, this peak feature is hardly visible in the case of smaller rings (rings having small R).

Effect of Temperature on Chinese Rice Wine Brewing with High Concentration Presteamed Whole Sticky Rice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Hong-Tao; Xiong, Weili; Hu, Jianhua; Xu, Baoguo; Lin, Chi-Chung; Xu, Ling; Jiang, Lihua

2014-01-01

Production of high quality Chinese rice wine largely depends on fermentation temperature. However, there is no report on the ethanol, sugars, and acids kinetics in the fermentation mash of Chinese rice wine treated at various temperatures. The effects of fermentation temperatures on Chinese rice wine quality were investigated. The compositions and concentrations of ethanol, sugars, glycerol, and organic acids in the mash of Chinese rice wine samples were determined by HPLC method. The highest ethanol concentration and the highest glycerol concentration both were attained at the fermentation mash treated at 23°C. The highest peak value of maltose (90 g/L) was obtained at 18°C. Lactic acid and acetic acid both achieved maximum values at 33°C. The experimental results indicated that temperature contributed significantly to the ethanol production, acid flavor contents, and sugar contents in the fermentation broth of the Chinese rice wines. PMID:24672788

Effect of temperature on Chinese rice wine brewing with high concentration presteamed whole sticky rice.

PubMed

Liu, Dengfeng; Zhang, Hong-Tao; Xiong, Weili; Hu, Jianhua; Xu, Baoguo; Lin, Chi-Chung; Xu, Ling; Jiang, Lihua

2014-01-01

Production of high quality Chinese rice wine largely depends on fermentation temperature. However, there is no report on the ethanol, sugars, and acids kinetics in the fermentation mash of Chinese rice wine treated at various temperatures. The effects of fermentation temperatures on Chinese rice wine quality were investigated. The compositions and concentrations of ethanol, sugars, glycerol, and organic acids in the mash of Chinese rice wine samples were determined by HPLC method. The highest ethanol concentration and the highest glycerol concentration both were attained at the fermentation mash treated at 23 °C. The highest peak value of maltose (90 g/L) was obtained at 18 °C. Lactic acid and acetic acid both achieved maximum values at 33 °C. The experimental results indicated that temperature contributed significantly to the ethanol production, acid flavor contents, and sugar contents in the fermentation broth of the Chinese rice wines.

Physical fitness, functional ability and quality of life in children with severe haemophilia: a pilot study.

PubMed

van der Net, J; Vos, R C; Engelbert, R H H; van den Berg, M H; Helders, P J M; Takken, T

2006-09-01

In the Netherlands comparable levels of sports-participation between persons with haemophilia and healthy controls have been reported. This raises the question if children with haemophilia under the currently available prophylaxis do reach comparable levels of physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as their healthy peers. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of physical fitness, functional ability and quality of life and to determine the feasibility to safely test the exercise capacity of boys with severe haemophilia A. Thirteen subjects participated in this study. Physical fitness was determined using the measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) attained during a graded maximal exercise test to volitional exhaustion. Joint health, physical activity levels and health-related quality of life (Haemo-Qol) were also measured. Mean VO2peak was 1.86+/-0.77 L min-1 (Z-score: -0.39+/-1.61) which was not significantly different from reference values. Relative VO2peak was 47.42+/-8.29 mL min-1 kg-1 (Z-score: -0.52+/-1.43), which did not differ significantly from reference values either. One boy suffered a joint bleeding one day after the test. Haemo-Qol scores in parents and children ranged from 3.2% to 36.7% (100% reflects poor outcome). Relationship between the child or parent reports of Haemo-QoL and both absolute and relative VO2peak ranged from R=0.00 and R=0.4. Exercise testing in children with severe haemophilia A was a safe procedure. Patients with severe haemophilia A with good joint health and no limitations of activities have comparable physical fitness and physical active lifestyle with healthy peers and good HRQoL.

Performance, Facility Pressure Effects, and Stability Characterization Tests of NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding Thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamhawi, Hani; Huang, Wensheng; Haag, Thomas; Yim, John; Herman, Daniel; Peterson, Peter Y.; Williams, George J.; Gilland, James; Hofer, Richard; Mikellides, Ioannis

2016-01-01

NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) 12.5 kW Technology Demonstration Unit-1 (TDU-1) has been the subject of extensive technology maturation in preparation for flight system development. Part of the technology maturation effort included experimental evaluation of the TDU-1 thruster with conducting and dielectric front pole cover materials in two different electrical configurations. A graphite front magnetic pole cover thruster configuration with the thruster body electrically tied to cathode, and an alumina front pole cover thruster configuration with the thruster body floating were evaluated. Both configurations were also evaluated at different facility background pressure conditions to evaluate background pressure effects on thruster operation. Performance characterization tests found that higher thruster performance was attained with the graphite front pole cover configuration with the thruster electrically tied to cathode. A total thrust efficiency of 68% and a total specific impulse of 2,820 s was demonstrated at a discharge voltage of 600 V and a discharge power of 12.5 kW. Thruster stability regimes were characterized with respect to the thruster discharge current oscillations and with maps of the discharge current-voltage-magnetic field (IVB). Analysis of TDU-1 discharge current waveforms found that lower normalized discharge current peak-to-peak and root mean square magnitudes were attained when the thruster was electrically floated with alumina front pole covers. Background pressure effects characterization tests indicated that the thruster performance and stability were mostly invariant to changes in the facility background pressure for vacuum chamber pressure below 1×10-5 Torr-Xe (for thruster flow rates of 20.5 mg/s). Power spectral density analysis of the discharge current waveforms showed that increasing the vacuum chamber background pressure resulted in a higher discharge current dominant breathing mode frequency. Finally, IVB maps of the TDU-1 thruster indicated that the discharge current became more oscillatory with higher discharge current peak-to-peak and RMS values with increased facility background pressure at lower thruster mass flow rates; thruster operation at higher flow rates resulted in less change to the thruster's IVB characteristics with elevated background pressure.

Assessment and interpretation of aerobic fitness in children and adolescents.

PubMed

Armstrong, N; Welsman, J R

1994-01-01

Our understanding of the development of children and adolescents' aerobic fitness is limited by ethical considerations and methodological constraints. Protocols, apparatus, and criteria of maximal effort used with adults are often unsuitable for use with children. In normal children and adolescents, peak VO2 increases with growth and maturation, although there are indications that girls' peak VO2 may level off around 14 years of age. Males exhibit higher values of peak VO2 than females, and the sex difference increases as they progress through adolescence. The difference between males and females has been attributed to the boys' greater muscle mass and hemoglobin concentration. It appears that boys experience an adolescent growth spurt in peak VO2, which reaches a maximum gain near the time of PHV, but data are insufficient to offer any generalization for girls. Peak VO2 has usually been expressed in relation to body mass, and with this convention it appears that boys' values are consistent throughout the developmental period, whereas girls' values decrease as they get older. This type of analysis may, however, have clouded our understanding of growth and maturational changes in peak VO2, and scaling for differences in body size may provide further clarification. If differences are shown where none were previously thought to exist, then physiological explanations must be sought. Methodological issues have also hindered the understanding of how children's blood lactate responses to exercise develop. The actual lactate level recorded during an exercise test is influenced by the site of sampling and the blood handling and assay techniques. Valid interstudy comparisons can only be made where similar procedures have been employed. In general, children demonstrate lower blood lactate levels at peak VO2 than adults, although individual variation is wide. Therefore the use of blood lactate measures to confirm the attainment of peak VO2 cannot be supported. Exercise at the same relative submaximal intensity elicits a lower blood lactate in children than in adults, but interpretation and identification of developmental and maturational patterns of response are limited by the use of different testing conditions and reference points (e.g., lactate threshold and fixed level reference points). There is growing evidence that the 2.5 mM reference level should be used in preference to the 4.0 mM level, as the adult criterion occurs close to maximal exercise in many children and adolescents. Explanations for child-adult differences in blood lactate responses to exercise are difficult to elucidate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Achieving Organisational Change through Values Alignment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Branson, Christopher M.

2008-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to, first, establish the interdependency between the successful achievement of organisational change and the attainment of values alignment within an organisation's culture and then, second, to describe an effective means for attaining such values alignment. Design/methodology/approach: Literature from the…

Demonstration of Tokamak Ohmic Flux Saving by Transient Coaxial Helicity Injection in the National Spherical Torus Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raman, R.; Mueller, D.; Nelson, B. A.; Jarboe, T. R.; Gerhardt, S.; Kugel, H. W.; Leblanc, B.; Maingi, R.; Menard, J.; Ono, M.; Paul, S.; Roquemore, L.; Sabbagh, S.; Soukhanovskii, V.

2010-03-01

Transient coaxial helicity injection (CHI) started discharges in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) have attained peak currents up to 300 kA and when coupled to induction, it has produced up to 200 kA additional current over inductive-only operation. CHI in NSTX has shown to be energetically quite efficient, producing a plasma current of about 10 A/J of capacitor bank energy. In addition, for the first time, the CHI-produced toroidal current that couples to induction continues to increase with the energy supplied by the CHI power supply at otherwise similar values of the injector flux, indicating the potential for substantial current generation capability by CHI in NSTX and in future toroidal devices.

The dissociation of liquid silica at high pressure and temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hicks, D; Boehly, T; Eggert, J

2005-11-17

Liquid silica at high pressure and temperature is shown to undergo significant structural modifications and profound changes in its electronic properties. Temperature measurements on shock waves in silica at 70-1000 GPa indicate that the specific heat of liquid SiO{sub 2} rises well above the Dulong-Petit limit, exhibiting a broad peak with temperature that is attributable to the growing structural disorder caused by bond-breaking in the melt. The simultaneous sharp rise in optical reflectivity of liquid SiO{sub 2} indicates that dissociation causes the electrical and therefore thermal conductivities of silica to attain metallic-like values of 1-5 x 10{sup 5} S/m andmore » 24-600 W/m.K respectively.« less

75 FR 68736 - Approval of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Delaware...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-09

... 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored ozone value during the 2009 ozone season is 0.084 parts per million... extensions of the attainment date if: (a) For the first 1-year extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8...'s 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original attainment year and the first...

Effects of manipulating the duration and intensity of aerobic training sessions on the physical performance of rats.

PubMed

Teixeira-Coelho, Francisco; Fonseca, Cletiana Gonçalves; Barbosa, Nicolas Henrique Santos; Vaz, Filipe Ferreira; Cordeiro, Letícia Maria de Souza; Coimbra, Cândido Celso; Pires, Washington; Soares, Danusa Dias; Wanner, Samuel Penna

2017-01-01

This study investigated the effects of manipulating the load components of aerobic training sessions on the physical performance of rats. To achieve this purpose, adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: an untrained control (CON) group and training groups with a predominant overload in intensity (INT) or duration (DUR) or alternating and similar overloads in intensity and duration (ID). Prior to, during, and after 8 weeks of the control or training protocols, the performance of the rats (evaluated by their workload) was determined during fatiguing, incremental-speed treadmill running. Two additional incremental running tests were performed prior to and at the end of the protocols to measure the peak rate of oxygen consumption (VO2peak). As expected, the rats in the trained groups exhibited increased performance, whereas the untrained rats showed stable performance throughout the 8 weeks. Notably, the performance gain exhibited by the DUR rats reached a plateau after the 4th week. This plateau was not present in the INT or ID rats, which exhibited increased performance at the end of training protocol compared with the DUR rats. None of the training protocols changed the VO2peak values; however, these values were attained at faster speeds, which indicated increased running economy. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the training protocols improved the physical performance of rats, likely resulting from enhanced running economy. Furthermore, compared with overload in duration, overload in the intensity of training sessions was more effective at inducing performance improvements across the 8 weeks of the study.

Effects of manipulating the duration and intensity of aerobic training sessions on the physical performance of rats

PubMed Central

Teixeira-Coelho, Francisco; Fonseca, Cletiana Gonçalves; Barbosa, Nicolas Henrique Santos; Vaz, Filipe Ferreira; Cordeiro, Letícia Maria de Souza; Coimbra, Cândido Celso; Pires, Washington; Soares, Danusa Dias

2017-01-01

This study investigated the effects of manipulating the load components of aerobic training sessions on the physical performance of rats. To achieve this purpose, adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: an untrained control (CON) group and training groups with a predominant overload in intensity (INT) or duration (DUR) or alternating and similar overloads in intensity and duration (ID). Prior to, during, and after 8 weeks of the control or training protocols, the performance of the rats (evaluated by their workload) was determined during fatiguing, incremental-speed treadmill running. Two additional incremental running tests were performed prior to and at the end of the protocols to measure the peak rate of oxygen consumption (VO2peak). As expected, the rats in the trained groups exhibited increased performance, whereas the untrained rats showed stable performance throughout the 8 weeks. Notably, the performance gain exhibited by the DUR rats reached a plateau after the 4th week. This plateau was not present in the INT or ID rats, which exhibited increased performance at the end of training protocol compared with the DUR rats. None of the training protocols changed the VO2peak values; however, these values were attained at faster speeds, which indicated increased running economy. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the training protocols improved the physical performance of rats, likely resulting from enhanced running economy. Furthermore, compared with overload in duration, overload in the intensity of training sessions was more effective at inducing performance improvements across the 8 weeks of the study. PMID:28841706

Energy expenditure in rock/pop drumming.

PubMed

De La Rue, S E; Draper, S B; Potter, C R; Smith, M S

2013-10-01

Despite the vigorous nature of rock/pop drumming, there are no precise data on the energy expenditure of this activity. The aim of this study was to quantify the energy cost of rock/pop drumming. Fourteen male drummers (mean±SD; age 27±8 yrs.) completed an incremental drumming test to establish the relationship between energy expenditure and heart rate for this activity and a ramped cycle ergometer test to exhaustion as a criterion measure for peak values (oxygen uptake and heart rate). During live concert performance heart rate was continuously measured and used to estimate energy expenditure (from the energy expenditure vs. heart rate data derived from the drumming test). During concert performance, estimated energy expenditure (mean±SD) was 623±168 kcal.h⁻¹ (8.1±2.2 METs) during performances of 38.6±15.6 min, and drummers achieved a peak heart rate of 186±16 b.min⁻¹. During the drumming test participants attained 78.7±8.3% of the cycle ergometer peak oxygen uptake. Rock/pop drumming represents a relatively high-intensity form of physical activity and as such involves significant energy expenditure. Rock/pop drumming should be considered as a viable alternative to more traditional forms of physical activity. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Stature and body weight growth during adolescence based on longitudinal data of Japanese children born during World War II.

PubMed

Ashizawa, K; Takahashi, C; Yanagisawa, S

1978-09-01

Longitudinal survey data of stature and body weight from age 7 to 17 were obtained for 100 boys and 100 girls during World War II. The growth rates and the average annual increments were compared with those of children born after the war. Growth attained at age 7 as a percentage of that at age 17 is larger in children of the control group, presumably as a result of an improved environment affecting the growth increment. The age at maximum velocity is six months to one year earlier for the current group of children. Although the maximum velocities for both items and sexes are nearly the same in the groups compared, the total increments are larger in the current group of children. Age, distance, and maximum velocity at adolescent growth spurt were obtained for each child. The mean values were compared according to growth patterns and growth attained at age 7. The "increasing type" growth group has the highest velocity at the greatest distance and the oldest age for stature. Children who were taller or heavier at age 7 have velocity peaks with greater distances.

Running humans attain optimal elastic bounce in their teens.

PubMed

Legramandi, Mario A; Schepens, Bénédicte; Cavagna, Giovanni A

2013-01-01

In an ideal elastic bounce of the body, the time during which mechanical energy is released during the push equals the time during which mechanical energy is absorbed during the brake, and the maximal upward velocity attained by the center of mass equals the maximal downward velocity. Deviations from this ideal model, prolonged push duration and lower upward velocity, have found to be greater in older than in younger adult humans. However it is not known how similarity to the elastic bounce changes during growth and whether an optimal elastic bounce is attained at some age. Here we show that similarity with the elastic bounce is minimal at 2 years and increases with age attaining a maximum at 13-16 years, concomitant with a mirror sixfold decrease of the impact deceleration peak following collision of the foot with the ground. These trends slowly reverse during the course of the lifespan.

Running humans attain optimal elastic bounce in their teens

PubMed Central

Legramandi, Mario A.; Schepens, Bénédicte; Cavagna, Giovanni A.

2013-01-01

In an ideal elastic bounce of the body, the time during which mechanical energy is released during the push equals the time during which mechanical energy is absorbed during the brake, and the maximal upward velocity attained by the center of mass equals the maximal downward velocity. Deviations from this ideal model, prolonged push duration and lower upward velocity, have found to be greater in older than in younger adult humans. However it is not known how similarity to the elastic bounce changes during growth and whether an optimal elastic bounce is attained at some age. Here we show that similarity with the elastic bounce is minimal at 2 years and increases with age attaining a maximum at 13-16 years, concomitant with a mirror sixfold decrease of the impact deceleration peak following collision of the foot with the ground. These trends slowly reverse during the course of the lifespan. PMID:23419705

Job Satisfaction and Performance: The Moderating Effects of Value Attainment and Affective Disposition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hochwarter, Wayne A.; Perrewe, Pamela L.; Ferris, Gerald R.; Brymer, Robert A.

1999-01-01

A study of 270 hotel managers found that the strongest positive relationship between job satisfaction and performance occurred when high attainment of values associated with work was coupled with high-positive or low-negative affective disposition. (SK)

Adrenocortical reserves in hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Agbaht, Kemal; Gullu, Sevim

2014-02-01

Explicit data regarding the changes in adrenocortical reserves during hyperthyroidism do not exist. We aimed to document the capability (response) of adrenal gland to secrete cortisol and DHEA-S during hyperthyroidism compared to euthyroidism, and to describe factors associated with these responses. A standard-dose (0.25 mg/i.v.) ACTH stimulation test was performed to the same patients before hyperthyroidism treatment, and after attainment of euthyroidism. Baseline cortisol (Cor(0)), DHEA-S (DHEA-S(0)), cortisol binding globulin (CBG), ACTH, calculated free cortisol (by Coolen's equation = CFC), free cortisol index (FCI), 60-min cortisol (Cor(60)), and DHEA-S (DHEA-S(60)), delta cortisol (ΔCor), delta DHEA-S (ΔDHEA-S) responses were evaluated. Forty-one patients [22 females, 49.5 ± 15.2 years old, 32 Graves disease, nine toxic nodular goiter] had similar Cor(0), DHEA-S(0), CFC, FCI, and DHEA-S(60) in hyperthyroid and euthyroid states. Cor(60), ΔCor, and ΔDHEA-S were lower in hyperthyroidism. In four (10 %) patients the peak ACTH-stimulated cortisol values were lower than 18 μg/dL. When the test repeated after attainment of euthyroidism, all of the patients had normal cortisol response. Regression analysis demonstrated an independent association of Cor(60) with free T3 in hyperthyroidism. However, the predictors of CFC, FCI, and DHEA-S levels were serum creatinine levels in hyperthyroidism, and both creatinine and transaminase levels in euthyroidism. ACTH-stimulated peak cortisol, delta cortisol, and delta DHEA-S levels are decreased during hyperthyroidism, probably due to increased turnover. Since about 10 % of the subjects with hyperthyroidism are at risk for adrenal insufficiency, clinicians dealing with Graves' disease should be alert to the possibility of adrenal insufficiency during hyperthyroid stage.

Teachers' Roles, Students' Personalities, Inquiry Learning Outcomes, and Practices of Science and Engineering: The Development and Validation of the McGill Attainment Value for Inquiry Engagement Survey in STEM Disciplines

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ibrahim, Ahmed; Aulls, Mark W.; Shore, Bruce M.

2017-01-01

Inquiry engagement is a newly defined construct that represents the participation in carrying out practices of science and engineering to achieve learning outcomes and is influenced by learners' personalities and teachers' roles. Expectancy value theory posits that attainment values are important components of task values that, in turn, directly…

Unpacking acculturation: cultural orientations and educational attainment among Mexican-origin youth.

PubMed

Roche, Kathleen M; Ghazarian, Sharon R; Fernandez-Esquer, Maria Eugenia

2012-07-01

Given educational risks facing Mexican-origin children of immigrant parents, it is important to understand how aspects of the acculturation process influence Mexican-origin youth's educational success. Drawing from selective assimilation theory, this study examined how cultural orientations across myriad facets of acculturation were associated with the educational attainment of second-generation Mexican immigrant youth. The sample included 755 Mexican-origin youth (50% female) in the "Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study." Results from structural equation models indicated that youth reporting greater facility in the English language and a stronger value on familism attained higher levels of education in young adulthood than did other youth. Parents' U.S. social ties and youth's value on early paid work were associated with less educational attainment. Innovative findings from this study indicate the importance of considering both Mexican and American cultural orientations across myriad facets of acculturation for understanding second-generation immigrant Mexican youth's educational attainment.

Regulation of maize kernel weight and carbohydrate metabolism by abscisic acid applied at the early and middle post-pollination stages in vitro.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Li, Xu-Hui; Gao, Zhen; Shen, Si; Liang, Xiao-Gui; Zhao, Xue; Lin, Shan; Zhou, Shun-Li

2017-09-01

Abscisic acid (ABA) accumulates in plants under drought stress, but views on the role of ABA in kernel formation and abortion are not unified. The response of the developing maize kernel to exogenous ABA was investigated by excising kernels from cob sections at four days after pollination and culturing in vitro with different concentrations of ABA (0, 5, 10, 100μM). When ABA was applied at the early post-pollination stage (EPPS), significant weight loss was observed at high ABA concentration (100μM), which could be attributed to jointly affected sink capacity and activity. Endosperm cells and starch granules were decreased significantly with high concentration, and ABA inhibited the activities of soluble acid invertase and acid cell wall invertase, together with earlier attainment of peak values. When ABA was applied at the middle post-pollination stage (MPPS), kernel weight was observably reduced with high concentration and mildly increased with low concentration, which was regulated due to sink activity. The inhibitory effect of high concentration and the mild stimulatory effect of low concentration on sucrose synthase and starch synthase activities were noted, but a peak level of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) was stimulated in all ABA treatments. Interestingly, AGPase peak values were advanced by low concentration and postponed by high concentration. In addition, compared with the control, the weight of low ABA concentration treatments were not statistically significant at the two stages, whereas weight loss from high concentration applied at EPPS was considerably obvious compared with that of the MPPS, but neither led to kernel abortion. The temporal- and dose-dependent impacts of ABA reveal a complex process of maize kernel growth and development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Laser and sunlight-induced fluorescence from chlorophyll pigments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, H. H.; Brown, K. S.

1986-01-01

Fluorescence properties of chlorophyll pigment bearing plant foliage utilizing a 337 nm nitrogen laser and integrating sphere were studied. Measured yields, in terms of number of photons emitted per 100 photons absorbed, range from 1.5 to 0.1 for the 685 nm peak, and from 4.2 to 0.2 for the 730 nm peak. Decreasing order of magnitude puts herbaceous leaves ahead of all others followed by broad leaves of hardwoods and coniferous needles. Meaningful quantization for the fluorescence peaks at 430 and 530 nm could not be attained. Passive monitoring of these fluorescence peaks is successful only for the 685 nm from the ocean surface. Field data show the reflectance changes at 685 nm due to the algae presence amounts to 1% at most.

Beliefs and Values among Rural Citizens: Shared Expectations for Educational Attainment?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deggs, David M.; Miller, Michael T.

2011-01-01

Discussions at the local, state, and national level have been focused on the importance of providing access and opportunity for college attendance. While these discussions are important to raising public interest in higher education attainment, they often negate how community values influence the college attendance decision process. This study…

Injury Prevention in Aircraft Crashes: Investigative Techniques and Applications (la Prevention des lesions lors des accidents d’ avions: les techniques d’investigation et leurs applications)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-02-01

provide the aircrew and passengers with a level of protection commensurate with the risk of operating aircraft in the military and civilian...the time taken to reach peak acceleration and upon the peak acceleration level attained. Long duration acceleration, which can be experienced in...acceleration depends principally on the plateau level of the acceleration imposed on the body, as the response to long duration acceleration is due

Spectroscopy of Solid State Laser Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buoncristiani, A. M.

1994-01-01

We retrieved the vertical distribution of ozone from a series 0.005-0.013/cm resolution infrared solar spectra recorded with the McMath Fourier Transform spectrometer at the Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory. The analysis is based on a multi-layer line-by-line forward model and a semi-empirical version of the optimal estimation inversion method by Rodgers. The 1002.6-1003.2/cm spectral interval has been selected for the analysis on the basis of synthetic spectrum calculations. The characterization and error analysis of the method have been performed. It was shown that for the Kitt Peak spectral resolution and typical signal-to-noise ratio (greater than or equal to 100) the retrieval is stable, with the vertical resolution of approximately 5 km attainable near the surface degrading to approximately 10 km in the stratosphere. Spectra recorded from 1980 through 1993 have been analyzed. The retrieved total ozone and vertical profiles have been compared with total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) satellite total columns for the location and dates of the Kitt Peak Measurements and about 100 ozone ozonesoundings and Brewer total column measurements from Palestine, Texas, from 1979 to 1985. The total ozone measurements agree to +/- 2%. The retrieved profiles reproduce the seasonally averaged variations with altitude, including the ozone spring maximum and fall minimum measured by Palestine sondes, but up to 15% differences in the absolute values are obtained.

[Preparation and evaluation of stationary phase of high performance liquid chromatography for the separation of basic solutes].

PubMed

Wang, P; Wang, J; Cong, R; Dong, B

1997-05-01

A bonded phase for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been prepared by the new reaction between silica and silicon ether. The ether was synthesized from alkylchlorosilane and pentane-2,4-dione in the presence of imidazole under inert conditions by using anhydrous tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The bonded phase thus obtained was characterized by elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy and HPLC evaluation. The carbon content was 9.4% and the surface coverage almost attained 3.0micromol/m2 without end-capping. The silanol absorption peaks of the product cannot be observed from the DRIFT spectrum, which revealed that the silanization reaction proceeded thoroughly. The basic solutes, such as aniline, o-toluidine, p-toluidine, N,N-dimethylaniline and pyridine were used as the probe solutes to examine their interaction with the residual silanols on the surface of the products. No buffer or salt was used in the mobile phase for these experiments. In comparison with an acidic solute, such as, phenol, basic aniline eluted in front of phenol, and the ratio of asymmetry of aniline peak to that of the phenol peak was 1.1. Furthermore the relative k' value of p-toluidine to that of o-toluidine was also 1.1. All the results showed that the stationary phase has better quality and reproducibility and can be used for the separation of basic solutes efficiently.

Limitations to maximum running speed on flat curves.

PubMed

Chang, Young-Hui; Kram, Rodger

2007-03-01

Why is maximal running speed reduced on curved paths? The leading explanation proposes that an increase in lateral ground reaction force necessitates a decrease in peak vertical ground reaction force, assuming that maximum leg extension force is the limiting factor. Yet, no studies have directly measured these forces or tested this critical assumption. We measured maximum sprint velocities and ground reaction forces for five male humans sprinting along a straight track and compared them to sprints along circular tracks of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 m radii. Circular track sprint trials were performed either with or without a tether that applied centripetal force to the center of mass. Sprinters generated significantly smaller peak resultant ground reaction forces during normal curve sprinting compared to straight sprinting. This provides direct evidence against the idea that maximum leg extension force is always achieved and is the limiting factor. Use of the tether increased sprint speed, but not to expected values. During curve sprinting, the inside leg consistently generated smaller peak forces compared to the outside leg. Several competing biomechanical constraints placed on the stance leg during curve sprinting likely make the inside leg particularly ineffective at generating the ground reaction forces necessary to attain maximum velocities comparable to straight path sprinting. The ability of quadrupeds to redistribute function across multiple stance legs and decouple these multiple constraints may provide a distinct advantage for turning performance.

40 CFR 51.907 - For an area that fails to attain the 8-hour NAAQS by its attainment date, how does EPA interpret...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... to 1-year extensions of the attainment date if: (a) For the first 1-year extension, the area's 4th... extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original attainment year and... section, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour average shall be from the monitor with the highest 4th...

40 CFR 51.907 - For an area that fails to attain the 8-hour NAAQS by its attainment date, how does EPA interpret...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... to 1-year extensions of the attainment date if: (a) For the first 1-year extension, the area's 4th... extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original attainment year and... section, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour average shall be from the monitor with the highest 4th...

40 CFR 51.907 - For an area that fails to attain the 8-hour NAAQS by its attainment date, how does EPA interpret...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... to 1-year extensions of the attainment date if: (a) For the first 1-year extension, the area's 4th... extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original attainment year and... section, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour average shall be from the monitor with the highest 4th...

Educational Attainment: A Model for Maximizing Earnings of the Nontraditional Student

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffith, Andrew S.

2011-01-01

This article documents a model for forecasting earnings of the nontraditional student based on macrolevel changes in educational attainment within the workforce using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. It also presents a theoretical case that illustrates the value of improving one's educational attainment level in order to sustain an annualized…

The Future Value of Interscholastic Participation: An Analysis of the Impact of Participation on Future Earnings and Educational Attainment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, William R.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this research was to investigate the future value of interscholastic participation in extracurricular activities on the individual student level. In this study, two relationships were examined: (a) the relationship between high school student participation and postsecondary educational attainment, and (b) the relationship between…

Effectiveness Measures for Cross-Sectional Studies: A Comparison of Value-Added Models and Contextualised Attainment Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lenkeit, Jenny

2013-01-01

Educational effectiveness research often appeals to "value-added models (VAM)" to gauge the impact of schooling on student learning net of the effect of student background variables. A huge amount of cross-sectional studies do not, however, meet VAM's requirement for longitudinal data. "Contextualised attainment models (CAM)"…

Tunable metamaterial dual-band terahertz absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, C. Y.; Li, Z. Z.; Guo, Z. H.; Yue, J.; Luo, Q.; Yao, G.; Ji, J.; Rao, Y. K.; Li, R. K.; Li, D.; Wang, H. X.; Yao, J. Q.; Ling, F. R.

2015-11-01

We report a design of a temperature controlled tunable dual band terahertz absorber. The compact single unit cell consists of two nested closed square ring resonators and a layer metallic separated by a substrate strontium titanate (STO) dielectric layer. It is found that the absorber has two distinctive absorption peaks at frequencies 0.096 THz and 0.137 THz, whose peaks are attained 97% and 75%. Cooling the absorber from 400 K to 250 K causes about 25% and 27% shift compared to the resonance frequency of room temperature, when we cooling the temperature to 150 K, we could attained both the two tunabilities exceeding 53%. The frequency tunability is owing to the variation of the dielectric constant of the low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. The mechanism of the dual band absorber is attributed to the overlapping of dual resonance frequencies, and could be demonstrated by the distributions of the electric field. The method opens up avenues for designing tunable terahertz devices in detection, imaging, and stealth technology.

Effects of Be acceptors on the spin polarization of carriers in p-i-n resonant tunneling diodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Awan, I. T.; Galvão Gobato, Y.; Galeti, H. V. A.

In this paper, we have investigated the effect of Be acceptors on the electroluminescence and the spin polarization in GaAs/AlAs p-i-n resonant tunneling diodes. The quantum well emission comprise two main lines separated by ∼20 meV attributed to excitonic and Be-related transitions, which intensities show remarkably abrupt variations at critical voltages, particularly at the electron resonant peak where it shows a high-frequency bistability. The circular-polarization degree of the quantum-well electroluminescence also shows strong and abrupt variations at the critical bias voltages and it attains relatively large values (of ∼−75% at 15 T). These effects may be explored to design novel devices formore » spintronic applications such as a high-frequency spin-oscillators.« less

Expectancy beliefs and perceived values of Chinese college students in physical education and physical activity.

PubMed

Chen, Ang; Liu, Xinlan

2008-03-01

The expectancy-value theory postulates that motivation relies on individuals' beliefs of success, perceived Attainment, Intrinsic Interest, and Utility values and Cost. This study examined Chinese college students' expectancy-value motivation in relation to physical education and self-initiated physical activity. A random sample of 368 Chinese university students responded to questionnaires on perceived expectancy beliefs, perceived values, and cost in terms of their experiences in mandatory physical education programs and in self-initiated after-school physical activity. They reported their choice decisions for continuing physical education. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2, logistic and linear regressions. The physical education curriculum was perceived as a major cost to motivation. Motivated by the Intrinsic Interest and Utility value, most students chose to continue to take physical education. Self-initiated after-school physical activity was motivated by the Attainment value only. No association was found between self-initiated physical activity and Liking or Disliking of physical education. Motivation for physical education and for self-initiated physical activity derived from different perceived values. The Attainment value motivates the students for self-initiated physical activity, whereas Intrinsic Interest and Utility values motivate them to choose to continue physical education.

Evaluation of High-Performance Space Nuclear Electric Generators for Electric Propulsion Application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodcock, Gordon; Kross, Dennis A. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Electric propulsion applications are enhanced by high power-to-mass ratios for their electric power sources. At multi-megawatt levels, we can expect thrust production systems to be less than 5 kg/kWe. Application of nuclear electric propulsion to human Mars missions becomes an attractive alternative to nuclear thermal propulsion if the propulsion system is less than about 10 kg/kWe. Recent references have projected megawatt-plus nuclear electric sources at specific mass values from less than 1 kg/kWe to about 5 kg/kWe. Various assumptions are made regarding power generation cycle (turbogenerator; MHD (magnetohydrodynamics)) and reactor heat source design. The present paper compares heat source and power generation options on the basis of a parametric model that emphasizes heat transfer design and realizable hardware concept. Pressure drop (important!) is included in the power cycle analysis, and MHD and turbogenerator cycles are compared. Results indicate that power source specific mass less than 5 kg/kWe is attainable, even if peak temperatures achievable are limited to 1500 K. Projections of specific mass less than 1 kg/kWe are unrealistic, even at the highest peak temperatures considered.

Extreme Value Theory and the New Sunspot Number Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acero, F. J.; Carrasco, V. M. S.; Gallego, M. C.; García, J. A.; Vaquero, J. M.

2017-04-01

Extreme value theory was employed to study solar activity using the new sunspot number index. The block maxima approach was used at yearly (1700-2015), monthly (1749-2016), and daily (1818-2016) scales, selecting the maximum sunspot number value for each solar cycle, and the peaks-over-threshold (POT) technique was used after a declustering process only for the daily data. Both techniques led to negative values for the shape parameters. This implies that the extreme sunspot number value distribution has an upper bound. The return level (RL) values obtained from the POT approach were greater than when using the block maxima technique. Regarding the POT approach, the 110 year (550 and 1100 year) RLs were lower (higher) than the daily maximum observed sunspot number value of 528. Furthermore, according to the block maxima approach, the 10-cycle RL lay within the block maxima daily sunspot number range, as expected, but it was striking that the 50- and 100-cycle RLs were also within that range. Thus, it would seem that the RL is reaching a plateau, and, although one must be cautious, it would be difficult to attain sunspot number values greater than 550. The extreme value trends from the four series (yearly, monthly, and daily maxima per solar cycle, and POT after declustering the daily data) were analyzed with the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s method. Only the negative trend of the daily data with the POT technique was statistically significant.

Credit Where Credit Is Due: An Approach to Education Returns Based on Shapley Values

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barakat, Bilal; Crespo Cuaresma, Jesus

2017-01-01

We propose the use of methods based on the Shapley value to assess the fact that private returns to lower levels of educational attainment should be credited with part of the returns from higher attainment levels, since achieving primary education is a necessary condition to enter secondary and tertiary educational levels. We apply the proposed…

Study of the peak shape in alpha spectra measured by liquid scintillation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vera Tomé, F.; Gómez Escobar, V.; Martín Sánchez, A.

2002-06-01

Liquid-scintillation counting allows the measurement of alpha and beta activities jointly or only of the alpha-emitting nuclides in a sample. Although the resolution of the alpha spectra is poorer than that attained with semiconductor detectors, it is still an attractive alternative. We describe here attempts to fit a peak shape to experimental liquid-scintillation alpha spectra and discuss the parameters affecting this shape, such as the PSA (pulse-shape analyser) level, vial type, shaking the sample, etc. Spectral analysis has been applied for complex alpha spectra.

Fast Faraday fading of long range satellite signals.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heron, M. L.

1972-01-01

20 MHz radio signals have been received during the day from satellite Beacon-B when it was below the optical horizon by using a bank of narrow filters to improve the signal to noise ratio. The Faraday fading rate becomes constant, under these conditions, at a level determined by the plasma frequency just below the F-layer peak. Variations in the Faraday fading rate reveal fluctuations in the electron density near the peak, while the rate of attaining the constant level depends on the shape of the electron density profile.

Lipid Management in a Japanese Community:Attainment Rate of Target Set by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for the Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases 2012.

PubMed

Tada, Hayato; Kawashiri, Masa-Aki; Nohara, Atsushi; Inazu, Akihiro; Kobayashi, Junji; Yasuda, Kenji; Mabuchi, Hiroshi; Yamagishi, Masakazu; Hayashi, Kenshi

2017-03-01

The Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) guidelines for the prevention of atherosclerotic diseases 2012 (JAS2012) proposed lipid management targets; however, less data is available regarding the attainment rates of each target in community-based settings. Therefore, we assessed the attainment rates of lipid management targets among subjects who underwent Japanese specific health checkups. A total of 85,716 subjects (male=29,282, 34.2%) aged 40-74 years who underwent specific health checkups from 2012 to 2014 in Kanazawa city, Japan, were included in this study. We evaluated the attainment rates of the lipid management targets according to the JAS2012 guideline and investigated the clinical characteristics of the subjects without achieving the targets. The target for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) was the least attained in all risk categories, 89, 72, 50, and 34% for category I, II, III, and secondary prevention, respectively, in 2014. In addition, these rates inversely correlated with the grade of risk categories (p-value for trends ＜0.001). Attainment rate of the LDL-C target in the suspected chronic kidney disease (CKD) group was significantly lower than in the groups with diabetes, stroke, or absolute risk in category III (49.2, 60.3, 63.5, 54.4%, respectively, p-value ＜0.001 for each). Moreover, the attainment rate of the LDL-C target was significantly lower in subjects that did not receive lipid-lowering therapy than in those who received it in the secondary prevention (27.7 and 40.6%, respectively, p-value ＜0.001). Lipid management is inadequate in community-based settings, particularly, in subjects with CKD and secondary prevention.

75 FR 68733 - Approval and Promulgation of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-09

... Philadelphia Area's 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored ozone value during the 2009 ozone season at each monitor...-year extensions of the attainment date if: (a) For the first 1-year extension, the area's 4th highest... second 1-year extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original...

Lies, Damned Lies, and Health Inequality Measurements

PubMed Central

Gerdtham, Ulf-G; Petrie, Dennis

2015-01-01

Measuring and monitoring socioeconomic health inequalities are critical for understanding the impact of policy decisions. However, the measurement of health inequality is far from value neutral, and one can easily present the measure that best supports one’s chosen conclusion or selectively exclude measures. Improving people’s understanding of the often implicit value judgments is therefore important to reduce the risk that researchers mislead or policymakers are misled. While the choice between relative and absolute inequality is already value laden, further complexities arise when, as is often the case, health variables have both a lower and upper bound, and thus can be expressed in terms of either attainments or shortfalls, such as for mortality/survival. We bring together the recent parallel discussions from epidemiology and health economics regarding health inequality measurement and provide a deeper understanding of the different value judgments within absolute and relative measures expressed both in attainments and shortfalls, by graphically illustrating both hypothetical and real examples. We show that relative measures in terms of attainments and shortfalls have distinct value judgments, highlighting that for health variables with two bounds the choice is no longer only between an absolute and a relative measure but between an absolute, an attainment- relative and a shortfall-relative one. We illustrate how these three value judgments can be combined onto a single graph which shows the rankings according to all three measures, and illustrates how the three measures provide ethical benchmarks against which to judge the difference in inequality between populations. PMID:26133019

High speed demodulation systems for fiber optic grating sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Udd, Eric (Inventor); Weisshaar, Andreas (Inventor)

2002-01-01

Fiber optic grating sensor demodulation systems are described that offer high speed and multiplexing options for both single and multiple parameter fiber optic grating sensors. To attain very high speeds for single parameter fiber grating sensors ratio techniques are used that allow a series of sensors to be placed in a single fiber while retaining high speed capability. These methods can be extended to multiparameter fiber grating sensors. Optimization of speeds can be obtained by minimizing the number of spectral peaks that must be processed and it is shown that two or three spectral peak measurements may in specific multiparameter applications offer comparable or better performance than processing four spectral peaks. Combining the ratio methods with minimization of peak measurements allows very high speed measurement of such important environmental effects as transverse strain and pressure.

High-frequency rotational losses in different soft magnetic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de la Barrière, O.; Appino, C.; Ragusa, C.; Fiorillo, F.; Mazaleyrat, F.; LoBue, M.

2014-05-01

The isotropic properties of Soft Magnetic Composites (SMC) favor the design of new machine topologies and their granular structure can induce a potential decrease of the dynamic loss component. This paper is devoted to the characterization of the broadband magnetic losses of different SMC types under alternating and circular induction. The investigated materials differ by their grain size, heat treatment, compaction rate, and binder type. It is shown that, up to peak polarization Jp = 1.25 T, the ratios between the rotational and the alternating loss components (classical, hysteresis, and excess) are quite independent of the material structural details, quite analogous to the known behavior of nonoriented steel laminations. On the contrary, at higher inductions, it is observed that the Jp value at which the rotational hysteresis loss attains its maximum, related to the progressive disappearance of the domain walls under increasing rotational fields, decreases with the material susceptibility.

Dynamics of lipoprotein level in blood plasma of pregnant women as a function of gestational age according to FTIR spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korolik, E. V.; Korolenko, E. A.; Tretinnikov, O. N.; Kozlyakova, O. V.; Korolik, A. K.; Kirkovskiy, V. V.

2013-01-01

Results of an IR spectroscopic investigation of films of blood plasma taken from women of reproductive age, pregnant women with positive and negative Rh factors, and Rh-immunized women were presented as a function of gestational age. It was found that the lipoprotein content in blood plasma of all groups of pregnant women increased during the early stages of pregnancy (17-23 weeks) irrespective of the Rh factor and attained its peak value by weeks 30-35. It was shown that the lipoprotein level in blood plasma as a function of gestational age was quantitatively the same for pregnant women with positive and negative Rh factors. It was established for the first time that this dependence for Rh-immunized women featured a considerable increase of lipoprotein content at gestational age 30-32 weeks and declined acutely by week 36.

Technique for enhancing the power output of an electrostatic generator employing parametric resonance

DOEpatents

Post, Richard F.

2016-02-23

A circuit-based technique enhances the power output of electrostatic generators employing an array of axially oriented rods or tubes or azimuthal corrugated metal surfaces for their electrodes. During generator operation, the peak voltage across the electrodes occurs at an azimuthal position that is intermediate between the position of minimum gap and maximum gap. If this position is also close to the azimuthal angle where the rate of change of capacity is a maximum, then the highest rf power output possible for a given maximum allowable voltage at the minimum gap can be attained. This rf power output is then coupled to the generator load through a coupling condenser that prevents suppression of the dc charging potential by conduction through the load. Optimized circuit values produce phase shifts in the rf output voltage that allow higher power output to occur at the same voltage limit at the minimum gap position.

Statistical fluctuations in cooperative cyclotron radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anishchenko, S. V.; Baryshevsky, V. G.

2018-01-01

Shot noise is the cause of statistical fluctuations in cooperative cyclotron radiation generated by an ensemble of electrons oscillating in magnetic field. Autophasing time - the time required for the cooperative cyclotron radiation power to peak - is the critical parameter characterizing the dynamics of electron-oscillators interacting via the radiation field. It is shown that premodulation of charged particles leads to a considerable narrowing of the autophasing time distribution function for which the analytic expression is obtained. When the number of particles Ne exceeds a certain value that depends on the degree to which the particles have been premodulated, the relative root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of the autophasing time δT changes from a logarithmic dependence on Ne (δT ∼ 1 / lnNe) to square-root (δT ∼ 1 /√{Ne }). A slight energy spread (∼4%) results in a twofold drop of the maximum attainable power of cooperative cyclotron radiation.

The influence of age, playing position, anthropometry and fitness on career attainment outcomes in rugby league.

PubMed

Till, Kevin; Cobley, Steve; Morley, David; O'hara, John; Chapman, Chris; Cooke, Carlton

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the influence of annual-age category, relative age, playing position, anthropometry and fitness on the career attainment outcomes of junior rugby league players originally selected for a talent identification and development (TID) programme. Junior rugby league players (N = 580) were grouped retrospectively according to their career attainment level (i.e., amateur, academy and professional). Anthropometric (height, sitting height, body mass, sum of four skinfolds), maturational (age at peak height velocity; PHV) and fitness (power, speed, change of direction speed, estimated[Formula: see text]) characteristics were assessed at the Under 13s, 14s and 15s annual-age categories. Relative age (Q2 = 8.5% vs. Q4 = 25.5%) and playing position (Pivots = 19.5% vs. Props = 5.8%) influenced the percentage of players attaining professional status. Anthropometry and fitness had a significant effect on career attainment at the Under 14 (P = 0.002, η(2) = 0.16) and 15 (P = 0.01, η(2) = 0.12) annual-age categories. Findings at the Under 14s showed future professional players were significantly later maturing compared to academy and amateur players. Findings suggest that relative age, playing position, anthropometry and fitness can influence the career attainment of junior rugby league players. TID programmes within rugby league, and other related team sports, should be aware and acknowledge the factors influencing long-term career attainment, and not delimit development opportunities during early adolescence.

Clinical Features and Gaps in the Management of Probable Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Cardiovascular Disease.

PubMed

Zafrir, Barak; Jubran, Ayman; Lavie, Gil; Halon, David A; Flugelman, Moshe Y; Shapira, Chen

2017-12-25

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The introduction of potent therapeutic agents underlies the importance of improving clinical diagnosis and treatment gaps in FH.Methods and Results:A regional database of 1,690 adult patients with high-probability FH based on age-dependent peak-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) cut-offs and exclusion of secondary causes of severe hypercholesterolemia, was examined to explore the clinical manifestations and current needs in the management of ASCVD, which was present in 248 patients (15%), of whom 83% had coronary artery disease (CAD); 19%, stroke; and 13%, peripheral artery disease. ASCVD was associated with male gender, higher peak LDL-C, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and traditional risk factor burden. Despite high-intensity statin (prescribed in 83% and combined with ezetimibe in 42%), attainment of LDL-C treatment goals was low, and associated with treatment intensity and drug adherence. Multivessel CAD (adjusted hazard ratios (HR), 3.05; 95% CI: 1.65-5.64), myocardial infarction, and the presence of ≥1 traditional risk factor (HR, 2.59; 95% CI: 1.42-4.71), were associated with repeat coronary revascularizations, in contrast with peak LDL-C >300 mg/dL (HR, 1.13; 95% CI: 0.66-1.91). Main manifestations of ASCVD in FH patients were premature, multivessel CAD with need for recurrent revascularization, associated with classical cardiovascular risk factors but not with peak LDL-C. In spite of intensive therapy with lipid-lowering agents, treatment gaps were significant, with low attainment of LDL-C treatment goals.

13C 12C exchange between calcite and graphite: A possible thermometer in Grenville marbles

USGS Publications Warehouse

Valley, J.W.; O'Neil, J.R.

1981-01-01

The fractionation of 13C between calcite and graphite, ??(Cc-Gr). is consistently small (2.6-4.8 permil) in 34 assemblages from upper amphibolite- and granulite-facies marbles of the Grenville Province. In 25 samples from the Adirondack Mountains, New York, it decreases regularly with increasing metamorphic temperature. The fractionations are independent of absolute ??13C values of calcite (-2.9 to +5.0). For T = 600-800??C, the Adirondack data are described by ??(Cc-Gr) = -0.00748T (??C) + 8.68. This good correlation between ?? and T suggests that carbon isotope equilibrium was attained in these high-grade marbles and that the theoretical calculations of this fractionation by Bottinga are approximately 2 permil too large in this temperature range. Because of the relatively high temperature sensitivity suggested by these results and by Bottinga's calculations, and the pressure independence of isotope fractionation, ??(Cc-Gr) may provide a very good thermometer for high-grade marbles. Comparison of this field calibration for ??(Cc-Gr) vs temperature with results from other terranes supports the utility of ??(Cc-Gr) for geothermometry and suggests that graphite is much more sluggish to exchange than calcite, that exchange between calcite and graphite occurs at temperatures as low as 300??C, and that equilibrium may normally be attained only when peak metamorphic temperatures are greater than 500-600??C. Because 13C exchange is an unavoidable metamorphic process at temperatures above 300??C, high values of ??13C(Gr) in moderate- to high-grade carbonate-bearing rocks do not provide a sufficient criterion to infer an abiogenic origin for the graphite. ?? 1981.

"It's the Camaraderie": A History of Parent Cooperative Preschools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hewes, Dorothy W.

This book offers a comprehensive history of the parent cooperative preschool movement, a unique educational system that attained its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. The book uses interviews with pioneers and current members of parent cooperatives, official documents, periodicals, and scholarly publications to offer a history that weaves the…

Early life factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

PubMed

Winsloe, Chivon; Earl, Susie; Dennison, Elaine M; Cooper, Cyrus; Harvey, Nicholas C

2009-12-01

Osteoporosis is a major public health burden through associated fragility fractures. Bone mass, a composite of bone size and volumetric density, increases through early life and childhood to a peak in early adulthood. The peak bone mass attained is a strong predictor of future risk of osteoporosis. Evidence is accruing that environmental factors in utero and in early infancy may permanently modify the postnatal pattern of skeletal growth to peak and thus influence risk of osteoporosis in later life. This article describes the latest data in this exciting area of research, including novel epigenetic and translation work, which should help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and give rise to potential public health interventions to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fracture in future generations.

75 FR 43069 - Approval of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard in the Baltimore...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-23

... standard (NAAQS). This extension is based in part on air quality data for the 4th highest daily 8-hour... attainment date if: (a) For the first one-year extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour average in the... 4th highest daily 8-hour value, averaged over both the original attainment year and the first...

The Relationship of Values in Elementary School 4th Grade Social Studies Textbook with the Attainments and Their Level of Being Included in Student Workbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kilic, Abdurrahman

2012-01-01

In this study, the relationship of values in elementary school 4th grade Social Studies textbook with the attainments and their level of being included in student workbook are tried to be determined. Case study, which is a qualitative research method, was applied for this research. To collect data, document analysis technique, which is among the…

Extrinsic value orientation and affective forecasting: overestimating the rewards, underestimating the costs.

PubMed

Sheldon, Kennon M; Gunz, Alexander; Nichols, Charles P; Ferguson, Yuna

2010-02-01

We examined affective forecasting errors as a possible explanation of the perennial appeal of extrinsic values and goals. Study 1 found that although people relatively higher in extrinsic (money, fame, image) compared to intrinsic (growth, intimacy, community) value orientation (REVO) are less happy, they nevertheless believe that attaining extrinsic goals offers a strong potential route to happiness. Study 2's longitudinal experimental design randomly assigned participants to pursue either 3 extrinsic or 3 intrinsic goals over 4 weeks, and REVO again predicted stronger forecasts regarding extrinsic goals. However, not even extrinsically oriented participants gained well-being benefits from attaining extrinsic goals, whereas all participants tended to gain in happiness from attaining intrinsic goals. Study 3 showed that the effect of REVO on forecasts is mediated by extrinsic individuals' belief that extrinsic goals will satisfy autonomy and competence needs. It appears that some people overestimate the emotional benefits of achieving extrinsic goals, to their potential detriment.

Intercomparison of SOUP, ASP, LPSP, and MDI magnetograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berger, T.; Lites, B.; Martinez-Pillet, V.; Tarbell, T.; Title, A.

2001-05-01

We compare simultaneous magnetograms of a solar active region taken by the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter (ASP) and the Solar Optical Universal Polimeter (SOUP) in 1998. In addition we compare magnetograms taken by the La Palma Stokes Polarimeter (LPSP), the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on SOHO, and the SOUP instrument in 2000. The SOUP instrument on the Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope (SVST) attains the highest spatial resolution but has the least understood calibration; the ASP on the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) at Sacramento Peak attains the highest magnetic field precision. The goal of the program is to better quantify the SOUP magnetograms and thereby study magnetic element dynamics in the photosphere with higher precision.

The significance of relative density for particle damage in loaded and sheared gravels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fityus, Stephen; Imre, Emőke

2017-06-01

For granular assemblages of strong particles, an increase in the relative density usually leads to a significant increase in shear strength, which is evident as a peak strength, accompanied by significant dilation as the peak strength is attained. This paper describes an experimental study of shearing in assemblages of weak particles, where particle breakage offsets dilation for all but the lowest of confining stresses. In such materials, prone to particle breakage, the shear strengths of loose and dense assemblages rapidly converge to similar values as confining stress increases, and any benefit of greater relative density is lost. This is attributed to the densification effect associated with the loading under a high stress prior to shearing, which is characterised by widespread particle breakage and the formation of smaller particles to occupy space between coarser ones. Interestingly, under both low and high stresses, there was a tendency for greater particle breakage in the loose samples, as a result of both shearing and compression. This result suggests that, despite the denser assemblage having its particles more rigidly constrained and less able to rearrange to avoid direct loading, the influence of greater load-spreading capacity afforded by an increased number of particle contacts in a denser sample, is more dominant in controlling breakage.

Equivalent peak resolution: characterization of the extent of separation for two components based on their relative peak overlap.

PubMed

Dvořák, Martin; Svobodová, Jana; Dubský, Pavel; Riesová, Martina; Vigh, Gyula; Gaš, Bohuslav

2015-03-01

Although the classical formula of peak resolution was derived to characterize the extent of separation only for Gaussian peaks of equal areas, it is often used even when the peaks follow non-Gaussian distributions and/or have unequal areas. This practice can result in misleading information about the extent of separation in terms of the severity of peak overlap. We propose here the use of the equivalent peak resolution value, a term based on relative peak overlap, to characterize the extent of separation that had been achieved. The definition of equivalent peak resolution is not constrained either by the form(s) of the concentration distribution function(s) of the peaks (Gaussian or non-Gaussian) or the relative area of the peaks. The equivalent peak resolution value and the classically defined peak resolution value are numerically identical when the separated peaks are Gaussian and have identical areas and SDs. Using our new freeware program, Resolution Analyzer, one can calculate both the classically defined and the equivalent peak resolution values. With the help of this tool, we demonstrate here that the classical peak resolution values mischaracterize the extent of peak overlap even when the peaks are Gaussian but have different areas. We show that under ideal conditions of the separation process, the relative peak overlap value is easily accessible by fitting the overall peak profile as the sum of two Gaussian functions. The applicability of the new approach is demonstrated on real separations. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

Supplementary Environmental Baseline Studies and Evaluation of the St. Mary’s River 1980. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Season Extension Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

Crossman, 1973) or because water temperatures are more favorable ( Crawshaw , 1975). Peaks in the length frequency distribution of brown bullhead at 50...269. Crawshaw , L. I. 1975. Attainment of final thermal preferendum in brown bullheads acclimated to different temperatures. Comp. Biochem. Physiol

Method and apparatus for analog pulse pile-up rejection

DOEpatents

De Geronimo, Gianluigi

2013-12-31

A method and apparatus for pulse pile-up rejection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a delay value application constituent configured to receive a threshold-crossing time value, and provide an adjustable value according to a delay value and the threshold-crossing time value; and a comparison constituent configured to receive a peak-occurrence time value and the adjustable value, compare the peak-occurrence time value with the adjustable value, indicate pulse acceptance if the peak-occurrence time value is less than or equal to the adjustable value, and indicate pulse rejection if the peak-occurrence time value is greater than the adjustable value.

Method and apparatus for analog pulse pile-up rejection

DOEpatents

De Geronimo, Gianluigi

2014-11-18

A method and apparatus for pulse pile-up rejection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a delay value application constituent configured to receive a threshold-crossing time value, and provide an adjustable value according to a delay value and the threshold-crossing time value; and a comparison constituent configured to receive a peak-occurrence time value and the adjustable value, compare the peak-occurrence time value with the adjustable value, indicate pulse acceptance if the peak-occurrence time value is less than or equal to the adjustable value, and indicate pulse rejection if the peak-occurrence time value is greater than the adjustable value.

Peak oxygen uptake in a sprint interval testing protocol vs. maximal oxygen uptake in an incremental testing protocol and their relationship with cross-country mountain biking performance.

PubMed

Hebisz, Rafał; Hebisz, Paulina; Zatoń, Marek; Michalik, Kamil

2017-04-01

In the literature, the exercise capacity of cyclists is typically assessed using incremental and endurance exercise tests. The aim of the present study was to confirm whether peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ) attained in a sprint interval testing protocol correlates with cycling performance, and whether it corresponds to maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O 2max ) determined by an incremental testing protocol. A sample of 28 trained mountain bike cyclists executed 3 performance tests: (i) incremental testing protocol (ITP) in which the participant cycled to volitional exhaustion, (ii) sprint interval testing protocol (SITP) composed of four 30 s maximal intensity cycling bouts interspersed with 90 s recovery periods, (iii) competition in a simulated mountain biking race. Oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, work, and power output were measured during the ITP and SITP with postexercise blood lactate and hydrogen ion concentrations collected. Race times were recorded. No significant inter-individual differences were observed in regards to any of the ITP-associated variables. However, 9 individuals presented significantly increased oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, and work output in the SITP compared with the remaining cyclists. In addition, in this group of 9 cyclists, oxygen uptake in SITP was significantly higher than in ITP. After the simulated race, this group of 9 cyclists achieved significantly better competition times (99.5 ± 5.2 min) than the other cyclists (110.5 ± 6.7 min). We conclude that mountain bike cyclists who demonstrate higher peak oxygen uptake in a sprint interval testing protocol than maximal oxygen uptake attained in an incremental testing protocol demonstrate superior competitive performance.

The process of maternal role attainment over the first year.

PubMed

Mercer, R T

1985-01-01

A study of the process of maternal role attainment in three age groups (15 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, and 30 to 42 years) over the first year of motherhood found that the role attainment behaviors of feelings of love for the baby, gratification in the maternal role, observed maternal behavior, and self-reported ways of handling irritating child behaviors did not show a positive linear increase over the year. Behaviors peaked at 4 months postbirth, but declined at 8 months. Interview data suggested that the challenges of the infant's developmental behaviors at 8 and 12 months contributed to feelings of role incompetency. Although age groups functioned at different levels, their patterns of behaviors over the year did not vary, except for gratification in the role, indicating that the maternal role presented similar challenges for all women. There were no significant differences by maternal age in role strain or self-image as a mother over the year.

Goal attainment in cognitive rehabilitation in MS patients.

PubMed

Hanssen, Kjersti Træland; Saltytė Benth, Jūratė; Beiske, Antonie Giæver; Landrø, Nils Inge; Hessen, Erik

2015-01-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the predictive value of important disease-related variables on goal attainment in cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The possible predictive value of executive functions, neurological disability, depression and general cognitive ability was assessed, employing Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Fifty-seven patients with MS were assessed for executive functions, neurological disability, depression and general cognitive ability, and guided through the process of formulating GAS-goals for coping with cognitive challenges in everyday life during a four week in-patient cognitive rehabilitation programme. GAS-goal attainment was scored during biweekly follow-up calls in the first three months post-discharge from the rehabilitation centre, and finally at seven months after the start of the rehabilitation. Consistent with the first study hypothesis MS patients succeeded in formulating and achieving GAS goals for coping with cognitive problems in everyday life. The patients were able to maintain a satisfactory level of goal attainment from the first measurement point after six weeks to seven months after the start of the rehabilitation. However, contrary to the second hypothesis, attainment of GAS goals was not predicted by executive functions. Neither was it predicted by neurological disability, depression or general cognitive ability. The findings suggest that GAS may be a practical and robust method in cognitive rehabilitation in MS patients, regardless of important disease-related characteristics.

Current-voltage characteristics influenced by the nanochannel diameter and surface charge density in a fluidic field-effect-transistor.

PubMed

Singh, Kunwar Pal; Guo, Chunlei

2017-06-21

The nanochannel diameter and surface charge density have a significant impact on current-voltage characteristics in a nanofluidic transistor. We have simulated the effect of the channel diameter and surface charge density on current-voltage characteristics of a fluidic nanochannel with positive surface charge on its walls and a gate electrode on its surface. Anion depletion/enrichment leads to a decrease/increase in ion current with gate potential. The ion current tends to increase linearly with gate potential for narrow channels at high surface charge densities and narrow channels are more effective to control the ion current at high surface charge densities. The current-voltage characteristics are highly nonlinear for wide channels at low surface charge densities and they show different regions of current change with gate potential. The ion current decreases with gate potential after attaining a peak value for wide channels at low values of surface charge densities. At low surface charge densities, the ion current can be controlled by a narrow range of gate potentials for wide channels. The current change with source drain voltage shows ohmic, limiting and overlimiting regions.

Optimal control theory for non-scalar-valued performance criteria. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gerring, H. P.

1971-01-01

The theory of optimal control for nonscalar-valued performance criteria is discussed. In the space, where the performance criterion attains its value, the relations better than, worse than, not better than, and not worse than are defined by a partial order relation. The notion of optimality splits up into superiority and non-inferiority, because worse than is not the complement of better than, in general. A superior solution is better than every other solution. A noninferior solution is not worse than any other solution. Noninferior solutions have been investigated particularly for vector-valued performance criteria. Superior solutions for non-scalar-valued performance criteria attaining their values in abstract partially ordered spaces are emphasized. The main result is the infimum principle which constitutes necessary conditions for a control to be a superior solution to an optimal control problem.

Does perfectionism in bipolar disorder pedigrees mediate associations between anxiety/stress and mood symptoms?

PubMed

Corry, Justine; Green, Melissa; Roberts, Gloria; Fullerton, Janice M; Schofield, Peter R; Mitchell, Philip B

2017-10-06

Bipolar disorder (BD) and the anxiety disorders are highly comorbid. The present study sought to examine perfectionism and goal attainment values as potential mechanisms of known associations between anxiety, stress and BD symptomatology. Measures of perfectionism and goal attainment values were administered to 269 members of BD pedigrees, alongside measures of anxiety and stress, and BD mood symptoms. Regression analyses were used to determine whether perfectionism and goal attainment values were related to depressive and (hypo)manic symptoms; planned mediation models were then used to test the potential for perfectionism to mediate associations between anxiety/stress and BD symptoms. Self-oriented perfectionism was associated with chronic depressive symptoms; socially-prescribed perfectionism was associated with chronic (hypo)manic symptoms. Self-oriented perfectionism mediated relationships between anxiety/stress and chronic depressive symptoms even after controlling for chronic hypomanic symptoms. Similarly, socially-prescribed perfectionism mediated associations between anxiety/stress and chronic hypomanic symptoms after controlling for chronic depressive symptoms. Goal attainment beliefs were not uniquely associated with chronic depressive or (hypo)manic symptoms. Cognitive styles of perfectionism may explain the co-occurrence of anxiety and stress symptoms and BD symptoms. Psychological interventions for anxiety and stress symptoms in BD might therefore address perfectionism in attempt to reduce depression and (hypo)manic symptoms in addition to appropriate pharmacotherapy.

More Value through Greater Differentiation: Gender Differences in Value Beliefs about Math

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaspard, Hanna; Dicke, Anna-Lena; Flunger, Barbara; Schreier, Brigitte; Häfner, Isabelle; Trautwein, Ulrich; Nagengast, Benjamin

2015-01-01

Expectancy-value theory (Eccles et al., 1983) is a prominent approach to explaining gender differences in math-related academic choices, with value beliefs acting as an important explanatory factor. Expectancy-value theory defines 4 value components: intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and cost. The present study followed up on…

Distance Education as a Women Empowerment Strategy in Africa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olakulein, Felix Kayode; Ojo, Olugbenga David

2006-01-01

Women emancipation through empowerment all over the world is at its peak and Africans generally are not left out. It is an attempt to make sure that women's voices are heard and are given their right places in the scheme of things. Nonetheless, the issue of educational attainment of women considering the low level of girls' education in Africa is…

Single Photon Counting Performance and Noise Analysis of CMOS SPAD-Based Image Sensors.

PubMed

Dutton, Neale A W; Gyongy, Istvan; Parmesan, Luca; Henderson, Robert K

2016-07-20

SPAD-based solid state CMOS image sensors utilising analogue integrators have attained deep sub-electron read noise (DSERN) permitting single photon counting (SPC) imaging. A new method is proposed to determine the read noise in DSERN image sensors by evaluating the peak separation and width (PSW) of single photon peaks in a photon counting histogram (PCH). The technique is used to identify and analyse cumulative noise in analogue integrating SPC SPAD-based pixels. The DSERN of our SPAD image sensor is exploited to confirm recent multi-photon threshold quanta image sensor (QIS) theory. Finally, various single and multiple photon spatio-temporal oversampling techniques are reviewed.

Dynamic control of ocular disaccommodation: First and second-order dynamics

PubMed Central

Bharadwaj, Shrikant R.; Schor, Clifton M.

2006-01-01

Velocity and acceleration characteristics provide valuable information about dynamic control of accommodation. We investigated velocity and acceleration of disaccommodation (near-far focusing) from three starting positions. Peak velocity and peak acceleration of disaccommodation increased with the proximity of starting position however for a given starting position they were invariant of response magnitude. These results suggest that all disaccommodation responses are initiated towards a constant primary destination and are switched mid-flight to attain the desired final position. Large discrepancies between the primary destination and desired final position appear to produce overshoots and oscillations of small responses from proximal starting positions. PMID:16045960

Deformation-induced splitting of the isoscalar E 0 giant resonance: Skyrme random-phase-approximation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kvasil, J.; Nesterenko, V. O.; Repko, A.; Kleinig, W.; Reinhard, P.-G.

2016-12-01

The deformation-induced splitting of isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) is systematically analyzed in a wide range of masses covering medium, rare-earth, actinide, and superheavy axial deformed nuclei. The study is performed within the fully self-consistent quasiparticle random-phase-approximation method based on the Skyrme functional. Two Skyrme forces, one with a large (SV-bas) and one with a small (SkP) nuclear incompressibility, are considered. The calculations confirm earlier results that, because of the deformation-induced E 0 -E 2 coupling, the isoscalar E 0 resonance attains a double-peak structure and significant energy upshift. Our results are compared with available analytic estimations. Unlike earlier studies, we get a smaller energy difference between the lower and upper peaks and thus a stronger E 0 -E 2 coupling. This in turn results in more pumping of E 0 strength into the lower peak and more pronounced splitting of ISGMR. We also discuss widths of the peaks and their negligible correlation with deformation.

Educational Attainment and Financial Satisfaction: The Changing Economic Value of a College Degree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menard, Lauren Ann

2014-01-01

Dwindling American financial satisfaction and growing college degree attainment were revealed in national social survey data spanning more than four decades (N = 57,061). Against these backdrops, associations between being financially satisfied and having a college degree grew stronger in each decade, with the strongest association between…

78 FR 37741 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; South Coast; Contingency Measures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-24

.... Id. \\7\\ Consistent with EPA's definition of ``design value'' in 40 CFR 58.1, we use the term ``design... evaluations below. Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program The Contingency Measures SIP identifies a portion of the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program...

How Is Postsecondary Education Associated with Membership in the American Corporate Elite?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ott, Molly C.

2011-01-01

This study contributes to the discussion around the value of a college degree and associated career advantages by considering how postsecondary education contributes to the attainment of the most powerful and prestigious positions in the American corporate world. Guided by a conceptual framework informed by status attainment, power elite, and…

Role of renal function in risk assessment of target non-attainment after standard dosing of meropenem in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Ehmann, Lisa; Zoller, Michael; Minichmayr, Iris K; Scharf, Christina; Maier, Barbara; Schmitt, Maximilian V; Hartung, Niklas; Huisinga, Wilhelm; Vogeser, Michael; Frey, Lorenz; Zander, Johannes; Kloft, Charlotte

2017-10-21

Severe bacterial infections remain a major challenge in intensive care units because of their high prevalence and mortality. Adequate antibiotic exposure has been associated with clinical success in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the target attainment of standard meropenem dosing in a heterogeneous critically ill population, to quantify the impact of the full renal function spectrum on meropenem exposure and target attainment, and ultimately to translate the findings into a tool for practical application. A prospective observational single-centre study was performed with critically ill patients with severe infections receiving standard dosing of meropenem. Serial blood samples were drawn over 4 study days to determine meropenem serum concentrations. Renal function was assessed by creatinine clearance according to the Cockcroft and Gault equation (CLCR CG ). Variability in meropenem serum concentrations was quantified at the middle and end of each monitored dosing interval. The attainment of two pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets (100%T >MIC , 50%T >4×MIC ) was evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 2 mg/L and 8 mg/L and standard meropenem dosing (1000 mg, 30-minute infusion, every 8 h). Furthermore, we assessed the impact of CLCR CG on meropenem concentrations and target attainment and developed a tool for risk assessment of target non-attainment. Large inter- and intra-patient variability in meropenem concentrations was observed in the critically ill population (n = 48). Attainment of the target 100%T >MIC was merely 48.4% and 20.6%, given MIC values of 2 mg/L and 8 mg/L, respectively, and similar for the target 50%T >4×MIC . A hyperbolic relationship between CLCR CG (25-255 ml/minute) and meropenem serum concentrations at the end of the dosing interval (C 8h ) was derived. For infections with pathogens of MIC 2 mg/L, mild renal impairment up to augmented renal function was identified as a risk factor for target non-attainment (for MIC 8 mg/L, additionally, moderate renal impairment). The investigated standard meropenem dosing regimen appeared to result in insufficient meropenem exposure in a considerable fraction of critically ill patients. An easy- and free-to-use tool (the MeroRisk Calculator) for assessing the risk of target non-attainment for a given renal function and MIC value was developed. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01793012 . Registered on 24 January 2013.

An examination of the factors related to women's degree attainment and career goals in science, technology, and mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nitopi, Marie

During the last 30 years, women have made tremendous advances in educational attainment especially in post-secondary education. Despite these advances, recent researchers have revealed that women continue to remain underrepresented in attainment of graduate degrees in the sciences. The researcher's purpose in this study was to extend previous research and to develop a model of variables that significantly contribute to persistence in and attainment of a graduate degree and an eventual career in the science, mathematics, or technology professions. Data were collected from the Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03). Variables in the categories of demographics, academics, finances, values and attitudes toward educational experiences, and future employment were analyzed by t tests and logistic regressions to determine gender differences in graduate degree attainment and career goals by male and female who majored in science, technology and mathematics. Findings supported significant gender differences in expectations for a graduate degree, age at baccalaureate degree attainment, number of science and engineering credits taken, and the value of faculty interactions. Father's education had a significant effect on degree attainment. Women and men had similar expectations at the beginning of their educational career, but women tended to fall short of their degree expectations ten years later. A large proportion of women dropped out of the science pipeline by choosing different occupations after degree completion. Additionally, women earned fewer science and math credits than men. The professions of science and technology are crucial for the nation's economic growth and competitiveness; therefore, additional researchers should focus on retaining both men and women in the STEM professions.

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography with ion-trap TOF-MS for the fast characterization of flavonoids in Citrus bergamia juice.

PubMed

Sommella, Eduardo; Pepe, Giacomo; Pagano, Francesco; Tenore, Gian Carlo; Dugo, Paola; Manfra, Michele; Campiglia, Pietro

2013-10-01

We have developed a fast ultra HPLC with ion-trap TOF-MS method for the analysis of flavonoids in Citrus bergamia juice. With respect to the typical methods for the analysis of these matrices based on conventional HPLC techniques, a tenfold faster separation was attained. The use of a core-shell particle column ensured high resolution within the fast analysis time of only 5 min. Unambiguous determination of flavonoid identity was obtained by the employment of a hybrid ion-trap TOF mass spectrometer with high mass accuracy (average error 1.69 ppm). The system showed good retention time and peak area repeatability, with maximum RSD% values of 0.36 and 3.86, respectively, as well as good linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.99). Our results show that ultra HPLC can be a useful tool for ultra fast qualitative/quantitative analysis of flavonoid compounds in citrus fruit juices. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A method for determining average damage depth of sawn crystalline silicon wafers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sopori, B.; Devayajanam, S.; Basnyat, P.

2016-04-01

The depth of surface damage (or simply, damage) in crystalline silicon wafers, caused by wire sawing of ingots, is determined by performing a series of minority carrier lifetime (MCLT) measurements. Samples are sequentially etched to remove thin layers from each surface and MCLT is measured after each etch step. The thickness-removed (..delta..t) at which the lifetime reaches a peak value corresponds to the damage depth. This technique also allows the damage to be quantified in terms of effective surface recombination velocity (Seff). To accomplish this, the MCLT data are converted into an Seff vs ..delta..t plot, which represents a quantitativemore » distribution of the degree of damage within the surface layer. We describe a wafer preparation procedure to attain reproducible etching and MCLT measurement results. We also describe important characteristics of an etchant used for controllably removing thin layers from the wafer surfaces. Some typical results showing changes in the MCLT vs ..delta..t plots for different cutting parameters are given.« less

Analysis of turbulent free-jet hydrogen-air diffusion flames with finite chemical reaction rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sislian, J. P.; Glass, I. I.; Evans, J. S.

1979-01-01

A numerical analysis is presented of the nonequilibrium flow field resulting from the turbulent mixing and combustion of an axisymmetric hydrogen jet in a supersonic parallel ambient air stream. The effective turbulent transport properties are determined by means of a two-equation model of turbulence. The finite-rate chemistry model considers eight elementary reactions among six chemical species: H, O, H2O, OH, O2 and H2. The governing set of nonlinear partial differential equations was solved by using an implicit finite-difference procedure. Radial distributions were obtained at two downstream locations for some important variables affecting the flow development, such as the turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate. The results show that these variables attain their peak values on the axis of symmetry. The computed distribution of velocity, temperature, and mass fractions of the chemical species gives a complete description of the flow field. The numerical predictions were compared with two sets of experimental data. Good qualitative agreement was obtained.

Comparative Analysis of Peak Ground Acceleration Before and After Padang Earthquake 2009 Using Mc. Guirre Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayu Rahmalia, Diah; Nilamprasasti, Hesti

2017-04-01

We have analyzed the earthquakes data in West Sumatra province to determine peak ground acceleration value. The peak ground acceleration is a parameter that describes the strength of the tremor that ever happened. This paper aims to compare the value of the peak ground acceleration by considering the b-value before and after the Padang earthquake 2009. This research was carried out in stages, starting by taking the earthquake data in West Sumatra province with boundary coordinates 0.923° LU - 2.811° LS and 97.075° - 102.261° BT, before and after the 2009 Padang earthquake with a magnitude ≥ 3 and depth of ≤ 300 km, calculation of the b-value, and ended by creating peak ground acceleration map based on Mc. Guirre empirical formula with Excel and Surfer software. Based on earthquake data from 2002 until before Padang earthquake 2009, the b-value is 0.874 while the b-value after the Padang earthquake in 2009 to 2016 is 0.891. Considering b value, it can be known that peak ground acceleration before and after the 2009 Padang earthquake might be different. Based on the seismic data before 2009, the peak ground acceleration value of West Sumatra province is ranged from 7,002 to 308.875 gal. This value will be compared by the value of the peak ground acceleration after the Padang earthquake in 2009 which ranged from 7,946 to 372,736 gal.

Planning the FUSE Mission Using the SOVA Algorithm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanzi, James; Heatwole, Scott; Ward, Philip R.; Civeit, Thomas; Calvani, Humberto; Kruk, Jeffrey W.; Suchkov, Anatoly

2011-01-01

Three documents discuss the Sustainable Objective Valuation and Attainability (SOVA) algorithm and software as used to plan tasks (principally, scientific observations and associated maneuvers) for the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite. SOVA is a means of managing risk in a complex system, based on a concept of computing the expected return value of a candidate ordered set of tasks as a product of pre-assigned task values and assessments of attainability made against qualitatively defined strategic objectives. For the FUSE mission, SOVA autonomously assembles a week-long schedule of target observations and associated maneuvers so as to maximize the expected scientific return value while keeping the satellite stable, managing the angular momentum of spacecraft attitude- control reaction wheels, and striving for other strategic objectives. A six-degree-of-freedom model of the spacecraft is used in simulating the tasks, and the attainability of a task is calculated at each step by use of strategic objectives as defined by use of fuzzy inference systems. SOVA utilizes a variant of a graph-search algorithm known as the A* search algorithm to assemble the tasks into a week-long target schedule, using the expected scientific return value to guide the search.

Math-related career aspirations and choices within Eccles et al.'s expectancy-value theory of achievement-related behaviors.

PubMed

Lauermann, Fani; Tsai, Yi-Miau; Eccles, Jacquelynne S

2017-08-01

Which occupation to pursue is one of the more consequential decisions people make and represents a key developmental task. Yet the underlying developmental processes associated with either individual or group differences in occupational choices are still not well understood. This study contributes toward filling this gap, focusing in particular on the math domain. We examined two aspects of Eccles et al.'s (1983) expectancy-value theory of achievement-related behaviors: (a) the reciprocal associations between adolescents' expectancy and subjective task value beliefs and adolescents' career plans and (b) the multiplicative association between expectancies and values in predicting occupational outcomes in the math domain. Our analyses indicate that adolescents' expectancy and subjective task value beliefs about math and their math- or science-related career plans reported at the beginning and end of high school predict each other over time, with the exception of intrinsic interest in math. Furthermore, multiplicative associations between adolescents' expectancy and subjective task value beliefs about math predict math-related career attainment approximately 15 years after graduation from high school. Gender differences emerged regarding career-related beliefs and career attainment, with male students being more likely than female to both pursue and attain math-related careers. These gender differences could not be explained by differences in beliefs about math as an academic subject. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Specialized Color Function for Display of Signed Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalb, Virginia

2008-01-01

This Mathematica script defines a color function to be used with Mathematica's plotting modules for differentiating data attaining both positive and negative values. Positive values are shown as shades of blue, and negative values are shown in red. The intensity of the color reflects the absolute value of the data value.

Combustor flame flashback

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Proctor, M. P.; Tien, J. S.

1985-01-01

A stainless steel, two-dimensional (rectangular), center-dump, premixed-prevaporized combustor with quartz window sidewalls for visual access was designed, built, and used to study flashback. A parametric study revealed that the flashback equivalence ratio decreased slightly as the inlet air temperature increased. It also indicated that the average premixer velocity and premixer wall temperature were not governing parameters of flashback. The steady-state velocity balance concept as the flashback mechanism was not supported. From visual observation several stages of burning were identified. High speed photography verified upstream flame propagation with the leading edge of the flame front near the premixer wall. Combustion instabilities (spontaneous pressure oscillations) were discovered during combustion at the dump plane and during flashback. The pressure oscillation frequency ranged from 40 to 80 Hz. The peak-to-peak amplitude (up to 1.4 psi) increased as the fuel/air equivalence ratio was increased attaining a maximum value just before flashback. The amplitude suddenly decreased when the flame stabilized in the premixer. The pressure oscillations were large enough to cause a local flow reversal. A simple test using ceramic fiber tufts indicated flow reversals existed at the premixer exit during flickering. It is suspected that flashback occurs through the premixer wall boundary layer flow reversal caused by combustion instability. A theoretical analysis of periodic flow in the premixing channel has been made. The theory supports the flow reversal mechanism.

Magnetic loss, permeability, and anisotropy compensation in CoO-doped Mn-Zn ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beatrice, Cinzia; Dobák, Samuel; Tsakaloudi, Vasiliki; Ragusa, Carlo; Fiorillo, Fausto; Martino, Luca; Zaspalis, Vassilis

2018-04-01

Mn-Zn ferrite samples prepared by conventional solid state reaction method and sintering at 1325 °C were Co-enriched by addition of CoO up to 6000 ppm and characterized versus frequency (DC - 1GHz), peak polarization (2 mT - 200 mT), and temperature (23 °C - 120 °C). The magnetic losses at room temperature are observed to pass through a deep minimum value around 4000 ppm CoO at all polarizations values. This trend is smoothed out either by approaching the MHz range or by increasing the temperature. Conversely, the initial permeability attains its maximum value around the same CoO content, while showing moderate monotonical decrease with increasing CoO at the typical working temperatures of 80 - 100 °C. The energy losses, measured by a combination of fluxmetric and transmission line methods, are affected by the eddy currents, on the conventional 5 mm thick ring samples, only beyond a few MHz. Their assessment relies on the separation of rotational and domain wall processes, which can be done by analysis of the complex permeability and its frequency behavior. This permits one, in particular, to calculate the magnetic anisotropy and its dependence on CoO content and temperature and bring to light its decomposition into the host lattice and Co2+ temperature dependent contributions. The temperature and doping dependence of initial permeability and magnetic losses can in this way be qualitatively justified, without invoking the passage through zero value of the effective anisotropy constant upon doping.

The Psychology of Working: A Case Study of Mexican American Women with Low Educational Attainment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guerrero, Laura; Singh, Satvir

2013-01-01

Using Blustein's (2006) psychology of working and Hackman and Oldham's (1975) job characteristics theory, the authors investigated the job attribute preferences of Mexican American women with low educational attainment. They used content analysis to code and analyze the interview transcripts of 27 women. The most valued job attributes were not…

Single Photon Counting Performance and Noise Analysis of CMOS SPAD-Based Image Sensors

PubMed Central

Dutton, Neale A. W.; Gyongy, Istvan; Parmesan, Luca; Henderson, Robert K.

2016-01-01

SPAD-based solid state CMOS image sensors utilising analogue integrators have attained deep sub-electron read noise (DSERN) permitting single photon counting (SPC) imaging. A new method is proposed to determine the read noise in DSERN image sensors by evaluating the peak separation and width (PSW) of single photon peaks in a photon counting histogram (PCH). The technique is used to identify and analyse cumulative noise in analogue integrating SPC SPAD-based pixels. The DSERN of our SPAD image sensor is exploited to confirm recent multi-photon threshold quanta image sensor (QIS) theory. Finally, various single and multiple photon spatio-temporal oversampling techniques are reviewed. PMID:27447643

Recent trends and changes in freshwater discharge into Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Déry, S. J.; Stieglitz, M.; McKenna, E.; Wood, E. F.

2004-05-01

Recent trends and changes in the observed river discharge into Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays (HJUBs) for the period 1964-1994 will be presented. Forty-two rivers with outlets into these bays contribute on average 700 cubic kilometers (= 0.02 sverdrups) of freshwater to the Arctic Ocean. River discharge attains a mean annual peak of 4.2 cubic kilometers per day on average each 17 June for the system as a whole, whereas the minimum of 0.6 cubic kilometers occurs on average each 3 April. The Nelson River supplies as much as 30% of the daily discharge for the entire system during winter, but diminishes in relative importance during spring and summer. Runoff rates per contributing area are highest (lowest) on the eastern (western) shores of Hudson and James Bays. Linear trend analyses reveal decreasing discharge in 38 out of the 42 rivers over the 31-year period. By 1994, the total annual freshwater discharge into the Arctic Ocean diminished by 110 cubic kilometers from its values in 1964, equivalent to a reduction of 0.0035 sverdrups. The annual peak discharge rates associated with snowmelt advanced by 16 days between 1964 and 1994 and has diminished slightly in intensity. There is a direct correlation between the time of this hydrological event and the latitude of a river's mouth; the timing of the peak discharge rates varies by 5 days for each degree of latitude. Continental snowmelt induces a seasonal pulse of freshwater from HJUBs that is tracked along its path into the Labrador Current and that coincides with ocean salinity anomalies on the inner Newfoundland Shelf. The talk will end with a discussion on the implications of a changing freshwater regime in HJUBs.

An instrument to assess subjective task value beliefs regarding the decision to pursue postgraduate training.

PubMed

Hagemeier, Nicholas E; Murawski, Matthew M

2014-02-12

To develop and validate an instrument to assess subjective ratings of the perceived value of various postgraduate training paths followed using expectancy-value as a theoretical framework; and to explore differences in value beliefs across type of postgraduate training pursued and type of pharmacy training completed prior to postgraduate training. A survey instrument was developed to sample 4 theoretical domains of subjective task value: intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and perceived cost. Retrospective self-report methodology was employed to examine respondents' (N=1,148) subjective task value beliefs specific to their highest level of postgraduate training completed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques were used to evaluate and validate value belief constructs. Intrinsic, attainment, utility, cost, and financial value constructs resulted from exploratory factor analysis. Cross-validation resulted in a 26-item instrument that demonstrated good model fit. Differences in value beliefs were noted across type of postgraduate training pursued and pharmacy training characteristics. The Postgraduate Training Value Instrument demonstrated evidence of reliability and construct validity. The survey instrument can be used to assess value beliefs regarding multiple postgraduate training options in pharmacy and potentially inform targeted recruiting of individuals to those paths best matching their own value beliefs.

Spatial Organization In Europe of Decadal and Interdecadal Fluctuations In Annual Rainfall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucero, O. A.; Rodriguez, N. C.

In this research the spatial patterns of decadal and bidecadal fluctuations in annual rainfall in Europe are identified. Filtering of time series of anomaly of annual rainfall is carried out using the Morlet wavelet technique. Reconstruction is achieved by sum- ming the contributions from bands of wavelet timescales; the decadal band and the bidecadal band are composed of contributions from the band of (10- to 17-year] and (17- to 27- year] timescales respectively. Results indicate that 1) the spatial organi- zation of decadal and bidecadal components of annual rainfall are standing wave-like organized patterns. Three standing decadal fluctuations zonally aligned formed the spatial pattern from 1900 until 1931; thereafter the pattern changed into a NW-SE orientation. The decadal band shows an average 12-year period. 2) The spatial orga- nization of bidecadal component was composed of three standing fluctuations since 1903 to 1986. After 1987 two standing bidecadal fluctuations were located on Europe. The orientation of bidecadal fluctuations changed during the period under study. Until 1913 the spatial pattern of the bidecadal component was zonally aligned. Since 1913 until 1986 the three bidecadal fluctuations composing the spatial pattern were aligned SW U NE; starting 1987 the spatial pattern is composed of two standing fluctuations zonally aligned. The bidecadal spatial pattern shows an average period of 20- to 22- year length. 3) At decadal and bidecadal timescales, the first principal component of the spatial field of anomaly of annual rainfall and the NAO index are connected. The upper positive third (lower negative third) of values of first principal component are indicative of extensive area with positive (negative) anomaly of annual rainfall. 4) At decadal timescale the relative phase between the first PC and the NAO index changes through the period under study; these changes define three regimes: 1) Dur- ing the regime covering the period 1900 (start of period under study) to about 1945, at the time of peak values of decadal NAO-index it takes place a transition between extremes (a neutral state) of the decadal rainfall spatial pattern (first PC takes small absolute values). Besides, for positive (negative) peak value of NAO index the spatial pattern of annual rainfall is evolving toward an area of predominantly positive (nega- tive) anomaly. 2) The second regime starts about 1946 and reaches up to early 1980s. At the time of negative (positive) peak of decadal NAO there is a prevailing spatial pattern of positive (negative) anomaly of decadal rainfall. 3) The third regime starts 1 about late 1970s and reaches to the end of the period under study (in 1996). There is a change of relative phase within this period in late 1980s. In this regime a spatial pattern of prevailing positive or negative anomaly of decadal rainfall takes place dur- ing values of decadal NAO close to zero. 5) At bidecadal timescale the relative phase between the first PC and the NAO index remains almost constant through the period under study. The first PC of the transformed bidecadal component of annual rainfall anomaly attains its positive (negative) peak about three years before the bidecadal component of NAO reaches its negative (positive) peak. 2

The Bull's-Eye Values Survey: A Psychometric Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lundgren, Tobias; Luoma, Jason B.; Dahl, JoAnne; Strosahl, Kirk; Melin, Lennart

2012-01-01

Two studies were conducted to develop and evaluate an instrument intended to identify and measure personal values, values attainment, and persistence in the face of barriers. Study 1 describes a content validity approach to the construction and preliminary validation of the Bull's Eye Values Survey (BEVS), using a sample of institutionalized…

College Women's Value Orientations toward Family, Career, and Graduate School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Battle, Ann; Wigfield, Allan

2003-01-01

Scales assessing intention to attend graduate school and family/career values were completed by 216 college women. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that components of task value (intrinsic-attainment, utility, cost) predicted graduate study intentions. Strong career orientation was positively related to the valuing of graduate education.…

Promoting Physical Activity in Hong Kong Chinese Young People: Factors Influencing Their Subjective Task Values and Expectancy Beliefs in Physical Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pang, Bonnie

2014-01-01

According to Eccles et al.'s (1983) Expectancy Value Model, the two major constructs that influence young people's activity choice are subjective task value and expectancy beliefs (Eccles et al., 1983). Eccles et al. (1983) conceptually distinguished four dimensions of subjective task value: attainment value, intrinsic value, utility value and…

Metabolism of 14C-labeled doxylamine succinate (Bendectin) in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

PubMed

Slikker, W; Holder, C L; Lipe, G W; Korfmacher, W A; Thompson, H C; Bailey, J R

1986-01-01

The time-course of the metabolic fate of [14C]doxylamine was determined after the p.o. administration of 13 mg/kg doxylamine succinate as Bendectin plus [14C]doxylamine succinate to the rhesus monkey. Urine and plasma samples were analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), chemical derivatization, and mass spectrometry. The cumulative 48-hr urinary metabolic profile contained 81% of the administered radiolabeled dose and consisted of at least six radiolabeled peaks. They were peak 1: unknown polar metabolites (8% of dose); peak 2: 2-[1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy] acetic acid, 1-[1-phenyl-1(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy] methanol, and another minor metabolite(s) (31%); peak 3: doxylamine-N-oxide (1%); peak 4a: N,N-didesmethyldoxylamine (17%); peak 4b: doxylamine (4%); and peak 5: N-desmethyldoxylamine (20%). The plasma metabolic profile was the same as the urinary profile except for the absence of doxylamine-N-oxide. The maximum plasma concentrations and elapsed time to attain these concentrations were as follows. Peak 1: 540 ng/mL, 4 hr; peak 2: 1700 ng/mL, 1 hr; peak 4a: 430 ng/mL, 4 hr; peak 4b: 930 ng/mL, 2 hr; and peak 5: 790 ng/mL, 2 hr. These data suggest that in the monkey, doxylamine metabolism follows at least four pathways: a minor pathway to the N-oxide; a minor pathway to unknown polar metabolites; a major pathway to mono- and didesmethyldoxylamine via successive N-demethylation; and a major pathway to side-chain cleavage products (peak 2) via direct side-chain oxidation and/or deamination.

2001 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-12-01

northwest passing over the central Philippine Islands then into the South China Sea before dissipating off western Luzon on 22 February. (3) Reuters...hours prior to making landfall in Southern Taiwan. (2) Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau (CWB) indicated that rainfall rates in the Pingtung County...1) Attained peak intensity of 100 kts at approximately 1800Z 29 July after making landfall. (2) The Taipei Central News Agency reported 72 fatalities

Commonly used reference values underestimate oxygen uptake in healthy, 50-year-old Swedish women.

PubMed

Genberg, M; Andrén, B; Lind, L; Hedenström, H; Malinovschi, A

2018-01-01

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard among clinical exercise tests. It combines a conventional stress test with measurement of oxygen uptake (V O 2 ) and CO 2 production. No validated Swedish reference values exist, and reference values in women are generally understudied. Moreover, the importance of achieved respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and the significance of breathing reserve (BR) at peak exercise in healthy individuals are poorly understood. We compared V O 2 at maximal load (peakV O 2 ) and anaerobic threshold (V O 2@ AT ) in healthy Swedish individuals with commonly used reference values, taking gender into account. Further, we analysed maximal workload and peakV O 2 with regard to peak RER and BR. In all, 181 healthy, 50-year-old individuals (91 women) performed CPET. PeakV O 2 was best predicted using Jones et al. (100·5%), while SHIP reference values underestimated peakV O 2 most: 112·5%. Furthermore, underestimation of peakV O 2 in women was found for all studied reference values (P<0·001) and was largest for SHIP: women had 128% of predicted peakV O 2 , while men had 104%. PeakV O 2 was similar in subjects with peak RER of 1-1·1 and RER > 1·1 (2 328·7 versus 2 176·7 ml min -1 , P = 0·11). Lower BR (≤30%) related to significantly higher peakV O 2 (P<0·001). In conclusion, peakV O 2 was best predicted by Jones. All studied reference values underestimated oxygen uptake in women. No evidence for demanding RER > 1·1 in healthy individuals was found. A lowered BR is probably a normal response to higher workloads in healthy individuals. © 2016 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Higher Attaining but Emotionally Brittle: Why We Need to Assess How School Marketing Policies Affect Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norris, Stuart

2016-01-01

The entrenching of competitive values within the public-market field of secondary education has led to the formation of academically focused institutions whose budgets and reputations are based on gaining large numbers of students who have the best chance of attaining highly in public examinations. Although parents have become savvier about their…

The Jar Is Half-Empty and the Jar Is Half-Full: Challenges and Opportunities in Graduating First-Generation African American Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, O. Gilbert

2011-01-01

A gap exists between the degree to which African Americans embrace the cultural value of higher education attainment (Butchart, 1988; Du Bois, 1935; Mickelson & Greene, 2006; Washington, 1900; Woodson, 1919) and the reality of their unsatisfactory undergraduate degree attainment at traditional white institutions (TWIs) (Allen, 1992; Allen,…

The Effect of Aging on the Microstructure of Selective Laser Melted Cu-Ni-Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ventura, Anthony P.; Marvel, Christopher J.; Pawlikowski, Gregory; Bayes, Martin; Watanabe, Masashi; Vinci, Richard P.; Misiolek, Wojciech Z.

2017-12-01

Precipitation hardening copper alloy C70250 was selectively laser melted to successfully produce components around 98 pct dense with high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. Aging heat treatments were carried out at 723 K (450 °C) directly on as-printed samples up to 128 hours. Mechanical testing found that peak yield strength of around 590 MPa could be attained with an electrical conductivity of 34.2 pct IACS after 8 hours of aging. Conductivity continues to increase with further aging while the peak strength appears to be less sensitive to aging time exhibiting a broad range of time where near-peak properties exist. After aging for 128 hours, there is a drop in yield strength to 546 MPa with an increase in conductivity to 43.2 pct IACS. Electron microscopy analysis revealed nanometer-scale silicon-rich oxide particles throughout the material that persist during aging. Deformation twinning is observed in the peak-age condition after tensile testing and several strengthening mechanisms appear to be active to varying degrees throughout aging which account for the broad range of aging time where nearly the peak mechanical properties exist.

Do High-Ability Students Disidentify with Science? A Descriptive Study of U.S. Ninth Graders in 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andersen, Lori; Chen, Jason A.

2016-01-01

The present study describes science expectancy-value motivation classes within a nationally representative sample of students who were U.S. ninth graders in 2009. An expectancy-value model was the basis for science-specific profile indicators (self-efficacy, attainment value, utility value, interest-enjoyment value). Using exploratory latent class…

Metabolism of /sup 14/C-labeled doxylamine succinate (Bendectin) in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Slikker, W. Jr.; Holder, C.L.; Lipe, G.W.

The time-course of the metabolic fate of (/sup 14/C)doxylamine was determined after the p.o. administration of 13 mg/kg doxylamine succinate as Bendectin plus (/sup 14/C)doxylamine succinate to the rhesus monkey. Urine and plasma samples were analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), chemical derivatization, and mass spectrometry. The cumulative 48-hr urinary metabolic profile contained 81% of the administered radiolabeled dose and consisted of at least six radiolabeled peaks. They were peak 1: unknown polar metabolites (8% of dose); peak 2: 2-(1-phenyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy) acetic acid, 1-(1-phenyl-1(2-pyridinyl)ethoxy) methanol, and another minor metabolite(s) (31%); peak 3: doxylamine-N-oxide (1%); peak 4a: N,N-didesmethyldoxylamine (17%); peakmore » 4b: doxylamine (4%); and peak 5: N-desmethyldoxylamine (20%). The plasma metabolic profile was the same as the urinary profile except for the absence of doxylamine-N-oxide. The maximum plasma concentrations and elapsed time to attain these concentrations were as follows. Peak 1: 540 ng/mL, 4 hr; peak 2: 1700 ng/mL, 1 hr; peak 4a: 430 ng/mL, 4 hr; peak 4b: 930 ng/mL, 2 hr; and peak 5: 790 ng/mL, 2 hr. These data suggest that in the monkey, doxylamine metabolism follows at least four pathways: a minor pathway to the N-oxide; a minor pathway to unknown polar metabolites; a major pathway to mono- and didesmethyldoxylamine via successive N-demethylation; and a major pathway to side-chain cleavage products (peak 2) via direct side-chain oxidation and/or deamination.« less

The use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques can predict health goal attainment in adults: an explorative study

PubMed Central

De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse; Verloigne, Maite; Crombez, Geert

2016-01-01

Background. Self-regulation tools are not always used optimally, and implementation intention plans often lack quality. Therefore, this study explored participants’ use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques and their impact on goal attainment. Methods. Data were obtained from 452 adults in a proof of concept (POC) intervention of ‘MyPlan’, an eHealth intervention using self-regulation techniques to promote three healthy behaviours (physical activity (PA), fruit intake, or vegetable intake). Participants applied self-regulation techniques to a self-selected health behaviour, and evaluated the self-regulation techniques. The quality of implementation intentions was rated by the authors as a function of instrumentality (instrumental and non-instrumental) and specificity (non-specific and medium to highly specific). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict goal attainment. Results. Goal attainment was significantly predicted by the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:1.86), by the specificity of the implementation intentions (OR:3.5), by the motivational value of the action plan (OR:1.86), and by making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:4.10). Interaction-effects with behaviour showed that the specificity score of the implementation intention plans (OR:4.59), the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:2.38), selecting hindering factors and solutions(OR:2.00) and making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:7.54) were predictive of goal attainment only for fruit or vegetable intake. Also, when participants in the fruit and vegetable group made more than three plans, they were more likely to attain their goal (OR:1.73), whereas the reverse was the case in the PA group (OR:0.34). Discussion. The chance that adults reach fruit and vegetable goals can be increased by including motivating personal advice, self-formulated action plans, and instructions/strategies to make specific implementation intentions into eHealth interventions. To increase the chance that adults reach short-term PA goals, it is suggested to keep eHealth PA interventions simple and focus only on developing a few implementation intentions. However, more research is needed to identify behaviour change techniques that can increase health goal attainment at long-term. PMID:26966648

Magnetic resonance imaging of boiling induced by high intensity focused ultrasound

PubMed Central

Khokhlova, Tatiana D.; Canney, Michael S.; Lee, Donghoon; Marro, Kenneth I.; Crum, Lawrence A.; Khokhlova, Vera A.; Bailey, Michael R.

2009-01-01

Both mechanically induced acoustic cavitation and thermally induced boiling can occur during high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) medical therapy. The goal was to monitor the temperature as boiling was approached using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tissue phantoms were heated for 20 s in a 4.7-T magnet using a 2-MHz HIFU source with an aperture and radius of curvature of 44 mm. The peak focal pressure was 27.5 MPa with corresponding beam width of 0.5 mm. The temperature measured in a single MRI voxel by water proton resonance frequency shift attained a maximum value of only 73 °C after 7 s of continuous HIFU exposure when boiling started. Boiling was detected by visual observation, by appearance on the MR images, and by a marked change in the HIFU source power. Nonlinear modeling of the acoustic field combined with a heat transfer equation predicted 100 °C after 7 s of exposure. Averaging of the calculated temperature field over the volume of the MRI voxel (0.3×0.5×2 mm3) yielded a maximum of 73 °C that agreed with the MR thermometry measurement. These results have implications for the use of MRI-determined temperature values to guide treatments with clinical HIFU systems. PMID:19354416

Influence of temperature and conductivity on the life-history characteristics of a pampean strain of Brachionus plicatilis.

PubMed

Ferrando, Noelia S; Claps, María C; Benítez, Hernán H; Gabellone, Néstor A

2018-05-14

In the present work, we provide the first approach about the life-history of Brachionus plicatilis in South America. We tested with laboratory experiments the response of the pampean strain of B. plicatilis for two of its main stressors (conductivity and temperature). We evaluated the effects of eight conductivity values from 1 to 17 mS.cm-1 and two temperatures (15 and 25 °C) to compare its abundance with those obtained in the pampean lotic and lentic environments, where this rotifer is frequent or dominant. The results demonstrated that the increase in population-growth rate and the peak of abundance occurred at the highest temperature and at medium conductivity. Minimum values were obtained at the lowest temperature and conductivities analyzed, but the final density attained was nevertheless similar to those recorded in the pampean environments at the optimum conductivity and during the spring and summer seasons. Males, mictic females, and resting eggs were observed at the minimum and maximum conductivities, revealing the strategy of this species for maintaining dominance in environments with fluctuating salinity. The experiments also indicated the possible behavior of this relevant member of the zooplankton community within a scenario of increasing temperature and salinity related to the climate changes occurring in the pampean region.

Gas exchange kinetics following concentric-eccentric isokinetic arm and leg exercise.

PubMed

Drescher, U; Mookerjee, S; Steegmanns, A; Knicker, A; Hoffmann, U

2017-06-01

To evaluate the effects of exercise velocity (60, 150, 240deg∙s -1 ) and muscle mass (arm vs leg) on changes in gas exchange and arterio-venous oxygen content difference (avDO 2 ) following high-intensity concentric-eccentric isokinetic exercise. Fourteen subjects (26.9±3.1years) performed a 3×20-repetition isokinetic exercise protocol. Recovery beat-to-beat cardiac output (CO) and breath-by-breath gas exchange were recorded to determine post-exercise half-time (t 1/2 ) for oxygen uptake (V˙O 2 pulm), carbon dioxide output (V˙CO 2 pulm), and ventilation (V˙ E ). Significant differences of the t 1/2 values were identified between 60 and 150deg∙s -1 . Significant differences in the t 1/2 values were observed between V˙O 2 pulm and V˙CO 2 pulm and between V˙CO 2 pulm and V˙ E . The time to attain the first avDO 2 -peak showed significant differences between arm and leg exercise. The present study illustrates, that V˙O 2 pulm kinetics are distorted due to non-linear CO dynamics. Therefore, it has to be taken into account, that V˙O 2 pulm may not be a valuable surrogate for muscular oxygen uptake kinetics in the recovery phases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Peak oxygen uptake in Paralympic sitting sports: A systematic literature review, meta- and pooled-data analysis.

PubMed

Baumgart, Julia Kathrin; Brurok, Berit; Sandbakk, Øyvind

2018-01-01

Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in Paralympic sitting sports athletes represents their maximal ability to deliver energy aerobically in an upper-body mode, with values being influenced by sex, disability-related physiological limitations, sport-specific demands, training status and how they are tested. To identify VO2peak values in Paralympic sitting sports, examine between-sports differences and within-sports variations in VO2peak and determine the influence of sex, age, body-mass, disability and test-mode on VO2peak. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscusTM and EMBASE were systematically searched in October 2016 using relevant medical subject headings, keywords and a Boolean. Studies that assessed VO2peak values in sitting sports athletes with a disability in a laboratory setting were included. Data was extracted and pooled in the different sports disciplines, weighted by the Dersimonian and Laird random effects approach. Quality of the included studies was assessed with a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist by two independent reviewers. Meta-regression and pooled-data multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of sex, age, body-mass, disability, test mode and study quality on VO2peak. Of 6542 retrieved articles, 57 studies reporting VO2peak values in 14 different sitting sports were included in this review. VO2peak values from 771 athletes were used in the data analysis, of which 30% participated in wheelchair basketball, 27% in wheelchair racing, 15% in wheelchair rugby and the remaining 28% in the 11 other disciplines. Fifty-six percent of the athletes had a spinal cord injury and 87% were men. Sports-discipline-averaged VO2peak values ranged from 2.9 L∙min-1 and 45.6 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in Nordic sit skiing to 1.4 L∙min-1 and 17.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in shooting and 1.3 L∙min-1 and 18.9 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in wheelchair rugby. Large within-sports variation was found in sports with few included studies and corresponding low sample sizes. The meta-regression and pooled-data multiple regression analyses showed that being a man, having an amputation, not being tetraplegic, testing in a wheelchair ergometer and treadmill mode, were found to be favorable for high absolute and body-mass normalized VO2peak values. Furthermore, high body mass was favourable for high absolute VO2peak values and low body mass for high body-mass normalized VO2peak values. The highest VO2peak values were found in Nordic sit skiing, an endurance sport with continuously high physical efforts, and the lowest values in shooting, a sport with low levels of displacement, and in wheelchair rugby where mainly athletes with tetraplegia compete. However, VO2peak values need to be interpreted carefully in sports-disciplines with few included studies and large within-sports variation. Future studies should include detailed information on training status, sex, age, test mode, as well as the type and extent of disability in order to more precisely evaluate the effect of these factors on VO2peak.

Peak oxygen uptake in Paralympic sitting sports: A systematic literature review, meta- and pooled-data analysis

PubMed Central

Brurok, Berit; Sandbakk, Øyvind

2018-01-01

Background Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in Paralympic sitting sports athletes represents their maximal ability to deliver energy aerobically in an upper-body mode, with values being influenced by sex, disability-related physiological limitations, sport-specific demands, training status and how they are tested. Objectives To identify VO2peak values in Paralympic sitting sports, examine between-sports differences and within-sports variations in VO2peak and determine the influence of sex, age, body-mass, disability and test-mode on VO2peak. Design Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Data sources PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscusTM and EMBASE were systematically searched in October 2016 using relevant medical subject headings, keywords and a Boolean. Eligibility criteria Studies that assessed VO2peak values in sitting sports athletes with a disability in a laboratory setting were included. Data synthesis Data was extracted and pooled in the different sports disciplines, weighted by the Dersimonian and Laird random effects approach. Quality of the included studies was assessed with a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist by two independent reviewers. Meta-regression and pooled-data multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of sex, age, body-mass, disability, test mode and study quality on VO2peak. Results Of 6542 retrieved articles, 57 studies reporting VO2peak values in 14 different sitting sports were included in this review. VO2peak values from 771 athletes were used in the data analysis, of which 30% participated in wheelchair basketball, 27% in wheelchair racing, 15% in wheelchair rugby and the remaining 28% in the 11 other disciplines. Fifty-six percent of the athletes had a spinal cord injury and 87% were men. Sports-discipline-averaged VO2peak values ranged from 2.9 L∙min-1 and 45.6 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in Nordic sit skiing to 1.4 L∙min-1 and 17.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in shooting and 1.3 L∙min-1 and 18.9 mL∙kg-1∙min-1 in wheelchair rugby. Large within-sports variation was found in sports with few included studies and corresponding low sample sizes. The meta-regression and pooled-data multiple regression analyses showed that being a man, having an amputation, not being tetraplegic, testing in a wheelchair ergometer and treadmill mode, were found to be favorable for high absolute and body-mass normalized VO2peak values. Furthermore, high body mass was favourable for high absolute VO2peak values and low body mass for high body-mass normalized VO2peak values. Conclusion The highest VO2peak values were found in Nordic sit skiing, an endurance sport with continuously high physical efforts, and the lowest values in shooting, a sport with low levels of displacement, and in wheelchair rugby where mainly athletes with tetraplegia compete. However, VO2peak values need to be interpreted carefully in sports-disciplines with few included studies and large within-sports variation. Future studies should include detailed information on training status, sex, age, test mode, as well as the type and extent of disability in order to more precisely evaluate the effect of these factors on VO2peak. PMID:29474386

5 CFR 831.2205 - Computation of alternative form of annuity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... equal to the retiree's lump-sum credit divided by the present value factor for the retiree's attained... Register announcing any proposed adjustments in present value factors at least 30 days before the effective...

5 CFR 842.706 - Computation of alternative form of annuity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... credit, excluding interest, divided by the applicable present value factor for the retiree's attained age... announcing any proposed adjustments in present value factors at least 30 days before the effective date of...

Devising and Attaining National Health Objectives: A Case Study in Policy Formulation Using Asthma Targets in Healthy People 2000

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-06

Phys- (loosely) Quantum Chaos Theory entific Paradigm ics - atomistic move- ments Value Claims transmutes values value isolated into Values incorporat...infant care 3. immunizations 4. sexually transmissible disease services 5. high blood pressure control 6. toxic agent control 7. occupational safety and

Use of Task-Value Instructional Inductions for Facilitating Engagement and Conceptual Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Marcus Lee; Sinatra, Gale M.

2013-01-01

This study explored the relationship between task values, engagement, and conceptual change. One hundred and sixty-six under graduate students were randomly assigned to one of three task value instructional inductions (utility, attainment, and control) to determine whether induced task values would result in different degrees of engagement and…

Determination of the measurement threshold in gamma-ray spectrometry.

PubMed

Korun, M; Vodenik, B; Zorko, B

2017-03-01

In gamma-ray spectrometry the measurement threshold describes the lover boundary of the interval of peak areas originating in the response of the spectrometer to gamma-rays from the sample measured. In this sense it presents a generalization of the net indication corresponding to the decision threshold, which is the measurement threshold at the quantity value zero for a predetermined probability for making errors of the first kind. Measurement thresholds were determined for peaks appearing in the spectra of radon daughters 214 Pb and 214 Bi by measuring the spectrum 35 times under repeatable conditions. For the calculation of the measurement threshold the probability for detection of the peaks and the mean relative uncertainty of the peak area were used. The relative measurement thresholds, the ratios between the measurement threshold and the mean peak area uncertainty, were determined for 54 peaks where the probability for detection varied between some percent and about 95% and the relative peak area uncertainty between 30% and 80%. The relative measurement thresholds vary considerably from peak to peak, although the nominal value of the sensitivity parameter defining the sensitivity for locating peaks was equal for all peaks. At the value of the sensitivity parameter used, the peak analysis does not locate peaks corresponding to the decision threshold with the probability in excess of 50%. This implies that peaks in the spectrum may not be located, although the true value of the measurand exceeds the decision threshold. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primeval galaxies and cold dark matter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silk, Joseph; Szalay, Alexander S.

1987-01-01

In the context of the cold dark matter theory for the large-scale matter distribution, the onset of galaxy formation is a gradual process, with star formation being initiated at z = about 10 and reaching a peak for luminous galaxies at z = about 1. The mass function of galaxy cores matches the observed quasar luminosity function at z = 2-3. Primeval galaxies are envisaged as a collection of many interacting and merging clumps, attaining a peak luminosity that is an order of magnitude below that achieved in models in which galaxy formation is initiated abruptly. Hence, ongoing searches for primeval galaxies would not necessarily have been successful unless they are designed to find moderately low-luminosity, low-surface-brigtness extended objects at low redshift.

Determinants of Non-Timber Values in Wisconsin Northern Hardwoods

Treesearch

Richard Scarpa; Joseph Buongiorno; Karen Lee

1998-01-01

A working definition of non-timber value is the difference between the revenues attainable by implementing an infinite horizon timber revenue maximizing cutting rule, and the value of the observed harvest. This non-timber value was estimated for the stands of the Forest Inventory Analysis data in the maple-beech-birch type in Wisconsin. Non-timber values averaged 23...

Formation and failure of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley associated with eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waythomas, C.F.

2001-01-01

The formation of lahars and a debris avalanche during Holocene eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex in south-central Alaska have led to the development of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley. Debris dams composed of lahar and debris-avalanche deposits formed at least five times in the last 8000-10,000 years and most recently during eruptions of Crater Peak vent in 1953 and 1992. Water impounded by a large debris avalanche of early Holocene (?) age may have destabilized an upstream glacier-dammed lake causing a catastrophic flood on the Chakachatna River. A large alluvial fan just downstream of the debris-avalanche deposit is strewn with boulders and blocks and is probably the deposit generated by this flood. Application of a physically based dam-break model yields estimates of peak discharge (Qp) attained during failure of the debris-avalanche dam in the range 104 < Qp < 106 m3 s-1 for plausible breach erosion rates of 10-100 m h-1. Smaller, short-lived, lahar dams that formed during historical eruptions in 1953, and 1992, impounded smaller lakes in the upper Chakachatna River valley and peak flows attained during failure of these volcanic debris dams were in the range 103 < Qp < 104 m3 s-1 for plausible breach erosion rates. Volcanic debris dams have formed at other volcanoes in the Cook Inlet region, Aleutian arc, and Wrangell Mountains but apparently did not fail rapidly or result in large or catastrophic outflows. Steep valley topography and frequent eruptions at volcanoes in this region make for significant hazards associated with the formation and failure of volcanic debris dams. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Processes Involving Perceived Instructional Support, Task Value, and Engagement in Graduate Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marchand, Gwen C.; Gutierrez, Antonio P.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations among perceived instructional support (provision of relevance and involvement), subjective task value beliefs (utility, attainment, and intrinsic value), and engagement (behavioral and emotional) over the course of a semester for graduate students enrolled in an introductory research…

Strain, Psychological Conflicts, Aspirations-Attainment Gap, and Depressive Tendencies among Youth of Mexican Immigrants.

PubMed

Paat, Yok-Fong

2016-01-01

Using Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), this study examined the links between strain, psychological conflicts, aspiration-attainment gap, and depressive tendencies of 755 youth of Mexican origin. Two research questions were raised: (a) What types of strain and psychological conflict induced depressive tendencies? (b) What types of aspirations were relevant to these depressive symptoms? Overall, this study showed that factors implicated by collision of values, perceived discrepancies between aspiration and attainment, and negative appraisal of self could induce depressive mood, feelings, and behaviors, an important finding revealing that this underserved population can benefit from better public health services.

Motivational Constructs Influencing Undergraduate Students' Choices to become Classroom Music Teachers or Music Performers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parkes, Kelly A.; Jones, Brett D.

2012-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether any of the six motivational constructs in the expectancy-value model of motivation (i.e., expectancy, ability perceptions, intrinsic interest value, attainment value, social utility value, and cost) would predict whether students intended to have a career teaching classroom music or…

Simultaneous response of NmF2 and GPS-TEC to storm events at Ilorin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshua, B. W.; Adeniyi, J. O.; Oladipo, O. A.; Doherty, P. H.; Adimula, I. A.; Olawepo, A. O.; Adebiyi, S. J.

2018-06-01

A comparative study of both TEC and NmF2 variations during quiet and disturbed conditions has been investigated using simultaneous measurements from dual frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a DPS-4 Digisonde co-located at Ilorin (Geog. Lat. 8.50°N, Long. 4.50°E, dip. - 7.9°). The results of the quiet time variations of the two parameters show some similarities as well as differences in their structures. The values of both parameters generally increase during the sunrise period attaining a peak around the noon and then decaying towards the night time. The onset time of the sunrise growth is observed to be earlier in TEC than in NmF2. The rate of decay of TEC was observed to be faster than that of the NmF2 in most cases. Also, the noon 'bite-outs', leading to the formation of pre-noon and post-noon peaks, are prominent in the NmF2 structure and was hardly noticed in TEC. Results of the variations of both TEC and NmF2 during the 5 April, 10 May and 3 August 2010 geomagnetic storm events showed a simultaneous deviations of both parameters from the quiet time behavior. The magnitude of the deviations is however most pronounced in NmF2 structure than in TEC. We also found that the enhancement observed in the two parameters during the storm events generally corresponds to decrease in hmF2.

Pulsing Inertial Oscillation, Supercell Storms, and Surface Mesonetwork Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Costen, R. C.; Miller, L. J.

1998-01-01

The pulsing inertial oscillation (PIO) model is a nonlinear, time-dependent, translating vortex solution of the inviscid, compressible fluid dynamic equations in the middle troposphere. The translation of this vortex during a pulse is strikingly similar to that of a supercell storm -- a rotating thunderstorm that can generate tornadoes and hail. Two studies were performed to test the hypothesis that some supercell storms are manifestations of a PIO pulse. The first study applied the model to an intense interior draft whose buoyancy was bounded by a temperature excess of +/- 12 K. The peak updraft speed achieved was 41.5 m/ s and the peak Rossby number was 92.9. The study also pointed to an advanced concept for attaining higher values. The second study applied the PIO model to a supercell storm as a whole and succeeded in replicating its bulk properties, such as mesocyclonic circulation, net mass and moisture influxes, and time track. This study also identified a critical feature of the PIO model that could be tested against storm data: The average vertical draft is downward before the turn in the storm track and upward afterwards. In the conventional theory, the average vertical draft is upward from storm inception until dissipation. These differing draft predictions were compared with the best available data, which are surface mesonetwork data. These data were found to support the PIO model. However, surface data alone are not conclusive, and further measurements are warranted.

Biological maturity-associated variance in peak power output and momentum in academy rugby union players.

PubMed

Howard, Sean M A; Cumming, Sean P; Atkinson, Mark; Malina, Robert M

2016-11-01

The study aimed to evaluate the mediating effect of biological maturation on anthropometrical measurements, performance indicators and subsequent selection in a group of academy rugby union players. Fifty-one male players 14-17 years of age were assessed for height, weight and BMI, and percentage of predicted mature status attained at the time of observation was used as an indicator of maturity status. Following this, initial sprint velocity (ISV), Wattbike peak power output (PPO) and initial sprint momentum (ISM) were assessed. A bias towards on-time (n = 44) and early (n = 7) maturers was evident in the total sample and magnified with age cohort. Relative to UK reference values, weight and height were above the 90th and 75th centiles, respectively. Significant (p ≤ .01) correlations were observed between maturity status and BMI (r = .48), weight (r = .63) and height (r = .48). Regression analysis (controlling for age) revealed that maturity status and height explained 68% of ISM variance; however, including BMI in the model attenuated the influence of maturity status below statistical significance (p = .72). Height and BMI explained 51% of PPO variance, while no initial significant predictors were identified for ISV. The sample consisted of players who were on-time and early in maturation with no late maturers represented. This was attributable, in part, to the mediating effect of maturation on body size, which, in turn, predicted performance variables.

Analysis of oxidised heavy paraffininc products by high temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

PubMed

Potgieter, H; Bekker, R; Beigley, J; Rohwer, E

2017-08-04

Heavy petroleum fractions are produced during crude and synthetic crude oil refining processes and they need to be upgraded to useable products to increase their market value. Usually these fractions are upgraded to fuel products by hydrocracking, hydroisomerization and hydrogenation processes. These fractions are also upgraded to other high value commercial products like lubricant oils and waxes by distillation, hydrogenation, and oxidation and/or blending. Oxidation of hydrogenated heavy paraffinic fractions produces high value products that contain a variety of oxygenates and the characterization of these heavy oxygenates is very important for the control of oxidation processes. Traditionally titrimetric procedures are used to monitor oxygenate formation, however, these titrimetric procedures are tedious and lack selectivity toward specific oxygenate classes in complex matrices. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) is a way of increasing peak capacity for the comprehensive analysis of complex samples. Other groups have used HT-GC×GC to extend the carbon number range attainable by GC×GC and have optimised HT-GC×GC parameters for the separation of aromatics, nitrogen-containing compounds as well as sulphur-containing compounds in heavy petroleum fractions. HT-GC×GC column combinations for the separation of oxygenates in oxidised heavy paraffinic fractions are optimised in this study. The advantages of the HT-GC×GC method in the monitoring of the oxidation reactions of heavy paraffinic fraction samples are illustrated. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 13289 - Approval of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard in the Baltimore...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-11

...). This extension is based on the air quality data for the 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored value during... first one-year extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8-hour average in the attainment year is 0.084 parts per million (ppm) or less. (b) For the second one-year extension, the area's 4th highest daily 8...

Characteristics of a wingtip vortex from an oscillating winglet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guha, T. K.; Kumar, R.

2017-01-01

Initial perturbations in the wingtip vortices can potentially lead to instabilities that significantly reduce their lifetime in the wake of an aircraft. An active winglet capable of oscillating about its point of attachment to the main wing-section is developed using piezoelectric macro fiber composite, to actively perturb the vortex at its onset. Resonance characteristics of the actuated winglet oscillations are evaluated at different excitation levels and aerodynamic loading. Mean near-field characteristics of the vortex, developing from a stationary and an oscillating winglet, are investigated with the help of stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. Results show that the amplitude of winglet oscillations increases linearly with input excitation, to a highest attainable value of nearly four times the airfoil thickness at the winglet tip. The vortex developing from a winglet is stretched along its axis, having an elliptical core with non-uniform vorticity distribution. Actuation leads to spatial oscillations of the vortex core together with a reduction in the mean peak vorticity levels. The amplitude of the actuated core oscillations remains constant in the investigated region of the wake.

Process and Performance Outcomes of a Nontraditional Postbaccalaureate PharmD Program Geared Toward Internationally Trained Pharmacists

PubMed Central

Chung, Eunice; Le, Quang A.; Nguyen, Megan; Robinson, Daniel

2015-01-01

Established in 2003, the fully accredited international postbaccalaureate doctor of pharmacy (IPBP) program has attracted internationally trained pharmacists from approximately 25 countries and 6 continents, mostly residents of the United States, to attain the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree at the Western University of Health Sciences. While recent trends in the IPBP applicant pool have shown a decline from its peak numbers in 2009 (222 applicants) for the 20 available seats each year, the quality of students remains high. Benchmark measures assessed for this group of students include the internal assessment entrance examination, admissions scores, academic assessments from didactic blocks, and scores on the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), all of which indicate this quality. Moreover, graduates from the program not only consistently demonstrate excellence in the pharmacy curriculum and board examinations, but also go on to establish themselves as competent practitioners and educators. While the long-term future of the program is unknown, the status of the program and its graduates provides ample evidence of its value and ensures its continued success going forward. PMID:26689176

Muscularity as a function of species, sex and age in small mammals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pace, N.; Rahlmann, D. F.; Smith, A. H.

1984-01-01

Changes in the body skeletal muscle mass SMM (measured as a function of the ratio between the body creatine mass and the fat-free muscle creatine), and in muscularity (expressed as the ratio of SMM to fat-free body mass) were studied as functions of age, sex, and species in mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit. Six animals of each sex were examined in eight age cohorts ranging from 1 to 24 months. Both species and age factors affect SMM. Strong sexual dimorphism in the SMM changes with age was displayed by mouse, rat, and guinea pig, whereas the hamster and rabbit were statistically monomorphic. The mouse, rat, and hamster attain a maximal SMM at about 1 year of age, whereas in the guinea pig and rabbit the decrease in SMM starts after 2 years. The value of muscularity reached a peak at age of 2-3 months in all animals of both sexes, with a pronounced difference among the species. The mouse emerged as the most muscular, while the guinea pig the least muscular, of all species.

Mach 10 Stage Separation Analysis for the X43-A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tartabini, Paul V.; Bose, David M.; Thornblom, Mark N.; Lien, J. P.; Martin, John G.

2007-01-01

This paper describes the pre-flight stage separation analysis that was conducted in support of the final flight of the X-43A. In that flight, which occurred less than eight months after the successful Mach 7 flight, the X-43A Research Vehicle attained a peak speed of Mach 9.6. Details are provided on how the lessons learned from the Mach 7 flight affected separation modeling and how adjustments were made to account for the increased flight Mach number. Also, the procedure for defining the feedback loop closure and feed-forward parameters employed in the separation control logic are described, and their effect on separation performance is explained. In addition, the range and nominal values of these parameters, which were included in the Mission Data Load, are presented. Once updates were made, the nominal pre-flight trajectory and Monte Carlo statistical results were determined and stress tests were performed to ensure system robustness. During flight the vehicle performed within the uncertainty bounds predicted in the pre-flight analysis and ultimately set the world record for airbreathing powered flight.

Experimental investigation on an entrained flow type biomass gasification system using coconut coir dust as powdery biomass feedstock.

PubMed

Senapati, P K; Behera, S

2012-08-01

Based on an entrained flow concept, a prototype atmospheric gasification system has been designed and developed in the laboratory for gasification of powdery biomass feedstock such as rice husks, coconut coir dust, saw dust etc. The reactor was developed by adopting L/D (height to diameter) ratio of 10, residence time of about 2s and a turn down ratio (TDR) of 1.5. The experimental investigation was carried out using coconut coir dust as biomass feedstock with a mean operating feed rate of 40 kg/h The effects of equivalence ratio in the range of 0.21-0.3, steam feed at a fixed flow rate of 12 kg/h, preheat on reactor temperature, product gas yield and tar content were investigated. The gasifier could able to attain high temperatures in the range of 976-1100 °C with gas lower heating value (LHV) and peak cold gas efficiency (CGE) of 7.86 MJ/Nm3 and 87.6% respectively. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ferromagnetic resonance studies of granular materials (abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubinstein, Mark; Das, Badri; Chrisey, D. B.; Horwitz, J.; Koon, N. C.

1994-05-01

We have investigated the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra of several granular alloys displaying giant magnetoresistance (GMR). For this task, we have produced melt-spun ribbons of Fe5Co15Cu80 and Co20Cu80 by rapid quenching and thin films of Co80Cu20 by pulsed laser deposition. The salient feature of the FMR spectra is the increase of the resonance linewidth as a function of increasing annealing temperature. We have deconvoluted the FMR spectra to a single-domain powder pattern and a multidomain powder pattern. As a function of annealing temperature, the GMR of these samples attains a maximum value. Near the peak of the GMR curve, the FMR spectrum reveals that the ferromagnetic particles are half mono- and half multidomain. Since the maximum size of a single-domain particle is known, this enables us to estimate the spin diffusion length of the Cu conduction electrons. We have also demonstrated, theoretically and experimentally, that the appropriate demagnetizing field to apply to the ensemble of spherical magnetic particles that comprise our granular thin film is simply the field corresponding to the average magnetization.

Analysis of turbulent free jet hydrogen-air diffusion flames with finite chemical reaction rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sislian, J. P.

1978-01-01

The nonequilibrium flow field resulting from the turbulent mixing and combustion of a supersonic axisymmetric hydrogen jet in a supersonic parallel coflowing air stream is analyzed. Effective turbulent transport properties are determined using the (K-epsilon) model. The finite-rate chemistry model considers eight reactions between six chemical species, H, O, H2O, OH, O2, and H2. The governing set of nonlinear partial differential equations is solved by an implicit finite-difference procedure. Radial distributions are obtained at two downstream locations of variables such as turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent dissipation rate, turbulent scale length, and viscosity. The results show that these variables attain peak values at the axis of symmetry. Computed distributions of velocity, temperature, and mass fraction are also given. A direct analytical approach to account for the effect of species concentration fluctuations on the mean production rate of species (the phenomenon of unmixedness) is also presented. However, the use of the method does not seem justified in view of the excessive computer time required to solve the resulting system of equations.

Process and Performance Outcomes of a Nontraditional Postbaccalaureate PharmD Program Geared Toward Internationally Trained Pharmacists.

PubMed

Prabhu, Sunil; Chung, Eunice; Le, Quang A; Nguyen, Megan; Robinson, Daniel

2015-10-25

Established in 2003, the fully accredited international postbaccalaureate doctor of pharmacy (IPBP) program has attracted internationally trained pharmacists from approximately 25 countries and 6 continents, mostly residents of the United States, to attain the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree at the Western University of Health Sciences. While recent trends in the IPBP applicant pool have shown a decline from its peak numbers in 2009 (222 applicants) for the 20 available seats each year, the quality of students remains high. Benchmark measures assessed for this group of students include the internal assessment entrance examination, admissions scores, academic assessments from didactic blocks, and scores on the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), all of which indicate this quality. Moreover, graduates from the program not only consistently demonstrate excellence in the pharmacy curriculum and board examinations, but also go on to establish themselves as competent practitioners and educators. While the long-term future of the program is unknown, the status of the program and its graduates provides ample evidence of its value and ensures its continued success going forward.

Fast pyrolysis of corn stovers with ceramic ball heat carriers in a novel dual concentric rotary cylinder reactor.

PubMed

Fu, Peng; Bai, Xueyuan; Li, Zhihe; Yi, Weiming; Li, Yongjun; Zhang, Yuchun

2018-05-09

Fast pyrolysis of corn stovers with ceramic ball heat carriers in a dual concentric rotary cylinder reactor was studied to explore the product yields and characteristics in response to temperature. The reactor was confirmed to successfully scale up to a 25 kg/h pilot plant, with its performance being excellent. The highest bio-oil yield of 48.3 wt% at 500 °C was attained with the char and gas yields being 26.8 and 24.9 wt%. Phenols content was reduced from 22.3% to 18.9% when elevating temperature from 450 until 600 °C, with guaiacols and alkyl phenols being the predominant compounds, while ketones accounted for 15.8-23.0% and their content showed a continuous increase, with hydroxyacetone being the paramount ketonic one. Acetic acid was the dominant acidic compound with its peak content of 9.4% at 500 °C. The char characteristics in response to temperatures were determined for subsequent processing and high value-added utilization. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Glass transitions and physical aging of cassava starch - corn oil blends.

PubMed

Pérez, Adriana; Sandoval, Aleida J; Cova, Aura; Müller, Alejandro J

2014-05-25

Glass transition temperatures and physical aging of amorphous cassava starch and their blends with corn oil were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two enthalpic relaxation endotherms, well separated in temperature values, were exhibited by neat amorphous cassava starch with 10.6% moisture content, evidencing two amorphous regions within the starch with different degrees of mobility. The phase segregation of these two amorphous regions was favored by added corn oil at low moisture contents during storage. The presence of amylose-lipid complexes in this matrix, may also affect the molecular dynamics of these two amorphous regions at low moisture contents. Increasing moisture content, leads to a homogeneous amorphous phase, with an aging process characterized by a single enthalpic relaxation peak. In all cases, after deleting the thermal history of the samples only one glass transition temperature was detected (during DSC second heating runs) indicating that a single homogeneous amorphous phase was attained after erasing the effects of physical aging. Trends of the enthalpic relaxation parameters were also different at the two moisture contents considered in this work. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cyclotron Orbits of Composite Fermions in the Fractional Quantum Hall Regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Insun; Deng, Hao; Liu, Yang; Pfeiffer, L. N.; West, K. W.; Baldwin, K. W.; Shayegan, M.

2018-01-01

We study a bilayer GaAs hole system that hosts two distinct many-body phases at low temperatures and high perpendicular magnetic fields. The higher-density (top) layer develops a Fermi sea of composite fermions (CFs) in its half-filled lowest Landau level, while the lower-density (bottom) layer forms a Wigner crystal (WC) as its filling becomes very small. Owing to the interlayer interaction, the CFs in the top layer feel the periodic Coulomb potential of the WC in the bottom layer. We measure the magnetoresistance of the top layer while changing the bottom-layer density. As the WC layer density increases, the resistance peaks separating the adjacent fractional quantum Hall states in the top layer change nonmonotonically and attain maximum values when the cyclotron orbit of the CFs encloses one WC lattice point. These features disappear at T =275 mK when the WC melts. The observation of such geometric resonance features is unprecedented and surprising as it implies that the CFs retain a well-defined cyclotron orbit and Fermi wave vector even deep in the fractional quantum Hall regime, far from half-filling.

[Diagnostic value of baseline serum luteinizing hormone level for central precocious puberty in girls].

PubMed

Ou-Yang, Li-Xue; Yang, Fan

2017-07-01

To evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline serum luteinizing hormone (LH) level for central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls. A total of 279 girls with precocious puberty were subjected to assessment of growth and development, bone age determination, baseline LH test, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test, gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test, and other related examinations. Of the 279 patients, 175 were diagnosed with CPP and 104 with premature thelarche (PT). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline LH and FSH levels and their peak levels for CPP, and the correlation between the baseline LH level and the peak LH level was analyzed. The CPP group had significantly higher bone age, baseline LH and FSH levels, peak LH and FSH levels, and ratio of peak LH level to peak FSH level than the PT group (P<0.01). The ROC curve proved that baseline LH level and peak LH level had good diagnostic values for CPP. Among the three bone age subgroups in the CPP group (7.0-9.0 years, 9.0-11.0 years, and >11.0 years), baseline LH level showed the best diagnostic value in the >11.0 years subgroup, with the largest area under the ROC curve. At a baseline LH level of 0.45 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 66.7% and 80% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. At a peak LH level of 9.935 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.8% and 100% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. The baseline LH level was positively correlated with the peak LH level (r=0.440, P<0.01). Baseline LH level can be used as an primary screening index for the diagnosis of CPP. It has a certain diagnostic value for CPP at different bone ages, and may be used as a monitoring index during the treatment and follow-uP.

Explanation of the variance in quality of life and activity capacity of patients with heart failure by laboratory data.

PubMed

Athanasopoulos, Leonidas V; Dritsas, Athanasios; Doll, Helen A; Cokkinos, Dennis V

2010-08-01

This study was conducted to explain the variance in quality of life (QoL) and activity capacity of patients with congestive heart failure from pathophysiological changes as estimated by laboratory data. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) and ventilation (VE)/carbon dioxide output (VCO2) slope derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing, plasma N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and echocardiographic markers [left atrium (LA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)] were measured in 62 patients with congestive heart failure, who also completed the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and the Specific Activity Questionnaire. All regression models were adjusted for age and sex. On linear regression analysis, peak VO2 with P value less than 0.001, VE/VCO2 slope with P value less than 0.01, LVEF with P value less than 0.001, LA with P=0.001, and logNT-proBNP with P value less than 0.01 were found to be associated with QoL. On stepwise multiple linear regression, peak VO2 and LVEF continued to be predictive, accounting for 40% of the variability in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score. On linear regression analysis, peak VO2 with P value less than 0.001, VE/VCO2 slope with P value less than 0.001, LVEF with P value less than 0.05, LA with P value less than 0.001, and logNT-proBNP with P value less than 0.001 were found to be associated with activity capacity. On stepwise multiple linear regression, peak VO2 and LA continued to be predictive, accounting for 53% of the variability in Specific Activity Questionnaire score. Peak VO2 is independently associated both with QoL and activity capacity. In addition to peak VO2, LVEF is independently associated with QoL, and LA with activity capacity.

Multi-millijoule few-cycle mid-infrared pulses through nonlinear self-compression in bulk

PubMed Central

Shumakova, V.; Malevich, P.; Ališauskas, S.; Voronin, A.; Zheltikov, A. M.; Faccio, D.; Kartashov, D.; Baltuška, A.; Pugžlys, A.

2016-01-01

The physics of strong-field applications requires driver laser pulses that are both energetic and extremely short. Whereas optical amplifiers, laser and parametric, boost the energy, their gain bandwidth restricts the attainable pulse duration, requiring additional nonlinear spectral broadening to enable few or even single cycle compression and a corresponding peak power increase. Here we demonstrate, in the mid-infrared wavelength range that is important for scaling the ponderomotive energy in strong-field interactions, a simple energy-efficient and scalable soliton-like pulse compression in a mm-long yttrium aluminium garnet crystal with no additional dispersion management. Sub-three-cycle pulses with >0.44 TW peak power are compressed and extracted before the onset of modulation instability and multiple filamentation as a result of a favourable interplay between strong anomalous dispersion and optical nonlinearity around the wavelength of 3.9 μm. As a manifestation of the increased peak power, we show the evidence of mid-infrared pulse filamentation in atmospheric air. PMID:27620117

Simultaneous removals of NOx, HC and PM from diesel exhaust emissions by dielectric barrier discharges.

PubMed

Song, Chong-Lin; Bin, Feng; Tao, Ze-Min; Li, Fang-Cheng; Huang, Qi-Fei

2009-07-15

The main target of this work is to characterize the abatements of particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) from an actual diesel exhaust using dielectric barrier discharge technology (DBD). The effects of several parameters, such as peak voltage, frequency and engine load, on the contaminant removals have been investigated intensively. The present study shows that for a given frequency, the removals of PM and HC are enhanced with the increase of peak voltage and level off at higher voltage, while in the range of higher voltages a decline of NO(x) removal efficiency is observed. For a given voltage, the maximums of specific energy density (SED) and removal efficiency are attained at resonance point. The increase of peak voltage will result in a significant decrease of energy utilization efficiency of DBD at most engine loads. Alkanes in soluble organic fraction (SOF) are more readily subjected to removals than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Calorific values and combustion chemistry of animal manure

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Combustion chemistry and calorific value analyses are the fundamental information for evaluating different biomass waste-to-energy conversion operations. Specific chemical exergy of manure and other biomass feedstock will provide a measure for the theoretically maximum attainable energy. The specifi...

Internal combustion engine cylinder-to-cylinder balancing with balanced air-fuel ratios

DOEpatents

Harris, Ralph E.; Bourn, Gary D.; Smalley, Anthony J.

2006-01-03

A method of balancing combustion among cylinders of an internal combustion engine. For each cylinder, a normalized peak firing pressure is calculated as the ratio of its peak firing pressure to its combustion pressure. Each cylinder's normalized peak firing pressure is compared to a target value for normalized peak firing pressure. The fuel flow is adjusted to any cylinder whose normalized peak firing pressure is not substantially equal to the target value.

Enzyme-functionalized thin-cladding long-period fiber grating in transition mode at dispersion turning point for sugar-level and glucose detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badmos, Abdulyezir A.; Sun, Qizhen; Sun, Zhongyuan; Zhang, Junxi; Yan, Zhijun; Lutsyk, Petro; Rozhin, Alex; Zhang, Lin

2017-02-01

Enzyme-functionalized dual-peak long-period fiber grating (LPFG) inscribed in 80-μm-cladding B/Ge codoped single-mode fiber is presented for sugar-level and specific glucose detection. Before enzyme functionalization, the dual-peak LPFG was employed for refractive index sensing and sugar-level detection and high sensitivities of ˜4298.20 nm/RIU and 4.6696 nm/% were obtained, respectively. Glucose detection probe was attained by surface functionalization of the dual-peak LPFG via covalent binding with aminopropyl triethoxysilane used as a binding site. Optical micrographs confirmed the presence of enzyme. The surface-functionalized dual-peak LPFG was tested with D-(+)-glucose solution of different concentrations. While the peak 2 at the longer wavelength was suitable only to measure lower glucose concentration (0.1 to 1.6 mg/ml) recording a high sensitivity of 12.21±0.19 nm/(mg/ml), the peak 1 at the shorter wavelength was able to measure a wider range of glucose concentrations (0.1 to 3.2 mg/ml) exhibiting a maximum resonance wavelength shift of 7.12±0.12 nm/mg/ml. The enzyme-functionalized dual-peak LPFG has the advantage of direct inscription of highly sensitive grating structures in thin-cladding fibre without etching, and most significantly, its sensitivity improvement of approximately one order of magnitude higher than previously reported LPFG and excessively tilted fibre grating (Ex-TFG) for glucose detection.

Preliminary evaluation of magnitude and frequency of floods in selected small drainage basins in Ohio

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kolva, J.R.

1985-01-01

A previous study of flood magitudes and frequencies in Ohio concluded that existing regionalized flood equations may not be adequate for estimating peak flows in small basins that are heavily forested, surface mined, or located in northwestern Ohio. In order to provide a large data base for improving estimation of flood peaks in these basins, 30 crest-stage gages were installed in 1977, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation, to provide a 10-year record of flood data The study area consists of two distinct parts: Northwestern Ohio, which contains 8 sites, and southern and eastern Ohio, which contains 22 sites in small forested or surface-mined drainage basins. Basin characteristics were determined for all 30 sites for 1978 conditions. Annual peaks were recorded or estimated for all 30 sites for water years 1978-82; an additional year of peak discharges was available at four sites. The 2-year (Q2) and 5-year (Q5) flood peaks were determined from these annual peaks.Q2 and Q5 values also were calculated using published regionalized regression equations for Ohio. The ratios of the observed to predicted 2-year (R2) and 5-year (R5) values were then calculated. This study found that observed flood peaks aree lower than estimated peaks by a significant amount in surface-mined basins. The average ratios of observed to predicted R2 values are 0.51 for basins with more than 40 percent surface-minded land, and 0.68 for sites with any surface-mined land. The average R5 value is 0.55 for sites with more than 40 percent surface-minded land, and 0.61 for sites with any surface-mined land. Estimated flood peaks from forested basins agree with the observed values fairly well. R2 values average 0.87 for sites with 20 percent or more forested land, but no surface-mined land, and R5 values average 0.96. If all sites with more than 20 percent forested land and some surface-mined land are considered, R2 the values average 0.86, and the R5 values average 0.82.

The Role of Attainment Value, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Message Frame in the Appraisal of Value-Promoting Messages

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Symes, Wendy; Putwain, David W.

2016-01-01

Background: Prior to high-stakes examinations, teachers may use value-promoting messages (VPMs) to communicate to students the value and importance of their forthcoming examinations in the hope that they will adopt adaptive learning and study behaviours. These messages can focus on achieving success (gain-framed) or avoiding failure (loss-framed).…

Counting missing values in a metabolite-intensity data set for measuring the analytical performance of a metabolomics platform.

PubMed

Huan, Tao; Li, Liang

2015-01-20

Metabolomics requires quantitative comparison of individual metabolites present in an entire sample set. Unfortunately, missing intensity values in one or more samples are very common. Because missing values can have a profound influence on metabolomic results, the extent of missing values found in a metabolomic data set should be treated as an important parameter for measuring the analytical performance of a technique. In this work, we report a study on the scope of missing values and a robust method of filling the missing values in a chemical isotope labeling (CIL) LC-MS metabolomics platform. Unlike conventional LC-MS, CIL LC-MS quantifies the concentration differences of individual metabolites in two comparative samples based on the mass spectral peak intensity ratio of a peak pair from a mixture of differentially labeled samples. We show that this peak-pair feature can be explored as a unique means of extracting metabolite intensity information from raw mass spectra. In our approach, a peak-pair peaking algorithm, IsoMS, is initially used to process the LC-MS data set to generate a CSV file or table that contains metabolite ID and peak ratio information (i.e., metabolite-intensity table). A zero-fill program, freely available from MyCompoundID.org , is developed to automatically find a missing value in the CSV file and go back to the raw LC-MS data to find the peak pair and, then, calculate the intensity ratio and enter the ratio value into the table. Most of the missing values are found to be low abundance peak pairs. We demonstrate the performance of this method in analyzing an experimental and technical replicate data set of human urine metabolome. Furthermore, we propose a standardized approach of counting missing values in a replicate data set as a way of gauging the extent of missing values in a metabolomics platform. Finally, we illustrate that applying the zero-fill program, in conjunction with dansylation CIL LC-MS, can lead to a marked improvement in finding significant metabolites that differentiate bladder cancer patients and their controls in a metabolomics study of 109 subjects.

Secondary IGF-I deficiency as a prognostic factor of growth hormone (GH) therapy effectiveness in children with isolated, non-acquired GH deficiency.

PubMed

Smyczyńska, J; Stawerska, R; Hilczer, M; Lewiński, A

2015-04-01

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) has recently been classified as secondary IGF-I deficiency but the significance of IGF-I measurement in diagnosing GHD is still discussed. The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between IGF-I secretion and GH therapy effectiveness in children with GHD. The analysis comprised 300 children with isolated, non-acquired GHD (GH peak below 10 μg/l) who completed GH therapy and attained final height (FH). In all patients IGF-I concentration was measured before the treatment and IGF-I deficiency was diagnosed if IGF-I SDS for age and sex was below -1.0. The following auxological indices were assessed: patients' height SDS before treatment (H₀SDS), FH SDS and improvement of FHSDS vs. H₀SDS (ΔHSDS). In the patients with IGF-I deficiency when compared with those with normal IGF-I secretion before treatment, significantly better FH SDS (-1.42±0.90 vs. -1.74±0.86, p=0.004) and ΔHSDS (1.64±1.01 vs. 1.32±1.05, p=0.010) were observed, despite similar H₀SDS (- 3.07±0.78 vs. - 3.11±0.77, p=0.63) and GH peak (7.0±3.1 μg/l vs. 6.8±2.1 μg/l, p=0.55). The patients who achieved FH over 10(th) centile had significantly lower IGF-I SDS before treatment than those with FH below 10(th) centile (- 1.59±1.54 vs. - 1.20±1.64, p=0.04), despite similar GH peak (7.0±2.3 μg/l vs. 6.7±3.1 μg/l, p=0.45). The patients with ΔHSDS over the median value had significantly lower IGF-I SDS than those with ΔHSDS below the median value (- 1.59±1.71 vs. - 1.09±1.47, p<0.0001), despite similar GH peak (6.8±2.5 μg/l vs. 7.0±2.7 μg/l, p=0.86). In children with isolated, non-acquired GHD, secondary IGF-I deficiency is an important predictor of better GH therapy effectiveness. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: the self-concordance model.

PubMed

Sheldon, K M; Elliot, A J

1999-03-01

An integrative model of the conative process, which has important ramifications for psychological need satisfaction and hence for individuals' well-being, is presented. The self-concordance of goals (i.e., their consistency with the person's developing interests and core values) plays a dual role in the model. First, those pursuing self-concordant goals put more sustained effort into achieving those goals and thus are more likely to attain them. Second, those who attain self-concordant goals reap greater well-being benefits from their attainment. Attainment-to-well-being effects are mediated by need satisfaction, i.e., daily activity-based experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness that accumulate during the period of striving. The model is shown to provide a satisfactory fit to 3 longitudinal data sets and to be independent of the effects of self-efficacy, implementation intentions, avoidance framing, and life skills.

PULSAR OUTER-GAP ELECTRODYNAMICS: HARDENING OF SPECTRAL SHAPE IN THE TRAILING PEAK IN THE GAMMA-RAY LIGHT CURVE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hirotani, Kouichi, E-mail: hirotani@tiara.sinica.edu.tw

2011-06-01

The spectral characteristics of the pulsed gamma-ray emission from outer-magnetospheric particle accelerators are investigated. Either positrons or electrons are accelerated outward by the magnetic-field-aligned electric field to emit gamma rays via the curvature process. Since the particles move along relatively straight paths in the trailing side of a rotating magnetosphere, they attain higher Lorentz factors to emit more energetic gamma rays than those in the leading side. It is first demonstrated that the cutoff energy of the curvature radiation evolves with the rotation phase owing to the variation of the curvature radii of the particle paths and maximizes at amore » slightly later phase of the trailing peak in the gamma-ray light curve.« less

Influence factors and forecast of carbon emission in China: structure adjustment for emission peak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, B.; Cui, C. Q.; Li, Z. P.

2018-02-01

This paper introduced Principal Component Analysis and Multivariate Linear Regression Model to verify long-term balance relationships between Carbon Emissions and the impact factors. The integrated model of improved PCA and multivariate regression analysis model is attainable to figure out the pattern of carbon emission sources. Main empirical results indicate that among all selected variables, the role of energy consumption scale was largest. GDP and Population follow and also have significant impacts on carbon emission. Industrialization rate and fossil fuel proportion, which is the indicator of reflecting the economic structure and energy structure, have a higher importance than the factor of urbanization rate and the dweller consumption level of urban areas. In this way, some suggestions are put forward for government to achieve the peak of carbon emissions.

How to use your peak flow meter

MedlinePlus

Peak flow meter - how to use; Asthma - peak flow meter; Reactive airway disease - peak flow meter; Bronchial asthma - peak flow meter ... your airways are narrowed and blocked due to asthma, your peak flow values drop. You can check ...

The Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Signals and Systems Performance Based on Ionospheric Effects Symposium Held on 1-3 May 1990

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-03

winter and a minimum in summer ; in contrast, at sunspot maximum the seasonal peaks tend to occur around the equinoxes and the minima in summer . ’riis is...more clearly seen in Figures 4(b) ahnd 4(c). Note that around sunspot maximum the summer noon value may be less than the summer midnight value. (3) The...seasonal variation of the midnight values show summer peaks and winter minima with high values near the peaks of the sunspot cycles and low values

Body mass and antler development patterns of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Michigan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bender, L.C.; Carlson, E.; Schmitt, S.M.; Haufler, J.B.

2003-01-01

We documented mean and maximum body mass, mass accretion patterns and ander development patterns of Rocky Mountain elk in Michigan. Mean body mass of bulls averaged 9-11% heavier, and maximum body mass 23-27% heavier, in Michigan than in other Rocky Mountain elk populations. Mean live body mass of cows averaged 11% heavier in Michigan, but mean eviscerated body mass did not differ. Maximum body mass of cows was 10-24% heavier in Michigan. Body mass peaked at age 7.5 for bulls and 8.5 for cows, similar to other Rocky Mountain elk populations despite the greater body mass achieved in Michigan. Sexual dimorphism in bull and cow body mass increased until peak body mass was attained, whereupon bulls were ???38% heavier than cows. Antler development of bull elk peaked at age 10.5, comparable to other Rocky Mountain elk populations. Relations between antler development and body mass within age classes were highly variable, but generally weak. Greater body mass seen in Michigan, and the peaking of antler development well after body mass in bulls, suggested a phenotypic response to nutritional conditions that allow Rocky Mountain elk in Michigan to maximize the species growth potential.

Spectral investigation of somatotropin for different pH values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otero de Joshi, Virginia; Gil, Herminia; Contreras, Silvia; Joshi, Narahari V.; Hernandez, Luis

1996-04-01

Spectral investigations of absorbance in deep ultra-violet region (from 200 nm to 350 nm) of (STM) was carried out for different pH values. On the high energy side the peak is located at 195 nm which is generally attributed to peptide bonds. This peak, as expected, does not show any shift with pH value (4.3 to 10.8). A rather broad peak is spread in the region from 200 nm to 240 nm which could be the superposition of the peaks corresponding to the absorption due to (alpha) helix and (beta) structure. This peak shows a red shift as pH value increases. The same hormone was glycated by a conventional method and the process was estimated with the absorption spectra. The results are discussed in the light of nonenzymatic glycation. It was found that glycation mucus somatotropin resistant towards the denaturation process.

Moral Dilemmas/Value Sheets: Writing for Content-Centered Social Studies Classrooms.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stahl, Robert J.; And Others

The purpose of the paper is to stress the development of content-centered classroom activities useful for attaining values clarification and/or moral development goals. The objective is to help teachers understand the formulation of content-centered learning activities so that they will be able to plan and produce their own value sheets or moral…

The role of precursor gases and meteorology on temporal evolution of O₃ at a tropical location in northeast India.

PubMed

Bhuyan, Pradip Kumar; Bharali, Chandrakala; Pathak, Binita; Kalita, Gayatry

2014-05-01

South Asia, particularly the Indo-Gangetic Plains and foothills of the Himalayas, has been found to be a major source of pollutant gases and particles affecting the regional as well as the global climate. Inventories of greenhouse gases for the South Asian region, particularly the sub-Himalayan region, have been inadequate. Hence, measurements of the gases are important from effective characterization of the gases and their climate effects. The diurnal, seasonal, and annual variation of surface level O3 measured for the first time in northeast India at Dibrugarh (27.4° N, 94.9° E, 111 m amsl), a sub-Himalayan location in the Brahmaputra basin, from November 2009 to May 2013 is presented. The effect of the precursor gases NO x and CO measured simultaneously during January 2012-May 2013 and the prevailing meteorology on the growth and decay of O3 has been studied. The O3 concentration starts to increase gradually after sunrise attaining a peak level around 1500 hours LT and then decreases from evening till sunrise next day. The highest and lowest monthly maximum concentration of O3 is observed in March (42.9 ± 10.3 ppb) and July (17.3 ± 7.0 ppb), respectively. The peak in O3 concentration is preceded by the peaks in NO x and CO concentrations which maximize during the period November to March with peak values of 25.2 ± 21.0 ppb and 1.0 ± 0.4 ppm, respectively, in January. Significant nonlinear correlation is observed between O3 and NO, NO2, and CO. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory back-trajectory and concentration weighted trajectory analysis carried out to delineate the possible airmass trajectory and to identify the potential source region of NO x and O3 concentrations show that in post-monsoon and winter, majority of the trajectories are confined locally while in pre-monsoon and monsoon, these are originated at the Indo-Gangetic plains, Bangladesh, and Bay of Bengal.

Silicon ribbon technology assessment 1978-1986 - A computer-assisted analysis using PECAN

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kran, A.

1978-01-01

The paper presents a 1978-1986 economic outlook for silicon ribbon technology based on the capillary action shaping technique. The outlook is presented within the framework of two sets of scenarios, which develop strategy for approaching the 1986 national energy capacity cost objective of $0.50/WE peak. The PECAN (Photovoltaic Energy Conversion Analysis) simulation technique is used to develop a 1986 sheet material price ($50/sq m) which apparently can be attained without further scientific breakthrough.

Floods in south-central Oklahoma and north-central Texas, October 1981

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buckner, Harold D.; Kurklin, Joanne K.

1984-01-01

Substantial reductions in peak stages and discharges on the West Fork Trinity River downstream from Eagle Mountain Reservoir were attained as a result of reservoir storage. All floodwater on the Elm Fork Trinity River was contained by reservoir storage thus preventing a potentially devastating flood downstream on the Trinity River. Maximum stages and discharges and/or contents were recorded during and after this major flood at 83 gaging stations, crest-stage stations, reservoir stations, and a miscellaneous site.

Superconducting gravimeter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodkind, J. M.

1982-01-01

The superconducting gravimeter was developed and applied to field measurements. The stability of the instrument yielded the highest precision measurements of the Earth tides ever attained. It revealed unprecedented details about the effect of the atmosphere on gravity. Secular variations in gravity and the stability of the instruments were measured by comparing records from co-located instruments. These efforts have resulted in substantial reductions in the noise level at very low frequencies so that the peak differences between two instruments at the same location can be reduced to 0.1 micron gal.

Three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation of linearly polarised Alfven wave dynamics in Arnold-Beltrami-Childress magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsiklauri, D.

Previous studies (e.g., Malara et al., Astrophys. J. 533, 523 (2000)) considered small-amplitude Alfven wave (AW) packets in Arnold-Beltrami-Childress (ABC) magnetic field using WKB approximation. They draw a distinction between 2D AW dissipation via phase mixing and 3D AW dissipation via exponentially divergent magnetic field lines. In the former case, AW dissipation time scales as S{sup 1∕3} and in the latter as log(S), where S is the Lundquist number. In this work, linearly polarised Alfven wave dynamics in ABC magnetic field via direct 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation is studied for the first time. A Gaussian AW pulse with length-scalemore » much shorter than ABC domain length and a harmonic AW with wavelength equal to ABC domain length are studied for four different resistivities. While it is found that AWs dissipate quickly in the ABC field, contrary to an expectation, it is found the AW perturbation energy increases in time. In the case of the harmonic AW, the perturbation energy growth is transient in time, attaining peaks in both velocity and magnetic perturbation energies within timescales much smaller than the resistive time. In the case of the Gaussian AW pulse, the velocity perturbation energy growth is still transient in time, attaining a peak within few resistive times, while magnetic perturbation energy continues to grow. It is also shown that the total magnetic energy decreases in time and this is governed by the resistive evolution of the background ABC magnetic field rather than AW damping. On contrary, when the background magnetic field is uniform, the total magnetic energy decrease is prescribed by AW damping, because there is no resistive evolution of the background. By considering runs with different amplitudes and by analysing the perturbation spectra, possible dynamo action by AW perturbation-induced peristaltic flow and inverse cascade of magnetic energy have been excluded. Therefore, the perturbation energy growth is attributed to a new instability. The growth rate appears to be dependent on the value of the resistivity and the spatial scale of the AW disturbance. Thus, when going beyond WKB approximation, AW damping, described by full MHD equations, does not guarantee decrease of perturbation energy. This has implications for the MHD wave plasma heating in exponentially divergent magnetic fields.« less

Maximal muscular vascular conductances during whole body upright exercise in humans

PubMed Central

Calbet, J A L; Jensen-Urstad, M; van Hall, G; Holmberg, H -C; Rosdahl, H; Saltin, B

2004-01-01

That muscular blood flow may reach 2.5 l kg−1 min−1 in the quadriceps muscle has led to the suggestion that muscular vascular conductance must be restrained during whole body exercise to avoid hypotension. The main aim of this study was to determine the maximal arm and leg muscle vascular conductances (VC) during leg and arm exercise, to find out if the maximal muscular vasodilatory response is restrained during maximal combined arm and leg exercise. Six Swedish elite cross-country skiers, age (mean ± s.e.m.) 24 ± 2 years, height 180 ± 2 cm, weight 74 ± 2 kg, and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2,max) 5.1 ± 0.1 l min−1 participated in the study. Femoral and subclavian vein blood flows, intra-arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, as well as blood gases in the femoral and subclavian vein, right atrium and femoral artery were determined during skiing (roller skis) at ∼76% of V̇O2,max and at V̇O2,max with different techniques: diagonal stride (combined arm and leg exercise), double poling (predominantly arm exercise) and leg skiing (predominantly leg exercise). During submaximal exercise cardiac output (26–27 l min−1), mean blood pressure (MAP) (∼87 mmHg), systemic VC, systemic oxygen delivery and pulmonary V̇O2 (∼4 l min−1) attained similar values regardless of exercise mode. The distribution of cardiac output was modified depending on the musculature engaged in the exercise. There was a close relationship between VC and V̇O2 in arms (r = 0.99, P < 0.001) and legs (r = 0.98, P < 0.05). Peak arm VC (63.7 ± 5.6 ml min−1 mmHg−1) was attained during double poling, while peak leg VC was reached at maximal exercise with the diagonal technique (109.8 ± 11.5 ml min−1 mmHg−1) when arm VC was 38.8 ± 5.7 ml min−1 mmHg−1. If during maximal exercise arms and legs had been vasodilated to the observed maximal levels then mean arterial pressure would have dropped at least to 75–77 mmHg in our experimental conditions. It is concluded that skeletal muscle vascular conductance is restrained during whole body exercise in the upright position to avoid hypotension. PMID:15121799

Thermal and mechanical properties of gamma-irradiated prevulcanized natural rubber latex/low nitrosamines latex blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Pairu; Daik, Rusli; Wan Zin, Wan Manshol

2016-12-01

Thermal and mechanical properties of blended radiation prevulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) and low nitrosamines latex (LNL) were studied. RVNRL was blended with LNL at various composition ratios. From the tensile test, it was found that the optimum tensile value was attained at a total blending ratio of 70% RVNRL and 30% LNL. Latex blending with optimum tensile strength was then subjected to gamma irradiation at various doses with the presence and absence of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 10 pphr. It was found that the gamma irradiation of latex blend with the presence of MMA could help increase further the tensile value. Composition of blending at a specific ratio and gamma irradiation at a specific dose has led to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the latex blend. The formation of grafting in the latex blend was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that MMA could be grafted onto blended latex effectively under appropriate irradiation conditions. Two new peaks at 1731 and 1149 cm-1 were observed after irradiation, indicating the presence of an ester group from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which was grafted onto rubber chains. This finding was proved by the presence of new Tg in DSC analysis. The increase in new Tg indicates the movement of grafting chains, which are tightly bound onto rubber chains.

Direct sample introduction gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the determination of phthalate esters in cleaning products.

PubMed

Cacho, J I; Campillo, N; Viñas, P; Hernández-Córdoba, M

2015-02-06

A method using direct sample introduction (DSI) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is developed for the determination of six phthalate esters (dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl, butylbenzyl, diethylhexyl and dioctyl phthalate) in cleaning products. The different variables involved in the DSI step, including venting time and temperature, vaporisation time and temperature, injector heating temperature and gas flow rate and pressure, were evaluated and optimised using Taguchi orthogonal arrays. The proposed method, using calibration against methanolic standards, showed good linearity in the 0.05-15 μg g(-1) range and good repeatability, with RSD values ranging from 3.5% to 5.7%. Quantification limits between 0.010 and 0.041 μg g(-1), depending on the compound, were attained, while recovery assays provided values from 83% to 115%. Twenty-seven cleaning products were analysed using the DSI-GC-MS method, being four phthalates (dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalate) found in fourteen of them at concentration levels in the 0.1-21 μg g(-1) range. Compared with the most common GC injection technique, which uses the split/splitless injector, the proposed DSI procedure provided larger peak areas and lower detection limits, as result of the greater injected volume and reduction in noise. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rapid determination of branched chain amino acids in human blood plasma by pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

PubMed

Tůma, Petr; Gojda, Jan

2015-08-01

A CE method with contactless conductivity detection has been developed for the clinical determination of the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) valine, isoleucine and leucine in human blood plasma. The CE separation was performed in an optimised BGE with composition of 3.2 M acetic acid in 20% v/v methanol, pH 2.0. The achieved separation time was 125 s when using a capillary with an effective length of 14.7 cm, electric field intensity of 0.96 kV/cm and simultaneous application of a hydrodynamic pressure of 50 mbar. The separation efficiency in blood plasma equalled 461 000 theoretical plates/m for valine and isoleucine, and 455 000 theoretical plates/m for leucine; the detection limits are equal to 0.4 μM for all three amino acids. The RSD values for repeatability of the migration time equalled 0.1% for measurements during a single day and 0.3% for measurements on different days; the RSD values for repeatability of the peak areas equalled 2.3-2.6% for measurements during a single day and 2.7-4.6% for measurements on different days. It followed from the performed tests that the plasmatic levels of BCAAs attain a maximum 60 min after intravenous application of an infusion of BCAAs. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of ezetimibe add-on therapy over 52 weeks extension analysis of prospective randomized trial (RESEARCH study) in type 2 diabetes subjects.

PubMed

Sakamoto, Kentaro; Kawamura, Mitsunobu; Watanabe, Takayuki; Ashidate, Keiko; Kohro, Takahide; Tanaka, Akira; Mori, Yasumichi; Tagami, Motoki; Hirano, Tsutomu; Yamazaki, Tsutomu; Shiba, Teruo

2017-06-24

Lowering cholesterol levels decreases the risk of atherosclerotic diseases. Effective ways to stably reduce LDL-C level are warranted in type 2 diabetic patients, a high-risk population for CVD, with various anti-diabetic therapeutic background. The RESEARCH study focuses on LDL-C reduction in this population along with modifications of the lipid profiles. We evaluated long-term ezetimibe add-on therapy in T2DM patients with hypercholesterolemia. In a randomized, multicenter, open-label, prospective study, a total of 109 T2DM patients not attaining LDL-C target value despite first-line dose statin (10 mg of atorvastatin or 1 mg of pitavastatin) therapy in Japan were recruited. We investigated the difference in cholesterol lowering effect between ezetimibe (10 mg) add-on statin (EAT) group and double-dose statin (DST) group. Changes of parameters related to atherosclerotic event risks were assessed. The reduction of LDL-C was larger in the EAT group (28.3%) than in the DST group (9.2%) at 52 weeks as well as the primary endpoint of 12 weeks. EAT achieved significant lower levels of TC and apo B, respectively. Both treatments attained significant reduction in sd-LDL-C or hsCRP on this long-term basis. Notably, sd-LDL-C in EAT reduced as low as 36.1 ± 14.9 mg/dl to reach near the threshold (35.0 mg/dl) for atherosclerosis with significantly higher achievement rate (55.6%) than DST treatment. Simultaneously, hsCRP reduction by EAT attained as low value as 0.52 ± 0.43 mg/l. In the present 52-week long-term period, ezetimibe add-on therapy showed a robust advantage in lowering LDL-C and in attaining target LDL-C values compared with the doubling of statin dose. Moreover, it's meaningful that sd-LDL, powerfully atherogenic lipoprotein, exhibited prominent decrease consistently prominently by ezetimibe add-on therapy. DM patients with hypercholesterolemia are at high risk for CAD, and adding ezetimibe onto usual-dose statin treatment in Japan has been suggested as the first-line therapy for those DM patients who failed to attain the target LDL-C value (UMIN000002593).

Characterization of water quality in selected tributaries of the Alamosa River, southwestern Colorado, including comparisons to instream water-quality standards and toxicological reference values, 1995-97

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ortiz, Roderick F.; Ferguson, Sheryl A.

2001-01-01

A comprehensive water-quality sampling network was implemented by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1995 through 1997 at 12 tributary sites to the Alamosa River. The network was designed to address data gaps identified in the initial ecological risk assessment of the Summitville Superfund site. Tributaries draining hydrothermally altered areas had higher median values for nearly all measured properties and constituents than tributaries draining unaltered areas. Colorado instream standards for pH, copper, iron, and zinc were in attainment at most tributary sites. Instream standards for pH and chronic aquatic-life standards for iron were not attained in Jasper Creek. Toxicological reference values were most often exceeded at Iron Creek, Alum Creek, Bitter Creek, Wightman Fork, and Burnt Creek. These tributaries all drain hydrothermally altered areas.

15 CFR 921.81 - Allowable costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM REGULATIONS General Financial Assistance Provisions § 921.81 Allowable..., the fair market value of real property allowable as match is limited to the fair market value of a real property interest equivalent to, or required to attain, the level of control over such land(s...

40 CFR 422.43 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 (d... Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus...

40 CFR 422.43 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 (d... Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus...

Dynamics of Katabatic Winds in Colorado' Brush Creek Valley.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vergeiner, I.; Dreiseitl, E.; Whiteman, C. David

1987-01-01

A method is proposed to evaluate the coupled mass, momentum and thermal energy budget equations for a deep valley under two-dimensional, steady-state flow conditions. The method requires the temperature, down- valley wind and valley width fields to be approximated by simple analytical functions. The vertical velocity field is calculated using the mass continuity equation. Advection terms in the momentum and energy equations are then calculated using finite differences computed on a vertical two-dimensional grid that runs down the valley's axis. The pressure gradient term in the momentum equation is calculated from the temperature field by means of the hydrostatic equation. The friction term is then calculated as a residual in the xmomentum equation, and the diabatic cooling term is calculated as a residual in the thermal energy budget equation.The method is applied to data from an 8-km-long segment of Colorado's; Brush Creek Valley on the night of 30-31 July 1982. Pressure decreased with distance down the peak on horizontal surfaces, with peak horizontal pressure gradients of 0.04 hPa km1. The valley mass budget indicated that subsidence was required in the valley to support calculated mean along-valley mass flux divergence. Peak subsidence rates on the order of 0.10 m s1 were calculated. Subsiding motions in the valley produced negative vertical down-valley momentum fluxes in the upper valley atmosphere, but produced positive down-valley momentum fluxes below the level of the jet. Friction, calculated as a residual in the x momentum equation, was negative, as expected on physical grounds. and attained reasonable quantitative values.The strong subsidence field in the stable valley atmosphere produced subsidence warming that was only partly counteracted by down-valley cold air advection. Strong diabatic cooling was therefore required in order to account for the weak net cooling of the valley atmosphere during the nighttime period when tethered balloon observations were made.

In vivo temperature rise in anesthetized human pulp during exposure to a polywave LED light curing unit.

PubMed

Runnacles, Patrício; Arrais, Cesar Augusto Galvão; Pochapski, Marcia Thais; Dos Santos, Fábio André; Coelho, Ulisses; Gomes, João Carlos; De Goes, Mário Fernando; Gomes, Osnara Maria Mongruel; Rueggeberg, Frederick Allen

2015-05-01

This in vivo study evaluated pulp temperature (PT) rise in human premolars during exposure to a light curing unit (LCU) using selected exposure modes (EMs). After local Ethics Committee approval, intact first upper premolars, requiring extraction for orthodontic reasons, from 8 volunteers, received infiltrative and intraligamental anesthesia. The teeth (n=15) were isolated using rubber dam and a minute pulp exposure was attained. A sterile probe from a wireless, NIST-traceable, temperature acquisition system was inserted directly into the coronal pulp chamber, and real time PT (°C) was continuously monitored while the buccal surface was exposed to polywave light from a LED LCU (Bluephase 20i, Ivoclar Vivadent) using selected EMs allowing a 7-min span between each exposure: 10-s either in low (10-s/L) or high (10-s/H); 5-s-turbo (5-s/T); and 60-s-high (60-s/H) intensities. Peak PT values and PT increases from baseline (ΔT) after exposure were subjected to one-way, repeated measures ANOVAs, and Bonferroni's post hoc tests (α=0.05). Linear regression analysis was performed to establish the relationship between applied radiant exposure and ΔT. All EMs produced higher peak PT than the baseline temperature (p<0.001). The 60-s/H mode generated the highest peak PT and ΔT (p<0.001), with some teeth exhibiting ΔT higher than 5.5°C. A significant, positive relationship between applied radiant exposure and ΔT (r(2)=0.916; p<0.001) was noted. Exposing intact, in vivo anesthetized human upper premolars to a polywave LED LCU increases PT, and depending on EM and the tooth, PT increase can be higher than the critical ΔT, thought to be associated with pulpal necrosis. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physiological responses in relation to performance during competition in elite synchronized swimmers.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Zamora, Lara; Iglesias, Xavier; Barrero, Anna; Chaverri, Diego; Erola, Pau; Rodríguez, Ferran A

2012-01-01

We aimed to characterize the cardiovascular, lactate and perceived exertion responses in relation to performance during competition in junior and senior elite synchronized swimmers. 34 high level senior (21.4 ± 3.6 years) and junior (15.9 ± 1.0) synchronized swimmers were monitored while performing a total of 96 routines during an official national championship in the technical and free solo, duet and team competitive programs. Heart rate was continuously monitored. Peak blood lactate was obtained from serial capillary samples during recovery. Post-exercise rate of perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg CR-10 scale. Total competition scores were obtained from official records. Data collection was complete in 54 cases. Pre-exercise mean heart rate (beats·min(-1)) was 129.1 ± 13.1, and quickly increased during the exercise to attain mean peak values of 191.7 ± 8.7, with interspersed bradycardic events down to 88.8 ± 28.5. Mean peak blood lactate (mmol·L(-1)) was highest in the free solo (8.5 ± 1.8) and free duet (7.6 ± 1.8) and lowest at the free team (6.2 ± 1.9). Mean RPE (0-10+) was higher in juniors (7.8 ± 0.9) than in seniors (7.1 ± 1.4). Multivariate analysis revealed that heart rate before and minimum heart rate during the routine predicted 26% of variability in final total score. Cardiovascular responses during competition are characterized by intense anticipatory pre-activation and rapidly developing tachycardia up to maximal levels with interspersed periods of marked bradycardia during the exercise bouts performed in apnea. Moderate blood lactate accumulation suggests an adaptive metabolic response as a result of the specific training adaptations attributed to influence of the diving response in synchronized swimmers. Competitive routines are perceived as very to extremely intense, particularly in the free solo and duets. The magnitude of anticipatory heart rate activation and bradycardic response appear to be related to performance variability.

Value-Added Measures of Education Performance: Clearing Away the Smoke and Mirrors. Policy Brief 10-4

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Douglas N.

2010-01-01

In this policy brief, the author explores the problems with attainment measures when it comes to evaluating performance at the school level, and explores the best uses of value-added measures. These value-added measures, the author writes, are useful for sorting out-of-school influences from school influences or from teacher performance, giving…

Exploring the potential uses of value-added metrics in the context of postgraduate medical education.

PubMed

Gregory, Simon; Patterson, Fiona; Baron, Helen; Knight, Alec; Walsh, Kieran; Irish, Bill; Thomas, Sally

2016-10-01

Increasing pressure is being placed on external accountability and cost efficiency in medical education and training internationally. We present an illustrative data analysis of the value-added of postgraduate medical education. We analysed historical selection (entry) and licensure (exit) examination results for trainees sitting the UK Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) licensing examination (N = 2291). Selection data comprised: a clinical problem solving test (CPST); a situational judgement test (SJT); and a selection centre (SC). Exit data was an applied knowledge test (AKT) from MRCGP. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses were used to model differences in attainment in the AKT based on performance at selection (the value-added score). Results were aggregated to the regional level for comparisons. We discovered significant differences in the value-added score between regional training providers. Whilst three training providers confer significant value-added, one training provider was significantly lower than would be predicted based on the attainment of trainees at selection. Value-added analysis in postgraduate medical education potentially offers useful information, although the methodology is complex, controversial, and has significant limitations. Developing models further could offer important insights to support continuous improvement in medical education in future.

An exploratory study on the relationship between parents' passion for sport/exercise and children's self- and task-perceptions in sport/exercise.

PubMed

Chen, Chen-Yueh

2014-06-01

This study investigated the relationship between parents' passion for sport/exercise and children's self- and task-perceptions in sport and exercise. Paired samples of 312 children, 312 fathers, and 312 mothers were collected using two-stage sampling; parents were classified based on their passion for sport and exercise as high concordance if both parents had a high passion for sport and exercise, low concordance if neither parent had a passion for sport and exercise, or discordant. Intrinsic interest value, attainment value/importance, extrinsic utility value, ability/expectancy, task difficulty, and required effort were measured, as well as harmonious and obsessive passion. Children's self- and task-perceptions in sport and exercise were examined with respect to parents' passion for sport and exercise. The results of the study indicated that children of parents with high concordance in harmonious passion for sport and exercise scored higher on intrinsic interest value, attainment value/importance, extrinsic utility value, ability/expectancy, task difficulty, and required effort in sport and exercise than counterparts with discordant and low concordance parents. Similar patterns were found for obsessive passion in parents.

Predictive value of serum β-hCG for early pregnancy outcomes among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Liu, Yinglin; Liu, Yukun; Li, Xuejiao; Jiao, Xuedan; Zhang, Rui; Zhang, Jianping

2016-10-01

To examine peak serum levels of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) for prediction of early pregnancy outcomes among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). In a retrospective study, the medical records of pregnant women with a history of RSA treated at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, China, between January 2011 and July 2013 were reviewed. Serum β-hCG had been measured twice weekly from 5 to 13weeks of pregnancy, and pregnancy was monitored by transvaginal ultrasonography to 13(+6)weeks. Optimal cutoff for peak β-hCG level was determined by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis and Youden index. Women were divided into four groups on the basis of optimal peak β-hCG cutoff and pregnancy outcome (pregnancy at 13weeks or spontaneous abortion). Peak β-hCG levels and length of pregnancy at this peak were examined. Overall, 1240 patients were included. The optimal cutoff value of peak β-hCG was 88 468IU/L, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for successful pregnancy of 95.6%, 88.0%, 95.6%, and 89.0%, respectively. A faster rise in β-hCG, higher peak β-hCG, and longer pregnancy length at peak β-hCG were associated with successful early pregnancy. A cutoff value of serum β-hCG of 88 000IU/L could be used to predict early pregnancy outcomes for women with a history of RSA. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Real-Time XRD Studies of Li-O2 Electrochemical Reaction in Nonaqueous Lithium-Oxygen Battery.

PubMed

Lim, Hyunseob; Yilmaz, Eda; Byon, Hye Ryung

2012-11-01

Understanding of electrochemical process in rechargeable Li-O2 battery has suffered from lack of proper analytical tool, especially related to the identification of chemical species and number of electrons involved in the discharge/recharge process. Here we present a simple and straightforward analytical method for simultaneously attaining chemical and quantified information of Li2O2 (discharge product) and byproducts using in situ XRD measurement. By real-time monitoring of solid-state Li2O2 peak area, the accurate efficiency of Li2O2 formation and the number of electrons can be evaluated during full discharge. Furthermore, by observation of sequential area change of Li2O2 peak during recharge, we found nonlinearity of Li2O2 decomposition rate for the first time in ether-based electrolyte.

On Both Spatial And Velocity Distribution Of Sputtered Particles In Magnetron Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitelaru, C.; Pohoata, V.; Tiron, V.; Costin, C.; Popa, G.

2012-12-01

The kinetics of the sputtered atoms from the metallic target as well as the time-space distribution of the argon metastable atoms have been investigated for DC and high power pulse magnetron discharge by means of Tunable Diode - Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TD-LAS) and Tunable Diode - Laser Induced Fluorescence (TD-LIF). The discharge was operated in argon (5-30 mTorr) with two different targets, tungsten and aluminum, for pulses of 1 to 20 μs, at frequencies of 0.2 to 1 kHz. Peak current intensity of ~100 A has been attained at cathode peak voltage of ~1 kV. The mean velocity distribution functions and particle fluxes of the sputtered metal atoms, in parallel and perpendicular direction to the target, have been obtained and compared for DC and pulse mode.

Validation of one-mile walk equations for the estimation of aerobic fitness in British military personnel under the age of 40 years.

PubMed

Lunt, Heather; Roiz De Sa, Daniel; Roiz De Sa, Julia; Allsopp, Adrian

2013-07-01

To provide an accurate estimate of peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) for British Royal Navy Personnel aged between 18 and 39, comparing a gold standard treadmill based maximal exercise test with a submaximal one-mile walk test. Two hundred military personnel consented to perform a treadmill-based VO2 peak test and two one-mile walk tests round an athletics track. The estimated VO2 peak values from three different one-mile walk equations were compared to directly measured VO2 peak values from the treadmill-based test. One hundred participants formed a validation group from which a new equation was derived and the other 100 participants formed the cross-validation group. Existing equations underestimated the VO2 peak values of the fittest personnel and overestimated the VO2 peak of the least aerobically fit by between 2% and 18%. The new equation derived from the validation group has less bias, the highest correlation with the measured values (r = 0.83), and classified the most people correctly according to the Royal Navy's Fitness Test standards, producing the fewest false positives and false negatives combined (9%). The new equation will provide a more accurate estimate of VO2 peak for a British military population aged 18 to 39. Reprint & Copyright © 2013 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Investigation on the behavioral difference in third order nonlinearity and optical limiting of Mn0.55Cu0.45Fe2O4 nanoparticles annealed at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuvaraj, S.; Manikandan, N.; Vinitha, G.

2017-11-01

Mn0.55Cu0.45Fe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by wet chemical co-precipitation method. The obtained samples were annealed at different temperatures (500 °C to 1250 °C). All annealed samples were characterized for their structural, magnetic, linear and non-linear optical properties. XRD results confirm single phase cubic spinel structure only for samples annealed at 800 °C and 1250 °C. The average crystallite sizes of the samples are in the range of 11-37 nm. HR-SEM image of the sample annealed at 800 °C exposed spherical morphology. The quantitative analysis of EDX results is close to the expected values. Bandgaps were evaluated from UV-DRS. The FTIR spectrum showing the essential peaks around 452.1 and 567.2 cm-1 prove the formation of spinel nanoparticles. In PL spectrum, a broad emission peak is attained in visible region at 485 nm. The saturation magnetization (M s), coercivity (H c) and remanence magnetization (M r) are obtained from the hysteresis curve. Nonlinear absorption coefficients (10-4 cm W-1), nonlinear indices of refraction (10-8 cm2 W-1) and the third order nonlinear susceptibilities (10-6 esu) are determined using Z-scan experiment. CW laser beam is utilized to study the optical limiting characteristics and the results prove these materials to be a potential candidate for device applications like optical switches and power limiters.

A surface renewal model for unsteady-state mass transfer using the generalized Danckwerts age distribution function.

PubMed

Horvath, Isabelle R; Chatterjee, Siddharth G

2018-05-01

The recently derived steady-state generalized Danckwerts age distribution is extended to unsteady-state conditions. For three different wind speeds used by researchers on air-water heat exchange on the Heidelberg Aeolotron, calculations reveal that the distribution has a sharp peak during the initial moments, but flattens out and acquires a bell-shaped character with process time, with the time taken to attain a steady-state profile being a strong and inverse function of wind speed. With increasing wind speed, the age distribution narrows significantly, its skewness decreases and its peak becomes larger. The mean eddy renewal time increases linearly with process time initially but approaches a final steady-state value asymptotically, which decreases dramatically with increased wind speed. Using the distribution to analyse the transient absorption of a gas into a large body of liquid, assuming negligible gas-side mass-transfer resistance, estimates are made of the gas-absorption and dissolved-gas transfer coefficients for oxygen absorption in water at 25°C for the three different wind speeds. Under unsteady-state conditions, these two coefficients show an inverse behaviour, indicating a heightened accumulation of dissolved gas in the surface elements, especially during the initial moments of absorption. However, the two mass-transfer coefficients start merging together as the steady state is approached. Theoretical predictions of the steady-state mass-transfer coefficient or transfer velocity are in fair agreement (average absolute error of prediction = 18.1%) with some experimental measurements of the same for the nitrous oxide-water system at 20°C that were made in the Heidelberg Aeolotron.

Theoretical Limits of Damping Attainable by Smart Beams with Rate Feedback

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balakrishnan, A. V.

1997-01-01

Using a generally accepted model we present a comprehensive analysis (within the page limitation) of an Euler- Bernoulli beam with PZT sensor-actuator and pure rate feedback. The emphasis is on the root locus - the dependence of the attainable damping on the feedback gain. There is a critical value of the gain beyond which the damping decreases to zero. We construct the time-domain response using semigroup theory, and show that the eigenfunctions form a Riesz basis, leading to a 'modal' expansion.

Using Value-Added Measures of Teacher Quality. Brief 9

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanushek, Eric A.; Rivkin, Steven G.

2010-01-01

Extensive education research on the contribution of teachers to student achievement produces two generally accepted results. First, teacher quality varies substantially as measured by the value added to student achievement or future academic attainment or earnings. Second, variables often used to determine entry into the profession and…

When Benefits Are Difficult to Measure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birdsall, William C.

1987-01-01

It is difficult to apply benefit cost analysis to human service programs. This paper explains "threshold benefit analysis," the derivation of the minimum dollar value which the benefits must attain in order for their value to equal the intervention costs. The method is applied to a mobility training program. (BS)

Health and Schooling: Evidence and Policy Implications for Developing Countries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomes-Neto, Joao Batista; And Others

1997-01-01

Exploits a unique data set (EDRURAL) from three northeastern states of Brazil to investigate the complementarities of health with school attainment and cognitive achievement. The promotion models and value-added achievement models demonstrate the value of students' visual acuity. Achievement models highlight the role of good nutrition. Eye…

Scopolamine Effects Under a Titrating-Delayed-Nonmatching-to-Position Procedure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porritt, M.; Poling, A.

2008-01-01

In a study of working memory, the performance of rats under titrating-delayed-nonmatching- to-position (TDNMTP) procedures was examined. Overall accuracy and the number of trials completed were inversely related to titration value, whereas the highest delay attained was directly related to titration value. When given intraperitoneally,…

The role of mentor type and timing in predicting educational attainment.

PubMed

Fruiht, Veronica M; Wray-Lake, Laura

2013-09-01

Having an adult mentor during adolescence has been found to predict academic success. Building on previous work, the present study examined interactions between the type of mentor (i.e., kin, teacher, friend, or community), the time that mentor became important (i.e., before, during, or after high school), and the ethnicity of the protégé in predicting educational attainment in young adulthood. Analyses used Waves III and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 2,409). Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 27 (M = 21.75, SD = 1.79). The sample was 56.7 % female and nationally representative of ethnic diversity. Analyses showed that having a teacher-mentor was more predictive of educational attainment than having other types of mentors and that overall, having a mentor after high school predicts the most educational attainment. Kin- and community-mentors appeared to be more important to educational attainment during and before high school, respectively. Findings were consistent across ethnic groups. Overall, results highlight the value of teacher-mentors throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood and our study further suggests that different types of mentors may be particularly useful at specific points in development.

Addition of PM2.5 into the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of China and the Contribution to Air Pollution Control: The Case Study of Wuhan, China

PubMed Central

You, Mingqing

2014-01-01

PM2.5 has gradually become a major environmental problem of China with its rapid economic development, urbanization, and increasing of motor vehicles. Findings and awareness of serious PM2.5 pollution make the PM2.5 a new criterion pollutant of the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) revised in 2012. The 2012 NAAQS sets the PM2.5 concentrate limitation with the 24-hour average value and the annual mean value. Wuhan is quite typical among central and southern China in climate, economy, development level, and energy consumption. The data are cited from the official website of Wuhan Environmental Protection Bureau and cover the period from 1 January to 30 June 2013. The data definitely confirm the existence of serious PM2.5 pollution in Wuhan and indicate that the addition of PM2.5 as a criterion pollutant significantly brings down the attainment rate of air quality. The example of Wuhan reveals that local governments should take measures to reduce the emission of PM2.5 if it affects the attainment rate and the performance evaluation value of air quality. The main contribution of 2012 NAAQS is that it brings down the attainment rate of the air quality and forces local governmental officials to take the measures accordingly. PMID:24982994

Recharge Area, Base-Flow and Quick-Flow Discharge Rates and Ages, and General Water Quality of Big Spring in Carter County, Missouri, 2000-04

USGS Publications Warehouse

Imes, Jeffrey L.; Plummer, Niel; Kleeschulte, Michael J.; Schumacher, John G.

2007-01-01

Exploration for lead deposits has occurred in a mature karst area of southeast Missouri that is highly valued for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. The area contains the two largest springs in Missouri (Big Spring and Greer Spring), both of which flow into federally designated scenic rivers. Concerns about potential mining effects on the area ground water and aquatic biota prompted an investigation of Big Spring. Water-level measurements made during 2000 helped define the recharge area of Big Spring, Greer Spring, Mammoth Spring, and Boze Mill Spring. The data infer two distinct potentiometric surfaces. The shallow potentiometric surface, where the depth-to-water is less than about 250 feet, tends to mimic topographic features and is strongly controlled by streams. The deep potentiometric surface, where the depth-to-water is greater than about 250 feet represents ground-water hydraulic heads within the more mature karst areas. A highly permeable zone extends about 20 mile west of Big Spring toward the upper Hurricane Creek Basin. Deeper flowing water in the Big Spring recharge area is directed toward this permeable zone. The estimated sizes of the spring recharge areas are 426 square miles for Big Spring, 352 square miles for Greer Spring, 290 square miles for Mammoth Spring, and 54 square miles for Boze Mill Spring. A discharge accumulation curve using Big Spring daily mean discharge data shows no substantial change in the discharge pattern of Big Spring during the period of record (water years 1922 through 2004). The extended periods when the spring flow deviated from the trend line can be attributed to prolonged departures from normal precipitation. The maximum possible instantaneous flow from Big Spring has not been adequately defined because of backwater effects from the Current River during high-flow conditions. Physical constraints within the spring conduit system may restrict its maximum flow. The largest discharge measured at Big Spring during the period of record (water years 1922 through 2004) was 1,170 cubic feet per second on December 7, 1982. The daily mean water temperature of Big Spring was monitored during water years 2001 through 2004 and showed little variability, ranging from 13 to 15? C (degree Celsius). Water temperatures generally vary less than 1? C throughout the year. The warmest temperatures occur during October and November and decrease until April, indicating Big Spring water temperature does show a slight seasonal variation. The use of the traditional hydrograph separation program HYSEP to determine the base flow and quick flow or runoff components at Big Spring failed to yield base-flow and quick-flow discharge curves that matched observations of spring characteristics. Big Spring discharge data were used in combination with specific conductance data to develop an improved hydrograph separation method for the spring. The estimated annual mean quick flow ranged from 15 to 48 cubic feet per second for the HYSEP analysis and ranged from 26 to 154 cubic feet per second for the discharge and specific conductance method for water years 2001 to 2004. Using the discharge and specific conductance method, the estimated base-flow component rises abruptly as the spring hydrograph rises, attains a peak value on the same day as the discharge peak, and then declines abruptly from its peak value. Several days later, base flow begins to increase again at an approximately linear trend, coinciding with the time at which the percentage of quick flow has reached a maximum after each recharge-induced discharge peak. The interval between the discharge peak and the peak in percentage quick flow ranges from 8 to 11 days for seven hydrograph peaks, consistent with quick-flow traveltime estimates by dye-trace tests from the mature karst Hurricane Creek Basin in the central part of the recharge area. Concentrations of environmental tracers chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs: CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113)

Peak Pc Prediction in Conjunction Analysis: Conjunction Assessment Risk Analysis. Pc Behavior Prediction Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vallejo, J.J.; Hejduk, M.D.; Stamey, J. D.

2015-01-01

Satellite conjunction risk typically evaluated through the probability of collision (Pc). Considers both conjunction geometry and uncertainties in both state estimates. Conjunction events initially discovered through Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) screenings, usually seven days before Time of Closest Approach (TCA). However, JSpOC continues to track objects and issue conjunction updates. Changes in state estimate and reduced propagation time cause Pc to change as event develops. These changes a combination of potentially predictable development and unpredictable changes in state estimate covariance. Operationally useful datum: the peak Pc. If it can reasonably be inferred that the peak Pc value has passed, then risk assessment can be conducted against this peak value. If this value is below remediation level, then event intensity can be relaxed. Can the peak Pc location be reasonably predicted?

Improved Diagnostic Accuracy in Characterization of Adnexal Masses by Detection of Choline Peak Using 1H MR Spectroscopy in Comparison to Internal Reference at 3 Tesla.

PubMed

Malek, Mahrooz; Pourashraf, Maryam; Gilani, Mitra Modares; Gity, Masoumeh

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the role of the presence of a choline peak in 3 Tesla 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses. A total of 46 adnexal masses (23 malignant and 23 benign) underwent 1H MRS study prior to surgery to assess the presence of choline peak. A choline peak was detected in 16 malignant masses (69.5%) and was absent in the other 7 (30.5%). A choline peak was only detected in 6 (26%) of the benign adnexal masses. The presence of an MRS choline peak had a sensitivity of 69.5%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 72.7%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 71% for diagnosing malignant adnexal masses. A significant difference between the frequency of mean choline peaks in benign and malignant adnexal masses was observed (P value<0.01). A 1H MRS choline peak is seen in malignant adnexal masses more frequently than the benign masses, and may be helpful for diagnosing malignant adnexal masses.

[Clinical investigation of formula feeding in extremely low birth weight infants].

PubMed

Liang, Zhiqiang; Lu, Lu; Zhou, Yingchun; Chen, Shangqin; Huang, Yumei; Lin, Zhenlang

2014-01-01

To explore the relationship between gastric retention and full enteral feeding during the course of feeding in extremely low birth weight (ELBW, birth weight <1 000 g) infants. A total of 43 ELBW infants were fed with formula according to the strategy for premature infants feeding of Canadian Society of Neonatology. The information such as gastric retention, the time they finish full enteral feeding and sucking spontaneously and complication were recorded. These infants had transition to full enteral feeding step by step since initiating formula feeding on the second day of life. The volume of gastric retention and the duration of gastric retention was analyzed with the time of attaining full enteral feeding and sucking spontaneously by linear regression. Forty-one infants finished the course, the remaining 2 infants got necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and were rescued by surgery. The incidence was 4.6%. In 18 infants full enteral feeding could not be initiated successfully on the second day of life, the incidence was 43.9%. The peak duration of gastric retention was the first week of feeding. The average time of attaining enteral feeding was (26.71 ± 12.24) days. The proportion of different residual contents was simlar, the major content was milky content after 3 weeks of feeding. The gastric retention time had a significant effect of on the time of attaining full enteral feeding (β = 1.045, P = 0.001) and sucking well (β = 0.787, P = 0.034) . The course of formula feeding ELBW infants to attaining full enteral feeding was a long period, in the early stage of formula feeding the occurrence of gastric retention was high; the amount of formula during the first week of feeding should be slowly increased as compared to the second week; the present strategy and aggressive strategy should be done 2 weeks later. The time of attaining full enteral feeding can be predicted by the duration of gastric retention.

Annual Peak-Flow Frequency Characteristics and (or) Peak Dam-Pool-Elevation Frequency Characteristics of Dry Dams and Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in the Great Miami River Basin, Ohio

USGS Publications Warehouse

Koltun, G.F.

2009-01-01

This report describes the results of a study to determine frequency characteristics of postregulation annual peak flows at streamflow-gaging stations at or near the Lockington, Taylorsville, Englewood, Huffman, and Germantown dry dams in the Miami Conservancy District flood-protection system (southwestern Ohio) and five other streamflow-gaging stations in the Great Miami River Basin further downstream from one or more of the dams. In addition, this report describes frequency characteristics of annual peak elevations of the dry-dam pools. In most cases, log-Pearson Type III distributions were fit to postregulation annual peak-flow values through 2007 (the most recent year of published peak-flow values at the time of this analysis) and annual peak dam-pool storage values for the period 1922-2008 to determine peaks with recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years. For one streamflow-gaging station (03272100) with a short period of record, frequency characteristics were estimated by means of a process involving interpolation of peak-flow yields determined for an upstream and downstream gage. Once storages had been estimated for the various recurrence intervals, corresponding dam-pool elevations were determined from elevation-storage ratings provided by the Miami Conservancy District.

ZT Optimization: An Application Focus

PubMed Central

Tuley, Richard; Simpson, Kevin

2017-01-01

Significant research has been performed on the challenge of improving thermoelectric materials, with maximum peak figure of merit, ZT, the most common target. We use an approximate thermoelectric material model, matched to real materials, to demonstrate that when an application is known, average ZT is a significantly better optimization target. We quantify this difference with some examples, with one scenario showing that changing the doping to increase peak ZT by 19% can lead to a performance drop of 16%. The importance of average ZT means that the temperature at which the ZT peak occurs should be given similar weight to the value of the peak. An ideal material for an application operates across the maximum peak ZT, otherwise maximum performance occurs when the peak value is reduced in order to improve the peak position. PMID:28772668

Clinical, biochemical and genetic features with nonclassical 21-hydroxylase deficiency and final height.

PubMed

Savaş-Erdeve, Şenay; Çetinkaya, Semra; Abalı, Zehra Yavaş; Poyrazoğlu, Şükran; Baş, Firdevs; Berberoğlu, Merih; Sıklar, Zeynep; Korkmaz, Özlem; Buluş, Derya; Akbaş, Emine Demet; Güran, Tülay; Böber, Ece; Akın, Onur; Yılmaz, Gülay Can; Aycan, Zehra

2017-07-26

The clinical, laboratory, genetic properties and final height of a large cohort of patients with nonclassical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (NC21OHD) in Turkey were analyzed. This multicenter, nationwide web-based study collected data. The mean age was 9.79±4.35 years (229 girls, 29 boys). The most common symptoms were premature pubarche (54.6%) and hirsutism (28.6%). The peak cortisol was found below 18 μg/dL in three (15.45%) patients. A mutation was detected in the CYP21A2 gene of 182 (87.5%) patients. The most common mutation was V281L. Final height in female patients who were diagnosed and treated before attaining final height or near final height was found to be shorter than the final height in female patients who were diagnosed after attaining final height or near final height. The final height of the patients who were treated during childhood was found to be shorter than the final height of patients during the adolescent period.

The damaging punch.

PubMed Central

Atha, J; Yeadon, M R; Sandover, J; Parsons, K C

1985-01-01

The mechanical properties of a boxing punch have been determined using several techniques. The results are consistent with the medical consequences of boxing discussed in the report of the Board of Science and Education Working Party on boxing. Data were gathered from a world ranked British professional heavyweight, Frank Bruno, as he punched an instrumented, padded target mass suspended as a ballistic pendulum. Within 0.1 s of the start the punch had travelled 0.49 m and attained a velocity on impact of 8.9 m/s. The peak force on impact of 4096N (0.4 ton), attained within 14 ms of contact, represents a blow to the human head of up to 6320N (0.63 ton). The transmitted impulse generated an acceleration of 520 m/s2 (53 g) in the target head. For comparison an equivalent blow would be delivered by a padded wooden mallet with a mass of 6 kg (13 lbs) if swung at 20 mph. Images FIG 1 FIG 2 PMID:3936571

Development and Testing of High Current Hollow Cathodes for High Power Hall Thrusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamhawi, Hani; Van Noord, Jonathan

2012-01-01

NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist In-Space Propulsion project is sponsoring the testing and development of high power Hall thrusters for implementation in NASA missions. As part of the project, NASA Glenn Research Center is developing and testing new high current hollow cathode assemblies that can meet and exceed the required discharge current and life-time requirements of high power Hall thrusters. This paper presents test results of three high current hollow cathode configurations. Test results indicated that two novel emitter configurations were able to attain lower peak emitter temperatures compared to state-of-the-art emitter configurations. One hollow cathode configuration attained a cathode orifice plate tip temperature of 1132 degC at a discharge current of 100 A. More specifically, test and analysis results indicated that a novel emitter configuration had minimal temperature gradient along its length. Future work will include cathode wear tests, and internal emitter temperature and plasma properties measurements along with detailed physics based modeling.

Reference values for blood pressure response to cycle ergometry in the first two decades of life: comparison with patients with a repaired coarctation of the aorta.

PubMed

Kaafarani, Mirna; Schroer, Christian; Takken, Tim

2017-12-01

Hemodynamic responses to exercise are used as markers of diagnosis for cardiac diseases, systolic blood pressure (SBP) especially. However, the reference values for SBP in children at peak exertion level are outdated. This study aimed to establish current reference values for SBP, rate pressure product (RPP), and circulatory power (CircP). Data from children who previously underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing were categorized as healthy (N = 184; age 12.6 ± 2.9 years), and CoA patients (N = 25; age 13.0 ± 3.2 years). With the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) method, percentile curves were made for SBP, CircP, and RPP in function of peak work rate (Wpeak). Data of CoA patients were used to validate the reference values. Wpeak was the best predictor of peak SBP during exercise. The prediction equations for SBP, CircP and RPP were: (0.2853 x Wpeak) + 111.46; (10.56 x Wpeak) + 2550.2 and (61.879 x Wpeak) + 19.887, respectively. CoA patients showed significantly increased values for peak SBP (Z-score 1.063 ± 1.347). This study provides reference values for SBP, RPP, and CircP at peak exercise. These values can be used for objective evaluation of participants 6-18 years of age in a Dutch population.

A method for estimating peak and time of peak streamflow from excess rainfall for 10- to 640-acre watersheds in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area

USGS Publications Warehouse

Asquith, William H.; Cleveland, Theodore G.; Roussel, Meghan C.

2011-01-01

Estimates of peak and time of peak streamflow for small watersheds (less than about 640 acres) in a suburban to urban, low-slope setting are needed for drainage design that is cost-effective and risk-mitigated. During 2007-10, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Harris County Flood Control District and the Texas Department of Transportation, developed a method to estimate peak and time of peak streamflow from excess rainfall for 10- to 640-acre watersheds in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area. To develop the method, 24 watersheds in the study area with drainage areas less than about 3.5 square miles (2,240 acres) and with concomitant rainfall and runoff data were selected. The method is based on conjunctive analysis of rainfall and runoff data in the context of the unit hydrograph method and the rational method. For the unit hydrograph analysis, a gamma distribution model of unit hydrograph shape (a gamma unit hydrograph) was chosen and parameters estimated through matching of modeled peak and time of peak streamflow to observed values on a storm-by-storm basis. Watershed mean or watershed-specific values of peak and time to peak ("time to peak" is a parameter of the gamma unit hydrograph and is distinct from "time of peak") of the gamma unit hydrograph were computed. Two regression equations to estimate peak and time to peak of the gamma unit hydrograph that are based on watershed characteristics of drainage area and basin-development factor (BDF) were developed. For the rational method analysis, a lag time (time-R), volumetric runoff coefficient, and runoff coefficient were computed on a storm-by-storm basis. Watershed-specific values of these three metrics were computed. A regression equation to estimate time-R based on drainage area and BDF was developed. Overall arithmetic means of volumetric runoff coefficient (0.41 dimensionless) and runoff coefficient (0.25 dimensionless) for the 24 watersheds were used to express the rational method in terms of excess rainfall (the excess rational method). Both the unit hydrograph method and excess rational method are shown to provide similar estimates of peak and time of peak streamflow. The results from the two methods can be combined by using arithmetic means. A nomograph is provided that shows the respective relations between the arithmetic-mean peak and time of peak streamflow to drainage areas ranging from 10 to 640 acres. The nomograph also shows the respective relations for selected BDF ranging from undeveloped to fully developed conditions. The nomograph represents the peak streamflow for 1 inch of excess rainfall based on drainage area and BDF; the peak streamflow for design storms from the nomograph can be multiplied by the excess rainfall to estimate peak streamflow. Time of peak streamflow is readily obtained from the nomograph. Therefore, given excess rainfall values derived from watershed-loss models, which are beyond the scope of this report, the nomograph represents a method for estimating peak and time of peak streamflow for applicable watersheds in the Houston metropolitan area. Lastly, analysis of the relative influence of BDF on peak streamflow is provided, and the results indicate a 0:04log10 cubic feet per second change of peak streamflow per positive unit of change in BDF. This relative change can be used to adjust peak streamflow from the method or other hydrologic methods for a given BDF to other BDF values; example computations are provided.

Transrectal real-time tissue elastography targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index improves the detection of clinically important prostate cancer.

PubMed

Ma, Qi; Yang, Dong-Rong; Xue, Bo-Xin; Wang, Cheng; Chen, Han-Bin; Dong, Yun; Wang, Cai-Shan; Shan, Yu-Xi

2017-07-01

The focus of the present study was to evaluate transrectal real-time tissue elastography (RTE)-targeted two-core biopsy coupled with peak strain index for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) and to compare this method with 10-core systematic biopsy. A total of 141 patients were enrolled for evaluation. The diagnostic value of peak strain index was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve. The cancer detection rates of the two approaches and corresponding positive cores and Gleason score were compared. The cancer detection rate per core in the RTE-targeted biopsy (44%) was higher compared with that in systematic biopsy (30%). The peak strain index value of PCa was higher compared with that of the benign lesion. PCa was detected with the highest sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (85.5%) using the threshold value of a peak strain index of ≥5.97 with an area under the curve value of 0.95. When the Gleason score was ≥7, RTE-targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index detected 95.6% of PCa cases, but 84.4% were detected using systematic biopsy. Peak strain index as a quantitative parameter may improve the differentiation of PCa from benign lesions in the prostate peripheral zone. Transrectal RTE-targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index may enhance the detection of clinically significant PCa, particularly when combined with systematic biopsy.

Observation of low magnetic field density peaks in helicon plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barada, Kshitish K.; Chattopadhyay, P. K.; Ghosh, J.

2013-04-15

Single density peak has been commonly observed in low magnetic field (<100 G) helicon discharges. In this paper, we report the observations of multiple density peaks in low magnetic field (<100 G) helicon discharges produced in the linear helicon plasma device [Barada et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 063501 (2012)]. Experiments are carried out using argon gas with m = +1 right helical antenna operating at 13.56 MHz by varying the magnetic field from 0 G to 100 G. The plasma density varies with varying the magnetic field at constant input power and gas pressure and reaches to its peakmore » value at a magnetic field value of {approx}25 G. Another peak of smaller magnitude in density has been observed near 50 G. Measurement of amplitude and phase of the axial component of the wave using magnetic probes for two magnetic field values corresponding to the observed density peaks indicated the existence of radial modes. Measured parallel wave number together with the estimated perpendicular wave number suggests oblique mode propagation of helicon waves along the resonance cone boundary for these magnetic field values. Further, the observations of larger floating potential fluctuations measured with Langmuir probes at those magnetic field values indicate that near resonance cone boundary; these electrostatic fluctuations take energy from helicon wave and dump power to the plasma causing density peaks.« less

Predictors of Mexican American Mothers' and Fathers' Attitudes toward Gender Equality.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leaper, Campbell; Valin, Dena

1996-01-01

Among 50 Mexican American married mothers and 33 Mexican American married fathers of preschool children, egalitarian gender attitudes were related to greater educational attainment and placing lower value on competitiveness for both mothers and fathers, and to U.S. birth and holding communal values for mothers. Suggests that egalitarian gender…

The Financial Value of a Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kantrowitz, Mark

2007-01-01

Five years have passed since the U.S. Census Bureau published synthetic estimates of work-life earnings by educational attainment. This paper updates those figures with the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau's annual Current Population Surveys, and adds net present value analysis of the financial benefit of a college degree to the…

Adolescents' Attainability and Aspiration Beliefs for Famous Musician Role Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivaldi, Antonia; O'Neill, Susan A.

2010-01-01

This study examines the role that adolescents' competence beliefs and subjective task values for music have in relation to their aspirations and expectations for becoming like their musician role models. A total of 381 adolescents (aged 13-14) completed a questionnaire about their competence beliefs and values for music, the musicians they admired…

76 FR 3840 - Approval of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Delaware...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-21

... 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored ozone value during the 2009 ozone season is 0.084 parts per million... Philadelphia Area's 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored value during the 2009 ozone season is 0.084 ppm or less...

The High School to College Transition: Minding the Gap

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hirsch, Deborah

2010-01-01

The value of a college degree is well documented. College graduates earn at least 60% more than high school graduates. Beyond the economic value, college graduates show higher rates of civic participation, engage in volunteer work and even have a much higher likelihood of being "happy." Students who drop out without attaining a college…

Kayla, Valencia, Franklin, and Trey: Case Studies in African American School Success and Parenting Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Jean

2003-01-01

Murphy examines the influence of four African American families' beliefs, values, and interactions on their children's academic achievement. Parents' high expectations and focus on educational attainment, religious and spiritual values, and kinship bonds, as well as active oversight of homework and encouragement of critical thinking, establish the…

Thermoluminescence solid-state nanodosimetry—the peak 5A/5 dosemeter

PubMed Central

Fuks, E.; Horowitz, Y. S.; Horowitz, A.; Oster, L.; Marino, S.; Rainer, M.; Rosenfeld, A.; Datz, H.

2011-01-01

The shape of composite peak 5 in the glow curve of LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) following 90Sr/90Y beta irradiation, previously demonstrated to be dependent on the cooling rate used in the 400°C pre-irradiation anneal, is shown to be dependent on ionisation density in both naturally cooled and slow-cooled samples. Following heavy-charged particle high-ionisation density (HID) irradiation, the temperature of composite peak 5 decreases by ∼5°C and the peak becomes broader. This behaviour is attributed to an increase in the relative intensity of peak 5a (a low-temperature satellite of peak 5). The relative intensity of peak 5a is estimated using a computerised glow curve deconvolution code based on first-order kinetics. The analysis uses kinetic parameters for peaks 4 and 5 determined from ancillary measurements resulting in nearly ‘single-glow peak’ curves for both the peaks. In the slow-cooled samples, owing to the increased relative intensity of peak 5a compared with the naturally cooled samples, the precision of the measurement of the 5a/5 intensity ratio is found to be ∼15 % (1 SD) compared with ∼25 % for the naturally cooled samples. The ratio of peak 5a/5 in the slow-cooled samples is found to increase systematically and gradually through a variety of radiation fields from a minimum value of 0.13±0.02 for 90Sr/90Y low-ionisation density irradiations to a maximum value of ∼0.8 for 20 MeV Cu and I ion HID irradiations. Irradiation by low-energy electrons of energy 0.1–1.5 keV results in values between 1.27 and 0.95, respectively. The increasing values of the ratio of peak 5a/5 with increasing ionisation density demonstrate the viability of the concept of the peak 5a/5 nanodosemeter and its potential in the measurement of average ionisation density in a ‘nanoscopic’ mass containing the trapping centre/luminescent centre spatially correlated molecule giving rise to composite peak 5. PMID:21149323

Verification of 1921 peak discharge at Skagit River near Concrete, Washington, using 2003 peak-discharge data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mastin, M.C.; Kresch, D.L.

2005-01-01

The 1921 peak discharge at Skagit River near Concrete, Washington (U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 12194000), was verified using peak-discharge data from the flood of October 21, 2003, the largest flood since 1921. This peak discharge is critical to determining other high discharges at the gaging station and to reliably estimating the 100-year flood, the primary design flood being used in a current flood study of the Skagit River basin. The four largest annual peak discharges of record (1897, 1909, 1917, and 1921) were used to determine the 100-year flood discharge at Skagit River near Concrete. The peak discharge on December 13, 1921, was determined by James E. Stewart of the U.S. Geological Survey using a slope-area measurement and a contracted-opening measurement. An extended stage-discharge rating curve based on the 1921 peak discharge was used to determine the peak discharges of the three other large floods. Any inaccuracy in the 1921 peak discharge also would affect the accuracies of the three other largest peak discharges. The peak discharge of the 1921 flood was recalculated using the cross sections and high-water marks surveyed after the 1921 flood in conjunction with a new estimate of the channel roughness coefficient (n value) based on an n-verification analysis of the peak discharge of the October 21, 2003, flood. The n value used by Stewart for his slope-area measurement of the 1921 flood was 0.033, and the corresponding calculated peak discharge was 240,000 cubic feet per second (ft3/s). Determination of a single definitive water-surface profile for use in the n-verification analysis was precluded because of considerable variation in elevations of surveyed high-water marks from the flood on October 21, 2003. Therefore, n values were determined for two separate water-surface profiles thought to bracket a plausible range of water-surface slopes defined by high-water marks. The n value determined using the flattest plausible slope was 0.024 and the corresponding recalculated discharge of the 1921 slope-area measurement was 266,000 ft3/s. The n value determined using the steepest plausible slope was 0.032 and the corresponding recalculated discharge of the 1921 slope-area measurement was 215,000 ft3/s. The two recalculated discharges were 10.8 percent greater than (flattest slope) and 10.4 percent less than (steepest slope) the 1921 peak discharge of 240,000 ft3/s. The 1921 peak discharge was not revised because the average of the two recalculated discharges (240,500 ft3/s) is only 0.2 percent greater than the 1921 peak discharge.

Fostering adolescents' value beliefs for mathematics with a relevance intervention in the classroom.

PubMed

Gaspard, Hanna; Dicke, Anna-Lena; Flunger, Barbara; Brisson, Brigitte Maria; Häfner, Isabelle; Nagengast, Benjamin; Trautwein, Ulrich

2015-09-01

Interventions targeting students' perceived relevance of the learning content have been shown to effectively promote student motivation within science classes (e.g., Hulleman & Harackiewicz, 2009). Yet, further research is warranted to understand better how such interventions should be designed in order to be successfully implemented in the classroom setting. A cluster randomized controlled study was conducted to test whether ninth-grade students' value beliefs for mathematics (i.e., intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and cost) could be fostered with relevance interventions in the classroom. Eighty-two classrooms were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental conditions or a waiting control condition. Both experimental groups received a 90-min intervention within the classroom on the relevance of mathematics, consisting of a psychoeducational presentation and relevance-inducing tasks (either writing a text or evaluating interview quotations). Intervention effects were evaluated via self-reports of 1,916 participating students 6 weeks and 5 months after the intervention in the classroom. Both intervention conditions fostered more positive value beliefs among students at both time points. Compared with the control condition, classes in the quotations condition reported higher utility value, attainment value, and intrinsic value, and classes in the text condition reported higher utility value. Thus, stronger effects on students' value beliefs were found for the quotations condition than for the text condition. When assessing intervention effects separately for females and males, some evidence for stronger effects for females than for males was found. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Stochastic resonance in a time-delayed feedback tristable system and its application in fault diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Peiming; Yuan, Danzhen; Han, Dongying; Zhang, Ying; Fu, Rongrong

2018-06-01

Stochastic resonance (SR) phenomena in a time-delayed feedback tristable system driven by Gaussian white noise are investigated by simulating the potential function, mean first-passage time (MFPT), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the system. Through the use of a short delay time, the generalized potential function and stationary probability density function (PDF) are obtained. The delay feedback term has a significant effect on both equations, and that the parameters b, c, and d have different effects on the three wells of the potential function. The MFPT is calculated, which plays an extremely important role in research on particles escape rates. We find that the delay feedback term can affect the noise enhanced stability (NES). In addition, the SR characteristics are studied by the index of SNR. The simulation demonstrates that SNR is a non-monotonic distributed and that the peak SNR value can be attained by adjusting the appropriate parameters. Finally, the proposed theory is combined with a variable step method and applied to the detection of high frequencies in experiments. The result indicates that the fault frequency can be identified, and that the energy of the fault signal can be enhanced under suitable delay feedback parameters.

Spectroscopy of metal "superatom" nanoclusters and high-Tc superconducting pairing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder, Avik; Kresin, Vitaly V.

2015-12-01

A unique property of metal nanoclusters is the "superatom" shell structure of their delocalized electrons. The electronic shell levels are highly degenerate and therefore represent sharp peaks in the density of states. This can enable exceptionally strong electron pairing in certain clusters composed of tens to hundreds of atoms. In a finite system, such as a free nanocluster or a nucleus, pairing is observed most clearly via its effect on the energy spectrum of the constituent fermions. Accordingly, we performed a photoionization spectroscopy study of size-resolved aluminum nanoclusters and observed a rapid rise in the near-threshold density of states of several clusters (A l37 ,44 ,66 ,68 ) with decreasing temperature. The characteristics of this behavior are consistent with compression of the density of states by a pairing transition into a high-temperature superconducting state with Tc≳100 K. This value exceeds that of bulk aluminum by two orders of magnitude. These results highlight the potential of novel pairing effects in size-quantized systems and the possibility to attain even higher critical temperatures by optimizing the particles' size and composition. As a new class of high-temperature superconductors, such metal nanocluster particles are promising building blocks for high-Tc materials, devices, and networks.

Pharmacokinetics of vephylline--a new N-substituted theophylline derivative.

PubMed

Staneva, D; Mihailova, D; Astroug, H; Prodanova, K; Micheva, M

1988-01-01

Vephylline (7,2-bis-2-hydroxyethylamino-1, 3-dimethylxanthine tartarate) is a xanthine derivative with high bronchodilating activity, low toxicity, and weak effects on the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of vephylline after intravenous and oral (in solution and in tablets) administration to rabbits. Vephylline (dose 50 mg/kg b.w. intravenousely and orally in solution and dose 53.5 mg/kg b.w. in the form of tablets) is administered to the rabbits in an autocontrol crossover design at 7-days intervals. After the intravenous administration the distribution is relatively fast (t1/2 alpha = 3.28h). High values of the apparent volume of distribution--12.15 1/kg suggest tissue accumulation. Elimination is considerably slower (t1/2 beta = 19,00 h) than distribution. After oral administration of the drug in solution the absorption half-life is short and the bioavailability is relatively high. Peak plasma levels are attained at the first hour. The differences in the distribution and elimination patterns for vephylline and theophyline could determine a longer effect for the new bronchodilating drug. The results are discussed in regard to the future clinical application of vephylline.

Estimation of ground motion parameters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boore, David M.; Joyner, W.B.; Oliver, A.A.; Page, R.A.

1978-01-01

Strong motion data from western North America for earthquakes of magnitude greater than 5 are examined to provide the basis for estimating peak acceleration, velocity, displacement, and duration as a function of distance for three magnitude classes. A subset of the data (from the San Fernando earthquake) is used to assess the effects of structural size and of geologic site conditions on peak motions recorded at the base of structures. Small but statistically significant differences are observed in peak values of horizontal acceleration, velocity and displacement recorded on soil at the base of small structures compared with values recorded at the base of large structures. The peak acceleration tends to b3e less and the peak velocity and displacement tend to be greater on the average at the base of large structures than at the base of small structures. In the distance range used in the regression analysis (15-100 km) the values of peak horizontal acceleration recorded at soil sites in the San Fernando earthquake are not significantly different from the values recorded at rock sites, but values of peak horizontal velocity and displacement are significantly greater at soil sites than at rock sites. Some consideration is given to the prediction of ground motions at close distances where there are insufficient recorded data points. As might be expected from the lack of data, published relations for predicting peak horizontal acceleration give widely divergent estimates at close distances (three well known relations predict accelerations between 0.33 g to slightly over 1 g at a distance of 5 km from a magnitude 6.5 earthquake). After considering the physics of the faulting process, the few available data close to faults, and the modifying effects of surface topography, at the present time it would be difficult to accept estimates less than about 0.8 g, 110 cm/s, and 40 cm, respectively, for the mean values of peak acceleration, velocity, and displacement at rock sites within 5 km of fault rupture in a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. These estimates can be expected to change as more data become available.

The composite structure of peak 5 in the glow curve of LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100): confirmation of peak 5a arising from a locally trapped electron-hole configuration.

PubMed

Horowitz, Y S; Oster, L; Satinger, D; Biderman, S; Einav, Y

2002-01-01

The hypothesis that glow peak 5a arises from localised e-h capture is confirmed by the following experimental observations: (i) The high conversion efficiency (CE) (CE5a-->4 = 3 +/- 0.5) of peak 5a to peak 4 (a hole-only trap) deduced from detailed Im-Tstop optical bleaching studies at 310 nm compared to the much lower CE of peak 5 (an electron-only trap) (CE5-->4 = 0.0026+/-0.012). (ii) The lack of an increase in the sensitivity of glow peak 5a following 2.6 MeV and 6.8 MeV He ion irradiation in 'sensitised' material compared to the factor two increase in the sensitivity of peak 5; (S/S0)5a = 0.86+/-0.12, compared to (S/S0)5 = 2.0+/-0.2. (iii) The late entry into saturation of the 2.6 MeV and 6.8 MeV He ion TL-fluence response curves for peak 5a compared to peak 5 in sensitised and normal material resulting in the following values for the track radial saturation parameter: (r50)5a = 100+/-20) Angstroms compared to (r50)5 = 380+/-30 Angstroms. (iv) The low value of 0.1 for the 'track-escape' parameter of peak 5a deduced from the Extended Track Interaction Model analysis of He ion TL fluence response compared to order of magnitude greater values for peaks 5 and 5b.

Silver Peak Innovative Exploration Project (Ram Power Inc.)

DOE Data Explorer

Miller, Clay

2010-01-01

Data generated from the Silver Peak Innovative Exploration Project, in Esmeralda County, Nevada, encompasses a “deep-circulation (amagmatic)” meteoric-geothermal system circulating beneath basin-fill sediments locally blanketed with travertine in western Clayton Valley (lithium-rich brines from which have been mined for several decades). Spring- and shallow-borehole thermal-water geochemistry and geothermometry suggest that a Silver Peak geothermal reservoir is very likely to attain the temperature range 260- 300oF (~125-150oC), and may reach 300-340oF (~150-170oC) or higher (GeothermEx, Inc., 2006). Results of detailed geologic mapping, structural analysis, and conceptual modeling of the prospect (1) support the GeothermEx (op. cit.) assertion that the Silver Peak prospect has good potential for geothermal-power production; and (2) provide a theoretical geologic framework for further exploration and development of the resource. The Silver Peak prospect is situated in the transtensional (regional shearing coupled with extension) Walker Lane structural belt, and squarely within the late Miocene to Pliocene (11 Ma to ~5 Ma) Silver Peak-Lone Mountain metamorphic core complex (SPCC), a feature that accommodated initial displacement transfer between major right-lateral strike- slip fault zones on opposite sides of the Walker Lane. The SPCC consists essentially of a ductiley-deformed lower plate, or “core,” of Proterozoic metamorphic tectonites and tectonized Mesozoic granitoids separated by a regionally extensive, low-angle detachment fault from an upper plate of severely stretched and fractured structural slices of brittle, Proterozoic to Miocene-age lithologies. From a geothermal perspective, the detachment fault itself and some of the upper-plate structural sheets could function as important, if secondary, subhorizontal thermal-fluid aquifers in a Silver Peak hydrothermal system.

Simulations of cataclysmic outburst floods from Pleistocene Glacial Lake Missoula

USGS Publications Warehouse

Denlinger, Roger P.; O'Connell, D. R. H.

2009-01-01

Using a flow domain that we constructed from 30 m digital-elevation model data of western United States and Canada and a two-dimensional numerical model for shallow-water flow over rugged terrain, we simulated outburst floods from Pleistocene Glacial Lake Missoula. We modeled a large, but not the largest, flood, using initial lake elevation at 1250 m instead of 1285 m. Rupture of the ice dam, centered on modern Lake Pend Oreille, catastrophically floods eastern Washington and rapidly fills the broad Pasco, Yakima, and Umatilla Basins. Maximum flood stage is reached in Pasco and Yakima Basins 38 h after the dam break, whereas maximum flood stage in Umatilla Basin occurs 17 h later. Drainage of these basins through narrow Columbia gorge takes an additional 445 h. For this modeled flood, peak discharges in eastern Washington range from 10 to 20 × 106 m3/s. However, constrictions in Columbia gorge limit peak discharges to 6 m3/s and greatly extend the duration of flooding. We compare these model results with field observations of scabland distribution and high-water indicators. Our model predictions of the locations of maximum scour (product of bed shear stress and average flow velocity) match the distribution of existing scablands. We compare model peak stages to high-water indicators from the Rathdrum-Spokane valley, Walulla Gap, and along Columbia gorge. Though peak stages from this less-than-maximal flood model attain or exceed peak-stage indicators along Rathdrum-Spokane valley and along Columbia gorge, simulated peak stages near Walulla Gap are 10–40 m below observed peak-stage indicators. Despite this discrepancy, our match to field observations in most of the region indicates that additional sources of water other than Glacial Lake Missoula are not required to explain the Missoula floods.

A simple multi-scale Gaussian smoothing-based strategy for automatic chromatographic peak extraction.

PubMed

Fu, Hai-Yan; Guo, Jun-Wei; Yu, Yong-Jie; Li, He-Dong; Cui, Hua-Peng; Liu, Ping-Ping; Wang, Bing; Wang, Sheng; Lu, Peng

2016-06-24

Peak detection is a critical step in chromatographic data analysis. In the present work, we developed a multi-scale Gaussian smoothing-based strategy for accurate peak extraction. The strategy consisted of three stages: background drift correction, peak detection, and peak filtration. Background drift correction was implemented using a moving window strategy. The new peak detection method is a variant of the system used by the well-known MassSpecWavelet, i.e., chromatographic peaks are found at local maximum values under various smoothing window scales. Therefore, peaks can be detected through the ridge lines of maximum values under these window scales, and signals that are monotonously increased/decreased around the peak position could be treated as part of the peak. Instrumental noise was estimated after peak elimination, and a peak filtration strategy was performed to remove peaks with signal-to-noise ratios smaller than 3. The performance of our method was evaluated using two complex datasets. These datasets include essential oil samples for quality control obtained from gas chromatography and tobacco plant samples for metabolic profiling analysis obtained from gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results confirmed the reasonability of the developed method. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cognition and Health in African American Men

PubMed Central

Sims, Regina C.; Thorpe, Roland J.; Gamaldo, Alyssa A.; Aiken-Morgan, Adrienne T.; Hill, LaBarron K.; Allaire, Jason C.; Whitfield, Keith E.

2015-01-01

Objective Despite high rates of poor health outcomes, little attention has been focused on associations between prominent health factors and cognitive function in African American men, exclusively. The objective was to examine relationships between cardiovascular and pulmonary health, and cognitive function in African American men. Method Data from 257 men were pooled from two studies of African American aging. The mean age of participants was 58.15 and mean educational attainment was 11.78 years. Participants provided self-reported health and demographic information, completed cognitive measures, and had their blood pressure and peak expiratory flow assessed. Results After adjustment, significant relationships were found between average peak expiratory flow rate (APEFR) and cognitive performance measures. Discussion Results suggest that lung function is important to consider when examining cognitive function in African American men. Understanding the role of health in cognition and implications for quality of life in this population will be critical as life expectancies increase. PMID:25053802

[Caloric value and energy allocation of Chloris virgata in northeast grassland].

PubMed

Guo, J; Wang, R; Wang, W

2001-06-01

The rules of seasonal changes in caloric values of individual plant, stem, and leaves of Chloris virgata were similar, which had two peak values from early July to early August, and then decreased gradually. Those of inflorescence assumed U shape, and had two peak values in early August and middle September, respectively. The seasonal changes in caloric values of dead standing were irregular, and the maximum value was appeared in early August. The seasonal changes in existent energy value of the aboveground parts in Chloris virgata population presented double peak curve. The two peak values were appeared in early August and early September respectively, and the maximum value was 7381.27 kJ.m-2 in early September. The energy allocation in different seasons was leaf > stem in early July, stem > leaf > dead standing in middle July, stem > leaf > inflorescence > dead standing in August, stem > inflorescence > leaf > dead standing in early September, and stem > inflorescence > dead standing > leaf in middle September. The vertical structure of energy in the aboveground parts was that the energy value gradually increased from the earth's surface to 20 cm high, and then decreased. The maximum value, which accounted for 25.75% of energy in the aboveground parts, was appeared in the layer of 10-20 cm high. In the underground parts, the energy value progressively decreased with the increase of depth, and the maximum value, which accounted for 74.21% of energy in the underground parts, was appeared in the layer of 0-10 cm depth.

Interactive effect of body posture on exercise-induced atrial natriuretic peptide release.

PubMed

Ray, C A; Delp, M D; Hartle, D K

1990-05-01

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that supine exercise elicits a greater atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) response than upright exercise because of higher atrial filling pressure attained in the supine posture. Plasma ANP concentration ([ANP]) was measured during continuous graded supine and upright exercise in eight healthy men at rest after 4 min of cycling exercise at 31, 51, and 79% of posture-specific peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), after 2 min of cycling at posture-specific VO2 peak, and 5 and 15 min postexercise. [ANP] was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) above rest by 64, 140, and 228% during supine cycling at 51 and 79% and VO2 peak, respectively. During upright cycling, [ANP] was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) at 79% (60%) and VO2 peak (125%). After 15 min of postexercise rest, [ANP] remained elevated (P less than 0.05) only in the supine subjects. [ANP] was 63, 79, and 75% higher (P less than 0.05) in the supine than in the upright position during cycling at 51 and 79% and VO2 peak. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) different between positions in all measurement periods. Heart rates were lower (P less than 0.05) in the supine position compared with the upright position. In conclusion, these results suggest that supine exercise elicits greater ANP release independent of blood pressure and heart rate but presumably caused by greater venous return, central blood volume, and concomitant atrial filling pressure and stretch.

THE VALUE OF EDUCATIONAL DEGREES IN TURBULENT ECONOMIC TIMES: EVIDENCE FROM THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STUDY

PubMed Central

Mortimer, Jeylan T.; Staff, Jeremy

2016-01-01

Rising costs of higher education have prompted debate about the value of college degrees. Using mixed effects panel models of data from the Youth Development Study (ages 31–37), we compare occupational outcomes (i.e., weekly hours worked, earnings, employment status, career attainment, and job security) between educational attainment categories within year, and within categories across years, from 2005 to 2011, capturing the period before, during, and in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Our findings demonstrate the long-term value of post-secondary degrees. Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree recipients, while experiencing setbacks at the height of recession, were significantly better off than those with some or no college attendance. Vocational-Technical degree holders followed a unique trajectory: pre-recession, they are mostly on par with Associate’s and Bachelor’s recipients, but they are hit particularly hard by the recession and then rebound somewhat afterwards. Our findings highlight the perils of starting but not finishing post-secondary educational programs. PMID:26973042

The value of educational degrees in turbulent economic times: Evidence from the Youth Development Study.

PubMed

Vuolo, Mike; Mortimer, Jeylan T; Staff, Jeremy

2016-05-01

Rising costs of higher education have prompted debate about the value of college degrees. Using mixed effects panel models of data from the Youth Development Study (ages 31-37), we compare occupational outcomes (i.e., weekly hours worked, earnings, employment status, career attainment, and job security) between educational attainment categories within year, and within categories across years, from 2005 to 2011, capturing the period before, during, and in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Our findings demonstrate the long-term value of post-secondary degrees. Bachelor's and Associate's degree recipients, while experiencing setbacks at the height of recession, were significantly better off than those with some or no college attendance. Vocational-Technical degree holders followed a unique trajectory: pre-recession, they are mostly on par with Associate's and Bachelor's recipients, but they are hit particularly hard by the recession and then rebound somewhat afterwards. Our findings highlight the perils of starting but not finishing post-secondary educational programs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The impact of antihypertensives on kidney disease

PubMed Central

Marquez, Diego F; Ruiz-Hurtado, Gema; Ruilope, Luis

2017-01-01

Arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are intimately related. The control of blood pressure (BP) levels is strongly recommended in patients with CKD in order to protect the kidney against the accompanying elevation in global cardiovascular (CV) risk. Actually, the goal BP in patients with CKD involves attaining values <140/90 mmHg except if albuminuria is present. In this case, it is often recommended to attain values <130/80 mmHg, although some guidelines still recommend <140/90 mmHg. Strict BP control to values of systolic BP around 120 mmHg was recently shown to be safe in CKD according to data from the SPRINT trial, albeit more data confirming this benefit are required. Usually, combination therapy initiated with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and commonly followed by the addition of a calcium channel blocker and a diuretic is needed. Further studies are required as well as new drugs in particular after the positive data obtained from new oral anti-diabetic drugs. PMID:28529721

Pressure Recovery for Missiles with Reaction Propulsion at High Supersonic Speeds (The Efficiency of Shock Diffusers)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oswatitsch, K.

1947-01-01

The problem of the intake of air is treated for a missile flying at supersonic speeds and of changing the kinetic energy of the air into pressure with the least possible losses. Calculations are carried out concerning the results which can be attained. After a discussion of several preliminary experiments, the practical solution of the problem at hand is indicated by model experiments. The results proved very satisfactory in view of the results which had been attained previously and the values which were anticipated theoretically.

Extreme values and the level-crossing problem: An application to the Feller process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoliver, Jaume

2014-04-01

We review the question of the extreme values attained by a random process. We relate it to level crossings to one boundary (first-passage problems) as well as to two boundaries (escape problems). The extremes studied are the maximum, the minimum, the maximum absolute value, and the range or span. We specialize in diffusion processes and present detailed results for the Wiener and Feller processes.

Exercise capacity in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PubMed

Ploeger, Hilde E; Takken, Tim; Wilk, Boguslaw; Issenman, Robert M; Sears, Ryan; Suri, Soni; Timmons, Brian W

2011-05-01

To examine exercise capacity in youth with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Eleven males and eight females with CD and six males and four females with UC participated. Patients performed standard exercise tests to assess peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) and peak aerobic mechanical power (W(peak)) and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)). Fitness variables were compared with reference data and also correlated with relevant clinical outcomes. Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease had lower PP (∼90% of predicted), MP (∼88% of predicted), W(peak) (∼91% of predicted), and VO(2peak) (∼75% of predicted) compared with reference values. When patients with CD or UC were compared separately to reference values, W(peak) was significantly lower only in the CD group. No statistically significant correlations were found between any exercise variables and disease duration (r = 0.01 to 0.14, P = .47 to .95) or disease activity (r = -0.19 to -0.31, P = .11 to .38), measured by pediatric CD activity index or pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index. After controlling for chronological age, recent hemoglobin levels were significantly correlated with PP (r = 0.45, P = .049), MP (r = 0.63, P = .003), VO(2peak) (r = 0.62, P = .004), and W(peak) (r = 0.70, P = .001). Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease exhibit impaired aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity compared with reference values. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Demonstration of the need for cardiovascular and pulmonary normative data for cancer survivors.

PubMed

Schneider, C M; Repka, C P; Brown, J M; Lalonde, T L; Dallow, K T; Barlow, C E; Hayward, R

2014-12-01

Despite evidence that cancer and its treatments severely reduce cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), normative data for cancer survivors do not exist. The present study identifies age and gender-specific CRF distributions in a cancer population. The use of cancer-specific normative CRF data may help stratify initial fitness status and assess improvements in response to exercise interventions in cancer survivors. Data from 703 cancer survivors were analyzed for this study. Quintiles were compiled for peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) for males and females in 5 age groups (19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years of age). VO2peak values for the cancer population were significantly lower than the general US population. The cancer population average in each age group fell within the "very poor" classification of VO2peak values for the general population. FVC values in the cancer population were similar to the general population. Cancer survivors had very low age group-specific VO2peak values compared to the apparently healthy general US population. Previously, CRF values of cancer survivors were compared to normative values for the apparently healthy general population, which yielded imprecise classifications of initial fitness and changes in fitness, resulting in patient discouragement. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Streptozotocin Diabetes CORRELATION WITH EXTENT OF DEPRESSION OF PANCREATIC ISLET NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE

PubMed Central

Anderson, Tom; Schein, Philip S.; McMenamin, Mary G.; Cooney, David A.

1974-01-01

The diabetogenic activity of streptozotocin has been correlated with a reduction in pyridine nucleotide synthesis in the mouse pancreatic islet. To determine the specificity of this reduction for diabetogenicity, a comparative study of streptozotocin, its cytotoxic moiety, 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea, and alloxan was performed. Streptozotocin administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) producd a dose-related reduction in islet NAD which was proportional to the degree of diabetogenicity. A diabetogenic dose, 200 mg/kg, attained a peak plasma N-nitroso intact streptozotocin concentration of 0.224 μmol/ml and reduced the mean islet NAD from a control of 0.78 to 0.15 pmol. At borderline, 150 mg/kg, and nondiabetogenic, 100 mg/kg, doses, plasma concentrations reached 0.161 and 0.136 μmol/ml, and NAD was 0.36 and 0.86 pmol/islet, respectively. 1-Methyl-1-nitrosourea, 100 mg/kg, attained a maximum N-nitroso intact 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea concentration of 0.162 μmol/ml and reduced the mean NAD to 0.58 pmol/islet, and was nondiabetogenic; 200 mg/kg attained a peak plasma concentration of 0.344 μmol/ml and depressed NAD to 0.38 pmol/islet, and was inconsistently diabetogenic. Islet NAD of 0.4 pmol/islet or greater is required for integrity of the beta cell. A diabetogenic dose of alloxan, 500 mg/kg, did not depress NAD, 0.85 pmol/islet, therefore confirming that its mechanism of diabetogenicity differs from that of streptozotocin. In vivo uptake of [methyl-14C]streptozotocin by islets was 3.8 times that of [methyl-14C]-1-methyl-1-nitrosourea, whereas uptake by the exocrine pancreas favored 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea over streptozotocin 2.4:1. The decreased islet uptake of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea correlates with the 3.5 times increased molar dosage required to produce islet NAD depression comparable to that of streptozotocin, 150 mg/kg. These studies indicate that the glucose carrier of streptozotocin facilitates uptake of its cytotoxic group, 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea, into islets. PMID:4369217

Light amplification and lasing from dyes doped in DNA-complex thin films prepared by soaking method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawabe, Yutaka; Suzuki, Takemasa; Iisaka, You

2014-08-01

An alternative fabrication method for dye-doped DNA-surfactant complex films was developed and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing under low energy optical pumping were demonstrated. In this new preparation technique, thin DNA-cethyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) complex films made by a spin coating method were stained with a hemicyanine dye by soaking them in acetone solution of the dye for one day. Molar ratio of the dye to DNA base pair for the final products was estimated to be 0.2, the value was much higher than those achieved via usual mixing method. ASE threshold value under pumping of a pulsed frequency-doubled YAG laser was about 0.3 mJ/cm2. Laser emission was also attained under the excitation with two interfering beams forming a dynamic grating of gain coefficient. Durability test indicated that 70% of their initial performance was maintained after 1 hour of continuous pumping. The technique was applied to water soluble dyes because the DNA complex was insoluble to water as well as acetone. We employed anionic Eosin Y dye, succeeding in sample formation and ASE emission. Different types of surfactants were also complexed with DNA, showing variation of emission peak wavelength. These results give a clue about the structure of the complex or interaction modes between DNA and surfactants, strongly suggesting that dye molecules are not intercalated into nor bound to DNA double strand directly, but are incorporated in the complex system via ion-exchange process or aggregating with cationic surfactants.

Evaluation of relative response factor methodology for demonstrating attainment of ozone in Houston, Texas.

PubMed

Vizuete, William; Biton, Leiran; Jeffries, Harvey E; Couzo, Evan

2010-07-01

In 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance on demonstrating attainment of the federal ozone (O3) standard. This guidance recommended a change in the use of air quality model (AQM) predictions from an absolute to a relative way. This was accomplished by using a ratio, and not the absolute difference of AQM O3 predictions from a historical year to an attainment year. This ratio of O3 concentrations, labeled the relative response factor (RRF), is multiplied by an average of observed concentrations at every monitor. In this analysis, whether the methodology used to calculate RRFs is severing the source-receptor relationship for a given monitor was investigated. Model predictions were generated with a regulatory AQM system used to support the 2004 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria State Implementation Plan. Following the procedures in the EPA guidance, an attainment demonstration was completed using regulatory AQM predictions and measurements from the Houston ground-monitoring network. Results show that the model predictions used for the RRF calculation were often based on model conditions that were geographically remote from observations and counter to wind flow. Many of the monitors used the same model predictions for an RRF, even if that O3 plume did not impact it. The RRF methodology resulted in severing the true source-receptor relationship for a monitor. This analysis also showed that model performance could influence RRF values, and values at monitoring sites appear to be sensitive to model bias. Results indicate an inverse linear correlation of RRFs with model bias at each monitor (R2 = 0.47), resulting in a change in future O3 design values up to 5 parts per billion (ppb). These results suggest that the application of RRF methodology in Houston, TX, should be changed from using all model predictions above 85 ppb to a method that removes any predictions that are not relevant to the observed source-receptor relationship.

Initial Circulation and Peak Vorticity Behavior of Vortices Shed from Airfoil Vortex Generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wendt, Bruce J.; Biesiadny, Tom (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

An extensive parametric study of vortices shed from airfoil vortex generators has been conducted to determine the dependence of initial vortex circulation and peak vorticity on elements of the airfoil geometry and impinging flow conditions. These elements include the airfoil angle of attack, chord length, span, aspect ratio, local boundary layer thickness, and free stream Mach number. In addition, the influence of airfoil-to-airfoil spacing on the circulation and peak vorticity has been examined for pairs of co-rotating and counter-rotating vortices. The vortex generators were symmetric airfoils having a NACA-0012 cross-sectional profile. These airfoils were mounted either in isolation, or in pairs, on the surface of a straight pipe. The turbulent boundary layer thickness to pipe radius ratio was about 17 percent. The circulation and peak vorticity data were derived from cross-plane velocity measurements acquired with a seven-hole probe at one chord-length downstream of the airfoil trailing edge location. The circulation is observed to be proportional to the free-stream Mach number, the angle-of-attack, and the span-to-boundary layer thickness ratio. With these parameters held constant, the circulation is observed to fall off in monotonic fashion with increasing airfoil aspect ratio. The peak vorticity is also observed to be proportional to the free-stream Mach number, the airfoil angle-of-attack, and the span-to-boundary layer thickness ratio. Unlike circulation, however, the peak vorticity is observed to increase with increasing aspect ratio, reaching a peak value at an aspect ratio of about 2.0 before falling off again at higher values of aspect ratio. Co-rotating vortices shed from closely spaced pairs of airfoils have values of circulation and peak vorticity under those values found for vortices shed from isolated airfoils of the same geometry. Conversely, counter-rotating vortices show enhanced values of circulation and peak vorticity when compared to values obtained in isolation. The circulation may be accurately modeled with an expression based on Prandtl's relationship between finite airfoil circulation and airfoil geometry. A correlation for the peak vorticity has been derived from a conservation relationship equating the moment at the airfoil tip to the rate of angular momentum production of the shed vortex, modeled as a Lamb (ideal viscous) vortex. This technique provides excellent qualitative agreement to the observed behavior of peak vorticity for low aspect ratio airfoils typically used as vortex generators.

5 CFR 847.903 - How is the monthly reduction to the retirement annuity computed?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... reduction to the retirement annuity computed? (a) The reduction equals: (1) The difference in the present value of the immediate annuity with credit for NAFI service and the deferred annuity without credit for NAFI service, divided by (2) The present value factor for the retiree's attained age (in full years) at...

77 FR 70439 - Federal Open Market Committee Domestic Policy Directive of October 23-24, 2012

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-26

... face value of about $267 billion by the end of December 2012, and to sell or redeem Treasury securities with remaining maturities of approximately 3 years or less with a total face value of about $267... could affect the attainment over time of the Committee's objectives of maximum employment and price...

Consequential Boards: Adding Value Where It Matters Most. Report of the National Commission on College and University Board Governance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, 2014

2014-01-01

The value of American higher education faces multiple risks, and changes in governance are needed to address them. At risk are accessibility and degree attainment for current and future students, institutional fiscal sustainability, educational quality, economic development and social equity, service to communities, and knowledge creation. Higher…

School Leadership for Public Value: Understanding Valuable Outcomes for Children, Families and Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mongon, Denis; Leadbeater, Charles

2012-01-01

"School Leadership for Public Value" is a timely contribution to the debate about the purpose and structure of schooling in England and internationally. It draws deeply upon the work of ten schools and describes how they created strong alliances with local communities. These alliances helped to raise the academic attainment of pupils and…

75 FR 64162 - Determination of Attainment for PM10

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-19

... AQS as a special event due to a volcanic eruption. Under EPA's 1994 guidance,\\4\\ data may be excluded... 1992-1994 period (all in 1992), these values were flagged by ADEC as special events due to a volcanic eruption. EPA concurred on the flagged exceedances in a May 24, 1995, letter to ADEC and thus these values...

Core self-evaluations and job and life satisfaction: the role of self-concordance and goal attainment.

PubMed

Judge, Timothy A; Bono, Joyce E; Erez, Amir; Locke, Edwin A

2005-03-01

The present study tested a model explaining how the core self-evaluations (i.e., positive self-regard) concept is linked to job and life satisfaction. The self-concordance model, which focuses on motives underlying goal pursuit, was used as an explanatory framework. Data were collected from 2 samples: (a) 183 university students (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and life satisfaction were used) and (b) 251 employees (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and job satisfaction were utilized). In both studies, the core self-evaluations concept was positively related to goal self-concordance, meaning that individuals with positive self-regard were more likely to pursue goals for intrinsic and identified (value-congruent) reasons. Furthermore, in both studies, goal self-concordance was related to satisfaction (job satisfaction in Study 1 and life satisfaction in Study 2).

Smoothing and roughening of slip surfaces in direct shear experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagy, Amir; Badt, Nir; Hatzor, Yossef H.

2015-04-01

Faults in the upper crust contain discrete slip surfaces which have absorbed a significant part of the shear displacement along them. Field measurements demonstrate that these surfaces are rough at all measurable scales and indicate that surfaces of relatively large-slip faults are statistically smoother than those of small-slip faults. However, post faulting and surface erosion process that might affect the geometry of outcrops cannot be discounted in such measurements. Here we present experimental results for the evolution of shear surface topography as function of slip distance and normal stress in direct shear experiments. A single prismatic fine grain limestone block is first fractured in tension mode using the four-point bending test methodology and then the fracture surface topography is scanned using a laser profilometer. We then shear the obtained tensile fracture surfaces in direct shear, ensuring the original fracture surfaces are in a perfectly matching configuration at the beginning of the shear test. First, shearing is conducted to distances varying from 5 to 15 mm under constant normal stress of 2MPa and a constant displacement rate of 0.05 mm/s using two closed-loop servo controlled hydraulic pistons, supplying normal and shear forces (Davidesko et al., 2014). In the tested configuration peak shear stress is typically attained after a shear displacement of about 2-3 mm, beyond which lower shear stress is required to continue shearing at the preset displacement rate of 0.05 mm/s as is typical for initially rough joints. Following some initial compression the interface begins to dilate and continues to do so until the end of the test. The sheared tensile fracture surface is then scanned again and the geometrical evolution, in term of RMS roughness and power spectral density (PSD) is analyzed. We show that shearing smooth the surface along all our measurements scales. The roughness ratio, measured by initial PSD / final PSD for each wavelength, increases as a function of slip amount. The roughness measured after slip can be fitted by a power-law similar to that of the initial tensile surface. In the next series of experiments a similar procedure is applied when the roughness evolution is measured as a function of increasing normal stress for a fixed displacement amount of 10 mm. While samples sheared under a constant normal stress of 5 MPa generated surface smoothing, shearing under normal stress of 7.5 MPa to 15 MPa exhibited surface roughening at the measured range of scales. We find that roughening is correlated with the attained peak shear stress values, stress drop (peak shear stress minus residual shear stress) and with wear accumulation, a novel measurement procedure of which is developed here. Analysis of the sheared samples shows that roughening is generated by sets of dense fractures that significantly damaged the sample in the immediate proximity to large asperities. This roughening is related to penetrative damage during transient wear in rough surfaces.

Prediction of peak response values of structures with and without TMD subjected to random pedestrian flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lievens, Klaus; Van Nimmen, Katrien; Lombaert, Geert; De Roeck, Guido; Van den Broeck, Peter

2016-09-01

In civil engineering and architecture, the availability of high strength materials and advanced calculation techniques enables the construction of slender footbridges, generally highly sensitive to human-induced excitation. Due to the inherent random character of the human-induced walking load, variability on the pedestrian characteristics must be considered in the response simulation. To assess the vibration serviceability of the footbridge, the statistics of the stochastic dynamic response are evaluated by considering the instantaneous peak responses in a time range. Therefore, a large number of time windows are needed to calculate the mean value and standard deviation of the instantaneous peak values. An alternative method to evaluate the statistics is based on the standard deviation of the response and a characteristic frequency as proposed in wind engineering applications. In this paper, the accuracy of this method is evaluated for human-induced vibrations. The methods are first compared for a group of pedestrians crossing a lightly damped footbridge. Small differences of the instantaneous peak value were found by the method using second order statistics. Afterwards, a TMD tuned to reduce the peak acceleration to a comfort value, was added to the structure. The comparison between both methods in made and the accuracy is verified. It is found that the TMD parameters are tuned sufficiently and good agreements between the two methods are found for the estimation of the instantaneous peak response for a strongly damped structure.

[The lh-rh-test in men with fertility disorders (author's transl)].

PubMed

Krause, W; Höbel, W

1976-11-01

89 mal patients with fertility disorders underwent a test with 50 mug synthetic LH-RH. The basal levels of FSH and LH are elevated in patients with azoospermia, with testicular atrophy, varicocele and Klinefelters syndrome. They increase with age. After stimulation with LH-RH the highest relative peaks (maximal value divided by control value) of LH are seen younger patients, in those with varicocele, and oligozoospermia. The FSH-values do not differ significantly between these groups. Low relative peaks of LH are seen in older patients. In Klinefelter's syndrome the relative peaks of FSH and LH are significantly lowered.

Inlet Flow Characteristics During Rapid Maneuvers for an F/A-18A Airplane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steenken, William G.; Williams, John G.; Walsh, Kevin R.

1999-01-01

The F404-GE-400 engine powered F/A-18A High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) was used to examine the characteristics of inlet airflow during rapid aircraft maneuvers. A study of the degree of similarity between inlet data obtained during rapid aircraft maneuvers and inlet data obtained at steady aerodynamic attitudes was conducted at the maximum engine airflow of approximately 145 Ibm/sec using a computer model that was generated from inlet data obtained during steady aerodynamic maneuvers. Results show that rapid-maneuver inlet recoveries agreed very well with the recoveries obtained at equivalent stabilized angle-of-attack conditions. The peak dynamic circumferential distortion values obtained during rapid maneuvers agreed within 0.01 units of distortion over the 10 - 38 degree angle of attack range with the values obtained during steady aerodynamic maneuvers while similar agreement was found for the peak dynamic radial distortion values up to 29 degrees angle-of-attack. Exceedences of the rapid-maneuver peak dynamic circumferential distortion values relative to the peak distortion model values at steady attitudes occurred only at low or negative angles of attack and were inconsequential from an engine-stability assessment point of view. The results of this study validate the current industry practice of testing at steady aerodynamic conditions to characterize inlet recovery and peak dynamic distortion levels.

Developmental aspects of a life course approach to healthy ageing

PubMed Central

Cooper, C.; Aihie Sayer, A.; Eendebak, R. J.; Clough, G. F.; Beard, J. R.

2016-01-01

Abstract We examine the mechanistic basis and wider implications of adopting a developmental perspective on human ageing. Previous models of ageing have concentrated on its genetic basis, or the detrimental effects of accumulated damage, but also have raised issues about whether ageing can be viewed as adaptive itself, or is a consequence of other adaptive processes, for example if maintenance and repair processes in the period up to reproduction are traded off against later decline in function. A life course model places ageing in the context of the attainment of peak capacity for a body system, starting in early development when plasticity permits changes in structure and function induced by a range of environmental stimuli, followed by a period of decline, the rate of which depends on the peak attained as well as the later life conditions. Such path dependency in the rate of ageing may offer new insights into its modification. Focusing on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular function, we discuss this model and the possible underlying mechanisms, including endothelial function, oxidative stress, stem cells and nutritional factors such as vitamin D status. Epigenetic changes induced during developmental plasticity, and immune function may provide a common mechanistic process underlying a life course model of ageing. The life course trajectory differs in high and low resource settings. New insights into the developmental components of the life course model of ageing may lead to the design of biomarkers of later chronic disease risk and to new interventions to promote healthy ageing, with important implications for public health. PMID:26518329

Developmental aspects of a life course approach to healthy ageing.

PubMed

Hanson, M A; Cooper, C; Aihie Sayer, A; Eendebak, R J; Clough, G F; Beard, J R

2016-04-15

We examine the mechanistic basis and wider implications of adopting a developmental perspective on human ageing. Previous models of ageing have concentrated on its genetic basis, or the detrimental effects of accumulated damage, but also have raised issues about whether ageing can be viewed as adaptive itself, or is a consequence of other adaptive processes, for example if maintenance and repair processes in the period up to reproduction are traded off against later decline in function. A life course model places ageing in the context of the attainment of peak capacity for a body system, starting in early development when plasticity permits changes in structure and function induced by a range of environmental stimuli, followed by a period of decline, the rate of which depends on the peak attained as well as the later life conditions. Such path dependency in the rate of ageing may offer new insights into its modification. Focusing on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular function, we discuss this model and the possible underlying mechanisms, including endothelial function, oxidative stress, stem cells and nutritional factors such as vitamin D status. Epigenetic changes induced during developmental plasticity, and immune function may provide a common mechanistic process underlying a life course model of ageing. The life course trajectory differs in high and low resource settings. New insights into the developmental components of the life course model of ageing may lead to the design of biomarkers of later chronic disease risk and to new interventions to promote healthy ageing, with important implications for public health. © 2015 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2015 The Physiological Society.

High-Energy Solar Particle Events in Cycle 24

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gopalswamy, N.; Makela, P.; Yashiro, S.; Xie, H.; Akiyama, S.; Thakur, N.

2015-01-01

The Sun is already in the declining phase of cycle 24, but the paucity of high-energy solar energetic particle (SEP) events continues with only two ground level enhancement (GLE) events as of March 31, 2015. In an attempt to understand this, we considered all the large SEP events of cycle 24 that occurred until the end of 2014. We compared the properties of the associated CMEs with those in cycle 23. We found that the CME speeds in the sky plane were similar, but almost all those cycle-24 CMEs were halos. A significant fraction of (16%) of the frontside SEP events were associated with eruptive prominence events. CMEs associated with filament eruption events accelerate slowly and attain peak speeds beyond the typical GLE release heights. When we considered only western hemispheric events that had good connectivity to the CME nose, there were only 8 events that could be considered as GLE candidates. One turned out to be the first GLE event of cycle 24 (2012 May 17). In two events, the CMEs were very fast (>2000 km/s) but they were launched into a tenuous medium (high Alfven speed). In the remaining five events, the speeds were well below the typical GLE CME speed (2000 km/s). Furthermore, the CMEs attained their peak speeds beyond the typical heights where GLE particles are released. We conclude that several factors contribute to the low rate of high-energy SEP events in cycle 24: (i) reduced efficiency of shock acceleration (weak heliospheric magnetic field), (ii) poor latitudinal and longitudinal connectivity), and (iii) variation in local ambient conditions (e.g., high Alfven speed).

Decadal oscillations and extreme value distribution of river peak flows in the Meuse catchment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Niel, Jan; Willems, Patrick

2017-04-01

In flood risk management, flood probabilities are often quantified through Generalized Pareto distributions of river peak flows. One of the main underlying assumptions is that all data points need to originate from one single underlying distribution (i.i.d. assumption). However, this hypothesis, although generally assumed to be correct for variables such as river peak flows, remains somehow questionable: flooding might indeed be caused by different hydrological and/or meteorological conditions. This study confirms these findings from previous research by showing a clear indication of the link between atmospheric conditions and flooding for the Meuse river in The Netherlands: decadal oscillations of river peak flows can (at least partially) be attributed to the occurrence of westerly weather types. The study further proposes a method to take this correlation between atmospheric conditions and river peak flows into account when calibrating an extreme value distribution for river peak flows. Rather than calibrating one single distribution to the data and potentially violating the i.i.d. assumption, weather type depending extreme value distributions are derived and composed. The study shows that, for the Meuse river in The Netherlands, such approach results in a more accurate extreme value distribution, especially with regards to extrapolations. Comparison of the proposed method with a traditional extreme value analysis approach and an alternative model-based approach for the same case study shows strong differences in the peak flow extrapolation. The design-flood for a 1,250 year return period is estimated at 4,800 m3s-1 for the proposed method, compared with 3,450 m3s-1 and 3,900 m3s-1 for the traditional method and a previous study. The methods were validated based on instrumental and documentary flood information of the past 500 years.

VO2 attained during treadmill running: the influence of a specialist (400-m or 800-m) event.

PubMed

James, David V B; Sandals, Leigh E; Draper, Stephen B; Maldonado-Martin, Sara; Wood, Dan M

2007-06-01

Previously it has been observed that, in well-trained 800-m athletes, VO2max is not attained during middle-distance running events on a treadmill, even when a race-type pacing strategy is adopted. Therefore, the authors investigated whether specialization in a particular running distance (400-m or 800-m) influences the VO2 attained during running on a treadmill. Six 400-m and six 800-m running specialists participated in the study.A 400-m trial and a progressive test to determine VO2max were completed in a counterbalanced order. Oxygen uptakes attained during the 400-m trial were compared to examine the influence of specialist event. A VO2 plateau was observed in all participants for the progressive test, demonstrating the attainment of VO2max. The VO2max values were 56.2 +/- 4.7 and 69.3 +/- 4.5 mL x kg-1 x min-1 for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively (P = .0003). Durations for the 400-m trial were 55.1 +/- 4.2 s and 55.8 +/- 2.3 s for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively. The VO2 responses achieved were 93.1% +/- 2.0% and 85.7% +/- 3.0% VO2max for the 400-m- and 800-m-event specialists, respectively (P = .001). These results demonstrate that specialist running events do appear to influence the percentage of VO2max achieved in the 400-m trial, with the 800-m specialists attaining a lower percentage of VO2max than the 400-m specialists. The 400-m specialists appear to compensate for a lower VO2max by attaining a higher percentage VO2max during a 400-m trial.

Correlates of age at attainment of developmental milestones in HIV-infected infants receiving early antiretroviral therapy.

PubMed

Benki-Nugent, Sarah; Eshelman, Christal; Wamalwa, Dalton; Langat, Agnes; Tapia, Ken; Okinyi, Helen Moraa; John-Stewart, Grace

2015-01-01

Infant HIV-1 infection is associated with impaired neurologic and motor development. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has the potential to improve developmental outcomes but the relative contributions of pre-ART disease status, growth, treatment regimen and ART response during infancy are unknown. Kenyan ART-naive infants <5-months old initiated ART and had monthly assessment of age of full neck control, unsupported walking and monosyllabic speech during 24 months of follow-up. Pre-ART and post-ART correlates of age at milestone attainment were evaluated using t tests or multivariate linear regression. Among 99 infants, pre-ART correlates of later milestone attainment included: underweight and stunted (neck control, walking and speech, all P values <0.05), missed prevention of mother-to-child transmission (P = 0.04) (neck control), previous hospitalization, World Health Organization (WHO) Stage III/IV, low CD4 count, and wasting (speech and walking, all P values <0.05), and low maternal CD4 (speech, P = 0.04). Infants initiated ART at a median of 14 days following enrollment. Infants receiving nevirapinevs lopinavir/ritonavir-based ART attained later speech (18.1 vs. 15.5 months, P = 0.003) [corrected]. Adjusting for pre-ART level, lower 6-month gain in CD4% was associated with later walking (0.18 months earlier per unit increase in CD4%; P = 0.004) and speech (0.12 months earlier per unit increase in CD4%; P = 0.05), and lower 6-month gains in weight-for-age (P = 0.009), height-for-age (P = 0.03) and weight-for-height (P = 0.02) were associated with later walking. In HIV-infected infants, compromised pre-ART immune and growth status, poor post-ART immune and growth responses, and use of nevirapine- vs. lopinavir/ritonavir-based ART were each associated with later milestone attainment [corrected]. The long-term consequences of these delays are unknown.

The Designs of Fins Air-Cooled Cylinders

DTIC Science & Technology

1939-06-28

4 (a). EMer part of figure 4 clearly shows that, for one pnir of values of s and t, the heat transfer is a maximum. The peak values of the curves of...specified s” curves. Similarly, the peak values of the curves of constant values of t shown in &ure 4 (b) and of similar cwwes plotted for othm values of... picking the values of optimum g and t from these curves: PIots of tk type shown in figure 4 were obtained for - other \\ralues of M and Aplpa,/m by means

Nernst and Seebeck effects in HgTe/CdTe topological insulator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yuan; Song, Juntao; Li, Yu-Xian, E-mail: yxli@mail.hebtu.edu.cn

2015-03-28

The Seebeck and Nernst effects in HgTe/CdTe quantum wells are studied using the tight-binding Hamiltonian and the nonequilibrium Green's function method. The Seebeck coefficient, S{sub c}, and the Nernst coefficient, N{sub c}, oscillate as a function of E{sub F}, where E{sub F} is the Fermi energy. The Seebeck coefficient shows peaks when the Fermi energy crosses the discrete transverse channels, and the height of the nth peak of the S{sub c} is [ln2/(1/2 +|n|)] for E{sub F} > 0. For the case E{sub F} < 0, the values of the peaks are negative, but the absolute values of the first five peaks are themore » same as those for E{sub F} > 0. The 6th peak of S{sub c} reaches the value [ln2/1.35] due to a higher density of states. When a magnetic field is applied, the Nernst coefficient appears. However, the values of the peaks for N{sub c} are all positive. For a weak magnetic field, the temperature suppresses the oscillation of the Seebeck and Nernst coefficients but increases their magnitude. For a large magnetic field, because of the highly degenerate Landau levels, the peaks of the Seebeck coefficient at position E{sub F}=−12, 10, 28meV, and Nernst coefficient at E{sub F}=−7, 10meV are robust against the temperature.« less

PFReports: A program for systematic checking of annual peaks in NWISWeb

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ryberg, Karen R.

2008-01-01

The accuracy, characterization, and completeness of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) peak-flow data drive the determination of flood-frequency estimates that are used daily to design water and transportation infrastructure, delineate flood-plain boundaries, and regulate development and utilization of lands throughout the Nation and are essential to understanding the implications of climate change on flooding. Indeed, this high-profile database reflects and highlights the quality of USGS water-data collection programs. Its extension and improvement are essential to efforts to strengthen USGS networks and science leadership and is worthy of the attention of Water Science Center (WSC) hydrographers. This document describes a computer program, PFReports, and its output that facilitates efficient and robust review and correction of data in the USGS Peak Flow File (PFF) hosted as part of NWISWeb (the USGS public Web interface to much of the data stored and managed within the National Water Information System or NWIS). Checks embedded in the program are recommended as part of a more comprehensive assessment of peak flow data that will eventually include examination of possible regional changes, seasonal changes, and decadal variations in magnitude, timing, and frequency. Just as important as the comprehensive assessment, cleaning up the database will increase the likelihood of improved WSC regional flood-frequency equations. As an example of the value of cleaning up the PFF, data for 26,921 sites in the PFF were obtained. Of those sites, 17,542 sites had peak streamflow values and daily values. For the 17,542 sites, 1,097 peaks were identified that were less than the daily value for the day on which the peak occurred. Of the 26,921 sites, 11,643 had peak streamflow values, concurrent daily values, and at least 10 peaks. At the 11,643 sites, 2,205 peaks were identified as potential outliers in a regression of peak streamflows on daily values. Previous efforts to identify problems with the PFF were time consuming, laborious, and often ineffective. This new suite of checks represents an effort to automate identification of specific problems without plotting or printing large amounts of data that may not have problems. In addition, the results of the checks of the peak flow files are delivered through the World Wide Web with links to individual reports so that WSCs can focus on specific problems in an organized and standardized fashion. Over the years, technical reviews, regional-flood studies, and user inquiries have identified many minor and some major problems in the PFF. However, the cumbersome nature of the PFF editor and a lack of analytical tools have hampered efforts at quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) and subsequently to make needed revisions to the database. This document is organized to provide information regarding PFReports, especially those tests involving regression and to provide an overview of the review procedures for utilizing the output. It also may be used as a reference for the data qualification codes and abbreviations for the tests. Results of the checks for all peak flow files (March 2008) are available at http://nd.water.usgs.gov/internal/pfreports/.

Effect of strength and speed of torque development on balance recovery with the ankle strategy.

PubMed

Robinovitch, Stephen N; Heller, Britta; Lui, Andrew; Cortez, Jeffrey

2002-08-01

In the event of an unexpected disturbance to balance, the ability to recover a stable upright stance should depend not only on the magnitude of torque that can be generated by contraction of muscles spanning the lower extremity joints but also on how quickly these torques can be developed. In the present study, we used a combination of experimental and mathematical models of balance recovery by sway (feet in place responses) to test this hypothesis. Twenty-three young subjects participated in experiments in which they were supported in an inclined standing position by a horizontal tether and instructed to recover balance by contracting only their ankle muscles. The maximum lean angle where they could recover balance without release of the tether (static recovery limit) averaged 14.9 +/- 1.4 degrees (mean +/- SD). The maximum initial lean angle where they could recover balance after the tether was unexpectedly released and the ankles were initially relaxed (dynamic recovery limit) averaged 5.9 +/- 1.1 degrees, or 60 +/- 11% smaller than the static recovery limit. Peak ankle torque did not differ significantly between the two conditions (and averaged 116 +/- 32 Nm), indicating the strong effect on recovery ability of latencies in the onset and subsequent rates of torque generation (which averaged 99 +/- 13 ms and 372 +/- 267 N. m/s, respectively). Additional experiments indicated that dynamic recovery limits increased 11 +/- 14% with increases in the baseline ankle torques prior to release (from an average value of 31 +/- 18 to 54 +/- 24 N. m). These trends are in agreement with predictions from a computer simulation based on an inverted pendulum model, which illustrate the specific combinations of baseline ankle torque, rate of torque generation, and peak ankle torque that are required to attain target recovery limits.

Optimizing pulsed Nd:YAG laser beam welding process parameters to attain maximum ultimate tensile strength for thin AISI316L sheet using response surface methodology and simulated annealing algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torabi, Amir; Kolahan, Farhad

2018-07-01

Pulsed laser welding is a powerful technique especially suitable for joining thin sheet metals. In this study, based on experimental data, pulsed laser welding of thin AISI316L austenitic stainless steel sheet has been modeled and optimized. The experimental data required for modeling are gathered as per Central Composite Design matrix in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with full replication of 31 runs. Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) is considered as the main quality measure in laser welding. Furthermore, the important process parameters including peak power, pulse duration, pulse frequency and welding speed are selected as input process parameters. The relation between input parameters and the output response is established via full quadratic response surface regression with confidence level of 95%. The adequacy of the regression model was verified using Analysis of Variance technique results. The main effects of each factor and the interactions effects with other factors were analyzed graphically in contour and surface plot. Next, to maximum joint UTS, the best combinations of parameters levels were specified using RSM. Moreover, the mathematical model is implanted into a Simulated Annealing (SA) optimization algorithm to determine the optimal values of process parameters. The results obtained by both SA and RSM optimization techniques are in good agreement. The optimal parameters settings for peak power of 1800 W, pulse duration of 4.5 ms, frequency of 4.2 Hz and welding speed of 0.5 mm/s would result in a welded joint with 96% of the base metal UTS. Computational results clearly demonstrate that the proposed modeling and optimization procedures perform quite well for pulsed laser welding process.

Position-Specific Hydrogen and Carbon Isotope Fractionations of Light Hydrocarbons by Quantitative NMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, C.; Mcgovern, G. P.; Horita, J.

2015-12-01

Traditional isotope ratio mass spectrometry methods to measure 2H/1H and 13C/12C ratios of organic molecules only provide average isotopic values of whole molecules. During the measurement process, valuable information of position-specific isotope fractionations (PSIF) between non-equivalent H and C positions is lost, which can provide additional very useful information about the origins and history of organic molecules. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry can measure 2H and 13C PSIF of organic molecules without destruction. The 2H and 13C signals from different positions of a given molecule show up as distinctive peaks in an NMR spectrum, and their peak areas are proportional to the 2H and 13C populations at each position. Moreover, quantitative NMR can be applied to a wide variety of organic molecules. We have been developing quantitative NMR methods to determine 2H and 13C PSIF of light hydrocarbons (propane, butane and pentane), using J-Young and custom-made high-pressure NMR cells. With careful conditioning of the NMR spectrometer (e.g. tuning, shimming) and effective 1H -13C decoupling, precision of ± <10‰ (2H) and ± <1‰ (13C) can be readily attainable after several hours of acquisition. Measurement time depends on the relaxation time of interested nucleus and the total number of scans needed for high signal-to-noise ratios. Our data for commercial, pure hydrocarbon samples showed that 2H PSIF in the hydrocarbons can be larger than 60‰ and that 13C PSIF can be as large as 15‰. Comparison with theoretical calculations indicates that the PSIF patterns of some hydrocarbon samples reflect non-equilibrium processes in their productions.

Effects of an acidic beverage (Coca-Cola) on absorption of ketoconazole.

PubMed Central

Chin, T W; Loeb, M; Fong, I W

1995-01-01

Absorption of ketoconazole is impaired in patients with achlorhydria. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a palatable acidic beverage (Coca-Cola Classic, pH 2.5) in improving the absorption of ketoconazole in the presence of drug-induced achlorhydria. A prospective, randomized, three-way crossover design with a 1-week wash-out period between each treatment was employed. Nine healthy nonsmoking, nonobese volunteers between 22 and 41 years old were studied. Each subject was randomized to receive three treatments: (A) ketoconazole 200-mg tablet with water (control), (B) omeprazole (60 mg) followed by ketoconazole (200 mg) taken with water, and (C) omeprazole (60 mg) followed by ketoconazole (200 mg) taken with 240 ml of Coca-Cola Classic. The pH values of gastric aspirates were checked after omeprazole was administered to confirm attainment of a pH of > 6. Multiple serum samples were obtained for measurements of ketoconazole concentrations by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The mean area under the ketoconazole concentration-time curve from zero to infinity for the control treatment (17.9 +/- 13.1 mg.h/liter) was significantly greater than that for treatment B (3.5 +/- 5.1 mg.h/liter; 16.6% +/- 15.0% of control). The mean peak concentration was highest for the control treatment (4.1 +/- 1.9 micrograms/ml), for which the mean peak concentration showed a significant increase over that for treatment B. The absorption of ketoconazole was reduced in the presence of omeprazole-induced achlorhydria. However, drug absorption was significantly increased, to approximately 65% of the mean for the control treatment, when the drug was taken with an acidic beverage, such as Coca-Cola. PMID:7486898

Gradual unlocking of plate boundary controlled initiation of the 2014 Iquique earthquake.

PubMed

Schurr, Bernd; Asch, Günter; Hainzl, Sebastian; Bedford, Jonathan; Hoechner, Andreas; Palo, Mauro; Wang, Rongjiang; Moreno, Marcos; Bartsch, Mitja; Zhang, Yong; Oncken, Onno; Tilmann, Frederik; Dahm, Torsten; Victor, Pia; Barrientos, Sergio; Vilotte, Jean-Pierre

2014-08-21

On 1 April 2014, Northern Chile was struck by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake following a protracted series of foreshocks. The Integrated Plate Boundary Observatory Chile monitored the entire sequence of events, providing unprecedented resolution of the build-up to the main event and its rupture evolution. Here we show that the Iquique earthquake broke a central fraction of the so-called northern Chile seismic gap, the last major segment of the South American plate boundary that had not ruptured in the past century. Since July 2013 three seismic clusters, each lasting a few weeks, hit this part of the plate boundary with earthquakes of increasing peak magnitudes. Starting with the second cluster, geodetic observations show surface displacements that can be associated with slip on the plate interface. These seismic clusters and their slip transients occupied a part of the plate interface that was transitional between a fully locked and a creeping portion. Leading up to this earthquake, the b value of the foreshocks gradually decreased during the years before the earthquake, reversing its trend a few days before the Iquique earthquake. The mainshock finally nucleated at the northern end of the foreshock area, which skirted a locked patch, and ruptured mainly downdip towards higher locking. Peak slip was attained immediately downdip of the foreshock region and at the margin of the locked patch. We conclude that gradual weakening of the central part of the seismic gap accentuated by the foreshock activity in a zone of intermediate seismic coupling was instrumental in causing final failure, distinguishing the Iquique earthquake from most great earthquakes. Finally, only one-third of the gap was broken and the remaining locked segments now pose a significant, increased seismic hazard with the potential to host an earthquake with a magnitude of >8.5.

A surface renewal model for unsteady-state mass transfer using the generalized Danckwerts age distribution function

PubMed Central

Horvath, Isabelle R.

2018-01-01

The recently derived steady-state generalized Danckwerts age distribution is extended to unsteady-state conditions. For three different wind speeds used by researchers on air–water heat exchange on the Heidelberg Aeolotron, calculations reveal that the distribution has a sharp peak during the initial moments, but flattens out and acquires a bell-shaped character with process time, with the time taken to attain a steady-state profile being a strong and inverse function of wind speed. With increasing wind speed, the age distribution narrows significantly, its skewness decreases and its peak becomes larger. The mean eddy renewal time increases linearly with process time initially but approaches a final steady-state value asymptotically, which decreases dramatically with increased wind speed. Using the distribution to analyse the transient absorption of a gas into a large body of liquid, assuming negligible gas-side mass-transfer resistance, estimates are made of the gas-absorption and dissolved-gas transfer coefficients for oxygen absorption in water at 25°C for the three different wind speeds. Under unsteady-state conditions, these two coefficients show an inverse behaviour, indicating a heightened accumulation of dissolved gas in the surface elements, especially during the initial moments of absorption. However, the two mass-transfer coefficients start merging together as the steady state is approached. Theoretical predictions of the steady-state mass-transfer coefficient or transfer velocity are in fair agreement (average absolute error of prediction = 18.1%) with some experimental measurements of the same for the nitrous oxide–water system at 20°C that were made in the Heidelberg Aeolotron. PMID:29892429

Additive colours approach for dental ceramics translucency characteristics made from Sumatra and Java natural sands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takarini, V.; Gunawan, J.; Hasratiningsih, Z.; Rudyawan, A.

2018-04-01

Translucency is one of dental ceramics desirable aesthetic characteristics, which can be used as an indirect restoration. Dental ceramics can also be made using Computed Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) unit that can create variety blocks as an ingot into a customized restoration. This paper presents the results of self-synthesized porcelain blocks generated from natural sand of Sumatera and Java Islands to promote national independency. This research aims to determine the translucency of dental ceramics made from Indonesia’s natural sand. Six samples each of two different synthesized temperatures, 1150 °C and 1200 °C, were made. To analyse translucency of the sample, their image was taken in bright light background in a black box, then additive green and blue colours histogram channel with range 0 (opaque) to 255 (transparent) were evaluated using Matlab R2015B. The result revealed that mean of green peaks on 1150 °C has an average translucency value of 41%, compared to 34% of blue peaks. Lower percentage of translucency, 31% and 25% on the green and blue channel respectively were attained in samples synthesized in 1200 °C. These suggest that 1150 °C is the optimum temperature for translucency for these ceramic samples from natural sands as they contain leucite crystals shown by the XRD analyses as a result of silica-undersaturated mixture indicated by the Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) results show remnant of air pocket in the samples sintered at higher temperature.In conclusion, natural sand from Sumatera and Java can be considered as reliable, cheap basic material options in developing self-synthesized dental ceramics with a desirable translucency. These preliminary results indicate that better balance between strength and translucency could potentially be achieved by making nano-sized dental ceramics.

School scoliosis screening by Moiré topography - Overview for 33 years in Miyazaki Japan.

PubMed

Kuroki, Hiroshi; Nagai, Takuya; Chosa, Etsuo; Tajima, Naoya

2018-04-05

Since 1981, we have performed school scoliosis screening (SSS) using Moiré topography in Miyazaki, Japan and attained a certain result in detecting scoliosis. However, this screening system was discontinued due to cessation of repair and production of Moiré topographic equipment. The purpose of this study was to make clear both the results and the problems of SSS by Moiré topography on the basis of our past 33 years' experiences. The subjects were 689,293 students (5th grade boys in 200,329, 5th grade girls in 191,919, 8th grade boys in 151,351, and 8th grade girls in 145,694) who were screened by Moiré topography between 1981 and 2013. The number of students received SSS, the positive rate of Moiré topography, the discovery rate of scoliosis greater than 20°, the reference rate to the second screening, and the positive predictive value of Moiré topography to detect scoliosis greater than 20° were investigated. The number of students received SSS achieved a peak in 1992. The positive rate of Moiré topography and the discovery rate of scoliosis were highest in 8th grade girls. The reference rates to the second screening were 49.8% in 5th grade students and 41.4% in 8th grade students. The positive predictive values were 2.1% in 5th grade students and 7.6% in 8th grade students. SSS by Moiré topography seemed to be effective in detecting scoliosis although both the positive predictive value and the reference rate to the second screening were low. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Bioelectricity Generation and Bioremediation of an Azo-Dye in a Microbial Fuel Cell Coupled Activated Sludge Process

PubMed Central

Khan, Mohammad Danish; Abdulateif, Huda; Ismail, Iqbal M.; Sabir, Suhail; Khan, Mohammad Zain

2015-01-01

Simultaneous bioelectricity generation and dye degradation was achieved in the present study by using a combined anaerobic-aerobic process. The anaerobic system was a typical single chambered microbial fuel cell (SMFC) which utilizes acid navy blue r (ANB) dye along with glucose as growth substrate to generate electricity. Four different concentrations of ANB (50, 100, 200 and 400 ppm) were tested in the SMFC and the degradation products were further treated in an activated sludge post treatment process. The dye decolorization followed pseudo first order kinetics while the negative values of the thermodynamic parameter ∆G (change in Gibbs free energy) shows that the reaction proceeds with a net decrease in the free energy of the system. The coulombic efficiency (CE) and power density (PD) attained peak values at 10.36% and 2,236 mW/m2 respectively for 200 ppm of ANB. A further increase in ANB concentrations results in lowering of cell potential (and PD) values owing to microbial inhibition at higher concentrations of toxic substrates. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed a perfect redox reaction was taking place in the SMFC. The pH, temperature and conductivity remain 7.5–8.0, 27(±2°C and 10.6–18.2 mS/cm throughout the operation. The biodegradation pathway was studied by the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy technique, suggested the preferential cleavage of the azo bond as the initial step resulting in to aromatic amines. Thus, a combined anaerobic-aerobic process using SMFC coupled with activated sludge process can be a viable option for effective degradation of complex dye substrates along with energy (bioelectricity) recovery. PMID:26496083

Bioelectricity Generation and Bioremediation of an Azo-Dye in a Microbial Fuel Cell Coupled Activated Sludge Process.

PubMed

Khan, Mohammad Danish; Abdulateif, Huda; Ismail, Iqbal M; Sabir, Suhail; Khan, Mohammad Zain

2015-01-01

Simultaneous bioelectricity generation and dye degradation was achieved in the present study by using a combined anaerobic-aerobic process. The anaerobic system was a typical single chambered microbial fuel cell (SMFC) which utilizes acid navy blue r (ANB) dye along with glucose as growth substrate to generate electricity. Four different concentrations of ANB (50, 100, 200 and 400 ppm) were tested in the SMFC and the degradation products were further treated in an activated sludge post treatment process. The dye decolorization followed pseudo first order kinetics while the negative values of the thermodynamic parameter ∆G (change in Gibbs free energy) shows that the reaction proceeds with a net decrease in the free energy of the system. The coulombic efficiency (CE) and power density (PD) attained peak values at 10.36% and 2,236 mW/m2 respectively for 200 ppm of ANB. A further increase in ANB concentrations results in lowering of cell potential (and PD) values owing to microbial inhibition at higher concentrations of toxic substrates. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed a perfect redox reaction was taking place in the SMFC. The pH, temperature and conductivity remain 7.5-8.0, 27(±2°C and 10.6-18.2 mS/cm throughout the operation. The biodegradation pathway was studied by the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy technique, suggested the preferential cleavage of the azo bond as the initial step resulting in to aromatic amines. Thus, a combined anaerobic-aerobic process using SMFC coupled with activated sludge process can be a viable option for effective degradation of complex dye substrates along with energy (bioelectricity) recovery.

Identification of the country of growth of Sophora flavescens using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS).

PubMed

Fukuda, Eriko; Uesawa, Yoshihiro; Baba, Masaki; Suzuki, Ryuichiro; Fukuda, Tatsuo; Shirataki, Yoshiaki; Okada, Yoshihito

2014-11-01

In order to identify the country of growth of Sophora flavescens by chemical fingerprinting, extracts of plants grown in China and Japan were analyzed using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART)-MS. The peaks characteristic of each country of growth were statistically analyzed using a volcano plot to summarize the relationship between the p-values of a statistical test and the magnitude of the difference in the peak intensities of the samples in the groups. Peaks with ap value < 0.05 in the t-test and a ≥ 2 absolute difference were defined as characteristic. Peaks characteristic of Chinese S. flavescens were found at m/z 439 and 440. In contrast, peaks characteristic of Japanese S. flavescens were found at m/z 313, 423, 437 and 441. The intensity of the selected peaks was similar in Japanese samples, whereas the m/z 439 peak had a significantly higher intensity than the other peaks in Chinese samples. Therefore, differences in selected peak patterns may allow identification of the country of growth of S. flavescens.

Adjusting annual maximum peak discharges at selected stations in northeastern Illinois for changes in land-use conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Over, Thomas M.; Saito, Riki J.; Soong, David T.

2016-06-30

The observed and adjusted values for each streamgage are tabulated. To illustrate the overall effect of the adjustments, differences in the mean, standard deviation, and skewness of the log-transformed observed and urbanization-adjusted peak discharge series by streamgage are computed. For almost every streamgage where an adjustment was applied (no increase in urbanization was reported for a few streamgages), the mean increased and the standard deviation decreased; the effect on skewness values was more variable but usually they increased. Significant positive peak discharge trends were common in the observed values, occurring at 27.3 percent of streamgages at a p-value of 0.05 according to a Kendall’s tau correlation test; in the adjusted values, the incidence of such trends was reduced to 7.0 percent.

Utility of Equations to Estimate Peak Oxygen Uptake and Work Rate From a 6-Minute Walk Test in Patients With COPD in a Clinical Setting.

PubMed

Kirkham, Amy A; Pauhl, Katherine E; Elliott, Robyn M; Scott, Jen A; Doria, Silvana C; Davidson, Hanan K; Neil-Sztramko, Sarah E; Campbell, Kristin L; Camp, Pat G

2015-01-01

To determine the utility of equations that use the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) results to estimate peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)o2) and peak work rate with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in a clinical setting. This study included a systematic review to identify published equations estimating peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 and peak work rate in watts in COPD patients and a retrospective chart review of data from a hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation program. The following variables were abstracted from the records of 42 consecutively enrolled COPD patients: measured peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 and peak work rate achieved during a cycle ergometer cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6MWT distance, age, sex, weight, height, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and lung diffusion capacity. Estimated peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 and peak work rate were estimated from 6MWT distance using published equations. The error associated with using estimated peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 or peak work to prescribe aerobic exercise intensities of 60% and 80% was calculated. Eleven equations from 6 studies were identified. Agreement between estimated and measured values was poor to moderate (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.11-0.63). The error associated with using estimated peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 or peak work rate to prescribe exercise intensities of 60% and 80% of measured values ranged from mean differences of 12 to 35 and 16 to 47 percentage points, respectively. There is poor to moderate agreement between measured peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 and peak work rate and estimations from equations that use 6MWT distance, and the use of the estimated values for prescription of aerobic exercise intensity would result in large error. Equations estimating peak (Equation is included in full-text article.)o2 and peak work rate are of low utility for prescribing exercise intensity in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation of linearly polarised Alfven wave dynamics in Arnold-Beltrami-Childress magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsiklauri, David

2015-04-01

Previous studies (e.g., Malara et al., Astrophys. J. 533, 523 (2000)) considered small-amplitude Alfven wave (AW) packets in Arnold-Beltrami-Childress (ABC) magnetic field using WKB approximation. They draw a distinction between 2D AW dissipation via phase mixing and 3D AW dissipation via exponentially divergent magnetic field lines. In the former case, AW dissipation time scales as S 1/3 and in the latter as log(S) , where S is the Lundquist number. In this work [1], linearly polarised Alfven wave dynamics in ABC magnetic field via direct 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation is studied for the first time. A Gaussian AW pulse with length-scale much shorter than ABC domain length and a harmonic AW with wavelength equal to ABC domain length are studied for four different resistivities. While it is found that AWs dissipate quickly in the ABC field, contrary to an expectation, it is found the AW perturbation energy increases in time. In the case of the harmonic AW, the perturbation energy growth is transient in time, attaining peaks in both velocity and magnetic perturbation energies within timescales much smaller than the resistive time. In the case of the Gaussian AW pulse, the velocity perturbation energy growth is still transient in time, attaining a peak within few resistive times, while magnetic perturbation energy continues to grow. It is also shown that the total magnetic energy decreases in time and this is governed by the resistive evolution of the background ABC magnetic field rather than AW damping. On contrary, when the background magnetic field is uniform, the total magnetic energy decrease is prescribed by AW damping, because there is no resistive evolution of the background. By considering runs with different amplitudes and by analysing the perturbation spectra, possible dynamo action by AW perturbation-induced peristaltic flow and inverse cascade of magnetic energy have been excluded. Therefore, the perturbation energy growth is attributed to a new instability. The growth rate appears to be dependent on the value of the resistivity and the spatial scale of the AW disturbance. Thus, when going beyond WKB approximation, AW damping, described by full MHD equations, does not guarantee decrease of perturbation energy. This has implications for the MHD wave plasma heating in exponentially divergent magnetic fields. [1] D. Tsiklauri, Phys. Plasmas 21, 052902 (2014); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4875920 This research is funded by the Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant RPG-311

Who Gets More Out of Sport? The Role of Value and Perceived Ability in Flow and Identity-Related Experiences in Adolescent Sport

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drane, Catherine F.; Barber, Bonnie L.

2016-01-01

Sport is a context that provides positive developmental benefits to adolescents. However, these benefits are not distributed equally to all participants. This study examined whether the motivational constructs of attainment value and ability self-concept were related to positive developmental experiences in sport, and tested intensity of…

Riparian and aquatic habitats of the Pacific Northwest and southeast Alaska: ecology, management history, and potential management strategies.

Treesearch

Fred H. Everest; Gordon H. Reeves

2007-01-01

Management of riparian habitats is controversial because land use policies have historically emphasized economic values (e.g., timber production) at the expense of ecological and social values. Attempting to manage these valuable resources to attain the greatest combination of benefits has created a long-term controversy that continues to the present. Our analysis...

40 CFR 418.32 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FERTILIZER MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Urea... daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 0.95 0.48 Organic nitrogen (as N...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 1...

40 CFR 418.32 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FERTILIZER MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Urea... daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 0.95 0.48 Organic nitrogen (as N...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 1...

40 CFR 418.32 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FERTILIZER MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Urea... daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 0.95 0.48 Organic nitrogen (as N...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 1...

40 CFR 418.32 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FERTILIZER MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Urea... daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 0.95 0.48 Organic nitrogen (as N...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Ammonia (as N) 1...

Delay-induced rebounds in CO2 emissions and critical time-scales to meet global warming targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manoli, Gabriele; Katul, Gabriel G.; Marani, Marco

2016-12-01

While climate science debates are focused on the attainment of peak anthropogenic CO2 emissions and policy tools to reduce peak temperatures, the human-energy-climate system can hold "rebound" surprises beyond this peak. Following the second industrial revolution, global per capita CO2 emissions (cc) experienced a punctuated growth of about 100% every 60 years, mainly attributable to technological development and its global spread. A model of the human-energy-climate system capable of reproducing past punctuated dynamics shows that rebounds in global CO2 emissions emerge due to delays intrinsic to the diffusion of innovations. Such intrinsic delays in the adoption and spread of low-carbon emitting technologies, together with projected population growth, upset the warming target set by the Paris Agreement. To avoid rebounds and their negative climate effects, model calculations show that the diffusion of climate-friendly technologies must occur with lags one-order of magnitude shorter (i.e., ˜6 years) than the characteristic timescale of past punctuated growth in cc. Radically new strategies to globally implement the technological advances at unprecedented rates are needed if the current emission goals are to be achieved.

Abandoned coal mine stores gas for Colorado peak-day demands

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, L.W.

1978-09-01

Since 1961, the Leyden Mine, from which 6 million tons of coal had been removed to leave a 150 million cu ft void, has been used for gas storage at 250 psig max pressure, after the hoisting and ventilation shafts had been sealed with concrete, rock, sand, and mud. Following several withdrawal expansions, a design for maximum delivery of 230 million cu ft/day for five days with a pressure drop in the cavern down to 100 psig was developed to satisfy customer requirements for peak shaving. This required redesigning the gathering system by looping large existing lines, eliminating inefficient ones,more » and drilling additional wells; installing three lightweight 3500-hp Centaur turbine/compressor units from Solar Turbines International to provide the minimum 200 psig compressor discharge pressure needed for gas distribution on peak usage days; and installing Donaldson Co. engine air-inlet silencers on the turbine inlets to reduce noise levels below the public code requirement. In the 1977-78 heating season, the Leyden facility produced 196 million cu ft/day of gas; with continued load growth and well drilling to reduce pressure loss, the maximum design flow rate will be attained.« less

Time Variations in Forecasts and Occurrences of Large Solar Energetic Particle Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahler, S. W.

2015-12-01

The onsets and development of large solar energetic (E > 10 MeV) particle (SEP) events have been characterized in many studies. The statistics of SEP event onset delay times from associated solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which depend on solar source longitudes, can be used to provide better predictions of whether a SEP event will occur following a large flare or fast CME. In addition, size distributions of peak SEP event intensities provide a means for a probabilistic forecast of peak intensities attained in observed SEP increases. SEP event peak intensities have been compared with their rise and decay times for insight into the acceleration and transport processes. These two time scales are generally treated as independent parameters describing the development of a SEP event, but we can invoke an alternative two-parameter description based on the assumption that decay times exceed rise times for all events. These two parameters, from the well known Weibull distribution, provide an event description in terms of its basic shape and duration. We apply this distribution to several large SEP events and ask what the characteristic parameters and their dependence on source longitudes can tell us about the origins of these important events.

The evidential value of developmental age imaging for assessing age of majority

PubMed Central

Cole, T. J.

2015-01-01

Abstract Aim: To consider the evidential value of developmental age images for identifying age of majority. Methods: The published literature on hand–wrist X-rays, MRI scans of the distal radius and orthopantomograms of the lower left third molar is considered in terms of the mean age of attainment of the adult appearance and the diagnostic test performance of the adult appearance to predict adult status, either administratively (under-17 football) or forensically. Results: The mean age of attainment of a mature hand-wrist X-ray is under 18 years and most individuals are mature before age 18. For the MRI wrist scan and the third molar the age of attainment is over 19 years and the adult appearance is an indicator of adulthood, while the immature appearance is uninformative about likely age. So MRI and third molars have high specificity, but low sensitivity. Conclusions: Bone age assessed by hand–wrist X-ray is uninformative and should not be used. The adult appearance of MRI wrist scans and third molars provide evidence of being over-age, although there remains a small risk of minors being misclassified as adult. The immature appearance is uninformative about likely age and, overall, more than one third of assessments are wrong. PMID:26133364

Assessment of adolescents' motivation for educational attainment.

PubMed

Cham, Heining; Hughes, Jan N; West, Stephen G; Im, Myung Hee

2014-06-01

The Adolescent Motivation for Educational Attainment Questionnaire is a 32-item questionnaire (we drew 20 items from 3 subscales of the Educational Motivation Questionnaire; Murdock, 1999) that was developed to measure multiple potential dimensions of adolescents' motivation to complete high school and enroll in post-secondary education, including competence and effort beliefs; perceived value of education; and peer, teacher, and parent support for educational attainment. We assessed a multiethnic sample (N = 569) of low-achieving students who started 1st grade together in 1 urban and 2 small city school districts. Participants were assessed over 2 consecutive years (Grades 8 and 9 given prior grade retention, or Grades 9 and 10 if not retained). Exploratory factor analyses identified 4 correlated dimensions underlying the questionnaire responses. Subsequent confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a bifactor model, which includes a general factor of students' basic educational motivation, and specific factors of (a) teacher educational expectations, (b) peer aspirations, and (c) value of education. Measurement invariance of the bifactor model was established across students' gender and ethnicity (Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic) and year of testing. Criterion-related validity of the general and specific factors with students' school belonging, student-teacher warmth and conflict, disciplinary practices, letter grade, conduct problems, and behavioral engagement was examined. Practical implications of the measure are discussed.

Assessment of Adolescents’ Motivation for Educational Attainment

PubMed Central

Cham, Heining; Hughes, Jan N.; West, Stephen G.; Im, Myung Hee

2015-01-01

The Adolescent Motivation for Educational Attainment Questionnaire is a 32-item questionnaire (we drew 20 items from 3 subscales of the Educational Motivation Questionnaire; Murdock, 1999) that was developed to measure multiple potential dimensions of adolescents’ motivation to complete high school and enroll in post-secondary education, including competence and effort beliefs; perceived value of education; and peer, teacher, and parent support for educational attainment. We assessed a multiethnic sample (N = 569) of low-achieving students who started 1st grade together in 1 urban and 2 small city school districts. Participants were assessed over 2 consecutive years (Grades 8 and 9 given prior grade retention, or Grades 9 and 10 if not retained). Exploratory factor analyses identified 4 correlated dimensions underlying the questionnaire responses. Subsequent confirmatory factor analyses provided support for a bifactor model, which includes a general factor of students’ basic educational motivation, and specific factors of (a) teacher educational expectations, (b) peer aspirations, and (c) value of education. Measurement invariance of the bifactor model was established across students’ gender and ethnicity (Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic) and year of testing. Criterion-related validity of the general and specific factors with students’ school belonging, student–teacher warmth and conflict, disciplinary practices, letter grade, conduct problems, and behavioral engagement was examined. Practical implications of the measure are discussed. PMID:24588748

Physical performance and peak aerobic power at different body temperatures.

PubMed

Bergh, U; Ekblom, B

1979-05-01

In eight male subjects we studied the effect of different core (esophageal, (Tes 34.9--38.4 degrees C) and muscle (Tm 35.1--39.3 degrees C) temperature on 1) physical performance (time to exhaustion at a standard maximal rate of work, WT), 2) aerobic power (VO2), 3) heart rate (HR), and 4) blood lactate (LA) concentration during exhaustive combined arm and leg exercise. In three subjects the effects at different mean skin temperatures (Tsk 27 and 31 degrees C, respectively) were also studied. Peak VO2 was positively correlated to both Tes (r = 0.88) and Tm (r = 0.91). None of the subjects attained control VO2max at Tes and Tm lower than 37.5 and 38.0 degrees C, respectively. HR was correlated to both Tes (r = 0.97) and Tm (r = 0.95). Different Tsk did not affect peak VO2 and HR at subnormal body temperatures. Pulmonary ventilation was independent of Tes and Tm in all experimental situations. LA was significantly higher at Tes 37.5 degrees C compared to both Tes 34.9 and 38.5 degrees C, respectively. At Tes less than 37.5 degrees C and Tm less than 38.0 degrees C, there was a linear reduction in WT (20%.degrees C-1), peak VO2 (5--6%.degrees C-1), and HR (8 beats.min-1.degrees C-1) with lowered Tes and Tm.

Ultramafic rocks of the western Idaho suture zone: Asbestos Peak and Misery Ridge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Godchaux, M.M.; Bonnichsen, B.

1993-04-01

The Western Idaho Ultramafic Belt extends northward from the town of Weiser to the northern end of Dworshak Reservoir; in its northern portion most of the ultramafic bodies are localized along the suture zone where the Mesozoic oceanic accreted terranes meet the continental craton. Of the twenty bodies investigated, all are small, all are in fault contact with their metavolcanic and metasedimentary host rocks, all have been metamorphosed, and all display deformational fabrics in at least some portion of the outcrop area, suggesting that deformation continued after peak metamorphism. The degree of metamorphism ranges from incipient serpentinization to attainment ofmore » equilibrium in the upper amphibolite facies. Some bodies have been intruded by granitic dikes or pegmatite veins after emplacement, and have locally undergone contact metasomatism. Two particularly complex bodies, Asbestos Peak and Misery Ridge, were chosen for detailed petrographic and chemical study. Asbestos Peak is composed mostly of decussate anthophyllite-talc rock containing isolated patches of harzburgite protolith, and has blackwall border zones. Misery Ridge is composed mostly of coarse-grained sheared tremolite-talc schist without remnant protolith, and lacks true blackwall zones. Both bodies exhibit an unusual and enigmatic hornblende-poikiloblastic garnet-green spinel-skeletal ilmenite assemblage, present in some places as well-defined border zones and in other places as cross-cutting bodies.« less

Language-related values, reading amount, and reading comprehension in students with migration backgrounds.

PubMed

El-Khechen, Wahiba; Ferdinand, Hanna D; Steinmayr, Ricarda; McElvany, Nele

2016-06-01

Although various studies on general language performance have investigated determinants of students' reading comprehension (e.g., reading amount), they have paid insufficient attention to how students perceive parental values influence their language-related values and behaviour - and, as a consequence, their performance. This is particularly the case for bilingual students with a migration background. The present study aims to examine the impact of how students perceive parental values regarding German (attainment, utility, and cost), students' (utility) value of German/Turkish, and students' reading amount in German/Turkish on German reading comprehension. A total of 118 Grade 4 students in Germany with Turkish as their family language. Reading comprehension was measured with a 15-item standardized test. Whereas students' reading amount (German/Turkish) was assessed through students' self-reports on three questions, students' utility value (German/Turkish) and perceived parental values regarding German (attainment, utility, and cost) were each measured with two items. Results of path modelling supported the hypotheses that students' utility value regarding German and their reading amount in German would positively predict their German reading comprehension, whereas their utility value regarding Turkish and their reading amount in Turkish would negatively predict their German reading comprehension. Data also confirmed a direct effect of the negatively perceived parental cost value of German on German reading comprehension. The new evidence is of practical relevance for teachers, educational scientists, and psychologists who are striving to improve the educational outcomes of bilingual students. Further research needs and the significance of the results for educational practice and home environment are discussed. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Racial-ethnic identity in mid-adolescence: content and change as predictors of academic achievement.

PubMed

Altschul, Inna; Oyserman, Daphna; Bybee, Deborah

2006-01-01

Three aspects of racial-ethnic identity (REI)-feeling connected to one's racial-ethnic group (Connectedness), being aware that others may not value the in-group (Awareness of Racism), and feeling that one's in-group is characterized by academic attainment (Embedded Achievement)-were hypothesized to promote academic achievement. Youth randomly selected from 3 low-income, urban schools (n=98 African American, n=41 Latino) reported on their REI 4 times over 2 school years. Hierarchical linear modeling shows a small increase in REI and the predicted REI-grades relationship. Youth high in both REI Connectedness and Embedded Achievement attained better grade point average (GPA) at each point in time; youth high in REI Connectedness and Awareness of Racism at the beginning of 8th grade attained better GPA through 9th grade. Effects are not moderated by race-ethnicity.

Evaluation and validation of the diagnostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient for differentiating early-stage endometrial carcinomas from benign mimickers at 3T MRI.

PubMed

Wang, Xue; Zhao, Yu; Hu, Yumin; Zhou, Yongjin; Ye, Xinjian; Liu, Kun; Bai, Guanghui; Guo, Anna; Du, Meimei; Jiang, Lezhen; Wang, Jinhong; Yan, Zhihan

2017-07-11

Previous researchers obtained various apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) cutoff values to differentiate endometrial carcinoma from benign mimickers with 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Few studies have used 3T MRI or validated the effectiveness of these cutoff ADC values prospectively. This study was designed in two stages to obtain a cutoff ADC value at 3T MRI and to validate prospectively the role of the ADC value. First, we conducted a retrospective study of 60 patients to evaluate the diagnostic value of ADC by obtain a theoretical cutoff ADC value for differentiating between benign and malignant endometrial lesions. Student's t test revealed that ADC values for stage I endometrial carcinomas were significantly lower than those for benign lesions. The area under the curve value of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.993, and the cutoff ADC value was 0.98 × 10-3 mm2/s. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of diagnosing stage I endometrial carcinoma were 100%, 97.1%, and 98.3%, respectively. Second, we conducted a prospective study of 26 patients to validate the use of the cutoff ADC value obtained in the study's first stage. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for differentiating malignant from benign endometrial lesions based on the cutoff ADC value obtained earlier were as follows: radiologist 1 attained 86.67%, 100.0%, and 92.31%, respectively; radiologist 2 attained 86.67%, 91.0%, and 88.5%, respectively. Our results suggest that ADC values could be a potential biomarker for use as a quantitative and qualitative tool for differentiating between early-stage endometrial carcinomas and benign mimickers.

Evaluation and validation of the diagnostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient for differentiating early-stage endometrial carcinomas from benign mimickers at 3T MRI

PubMed Central

Hu, Yumin; Zhou, Yongjin; Ye, Xinjian; Liu, Kun; Bai, Guanghui; Guo, Anna; Du, Meimei; Jiang, Lezhen

2017-01-01

Previous researchers obtained various apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) cutoff values to differentiate endometrial carcinoma from benign mimickers with 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Few studies have used 3T MRI or validated the effectiveness of these cutoff ADC values prospectively. This study was designed in two stages to obtain a cutoff ADC value at 3T MRI and to validate prospectively the role of the ADC value. First, we conducted a retrospective study of 60 patients to evaluate the diagnostic value of ADC by obtain a theoretical cutoff ADC value for differentiating between benign and malignant endometrial lesions. Student's t test revealed that ADC values for stage I endometrial carcinomas were significantly lower than those for benign lesions. The area under the curve value of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.993, and the cutoff ADC value was 0.98 × 10−3 mm2/s. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of diagnosing stage I endometrial carcinoma were 100%, 97.1%, and 98.3%, respectively. Second, we conducted a prospective study of 26 patients to validate the use of the cutoff ADC value obtained in the study's first stage. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for differentiating malignant from benign endometrial lesions based on the cutoff ADC value obtained earlier were as follows: radiologist 1 attained 86.67%, 100.0%, and 92.31%, respectively; radiologist 2 attained 86.67%, 91.0%, and 88.5%, respectively. Our results suggest that ADC values could be a potential biomarker for use as a quantitative and qualitative tool for differentiating between early-stage endometrial carcinomas and benign mimickers. PMID:28634318

Raman beam combining for laser brightness enhancement

DOEpatents

Dawson, Jay W.; Allen, Graham S.; Pax, Paul H.; Heebner, John E.; Sridharan, Arun K.; Rubenchik, Alexander M.; Barty, Chrisopher B. J.

2015-10-27

An optical source capable of enhanced scaling of pulse energy and brightness utilizes an ensemble of single-aperture fiber lasers as pump sources, with each such fiber laser operating at acceptable pulse energy levels. Beam combining involves stimulated Raman scattering using a Stokes' shifted seed beam, the latter of which is optimized in terms of its temporal and spectral properties. Beams from fiber lasers can thus be combined to attain pulses with peak energies in excess of the fiber laser self-focusing limit of 4 MW while retaining the advantages of a fiber laser system of high average power with good beam quality.

Hydrogen milestone could help lower fossil fuel refining costs

ScienceCinema

McGraw, Jennifer

2017-12-27

Hydrogen researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory have reached another milestone on the road to reducing carbon emissions and protecting the nation against the effects of peaking world oil production. Stephen Herring, laboratory fellow and technical director of the INL High Temperature Electrolysis team, today announced that the latest fuel cell modification has set a new mark in endurance. The group's Integrated Laboratory Scale experiment has now operated continuously for 2,583 hours at higher efficiencies than previously attained. Learn more about INL research at http://www.facebook.com/idahonationallaboratory.

Titanium-Dioxide Nano-Fiber-Cotton Targets for Efficient Multi-keV X-Ray Generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tanabe, M; Nishimura, H; Fujioka, S

Multi-keV x-ray generation from low-density (27 {+-} 7 mg/cc) nano-fiber-cotton targets composed of titanium-dioxide has been investigated. The cotton targets were heated volumetrically and supersonically to a peak electron temperature of 2.3 keV, which is optimal to yield Ti K-shell x rays. Considerable enhancement of conversion efficiency (3.7 {+-} 0.5%) from incident laser energy into Ti K-shell x rays (4-6 keV band) was attained in comparison with that (1.4 {+-} 0.9%) for a planar Ti-foil target.

Titanium dioxide nanofiber-cotton targets for efficient multi-keV x-ray generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tanabe, Minoru; Nishimura, Hiroaki; Fujioka, Shinsuke

Multi-keV x-ray generation from low-density (27{+-}7 mg/cm{sup 3}) nanofiber-cotton targets composed of titanium dioxide has been investigated. The cotton targets were heated volumetrically and supersonically to a peak electron temperature of 2.3 keV, which is optimal to yield Ti K-shell x rays. Considerable enhancement of conversion efficiency [(3.7{+-}0.5)%] from incident laser energy into Ti K-shell x rays (4-6 keV band) was attained in comparison with that [(1.4{+-}0.9)%] for a planar Ti-foil target.

Microbiological Production of Carotenoids

PubMed Central

Ciegler, Alex; Nelson, George E. N.; Hall, Harlow H.

1962-01-01

Synthesis of β-carotene by mated strains of Blakeslea trispora in shaken-flask culture was considerably enhanced by adding either 5% kerosene after 2 days of fermentation or acid-refined kerosene at the start of fermentation to a grain-based medium that also contained a natural lipid, nonionic detergent, and β-ionone; average yields of 17,500 μg per g of dry fermentation solids (86,000 μg per 100 ml of medium) were attained when refined kerosene was used. Almost all of the carotene was retained within the mycelium. Peak yields were achieved in 5 days. PMID:13879500

Flight Investigation of the Performance of a Two-stage Solid-propellant Nike-deacon (DAN) Meteorological Sounding Rocket

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heitkotter, Robert H

1956-01-01

A flight investigation of two Nike-Deacon (DAN) two-stage solid-propellant rocket vehicles indicated satisfactory performance may be expected from the DAN meteorological sounding rocket. Peak altitudes of 356,000 and 350,000 feet, respectively, were recorded for the two flight tests when both vehicles were launched from sea level at an elevation angle of 75 degrees. Performance calculations based on flight-test results show that altitudes between 358,000 feet and 487,000 feet may be attained with payloads varying between 60 pounds and 10 pounds.

System and method of operating toroidal magnetic confinement devices

DOEpatents

Chance, M.S.; Jardin, S.C.; Stix, T.H.; Grimm, R.C.; Manickam, J.; Okabayashi, M.

1984-08-30

This invention pertains to methods and arrangements for attaining high beta values in plasma confinement devices. More specifically, this invention pertains to methods for accessing the second stability region of operation in toroidal magnetic confinement devices.

Fatigue properties of an 1421 aluminum alloy processed by ECAE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mogucheva, A.; Kaibyshev, R.

2010-07-01

Fatigue properties and fatigue crack growth rate were examined in an Al-Mg-Li-Sc-Zr allow subjected to equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) with rectangular shape of channels up to a total strain of ~4 at a temperature of 325°C followed by solution treatment with subsequent oil quenching with aging. After this processing the fraction recrystallized was ~80pct; the deformed microstructure remains essentially unchanged under solution treatment due to high density of Al3Sc coherent dispersoids playing a role of effective pinning agents. It was shown that the fatigue limit of this material attained a value of ~185 MPa. Thermomechanical processing provided a decrease in fatigue crack propagation growth rate and an increase in the stress intensity factor, K1c, in comparison with extruded bar. However, characteristics of crack propagation resistance did not attain values suitable for application of this alloy for critical aircraft components.

Rehydration of freeze-dried and convective dried boletus edulis mushrooms: effect on some quality parameters.

PubMed

Hernando, I; Sanjuán, N; Pérez-Munuera, I; Mulet, A

2008-10-01

Quality of rehydrated products is a key aspect linked to rehydration conditions. To assess the effect of rehydration temperature on some quality parameters, experiments at 20 and 70 degrees C were performed with convective dried and freeze-dried Boletus edulis mushrooms. Rehydration characteristics (through Peleg's parameter, k(1), and equilibrium moisture, W(e)), texture (Kramer), and microstructure (Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy) were evaluated. Freeze-dried samples absorbed water more quickly and attained higher W(e) values than convective dried ones. Convective dehydrated samples rehydrated at 20 degrees C showed significantly lower textural values (11.9 +/- 3.3 N/g) than those rehydrated at 70 degrees C (15.7 +/- 1.2 N/g). For the freeze-dried Boletus edulis, the textural values also exhibited significant differences, being 8.2 +/- 1.3 and 10.5 +/- 2.3 N/g for 20 and 70 degrees C, respectively. Freeze-dried samples showed a porous structure that allows rehydration to take place mainly at the extracellular level. This explains the fact that, regardless of temperature, freeze-dried mushrooms absorbed water more quickly and reached higher W(e) values than convective dried ones. Whatever the dehydration technique used, rehydration at 70 degrees C produced a structural damage that hindered water absorption; consequently lower W(e) values and higher textural values were attained than when rehydrating at 20 degrees C.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Zircons from the IODP Site U1437 in the Rear of the Izu-Bonin Volcanic Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, G. D.; Schmitt, A. K.; Busby, C. J.; Brown, S. R.

2015-12-01

Zircons recovered from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 350 Site U1437 (31°47.390'N, 139°01.580'E) in the Izu-Bonin arc were analyzed by SIMS to constrain their age (U/Pb geochronology) and geochemistry (trace elements, δ18O); LA-ICP-MS ɛHf analyses are pending. Seven intervals were dated successfully: six tuffs and lapilli-tuffs between 680.99 and 1722.46 m below sea floor (mbsf) and a single peperitic rhyolitic intrusion at 1388.86 - 1390.07 mbsf. Thirty-two intervals which underwent mineral separation lacked zircon, or yielded zircon much older than age expectations for U1437. Geochronology results from separated zircons confirm and extend the shipboard age model to 1360.77 mbsf where Late Miocene (Tortonian) submarine volcanic rocks (11.3 ±0.7 Ma; n = 17) were sampled. In-situ measurement of zircons associated with magnetite crystals in the rhyolite intrusion yield an age of 13.6 ±1.7 Ma (n = 9). Zircon U contents are low (typically <300 ppm), with trace element ratios characteristic of oceanic lithosphere and near-mantle δ18O values (4-6 ‰). Individual Miocene zircon crystals are difficult to distinguish by age alone from those in the drilling mud (sepiolite) used during Expedition 350; the sepiolite is quarried by IMV Nevada in the Amargosa Valley. Our analysis of thirty-three zircons from the sepiolite finds that they have a broad and varied age distribution (2 - 2033 Ma) with a prominent peak at 12-14 Ma, bimodal δ18O values (peaks at 5-5.5 and 6.5-7.5 ‰), and dominantly continental trace element signatures. Three zircons from U1437 are tentatively identified as sepiolite-derived, but a single Eocene grain (51.7 ±2.4 Ma) recovered from 1722.46 mbsf has an age unlike those in the sepiolite, and potentially is genuinely xenocrystic. The majority of U1437 zircons thus crystallized from evolved melts lacking continental characteristics, although thermal and compositional conditions conducive for zircon crystallization appear to have been rarely attained.

Influence of Class V preparation on in vivo temperature rise in anesthetized human pulp during exposure to a Polywave® LED light curing unit.

PubMed

Zarpellon, Driellen Christine; Runnacles, Patrício; Maucoski, Cristiane; Gross, Dayane Jaqueline; Coelho, Ulisses; Rueggeberg, Frederick Allen; Arrais, Cesar Augusto Galvão

2018-06-01

This in vivo study evaluated pulp temperature (PT) rise in human premolars having deep Class V preparations during exposure to a light curing unit (LCU) using selected exposure modes (EMs). After local Ethics Committee approval, intact first premolars (n=8) requiring extraction for orthodontic reasons, from 8 volunteers, received infiltrative and intraligamental anesthesia and were isolated using rubber dam. A minute pulp exposure was attained and sterile probe from a wireless, NIST-traceable, temperature acquisition system was inserted into the coronal pulp chamber to continuously monitor PT (°C). A deep buccal Class V preparation was prepared using a high speed diamond bur under air-water spray cooling. The surface was exposed to a Polywave ® LED LCU (Bluephase 20i, Ivoclar Vivadent) using selected EMs, allowing 7-min span between each exposure: 10-s in low (10-s/L), 10-s (10-s/H), 30-s (30-s/H), or 60-s (60-s/H) in high mode; and 5-s-Turbo (5-s/T). Peak PT values and PT increases over physiologic baseline levels (ΔT) were subjected to 1-way, repeated measures ANOVAs, and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests (α=0.05). Linear regression analysis was performed to establish the relationship between applied radiant exposure and ΔT. All EMs produced higher peak PT than the baseline temperature (p<0.001). Only 60-s/H mode generated an average ΔT of 5.5°C (p<0.001). A significant, positive relationship was noted between applied radiant exposure and ΔT (r 2 =0.8962; p<0.001). In vivo exposure of deep Class V preparation to Polywave ® LED LCU increases PT to values considered safe for the pulp, for most EMs. Only the longest evaluated EM caused higher PT increase than the critical ΔT, thought to be associated with pulpal necrosis. Copyright © 2018 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The U.S. Geological Survey Peak-Flow File Data Verification Project, 2008–16

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ryberg, Karen R.; Goree, Burl B.; Williams-Sether, Tara; Mason, Robert R.

2017-11-21

Annual peak streamflow (peak flow) at a streamgage is defined as the maximum instantaneous flow in a water year. A water year begins on October 1 and continues through September 30 of the following year; for example, water year 2015 extends from October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. The accuracy, characterization, and completeness of the peak streamflow data are critical in determining flood-frequency estimates that are used daily to design water and transportation infrastructure, delineate flood-plain boundaries, and regulate development and utilization of lands throughout the United States and are essential to understanding the implications of climate and land-use change on flooding and high-flow conditions.As of November 14, 2016, peak-flow data existed for 27,240 unique streamgages in the United States and its territories. The data, collectively referred to as the “peak-flow file,” are available as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) public web interface, the National Water Information System, at https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/peak. Although the data have been routinely subjected to periodic review by the USGS Office of Surface Water and screening at the USGS Water Science Center level, these data were not reviewed in a national, systematic manner until 2008 when automated scripts were developed and applied to detect potential errors in peak-flow values and their associated dates, gage heights, and peak-flow qualification codes, as well as qualification codes associated with the gage heights. USGS scientists and hydrographers studied the resulting output, accessed basic records and field notes, and corrected observed errors or, more commonly, confirmed existing data as correct.This report summarizes the changes in peak-flow file data at a national level, illustrates their nature and causation, and identifies the streamgages affected by these changes. Specifically, the peak-flow data were compared for streamgages with peak flow measured as of November 19, 2008 (before the automated scripts were widely applied) and on November 14, 2016 (after several rounds of corrections). There were 659,332 peak-flow values in the 2008 dataset and 731,965 peak-flow values in the 2016 dataset. When compared to the 2016 dataset, 5,179 (0.79 percent) peak-flow values had changed; 36,506 (5.54 percent) of the peak-flow qualification codes had changed; 1,938 (0.29 percent) peak-flow dates had changed; 18,599 (2.82 percent) of the peak-flow gage heights had changed; and 20,683 (3.14 percent) of the gage-height qualification codes had changed—most as a direct result of the peak-flow file data verification effort led by USGS personnel. The various types of changes are summarized and mapped in this report. In addition to this report, a corresponding USGS data release is provided to identify changes in peak flows at individual streamgages. The data release and the procedures to access the data release are described in this report.

Optimization of pulsed laser welding process parameters in order to attain minimum underfill and undercut defects in thin 316L stainless steel foils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pakmanesh, M. R.; Shamanian, M.

2018-02-01

In this study, the optimization of pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding parameters was done on the lap-joint of a 316L stainless steel foil with the aim of reducing weld defects through response surface methodology. For this purpose, the effects of peak power, pulse-duration, and frequency were investigated. The most important weld defects seen in this method include underfill and undercut. By presenting a second-order polynomial, the above-mentioned statistical method was managed to be well employed to balance the welding parameters. The results showed that underfill increased with the increased power and reduced frequency, it first increased and then decreased with the increased pulse-duration; and the most important parameter affecting it was the power, whose effect was 65%. The undercut increased with the increased power, pulse-duration, and frequency; and the most important parameter affecting it was the power, whose effect was 64%. Finally, by superimposing different responses, improved conditions were presented to attain a weld with no defects.

Dynamic Behavior of AA2519-T8 Aluminum Alloy Under High Strain Rate Loading in Compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olasumboye, A. T.; Owolabi, G. M.; Odeshi, A. G.; Yilmaz, N.; Zeytinci, A.

2018-06-01

In this study, the effects of strain rate on the dynamic behavior, microstructure evolution and hence, failure of the AA2519-T8 aluminum alloy were investigated under compression at strain rates ranging from 1000 to 3500 s-1. Cylindrical specimens of dimensions 3.3 mm × 3.3 mm (L/D = 1) were tested using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar integrated with a digital image correlation system. The microstructure of the alloy was assessed using optical and scanning electron microscopes. Results showed that the dynamic yield strength of the alloy is strain rate dependent, with the maximum yield strength attained by the material being 500 MPa. The peak flow stress of 562 MPa was attained by the material at 3500 s-1. The alloy also showed a significant rate of strain hardening that is typical of other Al-Cu alloys; the rate of strain hardening, however, decreased with increase in strain rate. It was determined that the strain rate sensitivity coefficient of the alloy within the range of high strain rates used in this study is approximately 0.05 at 0.12 plastic strain; a more significant value than what was reported in literature under quasi-static loading. Micrographs obtained showed potential sites for the evolution of adiabatic shear band at 3500 s-1, with a characteristic circular-shaped surface profile comprising partially dissolved second phase particles in the continuous phase across the incident plane of the deformed specimen. The regions surrounding the site showed little or no change in the size of particles. However, the constituent coarse particles were observed as agglomerations of fractured pieces, thus having a shape factor different from those contained in the as-received alloy. Since the investigated alloy is a choice material for military application where it can be exposed to massive deformation at high strain rates, this study provides information on its microstructural and mechanical responses to such extreme loading condition.

Dynamic Behavior of AA2519-T8 Aluminum Alloy Under High Strain Rate Loading in Compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olasumboye, A. T.; Owolabi, G. M.; Odeshi, A. G.; Yilmaz, N.; Zeytinci, A.

2018-02-01

In this study, the effects of strain rate on the dynamic behavior, microstructure evolution and hence, failure of the AA2519-T8 aluminum alloy were investigated under compression at strain rates ranging from 1000 to 3500 s-1. Cylindrical specimens of dimensions 3.3 mm × 3.3 mm (L/D = 1) were tested using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar integrated with a digital image correlation system. The microstructure of the alloy was assessed using optical and scanning electron microscopes. Results showed that the dynamic yield strength of the alloy is strain rate dependent, with the maximum yield strength attained by the material being 500 MPa. The peak flow stress of 562 MPa was attained by the material at 3500 s-1. The alloy also showed a significant rate of strain hardening that is typical of other Al-Cu alloys; the rate of strain hardening, however, decreased with increase in strain rate. It was determined that the strain rate sensitivity coefficient of the alloy within the range of high strain rates used in this study is approximately 0.05 at 0.12 plastic strain; a more significant value than what was reported in literature under quasi-static loading. Micrographs obtained showed potential sites for the evolution of adiabatic shear band at 3500 s-1, with a characteristic circular-shaped surface profile comprising partially dissolved second phase particles in the continuous phase across the incident plane of the deformed specimen. The regions surrounding the site showed little or no change in the size of particles. However, the constituent coarse particles were observed as agglomerations of fractured pieces, thus having a shape factor different from those contained in the as-received alloy. Since the investigated alloy is a choice material for military application where it can be exposed to massive deformation at high strain rates, this study provides information on its microstructural and mechanical responses to such extreme loading condition.

QRS peak detection for heart rate monitoring on Android smartphone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pambudi Utomo, Trio; Nuryani, Nuryani; Darmanto

2017-11-01

In this study, Android smartphone is used for heart rate monitoring and displaying electrocardiogram (ECG) graph. Heart rate determination is based on QRS peak detection. Two methods are studied to detect the QRS complex peak; they are Peak Threshold and Peak Filter. The acquisition of ECG data is utilized by AD8232 module from Analog Devices, three electrodes, and Microcontroller Arduino UNO R3. To record the ECG data from a patient, three electrodes are attached to particular body’s surface of a patient. Patient’s heart activity which is recorded by AD8232 module is decoded by Arduino UNO R3 into analog data. Then, the analog data is converted into a voltage value (mV) and is processed to get the QRS complex peak. Heart rate value is calculated by Microcontroller Arduino UNO R3 uses the QRS complex peak. Voltage, heart rate, and the QRS complex peak are sent to Android smartphone by Bluetooth HC-05. ECG data is displayed as the graph by Android smartphone. To evaluate the performance of QRS complex peak detection method, three parameters are used; they are positive predictive, accuracy and sensitivity. Positive predictive, accuracy, and sensitivity of Peak Threshold method is 92.39%, 70.30%, 74.62% and for Peak Filter method are 98.38%, 82.47%, 83.61%, respectively.

Method and apparatus for electrospark deposition

DOEpatents

Bailey, Jeffrey A.; Johnson, Roger N.; Park, Walter R.; Munley, John T.

2004-12-28

A method and apparatus for controlling electrospark deposition (ESD) comprises using electrical variable waveforms from the ESD process as a feedback parameter. The method comprises measuring a plurality of peak amplitudes from a series of electrical energy pulses delivered to an electrode tip. The maximum peak value from among the plurality of peak amplitudes correlates to the contact force between the electrode tip and a workpiece. The method further comprises comparing the maximum peak value to a set point to determine an offset and optimizing the contact force according to the value of the offset. The apparatus comprises an electrode tip connected to an electrical energy wave generator and an electrical signal sensor, which connects to a high-speed data acquisition card. An actuator provides relative motion between the electrode tip and a workpiece by receiving a feedback drive signal from a processor that is operably connected to the actuator and the high-speed data acquisition card.

Resonant tunneling with high peak to valley current ratio in SiO{sub 2}/nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} multi-layers at room temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, D. Y., E-mail: cdy7659@126.com; Nanjing University of posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210046; Sun, Y.

We have investigated carrier transport in SiO{sub 2}/nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} multi-layers by room temperature current-voltage measurements. Resonant tunneling signatures accompanied by current peaks are observed. Carrier transport in the multi-layers were analyzed by plots of ln(I/V{sup 2}) as a function of 1/V and ln(I) as a function of V{sup 1/2}. Results suggest that besides films quality, nc-Si and barrier sub-layer thicknesses are important parameters that restrict carrier transport. When thicknesses are both small, direct tunneling dominates carrier transport, resonant tunneling occurs only at certain voltages and multi-resonant tunneling related current peaks can be observed but with peak to valley current ratiomore » (PVCR) values smaller than 1.5. When barrier thickness is increased, trap-related and even high field related tunneling is excited, causing that multi-current peaks cannot be observed clearly, only one current peak with higher PVCR value of 7.7 can be observed. While if the thickness of nc-Si is large enough, quantum confinement is not so strong, a broad current peak with PVCR value as high as 60 can be measured, which may be due to small energy difference between the splitting energy levels in the quantum dots of nc-Si. Size distribution in a wide range may cause un-controllability of the peak voltages.« less

A Biomechanical Analysis of the Effects of Bouncing the Barbell in the Conventional Deadlift.

PubMed

Krajewski, Kellen; LeFavi, Robert; Riemann, Bryan

2018-02-27

The purpose of this study is to analyze biomechanical differences between the bounce and pause styles of deadlifting. Twenty physically active males performed deadlifts at their 75% one repetition maximum testing utilizing both pause and bounce techniques in a within-subjects randomized study design. The average peak height the barbell attained from the three bounce style repetitions was used to compute a compatible phase for analysis of the pause style repetitions. Net joint moment impulse (NJMI), work, average vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), vGRF impulse and phase time were computed for two phases, lift off to peak barbell height and the entire ascent. Additionally, the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk angles at the location of peak barbell height. During the lift off to peak barbell height phase, although each of the joints demonstrated significantly less NJMI and work during the bounce style, the hip joint was impacted the most. The average vGRF was greater for the bounce however the vGRF impulse was greater for the pause. The NJMI results for the ascent phase were similar to the lift off to peak barbell height phase, while work was significantly less for the bounce condition compared to the pause condition across all three joints. Strength and conditioning specialists utilizing the deadlift should be aware that the bounce technique does not allow the athlete to develop maximal force production in the early portion of the lift. Further analyses should focus on joint angles and potential vulnerability to injury when the barbell momentum generated from the bounce is lost.

Strategies for skeletal health in the elderly.

PubMed

Eastell, Richard; Lambert, Helen

2002-05-01

Osteoporosis is a common disease in the elderly, and the fractures that result from this disorder affect 40 % of women and 14 % of men over the age of 50 years. The risk of fracture relates to bone mineral density and the risk of falling, among other factors. Low bone mineral density in the elderly can result from either low peak bone mass or accelerated bone loss, or a combination of the two. Nutritional factors play a role in both the attainment of peak bone mass and in the rate of age-related bone loss. The main determinants of peak bone mass are genetic factors, early-life nutrition, diet and exercise. Of the nutritional factors Ca, and particularly milk, are the most important contributors to peak bone mass. Some of these factors may interact; for example, a low dietary Ca in addition to an unfavourable vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism may result in low peak bone mass. The age-related changes in bone mass may also have a genetic basis, but deficiency of oestrogen is a major contributor. In addition, undernutrition is common in the elderly, and lack of dietary protein contributes both to impaired bone mineral conservation and increased propensity to fall. There is a decreased ability of the intestine to adapt to a low-Ca diet with increasing age. Other dietary factors include vitamin K, Zn and fruit and vegetables. Adequate nutritional status, particularly of Ca and vitamin D, is essential for the successful pharmaceutical treatment of osteoporosis. Thus, strategies for enhancing skeletal health in the elderly must begin in early childhood, and continue throughout life.

Reinterpreting the Authority of Heads: Making Space for Values-Led School Improvement with the "Index for Inclusion"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higham, Rupert; Booth, Tony

2018-01-01

To what extent can heads use an inclusive values-led approach to school development in the face of pressures from Ofsted and their Local Authority to focus almost exclusively on attainment outcomes? We explore leadership of school improvement in a qualitative study of 10 head teachers in the English county of "Preshire," who worked with…

Stable oxygen isotope variability in two contrasting glacier river catchments in Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yde, Jacob C.; Knudsen, Niels T.; Steffensen, Jørgen P.; Carrivick, Jonathan L.; Hasholt, Bent; Ingeman-Nielsen, Thomas; Kronborg, Christian; Larsen, Nicolaj K.; Mernild, Sebastian H.; Oerter, Hans; Roberts, David H.; Russell, Andrew J.

2016-03-01

Analysis of stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) characteristics is a useful tool to investigate water provenance in glacier river systems. In order to attain knowledge on the diversity of δ18O variations in Greenlandic rivers, we examined two contrasting glacierised catchments disconnected from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). At the Mittivakkat Gletscher river, a small river draining a local temperate glacier in southeast Greenland, diurnal oscillations in δ18O occurred with a 3 h time lag to the diurnal oscillations in run-off. The mean annual δ18O was -14.68 ± 0.18 ‰ during the peak flow period. A hydrograph separation analysis revealed that the ice melt component constituted 82 ± 5 % of the total run-off and dominated the observed variations during peak flow in August 2004. The snowmelt component peaked between 10:00 and 13:00 local time, reflecting the long travel time and an inefficient distributed subglacial drainage network in the upper part of the glacier. At the Kuannersuit Glacier river on the island Qeqertarsuaq in west Greenland, the δ18O characteristics were examined after the major 1995-1998 glacier surge event. The mean annual δ18O was -19.47 ± 0.55 ‰. Despite large spatial variations in the δ18O values of glacier ice on the newly formed glacier tongue, there were no diurnal oscillations in the bulk meltwater emanating from the glacier in the post-surge years. This is likely a consequence of a tortuous subglacial drainage system consisting of linked cavities, which formed during the surge event. Overall, a comparison of the δ18O compositions from glacial river water in Greenland shows distinct differences between water draining local glaciers and ice caps (between -23.0 and -13.7 ‰) and the GrIS (between -29.9 and -23.2 ‰). This study demonstrates that water isotope analyses can be used to obtain important information on water sources and the subglacial drainage system structure that is highly desired for understanding glacier hydrology.

Characteristics and Trends of River Discharge into Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays, 1964-2000.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Déry, Stephen J.; Stieglitz, Marc; McKenna, Edward C.; Wood, Eric F.

2005-07-01

The characteristics and trends of observed river discharge into the Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays (HJUBs) for the period 1964-2000 are investigated. Forty-two rivers with outlets into these bays contribute on average 714 km3 yr-1 [= 0.023 Sv (1 Sv 106 m3s-1)] of freshwater to high-latitude oceans. For the system as a whole, discharge attains an annual peak of 4.2 km3 day-1 on average in mid-June, whereas the minimum of 0.68 km3 day-1 occurs on average during the last week of March. The Nelson River contributes as much as 34% of the daily discharge for the entire system during winter but diminishes in relative importance during spring and summer. Runoff rates per contributing area are highest (lowest) on the eastern (western) shores of the Hudson and James Bays. Linear trend analyses reveal decreasing discharge over the 37-yr period in 36 out of the 42 rivers. By 2000, the total annual freshwater discharge into HJUBs diminished by 96 km3 (-13%) from its value in 1964, equivalent to a reduction of 0.003 Sv. The annual peak discharge rate associated with snowmelt has advanced by 8 days between 1964 and 2000 and has diminished by 0.036 km3 day-1 in intensity. There is a direct correlation between the timing of peak spring discharge rates and the latitude of a river's mouth; the spring freshet varies by 5 days for each degree of latitude. Continental snowmelt induces a seasonal pulse of freshwater from HJUBs that is tracked along its path into the Labrador Current. It is suggested that the annual upper-ocean salinity minimum observed on the inner Newfoundland Shelf can be explained by freshwater pulses composed of meltwater from three successive winter seasons in the river basins draining into HJUBs. A gradual salinization of the upper ocean during summer over the period 1966-94 on the inner Newfoundland Shelf is in accord with a decadal trend of a diminishing intensity in the continental meltwater pulses.

Physiological Responses in Relation to Performance during Competition in Elite Synchronized Swimmers

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Zamora, Lara; Iglesias, Xavier; Barrero, Anna; Chaverri, Diego; Erola, Pau; Rodríguez, Ferran A.

2012-01-01

Purpose We aimed to characterize the cardiovascular, lactate and perceived exertion responses in relation to performance during competition in junior and senior elite synchronized swimmers. Methods 34 high level senior (21.4±3.6 years) and junior (15.9±1.0) synchronized swimmers were monitored while performing a total of 96 routines during an official national championship in the technical and free solo, duet and team competitive programs. Heart rate was continuously monitored. Peak blood lactate was obtained from serial capillary samples during recovery. Post-exercise rate of perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg CR-10 scale. Total competition scores were obtained from official records. Results Data collection was complete in 54 cases. Pre-exercise mean heart rate (beats·min−1) was 129.1±13.1, and quickly increased during the exercise to attain mean peak values of 191.7±8.7, with interspersed bradycardic events down to 88.8±28.5. Mean peak blood lactate (mmol·L−1) was highest in the free solo (8.5±1.8) and free duet (7.6±1.8) and lowest at the free team (6.2±1.9). Mean RPE (0–10+) was higher in juniors (7.8±0.9) than in seniors (7.1±1.4). Multivariate analysis revealed that heart rate before and minimum heart rate during the routine predicted 26% of variability in final total score. Conclusions Cardiovascular responses during competition are characterized by intense anticipatory pre-activation and rapidly developing tachycardia up to maximal levels with interspersed periods of marked bradycardia during the exercise bouts performed in apnea. Moderate blood lactate accumulation suggests an adaptive metabolic response as a result of the specific training adaptations attributed to influence of the diving response in synchronized swimmers. Competitive routines are perceived as very to extremely intense, particularly in the free solo and duets. The magnitude of anticipatory heart rate activation and bradycardic response appear to be related to performance variability. PMID:23155452

Effect of Retention in Elementary Grades on Grade 9 Motivation for Educational Attainment

PubMed Central

Cham, Heining; Hughes, Jan N.; West, Stephen G.; Im, Myung Hee

2014-01-01

This study investigated the effect of grade retention in elementary school on students’ motivation for educational attainment in grade 9. We equated retained and promoted students on 67 covariates assessed in grade 1 through propensity score weighting. Retained students (31.55%, nretained = 177) and continuously promoted students (68.45%, npromoted = 384) were compared on the bifactor model of motivation for educational attainment (Cham, Hughes, West, & Im, 2014). This model consists of a General factor (student’s overall motivation for educational attainment), and three specific factors: student perceived Teacher Educational Expectations, Peer Educational Aspirations, and Value of Education. Measurement invariance between retained and promoted groups was established. Retained students scored significantly higher than promoted students on each specific factor but not on the General factor. Results showed that the retained and promoted students did not significantly differ on the General factor. The retained students had significantly higher scores on each specific factor than the promoted students. The results suggested that grade retention may not have the negative effects so widely assumed in the published literature; it is an expensive intervention with minimal evidence of benefits to the retained student. PMID:25636258

Steroid hormone profile of Markhoz does (Iranian Angora) throughout estrous cycle and gestation period.

PubMed

Talebi, Javad; Moghaddam, Aliasghar; Souri, Manocher; Mirmahmoudi, Rouhollah

2012-02-01

The present study aims were to determine the profiles of changes in progesterone (P4) and 17-β-estradiol (E2) in the peripheral blood of Markhoz goat (Iranian Angora) during estrous cycle, gestation, and parturition throughout natural breeding season. Gestation length averaged 145.3 ± 0.8 days, and the litter size was 1.1 ± 0.1. Birth weight ranged 2.4-2.8 and 1.5-2.5 kg in male and female kids, respectively. The mean estrous cycle lengths were 20.3 ± 0.4 and 20.9 ± 0.4 days for PGF(2α)-induced and natural cycles, respectively. Blood sampling was carried out daily during estrous cycle and weekly during gestation till parturition. E2 attained higher level (24.7 ± 2.15 pg mL(-1)) at estrus phase and dropped down to the lower level (18.80 ± 1.16 pg mL(-1)) within 3 to 4 days post-estrus. Concomitantly, P4 started to increase from the mean basal value of 0.5 ± 0.03 ng mL(-1) on day 0 to 6.88 ± 0.95 ng mL(-1) on day 6 of estrous cycle and reached the peak value of 12.8 ± 0.61 ng mL(-1) on day 12. From day 15, a decline was observed in P4 values till the end of the cycle. P4 remained at lower concentrations for 20-50 days of gestation, then increased and reached to its maximum level (13.51 ± 0.279 ng mL(-1)) in week 15 and returned again to its basal values within 1-2 weeks before parturition. The results will be discussed in terms of the usage of steroid hormone profile in several assisted reproductive technologies.

Evaluation of peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument with an adapter for use in animals.

PubMed

Duarte, Felipe Coutinho Kullmann; Kolberg, Carolina; Barros, Rodrigo R; Silva, Vivian G A; Gehlen, Günter; Vassoler, Jakson M; Partata, Wania A

2014-05-01

This study was designed to assess the peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument, the Activator Adjusting Instrument 4 (AAI 4), with an adapter for use in animals, which has a 3- to 4-fold smaller contact surface area than the original rubber tip. Peak force was determined by thrusting the AAI 4 with the adapter or the original rubber tip onto a load cell. First, the AAI 4 was applied perpendicularly by a doctor of chiropractic onto the load cell. Then, the AAI 4 was fixed in a rigid framework and applied to the load cell. This procedure was done to prevent any load on the load cell before the thrust impulse. In 2 situations, trials were performed with the AAI 4 at all force settings (settings I, II, III, and IV, minimum to maximum, respectively). A total of 50000 samples per second over a period of 3 seconds were collected. In 2 experimental protocols, the use of the adapter in the AAI 4 increased the peak force only with setting I. The new value was around 80% of the maximum value found for the AAI 4. Nevertheless, the peak force values of the AAI 4 with the adapter and with the original rubber tip in setting IV were similar. The adapter effectively determines the maximum peak force value at force setting I of AAI 4. Copyright © 2014 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Factors affecting the bioavailability of soy isoflavones in humans after ingestion of physiologically relevant levels from different soy foods.

PubMed

Cassidy, Aedin; Brown, Jonathan E; Hawdon, Anne; Faughnan, Marian S; King, Laurence J; Millward, Joe; Zimmer-Nechemias, Linda; Wolfe, Brian; Setchell, Kenneth D R

2006-01-01

The precise role that isoflavones play in the health-related effects of soy foods, and their potential for adverse effects are controversial. This may be due in part to a lack of basic knowledge regarding their bioavailability and metabolism, particularly as it relates to the soy source. To date, there is little information concerning possible differences in the bioavailability of isoflavones derived from natural soy foods consumed at physiologically relevant intakes and whether age- or gender-related differences influence that bioavailability. In the current study of healthy adults [premenopausal (n = 21) and postmenopausal (n = 17) women and a group of men (n = 21)], we examined the effect of age, gender, and the food matrix on the bioavailability of isoflavones for both the aglycon and glucoside forms that are naturally present in 3 different soy foods, soy milk, textured vegetable protein, and tempeh. The study was designed as a random crossover trial so that all individuals received each of the 3 foods. The dose of isoflavones administered to each individual as a single bolus dose was 0.44 mg/kg body weight. Pharmacokinetic parameters were normalized to mg of each isoflavone ingested per kilogram body weight to account for differences in daidzein and genistein content between the diets. Serum isoflavone concentrations in all individuals and groups increased rapidly after the ingestion of each soy food; as expected, genistein concentrations exceeded daidzein concentrations in serum. In this small study, gender differences in peak concentrations of daidzein were observed, with higher levels attained in women. Consumption of tempeh (mainly isoflavone aglycon) resulted in higher serum peak levels of both daidzein (P < 0.001) and genistein (P < 0.01) and the associated area under the curve (P < 0.001 and P < 0.03, respectively) compared with textured vegetable protein (predominantly isoflavone glucosides). However, soy milk was absorbed faster and peak levels of isoflavones were attained earlier than with the other soy foods. Only 30% of the subjects were equol producers and no differences in equol production with age or gender were observed.

Data Dependent Peak Model Based Spectrum Deconvolution for Analysis of High Resolution LC-MS Data

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

A data dependent peak model (DDPM) based spectrum deconvolution method was developed for analysis of high resolution LC-MS data. To construct the selected ion chromatogram (XIC), a clustering method, the density based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), is applied to all m/z values of an LC-MS data set to group the m/z values into each XIC. The DBSCAN constructs XICs without the need for a user defined m/z variation window. After the XIC construction, the peaks of molecular ions in each XIC are detected using both the first and the second derivative tests, followed by an optimized chromatographic peak model selection method for peak deconvolution. A total of six chromatographic peak models are considered, including Gaussian, log-normal, Poisson, gamma, exponentially modified Gaussian, and hybrid of exponential and Gaussian models. The abundant nonoverlapping peaks are chosen to find the optimal peak models that are both data- and retention-time-dependent. Analysis of 18 spiked-in LC-MS data demonstrates that the proposed DDPM spectrum deconvolution method outperforms the traditional method. On average, the DDPM approach not only detected 58 more chromatographic peaks from each of the testing LC-MS data but also improved the retention time and peak area 3% and 6%, respectively. PMID:24533635

Value as a parameter to consider in operational strategies for CSP plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Meyer, Oelof; Dinter, Frank; Govender, Saneshan

2017-06-01

This paper introduced a value parameter to consider when analyzing operational strategies for CSP plants. The electric system in South Africa, used as case study, is severely constrained with an influx of renewables in the early phase of deployment. The energy demand curve for the system is analyzed showing the total wind and solar photovoltaic contributions for winter and summer. Due to the intermittent nature and meteorological operating conditions of wind and solar photovoltaic plants, the value of CSP plants within the electric system is introduced. Analyzing CSP plants based on the value parameter alone will remain only a philosophical view. Currently there is no quantifiable measure to translate the philosophical view or subjective value and it solely remains the position of the stakeholder. By introducing three other parameters, Cost, Plant and System to a holistic representation of the Operating Strategies of generation plants, the Value parameter can be translated into a quantifiable measure. Utilizing the country's current procurement program as case study, CSP operating under the various PPA within the Bid Windows are analyzed. The Value Cost Plant System diagram developed is used to quantify the value parameter. This paper concluded that no value is obtained from CSP plants operating under the Bid Window 1 & 2 Power Purchase Agreement. However, by recognizing the dispatchability potential of CSP plants in Bid Window 3 & 3.5, the value of CSP in the electric system can be quantified utilizing Value Added Relationship VCPS-diagram. Similarly ancillary services to the system were analyzed. One of the relationships that have not yet been explored within the industry is an interdependent relationship. It was emphasized that the cost and value structure is shared between the plant and system. Although this relationship is functional when the plant and system belongs to the same entity, additional value is achieved by marginalizing the cost structure. A tradeoff between the plant performance indicators and system operations are achieved. CSP plants have demonstrated its capabilities by adapting to various operating strategies. With adequate storage capabilities and appropriate system boundary conditions in place, CSP plants offer solutions as base-load generation plants, peaking plants, intermittent generation and ancillary services to the system. Depending on the electric system structure, the value obtained from CSP plants are quantifiable under the right boundary conditions. An interdependent relationship between the plant and system attains the most value in operating strategies for CSP.

On an Aerodynamic Mechanism to Enhance Ion Transmission and Sensitivity of FAIMS for Nano-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasad, Satendra; Belford, Michael W.; Dunyach, Jean-Jacques; Purves, Randy W.

2014-12-01

Simulations show that significant ion losses occur within the commercial electrospray ionization-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer (ESI-FAIMS) interface owing to an angular desolvation gas flow and because of the impact of the FAIMS carrier gas onto the inner rf (radio frequency) electrode. The angular desolvation gas flow diverts ions away from the entrance plate orifice while the carrier gas annihilates ions onto the inner rf electrode. A novel ESI-FAIMS interface is described that optimizes FAIMS gas flows resulting in large improvements in transmission. Simulations with the bromochloroacetate anion showed an improvement of ~9-fold to give ~70% overall transmission). Comparable transmission improvements were attained experimentally for six peptides (2+) in the range of m/z 404.2 to 653.4 at a chromatographic flow rate of 300 nL/min. Selected ion chromatograms (SIC) from nano-LC-FAIMS-MS analyses showed 71% (HLVDEPQNLIK, m/z 653.4, 2+) to 95% (LVNELTEFAK, m/z 582.3, 2+) of ion signal compared with ion signal in the SIC from LC-MS analysis. IGSEVYHNLK (580.3, 2+) showed 24% more ion signal compared with LC-MS and is explained by enhanced desolvation in FAIMS. A 3-10 times lower limits of quantitation (LOQ) (<15% RSD) was achieved for chemical noise limited peaks with FAIMS. Peaks limited by ion statistics showed subtle improvement in RSD and yielded comparable LOQ to that attained with nano-LC-MS (without FAIMS). These improvements were obtained using a reduced FAIMS separation gap (from 2.5 to 1.5 mm) that results in a shorter residence time (13.2 ms ± 3.9 ms) and enables the use of a helium free transport gas (100% nitrogen).

Modeling of postural stability borders during heel-toe rocking.

PubMed

Murnaghan, Chantelle D; Elston, Beth; Mackey, Dawn C; Robinovitch, Stephen N

2009-08-01

To maintain balance during movements such as bending and reaching, the CNS must generate muscle forces to counteract destabilizing torques produced by gravitational (position-dependent) and inertial (acceleration-dependent) forces. This may create a trade-off between the attainable frequency and amplitude of movements. We used experiments and mathematical modeling to examine this relationship during the task of heel-toe rocking. During the experiments, participants (n=15) rocked about the ankles in the sagittal plane with maximum attainable amplitude at a frequency of 0.33 Hz or 0.66 Hz. As the frequency doubled, the maximum anterior position of the whole-body centre-of-gravity (COG) with respect to the ankle decreased by 11% of foot length (from 11.9 cm (S.D. 1.6) to 9.2 cm (S.D. 1.2); p<0.001), the minimum anterior position of the COG increased by 8% of foot length (from 1.6 cm to 3.5 cm in front on the ankle; p<0.0005), and the ankle stiffness increased from 787 Nm/rad (S.D. 156) to 1625 Nm/rad (S.D. 339). However, there was no difference between conditions in the maximum anterior position of the COP (p=0.51), the minimum anterior position of the COP (p=0.23), or the peak ankle torque (p=0.39). An inverted pendulum model driven by a rotational spring predicted the measured ankle stiffness to within 0.9% (S.D. 6.8), and the maximum anterior COG position to within 1.2% (S.D. 4.0). These results indicate that COG amplitude decreases with increasing rocking frequency, due to (a) invariability in peak ankle torque and (b) the need to allocate torque between gravitational and inertial components, the latter of which scales with the square of frequency.

Reported Nonadherence to Immunosuppressive Medication in Young Adults After Heart Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis of a National Registry.

PubMed

Tumin, Dmitry; McConnell, Patrick I; Galantowicz, Mark; Tobias, Joseph D; Hayes, Don

2017-02-01

Young adult heart transplantation (HTx) recipients experience high mortality risk attributed to increased nonadherence to immunosuppressive medication in this age window. This study sought to test whether a high-risk age window in HTx recipients persisted in the absence of reported nonadherence. Heart transplantation recipients aged 2 to 40 years, transplanted between October 1999 and January 2007, were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Multivariable survival analysis was used to estimate influences of age at transplantation and attained posttransplant age on mortality hazard among patients stratified by center report of nonadherence to immunosuppression that compromised recovery. Three thousand eighty-one HTx recipients were included, with univariate analysis demonstrating peak hazards of mortality and reported nonadherence among 567 patients transplanted between ages 17 and 24 years. Multivariable analysis adjusting for reported nonadherence demonstrated lower mortality among patients transplanted at younger (hazards ratio, 0.813; 95% confidence interval, 0.663-0.997; P = 0.047) or older (hazards ratio, 0.835; 95% confidence interval, 0.701-0.994; P = 0.042) ages. Peak mortality hazard at ages 17 to 24 years was confirmed in the subgroup of patients with no nonadherence reported during follow-up. This result was replicated using attained age after HTx as the time metric, with younger and older ages predicting improved survival in the absence of reported nonadherence. Late adolescence and young adulthood coincide with greater mortality hazard and greater chances of nonadherence to immunosuppressive medication after HTx, but the elevation of mortality hazard in this age range persists in the absence of reported nonadherence. Other causes of the high-risk age window for post-HTx mortality should be demonstrated to identify opportunities for intervention.

4D cone-beam CT imaging for guidance in radiation therapy: setup verification by use of implanted fiducial markers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Peng; van Wieringen, Niek; Hulshof, Maarten C. C. M.; Bel, Arjan; Alderliesten, Tanja

2016-03-01

The use of 4D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and fiducial markers for guidance during radiation therapy of mobile tumors is challenging due to the trade-off between image quality, imaging dose, and scanning time. We aimed to investigate the visibility of markers and the feasibility of marker-based 4D registration and manual respiration-induced marker motion quantification for different CBCT acquisition settings. A dynamic thorax phantom and a patient with implanted gold markers were included. For both the phantom and patient, the peak-to-peak amplitude of marker motion in the cranial-caudal direction ranged from 5.3 to 14.0 mm, which did not affect the marker visibility and the associated marker-based registration feasibility. While using a medium field of view (FOV) and the same total imaging dose as is applied for 3D CBCT scanning in our clinic, it was feasible to attain an improved marker visibility by reducing the imaging dose per projection and increasing the number of projection images. For a small FOV with a shorter rotation arc but similar total imaging dose, streak artifacts were reduced due to using a smaller sampling angle. Additionally, the use of a small FOV allowed reducing total imaging dose and scanning time (~2.5 min) without losing the marker visibility. In conclusion, by using 4D CBCT with identical or lower imaging dose and a reduced gantry speed, it is feasible to attain sufficient marker visibility for marker-based 4D setup verification. Moreover, regardless of the settings, manual marker motion quantification can achieve a high accuracy with the error <1.2 mm.

Reward Value Effects on Timing in the Peak Procedure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galtress, Tiffany; Kirkpatrick, Kimberly

2009-01-01

Three experiments examined the effect of motivational variables on timing in the peak procedure. In Experiment 1, rats received a 60-s peak procedure that was coupled with long-term, between-phase changes in reinforcer magnitude. Increases in reinforcer magnitude produced a leftward shift in the peak that persisted for 20 sessions of training. In…

[Study on Hydrothermal Preparation and Luminescence Properties of Luminescent Material BaSrMg(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺].

PubMed

Hu, Qing-song; Zhu, Cheng-jing; Xia, Yue-yi; Wang, Li-li; Liu, Wen-han; Pan, Zai-fa

2016-02-01

Eu³⁺ doped BaSrMg (PO₄)₂ were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The crystal structure and morphology of BaSrMg(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The effects of different pH values (5, 6, 7 and 8) and different reaction temperatures (120, 140, 160, 180 and 200 °C) on the crystal structure and morphology of BaSrMg(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor were studied in this paper. The results of XRD indicate that diffraction peaks are sharp and strong only when pH value is 6, meanwhile the FESEM shows the morphology is regular-shaped. The XRD patterns show amorphous halos superimposed with several weak sharp peaks for the samples preparing under the pH values of 5, 7 and 8. It indicates that these three samples are solid solution or mixed phases, which are in accord with the results of FESEM. From the fluorescence spectra, the peaks in the excitation spectra were assigned to the transition from ⁷F₀ to ⁵D₄, ⁵L₈, ⁵L₆ and ⁵D₂, while the peaks of emission spectra corresponding to the transition of ⁵D₁ --> ⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀-->⁷Fj (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). The strongest emission peak of the optimized phosphor located at 613 nm (⁵D0--> ⁷F₂), excited by the main excitation peak with wavelength of 394 nm. The splitting of the emission peaks changes depends on pH values and temperatures, which indicating that luminescence properties is closely related to the crystal structure and morphology of particles.

Foot loading with an ankle-foot orthosis: the accuracy of an integrated physical strain trainer.

PubMed

Pauser, Johannes; Jendrissek, Andreas; Brem, Matthias; Gelse, Kolja; Swoboda, Bernd; Carl, Hans-Dieter

2012-07-01

To investigate the value of a built-in physical strain trainer for the monitoring of partial weight bearing with an ankle-foot orthosis. 12 healthy volunteers were asked to perform three trials. Plantar peak pressure values from normal gait (trial one) were defined as 100% (baseline). The following trials were performed with the Vacoped® dynamic vacuum ankle orthosis worn in a neutral position with full weight bearing (trial two) and a restriction to 10% body weight (BW) (trial three), as monitored with an integrated physical strain trainer. Peak plantar pressure values were obtained using the pedar® X system. Peak pressure values were statistically significantly reduced wearing the Vacoped® shoe with full weight bearing for the hindfoot to 68% of the baseline (normal gait) and for the midfoot and forefoot to 83% and 60%, respectively. Limited weight bearing with 10% BW as controlled by physical strain trainer further reduced plantar peak pressure values for the hindfoot to 19%, for the midfoot to 43% of the baseline and the forefoot to 22% of the baseline. The Vacoped® vacuum ankle orthosis significantly reduces plantar peak pressure. The integrated physical strain trainer seems unsuitable to monitor a limitation to 10% BW adequately for the total foot. The concept of controlling partial weight bearing with the hindfoot-addressing device within the orthosis seems debatable but may be useful when the hindfoot in particular must be off-loaded.

Discharge mode transition and temporal-spatial evolution of an air-water plasma jet generated by pulsating DC power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, J.; Geng, Y.; Liu, K.; Zhu, W.; Zheng, Z.; Hu, H.

2017-12-01

In this paper, pulsating direct current air-water plasma jet, which can increase the production of •OH and decrease the temperature, is studied. The results show that the discharge mode changes in one cycle from corona discharge with steep Trichel current pulse to glow-like discharge. It is unknown whether the different discharge modes and water ratio have an effect on the transient process of the excited O and •OH production and the mechanism of plasma propagation. So, a series of experiments are done in this paper. The results show that the changing rules of both the excited state O and the discharge current reach their two peak values synchronously. And its maximum appears at the time of the first peak current value in corona mode. However, the change of the excited state •OH is different. It increases to its maximum at the time of the second peak current value in glow-like mode. Besides, the intensified charge coupled device photographs show that the luminous intensity of the discharge zone at the first peak current value in corona mode is stronger than the second peak current value in glow-like mode. At the same time, the discharge area of the former is larger than the latter. Nevertheless, with the increase in water ratio, the discharge area change reversed. Additionally, the air plasma plume propagation depends on the gas flow. The initial propagation velocity decreases with the increase in water ratio.

Frequency response of the USGS short period telemetered seismic system and its suitability for network studies of local earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eaton, Jerry P.

1977-01-01

The USGS telemetered seismic system was intended primarily to record small to moderate earthquakes (magnitude 0 to 4) at distances of a few km to several hundred km. Its frequency response is such that the recorded background noise at a moderately quite Coast Range site has a relatively flat 'record' spectrum from about 1/3 Hz to about 20 Hz. With the system magnification set so that the background noise is clearly recorded (about 1 mm peak-to-peak) one can anticipate that any seismic signal that exceeds background noise appreciably in this spectral region will be large enough to be seen on the seismogram. This response represents the highest sensitivity and broadest bandwidth that we were able to attain with a 1-Hz seismometer, a simple amplifier VCO employing very low-power integrated circuits, and an 8-channel constant-bandwidth FM subcarrier multiplex system for use with commercial voice-grade phone lines.

Acute mountain sickness, antacids, and ventilation during rapid, active ascent of Mount Rainier.

PubMed

Roach, R C; Larson, E B; Hornbein, T F; Houston, C S; Bartlett, S; Hardesty, J; Johnson, D; Perkins, M

1983-05-01

A double-blind randomized study of 45 climbers on Mt. Rainier was conducted to test the effectiveness of antacids in preventing acute mountain sickness. All 45 climbed to 3353 m, and 31 continued to the summit. Ten climbers listed acute mountain sickness as the reason for not attaining the summit. Of symptoms monitored throughout the climb, neither headache, nausea, dizziness, pounding heart, nor shortness of breath differed in severity between antacid-treated and placebo-treated groups. In both groups vital capacity decreased significantly with ascent (p less than 0.05), while peak flow (p less than 0.005) and minute ventilation (p less than 0.001) increased significantly. The 7 climbers with the most severe AMS symptom scores above 4000 m had significantly lower peak flow at sea level prior to ascent compared with the other 25 climbers who completed sea level tests (p less than 0.005). The results of this study fail to document efficacy for antacid use for the prevention of acute mountain sickness.

EVALUATION OF RIGHT AND LEFT VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FILLING

PubMed Central

Pasipoularides, Ares

2013-01-01

A conceptual fluid-dynamics framework for diastolic filling is developed. The convective deceleration load (CDL) is identified as an important determinant of ventricular inflow during the E-wave (A-wave) upstroke. Convective deceleration occurs as blood moves from the inflow anulus through larger-area cross-sections toward the expanding walls. Chamber dilatation underlies previously unrecognized alterations in intraventricular flow dynamics. The larger the chamber, the larger become the endocardial surface and the CDL. CDL magnitude affects strongly the attainable E-wave (A-wave) peak. This underlies the concept of diastolic ventriculoannular disproportion. Large vortices, whose strength decreases with chamber dilatation, ensue after the E-wave peak and impound inflow kinetic energy, averting an inflow-impeding, convective Bernoulli pressure-rise. This reduces the CDL by a variable extent depending on vortical intensity. Accordingly, the filling vortex facilitates filling to varying degrees, depending on chamber volume. The new framework provides stimulus for functional genomics research, aimed at new insights into ventricular remodeling. PMID:23585308

Kinematic effects of inertia and friction added by a robotic knee exoskeleton after prolonged walking.

PubMed

Shirota, C; Tucker, M R; Lambercy, O; Gassert, R

2017-07-01

The capabilities of robotic gait assistive devices are ever increasing; however, their adoption outside of the lab is still limited. A critical barrier for the functionality of these devices are the still unknown mechanical properties of the human leg during dynamic conditions such as walking. We built a robotic knee exoskeleton to address this problem. Here, we present the effects of our device on the walking pattern of four subjects. We assessed the effects after a short period of acclimation as well as after a 1.5h walking protocol. We found that the knee exoskeleton decreased (towards extension) the peak hip extension and peak knee flexion of the leg with the exoskeleton, while minimally affecting the non-exoskeleton leg. Comparatively smaller changes occurred after prolonged walking. These results suggest that walking patterns attained after a few minutes of acclimation with a knee exoskeleton are stable for at least a couple of hours.

Superconducting traveling wave accelerators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farkas, Z.D.

1984-11-01

This note considers the applicability of superconductivity to traveling wave accelerators. Unlike CW operation of a superconducting standing wave or circulating wave accelerator section, which requires improvement factors (superconductor conductivity divided by copper conductivity) of about 10/sup 6/ in order to be of practical use, a SUperconducting TRaveling wave Accelerator, SUTRA, operating in the pulsed mode requires improvement factors as low as about 10/sup 3/, which are attainable with niobium or lead at 4.2K, the temperature of liquid helium at atmospheric pressure. Changing from a copper traveling wave accelerator to SUTRA achieves the following. (1) For a given gradient SUTRAmore » reduces the peak and average power requirements typically by a factor of 2. (2) SUTRA reduces the peak power still further because it enables us to increase the filling time and thus trade pulse width for gradient. (3) SUTRA makes possible a reasonably long section at higher frequencies. (4) SUTRA makes possible recirculation without additional rf average power. 8 references, 6 figures, 1 table.« less

A low power and low phase-noise 91 96 GHz VCO in 90 nm CMOS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Yo-Sheng; Lan, Kai-Siang; Chuang, Ming-Yuan; Lin, Yu-Ching

2018-06-01

This paper reports a 94 GHz CMOS voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using both the negative capacitance (NC) technique and series-peaking output power and phase noise (PN) enhancement technique. NC is achieved by adding two variable LC networks to the source nodes of the active circuit of the VCO. NMOSFET varicaps are adopted as the required capacitors of the LC networks. In comparison with the conventional one, the proposed active circuit substantially decreases the input capacitance (Cin) to zero or even a negative value. This leads to operation (or oscillation) frequency (OF) increase and tuning range (TR) enhancement of the VCO. The VCO dissipates 8.3 mW at 1 V supply. The measured TR of the VCO is 91 96 GHz, close to the simulated (92.1 96.7 GHz) and the calculated one (92.2 98.2 GHz). In addition, at 1 MHz offset from 95.16 GHz, the VCO attains an excellent PN of - 98.3 dBc/Hz. This leads to a figure-of-merit (FOM) of -188.5 dBc/Hz, a remarkable result for a V- or W-band CMOS VCO. The chip size of the VCO is 0.75 × 0.42 mm2, i.e. 0.315 mm2.

Comparison of parameters of bone profile and homocysteine in physically active and non-active postmenopausal females.

PubMed

Tariq, Sundus; Lone, Khalid Parvez; Tariq, Saba

2016-01-01

Optimal physical activity is important in attaining a peak bone mass. Physically active women have better bone mineral density and reduce fracture risk as compared to females living a sedentary life. The objective of this study was to compare parameters of bone profile and serum homocysteine levels in physically active and non-active postmenopausal females. In this cross sectional study postmenopausal females between 50-70 years of age were recruited and divided into two groups: Physically inactive (n=133) performing light physical activity and Physically active (n=34) performing moderate physical activity. Physical activity (in metabolic equivalents), bone mineral density and serum homocysteine levels were assessed. Spearman's rho correlation was applied to observe correlations. Two independent sample t test and Mann Whitney U test were applied to compare groups. P-value ≤ 0.05 was taken statistically significant. Parameters of bone profile were significantly higher and serum homocysteine levels were significantly lower in postmenopausal females performing moderate physical activity as compared to females performing light physical activity. Homocysteine was not significantly related to T-score and Z-score in both groups. Improving physical activity could be beneficial for improving the quality of bone, decreasing fracture risk and decreasing serum homocysteine levels.

Black Hole Spin Evolution and Cosmic Censorship

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, W.; Cui, W.; Zhang, S. N.

1999-04-01

We show that the accretion process in X-ray binaries is not likely to spin up or spin down the accreting black holes due to the short lifetime of the system or the lack of sufficient mass supply from the donor star. Therefore, the black hole mass and spin distribution we observe today also reflects that at birth and places interesting constraints on the supernova explosion models across the mass spectrum. On the other hand, it has long been puzzled that accretion from a Keplerian accretion disk with large enough mass supply might spin up the black hole to extremity, thus violate Penrose's cosmic censorship conjecture and the third law of black hole dynamics. This prompted Thorne to propose an astrophysical solution which caps the maximum attainable black hole spin to a value slightly below unity. We show that the black hole will never reach extreme Kerr state under any circumstances by accreting Keplerian angular momentum from the last stable orbit and the cosmic censorship will always be upheld. The maximum black hole spin which can be reached for a fixed, astrophysically meaningful accretion rate is, however, very close to unity, thus the peak spin rate of black holes one can hope to observe from Nature is still 0.998, the Thorne limit.

Studies on motion sickness caused by high curve speed railway vehicles. Evaluation of the swing and its effects on passengers and conductors.

PubMed

Ueno, M; Ogawa, T; Nakagiri, S; Arisawa, T; Mino, Y; Oyama, K; Kodera, R; Taniguchi, T; Kanazawa, S; Ohta, T

1986-07-01

The high curve speed railway vehicles (HCSRVs) of the Japanese National Railway have been operating since 1973 with the aim of increasing speed on ordinary routes with many curve track sections. Although the aim of increased speed has been attained, it has been pointed out that the swing of HCSRVs is stronger than that of ordinary-type trains and it may increase motion sickness among the passengers and conductors. In this study, the authors examined motion sickness symptoms among 119 passengers and 100 conductors of both trains with a self-administered questionnaire, and evaluated the vibration acceleration on the floor by using the 1/3 Octave Band Analyzer and the Fast Fourier Transform method (FFT). The results can be summarized as follows: There were more passengers and conductors suffering from motion sickness riding on HCSRVs than those on the control trains. HCSRVs had the peak values of vibration acceleration within the range of 0.5 Hz and 1 Hz at horizontal, although the control train showed them above 1.0 Hz. These results suggest that the high rates of subjective complaints of passengers and conductors riding on HCSRVs were affected by vibration acceleration of frequency lower than 1 Hz.

Unusual Physical Properties of the Chicxulub Crater Peak Ring: Results from IODP/ICDP Expedition 364

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christeson, G. L.; Gebhardt, C.; Gulick, S. P. S.; Le Ber, E.; Lofi, J.; Morgan, J. V.; Nixon, C.; Rae, A.; Schmitt, D. R.

2017-12-01

IODP/ICDP Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drilled into the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater, recovering core between 505.7 and 1334.7 m below the seafloor (mbsf). Physical property measurements include wireline logging data, a vertical seismic profile (VSP), Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) measurements, and discrete sample measurements. The Hole M0077A peak ring rocks have unusual physical properties. Across the boundary between post-impact sediment and crater breccia we measure a sharp decrease in velocities and densities, and an increase in porosity. Mean crater breccia values are 3000-3300 m/s, 2.14-2.15 g/cm3, and 31% for velocity, density, and porosity, respectively. This zone is also associated with a low-frequency reflector package on MCS profiles and a low-velocity layer in FWI images, both confirmed from the VSP dataset. The thin (24 m) crater melt unit has mean velocity measurements of 3800-4150 m/s, density measurements of 2.32-2.34 g/cm3, and porosity measurements of 20%; density and porosity values are intermediate between the overlying impact breccia and underlying granitic basement, while the velocity values are similar to those for the underlying basement. The Hole M0077A crater melt unit velocities and densities are considerably less than values of 5800 m/s and 2.68 g/cm3 measured at an onshore well located in the annular trough. The uplifted granitic peak ring materials have mean values of 4100-4200 m/s, 2.39-2.44 g/cm3, and 11% for compressional wave velocity, density, and porosity, respectively; these values differ significantly from typical granite which has higher velocities (5400-6000 m/s) and densities (2.62-2.67 g/cm3), and lower porosities (<1%). All Hole M0077A peak-ring velocity, density, and porosity measurements indicate considerable fracturing, and are consistent with numerical models for peak-ring formation.

Functional Requirements and the Theory of Action.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hills, R. Jean

1982-01-01

Responding to Willower's earlier questioning of the concept of systems' functional requirements, the author outlines the Parsonian theory of action, discussing action systems' components (values, norms, organizations, and facilities) and their functional imperatives or requirements (pattern maintenance, integration, goal attainment, and…

Multiple resonance peaks of FeCo thin films with NiFe underlayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Xiaoxi; Soh, Wee Tee; Phuoc, Nguyen N.; Liu, Ying; Ong, C. K.

2015-01-01

Under zero external magnetic fields, single-layer FeCo thin films exhibit no ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) peaks, while multiple FMR peaks were obtained by growing FeCo thin films on NiFe underlayers with various thicknesses up to 50 nm. Comprehensive investigations of the dynamic magnetic properties and origin of the peaks were conducted through measurements of microwave permeability via a shorted microstrip perturbation technique. Through fitted values of saturation magnetization Ms, uniaxial anisotropy HKsta, and rotatable anisotropy HKrot extracted from the FMR experiments, it was found that two of the three resonance peaks originate from FeCo, and the third from NiFe. The two magnetic phases of FeCo grains are found to have different values of HKrot and explained by the exchange interaction between FeCo and NiFe grains.

Seeking the competitive advantage: it's more than cost reduction.

PubMed

South, S F

1999-01-01

Most organizations focus considerable time and energy on reducing operating costs as a way to attain marketplace advantage. This strategy was not inappropriate in the past. To be competitive in the future, however, focus must be placed on other issues, not just cost reduction. The near future will be dominated by service industries, knowledge management, and virtual partnerships, with production optimization and flexibility, innovation, and strong partnerships defining those organizations that attain competitive advantage. Competitive advantage will reside in clarifying the vision and strategic plan, reviewing and redesigning work processes to optimize resources and value-added work, and creating change-ready environments and empowered workforces.

Random walkers with extreme value memory: modelling the peak-end rule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Rosemary J.

2015-05-01

Motivated by the psychological literature on the ‘peak-end rule’ for remembered experience, we perform an analysis within a random walk framework of a discrete choice model where agents’ future choices depend on the peak memory of their past experiences. In particular, we use this approach to investigate whether increased noise/disruption always leads to more switching between decisions. Here extreme value theory illuminates different classes of dynamics indicating that the long-time behaviour is dependent on the scale used for reflection; this could have implications, for example, in questionnaire design.

Resolution Quality and Atom Positions in Sub-Angstrom Electron Microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

O'Keefe, Michael A.; Allard, Lawrence F.; Blom, Douglas A.

2005-02-15

Ability to determine whether an image peak represents one single atom or several depends on resolution of the HR-(S)TEM. Rayleigh's resolution criterion, an accepted standard in optics, was derived as a means for judging when two image intensity peaks from two sources of light (stars) are distinguishable from a single source. Atom spacings closer than the Rayleigh limit have been resolved in HR-TEM, suggesting that it may be useful to consider other limits, such as the Sparrow resolution criterion. From the viewpoint of the materials scientist, it is important to be able to use the image to determine whether anmore » image feature represents one or more atoms (resolution), and where the atoms (or atom columns) are positioned relative to one another (resolution quality). When atoms and the corresponding image peaks are separated by more than the Rayleigh limit of the HR-(S)TEM, it is possible to adjust imaging parameters so that relative peak positions in the image correspond to relative atom positions in the specimen. When atoms are closer than the Rayleigh limit, we must find the relationship of the peak position to the atom position by peak fitting or, if we have a suitable model, by image simulation. Our Rayleigh-Sparrow parameter QRS reveals the ''resolution quality'' of a microscope image. QRS values greater than 1 indicate a clearly resolved twin peak, while values between 1 and 0 mean a lower-quality resolution and an image with peaks displaced from the relative atom positions. The depth of the twin-peak minimum can be used to determine the value of QRS and the true separation of the atom peaks that sum to produce the twin peak in the image. The Rayleigh-Sparrow parameter can be used to refine relative atom positions in defect images where atoms are closer than the Rayleigh limit of the HR-(S)TEM, reducing the necessity for full image simulations from large defect models.« less

Highly efficient classification and identification of human pathogenic bacteria by MALDI-TOF MS.

PubMed

Hsieh, Sen-Yung; Tseng, Chiao-Li; Lee, Yun-Shien; Kuo, An-Jing; Sun, Chien-Feng; Lin, Yen-Hsiu; Chen, Jen-Kun

2008-02-01

Accurate and rapid identification of pathogenic microorganisms is of critical importance in disease treatment and public health. Conventional work flows are time-consuming, and procedures are multifaceted. MS can be an alternative but is limited by low efficiency for amino acid sequencing as well as low reproducibility for spectrum fingerprinting. We systematically analyzed the feasibility of applying MS for rapid and accurate bacterial identification. Directly applying bacterial colonies without further protein extraction to MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed rich peak contents and high reproducibility. The MS spectra derived from 57 isolates comprising six human pathogenic bacterial species were analyzed using both unsupervised hierarchical clustering and supervised model construction via the Genetic Algorithm. Hierarchical clustering analysis categorized the spectra into six groups precisely corresponding to the six bacterial species. Precise classification was also maintained in an independently prepared set of bacteria even when the numbers of m/z values were reduced to six. In parallel, classification models were constructed via Genetic Algorithm analysis. A model containing 18 m/z values accurately classified independently prepared bacteria and identified those species originally not used for model construction. Moreover bacteria fewer than 10(4) cells and different species in bacterial mixtures were identified using the classification model approach. In conclusion, the application of MALDI-TOF MS in combination with a suitable model construction provides a highly accurate method for bacterial classification and identification. The approach can identify bacteria with low abundance even in mixed flora, suggesting that a rapid and accurate bacterial identification using MS techniques even before culture can be attained in the near future.

Decreased knee adduction moment does not guarantee decreased medial contact force during gait.

PubMed

Walter, Jonathan P; D'Lima, Darryl D; Colwell, Clifford W; Fregly, Benjamin J

2010-10-01

Excessive contact force is believed to contribute to the development of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The external knee adduction moment (KAM) has been identified as a surrogate measure for medial contact force during gait, with an abnormally large peak value being linked to increased pain and rate of disease progression. This study used in vivo gait data collected from a subject with a force-measuring knee implant to assess whether KAM decreases accurately predict corresponding decreases in medial contact force. Changes in both quantities generated via gait modification were analyzed statistically relative to the subject's normal gait. The two gait modifications were a "medial thrust" gait involving knee medialization during stance phase and a "walking pole" gait involving use of bilateral walking poles. Reductions in the first (largest) peak of the KAM (32-33%) did not correspond to reductions in the first peak of the medial contact force. In contrast, reductions in the second peak and angular impulse of the KAM (15-47%) corresponded to reductions in the second peak and impulse of the medial contact force (12-42%). Calculated reductions in both KAM peaks were highly sensitive to rotation of the shank reference frame about the superior-inferior axis of the shank. Both peaks of medial contact force were best predicted by a combination of peak values of the external KAM and peak absolute values of the external knee flexion moment (R(2) = 0.93). Future studies that evaluate the effectiveness of gait modifications for offloading the medial compartment of the knee should consider the combined effect of these two knee moments. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1348-1354, 2010.

Educational attainment and adult literacy: A descriptive account of 31 Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

PubMed

Smith-Greenaway, Emily

2015-11-11

More than 60 years ago the international community declared literacy a basic human right. Recognition of its intrinsic value and evidence of its social and economic benefits have motivated an expansive international effort to estimate the percentage of adults that can read, especially in low-income countries where educational opportunities are limited. Population data on adults' educational attainment is commonly used to approximate adult literacy rates. Though increasing evidence from school-based studies of pupils confirm literacy achievement is not universal - even at advanced grades - it remains unclear whether adults' educational attainment is reflective of their literacy. This study leverages population-based data that include direct assessments of adults' literacy skills to provide a descriptive account of the proportion of adults that can read at each level of educational attainment. The study focuses on the Sub-Saharan African context, a world region where school participation has expanded rapidly in the last three decades. Because many African adults have discontinued their education at the primary level, the study focuses on basic reading skills at each level of primary school. The study focuses specifically on women, whose literacy has garnered extensive international interest. Demographic and Health Survey data from 31 African countries confirm that there are many instances in which women have several years of primary school but cannot read. In fact, in some countries, large proportions of African women who never went to school can read, even as some of their peers who have completed primary school cannot. The weak correlation between educational attainment and literacy is not specific to older cohorts of women, but is also observed among younger women. The findings demonstrate that educational attainment is generally a poor proxy for literacy, highlighting the need to measure, theorize, and study literacy as empirically distinct from education.

ACL deficient potential copers and non-copers reveal different isokinetic quadriceps strength profiles in the early stage after injury

PubMed Central

Eitzen, I; Eitzen, TJ; Holm, I; Snyder-Mackler, L; Risberg, MA

2011-01-01

Background Isokinetic muscle strength tests using the peak torque value is the most frequently included quadriceps muscle strength measurement for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured subjects. Aims The purpose of this study was to investigate quadriceps muscle performance during the whole isokinetic curve in ACL deficient subjects classified as potential copers or non-copers, and investigate whether these curve profiles were associated with single-leg hop performance. We hypothesized that quadriceps muscle torque at other knee flexion angles than peak torque would give more information about quadriceps muscle strength deficits. Furthermore, we hypothesized that there would be significant torque differences between potential copers and non-copers, and a significant relationship between angle specific torque values and single-leg hop performance. Study Design Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 2 Methods Seventy-six individuals with a complete unilateral ACL rupture within the last 3 months were included. The subjects were classified into potential copers and non-copers according to the criteria from Fitzgerald et al12. Isokinetic quadriceps muscle tests were performed at 60°/sec (Biodex 6000). Mean torque values were calculated for peak torque as well as for specific knee flexion angles. The one-leg hop and the 6 meter timed hop tests were included and symmetry indices were used. Results The peak torque value did not identify the largest quadriceps muscle strength deficit. Rather, these were established at knee flexion angles of less than 40°. There were significant differences in angle specific torque values between potential copers and non-copers (p<0.05). Moderate to strong associations were disclosed between angle specific torque values and single-leg hop performance, but only for non-copers (r≥0.32– 0.58). Conclusions Angle specific quadriceps muscle torque values of less than 40° of knee flexion provide more information on the quadriceps strength deficits after ACL injury compared to the commonly used peak torque values. PMID:20110458

Roswell Park Cancer Institute/Howard University Prostate Cancer Scholars Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

reported on program satisfaction, career/education intentions and skills-attainment by responding to a pre -/ post -internship program survey...translational cancer research through near-peer mentorship. Aim 4: Test the value of in-depth pre -internship reading and mentorship on the success and...research through near-peer mentorship. Aim 4: Test the value of in-depth pre -internship reading and mentorship on the success and productivity of a

SLIP CASTING METHOD

DOEpatents

Allison, A.G.

1959-09-01

S>A process is described for preparing a magnesium oxide slip casting slurry which when used in conjunction with standard casting techniques results in a very strong "green" slip casting and a fired piece of very close dimensional tolerance. The process involves aging an aqueous magnestum oxide slurry, having a basic pH value, until it attains a specified critical viscosity at which time a deflocculating agent is added without upsetting the basic pH value.

Armed Forces Recreation Center-Orlando

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-09-21

million annually (1995 value ) to HCMF. PKF Consulting stated that IG, DoD, estimates of cash flow are understated, and that AFRC-Orlando can attain an...took the corrected 1995 value of major repairs identified by PKF Consulting ($21.1 million corrected) and escalated the cost to the year 2020, at...to determine whether MWR standards of financial performance were met, and to determine whether the terms of the lease agreement were fair and

40 CFR 420.83 - Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days Kg/kkg (pounds per 1,000 lb) of product Chromium 0.00292 0... per 1,000 lb) of product Chromium 0.00175 0.000701 Nickel 0.00158 0.000526 (3) Batch, pipe and tube... values for 30 consecutive days Kg/kkg (pounds per 1,000 lb) of product Chromium 0.00709 0.00284 Nickel 0...

Comparative study of goal contents and goal characteristics between medical and business students.

PubMed

Park, Soowon; Kim, Ji Eun; Lee, Jun-Young; Shin, Jongho

2016-03-01

Medical and business are one of the most popular majors among students, and both fields require intensive training to reach certain level of expertise. During the development of professionalism, goal can become a crucial role in psychological impetus. The purpose of this study is to compare goal contents, goal characteristics, and effect of goal characteristics on student's major satisfaction between medical and business. A total of 193 undergraduate students (97 medical students, 96 business students) answered survey questions including goal contents, goal characteristics (goal autonomy, goal attainability, social value of goal) and satisfaction on their majors. Qualitative analysis of goal contents and quantitative analysis of goal characteristics, and their effects on student major satisfaction were performed. Goal content analysis showed percentage of social concern goal was higher in medical students (25.8%) than business students (6.3%), whereas percentage of wealth goal was higher business students (24.0%) than medical students (3.1%). Among goal characteristics, goal attainability and social value of goal were higher in medical students than business students. In both groups, social value of goal was significantly predict major satisfaction. Goal contents and goal characteristics are different between medical and business students. Curriculum and educational interventions that concerning students' goal and developing programs to enhance students' social value of goal is necessary.

Method of wavefront tilt correction for optical heterodyne detection systems under strong turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Jing-song; Tian, Xin; Pan, Le-chun

2014-07-01

Atmospheric turbulence decreases the heterodyne mixing efficiency of the optical heterodyne detection systems. Wavefront tilt correction is often used to improve the optical heterodyne mixing efficiency. But the performance of traditional centroid tracking tilt correction is poor under strong turbulence conditions. In this paper, a tilt correction method which tracking the peak value of laser spot on focal plane is proposed. Simulation results show that, under strong turbulence conditions, the performance of peak value tracking tilt correction is distinctly better than that of traditional centroid tracking tilt correction method, and the phenomenon of large antenna's performance inferior to small antenna's performance which may be occurred in centroid tracking tilt correction method can also be avoid in peak value tracking tilt correction method.

Imaging surface nanobubbles at graphite-water interfaces with different atomic force microscopy modes.

PubMed

Yang, Chih-Wen; Lu, Yi-Hsien; Hwang, Ing-Shouh

2013-05-08

We have imaged nanobubbles on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces in pure water with different atomic force microscopy (AFM) modes, including the frequency-modulation, the tapping, and the PeakForce techniques. We have compared the performance of these modes in obtaining the surface profiles of nanobubbles. The frequency-modulation mode yields a larger height value than the other two modes and can provide more accurate measurement of the surface profiles of nanobubbles. Imaging with PeakForce mode shows that a nanobubble appears smaller and shorter with increasing peak force and disappears above a certain peak force, but the size returns to the original value when the peak force is reduced. This indicates that imaging with high peak forces does not cause gas removal from the nanobubbles. Based on the presented findings and previous AFM observations, the existing models for nanobubbles are reviewed and discussed. The model of gas aggregate inside nanobubbles provides a better explanation for the puzzles of the high stability and the contact angle of surface nanobubbles.

Measurement and Modeling of Acoustic Fields in a Gel Phantom at High Intensities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canney, Michael S.; Bailey, Michael R.; Khokhlova, Vera A.; Crum, Lawrence A.

2006-05-01

The goal of this work was to compare measured and numerically predicted HIFU pressure waveforms in water and a tissue-mimicking phantom. Waveforms were measured at the focus of a 2-MHz HIFU transducer with a fiber optic hydrophone. The transducer was operated with acoustic powers ranging from 2W to 300W. A KZK-type equation was used for modeling the experimental conditions. Strongly asymmetric nonlinear waves with peak positive pressure up to 80 MPa and peak negative pressure up to 20 MPa were measured in water, while waves up to 50 MPa peak positive pressure and 15 MPa peak negative pressure were measured in tissue phantoms. The values of peak negative pressure corresponded well with numerical simulations and were significantly smaller than predicted by linear extrapolation from low-level measurements. The values of peak positive pressures differed only at high levels of excitation where bandwidth limitations of the hydrophone failed to fully capture the predicted sharp shock fronts.

Variable threshold method for ECG R-peak detection.

PubMed

Kew, Hsein-Ping; Jeong, Do-Un

2011-10-01

In this paper, a wearable belt-type ECG electrode worn around the chest by measuring the real-time ECG is produced in order to minimize the inconvenient in wearing. ECG signal is detected using a potential instrument system. The measured ECG signal is transmits via an ultra low power consumption wireless data communications unit to personal computer using Zigbee-compatible wireless sensor node. ECG signals carry a lot of clinical information for a cardiologist especially the R-peak detection in ECG. R-peak detection generally uses the threshold value which is fixed. There will be errors in peak detection when the baseline changes due to motion artifacts and signal size changes. Preprocessing process which includes differentiation process and Hilbert transform is used as signal preprocessing algorithm. Thereafter, variable threshold method is used to detect the R-peak which is more accurate and efficient than fixed threshold value method. R-peak detection using MIT-BIH databases and Long Term Real-Time ECG is performed in this research in order to evaluate the performance analysis.

Robin Hood effects on motivation in math: Family interest moderates the effects of relevance interventions.

PubMed

Häfner, Isabelle; Flunger, Barbara; Dicke, Anna-Lena; Gaspard, Hanna; Brisson, Brigitte M; Nagengast, Benjamin; Trautwein, Ulrich

2017-08-01

Using a cluster randomized field trial, the present study tested whether 2 relevance interventions affected students' value beliefs, self-concept, and effort in math differently depending on family background (socioeconomic status, family interest (FI), and parental utility value). Eighty-two classrooms were randomly assigned to either 1 of 2 intervention conditions or a control group. Data from 1,916 students (M age = 14.62, SD age = 0.47) and their predominantly Caucasian middle-class parents were obtained via separate questionnaires. Multilevel regression analyses with cross-level interactions were used to investigate differential intervention effects on students' motivational beliefs 6 weeks and 5 months after the intervention. Socioeconomic status, FI, and parental utility values were investigated as moderators of the intervention effects. The intervention conditions were especially effective in promoting students' utility, attainment, intrinsic value beliefs, and effort 5 months after the intervention for students whose parents reported lower levels of math interest. Furthermore, students whose parents reported low math utility values especially profited in terms of their utility and attainment math values 5 months after the intervention. No systematic differential intervention effects were found for socioeconomic status. These results highlight the effectiveness of relevance interventions in decreasing motivational gaps between students from families with fewer or more motivational resources. Findings point to the substantial importance of motivational family resources, which have been neglected in previous research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

The Concept of “Peak Ecological Water” in a Changing Climate. (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gleick, P. H.

2009-12-01

In a paper prepared in 2008, Meena Palaniappan and Peter Gleick proposed the concept of "peak ecological water" as a way to characterize vulnerable watersheds in the context of human withdrawals and water use. The value that humans obtain from water produced through incremental increases in supply (e.g., drinking water, irrigation) can be compared with the declining value of the ecological services (e.g., water for plants and animals) that were being satisfied with this water. As more water is appropriated from watersheds the pace or severity of ecological disruptions increases. At a certain theoretical point, the value of ecological services provided by water is equivalent to the value of human services provided by water. After this point, increasing appropriation of water leads to ecological disruptions beyond the value that this increased water provides to humans (the slope of the decline in ecological services is greater than the slope of the increase in value to humans). At the point of "peak ecological water," society will maximize the ecological and human benefits provided by water. This concept will be presented here as a way to identify water resources at risks of overabstraction and overuse. Conversely, the concept can also help in identifying strategies to adapt to changing water availability due to climate change. A key challenge remains coming up with quantitative measures of peak ecological water and using those measures to develop policies to maintain ecological health under variable conditions Palaniappan, M. and P.H. Gleick. 2008. “Peak Water.” In The World’s Water 2008-2009 (P.H. Gleick, editor). Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 1-16.

Steam sterilization effect on the accuracy of friction-style mechanical torque limiting devices.

PubMed

Sadr, Seyed Jalil; Fayyaz, Ali; Mahshid, Minoo; Saboury, Aboulfazl; Ansari, Ghassem

2014-01-01

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of steam sterilization on the accuracy (within 10%) of friction-style mechanical torque limiting devices (F-S MTLDs) to achieve their target torque values. Fifteen new F-S MTLDs were selected from Astra Tech (25 Ncm, Hader SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), BioHorizons (30 Ncm, Dynatorq ITL, Irvine, California, USA), Dr. Idhe (15-60 Ncm, Dr. Idhe Dental, Eching/Munich, Germany). Every peak torque measurement was tested ten times before steam sterilization using Tohnichi torque gauge (6Tohnichi-BTG (-S), Japan). Steam sterilization was performed using a 100 cycle autoclave. Preparation steps were carried out for the devices before each autoclave sterilization cycle. Peak torque measurements were repeated after every sterilization cycle. Mean difference between the measured and the targeted torque values were evaluated before and after aging. Repeated-measures of ANOVA were used to compare the differences of accuracy between subjects. Bonferroni post-hoc test was used for pairwise comparison. Autoclaving resulted in an increase in the error values (the difference between peak torque and target torque values) in all the three groups studied (P < 0.05), with only Astra Tech devices showing >10% (maximum 12%) difference from their torque values in 5% of the measurements. Steam sterilization effect differs between target torque and measured peak values with an increase trend. The peak torque values showed a significant decrease for BioHorizons, while a significant increase was noted for Astra Tech and no significant change in Dr. Idhe group after sterilization. Within the limitation of this study the torque output of each individual device deviated in varying degrees from target torque values. However, the majority of the new frictional-style devices tested in this study, delivered fairly consistent torque output within 10% of their preset target values after sterilization. Astra Tech devices were the only one showing more than 10% difference from their torque values in 5% of the measurements. Combined effects of sterilization and aging still needs to be determined.

The index ‘Treatment Duration Control’ for enabling randomized controlled trials with variation in duration of treatment of chronic pain patients

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Treatment duration varies with the type of therapy and a patient’s recovery speed. Including such a variation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enables comparison of the actual therapeutic potential of different therapies in clinical care. An index, Treatment Duration Control (TDC) of outcome scores was developed to help decide when to end treatment and also to determine treatment outcome by a blinded assessor. In contrast to traditional Routine Outcome Monitoring which considers raw score changes, TDC uses relative change. Methods Our theory shows that if a patient with the largest baseline scores in a sample requires a relative decrease by treatment factor T to reach a zone of low score values (functional status), any patient with smaller baselines will attain functional status with T. Furthermore, the end score values are proportional to the baseline. These characteristics concur with findings from the literature that a patient’s assessment of ‘much improved’ following treatment (related to attaining functional status) is associated with a particular relative decrease in pain intensity yielding a final pain intensity that is proportional to the baseline. Regarding the TDC-procedure: those patient’s scores that were related to pronounced signs and symptoms, were selected for adaptive testing (reference scores). A Contrast-value was determined for each reference score between its reference level and a subsequent level, and averaging all Contrast-values yielded TDC. A cut-off point related to factor T for attaining functional status, was the TDC-criterion to end a patient’s treatment as being successful. The use of TDC has been illustrated in RCT data from 118 chronic pain patients with myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders, and the TDC-criterion was validated. Results The TDC-criterion of successful/unsuccessful treatment approximated the cut-off separating two patient subgroups in a bimodal post-treatment distribution of TDC-values. Pain intensity decreased to residual levels and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) increased to normal levels, following successful treatment according to TDC. The post-treatment TDC-values were independent from the baseline values of pain intensity or HRQoL, and thus independent from the patient’s baseline severity of myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders. Conclusions TDC enables RCTs that have a variable therapy- and patient-specific duration. PMID:24112821

40 CFR 417.152 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... more waste water than can be recycled to process, the following values pertain: Effluent characteristic...) 1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0. (c) For fast turnaround operation of a spray tower, the following...

The impact of a prominent rain shadow on flooding in California's Santa Cruz Mountains: A CALJET case study and sensitivity to the ENSO cycle

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ralph, F.M.; Neiman, P.J.; Kingsmill, D.E.; Persson, P.O.G.; White, A.B.; Strem, E.T.; Andrews, E.D.; Antweiler, Ronald C.

2003-01-01

Data from the California Land-Falling Jets Experiment (CALJET) are used to explore the causes of variations in flood severity in adjacent coastal watersheds within the Santa Cruz Mountains on 2-3 February 1998. While Pescadero Creek (rural) experienced its flood of record, the adjacent San Lorenzo Creek (heavily populated), attained only its fourth-highest flow. This difference resulted from conditions present while the warm sector of the storm, with its associated low-level jet, high moisture content, and weak static stability, was overhead. Rainfall in the warm sector was dominated by orographic forcing. While the wind speed strongly modulated rain rates on windward slopes, the wind direction positioned the edge of a rain shadow cast by the Santa Lucia Mountains partially over the San Lorenzo basin, thus protecting the city of Santa Cruz from a more severe flood. Roughly 26% ?? 9% of the streamflow at flood peak on Pescadero Creek resulted from the warm-sector rainfall. Without this rainfall, the peak flow on Pescadero Creek would likely not have attained record status. These results are complemented by a climatological analysis based on ???50-yr-duration streamflow records for these and two other nearby windward watersheds situated ???20 to 40 km farther to the east, and a comparison of this climatological analysis with composites of NCEP-NCAR reanalysis fields. The westernmost watersheds were found to have their greatest floods during El Nin??o winters, while the easternmost watersheds peaked during non-El Nin??o episodes. These results are consistent with the case study, that showed that the composite 925-mb, meridionally oriented wind direction during El Nin??os favors a rain shadow over the eastern watersheds. During non-El Nin??o periods, the composite, zonally oriented wind direction indicates that the sheltering effect of the rain shadow on the eastern watersheds is reduced, while weaker winds, less water vapor, and stronger stratification reduce the peak runoff in the western watersheds relative to El Nin??o periods. These case study and climatological results illustrate the importance of conditions in the moisture-rich warm sector of landfalling Pacific winter storms. Although many other variables can influence flooding, this study shows that variations of ??10?? in wind direction can modulate the location of orographically enhanced floods. While terrain can increase predictability (e.g., rainfall typically increases with altitude), the predictability is reduced when conditions are near a threshold separating different regimes (e.g., in or out of a rain shadow ).

Are standard doses of piperacillin sufficient for critically ill patients with augmented creatinine clearance?

PubMed

Udy, Andrew A; Lipman, Jeffrey; Jarrett, Paul; Klein, Kerenaftali; Wallis, Steven C; Patel, Kashyap; Kirkpatrick, Carl M J; Kruger, Peter S; Paterson, David L; Roberts, Michael S; Roberts, Jason A

2015-01-30

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of augmented creatinine clearance and differing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) on piperacillin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment (time above MIC (fT>MIC)) in critically ill patients with sepsis receiving intermittent dosing. To be eligible for enrolment, critically ill patients with sepsis had to be receiving piperacillin-tazobactam 4.5 g intravenously (IV) by intermittent infusion every 6 hours for presumed or confirmed nosocomial infection without significant renal impairment (defined by a plasma creatinine concentration greater than 171 μmol/L or the need for renal replacement therapy). Over a single dosing interval, blood samples were drawn to determine unbound plasma piperacillin concentrations. Renal function was assessed by measuring creatinine clearance (CLCR). A population PK model was constructed, and the probability of target attainment (PTA) for 50% and 100% fT>MIC was calculated for varying MIC and CLCR values. In total, 48 patients provided data. Increasing CLCR values were associated with lower trough plasma piperacillin concentrations (P < 0.01), such that with an MIC of 16 mg/L, 100% fT>MIC would be achieved in only one-third (n = 16) of patients. Mean piperacillin clearance was approximately 1.5-fold higher than in healthy volunteers and correlated with CLCR (r = 0.58, P < 0.01). A reduced PTA for all MIC values, when targeting either 50% or 100% fT>MIC, was noted with increasing CLCR measures. Standard intermittent piperacillin-tazobactam dosing is unlikely to achieve optimal piperacillin exposures in a significant proportion of critically ill patients with sepsis, owing to elevated drug clearance. These data suggest that CLCR can be employed as a useful tool to determine whether piperacillin PK/PD target attainment is likely with a range of MIC values.

Parameters of triggered-lightning flashes in Florida and Alabama

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, R. J.; Schnetzer, G. H.; Thottappillil, R.; Rakov, V. A.; Uman, M. A.; Goldberg, J. D.

1993-12-01

Channel base currents from triggered lightning were measured at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida, during summer 1990 and at Fort McClellan, Alabama, during summer 1991. Additionally, 16-mm cinematic records with 3- or 5-ms resolution were obtained for all flashes, and streak camera records were obtained for three of the Florida flashes. The 17 flashes analyzed here contained 69 strokes, all lowering negative charge from cloud to ground. Statistics on interstroke interval, no-current interstroke interval, total stroke duration, total stroke charge, total stroke action integral (∫ i2dt), return stroke current wave front characteristics, time to half peak value, and return stroke peak current are presented. Return stroke current pulses, characterized by rise times of the order of a few microseconds or less and peak values in the range of 4 to 38 kA, were found not to occur until after any preceding current at the bottom of the lightning channel fell below the noise level of less than 2 A. Current pulses associated with M components, characterized by slower rise times (typically tens to hundreds of microseconds) and peak values generally smaller than those of the return stroke pulses, occurred during established channel current flow of some tens to some hundreds of amperes. A relatively strong positive correlation was found between return stroke current average rate of rise and current peak. There was essentially no correlation between return stroke current peak and 10-90% rise time or between return stroke peak and the width of the current waveform at half of its peak value. Parameters of the lightning flashes triggered in Florida and Alabama are similar to each other but are different from those of triggered lightning recorded in New Mexico during the 1981 Thunderstorm Research International Program. Continuing currents that follow return stroke current peaks and last for more than 10 ms exhibit a variety of wave shapes that we have subdivided into four categories. All such continuing currents appear to start with a current pulse presumably associated with an M component. A brief summary of lightning parameters important for lightning protection, in a form convenient for practical use, is presented in an appendix.

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope and peak oxygen consumption predict prognosis in children with tetralogy of Fallot.

PubMed

Tsai, Yun-Jeng; Li, Min-Hui; Tsai, Wan-Jung; Tuan, Sheng-Hui; Liao, Tin-Yun; Lin, Ko-Long

2016-07-01

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) are exercise parameters that can predict cardiac morbidity in patients with numerous heart diseases. But the predictive value in patients with tetralogy of Fallot is still undetermined, especially in children. We evaluated the prognostic value of OUES and VO2peak in children with total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Retrospective cohort study. Forty tetralogy of Fallot patients younger than 12 years old were recruited. They underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test during the follow-up period after total repair surgery. The results of the cardiopulmonary exercise test were used to predict the cardiac related hospitalization in the following two years after the test. OUES normalized by body surface area (OUES/BSA) and the percentage of predicted VO2peak appeared to be predictive for two-year cardiac related hospitalization. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the best threshold value for OUES/BSA was 1.029 (area under the curve = 0.70, p = 0.03), and for VO2peak was 74% of age prediction (area under the curve = 0.72, p = 0.02). The aforementioned findings were confirmed by Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test. OUES/BSA and VO2peak are useful predictors of cardiac-related hospitalization in children with total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. © The European Society of Cardiology 2015.

Note: Enhancement of the extreme ultraviolet emission from a potassium plasma by dual laser irradiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Higashiguchi, Takeshi, E-mail: higashi@cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp; Yamaguchi, Mami; Otsuka, Takamitsu

2014-09-15

Emission spectra from multiply charged potassium ions ranging from K{sup 3+} to K{sup 5+} have been obtained in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral region. A strong emission feature peaking around 38 nm, corresponding to a photon energy of 32.6 eV, is the dominant spectral feature at time-averaged electron temperatures in the range of 8−12 eV. The variation of this emission with laser intensity and the effects of pre-pulses on the relative conversion efficiency (CE) have been explored experimentally and indicate that an enhancement of about 30% in EUV CE is readily attainable.

[Comparative GC analysis of essential oil in imported sandalwood].

PubMed

Wang, Z; Hong, X

1991-01-01

The GC-fingerprint spectra of essential oils in imported sandalwood are established by the new technique of GC-relative retention value fingerprint spectrum (GC-FPS). According to the GC-FPS of samples, their chromatographic peaks, overlap ratio of peaks and eight strong peaks are studied comparatively.

Revisiting the accuracy of peak flow meters: a double-blind study using formal methods of agreement.

PubMed

Nazir, Z; Razaq, S; Mir, S; Anwar, M; Al Mawlawi, G; Sajad, M; Shehab, A; Taylor, R S

2005-05-01

There is widespread use of peak flow meters in both hospitals and general practice. Previous studies to assess peak flow meter accuracy have shown significant differences in the values obtained from different meters. However, many of these studies did not use human subjects for peak flow measurements and did not compare meters of varying usage. In this study human subjects have been used with meters of varying usage. Participants were tested using two new (meters A and C) and one old peak flow meter (meter B) in random order. The study was double-blinded. Participants were recruited from the university campus. Four hundred and nine individuals participated. The difference between peak flow means of A and B was -9.93 l/min (95% CI: -12.37 to -7.48, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of B and C was 20.08 l/min (95% CI: 17.85-22.29, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of A and C was 10.15 l/min (95% CI: 7.68-12.61, P<0.0001). There was a significant difference between the values obtained from the new and old peak flow meters and also between the two new peak flow meters. We conclude that there is need for caution in interchangeably using flow meters in clinical practice.

KAPS (kinematic assessment of passive stretch): a tool to assess elbow flexor and extensor spasticity after stroke using a robotic exoskeleton.

PubMed

Centen, Andrew; Lowrey, Catherine R; Scott, Stephen H; Yeh, Ting-Ting; Mochizuki, George

2017-06-19

Spasticity is a common sequela of stroke. Traditional assessment methods include relatively coarse scales that may not capture all characteristics of elevated muscle tone. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a tool to quantitatively assess post-stroke spasticity in the upper extremity. Ninety-six healthy individuals and 46 individuals with stroke participated in this study. The kinematic assessment of passive stretch (KAPS) protocol consisted of passive elbow stretch in flexion and extension across an 80° range in 5 movement durations. Seven parameters were identified and assessed to characterize spasticity (peak velocity, final angle, creep (or release), between-arm peak velocity difference, between-arm final angle, between-arm creep, and between-arm catch angle). The fastest movement duration (600 ms) was most effective at identifying impairment in each parameter associated with spasticity. A decrease in peak velocity during passive stretch between the affected and unaffected limb was most effective at identifying individuals as impaired. Spasticity was also associated with a decreased passive range (final angle) and a classic 'catch and release' as seen through between-arm catch and creep metrics. The KAPS protocol and robotic technology can provide a sensitive and quantitative assessment of post-stroke elbow spasticity not currently attainable through traditional measures.

Impact of chevron spacing and asymmetric distribution on supersonic jet acoustics and flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heeb, N.; Gutmark, E.; Kailasanath, K.

2016-05-01

An experimental investigation into the effect of chevron spacing and distribution on supersonic jets was performed. Cross-stream and streamwise particle imaging velocimetry measurements were used to relate flow field modification to sound field changes measured by far-field microphones in the overexpanded, ideally expanded, and underexpanded regimes. Drastic modification of the jet cross-section was achieved by the investigated configurations, with both elliptic and triangular shapes attained downstream. Consequently, screech was nearly eliminated with reductions in the range of 10-25 dB depending on the operating condition. Analysis of the streamwise velocity indicated that both the mean shock spacing and strength were reduced resulting in an increase in the broadband shock associated noise spectral peak frequency and a reduction in the amplitude, respectively. Maximum broadband shock associated noise amplitude reductions were in the 5-7 dB range. Chevron proximity was found to be the primary driver of peak vorticity production, though persistence followed the opposite trend. The integrated streamwise vorticity modulus was found to be correlated with peak large scale turbulent mixing noise reduction, though optimal overall sound pressure level reductions did not necessarily follow due to the shock/fine scale mixing noise sources. Optimal large scale mixing noise reductions were in the 5-6 dB range.

Heuristic extraction of rules in pruned artificial neural networks models used for quantifying highly overlapping chromatographic peaks.

PubMed

Hervás, César; Silva, Manuel; Serrano, Juan Manuel; Orejuela, Eva

2004-01-01

The suitability of an approach for extracting heuristic rules from trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) pruned by a regularization method and with architectures designed by evolutionary computation for quantifying highly overlapping chromatographic peaks is demonstrated. The ANN input data are estimated by the Levenberg-Marquardt method in the form of a four-parameter Weibull curve associated with the profile of the chromatographic band. To test this approach, two N-methylcarbamate pesticides, carbofuran and propoxur, were quantified using a classic peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction as a detection system for chromatographic analysis. Straightforward network topologies (one and two outputs models) allow the analytes to be quantified in concentration ratios ranging from 1:7 to 5:1 with an average standard error of prediction for the generalization test of 2.7 and 2.3% for carbofuran and propoxur, respectively. The reduced dimensions of the selected ANN architectures, especially those obtained after using heuristic rules, allowed simple quantification equations to be developed that transform the input variables into output variables. These equations can be easily interpreted from a chemical point of view to attain quantitative analytical information regarding the effect of both analytes on the characteristics of chromatographic bands, namely profile, dispersion, peak height, and residence time. Copyright 2004 American Chemical Society

Study of high resistance inorganic coatings on graphite fibers. [for graphite-epoxy composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galasso, F. S.; Veltri, R. D.; Scola, D. A.

1979-01-01

Coatings made of boron, silicon carbide, silica, and silica-like materials were studied to determine their ability to increase resistance of graphite fibers. The most promising results were attained by chemical vapor depositing silicon carbide on graphite fiber followed by oxidation, and drawing graphite fiber through ethyl silicate followed by appropriate heat treatments. In the silicon carbide coating studies, no degradation of the graphite fibers was observed and resistance values as high as three orders of magnitude higher than that of the uncoated fiber was attained. The strength of a composite fabricated from the coated fiber had a strength which compared favorably with those of composites prepared from uncoated fiber. For the silica-like coated fiber prepared by drawing the graphite fiber through an ethyl silicate solution followed by heating, coated fiber resistances about an order of magnitude greater than that of the uncoated fiber were attained. Composites prepared using these fibers had flexural strengths comparable with those prepared using uncoated fibers, but the shear strengths were lower.

What must be the Pillars of Iran’s Health System in 2025? Values and Principles of Health System Reform Plan

PubMed Central

RAJABI, Fateme; ESMAILZADEH, Hamid; ROSTAMIGOORAN, Narges; MAJDZADEH, Reza

2013-01-01

Background: Preparing long term reformatory plan for the health system, like other macro plans, requires guiding principles which is according to the values, and as a bridge, connect the ideals and values to the goals. This study was designed with the purpose of explaining the values and principles of health system, and as a pre-requisite to compilation of Iran’s health system reform plan at 2025. Method: The document of values and principles of health system reform plan for 2025 was developed by reviewing the literature and receiving the opinions of senior experts of health system, and was criticized in focus group discussion sessions of experts and decision makers. Results: The values of Iran are: dignity of human, the right to maximum attainable level of health, comprehensive health, equity and social cohesion. The principles of this health system include: institutionalizing the ethical values, responsiveness and accountability, equitable access (utilization), prevention and health promotion, community participation, inter-sectoral collaboration, integrated stewardship, benefit from innovation and desired technology, human resources promotion and excellence and harmony. Conclusion: Based on the perception of cultural and religious teachings in Iran, protecting of human dignity and human prosperity are the ultimate social goal. In this sense, health and healthy humans, in its holistic concept (physical, mental, social health and spiritual) are the center and development in any form should lead to the human prosperity in a way that each of the individuals could enjoy the maximum attainable level of health in its holistic meaning and in a faire manner. PMID:23515322

Self-paced exercise in hot and cool conditions is associated with the maintenance of %V̇O2peak within a narrow range.

PubMed

Périard, Julien D; Racinais, Sébastien

2015-05-15

This study examined the time course and extent of decrease in peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) during self-paced exercise in HOT (35°C and 60% relative humidity) and COOL (18°C and 40% relative humidity) laboratory conditions. Ten well-trained cyclists completed four consecutive 16.5-min time trials (15-min self-paced effort with 1.5-min maximal end-spurt to determine V̇O2peak) interspersed by 5 min of recovery on a cycle ergometer in each condition. Rectal temperature increased significantly more in HOT (39.4 ± 0.7°C) than COOL (38.6 ± 0.3°C; P < 0.001). Power output was lower throughout HOT compared with COOL (P < 0.001). The decrease in power output from trial 1 to 4 was ∼16% greater in HOT (P < 0.001). Oxygen uptake (V̇o2) was lower throughout HOT than COOL (P < 0.05), except at 5 min and during the end-spurt in trial 1. In HOT, V̇O2peak reached 97, 89, 85, and 85% of predetermined maximal V̇o2, whereas in COOL 97, 94, 93, and 92% were attained. Relative exercise intensity (%V̇O2peak) during trials 1 and 2 was lower in HOT (∼84%) than COOL (∼86%; P < 0.05), decreasing slightly during trials 3 and 4 (∼80 and ∼85%, respectively; P < 0.05). However, heart rate was higher throughout HOT (P = 0.002), and ratings of perceived exertion greater during trials 3 and 4 in HOT (P < 0.05). Consequently, the regulation of self-paced exercise appears to occur in conjunction with the maintenance of %V̇O2peak within a narrow range (80-85% V̇O2peak). This range widens under heat stress, however, when exercise becomes protracted and a disassociation develops between relative exercise intensity, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

OCEAN OUTFALLS. II: SPATIAL EVOLUTION OF SUBMERGED WASTEFIELD

EPA Science Inventory

Some of the basic features of submerged wastefield formation in stratified currents are reported in this paper. ilution increased with distance from the diffuser in the initial mixing region until it attained a maximum value, which is the initial dilution, after which it remained...

40 CFR 417.153 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... only when a high rate of wet scrubbing is in operation which produces more waste water than can be....0 to 9.0. (c) For fast turnaround operation of a spray tower, the following values pertain: The...

40 CFR 418.12 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride 75 25 TSS 150 50 The total suspended solid limitation set...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus...

40 CFR 418.12 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride 75 25 TSS 150 50 The total suspended solid limitation set...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus...

Regular Gleason Measures and Generalized Effect Algebras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvurečenskij, Anatolij; Janda, Jiří

2015-12-01

We study measures, finitely additive measures, regular measures, and σ-additive measures that can attain even infinite values on the quantum logic of a Hilbert space. We show when particular classes of non-negative measures can be studied in the frame of generalized effect algebras.

Nursing research conventions: objectivity or obfuscation?

PubMed

Porter, S

1993-01-01

This paper is a critique of naïve realism, the philosophy which animates much nursing research, and which leads researchers to assume that the attainment of objective knowledge is possible. The nature of naïve realism, and its relationship to objectivity, is discussed. Central to this outlook is the belief that the values and interests of the researcher can and should be divorced from the prosecution of research. This is reflected in the literary convention of referring to the researcher in the third person. Contrary to this position, I argue that the interpretations, values and interests of the researcher are central to the research process. Moreover, nursing research may be affected by the interests of managers, educationalists, and those who wish to see nursing attain professional status. Nursing researchers should accept that they are part of the social situations which they study. They should therefore become reflexive in their outlook. This entails recognizing and attempting to understand the effects of the researcher, rather than trying to eliminate or ignore them.

Is optimal paddle force applied during paediatric external defibrillation?

PubMed

Bennetts, Sarah H; Deakin, Charles D; Petley, Graham W; Clewlow, Frank

2004-01-01

Optimal paddle force minimises transthoracic impedance; a factor associated with increased defibrillation success. Optimal force for the defibrillation of children < or =10 kg using paediatric paddles has previously been shown to be 2.9 kgf, and for children >10 kg using adult paddles is 5.1 kgf. We compared defibrillation paddle force applied during simulated paediatric defibrillation with these optimal values. 72 medical and nursing staff who would be expected to perform paediatric defibrillation were recruited from a University teaching hospital. Participants, blinded to the nature of the study, were asked to simulate defibrillation of an infant manikin (9 months of age) and a child manikin (6 years of age) using paediatric or adult paddles, respectively, according to guidelines. Paddle force (kgf) was measured at the time of simulated shock and compared with known optimal values. Median paddle force applied to the infant manikin was 2.8 kgf (max 9.6, min 0.6), with only 47% operators attaining optimal force. Median paddle force applied to the child manikin was 3.8 kgf (max 10.2, min 1.0), with only 24% of operators attaining optimal force. Defibrillation paddle force applied during paediatric defibrillation often falls below optimal values.

Effect of retention in elementary grades on grade 9 motivation for educational attainment.

PubMed

Cham, Heining; Hughes, Jan N; West, Stephen G; Im, Myung Hee

2015-02-01

This study investigated the effect of grade retention in elementary school on students' motivation for educational attainment in grade 9. We equated retained and promoted students on 67 covariates assessed in grade 1 through propensity score weighting. Retained students (31.55%, nretained=177) and continuously promoted students (68.45%, npromoted=384) were compared on the bifactor model of motivation for educational attainment (Cham, Hughes, West & Im, 2014). This model consists of a General factor (student's overall motivation for educational attainment), and three specific factors: student perceived Teacher Educational Expectations, Peer Educational Aspirations, and Value of Education. Measurement invariance between retained and promoted groups was established. Retained students scored significantly higher than promoted students on each specific factor but not on the General factor. Results showed that the retained and promoted students did not significantly differ on the General factor. The retained students had significantly higher scores on each specific factor than those of the promoted students. The results suggested that grade retention may not have the negative effects so widely assumed in the published literature; it is an expensive intervention with minimal evidence of benefits to the retained student. Copyright © 2014 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gyrokinetic modeling of impurity peaking in JET H-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manas, P.; Camenen, Y.; Benkadda, S.; Weisen, H.; Angioni, C.; Casson, F. J.; Giroud, C.; Gelfusa, M.; Maslov, M.

2017-06-01

Quantitative comparisons are presented between gyrokinetic simulations and experimental values of the carbon impurity peaking factor in a database of JET H-modes during the carbon wall era. These plasmas feature strong NBI heating and hence high values of toroidal rotation and corresponding gradient. Furthermore, the carbon profiles present particularly interesting shapes for fusion devices, i.e., hollow in the core and peaked near the edge. Dependencies of the experimental carbon peaking factor ( R / L nC ) on plasma parameters are investigated via multilinear regressions. A marked correlation between R / L nC and the normalised toroidal rotation gradient is observed in the core, which suggests an important role of the rotation in establishing hollow carbon profiles. The carbon peaking factor is then computed with the gyrokinetic code GKW, using a quasi-linear approach, supported by a few non-linear simulations. The comparison of the quasi-linear predictions to the experimental values at mid-radius reveals two main regimes. At low normalised collisionality, ν * , and T e / T i < 1 , the gyrokinetic simulations quantitatively recover experimental carbon density profiles, provided that rotodiffusion is taken into account. In contrast, at higher ν * and T e / T i > 1 , the very hollow experimental carbon density profiles are never predicted by the simulations and the carbon density peaking is systematically over estimated. This points to a possible missing ingredient in this regime.

Evidence of equilibrium peak runoff rates in steep tropical terrain on the island of Dominica during Tropical Storm Erika, August 27, 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogden, Fred L.

2016-11-01

Tropical Storm Erika was a weakly organized tropical storm when its center of circulation passed more than 150 km north of the island of Dominica on August 27, 2015. Hurricane hunter flights had difficulty finding the center of circulation as the storm encountered a high shear environment. Satellite and radar observations showed gyres imbedded within the broader circulation. Radar observations from Guadeloupe show that one of these gyres formed in convergent mid-level flow triggered by orographic convection over the island of Dominica. Gauge-adjusted radar rainfall data indicated between 300 and 750 mm of rainfall on Dominica, most of it over a four hour period. The result was widespread flooding, destruction of property, and loss of life. The extremity of the rainfall on steep watersheds covered with shallow soils was hypothesized to result in near-equilibrium runoff conditions where peak runoff rates equal the watershed-average peak rainfall rate minus a small constant loss rate. Rain gauge adjusted radar rainfall estimates and indirect peak discharge (IPD) measurements from 16 rivers at watershed areas ranging from 0.9 to 31.4 km2 using the USGS Slope-Area method allowed testing of this hypothesis. IPD measurements were compared against the global envelope of maximum observed flood peaks versus drainage area and against simulations using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gridded Surface/Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA) model to detect landslide-affected peak flows. Model parameter values were estimated from the literature. Reasonable agreement was found between GSSHA simulated peak flows and IPD measurements in some watersheds. Results showed that landslide dam failure affected peak flows in 5 of the 16 rivers, with peak flows significantly greater than the envelope curve values for the flood of record for like-sized watersheds on the planet. GSSHA simulated peak discharges showed that the remaining 11 peak flow values were plausible. Simulations of an additional 24 watersheds ranging in size from 2.2 to 75.4 km2 provided confirmation that the IPD measurements varied from 40 to nearly 100% of the envelope curve value depending on storm-total rainfall. Results presented in this paper support the hypothesis that on average, the peak discharges scaled linearly with drainage area, and the constant of proportionality was equivalent to 134 mm h-1, or a unit discharge of 37.22 m3 s-1 km-2. The results also indicate that after the available watershed storage was filled after approximately 450-500 mm of rain fell, runoff efficiencies exceeded 50-60%, and peak runoff rates were more than 80% of the peak rainfall rate minus a small constant loss rate of 20 mm h-1. These findings have important implications for design of resilient infrastructure, and means that rainfall rate was the primary determinant of peak flows once the available storage was filled in the absences of landslide dam failure.

The transition from hydrostatic to greater than hydrostatic fluid pressure in presently active continental hydrothermal systems in crystalline rock

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fournier, R.O.

1991-01-01

Pore-fluid pressure (Pf) > Ph has been encountered at the bottom of 3 geothermal exploration wells that attained temperatures > 370??C (at Larderello, Italy, at Nesjavellir, Iceland, and at The Geysers, California). Chemical sealing by deposition of minerals in veins appears to have allowed the development of the high Pf encountered in the above wells. The upper limit for the magnitude of Pf that can be attained is controlled by either the onset of shear fracturing (where differential stress is relatively high) that reopens clogged veins, or the hydraulic opening of new or old fractures (at relatively low values of differential stress). -from Author

Behavior of Fatigue Crack Tip Opening in Air and Corrosive Atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashi, Morihito; Toeda, Kazunori

In the study, a formula for predicting fatigue crack tip opening displacement is deduced firstly. And then, due to comparing actual crack growth rate with the deduced formula, the crack tip configuration factor is defined to figure out the crack tip opening configuration that is useful to clarify the behavior of fatigue crack tip formation apparently. Applying the concept, the crack growth of 7/3 brass and 6/4 brass is predicted from the formula, by replacing material properties such as plastic flow resistance, Young modulus, the Poisson ratio, and fatigue toughness, and fatigue test conditions such as the stress intensity factor range, the load ratio, and cycle frequency. Furthermore, the theoretically expected results are verified with the fatigue tests which were carried out on CT specimens under different load conditions of load ratio, cycle frequency, and cyclic peak load, in different environments of air or corrosive ammonia atmosphere, for various brasses. And by comparing and discussing the calculated crack growth rate with attained experimental results, the apparent configuration factor at the crack tip is determined. And through the attained factor which changes along with crack growth, the behaviors of fatigue crack tip formation under different test conditions have been found out.

Do the peak and mean force methods of assessing vertical jump force asymmetry agree?

PubMed

Lake, Jason P; Mundy, Peter D; Comfort, Paul; Suchomel, Timothy J

2018-05-21

The aim of this study was to assess agreement between peak and mean force methods of quantifying force asymmetry during the countermovement jump (CMJ). Forty-five men performed four CMJ with each foot on one of two force plates recording at 1,000 Hz. Peak and mean were obtained from both sides during the braking and propulsion phases. The dominant side was obtained for the braking and propulsion phase as the side with the largest peak or mean force and agreement was assessed using percentage agreement and the kappa coefficient. Braking phase peak and mean force methods demonstrated a percentage agreement of 84% and a kappa value of 0.67 (95% confidence limits: 0.45-0.90), indicating substantial agreement. Propulsion phase peak and mean force methods demonstrated a percentage agreement of 87% and a kappa value of 0.72 (95% confidence limits: 0.51-0.93), indicating substantial agreement. While agreement was substantial, side-to-side differences were not reflected equally when peak and mean force methods of assessing CMJ asymmetry were used. These methods should not be used interchangeably, but rather a combined approach should be used where practitioners consider both peak and mean force to obtain the fullest picture of athlete asymmetry.

40 CFR 422.53 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 (d) The concentration of pollutants... values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 [41...

40 CFR 422.53 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 (d) The concentration of pollutants... values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride (as F) 75 25 [41...

76 FR 3838 - Approval and Promulgation of One-Year Extension for Attaining the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-21

... accordance with requirements for a 1-year extension, the Philadelphia Area's 4th highest daily 8-hour...) The maximum 4th highest daily 8-hour monitored value at any monitoring site in the Philadelphia area...

Cold chain food distribution from the Driftless Area : keys to attaining self-reliance in the circle city.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-05-01

In recent years, small- to mid-scale farms have increasingly emphasized the importance of branding and establishing : the appropriate identity to enter the value-added market. Farms in the Driftless Area (mostly Southwest Wisconsin) are : slowly deve...

Three new potential ovarian cancer biomarkers detected in human urine with equalizer bead technology.

PubMed

Petri, Anette Lykke; Simonsen, Anja Hviid; Yip, Tai-Tung; Hogdall, Estrid; Fung, Eric T; Lundvall, Lene; Hogdall, Claus

2009-01-01

To examine whether urine can be used to measure specific ovarian cancer proteomic profiles and whether one peak alone or in combination with other peaks or CA125 has the sensitivity and specificity to discriminate between ovarian cancer pelvic mass and benign pelvic mass. A total of 209 women were admitted for surgery for pelvic mass at the Gynaecological Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Of the women, 156 had benign gynaecological tumors, 13 had borderline tumors and 40 had malignant epithelial ovarian cancer. The prospectively and preoperatively collected urine samples were aliquotted and frozen at -80 degrees until the time of analysis. The urine was fractionated using equalizer bead technology and then analyzed with surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Biomarkers were purified and identified using combinations of chromatographic techniques and tandem mass spectrometry. Benign and malignant ovarian cancer cases were compared; 21 significantly different peaks (p<0.001) were visualized using Mann-Whitney analysis, ranging in m/z values from 1,500 to 185,000. The three most significant peaks were purified and identified as fibrinogen alpha fragment (m/z=2570.21), collagen alpha 1 (III) fragment (m/z=2707.32) and fibrinogen beta NT fragment (m/z=4425.09). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC AUC) value for these three peaks in combination was 0.88, and their ROC AUC value in combination with CA125 was 0.96. This result supports the feasibility of using urine as a clinical diagnostic medium, and the ROC AUC value for the three most significant peaks in combination with or without CA125 demonstrates the enhanced prediction performance of combined marker analysis.

Verification of the tumor volume delineation method using a fixed threshold of peak standardized uptake value.

PubMed

Koyama, Kazuya; Mitsumoto, Takuya; Shiraishi, Takahiro; Tsuda, Keisuke; Nishiyama, Atsushi; Inoue, Kazumasa; Yoshikawa, Kyosan; Hatano, Kazuo; Kubota, Kazuo; Fukushi, Masahiro

2017-09-01

We aimed to determine the difference in tumor volume associated with the reconstruction model in positron-emission tomography (PET). To reduce the influence of the reconstruction model, we suggested a method to measure the tumor volume using the relative threshold method with a fixed threshold based on peak standardized uptake value (SUV peak ). The efficacy of our method was verified using 18 F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/computed tomography images of 20 patients with lung cancer. The tumor volume was determined using the relative threshold method with a fixed threshold based on the SUV peak . The PET data were reconstructed using the ordered-subset expectation maximization (OSEM) model, the OSEM + time-of-flight (TOF) model, and the OSEM + TOF + point-spread function (PSF) model. The volume differences associated with the reconstruction algorithm (%VD) were compared. For comparison, the tumor volume was measured using the relative threshold method based on the maximum SUV (SUV max ). For the OSEM and TOF models, the mean %VD values were -0.06 ± 8.07 and -2.04 ± 4.23% for the fixed 40% threshold according to the SUV max and the SUV peak, respectively. The effect of our method in this case seemed to be minor. For the OSEM and PSF models, the mean %VD values were -20.41 ± 14.47 and -13.87 ± 6.59% for the fixed 40% threshold according to the SUV max and SUV peak , respectively. Our new method enabled the measurement of tumor volume with a fixed threshold and reduced the influence of the changes in tumor volume associated with the reconstruction model.

Effect of pH value of probe molecule on the graphene oxide-based surface enhanced Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Shao-li; Du, Xiao-qing; Zeng, Chao; Li, Lu; Bao, Jun

2017-06-01

The dependence of graphene oxide (GO)-based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on the pH value of probe molecule was investigated. Water-soluble copper phthalocyanine (TSCuPc) was used as probe molecule and its pH value was adjusted with HCl and NaOH solution. The Raman spectra of TSCuPc with pH equaling 3, 8, and 11 on GO base were tested, respectively. The results show that both Raman enhanced intensity and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of characteristic peaks vary with the pH value of TSCuPc. It is shown that there is no obvious spectral widening of TSCuPc characteristic peaks when TSCuPc is neutral or acidic, and the chemical enhancement intensity of neutral TSCuPc on GO is biggest. In contrast, when TSCuPc is alkaline, the characteristic Raman peaks between 1350 and 1600 cm-1 of TSCuPc on GO are much wider and the intensities of characteristic peaks decrease considerably. The reasons for the pH dependence of GO-based Raman spectra were explored by comparing the wettability of molecule droplet on GO and the absorbance of different pH-adjusted TSCuPc films. It is found that the effect of molecule's pH value on SERS can be contributed to the differences of concentration and distributions on GO surface for varied pH-treated molecule.

Site response assessment at the city of Alkhobar, Eastern Saudi Arabia from microtremor and boring data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fnais, M. S.

2014-12-01

The AlKhobar City affected by distant earthquakes from Zagros fold-fault belt of subduction zone. These earthquakes produced great site effects on the sedimentary layers that in turn significantly influenced earthquake ground motions in the area. Mapping of site response using microtremor measurements compared with geological and borehole data of Alkhobar city is the main target of this work. The resonance frequency and their H/V values have been calculated using Nakamura technique through deployed of seismograph instruments at 113 sites in AlKhobar city for different time periods. The recording length was about one hour with sampling frequency of 100 Hz. Most of the measured sites present three peaks for the resonance frequency; the first peak ranges from 0.33 to 1.03 Hz, the second peak ranges from 1.03 to 1.23 Hz, while the third peak ranges from 1.23-1.73. Tests have been conducted to ensure that these peaks are natural in origin. The northern zones of AlKhobar City have lower values of resonance frequency indicating great thickness of sediments. In contrast, the southern parts of the city have higher values of resonance frequency illustrating shallow depths of the bedrock. Furthermore, twenty of boreholes have been conducted through AlKhobar City to different depth. Standard penetration test (SPT) data has been corrected and used to calculate the resonance frequency at their locations. Borehole results clarified that the resonance frequency values range from 0.27 to 1.95 Hz. These results are correlated well with that of the microtremor measurements. Accordingly, the first peak have been interpreted due to the impedance contrast between the limestone and the overlying sediments, while the third peak is originated from a boundary between the upper most surface layer and the underlying sediments. These results must be applied for earthquake risk mitigation in AlKhobar City.

Effect of electric potential and current on mandibular linear measurements in cone beam CT.

PubMed

Panmekiate, S; Apinhasmit, W; Petersson, A

2012-10-01

The purpose of this study was to compare mandibular linear distances measured from cone beam CT (CBCT) images produced by different radiographic parameter settings (peak kilovoltage and milliampere value). 20 cadaver hemimandibles with edentulous ridges posterior to the mental foramen were embedded in clear resin blocks and scanned by a CBCT machine (CB MercuRay(TM); Hitachi Medico Technology Corp., Chiba-ken, Japan). The radiographic parameters comprised four peak kilovoltage settings (60 kVp, 80 kVp, 100 kVp and 120 kVp) and two milliampere settings (10 mA and 15 mA). A 102.4 mm field of view was chosen. Each hemimandible was scanned 8 times with 8 different parameter combinations resulting in 160 CBCT data sets. On the cross-sectional images, six linear distances were measured. To assess the intraobserver variation, the 160 data sets were remeasured after 2 weeks. The measurement precision was calculated using Dahlberg's formula. With the same peak kilovoltage, the measurements yielded by different milliampere values were compared using the paired t-test. With the same milliampere value, the measurements yielded by different peak kilovoltage were compared using analysis of variance. A significant difference was considered when p < 0.05. Measurement precision varied from 0.03 mm to 0.28 mm. No significant differences in the distances were found among the different radiographic parameter combinations. Based upon the specific machine in the present study, low peak kilovoltage and milliampere value might be used for linear measurements in the posterior mandible.

The Relation of Arm Exercise Peak Heart Rate to Stress Test Results and Outcome.

PubMed

Xian, Hong; Liu, Weijian; Marshall, Cynthia; Chandiramani, Pooja; Bainter, Emily; Martin, Wade H

2016-09-01

Arm exercise is an alternative to pharmacologic stress testing for >50% of patients unable to perform treadmill exercise, but no data exist regarding the effect of attained peak arm exercise heart rate on test sensitivity. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to characterize the relationship of peak arm exercise heart rate responses to abnormal stress test findings, coronary revascularization, and mortality in patients unable to perform leg exercise. From 1997 until 2002, arm cycle ergometer stress tests were performed in 443 consecutive veterans age 64.1 yr (11.0 yr) (mean (SD)), of whom 253 also underwent myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Patients were categorized by frequency distributions of quartiles of percentage age-predicted peak heart rate (APPHR), heart rate reserve (HRR), and peak heart rate-systolic blood pressure product (PRPP). Exercise-induced ST-segment depression, abnormal MPI findings, coronary revascularization, and 12.0-yr (1.3 yr) Kaplan-Meier all-cause and cardiovascular mortality plots were then characterized by quartiles of APPHR, HRR, and PRPP. A reduced frequency of abnormal arm exercise ECG results was associated only with the lowest quartile of APPHR (≤69%) and HRR (≤43%), whereas higher frequency of abnormal MPI findings exhibited an inverse relationship trend with lower APPHR (P = 0.10) and HRR (P = 0.12). There was a strong inverse association of APPHR, HRR, and PRPP with all-cause (all P ≤ 0.01) and cardiovascular (P < 0.05) mortality. The frequency of coronary revascularization was unrelated to APPHR or HRR. Arm exercise ECG stress test sensitivity is only reduced at ≤69% APPHR or ≤43% HRR, whereas arm exercise MPI sensitivity and referral for coronary revascularization after arm exercise stress testing are not adversely affected by even a severely blunted peak heart rate. However, both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality are strongly and inversely related to APPHR and HRR.

The role of attainment value, academic self-efficacy, and message frame in the appraisal of value-promoting messages.

PubMed

Symes, Wendy; Putwain, David W

2016-09-01

Prior to high-stakes examinations, teachers may use value-promoting messages (VPMs) to communicate to students the value and importance of their forthcoming examinations in the hope that they will adopt adaptive learning and study behaviours. These messages can focus on achieving success (gain-framed) or avoiding failure (loss-framed). This study examined how secondary school students appraised hypothetical gain- and loss-framed VPMs, and how these appraisals differed according to self-reported levels of attainment value (AV) and academic self-efficacy (ASE). In total, 539 secondary school students (284 male, 255 female, mean age 14.8 years) were participated in this study. Participants completed self-report measures of AV and ASE and appraised hypothetical VPMs as challenging, threatening, or irrelevant (disregard). Participants were randomly assigned to a gain- or loss-framed condition. A challenge appraisal was greater in students with higher AV and ASE. A threat appraisal was greater in students with higher AV and lower ASE. A disregard appraisal was higher in students with lower AV. Message frame did not interact with AV or ASE in the appraisal of VPMs as challenging, threatening, or irrelevant. Educational practitioners should consider the characteristics of their students before using VPMs. In particular, they may not be effective for students high in AV and low in ASE. They are likely to be ineffective for students low in AV. © 2016 The British Psychological Society.

[A peak recognition algorithm designed for chromatographic peaks of transformer oil].

PubMed

Ou, Linjun; Cao, Jian

2014-09-01

In the field of the chromatographic peak identification of the transformer oil, the traditional first-order derivative requires slope threshold to achieve peak identification. In terms of its shortcomings of low automation and easy distortion, the first-order derivative method was improved by applying the moving average iterative method and the normalized analysis techniques to identify the peaks. Accurate identification of the chromatographic peaks was realized through using multiple iterations of the moving average of signal curves and square wave curves to determine the optimal value of the normalized peak identification parameters, combined with the absolute peak retention times and peak window. The experimental results show that this algorithm can accurately identify the peaks and is not sensitive to the noise, the chromatographic peak width or the peak shape changes. It has strong adaptability to meet the on-site requirements of online monitoring devices of dissolved gases in transformer oil.

Optimizing cerebral perfusion pressure during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in severe head injury: effect of hyperventilation.

PubMed

Previgliano, I J; Ripoll, P I; Chiappero, G; Galíndez, F; Germani, L; González, D H; Ferrari, N; Hlavnicka, A; Purvis, C

2002-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate if Hyperventilation (HV) could avoid the Intracranial Pressure (ICP) peak that occurs during Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy (FB) in severely head injured patients. A Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) > 75 mmHg was maintained in 34 patients, with a subgroup randomized to receive controlled HV during FB. Measurements were done before the procedure, during maximum ICP values and 30 minutes after FB. The HV group had minor ICP values after FB, without differences in CPP and ICP peak values.

Estimates of Flow Duration, Mean Flow, and Peak-Discharge Frequency Values for Kansas Stream Locations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perry, Charles A.; Wolock, David M.; Artman, Joshua C.

2004-01-01

Streamflow statistics of flow duration and peak-discharge frequency were estimated for 4,771 individual locations on streams listed on the 1999 Kansas Surface Water Register. These statistics included the flow-duration values of 90, 75, 50, 25, and 10 percent, as well as the mean flow value. Peak-discharge frequency values were estimated for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods. Least-squares multiple regression techniques were used, along with Tobit analyses, to develop equations for estimating flow-duration values of 90, 75, 50, 25, and 10 percent and the mean flow for uncontrolled flow stream locations. The contributing-drainage areas of 149 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas and parts of surrounding States that had flow uncontrolled by Federal reservoirs and used in the regression analyses ranged from 2.06 to 12,004 square miles. Logarithmic transformations of climatic and basin data were performed to yield the best linear relation for developing equations to compute flow durations and mean flow. In the regression analyses, the significant climatic and basin characteristics, in order of importance, were contributing-drainage area, mean annual precipitation, mean basin permeability, and mean basin slope. The analyses yielded a model standard error of prediction range of 0.43 logarithmic units for the 90-percent duration analysis to 0.15 logarithmic units for the 10-percent duration analysis. The model standard error of prediction was 0.14 logarithmic units for the mean flow. Regression equations used to estimate peak-discharge frequency values were obtained from a previous report, and estimates for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods were determined for this report. The regression equations and an interpolation procedure were used to compute flow durations, mean flow, and estimates of peak-discharge frequency for locations along uncontrolled flow streams on the 1999 Kansas Surface Water Register. Flow durations, mean flow, and peak-discharge frequency values determined at available gaging stations were used to interpolate the regression-estimated flows for the stream locations where available. Streamflow statistics for locations that had uncontrolled flow were interpolated using data from gaging stations weighted according to the drainage area and the bias between the regression-estimated and gaged flow information. On controlled reaches of Kansas streams, the streamflow statistics were interpolated between gaging stations using only gaged data weighted by drainage area.

Comparative study of goal contents and goal characteristics between medical and business students

PubMed Central

Park, Soowon; Kim, Ji Eun; Lee, Jun-Young; Shin, Jongho

2016-01-01

Purpose: Medical and business are one of the most popular majors among students, and both fields require intensive training to reach certain level of expertise. During the development of professionalism, goal can become a crucial role in psychological impetus. The purpose of this study is to compare goal contents, goal characteristics, and effect of goal characteristics on student’s major satisfaction between medical and business. Methods: A total of 193 undergraduate students (97 medical students, 96 business students) answered survey questions including goal contents, goal characteristics (goal autonomy, goal attainability, social value of goal) and satisfaction on their majors. Qualitative analysis of goal contents and quantitative analysis of goal characteristics, and their effects on student major satisfaction were performed. Results: Goal content analysis showed percentage of social concern goal was higher in medical students (25.8%) than business students (6.3%), whereas percentage of wealth goal was higher business students (24.0%) than medical students (3.1%). Among goal characteristics, goal attainability and social value of goal were higher in medical students than business students. In both groups, social value of goal was significantly predict major satisfaction. Conclusion: Goal contents and goal characteristics are different between medical and business students. Curriculum and educational interventions that concerning students’ goal and developing programs to enhance students’ social value of goal is necessary. PMID:26838564

Boundary effects on population dynamics in stochastic lattice Lotka-Volterra models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heiba, Bassel; Chen, Sheng; Täuber, Uwe C.

2018-02-01

We investigate spatially inhomogeneous versions of the stochastic Lotka-Volterra model for predator-prey competition and coexistence by means of Monte Carlo simulations on a two-dimensional lattice with periodic boundary conditions. To study boundary effects for this paradigmatic population dynamics system, we employ a simulation domain split into two patches: Upon setting the predation rates at two distinct values, one half of the system resides in an absorbing state where only the prey survives, while the other half attains a stable coexistence state wherein both species remain active. At the domain boundary, we observe a marked enhancement of the predator population density. The predator correlation length displays a minimum at the boundary, before reaching its asymptotic constant value deep in the active region. The frequency of the population oscillations appears only very weakly affected by the existence of two distinct domains, in contrast to their attenuation rate, which assumes its largest value there. We also observe that boundary effects become less prominent as the system is successively divided into subdomains in a checkerboard pattern, with two different reaction rates assigned to neighboring patches. When the domain size becomes reduced to the scale of the correlation length, the mean population densities attain values that are very similar to those in a disordered system with randomly assigned reaction rates drawn from a bimodal distribution.

The UKCAT-12 study: educational attainment, aptitude test performance, demographic and socio-economic contextual factors as predictors of first year outcome in a cross-sectional collaborative study of 12 UK medical schools.

PubMed

McManus, I C; Dewberry, Chris; Nicholson, Sandra; Dowell, Jonathan S

2013-11-14

Most UK medical schools use aptitude tests during student selection, but large-scale studies of predictive validity are rare. This study assesses the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), and its four sub-scales, along with measures of educational attainment, individual and contextual socio-economic background factors, as predictors of performance in the first year of medical school training. A prospective study of 4,811 students in 12 UK medical schools taking the UKCAT from 2006 to 2008 as a part of the medical school application, for whom first year medical school examination results were available in 2008 to 2010. UKCAT scores and educational attainment measures (General Certificate of Education (GCE): A-levels, and so on; or Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Scottish Highers, and so on) were significant predictors of outcome. UKCAT predicted outcome better in female students than male students, and better in mature than non-mature students. Incremental validity of UKCAT taking educational attainment into account was significant, but small. Medical school performance was also affected by sex (male students performing less well), ethnicity (non-White students performing less well), and a contextual measure of secondary schooling, students from secondary schools with greater average attainment at A-level (irrespective of public or private sector) performing less well. Multilevel modeling showed no differences between medical schools in predictive ability of the various measures. UKCAT sub-scales predicted similarly, except that Verbal Reasoning correlated positively with performance on Theory examinations, but negatively with Skills assessments. This collaborative study in 12 medical schools shows the power of large-scale studies of medical education for answering previously unanswerable but important questions about medical student selection, education and training. UKCAT has predictive validity as a predictor of medical school outcome, particularly in mature applicants to medical school. UKCAT offers small but significant incremental validity which is operationally valuable where medical schools are making selection decisions based on incomplete measures of educational attainment. The study confirms the validity of using all the existing measures of educational attainment in full at the time of selection decision-making. Contextual measures provide little additional predictive value, except that students from high attaining secondary schools perform less well, an effect previously shown for UK universities in general.

The UKCAT-12 study: educational attainment, aptitude test performance, demographic and socio-economic contextual factors as predictors of first year outcome in a cross-sectional collaborative study of 12 UK medical schools

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Most UK medical schools use aptitude tests during student selection, but large-scale studies of predictive validity are rare. This study assesses the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), and its four sub-scales, along with measures of educational attainment, individual and contextual socio-economic background factors, as predictors of performance in the first year of medical school training. Methods A prospective study of 4,811 students in 12 UK medical schools taking the UKCAT from 2006 to 2008 as a part of the medical school application, for whom first year medical school examination results were available in 2008 to 2010. Results UKCAT scores and educational attainment measures (General Certificate of Education (GCE): A-levels, and so on; or Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Scottish Highers, and so on) were significant predictors of outcome. UKCAT predicted outcome better in female students than male students, and better in mature than non-mature students. Incremental validity of UKCAT taking educational attainment into account was significant, but small. Medical school performance was also affected by sex (male students performing less well), ethnicity (non-White students performing less well), and a contextual measure of secondary schooling, students from secondary schools with greater average attainment at A-level (irrespective of public or private sector) performing less well. Multilevel modeling showed no differences between medical schools in predictive ability of the various measures. UKCAT sub-scales predicted similarly, except that Verbal Reasoning correlated positively with performance on Theory examinations, but negatively with Skills assessments. Conclusions This collaborative study in 12 medical schools shows the power of large-scale studies of medical education for answering previously unanswerable but important questions about medical student selection, education and training. UKCAT has predictive validity as a predictor of medical school outcome, particularly in mature applicants to medical school. UKCAT offers small but significant incremental validity which is operationally valuable where medical schools are making selection decisions based on incomplete measures of educational attainment. The study confirms the validity of using all the existing measures of educational attainment in full at the time of selection decision-making. Contextual measures provide little additional predictive value, except that students from high attaining secondary schools perform less well, an effect previously shown for UK universities in general. PMID:24229380

Teaching Grammar to Adult English Language Learners: Focus on Form. CAELA Network Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallup Rodriguez, Amber

2009-01-01

Many adult English language learners place a high value on learning grammar. Perceiving a link between grammatical accuracy and effective communication, they associate excellent grammar with opportunities for employment and promotion, the attainment of educational goals, and social acceptance by native speakers. Reflecting the disagreement that…

Measurement Of Crossflow Vortex Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maddalon, Dal V.; Agarwal, Navel K.

1994-01-01

Method developed for measuring wavelengths of crossflow vortices by using surface-mounted, microthin, multielement hot-film sensors. Provides direct and true value of wavelength of crossflow vortices at various spanwise locations without localized flow disturbances. Attainment of laminar airflow on aircraft wings has significant potential for reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency.

Learning for Careers: The Pathways to Prosperity Network

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Nancy; Schwartz, Robert B.

2017-01-01

Learning for Careers provides a comprehensive account of the Pathways to Prosperity Network, a national initiative focused on helping more young people successfully complete high school, attain a first postsecondary credential with value in the labor market, and get started on a career without foreclosing the opportunity for further education. It…

14 CFR 31.19 - Performance: Uncontrolled descent.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... single failure of the heater assembly, fuel cell system, gas value system, or maneuvering vent system, or from any single tear in the balloon envelope between tear stoppers: (1) The maximum vertical velocity attained. (2) The altitude loss from the point of failure to the point at which maximum vertical velocity...

40 CFR 418.13 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attained by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus... exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride 75 25 [39 FR 12836, Apr. 8, 1974, as amended at 41 FR...

40 CFR 418.13 - Effluent limitations and guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attained by the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed— Total phosphorus... exceed— Total phosphorus (as P) 105 35 Fluoride 75 25 [39 FR 12836, Apr. 8, 1974, as amended at 41 FR...

Examining Construct Validity of the Quantitative Literacy VALUE Rubric in College-Level STEM Assignments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Julie S.; Brown, Melissa A.; Connolly, John P.

2017-01-01

Data-driven decision making is increasingly viewed as essential in a globally competitive society. Initiatives to augment standardized testing with performance-based assessment have increased as educators progressively respond to mandates for authentic measurement of student attainment. To meet this challenge, multidisciplinary rubrics were…

Sustaining Professional Learning Communities through Teacher Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jennings, Karen

2013-01-01

Professional learning communities (PLCs), with their attributes of shared values, high expectations, and collaboration, have the potential to change school culture. The 4 elementary schools in this study have been unable to sustain ongoing, effective teamwork, resulting in a failure to attain adequate progress, and in 2 schools, in the placement…

Child Characteristics and Parental Educational Expectations: Evidence for Transmission with Transaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briley, Daniel A.; Harden, K. Paige; Tucker-Drob, Elliot M.

2014-01-01

Parents' expectations for their children's ultimate educational attainment have been hypothesized to play an instrumental role in socializing academically relevant child behaviors, beliefs, and abilities. In addition to social transmission of educationally relevant values from parents to children, parental expectations and child…

Junior High Student Responsibilities for Basic Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Charles C.

This paper advances the thesis that students should be trained to recognize acceptable and unacceptable performances in basic skill areas and should assume responsibility for attaining proficiency in these areas. Among the topics discussed are the value of having junior high school students check their own assignments, discover their errors, and…

Does paired mentoring work? A study of the effectiveness and affective value of academically asymmetrical peer mentoring in supporting disadvantaged students in school science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharpe, Rachael; Abrahams, Ian; Fotou, Nikolaos

2018-04-01

In England, there is a growing need to improve the lives of secondary school students who are defined as disadvantaged and to support these students in their attainment and attitudes to secondary school science.

High Stability Metal-Protein Interactions Evaluated by Microcalorimetry

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-29

microprocessor -controlled internal vacuum pump runs for a 90 second period, then it evaluates the vacuum pressure attained, and if that value meets spec...and the other with the software. There is a place in the wash module program where the ITC’s microprocessor - controlled internal vacuum pump runs for

29 CFR 4010.8 - Plan actuarial information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Terminated vested participants, and (iii) Active participants; (2) The fair market value of the plan's assets... used to determine the benefit liabilities in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; (5) The funding target... consecutive period of at least five plan years; (6) The funding target attainment percentage (as of the...

Transforming the Future of Learning with Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Askell-Williams, Helen, Ed.

2015-01-01

The field of education is a vital component of today's society, enriching and facilitating the attainment of new knowledge. Progress continues to be achieved in this area as new methods are envisioned that increase education's value. "Transforming the Future of Learning with Educational Research" brings together diverse perspectives that…

Effect of Different Time/Temperature Roast Combinations on Nutritional and Mechanical Properties of Peanuts

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Peanuts in North America and Europe are primarily consumed after dry roasting. Standard industry practice is to roast peanuts to a specific surface color (Hunter L-value) for a given application; however, equivalent surface colors can be attained using different roast temperature/time combinations....

Compositional and Mechanical Properties of Peanuts Roasted to Equivalent Colors using Different Time/Temperature Combinations

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Peanuts in North America and Europe are primarily consumed after dry roasting. Standard industry practice is to roast peanuts to a specific surface color (Hunter L-value) for a given application; however, equivalent surface colors can be attained using different roast temperature/time combinations,...

Creative Primary Schools: Developing and Maintaining Pedagogy for Creativity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Craft, Anna; Cremin, Teresa; Hay, Penny; Clack, James

2014-01-01

This micro-ethnographic study investigated pedagogy in two English primary schools, following a change of government and challenges posed by economic austerity. Unlike the previous decade's emphasis on children's curiosity and agency and valuing arts and partnership, emphasis on knowledge and attainment was now foregrounded. A two-stage National…

USSR Report, Agriculture, No. 1384

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-09

haylage . The merits of this crop were highly valued even 5,000 years ago. However, in the past only individual countries were able to attain its...and haylage . 7,360 farms do not have repair shops, 17,000 do not have centers for technical service. This prevents both high productivity of machinery

Attainment rate as a surrogate indicator of the intervertebral neutral zone length in lateral bending: an in vitro proof of concept study.

PubMed

Breen, Alexander C; Dupac, Mihai; Osborne, Neil

2015-01-01

Lumbar segmental instability is often considered to be a cause of chronic low back pain. However, defining its measurement has been largely limited to laboratory studies. These have characterised segmental stability as the intrinsic resistance of spine specimens to initial bending moments by quantifying the dynamic neutral zone. However these measurements have been impossible to obtain in vivo without invasive procedures, preventing the assessment of intervertebral stability in patients. Quantitative fluoroscopy (QF), measures the initial velocity of the attainment of intervertebral rotational motion in patients, which may to some extent be representative of the dynamic neutral zone. This study sought to explore the possible relationship between the dynamic neutral zone and intervertebral rotational attainment rate as measured with (QF) in an in vitro preparation. The purpose was to find out if further work into this concept is worth pursuing. This study used passive recumbent QF in a multi-segmental porcine model. This assessed the intrinsic intervertebral responses to a minimal coronal plane bending moment as measured with a digital force guage. Bending moments about each intervertebral joint were calculated and correlated with the rate at which global motion was attained at each intervertebral segment in the first 10° of global motion where the intervertebral joint was rotating. Unlike previous studies of single segment specimens, a neutral zone was found to exist during lateral bending. The initial attainment rates for left and right lateral flexion were comparable to previously published in vivo values for healthy controls. Substantial and highly significant levels of correlation between initial attainment rate and neutral zone were found for left (Rho = 0.75, P = 0.0002) and combined left-right bending (Rho = 0.72, P = 0.0001) and moderate ones for right alone (Rho = 0.55, P = 0.0012). This study found good correlation between the initial intervertebral attainment rate and the dynamic neutral zone, thereby opening the possibility to detect segmental instability from clinical studies. However the results must be treated with caution. Further studies with multiple specimens and adding sagittal plane motion are warranted.

Comparison of the sensitivity of the UKCAT and A Levels to sociodemographic characteristics: a national study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) was introduced to facilitate widening participation in medical and dental education in the UK by providing universities with a continuous variable to aid selection; one that might be less sensitive to the sociodemographic background of candidates compared to traditional measures of educational attainment. Initial research suggested that males, candidates from more advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and those who attended independent or grammar schools performed better on the test. The introduction of the A* grade at A level permits more detailed analysis of the relationship between UKCAT scores, secondary educational attainment and sociodemographic variables. Thus, our aim was to further assess whether the UKCAT is likely to add incremental value over A level (predicted or actual) attainment in the selection process. Methods Data relating to UKCAT and A level performance from 8,180 candidates applying to medicine in 2009 who had complete information relating to six key sociodemographic variables were analysed. A series of regression analyses were conducted in order to evaluate the ability of sociodemographic status to predict performance on two outcome measures: A level ‘best of three’ tariff score; and the UKCAT scores. Results In this sample A level attainment was independently and positively predicted by four sociodemographic variables (independent/grammar schooling, White ethnicity, age and professional social class background). These variables also independently and positively predicted UKCAT scores. There was a suggestion that UKCAT scores were less sensitive to educational background compared to A level attainment. In contrast to A level attainment, UKCAT score was independently and positively predicted by having English as a first language and male sex. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with a previous report; most of the sociodemographic factors that predict A level attainment also predict UKCAT performance. However, compared to A levels, males and those speaking English as a first language perform better on UKCAT. Our findings suggest that UKCAT scores may be more influenced by sex and less sensitive to school type compared to A levels. These factors must be considered by institutions utilising the UKCAT as a component of the medical and dental school selection process. PMID:24400861

Mitigating Stress Waves Using Nanofoams and Nanohoneycombs

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-16

In the following sections, we present our work in chronological order. 3 1. TWO-PARAMETER STUDY ON SILICA NANOFOAMS 1.1 Preparation...and Characterization of Silica Nanofoams Following the work in the last period of performance, we performed a systematic study on silica nanofoam...12.98MPa Peak value of transmission pulse: 5.32MPa Normalized peak value: 0.410 Pressure reduction: 0.02 MPa 19 2. SINGLE-PARAMETER STUDY ON

Simulation Study to Improve Focalization of a Figure Eight Coil by Using a Conductive Shield Plate and a Ferromagnetic Block.

PubMed

Zhao, Chen; Zhang, Shunqi; Liu, Zhipeng; Yin, Tao

2015-07-01

A new method to improve the focalization and efficiency of the Figure of Eight (FOE) coil in rTMS is discussed in this paper. In order to decrease the half width of the distribution curve (HWDC), as well to increase the ratio of positive peak value to negative peak value (RPN) of the induced electric field, a shield plate with a window and a ferromagnetic block are assumed to enhance the positive peak value of the induced electrical field. The shield is made of highly conductive copper, and the block is made of highly permeable soft magnetic ferrite. A computer simulation is conducted on ANSYS® software to conduct the finite element analysis (FEA). Two comparing coefficients were set up to optimize the sizes of the shield window and the block. Simulation results show that a shield with a 60 mm × 30 mm sized window, together with a block 40 mm thick, can decrease the focal area of a FOE coil by 46.7%, while increasing the RPN by 135.9%. The block enhances the peak value of the electrical field induced by a shield-FOE by 8.4%. A real human head model was occupied in this paper to further verify our method.

Histopathologic diversity of gastric cancers: Relationship between enhancement pattern on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and histological type.

PubMed

Tsurumaru, Daisuke; Miyasaka, Mitsutoshi; Muraki, Toshio; Nishie, Akihiro; Asayama, Yoshiki; Oki, Eiji; Oda, Yoshinao; Honda, Hiroshi

2017-12-01

To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography gastrography (CE-CTG) to predict the histological type of gastric cancer. We analyzed 47 consecutive patients with resectable advanced gastric cancer preoperatively evaluated by multiphasic dynamic contrast-enhanced CT. Two radiologists independently reviewed the CT images and they determined the peak enhancement phase, and then measured the CT attenuation value of the gastric lesion for each phase. The histological types of gastric cancers were assigned to three groups as differentiated-type, undifferentiated-type, and mixed-type. We compared the peak enhancement phase of the three types and compared the CT attenuation values in each phase. The peak enhancement was significantly different between the three types of gastric cancers for both readers (reader 1, p=0.001; reader 2, p=0.009); most of the undifferentiated types had peak enhancement in the delayed phase. The CT attenuation values of undifferentiated type were significantly higher than those of differentiated or mixed type in the delayed phase according to both readers (reader 1, p=0.002; reader 2, p=0.004). CE-CTG could provide helpful information in diagnosing the histological type of gastric cancers preoperatively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Energy accumulation and allocation of main plant populations in Aneurolepidium chinense grassland in Songnen Plain].

PubMed

Qu, Guohui; Wen, Mingzhang; Guo, Jixun

2003-05-01

The calorific value of plants is dependent on their biological characteristics and energy-containing materials. The allocation of calorific value in different organs of Aneurolepidium chinese, Calamagrostic epigejos, Puccinellia tenuiflora and Chloris virgata was inflorescence > leaf > stem > dead standing. The seasonal dynamics of standing crop energy of aboveground part of four plant populations showed single-peak curve, and the energy production was Aneurolepidium chinense > Calamagrostic epigejos > Chloris virgata > Puccinellia tenuiflora. Energy increasing rate showed double-peak curve, with the first peak at heading stage and the second peak at maturing stage of seeds. Energy increasing rate was negative at the final stage of growth. The horizontal distribution of energy of aboveground part was that the allocation ratio of different organs at different growth stages was different. There existed a similar trend for vertical distribution of energy among four plant populations, i.e., was the vertical distribution of energy of aboveground part showed a tower shape, with the maximum value in 10-30 cm height. The vertical distribution of energy of underground part showed an inverted tower shape from soil surface to deeper layer, with the maximum value in 0-10 cm depth. The standing crop energy of underground part was about 3-4 times than that of aboveground part.

The effects of age and step length on joint kinematics and kinetics of large out-and-back steps.

PubMed

Schulz, Brian W; Ashton-Miller, James A; Alexander, Neil B

2008-06-01

Maximum step length (MSL) is a clinical test that has been shown to correlate with age, various measures of fall risk, and knee and hip joint extension speed, strength, and power capacities, but little is known about the kinematics and kinetics of the large out-and-back step utilized. Body motions and ground reaction forces were recorded for 11 unimpaired younger and 10 older women while attaining maximum step length. Joint kinematics and kinetics were calculated using inverse dynamics. The effects of age group and step length on the biomechanics of these large out-and-back steps were determined. Maximum step length was 40% greater in the younger than in the older women (P<0.0001). Peak knee and hip, but not ankle, angle, velocity, moment, and power were generally greater for younger women and longer steps. After controlling for age group, step length generally explained significant additional variance in hip and torso kinematics and kinetics (incremental R2=0.09-0.37). The young reached their peak knee extension moment immediately after landing of the step out, while the old reached their peak knee extension moment just before the return step liftoff (P=0.03). Maximum step length is strongly associated with hip kinematics and kinetics. Delays in peak knee extension moment that appear to be unrelated to step length, may indicate a reduced ability of older women to rapidly apply force to the ground with the stepping leg and thus arrest the momentum of a fall.

The effects of age and step length on joint kinematics and kinetics of large out-and-back steps

PubMed Central

Schulz, Brian W.; Ashton-Miller, James A.; Alexander, Neil B.

2008-01-01

Background Maximum Step Length is a clinical test that has been shown to correlate with age, various measures of fall risk, and knee and hip joint extension speed, strength, and power capacities, but little is known about the kinematics and kinetics of the large out-and-back step utilized. Methods Body motions and ground reaction forces were recorded for 11 unimpaired younger and 10 older women while attaining Maximum Step Length. Joint kinematics and kinetics were calculated using inverse dynamics. The effects of age group and step length on the biomechanics of these large out-and-back steps were determined. Findings Maximum Step Length was 40% greater in the younger than in the older women (p<0.0001). Peak knee and hip, but not ankle, angle, velocity, moment, and power were generally greater for younger women and longer steps. After controlling for age group, step length generally explained significant additional variance in hip and torso kinematics and kinetics (incremental R2=0.09–0.37). The young reached their peak knee extension moment immediately after landing of the step out, while the old reached their peak knee extension moment just before the return step lift off (p=0.03). Interpretation Maximum Step Length is strongly associated with hip kinematics and kinetics. Delays in peak knee extension moment that appear to be unrelated to step length, may indicate a reduced ability of older women to rapidly apply force to the ground with the stepping leg and thus arrest the momentum of a fall. PMID:18308435

Evolution of phase transformation and magnetic properties with Fe content in Ni55-x Fe x Mn20Ga25 Heusler alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yuanlei; Li, Zhe; He, Xijia; Huang, Yinsheng; Xu, Kun; Jing, Chao

2018-02-01

A series of Ni55-x Fe x Mn20Ga25 (0  ⩽  x  ⩽  5) Heusler alloys was prepared to investigate their phase transitions and magnetic properties. At room temperature, these alloys present various crystal structures, and the unit cell volume enlarges with increase of Fe content in both austenite and martensite. Multiple magneto-structural transformations were observed in the parent alloy (x  =  0). In the process of cooling, it undergoes martensitic transformation (MT) from L21-type paramagnetic austenite to L10-type ferromagnetic martensite, accompanying an intermartensitic transformation (IMT, 7M  →  L10). By establishing a detailed phase diagram, we found that both MT and IMT shift to lower temperature simultaneously, while the ferromagnetic (FM) transition of austenite moves to higher temperature as Fe increases. With the further increase of Fe content beyond a critical value, both the IMT and the FM transitions split off from MT, and the former follows with the transforming sequence of 7M  →  5M. Based on the experimental data, some key magnetic parameters have been obtained in this system. The calculated magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant ({{K}1} ) of martensite quickly increases as Fe increases, and then it almost reaches a saturated value (~5.5  ×  105 J m-3) for the alloys with x  >  3. However, the spontaneous magnetic moment ({μs} ) attains a peak value of about 4.2 μ B/f.u. in the alloy with x  =  4, which is not consistent with the linear increasing of effective magnetic moment ({μef f} ). Further magnetic measurements with hydrostatic pressure indicate that such a discrepancy could be ascribed to the competition between the magnetic exchange interaction and the volume change of unit cell governed by the dopant Fe content.

Efficient Hybrid Watermarking Scheme for Security and Transmission Bit Rate Enhancement of 3D Color-Plus-Depth Video Communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Shafai, W.; El-Rabaie, S.; El-Halawany, M.; Abd El-Samie, F. E.

2018-03-01

Three-Dimensional Video-plus-Depth (3DV + D) comprises diverse video streams captured by different cameras around an object. Therefore, there is a great need to fulfill efficient compression to transmit and store the 3DV + D content in compressed form to attain future resource bounds whilst preserving a decisive reception quality. Also, the security of the transmitted 3DV + D is a critical issue for protecting its copyright content. This paper proposes an efficient hybrid watermarking scheme for securing the 3DV + D transmission, which is the homomorphic transform based Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) in Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) domain. The objective of the proposed watermarking scheme is to increase the immunity of the watermarked 3DV + D to attacks and achieve adequate perceptual quality. Moreover, the proposed watermarking scheme reduces the transmission-bandwidth requirements for transmitting the color-plus-depth 3DV over limited-bandwidth wireless networks through embedding the depth frames into the color frames of the transmitted 3DV + D. Thus, it saves the transmission bit rate and subsequently it enhances the channel bandwidth-efficiency. The performance of the proposed watermarking scheme is compared with those of the state-of-the-art hybrid watermarking schemes. The comparisons depend on both the subjective visual results and the objective results; the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of the watermarked frames and the Normalized Correlation (NC) of the extracted watermark frames. Extensive simulation results on standard 3DV + D sequences have been conducted in the presence of attacks. The obtained results confirm that the proposed hybrid watermarking scheme is robust in the presence of attacks. It achieves not only very good perceptual quality with appreciated PSNR values and saving in the transmission bit rate, but also high correlation coefficient values in the presence of attacks compared to the existing hybrid watermarking schemes.

Epidemiology of Strongylus vulgaris infection of the horse in Morocco.

PubMed

Pandey, V S

1981-05-01

Between August 1978 and July 1979 the anterior mesenteric artery and its branches were collected regularly from adult horses and examined for Strongylus vulgaris larvae. The incidence of infection varied from 55 to 100% (annual mean 80%). The mean monthly number of larvae ranged form 3 to 22 with an annual overall mean of 13. The arterial infection was at its minimum in December to January, rose gradually to attain the peak in June and declined thereafter. These observations indicated that S. vulgaris is an annual species in Morocco, infection occurring during the rainy season (November-April), the heavy arterial population in spring and adult population during autumn and winter.

The attainment of large accelerating gradients using near field synchrotron radiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Decker, G.

1989-01-01

Lienard-Wiechert potentials are used to find the electromagnetic field everywhere in free space resulting from a point charge moving on a helical trajectory. The total power emitted as synchrotron radiation from a particle on a circular path is calculated. The point charge results are generalized to the case of a line charge, and formulae are presented which can easily be evaluated numerically. A useful gradient of 80 MeV/m per kA of peak driving beam current over a distance of 1 cm is calculated using two 5 MeV driving beams moving on 1 cm radius helical orbits with bunch length 1more » mm. 11 refs., 5 figs.« less

The reliability of vertical jump tests between the Vertec and My Jump phone application.

PubMed

Yingling, Vanessa R; Castro, Dimitri A; Duong, Justin T; Malpartida, Fiorella J; Usher, Justin R; O, Jenny

2018-01-01

The vertical jump is used to estimate sports performance capabilities and physical fitness in children, elderly, non-athletic and injured individuals. Different jump techniques and measurement tools are available to assess vertical jump height and peak power; however, their use is limited by access to laboratory settings, excessive cost and/or time constraints thus making these tools oftentimes unsuitable for field assessment. A popular field test uses the Vertec and the Sargent vertical jump with countermovement; however, new low cost, easy to use tools are becoming available, including the My Jump iOS mobile application (app). The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the My Jump relative to values obtained by the Vertec for the Sargent stand and reach vertical jump (VJ) test. One hundred and thirty-five healthy participants aged 18-39 years (94 males, 41 females) completed three maximal Sargent VJ with countermovement that were simultaneously measured using the Vertec and the My Jump . Jump heights were quantified for each jump and peak power was calculated using the Sayers equation. Four separate ICC estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were used to assess reliability. Two analyses (with jump height and calculated peak power as the dependent variables, respectively) were based on a single rater, consistency, two-way mixed-effects model, while two others (with jump height and calculated peak power as the dependent variables, respectively) were based on a single rater, absolute agreement, two-way mixed-effects model. Moderate to excellent reliability relative to the degree of consistency between the Vertec and My Jump values was found for jump height (ICC = 0.813; 95% CI [0.747-0.863]) and calculated peak power (ICC = 0.926; 95% CI [0.897-0.947]). However, poor to good reliability relative to absolute agreement for VJ height (ICC = 0.665; 95% CI [0.050-0.859]) and poor to excellent reliability relative to absolute agreement for peak power (ICC = 0.851; 95% CI [0.272-0.946]) between the Vertec and My Jump values were found; Vertec VJ height, and thus, Vertec calculated peak power values, were significantly higher than those calculated from My Jump values ( p < 0.0001). The My Jump app may provide a reliable measure of vertical jump height and calculated peak power in multiple field and laboratory settings without the need of costly equipment such as force plates or Vertec. The reliability relative to degree of consistency between the Vertec and My Jump app was moderate to excellent. However, the reliability relative to absolute agreement between Vertec and My Jump values contained significant variation (based on CI values), thus, it is recommended that either the My Jump or the Vertec be used to assess VJ height in repeated measures within subjects' designs; these measurement tools should not be considered interchangeable within subjects or in group measurement designs.

The reliability of vertical jump tests between the Vertec and My Jump phone application

PubMed Central

Castro, Dimitri A.; Duong, Justin T.; Malpartida, Fiorella J.; Usher, Justin R.; O, Jenny

2018-01-01

Background The vertical jump is used to estimate sports performance capabilities and physical fitness in children, elderly, non-athletic and injured individuals. Different jump techniques and measurement tools are available to assess vertical jump height and peak power; however, their use is limited by access to laboratory settings, excessive cost and/or time constraints thus making these tools oftentimes unsuitable for field assessment. A popular field test uses the Vertec and the Sargent vertical jump with countermovement; however, new low cost, easy to use tools are becoming available, including the My Jump iOS mobile application (app). The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the My Jump relative to values obtained by the Vertec for the Sargent stand and reach vertical jump (VJ) test. Methods One hundred and thirty-five healthy participants aged 18–39 years (94 males, 41 females) completed three maximal Sargent VJ with countermovement that were simultaneously measured using the Vertec and the My Jump. Jump heights were quantified for each jump and peak power was calculated using the Sayers equation. Four separate ICC estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were used to assess reliability. Two analyses (with jump height and calculated peak power as the dependent variables, respectively) were based on a single rater, consistency, two-way mixed-effects model, while two others (with jump height and calculated peak power as the dependent variables, respectively) were based on a single rater, absolute agreement, two-way mixed-effects model. Results Moderate to excellent reliability relative to the degree of consistency between the Vertec and My Jump values was found for jump height (ICC = 0.813; 95% CI [0.747–0.863]) and calculated peak power (ICC = 0.926; 95% CI [0.897–0.947]). However, poor to good reliability relative to absolute agreement for VJ height (ICC = 0.665; 95% CI [0.050–0.859]) and poor to excellent reliability relative to absolute agreement for peak power (ICC = 0.851; 95% CI [0.272–0.946]) between the Vertec and My Jump values were found; Vertec VJ height, and thus, Vertec calculated peak power values, were significantly higher than those calculated from My Jump values (p < 0.0001). Discussion The My Jump app may provide a reliable measure of vertical jump height and calculated peak power in multiple field and laboratory settings without the need of costly equipment such as force plates or Vertec. The reliability relative to degree of consistency between the Vertec and My Jump app was moderate to excellent. However, the reliability relative to absolute agreement between Vertec and My Jump values contained significant variation (based on CI values), thus, it is recommended that either the My Jump or the Vertec be used to assess VJ height in repeated measures within subjects’ designs; these measurement tools should not be considered interchangeable within subjects or in group measurement designs. PMID:29692955

Noise characteristics of barium ferrite particulate rigid disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kodama, Naoki; Inoue, Hitoshi; Spratt, Geoffrey; Uesaka, Yasutaro; Katsumoto, Masayuki

1991-04-01

This paper discusses the relationship between the noise characteristics and magnetic properties of longitudinal barium ferrite (Ba-F) rigid disks with different switching field distributions (SFD). The magnetomotive force dependencies of reverse dc-erase (RDC) noise are measured and compared with SFD values. Coated disks with acicular magnetic particles have dips and thin-film disks peaks in the RDC. In Ba-F disks, both cases are observed depending on the SFD values, though the depths or heights of the RDC noise are much smaller than those of coated disks with acicular particles or thin-film disks. Disks with small SFD values have peaks, and disks with large SFD values have dips. In order to find the relationship between noise properties and magnetic properties, interparticle interactions in Ba-F disks are investigated. Reverse dc remanence Id(H) and ac-demagnetized isothermal remanence Ir(H) are measured. Both are normalized by the saturation remanence. The deviation from the noninteracting system, ΔM = Id(H) - [1ΔM=Id(H)-[1- 2Ir(H)] and an interaction field factor (IFF) given by (H'r - Hr)/Hc, are derived from these remanent properties. Here, H'r is the field corresponding to 50% of the remanent magnetization, Hr is remanence coercivity. In Ba-F disks, ΔM shows positive interactions, and the peak heights of ΔM increase and IFF decrease with decreasing SFD values. Positive interactions between Ba-F particles seem to be caused by particle stacking. Therefore, particle stacking results in small SFD values and peak-type RDC noise.

Effect of pore water velocities and solute input methods on chloride transport in the undisturbed soil columns of Loess Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, BeiBei; Wang, QuanJiu

2017-09-01

Studies on solute transport under different pore water velocity and solute input methods in undisturbed soil could play instructive roles for crop production. Based on the experiments in the laboratory, the effect of solute input methods with small pulse input and large pulse input, as well as four pore water velocities, on chloride transport in the undisturbed soil columns obtained from the Loess Plateau under controlled condition was studied. Chloride breakthrough curves (BTCs) were generated using the miscible displacement method under water-saturated, steady flow conditions. Using the 0.15 mol L-1 CaCl2 solution as a tracer, a small pulse (0.1 pore volumes) was first induced, and then, after all the solution was wash off, a large pulse (0.5 pore volumes) was conducted. The convection-dispersion equation (CDE) and the two-region model (T-R) were used to describe the BTCs, and their prediction accuracies and fitted parameters were compared as well. All the BTCs obtained for the different input methods and the four pore water velocities were all smooth. However, the shapes of the BTCs varied greatly; small pulse inputs resulted in more rapid attainment of peak values that appeared earlier with increases in pore water velocity, whereas large pulse inputs resulted in an opposite trend. Both models could fit the experimental data well, but the prediction accuracy of the T-R was better. The values of the dispersivity, λ, calculated from the dispersion coefficient obtained from the CDE were about one order of magnitude larger than those calculated from the dispersion coefficient given by the T-R, but the calculated Peclet number, Pe, was lower. The mobile-immobile partition coefficient, β, decreased, while the mass exchange coefficient increased with increases in pore water velocity.

Structural and Optical Properties of Core-Shell TiO2/CdS Prepared by Chemical Bath Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Jawad, Selma M. H.

2017-10-01

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorod arrays (NRAs) sensitized with cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD). TiO2 NRAs were also obtained by using the same method on glass substrates coated with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). The structure of the FTO/TiO2/CdS core-shell was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and photoelectrocatalysis of FTO/TiO2 and FTO/TiO2/CdS. The FTO/TiO2 conformed to anatase and rutile phase structures for different pH values and also with annealing. XRD patterns of the FTO/TiO2/CdS sample exhibited two peaks corresponding to hexagonal (100) and (101) for CdS. Scanning electron micrographs showed nanorod structures for the TiO2 thin films deposited at a pH value equal 0.7. Optical results showed the CdS deposited on nanorod TiO2 exhibited increased absorption ability in the visible light, indicating an increased photocatalytic activity for TiO2/CdS core-shell nanorods in the visible light. When illuminated with a UV-Vis light source, the TiO2/CdS core-shell films displayed high responses. A composite exists between the TiO2 nanostructure and CdS NPs because the film absorbs the incident light located in both the visible and UV-Vis regions. A higher response to UV-Vis light was attained with the use of TiO2 NRAs/CdS NPs films prepared by CBD. This approach offers a technique for fabricating photoelectrodes.

Fatigue in repeated-sprint exercise is related to muscle power factors and reduced neuromuscular activity.

PubMed

Mendez-Villanueva, Alberto; Hamer, Peter; Bishop, David

2008-07-01

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the relationship between each individual's anaerobic power reserve (APR) [i.e., the difference between the maximum anaerobic (Pana) and aerobic power (Paer)] and fatigability during repeated-sprint exercise and (2) to examine the acute effects of repeated sprints on neuromuscular activity, as evidenced by changes in the surface electromyogram (EMG) signals. Eight healthy males carried out tests to determine Pana (defined as the highest power output attained during a 6-s cycling sprint), Paer (defined as the highest power output achieved during a progressive, discontinuous cycling test to failure) and a repeated cycling sprint test (10 x 6-s max sprints with 30 s rest). Peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) were calculated for each maximal 6-s cycling bout. Root mean square (RMS) was utilized to quantify EMG activity from the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle of the right leg. Over the ten sprints, PPO and MPO decreased by 24.6 and 28.3% from the maximal value (i.e., sprint 1), respectively. Fatigue index during repeated sprints was significantly correlated with APR (R = 0.87; P < 0.05). RMS values decreased over the ten sprints by 14.6% (+/-6.3%). There was a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.97; P < 0.05) between the changes in MPO and EMG RMS from the vastus lateralis muscle during the ten sprints. The individual advantage in fatigue-resistance when performing a repeated sprint task was related with a lower anaerobic power reserve. Additionally, a suboptimal net motor unit activity might also impair the ability to repeatedly generate maximum power outputs.

Monitoring of KrF excimer laser ablation for burn scars: a comparative study of transient reflection measurement and time-resolved photography of ablation plume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, Akio; Arai, Tsunenori; Kikuchi, Makoto; Iwaya, Akimi; Arai, Katsuyuki; Inazaki, Satoshi; Takaoka, Takatsugu; Kato, Masayoshi

1995-05-01

A simple laser ablation monitoring during burn scar removal by KrF laser irradiation was studied to control laser fluence in real-time. Because, to obtain suitable surface for auto skin-graft, the laser fluence should be precisely controlled at each laser shot. We employed simple probe transmission method which could detect ejected material/phenomena from irradiated surface. The time-course of measured probe intensity contained a couple of attenuated peaks, which might corresponded to a shock wave front and debris plume. The delay time from laser irradiation to the debris plume peak appearance varied with the ablation fluence. The delay time of 1 J/cm2 (near ablation threshold) case prolonged 25% from 8 J/cm2 (far above threshold) case. Therefore, we think the delay time measurement by means of the simple probe transmission method may be available to attain the laser fluence control for nonuniform burn scar removal. The time-resolved photography and probe reflection method were also studied to understand the measured time-course of the transmitted probe intensity.

A hydrodynamic treatment of the tilted cold dark matter cosmological scenario

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cen, Renyue; Ostriker, Jeremiah P.

1993-01-01

A standard hydrodynamic code coupled with a particle-mesh code is used to compute the evolution of a tilted cold dark matter (TCDM) model containing both baryonic matter and dark matter. Six baryonic species are followed, with allowance for both collisional and radiative ionization in every cell. The mean final Zel'dovich-Sunyaev y parameter is estimated to be (5.4 +/- 2.7) x 10 exp -7, below currently attainable observations, with an rms fluctuation of about (6.0 +/- 3.0) x 10 exp -7 on arcmin scales. The rate of galaxy formation peaks at a relatively late epoch (z is about 0.5). In the case of mass function, the smallest objects are stabilized against collapse by thermal energy: the mass-weighted mass spectrum peaks in the vicinity of 10 exp 9.1 solar masses, with a reasonable fit to the Schechter luminosity function if the baryon mass to blue light ratio is about 4. It is shown that a bias factor of 2 required for the model to be consistent with COBE DMR signals is probably a natural outcome in the present multiple component simulations.

Propagation of sound through the Earth's atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meredith, R. W.; Becher, J.

1983-01-01

The data collected at a pressure of one atmosphere for the different temperatures and relative humidities of the air-water vapor mixtures is summarized. The dew point hygrometer used in these measurements did not give reliable results for dew points much above the ambient room temperature. For this reason measurements were not attempted at the higher temperatures and humidities. Viscous wall losses in the resonant tube at 0 C so dominate the molecular relaxation of nitrogen, in the air-water vapor mixture, that reliable data could not be obtained using the free decay method in a resonant tube at one atmosphere. In an effort to obtain viable data at these temperatures, measurements were performed at a pressure of 10 atmospheres. Since the molecular relaxation peak is proportional to the pressure and the viscous losses are proportional to the inverse square root of the pressure the peak height should be measurable at the higher pressure. The tradeoff here is that at 10 atmospheres; the highest relative humidity attainable is 10 percent. The data collected at 10 atmospheres is also summarized.

Massively parallel algorithm and implementation of RI-MP2 energy calculation for peta-scale many-core supercomputers.

PubMed

Katouda, Michio; Naruse, Akira; Hirano, Yukihiko; Nakajima, Takahito

2016-11-15

A new parallel algorithm and its implementation for the RI-MP2 energy calculation utilizing peta-flop-class many-core supercomputers are presented. Some improvements from the previous algorithm (J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2013, 9, 5373) have been performed: (1) a dual-level hierarchical parallelization scheme that enables the use of more than 10,000 Message Passing Interface (MPI) processes and (2) a new data communication scheme that reduces network communication overhead. A multi-node and multi-GPU implementation of the present algorithm is presented for calculations on a central processing unit (CPU)/graphics processing unit (GPU) hybrid supercomputer. Benchmark results of the new algorithm and its implementation using the K computer (CPU clustering system) and TSUBAME 2.5 (CPU/GPU hybrid system) demonstrate high efficiency. The peak performance of 3.1 PFLOPS is attained using 80,199 nodes of the K computer. The peak performance of the multi-node and multi-GPU implementation is 514 TFLOPS using 1349 nodes and 4047 GPUs of TSUBAME 2.5. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Turbulent transport of heat and momentum in a boundary layer subject to deceleration, suction and variable wall temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orlando, A. F.; Moffat, R. J.; Kays, W. M.

1974-01-01

The relationship between the turbulent transport of heat and momentum in an adverse pressure gradient boundary layer was studied. An experimental study was conducted of turbulent boundary layers subject to strong adverse pressure gradients with suction. Near-equilibrium flows were attained, evidenced by outer-region similarity in terms of defect temperature and defect velocity profiles. The relationship between Stanton number and enthalpy thickness was shown to be the same as for a flat plate flow both for constant wall temperature boundary conditions and for steps in wall temperature. The superposition principle used with the step-wall-temperature experimental result was shown to accurately predict the Stanton number variation for two cases of arbitrarily varying wall temperature. The Reynolds stress tensor components were measured for strong adverse pressure gradient conditions and different suction rates. Two peaks of turbulence intensity were found: one in the inner and one in the outer regions. The outer peak is shown to be displaced outward by an adverse pressure gradient and suppressed by suction.

Betaine synthesis and accumulation in barley during field water-stress

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitz, W.D.; Ladyman, J.A.R.; Hanson, A.D.

1982-01-01

The timing and extent of betaine accumulation by mature leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were followed in irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (N-I) plots under rain-shelters. In the N-I crop, leaf water potential (/sup psi/leaf) began to fall at the five-leaf stage, continued to drop steadily until maturity, and reached a minimum of about -35 bars. Betaine accumulation started in the N-I crop about a week after the decline in /sup psi/leaf began and continued until about 10 days post-anthesis. The maximum betaine concentration attained by N-I leaves (100 ..mu..mol/g dry wt) was three times that in I leaves. Betainemore » accumulation by upper leaves was due mainly to de novo synthesis in these leaves, because: (1) there was little /sup 14/C-import into upper leaves when (/sup 14/C)betaine was applied to lower leaves, and (2) attached upper leaves of N-I plants rapidly converted supplied (/sup 14/C)ethanolamine to (/sup 14/C)betaine during the peak period of betaine accumulation. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) behaved as an intermediate in the conversion of (/sup 14/C)ethanolamine to betaine. The estimated peak metabolic cost of betaine biosynthesis via PC by stressed leaves (about 2 mg hexose/g dry wt/day) approached the cost of protein turnover in the same leaves (3 to 5 mg hexose/g dry wt/day) as estimated from (/sup 3/H) lysine incorporation. In N-I plants, cessation of betaine synthesis preceded the onset of senescence by several days, indicating that continuous betaine production is not mandatory for leaf function at lowered /sup psi/leaf. These field results are consistent with an adaptive value for betaine accumulation in barley during prolonged water stress. A search for genetic variation in betaine-accumulating potential in barley is now warranted.« less

Dynamic response of polyurea subjected to nanosecond rise-time stress waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Youssef, George; Gupta, Vijay

2012-08-01

Shaped charges and explosively formed projectiles used in modern warfare can attain speeds as high as 30,000 ft/s. Impacts from these threats are expected to load the armor materials in the 10 to 100 ns timeframe. During this time, the material strains are quite limited but the strain rates are extremely high. To develop armors against such threats it is imperative to understand the dynamic constitutive behavior of materials in the tens of nanoseconds timeframe. Material behavior in this parameter space cannot be obtained by even the most sophisticated plate-impact and split-Hopkinson bar setups that exist within the high energy materials field today. This paper introduces an apparatus and a test method that are based on laser-generated stress waves to obtain such material behaviors. Although applicable to any material system, the test procedures are demonstrated on polyurea which shows unusual dynamic properties. Thin polyurea layers were deformed using laser-generated stress waves with 1-2 ns rise times and 16 ns total duration. The total strain in the samples was less than 3%. Because of the transient nature of the stress wave, the strain rate varied throughout the deformation history of the sample. A peak value of 1.1×105 s-1 was calculated. It was found that the stress-strain characteristics, determined from experimentally recorded incident and transmitted wave profiles, matched satisfactorily with those computed from a 2D wave mechanics simulation in which the polyurea was modeled as a linearly viscoelastic solid with constants derived from the quasi-static experiments. Thus, the test data conformed to the Time-Temperature Superposition (TTS) principle even at extremely high strain rates of our test. This then extends the previous observations of Zhao et al. (Mech. Time-Depend. Mater. 11:289-308, 2007) who showed the applicability of the TTS principle for polyurea in the linearly viscoelastic regime up to peak strain rates of 1200 s-1.

The awakening of the γ-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Ammando, F.; Orienti, M.; Finke, J.; Hovatta, T.; Giroletti, M.; Max-Moerbeck, W.; Pearson, T. J.; Readhead, A. C. S.; Reeves, R. A.; Richards, J. L.

2016-12-01

After a long low-activity period, a γ-ray flare from the narrow-line Seyfert 1 PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.4089) was detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi in 2015. On 2015 December 20, the source reached a daily peak flux, in the 0.1-300 GeV band, of (93 ± 19) × 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1, attaining a flux of (237 ± 71) × 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 on 3-h time-scales, which corresponds to an isotropic luminosity of (7.3 ± 2.1) × 1047 erg s-1. The γ-ray flare was not accompanied by significant spectral changes. We report on multiwavelength radio-to-γ-ray observations of PKS 1502+036 during 2008 August-2016 March by Fermi-LAT, Swift, XMM-Newton, Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). An increase in activity was observed on 2015 December 22 by Swift in optical, UV and X-rays. The OVRO 15 GHz light curve reached the highest flux density observed from this source on 2016 January 12, indicating a delay of about three weeks between the γ-ray and 15 GHz emission peaks. This suggests that the γ-ray-emitting region is located beyond the broad-line region. We compared the spectral energy distribution (SED) of an average activity state with that of the flaring state. The two SED, with the high-energy bump modelled as an external Compton component with seed photons from a dust torus, could be fitted by changing the electron distribution parameters as well as the magnetic field. The fit of the disc emission during the average state constrains the black hole mass to values lower than 108 M⊙. The SED, high-energy emission mechanisms and γ-ray properties of the source resemble those of a flat spectrum radio quasar.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D'Ammando, F.; Orienti, M.; Finke, J.

After a long low-activity period, we detected a γ-ray flare from the narrow-line Seyfert 1 PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.4089) by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi in 2015. On 2015 December 20, the source reached a daily peak flux, in the 0.1–300 GeV band, of (93 ± 19) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1, attaining a flux of (237 ± 71) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1 on 3-h time-scales, which corresponds to an isotropic luminosity of (7.3 ± 2.1) × 10 47 erg s -1. The γ-ray flare was not accompanied bymore » significant spectral changes. We report on multiwavelength radio-to-γ-ray observations of PKS 1502+036 during 2008 August–2016 March by Fermi-LAT, Swift, XMM–Newton, Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). An increase in activity was observed on 2015 December 22 by Swift in optical, UV and X-rays. The OVRO 15 GHz light curve reached the highest flux density observed from this source on 2016 January 12, indicating a delay of about three weeks between the γ-ray and 15 GHz emission peaks. Furthermore, this suggests that the γ-ray-emitting region is located beyond the broad-line region. We also compared the spectral energy distribution (SED) of an average activity state with that of the flaring state. The two SED, with the high-energy bump modelled as an external Compton component with seed photons from a dust torus, could be fitted by changing the electron distribution parameters as well as the magnetic field. Furthermore, the fit of the disc emission during the average state constrains the black hole mass to values lower than 108 M⊙. The SED, high-energy emission mechanisms and γ-ray properties of the source resemble those of a flat spectrum radio quasar.« less

The awakening of the γ-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036

DOE PAGES

D'Ammando, F.; Orienti, M.; Finke, J.; ...

2016-09-14

After a long low-activity period, we detected a γ-ray flare from the narrow-line Seyfert 1 PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.4089) by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi in 2015. On 2015 December 20, the source reached a daily peak flux, in the 0.1–300 GeV band, of (93 ± 19) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1, attaining a flux of (237 ± 71) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1 on 3-h time-scales, which corresponds to an isotropic luminosity of (7.3 ± 2.1) × 10 47 erg s -1. The γ-ray flare was not accompanied bymore » significant spectral changes. We report on multiwavelength radio-to-γ-ray observations of PKS 1502+036 during 2008 August–2016 March by Fermi-LAT, Swift, XMM–Newton, Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). An increase in activity was observed on 2015 December 22 by Swift in optical, UV and X-rays. The OVRO 15 GHz light curve reached the highest flux density observed from this source on 2016 January 12, indicating a delay of about three weeks between the γ-ray and 15 GHz emission peaks. Furthermore, this suggests that the γ-ray-emitting region is located beyond the broad-line region. We also compared the spectral energy distribution (SED) of an average activity state with that of the flaring state. The two SED, with the high-energy bump modelled as an external Compton component with seed photons from a dust torus, could be fitted by changing the electron distribution parameters as well as the magnetic field. Furthermore, the fit of the disc emission during the average state constrains the black hole mass to values lower than 108 M⊙. The SED, high-energy emission mechanisms and γ-ray properties of the source resemble those of a flat spectrum radio quasar.« less

Extraordinary rocks from the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater: P-wave velocity, density, and porosity measurements from IODP/ICDP Expedition 364

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christeson, G. L.; Gulick, S. P. S.; Morgan, J. V.; Gebhardt, C.; Kring, D. A.; Le Ber, E.; Lofi, J.; Nixon, C.; Poelchau, M.; Rae, A. S. P.; Rebolledo-Vieyra, M.; Riller, U.; Schmitt, D. R.; Wittmann, A.; Bralower, T. J.; Chenot, E.; Claeys, P.; Cockell, C. S.; Coolen, M. J. L.; Ferrière, L.; Green, S.; Goto, K.; Jones, H.; Lowery, C. M.; Mellett, C.; Ocampo-Torres, R.; Perez-Cruz, L.; Pickersgill, A. E.; Rasmussen, C.; Sato, H.; Smit, J.; Tikoo, S. M.; Tomioka, N.; Urrutia-Fucugauchi, J.; Whalen, M. T.; Xiao, L.; Yamaguchi, K. E.

2018-08-01

Joint International Ocean Discovery Program and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program Expedition 364 drilled into the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater. We present P-wave velocity, density, and porosity measurements from Hole M0077A that reveal unusual physical properties of the peak-ring rocks. Across the boundary between post-impact sedimentary rock and suevite (impact melt-bearing breccia) we measure a sharp decrease in velocity and density, and an increase in porosity. Velocity, density, and porosity values for the suevite are 2900-3700 m/s, 2.06-2.37 g/cm3, and 20-35%, respectively. The thin (25 m) impact melt rock unit below the suevite has velocity measurements of 3650-4350 m/s, density measurements of 2.26-2.37 g/cm3, and porosity measurements of 19-22%. We associate the low velocity, low density, and high porosity of suevite and impact melt rock with rapid emplacement, hydrothermal alteration products, and observations of pore space, vugs, and vesicles. The uplifted granitic peak ring materials have values of 4000-4200 m/s, 2.39-2.44 g/cm3, and 8-13% for velocity, density, and porosity, respectively; these values differ significantly from typical unaltered granite which has higher velocity and density, and lower porosity. The majority of Hole M0077A peak-ring velocity, density, and porosity measurements indicate considerable rock damage, and are consistent with numerical model predictions for peak-ring formation where the lithologies present within the peak ring represent some of the most shocked and damaged rocks in an impact basin. We integrate our results with previous seismic datasets to map the suevite near the borehole. We map suevite below the Paleogene sedimentary rock in the annular trough, on the peak ring, and in the central basin, implying that, post impact, suevite covered the entire floor of the impact basin. Suevite thickness is 100-165 m on the top of the peak ring but 200 m in the central basin, suggesting that suevite flowed downslope from the collapsing central uplift during and after peak-ring formation, accumulating preferentially within the central basin.

Thermoluminescence kinetic features of Lithium Iodide (LiI) single crystal grown by vertical Bridgman technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniel, D. Joseph; Kim, H. J.; Kim, Sunghwan; Khan, Sajid

2017-08-01

Single crystal of pure Lithium Iodide (LiI) has been grown from melt by using the vertical Bridgman technique. Thermoluminescence (TL) Measurements were carried out at 1 K/s following X-ray irradiation. The TL glow curve consists of a dominant peak at (peak-maximum Tm) 393 K and one low temperature peak of weaker intensity at 343 K. The order of kinetics (b), activation energy (E), and the frequency factor (S) for a prominent TL glow peak observed around 393 K for LiI crystals are reported for the first time. The peak shape analysis of the glow peak indicates the kinetics to be of the first order. The value of E is calculated using various standard methods such as initial rise (IR), whole glow peak (WGP), peak shape (PS), computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) and Variable Heating rate (VHR) methods. An average value of 1.06 eV is obtained in this case. In order to validate the obtained parameters, numerically integrated TL glow curve has been generated using experimentally determined kinetic parameters. The effective atomic number (Zeff) for this material was determined and found to be 52. X-ray induced emission spectra of pure LiI single crystal are studied at room temperature and it is found that the sample exhibit sharp emission at 457 nm and broad emission at 650 nm.

Sample dimensionality: a predictor of order-disorder in component peak distribution in multidimensional separation.

PubMed

Giddings, J C

1995-05-26

While the use of multiple dimensions in separation systems can create very high peak capacities, the effectiveness of the enhanced peak capacity in resolving large numbers of components depends strongly on whether the distribution of component peaks is ordered or disordered. Peak overlap is common in disordered distributions, even with a very high peak capacity. It is therefore of great importance to understand the origin of peak order/disorder in multidimensional separations and to address the question of whether any control can be exerted over observed levels of order and disorder and thus separation efficacy. It is postulated here that the underlying difference between ordered and disordered distributions of component peaks in separation systems is related to sample complexity as measured by a newly defined parameter, the sample dimensionality s, and by the derivative dimensionality s'. It is concluded that the type and degree of order and disorder is determined by the relationship of s (or s') to the dimensionality n of the separation system employed. Thus for some relatively simple samples (defined as having small s values), increased order and a consequent enhancement of resolution can be realized by increasing n. The resolution enhancement is in addition to the normal gain in resolving power resulting from the increased peak capacity of multidimensional systems. However, for other samples (having even smaller s values), an increase in n provides no additional benefit in enhancing component separability.

The relations among child quality, family structure, and the value of the mother's time in Malaysia.

PubMed

Leppel, K

1982-10-01

A model of the determinants of child quality and of the value of a woman's time is developed and tested using data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey of 1976-1977. Child quality is measured by educational attainment; factors influencing the value of the mother's time include size and age composition of household, family income, education, and hours worked. The results indicate that size and age composition of household affect a woman's asking wage. However, more data are needed before the effects of family structure on schooling can be measured with confidence.

The influence of ethics on leadership.

PubMed

Kraemer, A M

1995-05-01

Value driven ethical leadership is needed today. The housekeeping field employs a diverse work force, and managers must develop and empower workers to attain organization goals. As managers, we must understand and develop our personal value structures that affect our decision making. This paper reviews Lawrence Kohlberg's study of moral behavior and how those stages are relevant to ethical management practices. It also addresses ways to overcome some obstacles in understanding and dealing with personal values that may threaten moral and ethical practices. Mature ethical principles and good communication are the foundation for and foster strong leadership for the future.

Modeling the uncertainty of several VOC and its impact on simulated VOC and ozone in Houston, Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Shuai; Choi, Yunsoo; Roy, Anirban; Li, Xiangshang; Jeon, Wonbae; Souri, Amir Hossein

2015-11-01

A WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ modeling system was used to study Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions and their impact on surface VOC and ozone concentrations in southeast Texas during September 2013. The model was evaluated against the ground-level Automated Gas Chromatograph (Auto-GC) measurement data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The comparisons indicated that the model over-predicted benzene, ethylene, toluene and xylene, while under-predicting isoprene and ethane. The mean biases between simulated and observed values of each VOC species showed clear daytime, nighttime, weekday and weekend variations. Adjusting the VOC emissions using simulated/observed ratios improved model performance of each VOC species, especially mitigating the mean bias substantially. Simulated monthly mean ozone showed a minor change: a 0.4 ppb or 1.2% increase; while a change of more than 5 ppb was seen in hourly ozone data on high ozone days, this change moved model predictions closer to observations. The CMAQ model run with the adjusted emissions better reproduced the variability in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) formaldehyde (HCHO) columns. The adjusted model scenario also slightly better reproduced the aircraft HCHO concentrations from NASA's DISCOVER-AQ campaign conducted during the simulation episode period; Correlation, Mean Bias and RMSE improved from 0.34, 1.38 ppb and 2.15 ppb to 0.38, 1.33 ppb and 2.08 ppb respectively. A process analysis conducted for both industrial/urban and rural areas suggested that chemistry was the main process contributing to ozone production in both areas, while the impact of chemistry was smaller in rural areas than in industrial and urban areas. For both areas, the positive chemistry contribution increased in the sensitivity simulation largely due to the increase in emissions. Nudging VOC emissions to match the observed concentrations shifted the ozone hotspots outside the industrial/urban region and enhanced the peaked ozone in the outflow region with consistent southerly/southeasterly winds during the afternoon time (1-5 pm). This study helps in the understanding of these processes which are critical to constrain high peak ozone values in the outflow regions. The results indicate that formation of ozone in the outflow could complicate attainment status in neighboring counties.

Strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals: Orientation dependence

DOE PAGES

Lang, John Michael Jr.; Winey, J. M.; Gupta, Y. M.

2018-03-01

Understanding and quantifying the strength or elastic limit of diamond single crystals is of considerable scientific and technological importance, and has been a subject of long standing theoretical and experimental interest. To examine the effect of crystalline anisotropy on strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals, plate impact experiments were conducted to measure wave profiles at various elastic impact stresses up to ~120 GPa along [110] and [111] crystal orientations. Using laser interferometry, particle velocity histories and shock velocities in the diamond samples were measured and were compared with similar measurements published previously for shock compression along the [100]more » direction. Wave profiles for all three orientations showed large elastic wave amplitudes followed by time-dependent inelastic deformation. From the measured wave profiles, the elastic limits were determined under well characterized uniaxial strain loading conditions. The measured elastic wave amplitudes for the [110] and [111] orientations were lower for higher elastic impact stress (stress attained for an elastic diamond response), consistent with the result reported previously for [100] diamond. The maximum resolved shear stress (MRSS) on the {111}<110> slip systems was determined for each orientation, revealing significant orientation dependence. The MRSS values for the [100] and [110] orientations (~33 GPa) are 25-30% of theoretical estimates; the MRSS value for the [111] orientation is significantly lower (~23 GPa). Our results demonstrate that the MRSS depends strongly on the stress component normal to the {111} planes or the resolved normal stress (RNS), suggesting that the RNS plays a key role in inhibiting the onset of inelastic deformation. Lower elastic wave amplitudes at higher peak stress and the effect of the RNS are inconsistent with typical dislocation slip mechanisms of inelastic deformation, suggesting instead an inelastic response characteristic of shocked brittle solids. The present results show that the elastic limit (or material strength) of diamond single crystals cannot be described using traditional isotropic approaches, and typical plasticity models cannot be used to describe the inelastic deformation of diamond. Analysis of the measured wave profiles beyond the elastic limit, including characterization of the peak state, requires numerical simulations that incorporate a time-dependent, anisotropic, inelastic deformation response. Development of such a material description for diamond is an important need.« less

Strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals: Orientation dependence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lang, John Michael Jr.; Winey, J. M.; Gupta, Y. M.

Understanding and quantifying the strength or elastic limit of diamond single crystals is of considerable scientific and technological importance, and has been a subject of long standing theoretical and experimental interest. To examine the effect of crystalline anisotropy on strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals, plate impact experiments were conducted to measure wave profiles at various elastic impact stresses up to ~120 GPa along [110] and [111] crystal orientations. Using laser interferometry, particle velocity histories and shock velocities in the diamond samples were measured and were compared with similar measurements published previously for shock compression along the [100]more » direction. Wave profiles for all three orientations showed large elastic wave amplitudes followed by time-dependent inelastic deformation. From the measured wave profiles, the elastic limits were determined under well characterized uniaxial strain loading conditions. The measured elastic wave amplitudes for the [110] and [111] orientations were lower for higher elastic impact stress (stress attained for an elastic diamond response), consistent with the result reported previously for [100] diamond. The maximum resolved shear stress (MRSS) on the {111}<110> slip systems was determined for each orientation, revealing significant orientation dependence. The MRSS values for the [100] and [110] orientations (~33 GPa) are 25-30% of theoretical estimates; the MRSS value for the [111] orientation is significantly lower (~23 GPa). Our results demonstrate that the MRSS depends strongly on the stress component normal to the {111} planes or the resolved normal stress (RNS), suggesting that the RNS plays a key role in inhibiting the onset of inelastic deformation. Lower elastic wave amplitudes at higher peak stress and the effect of the RNS are inconsistent with typical dislocation slip mechanisms of inelastic deformation, suggesting instead an inelastic response characteristic of shocked brittle solids. The present results show that the elastic limit (or material strength) of diamond single crystals cannot be described using traditional isotropic approaches, and typical plasticity models cannot be used to describe the inelastic deformation of diamond. Analysis of the measured wave profiles beyond the elastic limit, including characterization of the peak state, requires numerical simulations that incorporate a time-dependent, anisotropic, inelastic deformation response. Development of such a material description for diamond is an important need.« less

Strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals: Orientation dependence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, J. M.; Winey, J. M.; Gupta, Y. M.

2018-03-01

Understanding and quantifying the strength or elastic limit of diamond single crystals is of considerable scientific and technological importance, and has been a subject of long standing theoretical and experimental interest. To examine the effect of crystalline anisotropy on strength and deformation of shocked diamond single crystals, plate impact experiments were conducted to measure wave profiles at various elastic impact stresses up to ˜120 GPa along [110] and [111] crystal orientations. Using laser interferometry, particle velocity histories and shock velocities in the diamond samples were measured and were compared with similar measurements published previously for shock compression along the [100] direction. Wave profiles for all three orientations showed large elastic wave amplitudes followed by time-dependent inelastic deformation. From the measured wave profiles, the elastic limits were determined under well characterized uniaxial strain loading conditions. The measured elastic wave amplitudes for the [110] and [111] orientations were lower for higher elastic impact stress (stress attained for an elastic diamond response), consistent with the result reported previously for [100] diamond. The maximum resolved shear stress (MRSS) on the {111}⟨110⟩ slip systems was determined for each orientation, revealing significant orientation dependence. The MRSS values for the [100] and [110] orientations (˜33 GPa) are 25%-30% of theoretical estimates; the MRSS value for the [111] orientation is significantly lower (˜23 GPa). Our results demonstrate that the MRSS depends strongly on the stress component normal to the {111} planes or the resolved normal stress (RNS), suggesting that the RNS plays a key role in inhibiting the onset of inelastic deformation. Lower elastic wave amplitudes at higher peak stress and the effect of the RNS are inconsistent with typical dislocation slip mechanisms of inelastic deformation, suggesting instead an inelastic response characteristic of shocked brittle solids. The present results show that the elastic limit (or material strength) of diamond single crystals cannot be described using traditional isotropic approaches, and typical plasticity models cannot be used to describe the inelastic deformation of diamond. Analysis of the measured wave profiles beyond the elastic limit, including characterization of the peak state, requires numerical simulations that incorporate a time-dependent, anisotropic, inelastic deformation response. Development of such a material description for diamond is an important need.

An in vitro investigation of peak insertion torque values of six commercially available mini-implants.

PubMed

Whang, C Z Y; Bister, D; Sherriff, M

2011-12-01

This study compared peak insertion torque values of six commercially available self-drilling mini-implants [Mini Spider® screw (1.5 × 8 mm), Infinitas® (1.5 × 9 mm), Vector TAS® (1.4 × 8 mm), Dual Top® (1.6 × 8 mm), Tomas Pin® (1.6 × 8 mm), and Ortho-Easy® (1.7 × 6, 8, and 10 mm)]. Twenty implants each were drilled into acrylic rods at a speed of 8 rpm using a motorized torque measurement stand, and the values were recorded in Newton centimetres (Ncm). A further 20 Ortho-Easy® implants with a length of 6 and 10 mm were tested at 8 rpm; 20 implants of 6 mm length were also tested at 4 rpm. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the peak torque values were compared using the log-rank test with multiple comparisons evaluated by Sidak's test. There were significant differences in the maximum torque values for different mini-implants with the same length. The Mini Spider® screw and Infinitas® showed the lowest average torque values (6.5 and 12.4 Ncm) compared with Vector TAS®, Dual ToP®, Tomas Pin®, and Ortho-Easy® (30.9, 29.4, 25.4, and 24.8 Ncm, respectively). There was no correlation between the diameter of the implants and torque values. The Tomas Pin® showed the largest standard deviation (7.7 Ncm) and the Dual Top® implant the smallest (0.6 Ncm). Different insertion speeds did not result in significant differences in peak torque values but the 6 mm mini-implants showed significantly higher torque values than the 8 and 10 mm implants. Using a 'torque limiting' screwdriver or pre-drilling cortical bone to reduce insertion, torque appears justified for some of the tested implants.

Influence of nitromethane concentration on ignition energy and explosion parameters in gaseous nitromethane/air mixtures.

PubMed

Zhang, Qi; Li, Wei; Lin, Da-Chao; He, Ning; Duan, Yun

2011-01-30

The aim of this paper is to provide new experimental data of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of gaseous nitromethane/air mixtures to discuss the explosion pressure and the flame temperature as a function of nitromethane concentration. Observations on the influence of nitromethane concentration on combustion pressure and temperature through the pressure and temperature measure system show that peak temperature (the peak of combustion temperature wave) is always behind peak pressure (the peak of the combustion pressure wave) in arrival time, the peak combustion pressure of nitromethane increases in the range of its volume fraction 10-40% as the concentration of nitromethane increases, and it slightly decreases in the range of 40-50%. The maximum peak pressure is equal to 0.94 MPa and the minimum peak pressure 0.58 MPa. Somewhat similar to the peak pressure, the peak combustion temperature increases with the volume fraction of nitromethane in the range of 10-40%, and slightly decreases in 40-50%. The maximum peak temperature is 1340 °C and the minimum 860 °C. The combustion temperature rise rate increases with the concentration of nitromethane in 10-30%, while decreases in 30-50% and its maximum value of combustion temperature rise rate in 10-50% is 4200 °C/s at the volume fraction of 30%. Influence of the concentration of nitromethane on the combustion pressure rise rate is relatively complicated, and the maximum value of rise rate of combustion pressure wave in 10-50% is 11 MPa/s at the concentration 20%. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of peak current in conversion of patients with ventricular fibrillation.

PubMed

Anantharaman, Venkataraman; Wan, Paul Weng; Tay, Seow Yian; Manning, Peter George; Lim, Swee Han; Chua, Siang Jin Terrance; Mohan, Tiru; Rabind, Antony Charles; Vidya, Sudarshan; Hao, Ying

2017-07-01

Peak currents are the final arbiter of defibrillation in patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, biphasic defibrillators continue to use energy in joules for electrical conversion in hopes that their impedance compensation properties will address transthoracic impedance (TTI), which must be overcome when a fixed amount of energy is delivered. However, optimal peak currents for conversion of VF remain unclear. We aimed to determine the role of peak current and optimal peak levels for conversion in collapsed VF patients. Adult, non-pregnant patients presenting with non-traumatic VF were included in the study. All defibrillations that occurred were included. Impedance values during defibrillation were used to calculate peak current values. The endpoint was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Of the 197 patients analysed, 105 had ROSC. Characteristics of patients with and without ROSC were comparable. Short duration of collapse < 10 minutes correlated positively with ROSC. Generally, patients with average or high TTI converted at lower peak currents. 25% of patients with high TTI converted at 13.3 ± 2.3 A, 22.7% with average TTI at 18.2 ± 2.5 A and 18.6% with low TTI at 27.0 ± 4.7 A (p = 0.729). Highest peak current conversions were at < 15 A and 15-20 A. Of the 44 patients who achieved first-shock ROSC, 33 (75.0%) received < 20 A peak current vs. > 20 A for the remaining 11 (25%) patients (p = 0.002). For best effect, priming biphasic defibrillators to deliver specific peak currents should be considered. Copyright: © Singapore Medical Association

Role of peak current in conversion of patients with ventricular fibrillation

PubMed Central

Anantharaman, Venkataraman; Wan, Paul Weng; Tay, Seow Yian; Manning, Peter George; Lim, Swee Han; Chua, Siang Jin Terrance; Mohan, Tiru; Rabind, Antony Charles; Vidya, Sudarshan; Hao, Ying

2017-01-01

INTRODUCTION Peak currents are the final arbiter of defibrillation in patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, biphasic defibrillators continue to use energy in joules for electrical conversion in hopes that their impedance compensation properties will address transthoracic impedance (TTI), which must be overcome when a fixed amount of energy is delivered. However, optimal peak currents for conversion of VF remain unclear. We aimed to determine the role of peak current and optimal peak levels for conversion in collapsed VF patients. METHODS Adult, non-pregnant patients presenting with non-traumatic VF were included in the study. All defibrillations that occurred were included. Impedance values during defibrillation were used to calculate peak current values. The endpoint was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). RESULTS Of the 197 patients analysed, 105 had ROSC. Characteristics of patients with and without ROSC were comparable. Short duration of collapse < 10 minutes correlated positively with ROSC. Generally, patients with average or high TTI converted at lower peak currents. 25% of patients with high TTI converted at 13.3 ± 2.3 A, 22.7% with average TTI at 18.2 ± 2.5 A and 18.6% with low TTI at 27.0 ± 4.7 A (p = 0.729). Highest peak current conversions were at < 15 A and 15–20 A. Of the 44 patients who achieved first-shock ROSC, 33 (75.0%) received < 20 A peak current vs. > 20 A for the remaining 11 (25%) patients (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION For best effect, priming biphasic defibrillators to deliver specific peak currents should be considered. PMID:28741007

Myocardial work during endurance training and resistance training: a daily comparison, from workout session 1 through completion of cardiac rehabilitation

PubMed Central

Hubbard, Matthew; McCullough-Shock, Tiffany; Simms, Kay; Cheng, Dunlei; Hartman, Julie; Strauss, Danielle; Anderson, Valerie; Lawrence, Anne; Malorzo, Emily

2010-01-01

Patients in cardiac rehabilitation are typically advised to complete a period of supervised endurance training before beginning resistance training. In this study, however, we compared the peak rate-pressure product (RPP, a calculated indicator of myocardial work) of patients during two types of exercise—treadmill walking and chest press—from workout session 1 through completion of cardiac rehabilitation. Twenty-one patients (4 women and 17 men, aged 35 to 70 years) were enrolled in the study; they were referred for cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or both. The participants did treadmill walking and chest press exercises during each workout session. Peak values for heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were recorded, and the peak RPP was calculated (peak HR ⊠ peak SBP). Paired t tests were used to compare the data collected during the two types of exercise across 19 workout sessions. The mean peak values for HR, SBP, and RPP were lower during resistance training than during endurance training; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05), with only one exception (the SBP for session 1). Across all 19 workout sessions, the participants performed more myocardial work, as indicated by the peak RPP, during treadmill walking than during the chest press. PMID:20396420

Incremental exercise test for the evaluation of peak oxygen consumption in paralympic swimmers.

PubMed

de Souza, Helton; DA Silva Alves, Eduardo; Ortega, Luciana; Silva, Andressa; Esteves, Andrea M; Schwingel, Paulo A; Vital, Roberto; DA Rocha, Edilson A; Rodrigues, Bruno; Lira, Fabio S; Tufik, Sergio; DE Mello, Marco T

2016-04-01

Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) is a fundamental parameter used to evaluate physical capacity. The objective of this study was to explore two types of incremental exercise tests used to determine VO2peak in four Paralympic swimmers: arm ergometer testing in the laboratory and testing in the swimming pool. On two different days, the VO2peak values of the four athletes were measured in a swimming pool and by a cycle ergometer. The protocols identified the VO2peak by progressive loading until the volitional exhaustion maximum was reached. The results were analyzed using the paired Student's t-test, Cohen's d effect sizes and a linear regression. The results showed that the VO2peak values obtained using the swimming pool protocol were higher (P=0.02) than those obtained by the arm ergometer (45.8±19.2 vs. 30.4±15.5; P=0.02), with a large effect size (d=3.20). When analyzing swimmers 1, 2, 3 and 4 individually, differences of 22.4%, 33.8%, 60.1% and 27.1% were observed, respectively. Field tests similar to the competitive setting are a more accurate way to determine the aerobic capacity of Paralympic swimmers. This approach provides more sensitive data that enable better direction of training, consequently facilitating improved performance.

Tracking of aerobic fitness from adolescence to mid-adulthood.

PubMed

Van Oort, C; Jackowski, S A; Eisenmann, J C; Sherar, L B; Bailey, D A; Mirwald, R; Baxter-Jones, A D G

2013-01-01

Although adults' aerobic fitness is known to be correlated with cardiovascular disease risk, the longitudinal relationship with adolescent aerobic fitness is poorly described. To longitudinally investigate the relationship between aerobic fitness during adolescence and adulthood. Participants (207 boys, 149 girls) aged 7-17 years performed annual measures of VO2peak. In adulthood (40 and 50 years), 78 individuals (59 males and 18 females) were reassessed. Serial height measurements were used to estimate age at peak height velocity (APHV). During adolescence, VO2peak was measured via a treadmill test to voluntary exhaustion; adult VO2peak was assessed using submaximal predictive tests. Correlations were tested using Spearman's rho. ANCOVA was used to assess adult VO2peak group differences based off APHV VO2peak groupings (low, average or high). When sexes were pooled, moderate tracking existed from 2 years prior to APHV to APHV and APHV to 2 years after APHV (0.46, p < 0.001 and 0.35, p < 0.01, respectively). Correlations between APHV and adult values were low when sexes were pooled (p < 0.05). Comparisons of aggregated sexes revealed the low adolescent VO2peak group had lower values in adulthood relative to other groups (p < 0.05). Aerobic fitness has a low tracking between APHV and adulthood.

Impact of the definition of peak standardized uptake value on quantification of treatment response.

PubMed

Vanderhoek, Matt; Perlman, Scott B; Jeraj, Robert

2012-01-01

PET-based treatment response assessment typically measures the change in maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), which is adversely affected by noise. Peak SUV (SUV(peak)) has been recommended as a more robust alternative, but its associated region of interest (ROI(peak)) is not uniquely defined. We investigated the impact of different ROI(peak) definitions on quantification of SUV(peak) and tumor response. Seventeen patients with solid malignancies were treated with a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resulting in a variety of responses. Using the cellular proliferation marker 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT), whole-body PET/CT scans were acquired at baseline and during treatment. (18)F-FLT-avid lesions (∼2/patient) were segmented on PET images, and tumor response was assessed via the relative change in SUV(peak). For each tumor, 24 different SUV(peaks) were determined by changing ROI(peak) shape (circles vs. spheres), size (7.5-20 mm), and location (centered on SUV(max) vs. placed in highest-uptake region), encompassing different definitions from the literature. Within each tumor, variations in the 24 SUV(peaks) and tumor responses were measured using coefficient of variation (CV), standardized deviation (SD), and range. For each ROI(peak) definition, a population average SUV(peak) and tumor response were determined over all tumors. A substantial variation in both SUV(peak) and tumor response resulted from changing the ROI(peak) definition. The variable ROI(peak) definition led to an intratumor SUV(peak) variation ranging from 49% above to 46% below the mean (CV, 17%) and an intratumor SUV(peak) response variation ranging from 49% above to 35% below the mean (SD, 9%). The variable ROI(peak) definition led to a population average SUV(peak) variation ranging from 24% above to 28% below the mean (CV, 14%) and a population average SUV(peak) response variation ranging from only 3% above to 3% below the mean (SD, 2%). The size of ROI(peak) caused more variation in intratumor response than did the location or shape of ROI(peak). Population average tumor response was independent of size, shape, and location of ROI(peak). Quantification of individual tumor response using SUV(peak) is highly sensitive to the ROI(peak) definition, which can significantly affect the use of SUV(peak) for assessment of treatment response. Clinical trials are necessary to compare the efficacy of SUV(peak) and SUV(max) for quantification of response to therapy.

Radial distributions of surface mass density and mass-to-luminosity ratio in spiral galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sofue, Yoshiaki

2018-03-01

We present radial profiles of the surface mass density (SMD) in spiral galaxies directly calculated using rotation curves of two approximations of flat-disk (SMD-F) and spherical mass distribution (SMD-S). The SMDs are combined with surface brightness using photometric data to derive radial variations of the mass-to-luminosity ratio (ML). It is found that the ML generally has a central peak or a plateau, and decreases to a local minimum at R ˜ 0.1-0.2 h, where R is the radius and h is the scale radius of optical disk. The ML, then, increases rapidly until ˜0.5 h, and is followed by gradual rise till ˜2 h, remaining at around ˜2 [M_{⊙} L^{-1}_{⊙}] in the w1 band (infrared λ3.4 μm) and ˜ 10 [M_⊙ L_⊙ ^{-1}] in the r band (λ6200-7500 Å). Beyond this radius, the ML increases steeply with approaching the observed edges at R ˜ 5 h, attaining to as high values as ˜20 in w1 and ˜ 10^2 [M_⊙ L_⊙ ^{-1}] in the r band, which are indicative of dominant dark matter. The general properties of the ML distributions will be useful for constraining cosmological formation models of spiral galaxies.

Rec.2100 color gamut revelation using spectrally ultranarrow emitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genc, Sinan; Uguz, Mustafa; Yilmaz, Osman; Mutlugun, Evren

2017-11-01

We theoretically simulate the performance of ultranarrow emitters for the first time to achieve record high coverage for the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector BT.2100 (Rec.2100) and National Television System Committee (NTSC) color gamut. Our results, employing more than 130-m parameter sets, include the investigation into peak emission wavelength and full width at half maximum (FWHM) values for three primaries that show ultranarrow emitters, i.e., nanoplatelets are potentially promising materials to fully cover the Rec.2100 color gamut. Using ultranarrow emitters having FWHM as low as 6 nm can provide the ability to attain 99.7% coverage area of the Rec.2100 color gamut as well as increasing the NTSC triangle to 133.7% with full coverage. The parameter set that provides possibility to fully reach Rec.2100 also has been shown to match with D65 white light by making use of the correct combination of those three primaries. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of the fourth color component on the CIE 1931 color space without sacrificing the achieved coverage percentages. The investigation into the fourth color component, cyan, is shown for the first time to enhance the Rec.2100 gamut area to 127.7% with 99.9% coverage. The fourth color component also provides an NTSC coverage ratio of 171.5%. The investigation into the potential of emitters with ultranarrow emission bandwidth holds great promise for future display applications.